Abstract: In order to improve a stencil holder for stencils, preferably for screen printing, comprising a frame having four frame supports, at least two rows of tensioning elements acting on corresponding rows of fixing points of the stencil, these rows being arranged on the frame and located opposite one another and at least one of these rows being movable in a first tensioning direction extending transversely to the rows for tensioning the stencil, such that this is constructed in as simple a manner as possible and allows as optimum a tensioning of the stencil as possible it is suggested that the tensioning elements of the movable row be guided for movement in the direction of the tensioning direction by a plurality of guide elements, that with each guide element at least one tensioning element associated therewith be movable independently of the respectively other tensioning elements, that the guide elements for each row of tensioning elements be arranged on a guide rail extending along the respective row and that t

Abstract: A peripheral device is provided for a personal computer enabling the PC to provide the functions of a set-top box for television reception. Communication of television and control signals between the television and PC can be provided over the cable wiring already provided in the subscriber premises. Alternatively, wireless communication can be provided between the television and the PC. The invention obviates the need for a set-top box and the associated expense thereof. The television operations take place in the multitasking environment of the PC, so that the PC can be concurrently used for other applications.

Abstract: A television viewer can easily navigate programs which are grouped according to a common service provider or other grouping criteria by depressing the "channel up" or "channel down" buttons on a hand-held remote control. Programming services which are provided via one or more transmission paths are integrated, thereby allowing a viewer to successively select the grouped channels regardless of the broadcast signal, transmission path, frequency spectrum, transport stream and/or PID in which the channel is carried. Data is provided with broadcast signals to indicate broadcast address information which corresponds to a primary channel and one or more secondary channels of a channel group. A viewer can successively view the channels of the group while bypassing intermediate non-group channels. Grouped channels can thus be designated by a common channel designator such as a channel number.

Abstract: Textual and graphical displays are provided on a television screen using a hypertext markup language (HTML). On-screen display devices allow a user to invoke hyperlinks to different pages of HTML-coded data in addition to functions calls for controlling television and non-television appliance functions. A method provides HTML-coded display data which is processed to provide a signal suitable for reproduction on a television. The display data may provide information on a featured movie or other presentation of an associated video programming service signal such as a network television broadcast. Function calls allow the control of various television functions and programming options, such as the purchase of pay-per-view programming, or television display options such as aspect ratio, channel, brightness, picture-in-picture, or split-screen. Non-television appliances which may be controlled with function calls include audio equipment which is associated with the programming service (e.g.

Abstract: In a bypass filter unit, in particular, for filtering supplies of hydraulic oil in a bypass flow, comprising a motor-driven pump and a fixedly mounted filter housing closeable by a cover and containing an exchangeable filter element, it is proposed that the drive of the pump, the pump and the filter housing be arranged coaxially with one another, with the end of the filter housing that is closeable by the cover pointing upwards, that the filter housing be directly connected to the pump, and that the filter housing form a receptacle for the clean oil while the filter element is being changed, so as to enable changing of the filter element and renewal of the filter in a simple way and without risk of soiling the clean oil side.

Abstract: DC and AC DCT transform coefficients of an INTRA coded block are differentially encoded by selecting predictor DC and AC coefficients from a left-hand neighboring block and a top neighboring block. Each block is coded according to a frame mode, a reordered field mode, and a non-reordered field mode. The AC predictor block is selected according to the respective coding modes of the blocks, and the block in which a DC predictor resides. The top block is selected as an AC predictor when the top block and current block are both reordered field mode, or both frame mode and/or non-reordered field mode, and the DC predictor resides in the top block. Zeroed AC spatial transform coefficients are used in place of the AC spatial transform coefficients from the selected block when the selected block is not INTRA coded, or does not reside in the same Video Object Plane (VOP) as the current block. DC coefficients may be non-linearly quantized.

Abstract: A nozzle apparatus and method for dispensing powdered material from a container such as a cardboard shipping box. The apparatus has a shaft with a tip in the shape of a slant-cut cylinder which is manually inserted into the container through the container wall and an inner plastic lining of the container. A threaded portion on the shaft in the form of an increasing radius helix thread causes the apparatus to tighten against the wall of the container when the user manually rotates a gripping portion of the apparatus. A passageway extends from the tip to a fitting outside the container which can be connected to a vacuum source such as a powder pump to draw in the powder coating material. The fluidized powder is then carried to a spray gun for powder coating an object. A second passageway may be carried within the shaft and extend from an opening within the container to a fitting outside the container to carry a pressurized gas into the container.

Abstract: In order to improve a processing machine for workpieces consisting of flat material, in particular, sheet-metal parts, comprising a work station which is designed as a bending station, in which the workpiece aligned parallel to a bending plane can be clamped by means of a lower beam and an upper beam for carrying out a bending operation and bent along a bending edge by means of a bending beam, as well as a manipulator device with a gripping means for holding the workpiece and a positioning device for the gripping means, with which this can be moved in the bending plane in a first direction transversely to the bending edge and rotated about an axis at right angles to the bending plane, such that other machining operations are possible with it in addition to one type of bending operation in order to finish a sheet-metal part at least with respect to its shaping it is suggested that the gripping means be movable with the positioning device in a second direction parallel to the bending plane and in a vertical dir

Abstract: In a surgical tubular-shafted instrument comprising a tubular shaft and a gripping part connected thereto, a tool pivotable about an axis of rotation extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and a push element in the shaft, the push element being movable by the gripping part in the longitudinal direction of the shaft and being in engagement with the tool by using projections and recesses arranged in spaced relation to the axis of rotation of the tool such that the tool is pivotable about its axis of rotation upon displacement of the push element, in order to make higher loading possible with small dimensions, it is proposed that a ring-shaped cage be arranged on the push element and surround the axis of rotation of the tool and the point of engagement of the projection and the recess, and the inside wall of the cage carry the projection or the recess of the push element.

Abstract: In order to provide a trailer coupling for motor vehicles, in particular passenger vehicles, comprising a coupling ball, a coupling neck, the one end region of which is angled and bears the coupling ball, and a contact unit for providing a connection between a vehicle electrical system and a trailer electrical system, which is more easily accessible it is suggested that the contact unit be held on a pivoting arm, that the pivoting arm be mounted on a pivot bearing stationary with respect to the vehicle so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis and that the contact unit be movable with the pivoting arm from an operative position into a rest position and vice versa as a result of a pivoting movement about the pivot axis.

Abstract: A positive displacement pump includes a deformable hollow member for delivering a subject liquid by a cycle of contraction and restoration of its volume, a casing which contains the hollow member, and a pressurizing device for supplying and evacuating a hydraulic liquid in an annular space between the casing and the hollow member. The supplying of hydraulic fluid causes the contraction of the hollow member, and the evacuating of the hydraulic fluid causes the restoration (expansion) of the hollow member. A guide structure contacts and deforms the outer circumferential portions of the hollow member as the hollow member continues to expand to determine an initial contraction position of the hollow member. That is, a particular direction of contraction of the hollow member is set by the guide structure. Drive means periodically vary the circumferential position of the guide means relative to the hollow member to vary the initial contraction position of the hollow member.

Abstract: Reproduction of a multi-media data signal which is stored on a source media or distributed via a communication network is controlled by inserting master tag data and control tag data into the data signal. A player/recorder inserts an additional generation of control tag information each time a copy of the media is made. If the number of generations of the control tag information is above a threshold value, reproduction of the data signal may be inhibited. For example, if the data signal comprises video data, the player/recorder may only allow playing of the video signal on a display but will not allow recording. The playing and recording of associated signals, such as an audio signal which accompanies a video signal, may also be controlled. The master tag data and control tag data may be provided as spread spectrum signals which are spectrally shaped and power-adjusted according to the data signal to render them imperceptible in the data signal.

Abstract: In order to make it possible, in a surgical instrument comprising a tubular shaft with two tools pivotable towards one another at its distal end, these tools being pivotable relative to one another by means of a grip section at the proximal end of the tubular shaft via a transfer member arranged in the tubular shaft, to use the tools in a region arranged laterally of the instrument even with a simple construction it is suggested that the pivot axis of the tools extend concentrically to the longitudinal axis of the tubular shaft, that one tool be securely connected to the tubular shaft and the other securely connected to the transfer member, that the transfer member be a core mounted in the tubular shaft for rotation about its longitudinal axis, and that the grip section comprise two grip elements pivotable towards one another, one of these elements being connected to the tubular shaft and the other to the transfer member.

Abstract: A current pixel of a video image is adaptively filtered to provide stronger filtering when there is a high likelihood that noise is present. Weaker filtering is provided when the presence of a color and/or brightness edge is likely in the video image. Each pixel has luminance and chrominance amplitude values. In a filtering method, a current pixel is intermediate to first and second pixels in the video frame. Difference signals are determined based on the amplitude difference between the current pixel and first and second adjacent pixels. A plurality of available filters provide successively stronger filtering of the current pixel amplitude. One of the filters is selected for filtering the current pixel according to the difference signals. Secondary difference signals which indicate the amplitude difference between the current pixel and pixels which are adjacent to the first and second pixels are also considered in the selection process.

Abstract: A sensor is provided for precisely measuring the composition of mixtures of hydrogen and oxygen gas. The sensor has an active surface, at which hydrogen and oxygen are catalytically converted into water. A transport inhibiting barrier is disposed on the active surface. The heat released during the conversion is measured, and is indicative of the mixture composition.

Abstract: In a surgical instrument, in particular, a tubular-shafted instrument, comprising two grips pivotally movable relative to one another for moving two tools movable relative to one another, and a releasable locking mechanism for securing the grips in various positions moved towards one another against movement away from one another, in order to make operation with one hand possible, it is proposed that a locking lever be pivotally mounted on one grip, the free end of the locking lever being longitudinally displaceable along a displacement path on the other grip upon pivotal movement of the grips, that a toothing be arranged along the displacement path of the free end for engagement with a toothing at the free end of the locking lever such that an opening movement of the grips is prevented, and that for release of the engagement of the two toothings the displacement path be adjustable such that the toothings disengage.

Abstract: In order to optimize a process for the machining of sheet-metal parts in a bending unit of a bending center, in which the sheet-metal parts are transported one after the other from a feed area to the bending unit for the purpose of bending and are thereby taken over by a first manipulator of a manipulator arrangement in a takeover position and then placed against a bending edge for carrying out at least one bending operation, it is suggested that after the last bending operation each finished sheet-metal part be moved away from a bending end position, that during the bending operation of each one of the sheet-metal parts the next respective sheet-metal part be supplied, proceeding from the feed area, to a takeover position arranged so as to be non-overlapping in relation to the bending end position and in this be positioned for gripping by the first manipulator and that the first manipulator begin to take over the next sheet-metal part in the takeover position during the period of time, during which the finis

Abstract: In order to develop a suction device for cleaning purposes having a collecting container, which includes a closable suction inlet, a suction outlet and a filter disposed therebetween and is connected to a suction unit by a suction line emanating from the suction outlet, the suction line being closable by an outlet valve and an external air supply closable by a supply valve being disposed at the side of the filter remote from the suction inlet, in such a way that it facilitates filter dedusting, it is proposed that the suction device has a valve coupling unit, which links the closing of an inlet valve associated with the suction inlet and/or the opening of the supply valve to the closing of the outlet valve.

Abstract: In order to improve a bending center comprising a bending unit, a loading device with a feed table for receiving a sheet-metal part to be inserted, and a manipulator arrangement, with which the sheet-metal part can be gripped, moved as well as rotated, in such a manner that handling of the sheet-metal part is as error-free as possible with loading times which are as short as possible it is suggested that the loading device have a sensor, with which the position of the sheet-metal part relative to a defined insertion position into the bending unit can be determined, and that the loading device have a control which controls the manipulator arrangement handling the sheet-metal part with respect to the movement in the first and second directions as well as the rotation about the axis of rotation on the basis of the position of the sheet-metal part determined by the sensor in such a manner that the manipulator arrangement inserts the sheet-metal part into the bending unit in the exactly defined insertion position.

Abstract: Data overflow in a buffer of a set-top decoder for receiving asynchronous data, such as digital television signals, is prevented while also maintaining compliance with an interface timing standard such as the RS404-A standard. A fullness level of the buffer is monitored to determine whether the fullness falls within a first, nominal range, or into second or third higher ranges. A clocking signal is derived from a ratio of a fixed reference clock signal and a divisor for outputting asynchronous data from the buffer at a desired rate. A direct digital synthesis (DDS) circuit may be used to provide a fractional divisor. The divisor is selected to provide the clocking signal at a rate so that a difference between a target output rate and the actual output rate falls within a data performance standard such as the RS404-A standard.