Abstract: A contact device for electrically contacting at least two electrical functional components within a connection interface. The contact device includes at least one busbar which extends from a first to a second contact region. When the functional component is electrically contacted by different contact regions of the busbar, a current path can be formed within the busbar between the first and the second contact region. Each contact region has at least one contact connection lug for integral connection to an external contact surface. The electrical contacting of at least one contact connection lug with an external contact surface of one of the functional components is formed via an integral bond. The integral bond is interrupted by at least one through-opening in the contact connection lug such that at least two contact elements which exclusively have portions of the formed integral bond are formed on the contact connection lug.

Abstract: A humidifier for humidifying a dry cathode supply air via a moist cathode exhaust air in a fuel cell system is disclosed. The humidifier may include a housing, a membrane stack, two opposing sealing plates, and a support frame. The membrane stack may be arranged in and insertable into the housing interior in a longitudinal direction. Two opposing side surfaces of the membrane stack may be hermetically sealed. Dry cathode supply air in a supply air flow path and moist cathode exhaust air in an exhaust air flow path may be flowable through the membrane stack free of mixing. The two sealing plates may each be connected to an associated side surface of the membrane stack and may contact the housing in a sealing manner such that two air chambers are separated in an airtight manner transversely to a circulation direction extending around the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A humidifier for humidifying a first fluid via a second fluid a plurality of membranes and a plurality of spacers. The plurality of membranes may be arranged following one another in a stacking direction. The plurality of spacers may include a plurality of first spacers and a plurality of second spacers arranged alternately between the plurality of membranes in the stacking direction. The plurality of spacers may space the plurality of membranes apart with respect to one another. A first height of the plurality of first spacers extending in the stacking direction may be smaller than a second height of the plurality of second spacers extending in the stacking direction. A ratio of the second height to the first height may be at least 1.2.

Abstract: A method includes providing a semiconductor substrate and forming a fin protruding from the semiconductor substrate. The method includes forming a silicon-containing layer over the fin. The method further includes patterning the silicon-containing layer to form a gate structure over the fin, where patterning the silicon-containing layer is implemented using an etchant and a passivant that includes a silicon-containing gas and a nitrogen-containing gas.

Abstract: A thermal capacitor includes a shell and a PCM. The shell includes a first major surface that is configured to contact a container including media to be frozen. The shell defines a cavity in which the PCM is disposed. The PCM has a transition temperature in a range of ?80 degrees Celsius to ?50 degrees Celsius and is configured to rapidly freeze media from room temperature to ?60 degrees Celsius with the container including the media in contact with the shell in an enclosed space.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining a quality of empties comprising pallets, boxes and bottles which are fed to an equipment for sorting the empties according to the quality and for controlling the equipment. The method comprises: Receiving a pallet that is palletized with boxes that can comprise bottles, assigning information about an origin of the pallet; feeding the pallet to a depalletizer, determining whether the pallet is depalletizable, and assigning information to depalletizability to the pallet, and if the pallet is depalletizable, depalletizing the pallet; assigning information about the origin to each of the depalletized pallets; feeding the boxes to an empties inspection system, determining whether the boxes are unloadable, and assigning information about unloadability to each of the boxes; if the boxes are unloadable, checking the fullness with bottles and assigning information about the fullness to each of the boxes.

Abstract: A system for analyzing fluid-borne particles includes a reservoir for storing a fluid with fluid-borne particles, a fluid intake module coupled to the reservoir by a fluidical conduit, the fluid intake module having a container with a changeable volume, wherein when the volume increases, the fluid intake module receives fluid, and when the volume decreases, the fluid intake module expels fluid, and a particulate matter (PM) sensor disposed in the fluidical conduit between the reservoir and the fluid intake module for detecting fluid-borne particles in the fluidical conduit.

Abstract: Method for operating a vacuum pump wherein first the humidity in the vacuum pump and/or humidity of an environment of the vacuum pump is determined and if the determined humidity is above a pre-set threshold generating a control signal to control condensation reduction means for reduction of humidity within the vacuum pump and/or generating a warn signal.

Abstract: A semiconductor power module including first and second power transistors situated in parallel between first collector and first emitter strip conductors. A first connection surface of each of the power transistors is electroconductively connected to the first collector strip conductor, and a second connection surface of each of the power transistors is electroconductively connected to the first emitter strip conductor, so that a current flowing between the first collector strip conductor and the first emitter strip conductor is divided between the power transistors when the power transistors are each conductively connected via an applied control voltage. A first external power contact is directly contacted with the first collector strip conductor at a first contact area, a second external power contact is contacted with the first emitter strip conductor at a second contact area via a first connecting element, and the second contact area is positioned asymmetrically between the power transistors.

Abstract: The present discloses a pump apparatus having a first pump and at least one controller. The at least one controller is suitable for generating a first control signal for controlling the first pump. The at least one controller is suitable for generating a second control signal for controlling operation of a second pump. The second pump is external to the pump apparatus. One or more pump connection port is provided in the pump apparatus for outputting the second control signal to the second pump. The present disclosure also relates to a vacuum system comprising a pump apparatus of the type described herein.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing plastic containers filled with a liquid, having a forming device which forms plastic preforms into containers, and a filling device which fills the containers with the liquid, wherein the filling device has a transport device which transports the containers during their filling and a plurality of filling devices which fill the containers. The apparatus has a supply line in order to supply the liquid to be filled to the filling devices, wherein the apparatus has at least one heat exchanger device which is configured to also use the liquid to be supplied to the filling devices for cooling components of the forming device and/or a further treatment unit.

Abstract: A fuel cell device of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The fuel cell device includes a fuel cell, a supply air path leading to the fuel cell for a cathode supply air flow, and an exhaust air path leading away from the fuel cell for a cathode exhaust air flow. The supply air path and the exhaust air path are routed through a humidifier that humidifies the supply air and dehumidifies the exhaust air. The exhaust air path is further routed through a water separator that removes water from the exhaust air to provide evaporation water. A heat exchanger for cooling the fuel cell is provided that has an evaporative cooler for cooling the heat exchanger. The evaporative cooler is assigned to the water separator in fluidic communication and is supplied with evaporation water by the water separator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining a quality of empties comprising pallets, boxes and bottles which are fed to an equipment for sorting the empties according to the quality and for controlling the equipment. The method comprises: Receiving a pallet that is palletized with boxes that can comprise bottles, assigning information about an origin of the pallet; feeding the pallet to a depalletizer, determining whether the pallet is depalletizable, and assigning information to depalletizability to the pallet, and if the pallet is depalletizable, depalletizing the pallet; assigning information about the origin to each of the depalletized pallets; feeding the boxes to an empties inspection system, determining whether the boxes are unloadable, and assigning information about unloadability to each of the boxes; if the boxes are unloadable, checking the fullness with bottles and assigning information about the fullness to each of the boxes.

Abstract: Method for operating and in particular monitoring a scroll pump, with the steps of: producing a vacuum by means of the scroll pump; determining a pressure of the scroll pump; comparing the recorded pressure with a pre-set threshold value; and if the recorded pressure lies above the pre-set threshold value, emitting a warning signal. The invention furthermore concerns a scroll pump for executing the method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit arrangement (100), comprising a control circuit (104) and a switch element (101) for switching between a first and a second switching state of the switch element (101). The control circuit (104) is designed to provide a variable pre-control voltage dependent on the switching state of the switch element. The pre-control voltage is a voltage that is switched as the control voltage at the switch element (101) during one of the two switching states. The control circuit (104) is also designed to vary the pre-control voltage during each of the switching states.

Abstract: An analysis container includes an outer tube and a plurality of inner tubes. The outer tube defines a buffer volume that is configured to receive a buffer material. The plurality of inner tubes is disposed within the buffer volume. Each inner tube has an inner diameter equal to or less than 6 mm and is configured to receive a biopharmaceutical composition therein. The outer tube is configured such that the buffer material and the biopharmaceutical composition are axially frozen.

Abstract: The invention relates to a container processing system (10A-10U) for processing containers (12). The container processing system (10A-10U) has a plurality of processing units (22) for processing the containers (12) and a planar drive system (14) for transporting the containers (12). The planar drive system (14) is configured to move the plurality of movement devices (18) individually to a selection of the plurality of processing units (22) according to in each case one of a plurality of processing profiles for different container processing, wherein each of the plurality of processing profiles has a different selection of the plurality of processing units (22). The container processing system (10A-10U) advantageously allows flexible processing of different containers (different formats, contents, designs, bundles, packages, etc.) from a lot size of 1.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for treating container blanks for a container treatment installation. The device comprises a furnace for heating the container blanks. A planar drive system has a base element and a plurality of movement devices for transporting the container blanks. The plurality of movement devices are movable independently from one another relative to the base element. The container blanks can be moved through the furnace by means of the plurality of movement devices.

Abstract: A bioprinter for manufacturing an organomimetic device includes at least one extruder configured to extrude a material, a three-dimensional movement assembly, and a build-plate mounted to the three-dimensional movement assembly. The build-plate may be configured to support the organomimetic device being manufactured. The bioprinter may further include a controller operably coupled to and configured to control the at least one extruder, the three-dimensional movement assembly, and the build-plate. The at least one extruder may be non-movably fixed to the cabinet.

Abstract: A thermal capacitor includes a shell and a PCM. The shell includes a first major surface that is configured to contact a container including media to be frozen. The shell defines a cavity in which the PCM is disposed. The PCM has a transition temperature in a range of ?80 degrees Celsius to ?50 degrees Celsius and is configured to rapidly freeze media from room temperature to ?60 degrees Celsius with the container including the media in contact with the shell in an enclosed space.