Abstract: The invention relates to systems for the detection and identification (and/or differentiation) of objects for use in vehicles (stationary usage is also conceivable, e.g. to combat crime, building protection), wherein objects are detected and identified via ultrasound signals. In particular, the differentiation of pedestrians and cyclists from cars and fixed obstacles such as walls is of key focus. Ultrasound sensors are hereby used. By processing the signals and comparing them with reference signals, a differentiation between living and non-living objects is possible.

Abstract: A fluxgate sensor has a driver coil, a signal coil, and a magnetic core that magnetically couples the driver coil and the signal coil. A magnetic field detector that can be positioned in a remote area is provided. The magnetic field detector is connected to a magnetic field generator positioned in the vicinity of the magnetic core by a transmission line, where the magnetic field of the magnetic field generator is superposed with the driver field.

Abstract: A method for preparation of a molecular recognition element comprising the steps of binding a template to a surface of a carrier material, providing a recognition material to the surface of the carrier material, initiating polymerization of the recognition material on the surface of the carrier material, stopping the polymerization of the recognition material on the surface of the carrier material, and releasing the template from the surface of the carrier material and the polymerized recognition material. The method is characterized as an aim size of individual imprints is predefined, and the polymerization of the recognition material on the surface of the carrier material is stopped when a size of individual imprints of the polymerized recognition material essentially equals the predefined aim size. This method is readily applicable for preparation of a molecular recognition element useful as a drug, catalyst, competitive affinity ligand inhibitor, competitor, agonist, antagonist or diagnostic agent.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing an implant coating that has a defined toxicity. The method is characterized by the following steps: i. a sol is produced from a biotoxic solution containing precious metal ions and a precursor solution for a titanium oxide; ii. an implant is coated by applying the sol in a sol-gel process; iii. the coating is pyrolyzed and sintered without admitting any light, the precious metal ion concentration in the dried coating ranging from 10 to 60 percent relative to the total weight of the dried coating; and iv. at least subareas of the coating produced without admitting any light are illuminated in order to reduce the toxicity of the dried coating to a predetermined measure.

Abstract: A process for operating an internal combustion engine or a nozzle includes producing a fuel mixture in-situ. The fuel mixture consists of a polar component A, a nonpolar fuel component B, an amphiphilic component C, and an auxiliary component D. The fuel mixture is produced in a high-pressure region of an injection system of an internal combustion engine or of a nozzle within 10 seconds of an injection operation. The fuel mixture is injected into the internal combustion engine or the nozzle. A pressure is in a range of from 100 to 4,000 bar.

Abstract: A reinforced concrete component with at least one upper and at least one lower longitudinal reinforcement layer, and one transverse force reinforcement, wherein the latter is passed above an uppermost and a lowermost longitudinal reinforcement in its extension. The transverse force reinforcement is formed by at least 20 trapezoidal or triangular sheet metal components made from structural steel. Each sheet metal component has at its two ends one splay/chamfer. The chamfer is passed to the uppermost or lowermost longitudinal reinforcement, respectively.

Abstract: The invention relates to a service device for maintenance of a solar panel arrangement, comprising a service unit for maintenance of at least one surface of the solar panel arrangement, a guiding unit for guiding the service unit with respect to the solar panel arrangement, and a driving unit for moving the service unit with respect to the solar panel arrangement, wherein the service unit comprises a first engagement section and a second engagement section, wherein the guiding unit is attachable to the first engagement section, the guiding unit being configured for direct engagement with an edge of the solar panel arrangement, wherein the driving unit is attachable to the second engagement section, and wherein the second engagement section is displaceable with respect to the first engagement section by the driving unit.

Abstract: Method for the context-driven integration of context-variable systems (CVSs), in particular but not exclusively in the form of mobile systems (MSs), into processes, which system can collect sensor data, comprising an infrastructure system which is connected to the MS via a network, wherein the infrastructure system comprises a central enrichment service (CES) and process retrieval service (PRS), there also being provided a central process engine (CPE) on which the sequence of the processes is controlled, a management unit (MU) functioning as a proxy between the CPS and MU, including the steps: a) booting up the MS and determining the initial context, i.e.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bearing, comprising: a first and a second bearing element (11, 13, 17, 12, 14, 18) that are movable relative to one another; a lubricant (2) arranged between the first and the second bearing element (11, 13, 17, 12, 14, 18) for reducing the friction between the first and the second bearing element; at least one transmitter (3) for exciting acoustic waves (A, A1, A2) in the first or the second bearing element (11, 13, 17, 12, 14, 18), the transmitter (3) being arranged on the first or the second bearing element; at least one receiver (4) for receiving acoustic waves evoked by the transmitter (3), the receiver (4) being arranged on the first or the second bearing element (11, 13, 17, 12, 14, 18), wherein information related to properties of the lubricant (2) can be determined using a signal generated by the receiver (4) upon receipt of acoustic waves evoked by the transmitter (3). The invention is also related to a method for determining properties of a lubricant in a bearing.

Abstract: A device (1) for plasma treatment comprises an electrode (2) having a surface (14) covered by a dielectric barrier (3), and an AC high voltage source (6) for applying an AC high voltage to the electrode (2) to bring about a dielectric barrier discharge (9) in a gas (10) at atmospheric pressure present in front of the dielectric barrier (3) in order to generate a plasma. To the end of generating the plasma even without a counter-electrode for the electrode (2), pointed tips are distributed over the surface (14) of the electrode (2), these pointed tips pointing towards the gas (10) in front of the dielectric barrier (3), whereas the dielectric barrier (3) has a smooth outer surface (15) facing the gas (10).

Abstract: A device for balancing a plurality of at least two batteries or cells of a multicell battery comprises a multicell battery and a battery management system with a balancing circuit. Thereby all individual battery cells are connected to the battery monitoring system, wherein the battery monitoring system measures single cell voltage as well as the battery temperature and the current. The battery monitoring system is able to discern the lowest cell voltage and to discern a number of cells having a voltage higher than a determined maximum allowable voltage, which will be balanced until the charge imbalance decreases to an acceptable amount. The battery management system is active during charging and discharging of the multicell battery and the thresholds vary with the state of the battery.

Abstract: A method for handing-off a mobile node (MN) from one network interface to another network interface, the network interfaces being connected to a same level 2 (L2) network. The method includes detecting at least two network interface cards (NICs) of the MN that are connected to the same L2 network by at least one of an external device and the MN. A handover decision is made to hand-off a data flow of the MN from a first of the at least two NICs to a second of the at least two NICs. L2 information about the MN in one or more related network entities connected to the same L2 network is updated so as to perform seamless handover without changing an address on level 3 (L3) or higher levels.

Abstract: The apparatus for authenticating a person on the basis of at least one biometric parameter, particularly on the basis of a fingerprint, comprises a biometric detector (20) for detecting a biometric parameter, a skin detector (24) for identifying, in a contactless manner, living human skin within a scanning area. The skin detector (24) is provided with at least one group encompassing at least one radiation unit (26,28) and at least one reception unit (30). The at least one radiation unit (26,28) emits radiation in the direction of the scanning area at least at two different wavelengths ranging from 400 nm to 1500 nm, at least one of the wavelengths (26,28) ranging from 900 nm to 1500 nm, while the at least one reception unit (30) receives radiation reflected from the scanning area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for investigating a structure and a structure for receiving and/or conducting a liquid or soft medium, the method comprising the steps of: a) exciting acoustic waves in the structure by means of at least one transmitter, b) converting at least a part of the energy associated with the acoustic waves (A) excited in the structure into volume sound waves of the medium, c) reconverting at least a part of the energy associated with the volume sound waves into acoustic wave energy of the structure thereby generating acoustic waves in the structure, d) receiving acoustic waves evoked by the transmitter by at least one receiver, and e) verifying whether a coating is present on a surface of the structure and/or if a coating is present determining properties of the coating by evaluating a signal generated by the receiver upon receipt of acoustic waves evoked by the transmitter and/or verifying whether a level of the medium (5) is below a predetermined value.

Abstract: A standard calibration set having at least three calibration standards. Each standard is a molded article made of a thermoplastic polymer which contains the elements Cd, Cr, Pb, Hg and Br, with the Cr:Pb:Hg:Br:Cd ratio being different in each of the three calibration standards. Further disclosed is a method for manufacturing the calibration standards and their use in X-ray fluorescence analysis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the internal high-pressure forming of components from tubular workpieces, in particular microcomponents, comprising an at least two-part mould, in which a workpiece can be placed, and means for sealing and/or applying pressure to the workpiece at the ends of the workpiece, in which device at least one guide (11) is arranged on the mould (2a, 2b), on which guide a carriage (12) is displaceable, which carriage carries means (4, 5) for sealing and/or filling/applying pressure to a workpiece end (1a), wherein a carriage (12) is displaceable by means of a drive (13, 15) which is arranged separately from the at least one guide (11) and is coupled to the carriage (12) at least essentially such that it is free from transverse forces.

Abstract: Substrate having a silver-ion containing titanium oxide coating having a silver content of greater than or equal to 0.2 of Ag/1 of Ti to less than or equal to 0.4 of Ag/1 of Ti, wherein the coating is X-ray amorphous and the hydrophobicity of the coating can be reduced persistently by illumination.

Abstract: A method for setting up a secure communication line between a user and a service provider using non-secure communication channels within an insecure network, comprising the steps of transmitting an identity token from a user station to a service provider station both coupled to the insecure network; upon reception of the identity token, triggering the creation of a secret URL by the service provider station; transmitting the secret URL within a secure side channel to the user station; obtaining, within the user station, the secret URL, and setting-up a new communication path in the insecure network linking the user and the service provider station based on said secret URL. Beside discarding a man-in-the-middle by denying him access to the data flow it is also possible to stop him through denying him access to the content of the data flow. Such access can be denied through use of a one-time codebook with semantics only known to the User and the authentication service provider.

Abstract: A method is provided for encryption and decryption of data of any kind, in which data are encrypted and decrypted using a random key, for ensuring the integrity and/or authenticity thereof, and/or for keeping secret the data contents. At the location of encryption, at least one permutation data element, one key control data element, and a random number are generated. Random keys are determined from at least one separate random reference data element and one random number. Clear data are bit-permuted in function of the permutation data and the random key, and encrypted and/or packet-permuted. The permutation data, key data and random data are added to the encrypted data in form of relative data. At the location of decryption, any data necessary for decryption are determined from the added data, and the encrypted data are decrypted.

Abstract: A high-frequency ignition system for spark ignition engines has a large ignition range with a cover measuring up to a plurality of square centimeters and enables the optional adjustment of the duration of the ignition. The combustion time can be minimized as a result of the large ignition range. Excellent degrees of efficacy can be obtained with this ignition using dielectric electrodes. The high-frequency ignition system can be very economically produced by means of high-frequency electronic components which are available at a very low cost as a result of the telecommunication market, and by means of standard spark plug technology. The high-voltage requirements are also significantly lower compared to classic ignition systems.