Abstract: A method for depth perception based on vehicle headlights arranged on both sides of a vehicle includes projecting, by a first vehicle headlight, a first characteristic light pattern onto a projection surface and projecting, by a second vehicle headlight, a second characteristic light pattern. The method also includes capturing an image of the projection surface using an image capturing unit of the vehicle, calculating a frequency representation of the first and second characteristic light patterns in the captured image, and calculating, by evaluating frequency components in the frequency representation of the first and second characteristic light patterns, a coverage coefficient which is correlated with the degree of mutual covering of the first and second characteristic light patterns. The method further includes comparing the coverage coefficient with a coverage threshold value and displacing the first and second characteristic light patterns relative to one another if there is insufficient mutual covering.

Abstract: An antibiotic bead having a size of from about 0.5 to about 20 millimeter is provided. The bead comprises an antibiotic agent dispersed within a polymer matrix, the polymer matrix containing a semi-crystalline olefin copolymer.

Abstract: A method for calibrating an electromagnetic radiation-emitting device configured to emit electromagnetic radiation using a sensor configured to detect electromagnetic radiation emitted by the electromagnetic radiation-emitting device includes projecting a pattern onto a projection surface by way of the emitted electromagnetic radiation, acquiring an image of the projection of the pattern using the sensor, and calculating at least one trajectory in an image plane of the sensor that describes a propagation of the emitted electromagnetic radiation based on a position of a characteristic feature of the pattern in the image and on a further item of information. The method further includes calculating a specific feature along an associated trajectory and calculating an incorrect position of the device by evaluating a geometric correspondence relationship between points in a world coordinate system and their image points in the image plane of the sensor.

Abstract: A method for determining a location relationship between a camera and a headlight of a vehicle includes positioning the vehicle at a distance in front of a surface exhibiting a calibration pattern, ascertaining the distance between the calibration pattern and the vehicle, projecting a pattern onto the surface using a headlight of the vehicle, and detecting characteristic features in the projected pattern. The method further includes performing the previous steps for at least one additional distance between the vehicle and the surface. In addition, the method includes interpolating positions of detected characteristic features that correspond in each case to one another at the different distances using a linear function, determining an intersection of the ascertained linear functions, and determining the location relationship between the camera and the headlight of the vehicle on the basis of the position of the intersection of the ascertained linear functions relative to the camera.

Abstract: An implantable device for delivery of a macromolecular drug compound is provided. The device comprises a core having an outer surface and a membrane layer positioned adjacent to the outer surface of the core. The core comprises a core polymer matrix within which is dispersed a drug compound having a molecular weight of about 0.5 kDa or more, the polymer matrix containing a hydrophobic polymer. Further, the membrane layer comprises a membrane polymer matrix within which the macromolecular drug compound is optionally dispersed. The concentration of the macromolecular drug compound in the core is greater than the concentration of the macromolecular drug compound in the membrane layer.

Abstract: An implantable device for delivery of a macromolecular drug compound is provided. The device comprises a core having an outer surface and a membrane layer positioned adjacent to the outer surface of the core. The core comprises a core polymer matrix within which is dispersed a drug compound having a molecular weight of about 0.5 kDa or more, the polymer matrix containing a hydrophobic polymer. Further, the membrane layer comprises a membrane polymer matrix within which the macromolecular drug compound is optionally dispersed. The membrane polymer matrix contains a hydrophobic polymer in combination with a hydrophilic compound, and the weight ratio of the hydrophobic polymer to the hydrophilic compound within the membrane polymer matrix ranges from about 0.25 to about 200.

Abstract: Method and device for safe switching of a signal between a first and second point. Device includes a first branch having a first switch and second switch arranged between the first and second point, and a parallel second branch having a third switch and fourth switch. A testing device instructs a control unit, in a test sequence, to open the first switch for a first period of time, open the second switch for a second period of time, open the third switch for a third period of time, and open the fourth switch for a fourth period of time. Neither the first nor second periods of time overlap with the third or fourth period of time. A testing unit tests functioning of the switches during respective period of time, and generates an error signal in the event of a malfunction of at least one switch.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (4) in the form of a medical prosthesis (9, 17), medical osteosynthesis device, hearing aid or hearing aid housing, essentially made of metal, wherein the device (4, 9, 17) comprises at least one optical diffractive element with a grating (6) which is directly embossed in an exposed metal surface in the form of a security and/or identification element. The invention furthermore relates to methods for making such devices and to uses of such devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a metal stamp for embossing a nano- or microstructure on a metal device (4), comprising the following steps for producing a 3D structured embossing area (3) on the stamp: a) providing a master (30) having a structured surface (30a), and replicating said master (30a) in the surface of a soft stamp (31); b) forming an imprint (32) on the soft stamp (31a) using a cross-linkable material to form an imprint structured surface (32a), before, while or after contacting an opposite side of the imprint (32) with said surface portion of the metal stamp, and removing said soft-stamp (31) exposing said imprint structured surface (32a); c) etch-opening said surface (32a) using a first set of etching conditions; d) using a second set of etching conditions, different from the first ones, etching the surface of the metal stamp to form said embossing area (3).

Abstract: An analog beamforming transmitter includes: a plurality of beamforming transmission circuits coupled in parallel between a signal input and an array of antenna ports, wherein the signal input is configured to receive an analog complex-valued communication signal having an in-phase and a quadrature component, wherein each antenna port of the array of antenna ports is configured to provide a dual-polarized antenna signal having a first polarization component and a second polarization component, wherein each beamforming transmission circuit is coupled between the signal input and a respective antenna port of the array of antenna ports, wherein each beamforming transmission circuit comprises a first coefficient input for receiving a first analog complex-valued beamforming coefficient a set of first analog complex-valued beamforming coefficients and a second coefficient input for receiving a second analog complex-valued beamforming coefficient of a set of second analog complex-valued beamforming coefficients.

Abstract: A drain sieve for a washbasin catches foreign objects with a specified minimum size. The drain sieve has an annular support surface to be supported on the washbasin in the region of a drain of the washbasin and a closed curved surface which lies below the support surface in the assembled state. A distance between the curved surface and the support surface depends on the size of the foreign bodies to be caught, and the drain sieve is configured such that the curved surface of the drain sieve is curved upwards in the assembled state. Openings for the outflow of the water are arranged between the outer lower edge of the curved surface and the support surface of the drain sieve.

Abstract: A method for ascertaining a distance between a vehicle and a projection surface, onto which a characteristic light pattern is projected using a headlight of the vehicle, includes detecting, in an image of the characteristic light pattern captured by an image capturing unit, a characteristic structure produced by a first light-producing unit by evaluating a geometric location relationship in the captured image between the trajectory and characteristic structures of a characteristic light pattern that are located in an environment along the trajectory; calculating a point on the ray path that is correlated with a position of the detected characteristic structure on the trajectory in accordance with the transformation rule; and calculating the distance between the vehicle and the projection surface from the calculated point on the ray path.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of carrying out heat-consuming processes, wherein the total energy required averaged over a year for the heat-consuming process originates from at least two different energy sources, where one of the energy sources is an electric energy source whose power varies in the range from 0 to 100% of the total power required, and three different energy modes can individually provide the total power required for the heat-consuming process: (i) exclusively electric energy, (ii) a mixture of electric energy and at least one further nonelectric energy source or (iii) exclusively nonelectric energy, where the changeover time in which the change from one energy mode to another energy mode is completed is not more than 30 minutes.

Abstract: A method for determining a location relationship between a camera and a headlight of a vehicle includes positioning the vehicle at a distance in front of a surface exhibiting a calibration pattern, ascertaining the distance between the calibration pattern and the vehicle, projecting a pattern onto the surface using a headlight of the vehicle, and detecting characteristic features in the projected pattern. The method further includes performing the previous steps for at least one additional distance between the vehicle and the surface. In addition, the method includes interpolating positions of detected characteristic features that correspond in each case to one another at the different distances using a linear function, determining an intersection of the ascertained linear functions, and determining the location relationship between the camera and the headlight of the vehicle on the basis of the position of the intersection of the ascertained linear functions relative to the camera.

Abstract: Method and device for safe switching of a signal between a first and second point. Device includes a first branch having a first switch and second switch arranged between the first and second point, and a parallel second branch having a third switch and fourth switch. A testing device instructs a control unit, in a test sequence, to open the first switch for a first period of time, open the second switch for a second period of time, open the third switch for a third period of time, and open the fourth switch for a fourth period of time. Neither the first nor second periods of time overlap with the third or fourth period of time. A testing unit tests functioning of the switches during respective period of time, and generates an error signal in the event of a malfunction of at least one switch.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for utilizing a hydrocarbon-comprising and/or carbon dioxide-comprising coproduct gas, accompanying gas and/or biogas, wherein hydrocarbon-comprising and/or carbon dioxide-comprising coproduct gas, accompanying gas and/or biogas is introduced into a reaction space and the multicomponent mixture comprised in the coproduct gas, accompanying gas and/or biogas is converted in a high-temperature zone at temperatures of more than 1000° C. and in the presence of a carrier into a product gas mixture which comprises more than 95% by volume of CO, CO2, H2, H2O, CH4 and N2 and optionally into a carbon-comprising solid which is deposited to an extent of at least 75% by weight, based on the total mass of the carbon-comprising solid, on the carrier where the flow velocity of the gas mixture of coproduct gas, accompanying gas and/or biogas in the reaction zone is less than 20 m/s.

Abstract: A method for capturing objects in the environment of a vehicle includes generating a first light pattern in the environment of the vehicle using a light-emitting apparatus of the vehicle; generating a second light pattern in the environment of the vehicle using an alter light-emitting apparatus of an alter vehicle; transmitting generation parameters of the second light pattern from the alter vehicle to the vehicle; optically capturing the first light pattern and the second light pattern using a capturing module of the vehicle; and generating a depth image of at least part of the environment of the vehicle on the basis of the captured light patterns and the transmitted generation parameters.

Abstract: A microfiber nonwoven composite includes: at least one layer S that contains a first fiber component; and at least one layer M that contains a second fiber component. The second fiber component is forced at least in part into the layer S. Fibers of the first fiber component comprise melt-spun include filaments deposited as a nonwoven fabric, and which are at least partially split and solidified to form elementary filaments having an average titer of less than 1 dtex. Fibers of the second fiber component include melt-blown fibers.

Abstract: A polymer composition that comprises an olefinic polymer, a flame retardant that includes a halogen-free mineral filler, and a compatibilizing agent is provided. The halogen-free mineral filler constitutes from about 20 wt. % to about 80 wt. % of the composition. The composition may exhibit a degree of water uptake of about 5 wt. % or less after being immersed in water for seven days at a temperature of 23° C.