Abstract: A safety sensor for monitoring the operational safety of a system comprises at least one safety signal input and at least one safety signal output. The safety sensor has a control unit. The control unit imprints the output safety signal with additional data, wherein the signal value of the output safety signal is changed within the limits of the value range assigned to the presently output signal state of the output safety signal depending on the additional data of the signal value of the output safety signal, and/or the control unit imprints the received input safety signal with additional data, wherein the signal value of the received input safety signal is changed within the limits of the value range assigned to the presently received signal state of the input safety signal depending on the additional data of the signal value of the received input safety signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a safety sensor (1) for monitoring the operational safety of a system (2), comprising at least one safety signal input (11, 12) and at least one safety signal output (15, 16) for receiving and outputting safety signals, respectively. A first signal state of the safety signal signals a safe operating state of the system and is represented by a signal value from a first value range assigned to the first signal state, and a second signal state signals an unsafe operating state of the system and is represented by a signal value from a second value range which is assigned to the second signal state and which differs from the first value range. The safety sensor has a control unit (13) which is designed to detect the operating state of the system and output an output safety signal at the at least one safety signal output, the signal state of the safety signal signaling the detected operating state.

Abstract: A method operates a brushed commutator motor of an adjusting drive in a motor vehicle, particularly a window lifter, having a rotor and having a stator. An angular position of the rotor with respect to the stator is determined. The angular position is used to determine a ripple within the torque, which ripple can be expected on the basis of the commutation. The motor current is adapted such that the amplitude of the ripple that can be expected remains below a determined limit value.

Abstract: For the purpose of realizing an operationally reliable window lifter (opener) for a vehicle, there is provision to ascertain from an operating variable of a servomotor in each case a measure of a regulated position of the window pane in the course of a plurality of operating cycles of the window lifter in which a window pane of the vehicle is opened and closed again, in each case entirely or partly. In each operating cycle, or at least in selected operating cycles, the measure is normalized to a reference value if at the end of the respective operating cycle the window pane is driven by the servomotor for at least a predetermined blocked time beyond a blocked position. The blocked time is shortened if the normalization was not carried out for a predetermined number of consecutive operating cycles.

Abstract: In order to be able to precisely approach a target position of a movable vehicle part by way of a motorized actuator using simple features, an actuating motor of the actuator is stopped by a predetermined advancing lead before the target position is reached. The advancing lead is varied here depending on the rotational speed of the motor or an actuating speed measurement variable correlated therewith and depending on a temperature measurement variable characteristic of the ambient temperature of the actuator.

Abstract: A method operates a brushed commutator motor of an adjusting drive in a motor vehicle, particularly a window lifter, having a rotor and having a stator. An angular position of the rotor with respect to the stator is determined. The angular position is used to determine a ripple within the torque, which ripple can be expected on the basis of the commutation. The motor current is adapted such that the amplitude of the ripple that can be expected remains below a determined limit value.

Abstract: A method of enhancing spot color printing in a digital inkjet press having a fixed number of monochrome inkjet printheads, the fixed number of monochrome inkjet printheads printing inks comprising at least process colors (CMY) and a spot color, the method comprising the steps of: (a) printing a process color combination comprising a predetermined ratio of at least two process colors, the process color combination approximating the spot color; and (b) printing the spot color with the process color combination to provide an enhanced spot color.

Abstract: A method of enhancing spot color printing in a digital inkjet press having a fixed number of monochrome inkjet printheads, the fixed number of monochrome inkjet printheads printing inks comprising at least process colors (CMY) and a spot color, the method comprising the steps of: (a) printing a process color combination comprising a predetermined ratio of at least two process colors, the process color combination approximating the spot color; and (b) printing the spot color with the process color combination to provide an enhanced spot color.

Abstract: In order to be able to precisely approach a target position of a movable vehicle part by way of a motorized actuator using simple features, an actuating motor of the actuator is stopped by a predetermined advancing lead before the target position is reached. The advancing lead is varied here depending on the rotational speed of the motor or an actuating speed measurement variable correlated therewith and depending on a temperature measurement variable characteristic of the ambient temperature of the actuator.

Abstract: In order to ascertain the actuating position of a vehicle part that is moved by an electric actuating motor via an actuating mechanism, an angle of rotation correlating with the number of motor shaft rotations during the actuation process or a motor signal correlated therewith are ascertained during an actuation process. An actuating position measure for the actuating position of the vehicle part is derived from the angle of rotation or the motor signal correlating therewith. During this process, an unloaded angle of rotation, through which the motor shaft rotates during an initial no-load phase of the actuation process without motion of the vehicle part is compensated by a predetermined correction term. The correction term is changed according to a stored dependency on a characteristic quantity for the age of the actuating mechanism.

Abstract: For the purpose of realizing an operationally reliable window lifter (opener) for a vehicle, there is provision to ascertain from an operating variable of a servomotor in each case a measure of a regulated position of the window pane in the course of a plurality of operating cycles of the window lifter in which a window pane of the vehicle is opened and closed again, in each case entirely or partly. In each operating cycle, or at least in selected operating cycles, the measure is normalized to a reference value if at the end of the respective operating cycle the window pane is driven by the servomotor for at least a predetermined blocked time beyond a blocked position. The blocked time is shortened if the normalization was not carried out for a predetermined number of consecutive operating cycles.

Abstract: A method is specified for ascertaining an actuating position of a vehicle part that can be moved by an electric actuating motor. The speed of an actuating motor correlated therewith is acquired in a time-resolved manner during an actuation process. An initial no-load phase of the actuation process is identified, during which the actuating motor rotates while overcoming the system tolerance of the actuating mechanism without motion of the vehicle part. An actuating position measure for the actuating position of the vehicle part is ascertained from the motor rotation, with this measure being corrected during the no-load phase. By averaging over time, a test quantity is ascertained from the second derivative or the measured quantity correlating herewith. The end of the initial no-load phase is identified in this process when the test quantity exceeds a predetermined limit.

Abstract: In order to ascertain the actuating position of a vehicle part that is moved by an electric actuating motor via an actuating mechanism, an angle of rotation correlating with the number of motor shaft rotations during the actuation process or a motor signal correlated therewith are ascertained during an actuation process. An actuating position measure for the actuating position of the vehicle part is derived from the angle of rotation or the motor signal correlating therewith. During this process, an unloaded angle of rotation, through which the motor shaft rotates during an initial no-load phase of the actuation process without motion of the vehicle part is compensated by a predetermined correction term. The correction term is changed according to a stored dependency on a characteristic quantity for the age of the actuating mechanism.

Abstract: A carriage assembly for holding one or more inkjet print cartridges. A mechanical key on a carriage chute is formed in a predetermined pattern having a plurality of columns such that at least one of the columns acts as a barrier preventing a non-compatible print cartridge from staying in a secured mounting position.

Abstract: A mechanical key scheme is integrated into a composite pattern on both a print cartridge and its corresponding printer carriage chute. In a preferred embodiment the pattern incorporates a plurality of adjacent contiguous columns on both sides of a latch, with each column capable of defining multiple position bits in order to precisely differentiate between different types and/or different families of print cartridges.

Abstract: A narrow-width modular printing mechanism for a printer includes an integrated platen/service station assembly positioned within the printer. The integrated platen/service station assembly includes a platen member and a service station mechanically coupled together. The service station includes a bottom portion, at least one cap, at least one wiper and a mechanism for displacing the caps and the wipers relative to the bottom portion. The platen member is formed with apertures which are positioned and sized to facilitate displacement of the caps and the wipers through the platen member. In a preferred embodiment, the integrated platen/service station assembly is configured to accommodate a front-in, front-out paper path of the printer. In a preferred embodiment, the platen/service station assembly includes an actuator fork assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the platen/service station assembly includes a self-aligning cap sled.

Abstract: A spring for latching a print cartridge in a carriage in a facsimile printer mechanism. The spring is a cantilever that is doubled back on itself to obtain a long effective length is a short space.

Abstract: An ink-jet print cartridge is especially configured for loading and unloading into and from an inkjet print cartridge by use of substantially only horizontal translational movements relative to a carriage of the printer. The apparatus includes a generally rectangular prismatic print cartridge having its major axis of elongation disposed horizontally. The print cartridge includes a pair of outwardly extending elongate horizontal supporting lips located one on each of the opposite side walls of the print cartridge, a carriage body, a chute mounted on the carriage for receiving the print cartridge, and a generally horizontal guide rail on each of the pair of side walls of the chute. The guide rails guide the print cartridge into the carriage by supportingly engaging the lips.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer includes an ink-jet cartridge having a flexible circuit connecting to a carriage in a relatively movable but movably constrained relationship. The carriage and the flexible circuit cooperatively define an instant center so that an array of electrical contact pads of the flexible circuit is reliably and repeatably positioned relative to the carriage, while manufacturing variabilities and thermal differential expansions between the carriage and flexible circuit, for example, are accommodated without loss of relative positional control of the array of contact pads and the carriage.

Abstract: A mechanical key scheme is integrated into a composite pattern on both a print cartridge and its corresponding printer carriage chute. In a preferred embodiment the pattern incorporates a plurality of adjacent contiguous columns on both sides of a latch, with each column capable of defining multiple position bits in order to precisely differentiate between different types and/or different families of print cartridges.