Abstract: A device for the preparation of a plasma for producing ozone and/or oxygen ions in the air following the principle of dielectrically impeded discharge is disclosed. The device comprises: a) a flat, electrically insulating support (1, 7), the material thereof having a dielectric constant ?r which is at least higher than 30 (that is, ?r>thirty); b) an electrode (4) is placed on one of the main surfaces of the support (1, 7), c) at least one electrically insulating layer (2, 8) made of a dielectric material is placed on the other side of the support (1,7); d) the dielectric constant of the support (1, 7) and that of the insulating layer (2, 8) are different, e) an electrode (3, 10) made of an electrically conductive material is mounted an the insulating layer (2, 8), said electrode covering only partially the insulating layer (2, 8) and a high voltage of an AC generator is applied to both electrodes (3, 4).

Abstract: The invention relates to a tumble-drier and to a process that allows complete or partial sterilization or passivation of microorganisms and germs in laundry. To this end, the laundry is treated in a container (5), especially the drum of a tumble-drier, to which a stream of air is supplied for the purpose of drying the laundry. Ozone is added to said supply air stream. This ozone is preferably generated by an ozone generator (6) directly before being added to the supply air stream. The tumble-drier according to the invention comprises a container (5) for laundry, especially a drum, to which an air stream is supplied for the purpose of drying the laundry, and an ozone generator that is capable of adding ozone to the supply air stream. Said ozone generator is preferably an ozone generator working according to the principle of dielectric impeded discharge.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the automatic release of a flushing process after use of a urinal or similar sanitary appliance. The invention is characterized in that at least one sensor is placed in the trap. When the level of the liquid in the trap changes, the sensor generates a switching impulse which controls a water electrovalve.

Abstract: A device and method for detecting oxidizable and/or reducible gases in the air for controlling ventilation plants in buildings or motor vehicles and for monitoring combustion processes or waste gas analysis by a capacitance sensor that detects change in sensor capacities at two different frequencies. Alternating currents having at least two frequencies is passed through a heated sensor between contact electrodes of the sensor and a polycrystalline metal oxide sensor material and an evaluation circuit measures a change in capacitance between the electrodes and sensor material. A change in capacitance measured at a first frequency indicates the presence of reducible gases while a change in sensor capacitance at a second frequency indicates the presence of oxidizable gases. Variations in sensor ohmic resistance at the two frequencies are also considered.

Abstract: The Invention relates to method as well as a sensor device with a sensor element for detection of gases and vapors in air. The sensor element is preferably a heated metal oxide sensor with heating structure and gas sensitive layer, wherein the temperature of the gas sensitive layer can be maintained constant by way of a heating structure and an automatic control device. The sensor element is disposed in a heat in a preferably heat insulating casing for protecting against air flows, wherein the gas can penetrate into the casing through a gas permeable diffusion layer. The resistance of the heating structure, which is a measure for the temperature of the gas sensitive layer, is employed as a temperature reference for the automatic control according to the present Invention method. The temperature of the sensor element is purposefully influenced by adding further interference values to the automatic control value ‘sensor temperature’.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the automatic release of a flushing process after use of a urinal or similar sanitary appliance. The invention is characterized in that at least one sensor is placed in the trap. When the level of the liquid in the trap changes, the sensor generates a switching impulse which controls a water electrovalve.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for producing active oxygen ions in the air for improved air quality, comprising at least one air ionizer and an electric transformer producing sufficient electrical high voltage for air ionization. The air ionizer is coupled to a sensor which detects the oxidizable gas content in the air (air pollution sensor). On the basis of the detected content of such oxidizable gases, the electrical energy which is guided to the air ionizer is transformed by an electrical control device in such a way that only low-level ionization occurs at low concentration of oxidizable gases. Said ionization is sensor-controlled and can automatically be increased to a maximum value when the concentration of oxidizable gases rises.

Abstract: The invention relates to a water faucet fixture (1, 1', 1"), especially for institutional kitchens and medical establishments, whereby a hot water line and a cold water line (3, 4) open into a mixing and shut-off unit (2) with a lever for manual control, by means of which water is supplied at a certain mixed temperature and flow volume to a spout (6), whereby the water faucet fixture (1, 1', 1") comprises another feed line (5) which, while bypassing the mixing and the shut-off unit (2), allows the supply of water from at least the cold water line (3) into the spout (6). This feed line (5) can be shut off by means of an electrically actuatable valve (9) that is controlled by the sensor signal of a proximity sensor (7, 7', 7"). The proximity sensor (7, 7', 7") is located in the upper area of the fixture in such a manner that movements that serve to operate the fixture manually do not fall within its detection range (20, 20', 20"). This makes it possible to operate the fixture contact-free as well as manually.

Abstract: A pair of pollution sensors which react oppositely to exposure to respective different pollutants are connected together in one or more voltage-divider circuits so that a combined output voltage always becomes either more negative or more positive regardless of which sensor is responding to the presence of the respective pollutant. For example, a tin-dioxide sensor for gasoline exhaust and a tungsten-trioxide sensor for diesel exhaust can be connected in series as a voltage divider with a center tap connected to an evaluating circuit.

Abstract: The previously presented teaching of the invention describes a method for the evaluation of sensor signals with the purpose of producing plausible and physiologically satisfying switching impulses for interrupting or for opening the air supply in ventilation systems, particularly for the ventilation of passenger cabins in motor vehicles, depending on the pollutant content of the ambient air established by one or more sensors.

Abstract: A motor vehicle ventilation system having a recirculation or air input mode in which when the rate of change of a signal from an outdoor gas pollution sensor exceeds a threshold limit, the system is adjusted to the recirculation mode.

Abstract: A gas sensor arrangement has at least a first sensor element which is primarily sensitive towards oxidizable gases and generates a corresponding measuring signal and an electric control and evaluation unit, wherein the measuring signal generated by the first sensor element is evaluated. In order to avoid inaccuracies when in addition to the oxidizable gases at the same time also reducible gases are present, the gas sensor arrangement is provided with at least one second sensor element, which is primarily sensitive to reducible gases and generates a corresponding measuring signal, which is fed to the control and evaluation unit for evaluation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for indicating toxic substances in air that is supplied to accommodation used for personnel, preferably the cab of a motor vehicle, this having error compensation for humidity and temperature in one or a plurality of semiconductor gas sensors that are used, in which connection the sensor heating voltage is controlled to provide constant heating output and the sensor temperature pick up as well as the necessary amplifier (control stage) used to generate the temperature-varied heating voltage are arranged in a common housing, and that in the area of the sensors this housing is perforated.

Abstract: A circuit for the evaluation of a signal produced by a semiconductor gas sensor provides a reliable control for manipulating a recirculated air valve in motor vehicles and their air-conditioning systems and includes a voltage divider connected with an integrator having a time constant bigger than time needed for reaching a peak of noxious gases outside of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor with integrated signal preconditioning and switching amplifier, whose switching point variably adjusts to slow variations in the output level of the sensor, in order to compensate for the slow influences of temperature and humidity on the sensor and to adjust the switching behavior to external conditions. For this, the invention uses a system for locking the control values to the switching threshold, obtained from the integrated sensor signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for indicating toxic substances in air that is supplied to accommodation used for personnel, preferably the cab of a motor vehicle, this having error compensation for humidity and temperature in one or a plurality of semiconductor gas sensors that are used, in which connection the sensor heating voltage is controlled to provide constant heating output and the sensor temperature pick up as well as the necessary amplifier (control stage) used to generate the temperature-varied heating voltage are arranged in a common housing, and that in the area of the sensors this housing is perforated.