Abstract: A washing machine comprises a rotatable drum for receiving laundry, a drive motor for the drum, a drive control for the drive motor and a washing machine control, the washing machine control being connected to the drive control. In a method of operating the washing machine for dry-spinning laundry at different and increasing speeds, wherein a certain speed is kept constant for a certain time in the manner of speed steps, the drum is at first rotated at a certain constant speed for spinning the laundry. The drive control monitors the motor current and records the variation over time of the motor current as well as an envelope curve of the motor current and an average of this envelope. The envelope of the motor current or its average is derived once after the time. As soon as the first derivative of the envelope or the average falls below a certain predetermined threshold value or becomes zero, the condition is defined that the spun laundry in the drum no longer loses any or sufficient water.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining deformation values of muscles, particularly skeletal muscles. According to the method, an image sequence of ultrasonic images of the muscle is obtained during a period where the patient performs a loaded action which causes the muscle to contract. During this period, the patient is guided to exert a predetermined force on an exercise device. The actually exerted force is measured simultaneously with the ultrasonic image sequence. Deformation values are determined based on the recorded image sequence. The invention also provides an apparatus for performing the method.

Abstract: A device is for lighting and/or demarcation of pedestrian crossings. Normally pedestrian crossings are in many cases difficult to identify by users, because they are insufficiently lit or demarcated. Posts or columns are provided with lighting means formed by lighting advertising lamps which light and/or demarcate pedestrian crossings perfectly. The correct lighting of pedestrian crossings is achieved by lighting lamps placed mainly in the lower part of the posts or columns, with the effect that the light beams thereof spread out and light the surface of the pedestrian crossing. The demarcation of pedestrian crossings is achieved by positioning posts or advertising columns in at least one corner at each end of the pedestrian crossing.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrical connector of the type fixedly attached to printed circuit boards having the male pins or terminals of the connector designed to go through corresponding bores in printed circuit boards that are then soldered to said board permanently establishing the desired electrical connections and further offering a high degree of resistance to humidity and, consequent humidity caused corrosion in the male pins or terminals through the novel use of ring-like projections around each male pin, stand-off supports, and a insulating and sealing resin filler.