Abstract: A monitoring circuit is provided for an energy storage device. The energy storage device has a plurality of cells which each provide a voltage between their first and second connections and are switched in series. At least two voltage measuring circuits are provided, wherein the voltage measuring circuits each measure the voltage between a first measurement input and a second measurement input. A first connection conductor connects the first terminal of the first cell to the first measurement input of a first voltage measurement circuit. A second connection conductor connects the second terminal of the first cell to the second measurement input of a first voltage measurement circuit. A first load resistor can be switched between the first measurement input of the second voltage measurement circuit and a first fixed potential.

Abstract: An electronic component and, in particular, an external receiver of a hearing aid, are intended to be capable of being configured to be simpler and more robust. To this end, it is proposed that the electronic apparatus, which has an electronic component and a cable which is connected to the electronic component, is equipped with a first sleeve which is arranged around a part of the electronic component and a part of the cable and mechanically connects the two, and a second sleeve, which surrounds another part of the electronic component. The first sleeve and the second sleeve are coaxially directly connected to one another such that both sleeves together also completely surround the electronic component in the axial direction. The two sleeves can possibly be connected to one another by laser welding.

Abstract: An insulating switching rod has a drive element for initiating a drive movement in an electrical contact system of a switching device and for producing a contact force when the contact system is in the closed state. The system further includes a clamping apparatus for the drive element of the switching rod in order to maintain the contact force. The object is to produce a greater contact force with a compact design and ensure constant spring characteristics as well as low wear over the entire useful life. For that purpose, the switching rod and the drive element can be directly or indirectly connected to one another by way of a plug and latching connection.

Abstract: An energy supply is provided along a route with at least one distribution station, wherein a first voltage is applied at the input and a second voltage at the output. The second voltage is lower or higher than the first voltage. A plurality of components are arranged along the route. A component, which is supplied with the second voltage, includes a power supply unit for transforming the second voltage into a third voltage.

Abstract: During the output of data and distribution services, user data streams frequently transferred to a corresponding communication device (i.e. information output system and/or the distribution system) are possibly irrelevant to the server. Despite this, resources for the processing of incoming useful data flows inside the communication device are provided in many cases on account of compatibility grounds. As a result, energy is reduced in the communication device. According to the invention, in order to reduce the efforts involved in processing useful data transferred in the direction of the communication device, at least one part of useful data is discarded prior to the implementation of working steps provided for the processing of useful data.

Abstract: Manufacturing planning data for a production process that is managed by a manufacturing execution system is updated by way of a plurality of steps, which include: Gathering data from a PLC level relevant to the manufacturing planning data and the execution of the production process; mapping the gathered data with the current manufacturing planning data in order to determine suggested changes between the gathered data and the current manufacturing planning data; applying a predetermined update scenario for the manufacturing planning data depending on the suggested changes to update the manufacturing planning data; and adapting the current production process and optionally following production processes according to the updated manufacturing planning data. The reliability of the so-called standard data used in production planning processes is thus dramatically improved.

Abstract: In order to ensure reliable feeding in particular of a clinch nut (M) from a ready position (16) into a processing position, the processing tool designed as a press-in tool (2) has a guide element (14), through which the clinch nut (M) is pressed into the processing position by means of a punch (8) against an elastic holding force exerted by the guide element (14). The guide element (14) is designed in particular as a slotted bush and is arranged as an insert in a hold-down (12).

Abstract: An autofocus apparatus and a method achieve a higher level of speed and robustness, and are particularly suited for fluorescence microscopy of biological samples, automated microscopy and scanning microscopy. A high speed is achieved via a light pattern in the sample, detected spatially resolved by a detector generating at least two signals corresponding to a reflex pattern of the light pattern. The two signals are subtracted generating a positioning signal and the focus of the objective in the sample is adjusted depending on the positioning signal.

Abstract: A method and an appropriate acoustic signal processing device estimate a set of linear predictive coding coefficients of a microphone signal using minimum mean-square error estimation with a codebook containing several predetermined sets of linear predictive coding coefficients. The method includes determining sums of weighted backward transition probabilities describing the transition probabilities between the predetermined sets of linear predictive coding coefficients. The backward transition probabilities are obtained from signal training data by mapping the signal training data to one set of the codebook and by determining relative frequencies of transitions between two of the sets of the codebook. Modelling the “memory” of the codebook has the advantage that the accuracy of estimating linear predictive coding coefficients is increased considerably also for speech components.

Abstract: A measuring method and a device are adapted for the positioning of a wheel for mash seam resistance welding in the butt-joining of steel strips on continuous processing lines. A rotary roller which is fastened to a movable frame is positioned in a measuring position that is vertically below a reference wheel. The reference wheel is lowered vertically to come into contact and bear on the rotary roller. A distance between an index on a measuring arm of the frame and an articulated column is repeatedly measured during the continuous lowering movement of the roller. The distance is compared with a distance threshold for each of the repeated measurements until the wheel reaches a first operating position where the distance equals a predefined distance threshold factor. The first operating position is recorded as a reference point in a system for the vertical movement of the reference wheel.

Abstract: A bulk AlN single crystal is grown on a monocrystalline AlN seed crystal having a central longitudinal mid-axis and disposed in a crystal growth region of a growing crucible. The bulk AlN single crystal grows in a growth direction oriented parallel to the longitudinal mid-axis by deposition on the AlN seed crystal. The crucible has a lateral crucible inner wall extending in the growth direction, a free space being provided between the AlN seed crystal and the growing bulk AlN single crystal on the one hand, and the lateral crucible inner wall on the other hand. Bulk AlN single crystals and monocrystalline AlN substrates produced therefrom are therefore obtained with only few dislocations, which furthermore are substantially distributed homogeneously. The growing crucible, inside which the crystal growth region is located, is an inner growing crucible which is arranged in an outer growing crucible.

Abstract: A method and an optical network component for data processing in an optical network. A first signal and a second signal are influenced by a tunable element. The first signal is an incoming optical signal, and the second signal is a local oscillator signal generated by a laser. The laser has an optical gain element that is tuned by the tunable element. A communication system is provided with the optical network component.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical regenerator for a differential phase modulated data signal which comprises, in addition to a unit for bit-by-bit gauge leveling, a unit for the regeneration of the phase of individual symbols of the differential phase modulated data signal. After the bit-by-bit gauge leveling, the data signal that is preset in amplitude is divided into a first and a second data signal. Phase errors of individual signals are detected for the first data signal in a phase error detection unit, are transformed into a correction signal, and are conveyed to a phase error correction unit. The second data signal is corrected in the phase error correction unit, depending on the correction signal conveyed thereto in the phase of said data signal, in such a way that a differential phase modulated data signal, regenerated in amplitude and in phase, is delivered at the output of the correction unit.

Abstract: A flexible printed circuit board having an integrated shield, a circuit based thereon, and a hearing aid having the circuit, are provided. The flexible printed circuit board includes a mount layer, a metallization layer and a shielding layer for shielding against electromagnetic interference influences. It can be bent about a respective bending axis in at least two different bending areas, in which the two bending axes are at an angle of at least 45 degrees to one another. The shielding layer extends at least over the two bending areas. A circuit based on the printed circuit board can be fitted with electronic components in at least one circuit area and can be bent in the bending areas in such a way that the circuit area is shielded by the shielding layer against electromagnetic interference influences in at least three spatial directions which are substantially at right angles to one another.

Abstract: A valve for magnetorheological fluids is formed with a control duct in which the magnetic field of a magnetic device, consisting of a permanent magnet and coil, acts on the fluid. The viscosity of the fluid is directly proportional to the magnetic field strength, with the result that the flow resistance of the valve can be varied via the coil current. The respective control duct is arranged in the end-face region of the coil and runs radially with respect to the center line of the valve, with the result that high flux densities can be achieved in the control duct. A permanent magnet is arranged in the inner space of the coil and, even under currentless operating conditions, can close the valve up to a certain blocking pressure.

Abstract: A method and a system model a manufacturing process wherein an manufacturing executing system implements the modeled manufacturing process and plans and/or controls the corresponding manufacturing at the shop floor. The method includes providing a number of real machines at the shop floor and describing each real machine by a real machine module having machine attributes in order to control the execution of the real machine. Within the manufacturing process a specific manufacturing activity is defined that requires the execution of a distinct subset of real machines in order to perform its specific production activity. Virtual equipment is provided by combining the real machines included in the subset and describing the virtual equipment by a virtual equipment model to plan and control the specific production activity. The virtual equipment model contains a planning level model and a controlling level model.

Abstract: An isolating device for isolating objects, in particular fuel pellets, contains a conveying device having a conveying belt with a conveying side and a backing side and is guided over at least two deflection pulleys and on which a number of pushing elements protruding from the conveying side of the conveying belt are arranged. The isolating device is configured for a particularly reliable and interruption-free isolation at a high processing speed. Each pushing element is connected with a directing element arranged on the backing side. The directing element includes a sliding surface facing away from the conveying belt. The conveying device contains a guide rail having a guiding surface for the directing elements arranged in a partial section of the conveying belt lying between the deflection pulleys. The sliding surface and the guiding surface are of a complementary shape so that the sliding surface can slide on the guiding surface.

Abstract: A control device for rectifier stations in a high-voltage DC transmission system has a rectifier drive unit and an inverter drive unit for driving power rectifier stations that are working either as a rectifier or as an inverter. The trigger angles for the rectifier or for the inverter can be adjusted and regulated by way of the rectifier drive unit and the inverter drive unit respectively. A delay element is placed between the rectifier drive unit and the inverter drive unit with which the start time for regulating the trigger angle for the inverter relative to the start time for regulating the trigger angle for the rectifier can be delayed by a predetermined delay time. Because of less mutual interaction of the trigger angle control processes, a relatively faster transition from an initial operating state into a new stationary state results.

Abstract: A method and device for evaporating a predeterminable volume of fluid includes successive addition of partial volumes of the predeterminable volume to a supply line at different adding rates, at least partially evaporating the partial volumes forming vapor film between them and a supply line wall, conveying the partial volumes through the supply line to an evaporator surface, and applying the partial volumes to an evaporator surface region varying as a function of mass and/or volume adding rate of the partial volume, permitting effective evaporation of fluid, particularly urea/water solution. Utilization of the highest possible proportion of evaporator surfaces is achieved by mass and/or volume addition rate-dependent distribution of impingement surfaces on the evaporator surface. This heating strategy in the supply line region ensures the Leidenfrost effect when individual partial volumes are added.