Abstract: Located on the right and left sides of a housing of an automobile radio for example is one detent spring each projecting from the housing, which spring is retractable to enable insertion of the housing into a mounting slot and which, by rotating a catch, is retractable into the housing. By rotating the catches in the other direction of rotation, the detent springs are again released. Disposed eccentrically on the top side of each catch is a pin for which a guide channel is located in the mounting slot so that the housing may be inserted into the mounting slot only with the detent springs projecting from the housing. After complete insertion of the housing into the mounting slot, the detent springs snap in place against detent edges of the mounting slot to lock the housing in place. To remove the housing from the mounting slot, the detent springs are retracted into the housing by rotating the catch.

Abstract: A buoyancy module comprises a multi-layer outer protective shell that has an exterior surface and an interior surface. A first layer of foam buoyancy material is located adjacent to the interior surface. A second layer of foam buoyancy material that includes macrospheres and syntactic foam is surrounded by the first layer of foam buoyancy material. The multi-layer outer protective shell can include a layer of fiberglass backed by a fibrous plastic liner. In this embodiment, the layer of fiberglass provides the exterior surface of the multi-layer outer protective shell, while the fibrous plastic liner provides the interior surface of the protective shell. The second layer of foam buoyancy material can be a precast material. The precast material can include for example macrospheres and syntactic foam. The first layer of foam buoyancy material is preferably a stronger layer than the second layer of foam buoyancy material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a radio reception system, which comprises a plurality of receivers assigned to a common output device, in which one of the receivers is designated as audio receiver and is tuned to a frequency of a radio transmitter, and outputs a signal received from the transmitter to the output device. At least one second receiver is designated as search receiver, and continuously searches its own reception frequency band for a frequency of the same transmitter. The system changes to a frequency of this transmitter, which was found by the search receiver, if the quality of the signal received by the audio receiver falls below a certain limit.

Abstract: A technique for determining an offset-reduced Hall voltage (Uh), and/or an offset voltage (UH, offset) of a Hall sensor (1) includes applying a Hall sensor current (I) at first and second taps (a1, a2, a3) of the Hall sensor (1), and determining a first Hall voltage (Uh1) at third and fourth taps (a3, a4) displaced from the first and second taps (a1, a2, a5). A second Hall sensor current is applied modified relative to the first, and a second Hall voltage (Uh2) is determined. The Hall voltage (Uh) and/or Hall voltage offset (Uh,offset) are determined from the first and second Hall voltages. To compensate any offset present, a second measurement applies the second Hall sensor current I at taps (a3, a4) that are spatially displaced relative to the first and/or second taps.

Abstract: A diversity receiver system includes a plurality of radio receivers that each provide a uniquely associated receiver output signal and a uniquely associated receiver control signal indicative of the amount of gain applied by the associated radio receiver to create the uniquely associated receiver output signal. A selection mechanism receives the receiver control signals, and determines which of the radio receivers has applied the smallest gain correction to its associated receiver output signal, and provides a diversity receiver output signal indicative of the receiver output signal associated with the receiver that applied the smallest gain correction.

Abstract: The semiconductor sensor has at least one field-effect transistor (31; 31, 32) which is coupled to a sensitive electrode and which has measuring phases that are interruptible by idle phases through a control device (50). During the idle phases, the field-effect transistor or transistors (30; 31, 32) together with their terminals is or are connected to the same potential, preferably the ground potential.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically operating a sliding door of a transport container is provided. The apparatus includes a sliding door, a drive mechanism and a pneumatic motor. The drive mechanism is coupled to the sliding door and configured to allow movement of the sliding door. The pneumatic motor is coupled to the drive mechanism and is adapted to power the drive mechanism so that the sliding door moves in a first direction. A kit for retrofitting a motor assembly of a sliding door assembly mounted on a transport container, a trailer for transporting material having a sliding door assembly, and a system for transporting material having a sliding door assembly are also provided.

Abstract: A fill level measurement device includes at least first and second removable and replaceable components that each includes a non-volatile memory device. The device senses that the first removable and replaceable component has been inserted into the fill level measurement device, and provides a sensed signal indicative thereof. In response to the sensed signal, component customer parameter data is received at the first removable and replaceable component, and the received component customer parameter data is written into the non-volatile memory device of the first removable and replaceable component.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for simultaneously representing at least a first and a second sequence of pictures (M, S) in an overall picture. The inventive method is characterised in that picture data belonging to a picture of the first sequence of pictures (M) is stored in the form of a first picture data signal in a first picture memory (SPM). Picture data belonging to a picture of the second sequence of pictures (S) is stored in the form of a second picture data signal in a second picture memory (SPS). The picture data of the first and second picture data memory is read out according to a periodic screen signal (RS), whereby phase shift (SHIFTM, SHIFTS, tx) of the screen signal (RS) can be adjusted according to the first and/or second picture data signal.

Abstract: A digital transcoder system is presented for receiving data bit streams with a first bit rate (R1) and outputting a data bit stream with a second bit rate (R2) which differs from the first bit rate (R1), and in particular is reduced relative thereto. This transcoder system has a decoder device (10) on its input side and a coder device (20) on its output side, the latter consisting of a series circuit of a quantizer (21) for requantizing the data dequantized in the decoder device (10), with a requantization factor (Q2), also with a subsequent VLC coder (22) and an output buffer (23). Establishing the second bit rate (R2) requires that the requantization factor of the quantizer (21) be changed, with reference to macro-blocks, according to the specification of a certain calculational formula.

Abstract: A time-discrete picture signal is formed from an analog picture signal, such as a luminance signal or a chrominance signal. Corresponding to the time-discrete picture signal, a time-discrete filter signal is formed, specifically a so-called “peaking signal,” which has a sequence of peaking signal values, of which one value each is associated with one signal value of the time-discrete picture signal. The discrete peaking signal is formed by a digital peaking filter from the discrete picture signal or by an analog peaking filter from the analog picture signal during subsequent sampling of the analog peaking signal. The peaking filter increases the amplitude of selected frequency components of the picture signal.

Abstract: A device for correcting the phase of a vertically distorted digital picture receives picture data and a vertical phase correction signal, and assigns lines of the digital picture to a first half picture and to a second half picture. The lines of the second half picture are phase corrected with respect to the first half picture and the first and second half pictures are displayed sequentially. The phase correction is determined in response an increment signal that describes the change of an imaging factor in the veritcal direction of the digital picture on a line-by-line basis and a picture position signal indicative of whether the first half picture or the second half picture is being output.

Abstract: A technique of decoding erroneous biphase signals is disclosed comprising the following steps. First, phase and magnitude sample values (ps, bs) are formed, from which a first digital signal (d1) is derived. From this, associated bit combinations (St1, St2; Stp) are determined, and a decision is made as to whether the respective bit combination (St1, St2; Stp) is a valid combination (Sg1, Sg2; Sgp) or an erroneous one (Sf1, Sf2; Sfp). Probability values (Sw1, Sw2; Swp) are determined that decide which parts of the erroneous bit combination (Sf1, Sf2; Sfp) are probably true and/or which are probably false. Next, a corrected bit combination (Sk1, Sk2; Skp) is formed from the existing information. Finally, a second digital signal (d2) is generated as an output signal, whose data states are formed either from the valid bit combination (Sg1, Sg2; Sgp) or from the corrected bit combination (Sk1, Sk2; Skp).

Abstract: A playback apparatus includes a data source (1) that provides a data stream signal (d0), and a device (2) responsive to the data stream signal. The device forms a first data stream (d1) in a first data format (F1), wherein the first data stream (d1) includes a data field (D1) that is encoded in a second data format (F2). A code converter (3) is responsive to the first data stream (d1), and converts selected parts of the first data stream (d1) to a second data stream (d2) that has data encoded in a third data format (F3). An output decoder (5) forms playback signals from the second data stream (d2). The playback signal may be audio and/or video signals that are presented to the appropriate audio transducer or display device for presentation to a playback apparatus user(s).

Abstract: The present invention relates to interpolating a pixel in an image that includes a number of pixels arrayed in matrix-like fashion, to each of which a video information value is assigned, in which method a gradient for the video information value is determined at, at least, a first and a second pixel adjacent to the pixel to be interpolated and, in the formation of the interpolated video information value, a greater weight is accorded to the video information value of the adjacent pixels whose associated gradient is smaller.

Abstract: An interface for transmitting messages between two bus systems includes a receiver device for receiving a message from the first bus system, a classification device for classifying the message received from the first receiver device according to one of several predetermined classes, a translation device for translating the message based on a predetermined rule for each class into a message for transmission on the second bus system, and a transmitter device for transmitting the translated message on the second bus system.

Abstract: A door leaf includes a stiff, light structural part that maintains fed-in vibrational energy and, by flexural waves, propagates this energy in at least one active surface perpendicular to its thickness to distribute resonance mode vibration components over at least one surface, which has specified, preferred locations or sites within it for transducer devices, which are affixed on the structural part at one of the locations or sites to set the structural part into vibration and to allow it to resonate, thus creating an acoustic radiator that delivers an acoustic output signal when it vibrates in resonance, the front and/or the rear cover panel of the door leaf being part of the stiff, light structural component. The transducer(s) is/are situated between the cover panels.

Abstract: A device for producing an aerosol is provided that includes a gas infeed line, an aerosol container, a plurality of nozzles, a differential pressure sensor, a plurality of valves, and a control unit. The plurality of nozzles are located within the aerosol container, and are in fluid communication with the gas infeed line. The differential pressure sensor determines the difference between a first pressure within the gas infeed line, and a second pressure within the aerosol container. The plurality of valves are in fluid communication with the gas infeed line. The control unit is in communication with the plurality of valves. The plurality of nozzles are controllable independent of one another, using the valves. The control unit determines and sets a combination of the plurality of nozzles, using a signal from the differential pressure sensor, to substantially maintain the second pressure within the aerosol container at a predetermined level.

Abstract: A digital equalizer comprises a matched filter that, in conjunction with an FIR filter, assures a single peak with substantially greater energy than other peaks caused by ghosts, thereby permitting synchronization even with multiple, arbitrarily strong ghosts caused by strong multipathing, multiple transmitters, or both.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-invasively determining the blood oxygen saturation level within a subject's tissue is provided that utilizes a near infrared spectrophotometric (NIRS) sensor capable of transmitting a light signal into the tissue of a subject and sensing the light signal once it has passed through the tissue via transmittance or reflectance.