Abstract: A method for aspirating a first liquid medium of two liquid media of different density from a sample container comprises: lowering a pipette of the laboratory automation device into the sample container until a pipette tip of the pipette has passed a lowering distance from the surface of the first liquid medium in the sample container, wherein the lowering distance is chosen, such that the pipette tip passes at least an aspiration volume in the sample container; aspirating liquid from the sample container during the lowering of the pipette by generating an underpressure in the pipette, wherein the first liquid medium is aspirated, and after the interface and the pipette tip pass each other, the second liquid medium of the two liquid media is aspirated; measuring a pressure in the pipette during the lowering of the pipette and detecting a position of the interface, when a slope of the pressure changes; when the lowering distance has been passed and no interface is detected, aspirating the aspiration volume fro

Abstract: A method may include pressing a sensor module onto a control board such that the sensor module is at an initial position where an air gap is present between a module body of the sensor module and the control board such that compliant pins of the sensor module are partially inserted into the control board. The method may include mounting the control board on a power module to cause pins of the power module to be at least partially inserted into the control board and the sensor module to be at least partially inserted in the power module such that a protrusion is through an opening in a busbar. The method may include pressing the control board onto the power module to cause the pins of the power module to be further inserted into the control board, the sensor module to be further inserted in the power module, and the sensor module to be at a final position.

Abstract: A method may include pressing a sensor module onto a control board such that the sensor module is at an initial position where an air gap is present between a module body of the sensor module and the control board such that compliant pins of the sensor module are partially inserted into the control board. The method may include mounting the control board on a power module to cause pins of the power module to be at least partially inserted into the control board and the sensor module to be at least partially inserted in the power module such that a protrusion is through an opening in a busbar. The method may include pressing the control board onto the power module to cause the pins of the power module to be further inserted into the control board, the sensor module to be further inserted in the power module, and the sensor module to be at a final position.

Abstract: Various aspects of the disclosure relate to ensuring that beamforming feedback is substantially coherent across frequency, time, or some other condition. The disclosure relates in some aspects to generating steering matrix feedback (e.g., at an IEEE 802.11 STA). In some aspects, the generation of the steering matrix feedback uses a singular value decomposition (SVD) algorithm that helps ensure coherence of beamforming feedback. In some aspects, coherence may be achieved by ensuring that the Givens rotations of a matrix are always in the same direction.

Abstract: Methods and systems for separating hydrocarbons using one or more dividing wall columns are provided. The method can include introducing a hydrocarbon fluid to a first dividing wall column. A first overhead comprising methane, ethane, or a combination thereof, a first intermediate comprising ethane, a second intermediate comprising ethane, and a first bottoms comprising one or more hydrocarbons having three or more carbon atoms per molecule can be recovered from the first dividing wall column. The first overhead can be introduced to a process for producing a liquefied natural gas. The first bottoms can be introduced to a second dividing wall column. A second overhead comprising propane, a third intermediate comprising butane, and a second bottoms comprising one or more hydrocarbons having five or more carbon atoms per molecule can be recovered from the second dividing wall column. The second overhead can be introduced to the process for producing a liquefied natural gas.

Abstract: A method for storing and propagating error information in computer programs, in which a globally valid error variable is used for storing and propagating the error information, wherein for each recognized error a nonzero value for the error is added to the error variable as error information with a respective stipulated arithmetic sign, and wherein the value is formed from a discrepancy in the content of a coded variable from an expected value. This combination and integration of a separate global propagation variable with values derived from an error, particularly by virtue of detected discrepancies in the known error recognition and propagation paths using operations and operands in “coded processing”, achieves an increased propagation certainty.

Abstract: A method for checking a data processing device to determine its suitability for performing failsafe automation processes, wherein the data processing device includes a first and a second time base. The method comprises determining a first time value of the first time base after expiration of a time period of length T, determining a second time value of the second time base after the expiration of the time period of length T, determining a deviation between the first and the second time value, and initiating a troubleshooting measure if the deviation undershoots, i.e., undershoots or reaches, a predefined or pre-definable limit value.

Abstract: Methods and systems for separating hydrocarbons using one or more dividing wall columns are provided. The method can include introducing a hydrocarbon fluid to a first dividing wall column. A first overhead comprising methane, ethane, or a combination thereof, a first intermediate comprising ethane, a second intermediate comprising ethane, and a first bottoms comprising one or more hydrocarbons having three or more carbon atoms per molecule can be recovered from the first dividing wall column. The first overhead can be introduced to a process for producing a liquefied natural gas. The first bottoms can be introduced to a second dividing wall column. A second overhead comprising propane, a third intermediate comprising butane, and a second bottoms comprising one or more hydrocarbons having five or more carbon atoms per molecule can be recovered from the second dividing wall column. The second overhead can be introduced to the process for producing a liquefied natural gas.

Abstract: A laser scanner device (1) for imaging and/or measuring fluorescent samples located on slides and treated using fluorescent pigments includes a sample table (2) defining a sample plane (49) and a motorized transport device (3) for moving a slide from a storage unit (4) to the sample table (2) and back. The storage unit (4) includes one sample part (7) for sample slides (8) and one test part (9) for test slides (10), each having at least one depository (6) and being accessible during the operation of the laser scanner device (1) for the transport device (3). The test part (9) is implemented separately from the sample part (7) and as a test part magazine (9?) that is permanently connected to the laser scanner device (1) for one or more test slides (10).

Abstract: An industrial automation system for controlling the operating means of a technical process. The system includes fail-safe modules for interchanging process data with the operating means, i.e., actuating and measurement signals, stations having slots for modules, which slots are inter-connected by a backplane bus, a central processing unit at least for processing process signals from the technical process, and a field bus for transmitting data between the central processing unit and the stations. In accordance with the invention, the address relationship for the addressing of a fail-safe module by the central processing unit over the field bus for data processing purposes is permanently stored in a first memory in the respective module and is additionally permanently backed-up in the associated station.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and a method for the securely recording input values used for processing in a safety-oriented processor.

Abstract: A method for checking a data processing device to determine its suitability for performing failsafe automation processes, wherein the data processing device includes a first and a second time base. The method comprises determining a first time value of the first time base after expiration of a time period of length T, determining a second time value of the second time base after the expiration of the time period of length T, determining a deviation between the first and the second time value, and initiating a troubleshooting measure if the deviation undershoots, i.e., undershoots or reaches, a predefined or pre-definable limit value.

Abstract: An industrial automation system for controlling the operating means of a technical process. The system includes fail-safe modules for interchanging process data with the operating means, i.e., actuating and measurement signals, stations having slots for modules, which slots are inter-connected by a backplane bus, a central processing unit at least for processing process signals from the technical process, and a field bus for transmitting data between the central processing unit and the stations. In accordance with the invention, the address relationship for the addressing of a fail-safe module by the central processing unit over the field bus for data processing purposes is permanently stored in a first memory in the respective module and is additionally permanently backed-up in the associated station.

Abstract: Relates to a laser scanner device (1) for imaging and/or measuring fluorescent samples located on slides and treated using fluorescent pigments. Such a device comprises a sample table (2) defining a sample plane (49) and a motorized transport device (3) for moving a slide from a storage unit (4) to the sample table (2) and back. The storage unit (4) comprises one sample part (7) for sample slides (8) and one test part (9) for test slides (10), each having at least one depository (6) and being accessible during the operation of the laser scanner device (1) for the transport device (3).

Abstract: Data processing and transmission is monitored in a data processing unit. The data processing unit has a plurality of software modules, between which data is exchanged, a check sum is allocated to the data of a data transmission, which, in selected software modules is advanced by a plurality of places through one of the software modules.

Abstract: Device (1) for controlling and/or monitoring external technical processes, in particular a device for use in connection with safety-related controls. The device includes an input functionality, an output functionality and a processing functionality that can be connected with at least one higher-level unit (5) for transfer of process-influencing and/or process-monitoring signals by way of a bus system (4) to and/or from actuators (3) and/or sensors (2) connected to the device. A guaranteed response time over the bus system (4) is determined on one hand by the cycle time of the higher-level unit (5) and on the other by the signal cycle time over the bus system (4) itself. In order to provide a shorter response time than this in appropriate circumstances, the device (1) uses the processing functionality thereof to execute logical links internally.

Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of operating an automation system. A processing unit subjects useful information which is received via a telegram to a user designated logic operation and drives an output channel in accordance with a result of the logic operation. The processing unit monitors a time sequence of process data transmitted with the useful information and drives the output channel only when the time sequence lies within predetermined tolerances. A monitoring unit monitors the processing unit and shifts the output channel to a safe condition as soon as a malfunction of the processing unit is detected. The output channel may include a readback channel which reads back a signal applied to the output channel whereby the monitoring unit compares the applied signal and the readback signal and shifts the output channel to a safe state if the applied signal and the readback signal differ.

Abstract: A method for operating an automation system and an associated automation system in which all the error-free information is exchanged cyclically with a safety protocol, whereby information losses can thereby be recognized. Data that do not change even in the course of multiple transmissions are transmitted only once.

Abstract: According to the invention, monitoring the data processing and transmission in a data processing unit can be achieved, whereby, in a data processing unit (1) with a number of software modules (2A, 2B), between which data (D) is exchanged, a check sum (P) is allocated to the data (D) of a data transmission, which, in selected software modules (2B) is advanced by a number of places (n) allocated thereto, on a successful passage of said data (D) through one of said software modules (2B).

Abstract: Device (1) for controlling and/or monitoring external technical processes, in particular a device for use in connection with safety-related controls. The device includes an input functionality, an output functionality and a processing functionality that can be connected with at least one higher-level unit (5) for transfer of process-influencing and/or process-monitoring signals by way of a bus system (4) to and/or from actuators (3) and/or sensors (2) connected to the device. A guaranteed response time over the bus system (4) is determined on one hand by the cycle time of the higher-level unit (5) and on the other by the signal cycle time over the bus system (4) itself. In order to provide a shorter response time than this in appropriate circumstances, the device (1) uses the processing functionality thereof to execute logical links internally.