Abstract: For detecting a sufficiently large voltage level and providing sufficient output power, a trigger circuit is provided. A rectifier can also be provided, providing effectively greater output power compared to known solutions at the same input voltage. Two competing field effect transistors are used in the trigger circuit. A field effect transistor connected as a diode is connected in parallel to an active rectifier in the rectifier circuit. The trigger circuit and rectifier are useable in a self-powered microsystem including a piezoelectric microgenerator.

Abstract: A workpiece having a bearing surface with at least one convex curvature and an opposing workpiece having an opposing bearing surface with a concave curvature essentially inverse to the convex curvature of the bearing surface are moved by a device relative to each other in such a manner that the convex curvature of the bearing surface can be guided into the concave curvature of the opposing bearing surface. To convert energy, a bending element, such as a disk bender, is located in a space between the bearing surface and the opposing bearing surface so that the movement of the workpiece and the opposing workpiece relative to each other results in the bending of the bending element. Mechanical energy can be converted into electrical energy with higher efficiency by using a disk bender. The workpieces and the bearing surfaces thereof are formed to provide overload protection.

Abstract: A device for detecting chemical or biochemical substances in fluids includes a first carrier having a sensor array with a plurality of electrochemical sensors. A second carrier includes a porous layer having at least one functional region, in which specifically binding capturing molecules are immobilized. The at least one functional region is arranged directly adjacent to at least one non-functionalized region. Assigned to the at least one functional region and the at least one non-functionalized region are several sensors of the sensor array, for use as an electrochemical camera.

Abstract: A connection device for random connection of a first member of first transmission/reception units with a second number of second transmission/reception units has a switching matrix that includes a third number of controllable micromechanical switching elements that are respectively activatable to establish a connection between one of the first transmission/reception units and one of the second transmission/reception units. A control circuit selectively activates the respective micromechanical switching elements to selectively establish respective connections between the first number of first transmission/reception units and the second number of transmission/reception units.

Abstract: In a method for the determination of the 3D coordinates of an object (2), a pattern is projected (1) onto the object (2) and the pattern reflected by the object (2) is taken (3) and evaluated. To improve such a method, a pattern is projected onto a first part region (12) of the object (2) in a first step and the pattern reflected by this part region (12) of the object (2) is taken. In a second step, a pattern is projected onto a second part region of the object (2) and the pattern reflected by this part region of the object (2) is taken. The patterns taken are evaluated.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for functionalizing biosensors. The biosensors are based on semiconductor chips mounted on a finished processed wafer. They are provided with sensor fields placed thereupon, which are arranged in any array, and, to be precise, for carrying out a functionalization, for example, with organic molecules such as nucleic acids like DNA, RNA and PNA or with their derivatives, proteins, sugar molecules, or antibodies.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for acquiring, detecting, and, optionally, analyzing cells in a biological liquid, which apparatus has a microfluidic system. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus includes at least one microfluidic channel having a small cross-section which is completely or partially coated with cell-specific binding molecules and which has no flow obstacles dividing the fluid flow; at least one apparatus for generating a steady and alterable liquid flow through the microfluidic channel, and optionally at least one apparatus for analyzing the genetic information of the cell.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for filtering a particle to be detected from a fluid. In at least one embodiment, the device includes a substrate and, applied above it, a protective layer, a channel being disposed between them for the purpose of receiving a fluid containing different particles. In at least one embodiment, the channel extends at least partially in a spiral shape between its inlet and outlet and on its internal wall contains a coating for attracting a particle type to be filtered, which coating is applied at least on the radially outside subsection of the internal wall of the channel. Owing to the laminar longitudinal movement of the fluid inside the channel a radially outward directed centrifugal force acts on the particles, with the result that per time unit more particles come into contact with the radially outside subsection of the internal wall of the channel than the radially inside subsection of the internal wall of the channel. The filter effect is reinforced as a result.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement, an electrochemical sensor, a sensor arrangement, and a method for processing a current signal provided by a sensor electrode are disclosed. The circuit arrangement includes a sensor electrode, a first circuit unit, electrically coupled to the sensor electrode and a second circuit unit, including a first capacitor, whereby the first circuit arrangement is embodied to hold the electrical potential of the sensor electrode in a given first reference range about a set electrical potential and, when the sensor electrode potential falls outside the first reference range, the first capacitor and the sensor electrode are coupled such that a matching of the electrical potentials is possible. The second circuit unit is embodied such that, when the electrical potential of the first capacitor falls outside a second reference range, this event is detected and the first capacitor brought to a first electrical reference potential.

Abstract: Sensor arrangement having capture molecules immobilized on any of three sensor electrodes, wherein molecules to be detected can hybridize with the capture molecules; a control circuit for applying a first electrical signal to a selected sensor electrode and simultaneously applying a second electrical signal to at least two of the other sensor electrodes; a detection device, wherein in a first operating state a reference liquid is introduced into the sensor arrangement and a reference value of an electrical signal is detected at the selected sensor electrode, and in a second operating state an analyte possibly having molecules to be detected is introduced into the sensor arrangement and a sensor value of the electrical signal is detected at the selected sensor electrode; and an evaluation circuit, which, on the basis of the reference value and the sensor value, determines whether a hybridization event has taken place at the selected sensor electrode.

Abstract: A planar-sensor arrangement is disclosed, which is used to detect particles possibly contained in an analyte. The sensor element includes a substrate, a first planar-sensor electrode and a second planar-sensor electrode which are formed on and/or in the substrate and whereon catcher molecules can be immobilized. The first sensor-electrode and the second sensor-electrode are divided, respectively, into a plurality of planar sensor-electrode partial areas. The sensor electrode partial areas of the first sensor electrode and the sensor electrode partial areas of the second sensor electrode are arranged in an alternating manner in two dimensions on the surface plane of the substrate. The sensor element also includes a wiring structure by which at least one part of the sensor electrode partial areas of the first sensor electrode are electrically coupled together, and by which at least one part of the sensor-electrode partial areas of the second sensor electrode are electrically coupled together.

Abstract: In a method for 3D digitization of an object (1), a plurality of camera images of the object are recorded and assembled to determine the 3D coordinates of the object. To improve such method, pictures are taken from the object (1), from which 2D feature points (11, 12, 13; 21, 22, 23) of the object (1) are determined. The 3D coordinates of the 2D feature points are determined. The 2D point correspondences (32, 32, 22) between the 2D feature points of a picture and the 2D feature points of another picture are determined. Several of these 2D point correspondences are selected, and an associated 3D transformation is determined. The quality of this 3D transformation is determined with reference to the transformed 3D coordinates of the 2D feature points. Valid 3D feature points are determined therefrom. For assembling the camera images of the object (1), the 3D coordinates of the valid 3D feature points are used.

Abstract: A sensor arrangement for detecting particles potentially contained in an analyte is disclosed. The arrangement includes a substrate; at least one sensor electrode which is arranged on and/or in the substrate and on which scavenger molecules, which hybridize with particles that are potentially contained in an analyte and are to be detected, are immobilized, electrically charged particles generated by hybridization being detectable on the at least one sensor electrode; and at least one diffusion detection electrode which is arranged in a surrounding region of the at least one sensor electrode and is embodied in such a way that it detects electrically charged particles that are generated by hybridization and can be diffused away by the at least one sensor electrode.

Abstract: In a method for the determination of the 3D coordinates of an object (2), a pattern is projected (1) onto the object (2) and the pattern reflected by the object (2) is taken (3) and evaluated. To improve such a method, a pattern is projected onto a first part region (12) of the object (2) in a first step and the pattern reflected by this part region (12) of the object (2) is taken. In a second step, a pattern is projected onto a second part region of the object (2) and the pattern reflected by this part region of the object (2) is taken. The patterns taken are evaluated (FIG. 3).

Abstract: A connection device for random connection of a first member of first transmission/reception units with a second number of second transmission/reception units has a switching matrix that includes a third number of controllable micromechanical switching elements that are respectively activatable to establish a connection between one of the first transmission/reception units and one of the second transmission/reception units. A control circuit selectively activates the respective micromechanical switching elements to selectively establish respective connections between the first number of first transmission/reception units and the second number of transmission/reception units.

Abstract: The invention relates to a first electrode that is provided with a holding area for holding probe molecules which can bind macro-molecular biopolymers. The first electrode and/or a second electrode is/are divided into a plurality of electrode segments that are electrically insulated from one another. The randomly selected electrode segments, independently from one another, can be electrically coupled in such a way that an effective electrode surface can be adjusted in the size thereof according to the selected electrode segments.

Abstract: A met4hod is disclosed for functionalizing biosensors. The biosensors are based on semiconductor chips mounted on a finished processed wafer. They are provided with sensor fields placed thereupon, which are arranged in any array, and, to be precise, for carrying out a functionalization, for example, with organic molecules such as nucleic acids like DNA, RNA and PNA or with their derivatives, proteins, sugar molecules, or antibodies.

Abstract: A switching circuit arrangement is disclosed. The arrangement includes a substrate, a plurality of functional units arranged on the substrate, a plurality of selection line groups including selection lines, a plurality of signal line groups including signal lines, a buffer unit for each signal line group, a selection unit which is coupled to the selection line groups, and a signal unit which is coupled to the signal lines.

Abstract: A planar-sensor arrangement is disclosed, which is used to detect particles possibly contained in an analyte. The sensor element includes a substrate, a first planar-sensor electrode and a second planar-sensor electrode which are formed on and/or in the substrate and whereon catcher molecules can be immobilised. The first sensor-electrode and the second sensor-electrode are divided, respectively, into a plurality of planar sensor-electrode partial areas. The sensor electrode partial areas of the first sensor electrode and the sensor electrode partial areas of the second sensor electrode are arranged in an alternating manner in two dimensions on the surface plane of the substrate. The sensor element also includes a wiring structure by which at least one part of the sensor electrode partial areas of the first sensor electrode are electrically coupled together, and by which at least one part of the sensor-electrode partial areas of the second sensor electrode are electrically coupled together.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement, an electrochemical sensor, a sensor arrangement, and a method for processing a current signal provided by a sensor electrode are disclosed. The circuit arrangement includes a sensor electrode, a first circuit unit, electrically coupled to the sensor electrode and a second circuit unit, including a first capacitor, whereby the first circuit arrangement is embodied to hold the electrical potential of the sensor electrode in a given first reference range about a set electrical potential and, when the sensor electrode potential falls outside the first reference range, the first capacitor and the sensor electrode are coupled such that a matching of the electrical potentials is possible. The second circuit unit is embodied such that, when the electrical potential of the first capacitor falls outside a second reference range, this event is detected and the first capacitor brought to a first electrical reference potential.