Abstract: A reflow soldering system comprising one or a plurality of individually heatable soldering process zones. The reflow soldering system is configured to supply heat to a workpiece selectively through condensation or through convection or as a combination of convection and condensation.

Abstract: A reflow soldering system comprising one or a plurality of individually heatable soldering process zones. The reflow soldering system is configured to supply heat to a workpiece selectively through condensation or through convection or as a combination of convection and condensation.

Abstract: For each array of pixels, an autoregressive pixel-prediction method is performed based on a weighted sum of reconstructed pixel values of reconstructed pixels in a specific neighborhood region adjacent to the current pixel to be coded. For determining the weights, the pixel values in a specific training region adjacent to the current pixel are taken into account. The coding method is characterized by an appropriate determination of the specific neighborhood region and the specific training region in case that reconstructed pixel values do not exist for all pixels in the neighborhood region and the training region. In such a case, the number of pixels in the neighborhood region is reduced to a number of reconstructed pixels until the ratio between the number of pixels in the training region and the number of pixels in the neighborhood region exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: The invention refers to a method for coding digital image data (I), the data comprising one or more arrays of pixels (p0, p112) with corresponding pixel values (i0, . . . , i112). For each array of pixels, an autoregressive pixel-prediction method is performed based on a weighted sum of reconstructed pixel values (i1, . . . , i12) of reconstructed pixels (p1, . . . , p12) in a specific neighborhood region (SN) adjacent to the current pixel (p0) to be coded. For determining the weights, the pixel values (p1, . . . , p12) in a specific training region (ST) adjacent to the current pixel (p0) are taken into account. The coding method is characterized by an appropriate determination of the specific neighborhood region (SN) and the specific training region (ST) in case that reconstructed pixel values do not exist for all pixels in the neighborhood region and the training region, e.g. at borders of the array of pixels.

Abstract: Object detection includes providing an image and determining at least one feature point. The at least one feature point defines a location of an image patch used for determining a feature descriptor, and the image patch defines an image area of the image. The feature descriptor is generated based on respective image intensities of a number of respective pairs of pixels with two dimensional coordinates located inside the image patch. An n-th component of the feature descriptor for an n-th pair of pixels is derived. A threshold is set depending on the number. The feature descriptor is generated by an arrangement of the M components. An indication signal is generated for a detected object when the feature descriptor is within a predefined distance to a reference feature descriptor.

Abstract: A heating device for heating merchandise, especially printed boards, comprises a feeding device provided in front of a least one heating line in the transport direction of the merchandise and a discharge device provided behind the heating line in the transport direction, wherein a number of heating zones/devices and/or cooling zones/devices or the like are associated with the heating line. To improve a heating device of the aforementioned type by increasing the throughput of merchandise in a simple manner, at least two heating lines are disposed on top of each other, to which merchandise can be separately fed by the feeding device from a horizontal transport level, and the merchandise can be separately discharged from the heating lines by the discharge device from the heating lines back into a horizontal transport level.

Abstract: An adjusting unit for an article carrier is disclosed. The adjusting unit includes adjustable support elements for receiving articles of different sizes, in particular for supporting printed circuit boards of different sizes with a frame. One frame member of the frame may be used as a support for an article to be carried. At least one additional supporting element is provided which is adapted to be adjusted relative to a frame member. In addition, arresting structures are provided with the aid of which the supporting element can be arrested relative to the frame member. The arresting structures are adaptable to be releasably arrested on a guide, along which the supporting element is displaceable. Accordingly, the adjusting unit comprises adjustment structure for adapting the adjustable supporting element of the article carrier to the size of the printed circuit boards to be accommodated.

Abstract: A heating device for heating merchandise, especially printed boards, comprises a feeding device provided in front of a least one heating line in the transport direction of the merchandise and a discharge device provided behind the heating line in the transport direction, wherein a number of heating zones/devices and/or cooling zones/devices or the like are associated with the heating line.

Abstract: An adjusting unit for an article carrier is disclosed. The adjusting unit includes adjustable support elements for receiving articles of different sizes, in particular for supporting printed circuit boards of different sizes with a frame. One frame member of the frame may be used as a support for an article to be carried. At least one additional supporting element is provided which is adapted to be adjusted relative to a frame member. In addition, arresting means are provided with the aid of which the supporting element can be arrested relative to the frame member. The arresting means is adaptable to be releasably arrested on a guide means, along which the supporting element is displaceable. Accordingly, the adjusting unit comprises adjustment means for adapting the adjustable supporting element of the article carrier to the size of the printed circuit boards to be accommodated.

Abstract: An article carrier is disclosed having adjustable support elements for receiving articles of different sizes, in particular for supporting printed circuit boards of different sizes during transport through a reflow soldering system. The article carrier further comprises a frame, wherein especially one frame member of the frame is used as a support for an article to be carried, and at least one additional supporting element which is adapted to be adjusted relative to the frame member, wherein arresting elements are provided for arresting the support element relative to the frame member. One major aspect of the invention is the fact that the arresting elements are adapted to be releasably arrested on guide rods along which the supporting element is displaceable. Thus the article carrier may automatically be adapted to different sizes of printed circuit boards.

Abstract: In reflow soldering systems the circuit boards are conventionally transported in horizontal direction from a feed portion through a preheating portion, a main heat-treatment portion, a cooling portion and a discharge portion in linear fashion in the longitudinal direction of the system. Such reflow systems, however, are relatively long and therefore require a lot of space.

Abstract: A thermoplastic polymer composition comprising:(a) a destructurized starch, and either(b) an effective amount of at least one compound selected from the following: (1) a polymer which contains at least two different types of functional groups, one of said types of these groups being hydroxyl groups; (2) at least one polymer which does not contain hydroxyl groups and is selected from the group consisting of polymers which contain at least two types of functional groups bound to the same molecule one type of these groups being carboxylate groups; (3) at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of polymers which contain tertiary amino groups and/or salts thereof and/or quaternary ammonium groups; (4) at least one polymer selected from the group of polysaccharides which have been chemically modified to contain added hydroxyalkyl groups and/or contain alkyl ether groups, and/or contain ester groups; (5) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of copolymers of vinyl pyrrolidone; (6) at