Abstract: A high-voltage switch (18) with light sensitive zones is described which transmits the high voltage to the spark plugs. In order to transmit the light energy with the minimum possible loss from the light emitting element (20) to the light sensitive zones of the high-voltage switch (18), a light concentrating device is provided in a transition region from the light emitting element to the light sensitive zone. The light concentrating device can be a glass rod which acts as a lens or a light guide including optical fibers.

Abstract: A pressure sensor for detecting pressure in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, particularly of a motor vehicle, has a housing, a sensor block arranged in the housing, at least one plunger arranged in the housing, at least one abutment arranged in the housing, a diaphragm closing the housing and contacting the plunger, an electrical evaluating circuit arranged in the housing and including electrical components, and a ceramic plate arranged in the housing so that the sensor block and the electronic components of the evaluating circuit are arranged in the ceramic plate and the ceramic plate at least partially contacts the abutment, and the electrical components of the evaluating circuit being located at a side of the plate which faces the diaphragm.

Abstract: A pressure sensor for detecting pressure in a combustion chamber of internal combustion engines has a housing, a sensor element composed of a piezoresistive material and arranged in the housing, a diaphragm, a punch introducing a pressure to be determined onto the sensor element and located between the diaphragm and the sensor element. The punch has a counterbearing, a hybrid has a base, and a preprocessing circuit has electronic components. The sensor element, the hybrid with its base and the electronic components of the preprocessing circuit are located on the counterbearing of the punch.

Abstract: The ignition system for an internal combustion engine includes an ignition coil having a primary coil and a secondary coil; a plurality of semiconductor switching elements connected with the secondary coil which change abruptly from a blocking state to a conducting state at a predetermined breakdown voltage corresponding to an ignition voltage, each of the semiconductor switching elements including at least one breakdown diode; an ignition line connected electrically to a higher voltage end of the secondary coil and another ignition line connected electrically to a lower voltage end of the secondary coil, each of the ignition lines being connected via one of the semiconductor switching elements to a spark plug and being of different length, wherein the semiconductor switching element in the one line has a different breakdown voltage than the semiconductor switching element in the other line.

Abstract: The invention relates to a semiconductor switch, in particular as an ignition voltage switch for applying an ignition voltage to a spark plug of an internal combustion engine, having a cascade circuit formed of series-connected semiconductor components for connecting an operating voltage through to a load, wherein the semiconductor components each have a depletion-layer capacitance, and the connection existing between each two semiconductor components forms a parasitic ground capacitance determined by the electrical field distribution. For symmetrical voltage distribution without additional wiring elements, it is provided that a breakover current (i.sub.k) flowing through the semiconductor components (T.sub.1 -T.sub.n) prior to attainment of the conductive state is located, relative to a displacement current (i.sub.ver), within the range i.sub.ver <i.sub.k <a.multidot.i.sub.ver, wherein the displacement current (i.sub.ver) is brought about by a voltage increase (du.sub.o /dt) in the operating voltage u.

Abstract: A pressure sensor for detecting pressure in a combustion chamber of internal combustion engines has a housing, a sensor element arranged in the housing and composed of a piezoresistive material, a diaphragm, and a punch arranged between the diaphragm and the sensor element and introducing a pressure to be determined onto the sensor element. The punch has an end facing the sensor element, at least the end of the punch is composed of relatively soft material.

Abstract: A pressure sensor for determination of pressure in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, particularly for motor vehicles has a housing, a membrane associated with the housing, a sensor element, a plunger supplying a pressure to be determined to the sensor element and located in the housing. The housing has at least one housing opening and a shaft and the membrane closing the opening of the housing and is connected with the shaft of the housing in the region of a side wall so that a bottom of the membrane is flexible and a pressure to be determined is transferable to the plunger, a counter bearing for the plunger. A support is provided for a hybrid and composed of ceramic material and located on the counter bearing for the plunger. The sensor element is a piezoresistive measuring element and located on the hybrid so as to produce an electrical signal corresponding to the pressure.

Abstract: To reduce the size of a high-voltage semiconductor optically responsive switch, for example suitable to control the flow of ignition energy from an ignition coil (4) to a spark plug (ZK), a stack of disk or plate-shaped semiconductor chips (9) is formed with the major surfaces of the chips placed against each other and light responsive regions of the chips at the outer surface thereof to form an array of chips with a control surface (14). The light responsive regions (13) are large enough so that, at any position of the respective chips in the array, the can receive sufficient switching energy from a point source, such as a light emitting diode (17) (LED). Thus, a single LED can control all the semiconductor switching elements.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for production of L-arabionose in crystalline form. Starting material are extracted sugar beet pulp or other L-araban containing plant materials. These are heated in an autoclave as an aqueous suspension in the presence of Ca(OH).sub.2. The so obtained solution is chromatographed on a cationic exchanger in the Ca-form. The araban containing fraction is hydrolyzed after adding H.sub.2 SO.sub.4, neutralized and rechromatographed on a cationic exchanger in Ca-form. After concentrating the arabinose containing fractions L-arabinose is obtained in form of crystals by cooling crystallization.

Abstract: A friction clutch wherein the prestressed diaphragm spring has prongs extending outwardly from its annular main section and being separably affixed to the counterpressure plate by an annulus of screws. The spring bears against the pressure plate and urges the latter against the clutch plate which is thereby biased against the counterpressure plate. When the screws are removed, the prestressed spring is axially shifted relative to the pressure plate and lugs on its prongs come into engagement with a radial shoulder of the pressure plate to hold the spring against further axial movement relative to the pressure plate as well as to maintain the diameter of the circle formed by the centers of holes in the prongs at least substantially unchanged. This simplifies the reattachment of prongs to the counterpressure plate. The prongs tend to move radially inwardly and abut against a cylindrical surface of the pressure plate when they are detached from the counterpressure plate.