Abstract: A method for synchronizing a slave system and a master system, the method including the steps of providing a slave clock signal based on a communicated master clock signal, providing a time frame in the slave system, wherein the time frame is defined by a minimum time and a maximum time, and a phase of the slave clock signal corresponds to an actual time, determining if the slave clock signal is in the time frame, and regulating the slave clock signal, if it is not in the time frame, so that the slave clock signal occurs within the time frame.

Abstract: A gradient coil system for a magnetic resonance apparatus has at least one gradient coil for generating a magnetic gradient field at least within an imaging volume, the gradient field having a main field component co-linear with a basic magnetic field and at least one accompanying field component perpendicular to the main field component, and an electrically conductive shield for shielding the accompanying field component, at least toward the imaging volume.

Abstract: A device for triggering an airbag device that is accommodated in a steering wheel is described. The device has a firing cap for an airbag device that is accommodated in a steering wheel and is fired by a light pulse that is supplied via an optical waveguide. A coupling device, which decouples the optical waveguide from the rotation of the steering wheel but ensures that the light pulse is transmitted into the firing cap from the optical waveguide and also ensures that the airbag is inflated by a gas generator, is provided between the optical waveguide and the airbag.

Abstract: For a low-pressure gas discharge switch, at least two main electrodes are arranged at least a distance d from each other, the electrodes in an arcing chamber forming a cathode and an anode of a discharge path for the low-pressure gas discharge. The gas discharge is triggered by increasing the electron density in a cathode cavity, at least the cathode in its disk-shaped area having at least one aperture, the cathode and anode apertures preferably being opposite and aligned with each other, for triggering the discharge. An arrangement generating a magnetic field superimposed on the discharge between the main electrodes (1, 1a, 2, 2a) are assigned to the main electrodes (1, 1a, 2, 2a), with which either a predominantly parallel magnetic field is generated or a predominantly perpendicular one, with regard to the direction of current in the discharge.

Abstract: In order to check the functional capability of a three-way catalytic converter of a lambda-controlled internal-combustion engine, the efficiency of the catalytic converter is determined in a conventional way by determining the oxygen storage capability of the catalytic converter. In order to be able to adjust the efficiency with regard to temperature changes, a substitute value for the temperature in the catalytic converter is calculated. Using this substitute value, the efficiency, which has been determined for the catalytic converter, is adjusted for temperature influences. The measure of the functional capability of the catalytic converter thus obtained is accurate even after non-steady-state operating phases of the internal-combustion engine when the catalytic converter is not yet isothermal.

Abstract: A vertically integrated semiconductor component is provided with component levels disposed on different substrates. The substrates are joined by a connecting layer of benzocyclobutene and an electrical connection is provided between component levels by a vertical contact structure. A low-stress gluing is provided by the benzocyclobutene connecting layer.

Abstract: The text to be classified is compared with the contents of a relevance lexicon in which the significant words of the texts to be classified per text class and their relevance to the text classes is stored. The fuzzy set is calculated which specifies for the significant words of the text to be classified, their occurrence per text class and their relevance to the text class. A probability calculation is used for determining the probability with which the fuzzy set occurs per class for the corresponding class. The class having the highest probability is selected and the text is allocated to this class.

Abstract: A solder testing apparatus comprising image processing means for performing image processing on an image of an appearance of a soldered portion to identify shape characterizing amounts for the soldered portion; and defect determining means for performing good/bad determination on the soldered portion from data derived by the image processing means and data from test parameter storing means for storing shape characterizing amounts at design time, wherein tested-object standard shape estimating means is included for extracting shape characterizing amounts of a non-defective soldered portion by statistically processing shape characterizing amounts for soldered portions identified by the image processing means, and defect determining parameters stored in the test parameter storing means are updated based on standard shape values from the tested-object standard shape estimating means, so that a highly reliable test is realized by setting defect determining parameters based on actual shapes and dimensions of leads

Abstract: A pad layer disposed on a semiconductor substrate 102 and a buffer layer 108 disposed within the pad layer such that the pad layer is divided into a dielectric layer 106 below the buffer layer and a mask layer 110 above the buffer layer. A method of forming layers with uniform planarity and thickness on a semiconductor chip includes the steps of providing a substrate having a thermal pad 106 formed thereon, forming a dielectric layer 106 on the thermal pad, forming a buffer layer 108 on the dielectric layer wherein the buffer layer is made from a different material than the dielectric layer and forming a mask layer 110 on the buffer layer wherein the buffer layer is made from a different material than the mask layer.

Abstract: A method for the operation of a computer system controlled by a real-time operating system, which computer system processes interrupt signals. Upon the occurrence of an interrupt signal, the computer system interrupts a program that is to be processed at that time. The acceptance of further interrupt signals is blocked, and an interrupt routine belonging to this interrupt signal is called. During the processing of this interrupt routine, a first part of the program parameters of the program that is interrupted upon the occurrence of the interrupt signal is intermediately stored, and at least one datum concerning the interrupt signal is stored in an interrupt memory. A branching takes place from the interrupt routine to an interrupt management routine (IVR), whereby the acceptance of further interrupt signals is again cleared during the processing of the IVR.

Abstract: In a method of etch profile shaping through wafer temperature control during an etch process wherein deposition of a passivation film is temperature dependent, a gap between a semiconductor wafer to be etched and a cathode is pressurized at a first pressure, and the pressure in the gap is changed to a second pressure at a predetermined time during the etch process, thereby altering heat transfer from the semiconductor wafer to the cathode. The temperature of the wafer is adjusted one or more times during an etching process to control profile shaping of deep trenches, contact holes and shapes for mask opening shaping during the etch process.

Abstract: The invention relates to control in the manufacture of hot strip by means of a multi-stand hot-strip rolling mill, especially a wide-strip rolling mill, which has a higher-order process control system with a sampling plan with the initial and final dimensions, with material data, rolling temperatures, etc., and a guidance system for setpoint control of lower-order decoupled individual regulators for the variable functional parameters of the individual roll stands, e.g. roll adjustment, rotational speed, torque, etc., with the setpoints of the individual regulators being determined by means of a computation process using model equations with convergent parameter adjustment to the actual parameters, in such fashion that a working point control that can be determined in advance is provided and section control and regulation are accomplished by changing the load distribution on the individual stands in such fashion that the working points lie in the previously determined tolerance range of a shape control line.

Abstract: Thyristors utilized as protective elements receive trigger current by way of a respective semiconductor switch having a control electrode thereof coupled to a supply battery. The supply battery thus need only supply the sum of control currents for respective semiconductor switches whereas the current required by the protective thyristors is provided by the interfering source, for example, by a stroke of lightning.

Abstract: A nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus which is capable of identifying either spectra or images of an examination subject uses a body resonator, such as a whole-body antenna, for transmitting radio frequency signals at a wave length .lambda. to induce nuclear magnetic resonance phenomena in the examination subject, and a surface coil for receiving the resulting nuclear magnetic resonance signals. For decoupling the body resonator from the surface coil, a .lambda./4 line is connected to the surface coil. A terminating end of the .lambda./4 line is short-circuited during emission of radio frequency pulses by the body resonator, and is opened during reception of nuclear magnetic resonance signals using the surface coil. An effective detuning of the body resonator is thus achieved during the reception event, and at the same time the transmission event is minimally influenced.

Abstract: For the transmission of data signals between subscriber stations of a data network to which subscriber stations designed for transmitting and receiving data signals having different signal rates, a calling subscriber station first outputs an information signal with which the data signal rate that is desired by or possible for the calling subscriber station is identified. In the called subscriber station, this information signal is compared to preset parameters existing there regarding the signal rate with which the subscriber station is capable of operating. In response to the comparison, that data signal rate which is the highest common data signal rate in view of the information signal and of the parameters is set in the cell subscriber station and is then set by an answer back signal in the calling subscriber station.

Abstract: A thyristor having a p-n-p-n semiconductor construction has a shoulder of the n-base extending through the p-base to an exterior surface of the body of the thyristor and is connected to an associated circuit to supply the circuit with operating current. The shoulder has a first part at the boundary surface of the body and a second part with smaller cross-sectional dimensions, connected between the first part and the n-base. The cross-sectional dimensions of the conductive connection between the shoulder and the external circuit are less than the corresponding dimensions of the first part, such that the conductive coating is shielded from the space charge zone adjacent the second part.

Abstract: Circuit arrangement for synchronizing a subordinate system, in particular a digital subscriber station, by a superordinate system, in particular a digital exchange, in a PCM time-multiplex telecommunication network. The circuit arrangement operates to evaluate only those synchronization bit combinations which lie at the beginning of a message signal block, thereby avoiding initiation of a re-synchronization during transmission of a block.

Abstract: This invention concerns a positioning device for a transport vehicle, constrained to travel along a track. These transport vehicles are propelled by linear motor propulsion. Along the track are positioning points typically located at stations for entering and exiting the vehicle. Associated with the means for linear motor propulsion, stationary in the track at the positioning points are two switches, means to detect the velocity of the vehicle and a logic control circuit, so that acceleration, deceleration and zero strength excitation signals can be applied to the linear motor in the vehicle so as to cause the vehicle to come to rest at the positioning point. The apparatus controls a vehicle travelling in either direction along the track.