Abstract: A method for reaching a neutral position N located between two end positions of a gearshift fork in a shift transmission in a motor vehicle from a starting position of the gearshift fork. The method allows finding the neutral position of the gearshift fork without a sensor determining the position of the gearshift fork or in the alternative in case such the sensor is defect.

Abstract: A dual clutch transmission is described having first and second input shafts and allowing at short axial length many degrees of freedom for providing various transmission ratios of the individual driving gears. A loose wheel of a reverse driving gear is provided on a third drive shaft and engages a first gear wheel of a step wheel. A fixed wheel of a second forward driving gear is provided on one of the input shafts and is engaged by a second gear wheel of a step wheel. The step wheel is switchable by a first gear shifting clutch that is provided on the second drive shaft and is designed as a first single gear shifting clutch allowing to connect only the step wheel in a rotationally fixed manner to the second drive shaft such that the step wheel co-rotates with the second drive shaft.

Abstract: An optical system is described for merging a first and a second partial image beam emanating from a specimen into a resultant image beam allowing modification of the areal proportion of the respective first or second partial image beam in the resultant image beam. A stop arrangement comprises at least a first and a second movable stop element each comprising at least one stop region adapted to be brought into a working position with the first or second partial image beam. Movably arranged connecting means for connecting the two stop elements are provided to modify the respective areal proportions of the partial image beams in the resultant image beam by movement of the connecting means.

Abstract: A gear shift mechanism of a gear shift transmission having a plurality of gears is described. A first movable gear shift fork and at least one second movable gear shift fork are provided for engaging gears of the gear shift transmission and assuming a neutral position as well as an engaged position where a gear allocated to a respective one of the first and second gear shift forks is engaged. A locking mechanism comprising a locking element is provided that prevents that both gear shift forks can assume at the same time unintentionally an engaged position. The locking mechanism is designed such that in a locking position a force for moving the first gear shift fork out of its neutral position does not generate a resulting component of force that would force the locking element against the second gear shift fork.

Abstract: A suspension system for a ceiling mount of a medical device is suggested, comprising an attachment device provided at a ceiling and a console arranged between the attachment device and the ceiling mount for movement of the ceiling mount parallel to the ceiling. Said console comprises a support plate connected to the attachment device and a carriage that is movable with respect to the support plate and is connected to the ceiling mount. This allows movement of the medical device to the greatest extent possible to all positions in the surgical area without colliding with alternately usable operating lights.

Abstract: A device for applying a histological section to a slide is described. The histological section is generated by a cutting action performed by a blade of a microtome. The device comprises a positioning device having a component that is rotatably mounted to a bearing and has a receptacle for receiving and holding the slide, wherein the positioning device is designed such that the slide received in the receptacle can be rotated about an axis of rotation of the rotatably mounted component.

Abstract: A modifiable dual clutch transmission is suggested allowing to be manufactured as two transmission variations having an interdependence of fixed wheels and loose wheels that remains at the same position for both variations while the loose wheels belonging to this interdependence are provided with different diameters for providing different transmission ratios. At least one of the loose wheels in that interdependence is correlated to a different forward gear in one transmission variation compared to the other transmission variation. In both transmission variations the loose wheels relating to the respective interdependences are correlated only to even numbered forward gears or to odd numbered forward gears, preserving the advantage of the dual clutch transmission to shift between two adjacent forward gears without interruption in the tractive power.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for processing tissue samples are described. The apparatus comprises: at least one retort for accommodating tissue samples; at least one container for storing alcohol or xylene; a valve adapted to connect the at least one retort with the at least one container depending on an operating position of the valve; and at least a first sensor that is arranged in flow direction between the container and the retort for measuring a value of a parameter that represents a purity level of the alcohol or xylene; wherein the first sensor and the valve are configured to replace the alcohol or xylene depending on the value of the parameter that represents the purity level. The method comprises for the alcohol or xylene conducting between the container and the retort; automatically measuring the purity level and replacing depending on the purity level.

Abstract: A position sensor, a position sensor arrangement and a method of operating the position sensor and position sensor arrangement is described, working on the basis of magnetic field sensing sensors maximizing reliability against defects and external interference signals and providing redundancy, in particular for shift-by-wire systems in automobiles. The invention includes various aspects and preferred embodiments including individual sensors that can either only measure the direction of the magnetic field or in addition to that the absolute value of the magnetic field. The specific embodiments depend on the desired diagnostic options, redundancy and compensation capabilities both as to interfering magnetic fields and sensor failures or non-plausible output signals of individual sensors. An evaluation unit can be provided for compensating measurement deviations.

Abstract: A method for high spatial resolution stochastic examination of a biological sample structure labeled with a labeling substance is described. The method comprises providing a biological sample structure; choosing such a labeling substance that has molecules present in a first state and in a second state, and the first and second states differ from one another in at least one photophysical property such that there is sufficient probability that one portion of the molecules of the substance will be in the first state and another portion of the molecules will be in the second state and within which labeling substance a change of the state of the molecules can occur spontaneously between the two states in both directions; and labeling the biological sample structure with the substance.

Abstract: A method for operating a tissue processor and a respective tissue processor for performing this method are described for the processing tissue samples. The tissue processor comprises at least one retort for receiving the tissue samples and at least one container for receiving a process medium. The process medium is transferred at least one of from the container into the retort and from the retort into the container. A value is automatically measured in the course of transferring the process medium, the value representing a characteristic property of the process medium. The process medium is identified based on the value.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooling cassette magazines containing tissue samples is described. The apparatus comprises a housing, a cooling device, and a transport apparatus for transporting one or more cassette magazines within the housing. The cassette magazines are introduced into the apparatus via an input chute and can be removed via an output chute.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are suggested for high-resolution optical scanning, particularly in a laser scanning fluorescence microscope. A sample to be scanned comprises a first and a second substance that are switchable into a first and second energy state. In the scanning process, excitation, de-excitation and detection for the first substance is carried out at a different point in time than for the second substance. This achieves a high spatial resolution beyond the diffraction limit while at the same time a high level of information is provided with physically simple and economical means.

Abstract: A cutting insert includes upper, a lower, and side surfaces a corner cutting edge and a first cutting edge; a rake surface; and a protruding portion. The protruding portion is located inner side on the upper surface with respect to the rake face and comprises a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface located between the first surface and the second surface. The rake face includes a first rake face and a second rake face. An angle between an intersection line of the third surface and the second rake face and the first side is 90 degree or less as viewed from the upper surface.

Abstract: An optical evaluation method and an apparatus for performing said method are described. First laser pulses of a first type and second laser pulses of a second type that differs from the first type are sent onto a sample to be examined. The sample is hit with first incident light from the two laser pulses in at least one manner of simultaneously, within a very short time lag between the two laser pulses, and a time-correlated manner of the two laser pulses, thereby generating a first optical signal, and hit with second incident light from the two laser pulses, thereby generating a second optical signal. The generated first and second optical signals are detected with at least one detector; and an electronic difference between the first and second optical signals is generated.

Abstract: An oil well sealing device that is submergible for sealing under water oil wells and a method for sealing underwater oil wells are described. The device comprises a housing having at least one lower opening at a lower end of the housing and at least one upper opening at an upper end of the housing; a pump sucking oil through the lower opening into the housing and pushing the oil through the upper opening out of the housing; and a closing element movable to close or open the upper opening.

Abstract: An automated gear shift transmission and method of controlling the same are described. The transmission is installed in a motor vehicle comprising several forward gears and at least one reverse gear and that allows choosing from several different driving modes by means of a driving mode selector lever. A forward gear is maintained in engagement in case of an uphill orientation of the motor vehicle when the parking mode is chosen. Instead of the forward gear, a reverse gear is maintained in engagement in case of a downhill orientation of the motor vehicle when the parking mode is chosen. This allows taking specific driving conditions or driving situations into account with relatively simple means.

Abstract: A flashlight is described holding at least one battery and an illumination source. A circuit interruption and completion device is provided forming a complete circuit between the illumination source and the battery, when the device is in a closed mode. The device comprises a switch which is manually actuated between at least a first position which causes the device to enter the closed mode and a second position. A switch holding structure comprises a member with means for making an electrical connection associated with the member; and at least one conductive spring is attached to the member to make electrical contact with the means for making an electrical connection with the battery. The switch controls multiple functions of the flashlight including a strobe and a momentary mode. A pushbutton switch may control the multiple functions by multiple pushes on the switch.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing at least one specimen slide and at least one cassette comprising a sample that is embedded in a sample block and that is to be processed, a microtome comprising this apparatus, and a method for handling multiple cassettes and multiple specimen slides are described. A cassette magazine receives at least one cassette having at least one sample block. A slide magazine receives at least one specimen slide. At least one connecting element for connecting the cassette magazine and the slide magazine mechanically with each other is provided. This allows handling at least one cassette and at least one specimen slide together in a simple and efficient manner.

Abstract: A system and method for conducting a firing sequence including a master device and a plurality of electronic pyrotechnic devices, wherein the master device broadcasts, multiple times, a fire command to the plurality of electronic pyrotechnic devices, the electronic pyrotechnic devices commence a pre-fire countdown in response to each fire command received without error, and each electronic pyrotechnic device conducts a pre-fire countdown to expiration and thereupon commences a final fire countdown that concludes with firing.