Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention creates a micromechanical rotational rate sensor having a first Coriolis mass element and a second Coriolis mass element which may be situated over a surface of a substrate. An exemplary embodiment of a micromechanical rotational rate sensor may have an activating device by which the first Coriolis mass element and the second Coriolis mass element are able to have vibrations activated along a first axis. An exemplary embodiment of a micromechanical rotational rate sensor may have a detection device by which deflections of the first Coriolis mass elements and of the second Coriolis element are able to be detected along a second axis, which is perpendicular to the first axis, on the basis of a correspondingly acting Coriolis force. The first axis and second axis may run parallel to the surface of the substrate. The detecting device may have a first detection mass device and a second detection mass device.

Abstract: A sensor node arrangement in a wireless network, includes a sensor to sense information, an RF transceiver to communicate the information to at least one element of the wireless network, and a coil to establish a secondary communications channel with a handheld device via inductive coupling, the secondary communications channel used, for example, to receive, during installation of the sensor node arrangement, a node identifier of the sensor node arrangement.

Abstract: An intelligent local irrigation system includes one or more sprinklers and a controller coupled to the one or more sprinklers via a wired or wireless connection and enabled to control the sprinklers thereby. A controller arrangement establishes connectivity with an internet service portal which stores a profile of the local irrigation system and which obtains information from internet-based resources. The internet service portal determines an irrigation schedule based on the profile and on information obtained from the internet-based information resources and provides the irrigation schedule to the controller arrangement for implementation.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention creates a micromechanical rotational rate sensor having a first Coriolis mass element and a second Coriolis mass element which may be situated over a surface of a substrate. An exemplary embodiment of a micromechanical rotational rate sensor may have an activating device by which the first Coriolis mass element and the second Coriolis mass element are able to have vibrations activated along a first axis. An exemplary embodiment of a micromechanical rotational rate sensor may have a detection device by which deflections of the first Coriolis mass elements and of the second Coriolis element are able to be detected along a second axis, which is perpendicular to the first axis, on the basis of a correspondingly acting Coriolis force. The first axis and second axis may run parallel to the surface of the substrate. The detecting device may have a first detection mass device and a second detection mass device.

Abstract: A method and a system for controlling a wireless sensor network from a user interface coupled to the Internet are provided. A user accesses an Internet-based portal from the user interface and establishes a secure broadband Internet connection between a remote control module coupled to the wireless sensor network and the portal. The connection is established by manually triggering a connection between the remote control module and the portal from the remote control module.

Abstract: A method and system to bookmark a location, blog geo-referential information, and process the geo referential information, having a mobile device and a stationary server. The mobile device is configured to generate a waypoint to geographically identify the location, generate a timestamp, fetch and store data associated with the location, and receive a user-provided description regarding at least one of the location and the data associated with the location. The stationary server is configured to receive geo-referential information from the mobile device, the geo-referential information including the waypoint, timestamp, and at least one of the data and user-provided description. The server includes a database to maintain the geo-referential information in a spatially and temporally organized manner, and a processing arrangement to adaptively process the geo-referential information according to at least one of a characteristic and preference of a user.

Abstract: A method for configuring a wireless network includes pointing a first end of a network configuration device at a wireless device and actuating the network configuration device to add the wireless device to the wireless network. The method may include positioning the first end in close proximity to the wireless device. A device is provided for configuring wireless networks that includes a transmitter configured to transmit at least one of an initiation signal and a connection table to a wireless device. The initiation signal is sent by the device to the wireless device to add or delete the wireless device from a network that is being configured. The connection table includes information about each wireless device that has previously been added to the network. A receiver is included in the device that is adapted to receive at least one of the connection table and a unique identifier from the wireless device.

Abstract: A method of teaching pronunciation is provided which includes communicating by a voice portal server to a user a model word and detecting a response by the user to the voice portal server. The method also includes comparing the response word to the model word and determining a confidence level based on the comparison of the response word to the model word. The method further includes comparing an acceptance limit to the confidence level and confirming a correct pronunciation of the model word if the confidence level one of equals and exceeds the acceptance limit.

Abstract: A method of protecting a micro-mechanical sensor structure embedded in a micro-mechanical sensor chip, in which the micro-mechanical sensor structure is fabricated with a protective membrane, the micro-mechanical sensor chip is arranged so that a surface of the protective membrane faces toward a second chip, and the micro-mechanical sensor chip is secured to the second chip.

Abstract: A micromechanical yaw rate sensor having: a substrate having an anchoring device provided on the substrate; and an annular flywheel that is connected, via a flexural spring system, with the anchoring device in such a way that the area of connection with the anchoring device is located essentially in the center of the ring, so that the annular flywheel is able to be displaced, elastically from its rest position, about an axis of rotation situated perpendicular to the substrate surface, and about at least one axis of rotation situated parallel to the substrate surface. The anchoring device has two bases that are situated opposite one another and are connected fixedly with the substrate, connected with one another via a bridge. A V-shaped flexural spring of the flexural spring system is attached to each of the opposite sides of the bridge in such a way that the apex is situated on the bridge and the limbs are spread towards the flywheel with an opening angle.

Abstract: The present invention creates a micromechanical rotational rate sensor having a first Coriolis mass element (2a) and a second Coriolis mass element (2b) which are situated over a surface of a substrate (100); having an activating device by which the first Coriolis mass element (2a) and the second Coriolis mass element (2b) are able to have vibrations activated along a first axis (x); and having a detection device by which deflections of the first Coriolis mass elements (2a) and of the second Coriolis element (2b) are able to be detected along a second axis (y), which is perpendicular to the first axis (x), on the basis of a correspondingly acting Coriolis force; the first axis (x) and second axis (y) running parallel to the surface of the substrate (100);

Abstract: A yaw-rate sensor is proposed having a first and a second Coriolis element (100, 200) which are arranged side-by-side above a surface (1) of a substrate. The Coriolis elements (100, 200) are induced to oscillate parallel to a first axis. Due to a Coriolis force, the Coriolis elements (100, 200) are deflected in a second axis which is perpendicular to the first axis. The first and second Coriolis elements (100, 200) are coupled by a spring (52) which is designed to be yielding in the first and in the second axis. Thus, the frequencies of the oscillations in the two axes are developed differently for the in-phase and antiphase oscillation.

Abstract: A micromirror (5), a micro-oscillating mirror in particular, having an at least largely cantilevered mirror surface (10) which may be displaced from the rest position about at least one torsional axis (17) is described. The mirror surface (10) is linked to at least one support body (11, 12) by at least two torsion beams (13, 13′), which are arranged at least approximately parallel to each other. Also described is the displacement of the micrometer from its rest position by an electrostatic or magnetic interaction.

Abstract: The module (10) described is in particular a wafer module, and has two oppositely situated functional elements (11, 12) which are functionally interconnected by a compression-deformable joining agent layer (13) located in between. At least one functional element (11; 12; 11, 12) is surface-structured to form a recess (14), and the functional connection is present exclusively in the region of the recess (14).

Abstract: System for interfacing a device onboard a vehicle and a voice portal server external to the vehicle including a voice communicator and a data communicator situated in the vehicle. The onboard device communicates electronically with the voice communicator and/or the data communicator which in turn are able to communicate wirelessly with a base station. The base station communicates electronically with the voice portal server. A method of providing information to an occupant of a vehicle includes providing a voice communicator, a data communicator, an onboard device, a base station, and a voice portal server. The voice portal server communicates electronically with the base station, the base station communicates wirelessly with the voice communicator and/or the data communicator, and the onboard device communicates electronically with the voice communicator and/or the data communicator.

Abstract: A yaw-rate sensor including a first and a second Coriolis element that are arranged side-by-side above a surface of a substrate. The Coriolis elements are induced to oscillate parallel to a first axis Y. Due to a Coriolis force, the Coriolis elements are deflected in a second axis X which is perpendicular to the first axis Y. The oscillations of the first and second Coriolis elements occur in phase opposition to each other on paths which, without the effect of a Coriolis force, are two straight lines parallel to each other.

Abstract: An rate-of-rotation sensor having a Coriolis element, which is arranged over a surface of a substrate, is described. The Coriolis element is induced to oscillate in parallel to a first axis. In response to a Coriolis force, the Coriolis element is deflected in a second axis, which is perpendicular to the first axis. A proof element is provided to prove the deflection.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling a home automation system by voice input provided via a telephone unit. A voice portal server receives a signal transmitted by the telephone unit, processes the signal to interpret the voice input, and generates command signals for controlling a home device in the home automation system based on the interpreted voice input. The voice portal server transmits the command signals over a data network or a telephone network to a home interface for receiving the command signals transmitted by the voice portal server. The home interface controls the home device in accordance with the received command signals.

Abstract: A faceplate including an antenna for receiving navigation signals, a processor electrically coupled to the antenna for determining a position, a display electrically coupled to the processor for displaying navigation information, and at least one input arrangement. The faceplate able to be installed on a front side of a vehicular electronic unit in a dashboard of a vehicle. The at least one input arrangement controlling the vehicular electronic unit when the faceplate is received on the front side of the vehicular electronic unit. A system for navigating including a handheld unit. The handheld unit includes an antenna, a processor electrically coupled to the antenna, and a display electrically coupled to the processor. A further antenna is situated on a vehicle and a receptacle is situated in a dashboard of the vehicle for receiving the handheld unit. The receptacle electrically couples the further antenna to the handheld unit when the handheld unit is received in the receptacle.

Abstract: A vibrating microdevice, such as a vibrating micromirror, includes a vibrating structure which is connected to a supporting body via at least one spring structure in an at least a largely floating manner, the spring structure including at least one torsion-spring element defining a torsion axis and permitting a torsional vibration about the torsion axis to be induced in the vibrating structure, the spring structure also including at least one converter structure, which at least partially converts forces acting at least largely perpendicularly to the torsion axis on the torsion spring element into forces acting at least partially parallelly to the torsion axis on the torsion-spring element.