Abstract: In an embodiment, a hardware configuration circuit reads and decodes an encoded life-cycle data and provides the decoded life-cycle data to a hardware circuit. A reset circuit monitors an external reset signal received via a reset terminal and, in response to determining that the external reset signal has a first logic level, executes a reset, a configuration, and a wait phase. The reset circuit waits until the external reset signal has a second logic level. A communication interface is activated during the wait phase and configured to receive a request. A hardware verification circuit generates a life-cycle advancement request signal when the request includes a given reference password and a reset circuit is in the wait phase. A write circuit writes a bit of the encoded life-cycle data stored in a non-volatile memory when the life-cycle advancement request signal is set, advancing the life-cycle to a given predetermined life-cycle stage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a disc for disc brakes, comprising a support and a braking band suitable to cooperate with brake calipers in order to exert a braking action on a vehicle, said braking band comprising a shaped body extending around a symmetry axis and being laterally defined by braking surfaces, said braking band being made of composite material which can be obtained by the interaction of a mixture, comprising filament rovings, essentially consisting of carbon, which are randomly arranged and have sizes which are not greater than 30 mm, with silicon at a temperature sufficient to cause the melting of said silicon, characterized in that it comprises at least one strengthening ring in carbon-carbon material located near or at the cracking point.

Abstract: The pneumatic device for personal protection (10) is of the king having at least one sac-like gas-tight element (11) connectable through an inlet boy (25) to automatically releasing inflating means and attaching means (14, 15) co-operating, in working position, with the body of a user so that the saclike element (11) is kept in a position which corresponds to the portion of the body to be protected. The sac-like element (11) encloses a variable volume chamber (13) which is intended to be filled with a gas introduced therein via said inlet box (25). The chamber (13) comprises inside flexible partition members (P) extending lengthwise a greater side of the chamber (13) and connected along their edges extending lengthwise to two opposite walls (12) of the chamber (13). The flexible partition members (P) divide the chamber (13) into a plurality of compartments (20, 21, 22) arranged one next to another and in fluid communication with each other.