Abstract: An assembly (10) for converting mechanical work into electrical energy comprising a bending transducer (12) with a support (20) in the form of a strip and with at least one piezoelectric layer (22) attached thereto, the support (20) in the form of a strip being mounted at both ends (30) and an actuating mechanism (8, 30) being provided in such a way that, when the actuating mechanism (8, 30) is actuated, a mechanical force is exerted on the support (20) in the longitudinal direction of the support (26) and leads to arcuate bending of the bending transducer (12), and thereby to the generation of electrical energy. The assembly can be used to provide electrical energy for a counting device.

Abstract: A metering device (2) comprises an energy generation unit (12) for generating comparatively small amounts of energy during an operating cycle; an energy storage unit (24, 26) for buffering the amount of energy generated; a control unit (14) for determining an item of current state information (I); and a processing unit (16) for processing the current state information (I) further, wherein the energy requirement of the control unit (14) and the energy requirement of the display unit (16) are different, and the allocation of the limited amount of energy for the control unit (14) and the processing unit (16) is regulated according to the different energy requirement.

Abstract: The bending transducer has a layer construction containing a piezoelectrically active element, which is formed of a piezoactive material, in particular a piezoceramic, and electrode layers fitted thereon. In order to enable a high bending loading of the bending transducer and to reduce the risk of fracture, it is provided that a protective layer is applied to the layer construction on the outer side, preferably on both sides, which protective layer is applied to the layer construction in particular under prestress.

Abstract: An ultrasonic atomizer that is particularly simple to produce and in which desired vibration modes can be excited in a targeted fashion has a piezoelectric vibrator which is formed as a full-area panel and is joined to a substrate panel. The substrate panel is formed with at least one cutout in the form of a through opening. The geometric variables of the hole, such as the length, width, surface area or diameter, are selected in a specific way in order to define the working frequency of the unit with the piezoelectric vibrator and the substrate panel. An ultrasonic atomizer of this type is particularly advantageously used to generate a spray mist for an electric iron.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medicament dispenser including a dosing device and an indicator device. The indicator device sums up a use-related value that is associated with every actuation of the dosing device, calculates a value indicating the total number of uses, and displays the value.

Abstract: The piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer has a housing and a piezoelectrically active layer which is connected to the housing via an insulating layer. An adaptive layer is additionally located between the insulation layer and the housing. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the adaptive layer has a value between the values of the coefficients of thermal expansion of the housing and the insulating layer. An ultrasonic transformer of this type has a long service life even when it is used in an environment of frequent temperature fluctuations.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasonic atomizer device (2) for a fluid (60), in particular a bronchospasmolytic agent, in which a propelling element (10) operable by an electronic circuit (6) to deliver the fluid to an atomization surface (28) that is also supplied with ultrasound waves from the electronic circuit (6) is provided in a housing (4), the propelling element (10) having a coupling member (32) which is meshing with a further coupling member (34) of a replaceable dosating unit (14) for transferring propelling power to the dosating unit (14) to effect a linear movement (68) of a piston (66) arranged in an ampoule (28) within the dosating unit (14). The invention also relates to a system comprising a device (2) as described and a dosating unit (14) inserted into that device (2).

Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasonic atomizer device (2) for a fluid (60), in particular a bronchospasmolytic agent, in which a propelling element (10) operable by an electronic circuit (6) to deliver the fluid to an atomization surface (28) that is also supplied with ultrasound waves from the electronic circuit (6) is provided in a housing (4), the propelling element (10) having a coupling member (32) which is meshing with a further coupling member (34) of a replaceable dosating unit (14) for transferring propelling power to the dosating unit (14) to effect a linear movement (68) of a piston (66) arranged in an ampoule (28) within the dosating unit (14). The invention also relates to a system comprising a device (2) as described and a dosating unit (14) inserted into that device (2).

Abstract: An ultrasonic atomizer includes an electrically excitable piezoceramic and a coupling body being operatively connected to the piezoceramic. The coupling body has a surface coming into contact with a liquid to be atomized and the surface is in the form of a cap-shaped protuberance. The cap-shaped protuberance and the coupling body are formed of a metallic solid material.

Abstract: An inhalator device includes a housing in which an ultrasonic atomizer is disposed. A device delivers a medication to the ultrasonic atomizer. A mouthpiece is disposed downstream of the ultrasonic atomizer in flow direction of the medication defining a space between the ultrasonic atomizer and the mouthpiece. The housing has an air inlet opening formed therein communicating with the space downstream of the ultrasonic atomizer.

Abstract: A battery charging unit for a medical appliance, preferably an inhalator, includes a transformer having a high-voltage side to be connected to a mains voltage and having a low-voltage side. A rectifier is connected to the low-voltage side of the transformer. A charge current circuit is connected to the rectifier for charging a battery. A timing control is connected to the charge current circuit for switching a charge current to a value being safe for long-term charging after a predetermined period of time at an initially higher value. A test key is connected to the charge current circuit for interrupting charging of the battery and loading the battery with a given maximum current requirement for a given period of time. The voltage of the battery under load is measured and compared with a predetermined reference voltage after the test key is actuated. A control light signals if the reference voltage is exceeded.

Abstract: An ultrasonic MHz oscillator, in particular for liquid atomization, where at the upper, widening end of the upwardly decreasingly tapering amplitude transformer fastened on a planar piezoceramic disk, a continuously concave surface adapted to the liquid quantity and liquid surface tension is disposed comprising a concave mirror. The mirror cavity is adapted to receive the liquid to be atomized. With the oscillator, smallest droplets can be produced without coupling liquid, so that the oscillators find use above all in pocket inhalators.

Abstract: For generating liquid droplets which may pass into the lungs of a person, a resonance system is used which contains a rotation-symmetrical metal body with a disc-shaped base plate, a working plate, a neck connecting the working plate to the base plate as well as a piezoceramic vibrator. The vibrator is coupled to the plane base surface which extends perpendicularly to the symmetry axis of the metal body. The base plate is also provided with a parabolic reflector surface. The center of the working plate is in the vicinity of the reflector focal point, optionally mirrored with respect to the base area of the base plate, of the parabolic reflector surface. In this design, ultrasound waves excited by the vibrator are focused into the region of the working plate, thereby atomizing a liquid which is held by the working plate.

Abstract: An ultrasonic pocket-size atomizer comprises a housing including a first portion and a second portion detachably connected thereto. A vibration generation mechanism is mounted liquid-tight in the first portion of the housing for generating an oscillation with a frequency between 1 and 5 Mhz. The vibration generation mechanism includes a piezoelectric assembly and an electronic circuit operatively connected to the assembly for energizing the assembly and causing the assembly to vibrate. A power source including a storage battery is removably and rechargeably disposed in the first portion of the housing for supplying electric current to the electronic circuit. A cartridge is provided for containing liquid to be atomized, the cartridge being movably disposed in the second portion of the housing.

Abstract: In an ultrasonic frequency generating assembly including a frequency generator coupled to a transducer through an output stage, a current measuring circuit is coupled to the output stage for sampling the current therethrough during each frequency burst upon the passage of a predetermined time interval following the onset of the respective frequency burst. The current value measured during a frequency burst is compared with a measured current value from an immediately preceding burst, the frequency output of the frequency generator being modified in accordance with the results of the comparison. The compared current values are stored in respective memories, the most recently measured current value being transferred from one memory to the other upon the termination of the comparison. A new current value is then loaded into the first memory.