Abstract: A formulation for a casting compound is provided that includes a base slip with a proportion between 18% and 36% by weight, quartz glass particles with a proportion between 40% and 70% by weight, and particles of an admixture having at least one multicomponent glass with a proportion between 10% and 40% by weight. The base slip contains water as dispersion medium with a content between 30% and 50% by weight and ultrafine Si0 2 particles colloidally distributed therein with a content between 50% and 70% by weight, and wherein the total water content in the formulation is 10% to 20% by weight. A composite material is also provided that has a largely crystalline Si0 2 matrix and particles of a multicomponent glass embedded therein.

Abstract: A formulation usable to produce plates and shaped bodies has a base slip, quartz glass particles and multicomponent glass particles that are crystallizable or at least partly crystallized. The base slip contains water as dispersion medium with a content between 30% and 50% by weight and ultrafine SiO2 particles distributed, preferably colloidally therein, with a proportion between 50% and 70% by weight. The proportion of quartz glass particles in the formulation is in the range from 40% to 70% by weight and the proportion the multicomponent glass particles in the formulation is in the range from 5% to 37% by weight. The formulation can be used in a composite material. Firing aids can be made from the composite material.

Abstract: An electronic unit, in particular for an electric fluid pump of a motor vehicle, having a functional element for holding electronics, and a heat sink arranged on the functional element, wherein the functional element and the heat sink are sealed from one another in fluid-tight fashion by means of a cured sealing compound of a liquid seal, and wherein the functional element has at least one ventilation opening, which is open in the course of a curing process for the sealing compound, and which, after the curing process, is sealed in fluid-tight fashion by means of a closure element.

Abstract: A method for updating a map of the surrounding area wherein the map is used when controlling a transportation vehicle. The transportation vehicle attempts, when travelling along a carriageway, to detect a landmark recorded in the map of the surrounding area using sensors. In response to the transportation vehicle being unable to detect the landmark using its sensors, the transportation vehicle prepares a proposal for deletion which is sent to an external central computer. The proposal for deletion is examined in the external central computer and deletes the landmark from the map of the surrounding area in response to the proposal for deletion being verified. In the method, information regarding a visibility range for the landmark is entered in the map of the surrounding area specifying at what range the landmark is visible from a road permitting a more effective detection of landmarks.

Abstract: In a method for protecting vehicle occupants in the passenger compartment of a vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle. It is provided as essential to the invention that at least one structure-borne sound signal is captured by at least one structure-borne sound sensor, the captured structure-borne sound signal is evaluated by at least one evaluation device, the structure-borne sound signal can be produced by at least one person located in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, and after the capture and evaluation of the structure-borne sound signal at least one control signal is sent to a triggering device of an air supply device to introduce air into the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

Abstract: In a method for wireless communication between a vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle, and an external service facility, wherein at least one communication signal is sent to the vehicle by the service facility, it is provided as essential for the purposes of the invention that the communication signal is a sound signal, and that the communication signal is captured by at least one structure-borne sound sensor installed in the vehicle.

Abstract: With a method for detecting a contact event on the outer shell of a vehicle, wherein at least one structure-borne sound signal is detected by means of a structure-borne sound sensor, the detected structure-borne sound signal is evaluated by an evaluation device, and wherein the vehicle comprises a number of structure-borne sound sensors, it is provided as essential to the invention that each of the structure-borne sound sensors is associated with an area of the vehicle outer shell via a structure-borne sound conducting link, that an evaluation device is used to ascertain, by which of the structure-borne sound sensors respectively, a structure-borne sound signal has been detected, that conclusions are drawn from the association of the structure-borne sound sensors as to the area of the vehicle outer shell which has been touched, and that conclusions are drawn from the area of the vehicle shell which has been touched, as to the kind of underlying contact.

Abstract: A charger for a motor vehicle and to a method for charging an energy store of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: In a method for activating at least one functional device of a vehicle, it is provided as essential to the invention that at least one structure-borne sound signal caused by a vehicle user on the vehicle shell of the vehicle is detected with at least one structure-borne sound sensor, that the structure-borne sound signal is analysed by means of an evaluation device for the presence of a specific signal pattern, that a specific functional device of the vehicle is assigned to the signal pattern and that on detecting the specific signal pattern a control signal is sent to the functional device assigned to the signal pattern.

Abstract: In a method for wireless communication between a vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle, and an external service facility, wherein at least one communication signal is sent to the vehicle by the service facility, it is provided as essential for the purposes of the invention that the communication signal is a sound signal, and that the communication signal is captured by at least one structure-borne sound sensor installed in the vehicle.

Abstract: In a method for protecting vehicle occupants in the passenger compartment of a vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle. It is provided as essential to the invention that at least one structure-borne sound signal is captured by at least one structure-borne sound sensor, the captured structure-borne sound signal is evaluated by at least one evaluation device, the structure-borne sound signal can be produced by at least one person located in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, and after the capture and evaluation of the structure-borne sound signal at least one control signal is sent to a triggering device of an air supply device to introduce air into the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

Abstract: With a method for detecting a contact event on the outer shell of a vehicle, wherein at least one structure-borne sound signal is detected by means of a structure-borne sound sensor, the detected structure-borne sound signal is evaluated by an evaluation device, and wherein the vehicle comprises a number of structure-borne sound sensors, it is provided as essential to the invention that each of the structure-borne sound sensors is associated with an area of the vehicle outer shell via a structure-borne sound conducting link, that an evaluation device is used to ascertain, by which of the structure-borne sound sensors respectively, a structure-borne sound signal has been detected, that conclusions are drawn from the association of the structure-borne sound sensors as to the area of the vehicle outer shell which has been touched, and that conclusions are drawn from the area of the vehicle shell which has been touched, as to the kind of underlying contact.

Abstract: A charger for a motor vehicle and to a method for charging an energy store of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A method for the production of nanodispersions, in which at least two metered partial streams are brought together in such a way that they are subject to thorough mixing caused by turbulence. The partial streams have a flow rate in the range from 0.1 to 500 ml/h and the mixed stream has an overall flow rate in the range from 1 ml/h to 500 ml/h. The turbulent mixing leads to the formation of a disperse phase in a continuous phase with a dispersity of 0.1 to 5000 nm. Another object of the invention is a method for the in-situ formulation of a pharmaceutical dispersion, with in-line application of the pharmaceutical dispersion.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel copolylactides which have been polymerized from units of racemic lactide and the comonomers &egr;-caprolactone, &dgr;-valerolactone, 1,4-dioxan-2-one or 1,3-dioxan-2-one in a lactide/comonomer molar ratio of 90-80/10-20 in the presence of tin(II) di(ethylhexanoate) as initiator and of a cocatalyst at about 160° C., and have a glass transition temperature between 30 and 43° C., a molecular weight Mn of from 15,000 to 50,000 and a polydispersity Pn (Mw/Mn) between 1.2 and 2. The novel copolylactides are particularly suitable in an outstanding manner for the management of all types of wounds.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of absorbable physiologically acceptable sheets of copolymers for preventing postoperative adhesions after surgical procedures and is characterized in that the sheets consist of racemic lactide and .epsilon.-caprolactone, .sigma.-valerolactone, .tau.-decalactone or .beta.-hydroxybutyric acid, prepared by reacting the monomers in the molar ratio of lactide to partner in the reaction of from 90 to 70 30 to 10 with the addition of metal carboxylates which are known per se as initiator, with a ratio of partner in the reaction to initiator of from 300:1 to more than 1000:1 at temperatures of 130.degree.-150.degree. C. over a period of 24 to 96 hours.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of copolymers of racemic lactide and .epsilon.-caprolactone, .delta.-valerolactone, gamma-decalactone or .beta.-hydroxybutyric acid, prepared by the reaction of the monomers in the molar ratio of lactide to reaction partner of approximately 95-70 to 5-30, with the addition of metal carboxylates, known per se, as initiators at temperatures of approximately 150.degree. C. over a period of time of approximately 16 to 18 hours, for the topical treatment of human or animal skin.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of copolymers of racemic lactide and .epsilon.-caprolactone, .delta.-valerolactone, gamma-decalactone or .beta.-hydroxybutyric acid, prepared by the reaction of the monomers in the molar ratio of lactide to reaction partner of approximately 95-70 to 5-30, with the addition of metal carboxylates, known per se, as initiators at temperatures of approximately 150.degree. C. over a period of time of approximately 16 to 18 hours, for the topical treatment of human or animal skin.