Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing a contact on a silicon carbide semiconductor substrate and to a silicon carbide semiconductor device comprising a crystalline silicon carbide semiconductor substrate and a contact layer directly in contact with the silicon carbide semiconductor substrate surface and having, at an interface to the semiconductor substrate, a contact phase portion comprising at least a metal, silicon, and carbon. The method comprises the acts of providing a crystalline silicon carbide semiconductor substrate, depositing a metallic contact material layer onto the crystalline silicon carbide semiconductor substrate, and irradiating at least a part of the silicon carbide semiconductor substrate and at least a part of the metallic contact material layer at their interface with at least one thermal annealing laser beam, thereby generating a contact phase portion at the interface, wherein the contact phase portion comprises at least a metal, silicon, and carbon.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reducing the start-up time of a driver information system in a vehicle comprising providing a driver information system having an operating mode, a standby mode, and a hibernation mode. The driver information system is operated with operating power in the operating mode, is not supplied with operating power in the hibernation mode, and is operated with reduced operating power in the standby mode. A seat occupancy detection device is provided for detecting seat occupancy of at least one vehicle seat. An activation system is provided for activating and operating the driver information system in the operating mode at least when the activation system is active; and changing the driver information system from the operating mode to the standby mode when the activation system is switched off and when seat occupancy is detected at the same time.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a trench that extends from a first surface into a silicon carbide body. A first doped region and an oppositely doped second doped region are formed in the silicon carbide body. A lower layer structure is formed on a lower sidewall portion of the trench. An upper layer stack is formed on an upper sidewall portion and/or on the first surface. The first doped region and the upper layer stack are in direct contact along the upper sidewall portion and/or on the first surface. The second doped region and the lower layer structure are in direct contact along the lower sidewall portion.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a metal silicide layer comprises performing laser thermal annealing of a surface region of a silicon carbide (SiC) substrate, exposing a surface of a thus obtained silicon layer, depositing a metal layer above the exposed silicon layer, and/or thermally treating a stack of layers, comprising the silicon layer and the metal layer, to form a metal silicide layer. Alternatively and/or additionally, the method may comprise depositing a silicon layer above a SiC substrate, depositing a metal layer, and/or performing laser thermal annealing of the SiC substrate and a stack of layers above the SiC substrate to form a metal silicide layer, wherein the stack of layers comprises the silicon layer and the metal layer. Moreover, a semiconductor device is described, comprising a SiC substrate, a metal silicide layer, and a polycrystalline layer in direct contact with the SiC substrate and the metal silicide layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reducing the start-up time of a driver information system in a vehicle comprising providing a driver information system having an operating mode, a standby mode, and a hibernation mode. The driver information system is operated with operating power in the operating mode, is not supplied with operating power in the hibernation mode, and is operated with reduced operating power in the standby mode. A seat occupancy detection device is provided for detecting seat occupancy of at least one vehicle seat. An activation system is provided for activating and operating the driver information system in the operating mode at least when the activation system is active; and changing the driver information system from the operating mode to the standby mode when the activation system is switched off and when seat occupancy is detected at the same time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the purification of an ionic liquid by means of fractional crystallization in which a part of the ionic liquid is crystallized and the crystallizate formed is separated from the liquid remainder. In this respect the ionic liquid is charged with a certain amount of at least one entrainer substance.

Abstract: A method for the regeneration of an electrolyte bath used for an electroless metallization process. A partial flow of electrolyte is removed from the process vessel and regenerated by dialysis or electrodialysis. Metallization components are replenished. The partial flow is returned to the process vessel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of purifying an ionic liquid by means of fractional crystallization in which a part of the ionic liquid is crystallized and the crystals formed are separated off from the residual liquid. In this process a certain amount of at least one entrainer substance is added to the ionic liquid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for holding lines in an aircraft that comprising at least one line inlet, at least one line outlet and at least one holding space for holding at least part of a line section extending between the line inlet and the line outlet, wherein the line section has a length that is equal to or greater than the clear distance between the relevant line inlet and line outlet, and wherein the holding space comprising means for separably holding, as well as for shortening or lengthening in a reversibly guided fashion, a line end that protrudes from the line inlet and/or line outlet. Due to the devices according to the invention, lines that are individually cut to length are no longer required for connecting reconfigurable rows of passenger seats because the device according to the invention releases or takes up excess line lengths depending on the position of the rows of passenger seats.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a power supply network with integrated undervoltage protection for the energised consumers in a passenger aircraft having multiple consumers, with a power supply having multiple output connectors, wherein each consumer is connected to one of the multiple output connectors via a main supply wire, wherein each of the multiple consumers includes at least one individual load, each of which is designed for a predetermined supply voltage range.

Abstract: A method for the regeneration of an electrolyte bath used for an electroless metallization process. A partial flow of electrolyte is removed from the process vessel and regenerated by dialysis or electrodialysis. Metallization components are replenished. The partial flow is returned to the process vessel.

Abstract: A process for detecting a state of a catalyst system installed in an exhaust gas channel of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, through which catalyst system exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine flows so that the exhaust gas can be purified, the process including the steps of: detecting at least one operating parameter of the catalyst system over a predetermined time period, determining a total energy output of the internal combustion engine within the predetermined time period, and calculating a characteristic value (k) based on a ratio of the at least one operating parameter to the total energy output.

Abstract: A method of purifying an electrolyte by bringing the electrolyte into contact with a first effective surface of a separating unit that is permeable to contaminants to be removed from the electrolyte, and bringing a purifying liquid into contact with a second effective surface of the separating unit. A concentration level of contaminants in the purifying liquid is maintained to maintain a contaminant driving force gradient between the electrolyte and the purifying liquid so contaminants transfer from the electrolyte into the purifying liquid. An apparatus for purifying an electrolyte having a first volumetric region for holding the electrolyte, a second volumetric region for holding a purifying liquid, and a separating unit that is permeable to the contaminants to be removed from the electrolyte and which fluidically separates the first and second volumetric regions.

Abstract: Process for making micro-sized chitosan in powder form comprising spray drying an aqueous suspension of nano-sized chitosan. There is also provided micro-sized chitosan powder obtainable according to that process and uses thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of a catalyst for reducing the quantity and/or size of particles in the exhaust gases of a diesel engine by means of a zeolite-containing catalyst having acidic properties.

Abstract: A hair-care composition comprising an anti-dandruff effective amount of anti-microbial oligoaminosaccharide comprising at least about 50%, preferably at least about 80% by weight of oligoaminosacharides having from 1 to 50 monomer units. The invention also relates to the use of the anti-microbial oligoaminosaccharide in a hair-care composition for providing anti-dandruff activity.

Abstract: In the reduction of at least one of the quantity and size of particulates in the exhaust of a diesel engine, wherein said exhaust is contacted with a catalyst, the improvement wherein the catalyst comprises a combination of a zeolite having acidic properties and at least one oxide of a transition metal or rare earth. SO2 in the exhaust gas is not oxidized to sulfates.

Abstract: Compositions comprising chitosan in the form of a network of nano-sized fibres. There is also provided a process for making such compositions. The compositions have improved solubility and activity. The compositions are useful in hair care, skin care, odour control, wound care, blood management, sanitary compositions, oral care, film formation, hard surface treatment, fabric treatment, release of hydrophobic or hydrophilic materials, plant care, water purification and drug delivery.

Abstract: Compositions comprising chitosan in the form of a network of nano-sized fibres. There is also provided a process for making such compositions. The compositions have improved solubility and activity. The compositions are useful in hair care, skin care, odour control, wound care, blood management, sanitary compositions, oral care, film formation, hard surface treatment, fabric treatment, release of hydrophobic or hydrophilic materials, plant care, water purification and drug delivery.

Abstract: In the reduction of at least one of the quantity and size of particulates in the exhaust of a diesel engine, wherein said exhaust is contacted with a catalyst, the improvement wherein the catalyst comprises a combination of a zeolite having acidic properties and at least one oxide of a transition metal or rare earth. SO2 in the exhaust gas is not oxidized to sulfates.