Abstract: Conductive adhesive bonds are used preferably where the contact bonds are subject to great temperature variations, for example, on a throttle valve controller. In order to increase the mechanical stabilization of the conductive adhesive bonds, the surface of the contacts are machined and provided with structures such as ribbing, prickles, etc. As a result of this structuring, the conductive adhesive interlocks mechanically at these points. This leads to a high contact reliability also at extreme temperature changes.

Abstract: The mechanical connection of contacts through induction soldering is improved. To which end, a plastic dome is produced through preliminary encapsulation by injection molding of at least one contact and subsequent final encapsulation, where the two contact geometries to be joined can, for example, be premated. With an appropriate solder preform, the plug-in connection can be secured through induction soldering by enclosing this dome. The appropriate tool is then placed over the plastic dome, by which the heat generated melts the solder preform and securely joins the two contacts to one another.

Abstract: The production of pouch-shaped or pot-shaped parts is undertaken in two steps. In the first step, a film located above a die is pressed by a stamp into a cavity that reproduces the part and is subsequently pressed apart in the lower region of the cavity by deformation of the stamp in this region. The device has a rubber-like stamp that expands out on all sides once it has reached the bottom wall of the cavity and causes the film to conform to the shape of the cavity. The stamp is preferably designed in two parts, wherein a stamp insert is guided within a stamp guide and the stamp insert then has at least one deformable region. For removal of the formed film, provision is made that the die can be swung open.

Abstract: A system is provided that operates on the magnetorheological principle as a detent or wiper element and/or for electrical detection of direction of rotation. The system includes a gear pump, a rotary knob, and at least one gear. The gears is mechanically driven by the rotation of the rotary knob. A magnetorheological fluid is moved and/or pumped within a channel or ring. The viscosity of the fluid is changed by a pulsed magnetic field at a first coil that is provided on the channel, and thereby a change in the torque or the detent is produced. A second coil that is provided on the channel senses a direction of rotation of the rotary knob.

Abstract: An optical indicator element includes a locator and function symbol that is equipped with a shared optical indicator element, with the intensity of the shared light input being adapted and regulated in brightness to the current ambient brightness. Regulation is accomplished through a PWM (pulse-width modulated) signal from a control device. The indicator element itself comprises a shared and preferably colored plastic that illuminates the locator and function symbol, with the area of the joint symbol being cleared of colored paint on the plastic. The light is preferably guided from at least one light source to the plastic by a light conductor into which the light is coupled, but this can also be accomplished by at least one light source located directly beneath the plastic.

Abstract: A one-piece keyboard housing in a simple but compact manner is provided by using an internal gas pressure injection molding process (air mold process). With this process, the keyboard housing can be formed as a one-piece molded part with recesses and cavities. The cavity serves to reduce weight, and the process itself improves stability within the keyboard housing. The molded part is formed of a traylike first housing shell, in which a keypad can be mounted, and a second housing shell with recesses that joins the first housing shell in an n-shape.

Abstract: A fastening spring that includes a tolerance zone and a restraint zone. The tolerance zone has a steep incline and the adjoining restraint zone has a flat incline. This allows for tolerance compensation that is increased by the disassembly strength. Furthermore, the fastening spring can be easily manufactured and allows for a damage-free disassembly and assembly of a first component into a second component.

Abstract: The regulated heating and air conditioning installations normally enable, when controlled, integration of the main factors affecting the comfort of passengers, in particular preventing the windscreen and the other windows from getting clouded. In order to detect incipient mist formation, condensation and moisture sensors generate detection signals, which initiate steps for preventing mist formation when a threshold value is exceeded. Measures are taken for preventing mist formation based on requirements and in a manner adapted to the changing moisture conditions of the glass panes, for example, by using points of intervention stored in a processor. Steps are therefore taken to prevent mist formation, based on moisture variation gradients of the glass panes.

Abstract: The proposed device uses a plastic of any color with a cavity introduced in it and preferably with a polished inner surface, instead of a reflector or a light guide, to utilize increased reflection with grazing incidence (large angle of incidence versus the normal to the surface). The light from a light source is transported to the symbol by reflection in this cavity and on the inner surface. The light source is preferably of a flat structure.

Abstract: Increasing complexity brings with it the desire to combine the various display schemes necessary for the different automatic transmission variants in one display unit or one display module. To this end, provision is made to integrate the electronics for the display unit in the combined display scheme, wherein the electronics automatically detect which transmission is installed, preferably by a system cable harness of the motor vehicle, and hence which of the display schemes is needed in order to operate the appropriate light or display in accordance with the shift position. The unneeded display scheme or schemes remain in the deactivated state, and hence are not visible to the driver of the vehicle.

Abstract: A dust or dirt-sweeping brush is provided in a swiping slot and/or insertion slot of a card reader. Preferably, the brush is mounted on an interior housing wall of the card reader so that the bristles of the brush cover the swiping slot and/or the insertion slot. The bristles of the brush can thereby be fixed into place on a self-adhesive band, which is affixed at least in the area of the swiping slot and/or the insertion slot of the card reader, thereby protecting a reader head that is located below. It is also possible to caulk the brush from the inside or to fix it into place during the injection molding process. The bristles are very fine fibers that yield to pressure so that the swiping and/or insertion of the card does not negatively influence the functioning of the card reader.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor unit for detecting the wetting of a window. Signals from the condensation sensor are used to control an air conditioning, heating, and/or ventilation unit. The signals of the rain sensor, on the contrary, are used to control a windshield wiper or washing unit for vehicles. A sensor unit, which comprises two sensors, is placed on the interior of the window. In a preferred variant, both are coupled to a common switchable evaluation unit, so that through mutual evaluation of the two sensors or their signals, both incipient condensation on the interior of a vehicle window and the wetting of the exterior, e.g., by rain, is detected. In an improvement of the invention, both sensors are integrated into a sensor module.

Abstract: A keyboard having a housing, which is designed as one piece and wherein a top open housing shell is designed in conjunction with a keypad such that the top shell is traylike and is attached within the housing at an angle. A bottom base of the top open housing shell forms a bottom open housing shell. The bottom open housing shell has at least one recess provided for the installation of a card reader.

Abstract: During vehicle travel, a container can be pushed, pressed downwards and lifted, but not rotated. As such, a holder is provided that enables the removal of a container, by rotating the container about a vertical axis. The holder comprises clamping lugs that have a rotatable part integrated into the clamping lugs and snapped into an axial bearing of the clamping lugs. The rotatable part is designed in the shape of a cylinder, and is pressed into a stable center position by means of a type of torsion spring. The rotatable part projects outwards, relative to the clamping lug at the tip and upper side of the clamping lug, so that even when the clamping lug is deflected, the part can contact any diameter container. Furthermore, when the part is in a center position, there is preferably a sprayed-on elastomer or other rubber-like material forming a contact surface.

Abstract: In order to be able to initiate in a simple way the power adjustment of retaining arms of a device for holding containers, it is proposed to trigger control of an actuating drive initially by displacement of at least a bottom part of the holder, and subsequently by rotation of a container inside the holder. This permits unambiguous and intentional switch-on of the actuating drive inside the holder.

Abstract: As is well known, the influencing variables most important for a sense of comfort are considered during regulation in controlled heating and air conditioning units. Incipient condensation on the windshield or other windows in particular is to be prevented thereby. Sensor modules, inter alia, are employed for this purpose, which have, for example, a capacitative thin-layer sensor. An additional thermopile is provided for determining the window temperature. The present idea eliminates the determination of the window temperature, for which purpose a sensor working capacitatively in the exemplary embodiment is brought directly to the window temperature and a direct thermal coupling of the sensor with the window occurs via a metal plate connected directly to the sensor and a thin adhesive film. The metal plate can thereby form one of the electrodes of the sensor itself or be connected to said electrode in a direct thermal manner. The use of the sensor in the sensor module is a further preferred embodiment.

Abstract: The invention concerns a motor controller for a motor with a feedback potentiometer, preferably for central air valve actuation. In the field of climate control, for example for utility vehicles and motor vehicles, the air ducts in heating, air conditioning and/or ventilation systems have valves to control the flow of air or water. These valves are adjusted either mechanically, e.g. by Bowden cables or flexible shafts, or using motors. It is proposed that a continuous rotation potentiometer be employed as a feedback potentiometer and specially designed control electronics be used to control a motor with the continuous rotation potentiometer. In the control electronics for the motor controller, an angular difference between an adjusted control potentiometer and the motor feedback potentiometer is determined in order to determine therefrom the shortest adjustment path to the chosen setpoint position for the motor when the angular difference is greater than 180 degrees.

Abstract: A keyboard housing is built of one piece of material, with the keyboard housing being formed of an upper housing shell and a joining S-shaped lower housing shell. In this regard, the keyboard housing is preferably of resinous plastic. The keypad and, for example, the keyboard electronic circuitry are contained in the upper housing shell, with the auxiliary components being the lower housing shell.

Abstract: A rotary knob device (1, 20) having a key function includes a key (5, 30) in a rotary knob (2, 23), which is operated separately from the rotary knob so that the key (5, 30) need not also be moved when the rotary knob (2, 23) is moved. In this regard, a holder (6, 24.1) is provided inside the rotary knob (2, 23), on which the rotary knob (2, 23) and the key (5, 30) are mounted to be thereby linked together structurally while functioning separately. The rotational control is transmitted by the rotary knob (2, 23), while key, linear movement, control is transmitted through the separate key (5, 30).

Abstract: A safety circuit for protecting against an inadvertent operation activation of a pneumatic drive of an automatic assembling machine has at least one vertical cylinder (1) and one horizontal cylinder (2), each being controlled by one of first and second multi-way valves (3, 4) and fed by a primary pneumatic circuit. Two further pneumatic control circuits (8,9) are included in the automatic assembling machine that are automatically switch into and out of the primary pneumatic circuit, wherein the at least one vertical cylinder (1) and the at least one horizontal cylinder (2), after the “switching into”, either remains in its current position or moves to a rest position. Opened and closed switching of a pneumatic primary circuit is caused according to an activated mode-of-operation set by a system control (SPS) of the automatic assembling machine.