Abstract: A method is proposed for compensating for the dark current of an electronic sensor having a plurality of pixels with an individual dark-current response, radiation for producing an image signal (BS) being directed from a beam source (3) onto a detector arrangement (4) containing the sensor, and a recording being taken with different clock-out rate (v) (integration time) by reading the detector signal (S) present in the pixels of the sensor, in which, before the beginning or after the end of the recording with radiation, the sensor is read out without radiation with at least two different clock-out rates (v1, v2) and at least two dark-current signals (DC1, DC2) are thereby picked up for each pixel, in which the dark-current signals (DC1, DC2) that have been read out are then used to calculate a dark-current value (DV) of individual pixels of the sensor as a function of the clock-out rate (v), and in which a correction is then made, using the dark-current value associated with each pixel, to the detector signal

Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle safety device for the protection of the feet of an occupant, in particular of a driver. The vehicle safety device comprises an adjusting device and a section of a floor of the vehicle in a region of the occupant's feet. The section is a movable section and can be coupled with the adjusting device so as to be moved by the device relative to the feet.

Abstract: A plug connector with a hollow, cylindrical, metallic housing (1), within which is centrically disposed an inside contact pin (8, 9, 10) extending at least approximately over the entire axial length of the housing (1). In order to make contact with the reciprocal plug connector, the inside contact pin (8, 9, 10) is accessible at a first front side of the housing (1). The first front side is open toward the plug side of the plug connector, such that a latch interlock (6, 7) and a contact basket (5), which extends out of the open front side of the housing (1) and which is rotatably mounted about the longitudinal axis of the housing (1), are disposed co-axially with the inside contact pin (8, 9, 10). The contact basket (5) makes permanent electrical contact with the metallic housing.

Abstract: A gas bag side impact protection device for vehicle occupants comprises a compressed gas source and an inflatable gas bag. The gas bag has a first chamber inflatable at the side of the thorax of an occupant and a second inflatable chamber. The second chamber is inflatable at the side of the pelvis of the occupant and the chambers are able to be filled by the compressed gas source in such a way that they have different internal pressures in the filled state.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a starter system for an internal combustion engine, comprising an electric starter; a starter battery for warming up or starting the combustion engine; a temperature measuring device for measuring the temperature of the starter battery; a power electronics module, which actively varies the magnitude of a discharge current drawn from the starter battery for the purpose of warming up or starting the engine; and a control device, feeding the power electronics module with the value of the discharge current to be varied, where, at low battery temperatures, the maximum discharge current is lower than at high temperatures. The invention is also directed to a method for starting an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of vinylaromatic copolymer redispersion powders redispersible in water is by free-radical emulsion polymerization of a comonomer mixture including (a) one or more vinylaromatic comonomers, (b) one or more 1,3-diene comonomers (b1) or one or more comonomers (b2) from the group including the alkyl esters having 1 to 8 C atoms of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid and (c) 0.1 to 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the comonomer mixture, of one or more comonomers from the group including the ethylenically unsaturated mono- or dicarboxylic acids or the anhydrides thereof, the ethylenically unsaturated carboxamides, the ethylenically unsaturated sulfonic acid compounds and in each case the salts thereof, and drying of the aqueous copolymer dispersion obtainable thereby.

Abstract: The invention relates to a security system for flowable products in storage and/or transportation tanks, which have openings at least for filling, removing and/or controlling purposes. The security system comprises a control device and write-read devices for data exchange with connection elements connectable to the openings. The connection elements have a code mark or a tag. With each opening is clearly associated a tag. With each opening is also associated a closure element as a connection element, on which is located the tag associated with the opening. The associations of tag and opening are controllable and storable in the control device and in the case of a specific association of all the tags with the particular openings a manipulation-free state can be displayed by the control device.

Abstract: In a method and device for controlling several stepping motor modules in printing or copying machines, sets of ramp data are centrally calculated in a computer in a calculation phase and are transmitted via a bus system to one logic unit each in a loading phase. The ramp data are stored in the stepping motor modules in non-volatile memories and are loaded to corresponding main memories depending on operating conditions. When a stepping motor module is operational, the current set of ramp data is transmitted by a control unit. A start signal transmitted by the control unit initiates the conversion of the set of ramp data selected in the corresponding logic unit into impulses of variable distance.

Abstract: A mechanism and a method for generating a corona discharge by a wire-shaped corona discharge electrode provides that the corona discharge electrode is stretched between two end blocks that respectively contain a space for the acceptance of a respective electrode holder insert. The electrode holder insert has a rotational-symmetrical electrode receptacle element with an axially parallel electrode receptacle channel in the generated surface as well as a further electrode receptacle channel in an end face, the further channel adjoining the axially parallel channel and residing perpendicularly thereon, and also has an annular cap element that, proceeding from the end face containing the further electrode receptacle channel, can be pressed onto the electrode receptacle element with the corona discharge electrode guided in the electrode receptacle channels.

Abstract: The invention relates to a steering wheel comprising a steering wheel rim, a hub and at least one spoke connecting the steering wheel rim and the hub. At least one of the steering wheel rim and the spoke comprises a skeleton, a sheathing surrounding the skeleton as well as a shell arranged around the sheathing, and at least one decorative element. At least one latching element is provided by means of which the decorative element is directly attached to the shell.

Abstract: A flexible torque-transmitting device (1) such as a chain belt that runs in an endless loop around a first and second pair of conical disks in a continuously variable transmission of a motor vehicle includes means to keep the transverse force-transfer elements (2a, 2b) from becoming dislodged out of their seating positions in the lengthwise-running links (3a, 3b, 3c) of the chain belt.

Abstract: The invention concerns the embodiment of drivers for panel loudspeakers. Panel loudspeakers working according to the principle of bending waves are already known in prior art. Said loudspeakers generally consist of an acoustic panel (11) and at least one driver (12). As a general rule, the driver (12) is arranged on an auxiliary frame at a distance from the acoustic panel (11). Said embodiment makes it possible to use conventional drivers (12) that can also be utilized in cone loudspeakers. A series of problem arise when the drivers (12) are to be integrated on or into the acoustic panel (11) itself. Said embodiment requires inter alia that the different components of the driver (12) be directly mounted on the acoustic panel (12). Hence, the invention aims at providing a driver for panel loudspeakers that can be connected with little complications to the acoustic panel (11) as a pre-fabricated component.

Abstract: The belt retractor of the occupant restraint system comprises a frame, a belt reel rotatably mounted in the frame, a locking mechanism for selectively blocking the belt reel and a vehicle-sensitive sensor. The locking mechanism is actuated by an actor. An electronic control unit is provided with an input interface and an output interface. The vehicle-sensitive sensor is connected to the input interface and the actor is connected to the output interface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas bag for a vehicle occupant restraint system, the gas bag comprising a gas bag wall which consists of at least one fabric piece, the latter including adjacent partial sections of fabric which are connected with each other by a seam. Further, the invention provides a gas bag of at least two fabric pieces. An uncoated sewing thread is provided by means of which the seam is formed and which is made of a plastic having a softening temperature of more than approximately 280° C.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical product for the release of medicinal agents to the skin having absorption-increasing auxiliary agents is characterized in that the auxiliary material forms subcooled melts.

Abstract: The invention relates to a finger tester probe including a probe element for electrically contacting a contact point of a circuit board under test, an actuator including a permanently premagnetized core and a solenoid element. The solenoid element is shiftingly arranged on the permanently premagnetized core and is mechanically connected to the probe element. Upon being energized, the solenoid element is moved together with the probe element. Since in accordance with the invention a movable part of the actuator is not mechanically connected to a fixed part of the actuator, the test probe which is attached to the movable part is able to bring the probe element into contact with a contact point of a circuit board under test at high speed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasound probe for use especially in medical diagnostics using ultrasonography. Said probe comprises an ultrasound sensor configured to generate an ultrasound send signal as a reaction to an electrical impulse and to receiving a receive signal reflected on an observation medium. Said ultrasound sensor is held in a supporting device and fitted with coupling and transmission devices for sending the transmission signal into the observation medium. Said transmission signal is a multifrequency signal comprising at least two individual signals which are separate from each other in the frequency range. Said probe also comprises means to evaluate the reflected receive signal in relation to the individual signals. The ultrasound sensor has a single crystal for generating signals, which crystal is simultaneously and in a synchronized manner impinged upon by the multifrequency signal with several carrier frequencies in the proximity of its resonance frequency.

Abstract: An inflatable occupant protective cushion for use along an upper side area in vehicles between an A-column and an C-column, comprising at least two inflatable chambers connected to each other and spaced from each other in a lengthwise direction of the vehicle. The chambers include a front chamber that extends, when inflated, next to typical sitting positions of front occupants and a rear chamber that extends, when inflated, next to typical sitting positions of rear occupants, wherein the front and rear chambers have front and rear delineation lines that are curved in a manner to correspond to a perpendicular projection of the typical sitting positions onto the inflated cushion.

Abstract: A harvester has a thresher for receiving at an intake a mixture of straw and grain and for separating the mixture into grain, straw, and tailings comprised of mixed grain and straw and a conveyor recirculates a stream of the tailings along a path back to the intake. A sensor is positioned in the path and intercepts at least a portion of the stream for counting a number of grains in the portion of the stream passing the sensor. The conveyor includes an elevator for raising the tailings stream to a location above the sensor and for dropping the tailings stream on the sensor. The thresher includes a main threshing drum and a cleaning unit downstream therefrom.

Abstract: A gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system, comprising a gas bag (40) provided for being translated from a space-saving folded condition into a deployed condition in which it extends along the inner side of at least part of the side structure of the vehicle, at least one tensioning means (56) provided to connect the gas bag (40) to the side structure of the vehicle in the region of its C-column (48), is characterized in that said tensioning means (56) is connected to said gas bag (40) spaced away from its end assigned to said C-column (48).