Abstract: A controllable vibration damper includes a damping force control system, having a damper housing tube. The damper is at least partially filled with a damping medium. A damping valve for damping force control is arranged on and fluidly connected to the damper housing tube. The damper housing tube has an inner tube, which is inserted into the tubular damper housing via a bottom valve element. The vibration damper has a piston rod, which can be moved longitudinally in the inner tube and has a working piston.

Abstract: A damping valve device for a hydraulic vibration damper for a vehicle comprises a drive region and a valve region, and a damper valve housing, with a tube part which encloses the drive region and the valve region, wherein the drive region has a coil which is configured in such a way that it generates a magnetic circuit within the damping valve device and interacts with an armature, attached axially movably within the coil, in order to move the armature in the axial direction, wherein the armature is arranged within a pole tube, and the pole tube forms an axial guide of the armature, wherein the valve region has a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet for admitting and discharging a hydraulic fluid into/out of the valve region, and a valve block with a plurality of flow passages for conducting the hydraulic fluid, wherein the valve region has a control slide which is attached such that it can be moved relative to the valve block in such a way that it can be moved between a closed position, in which the flow passages

Abstract: System and methods for characterizing system response functions of a structure-under-test (SUT). One system includes a fixture coupleable at a coupling interface to the SUT and configured to hold the SUT at a known position and orientation relative to the fixture. The system includes exciter devices coupled downstream from the coupling interface at different locations and orientations and are configured to each apply an excitation force to the fixture. The system includes response sensors positioned at a known location and orientation relative to the fixture. Each response sensor is configured to sense a dynamic response, wherein the excitation force applied to the fixture by the exciter devices is transferred by the fixture to the SUT, and wherein the dynamic response measured by each of the response sensors is indicative of a reciprocal response of the fixture to the applied force.

Abstract: A cooling wheel (1) for actively cooling a stator (2) of an electric motor (3). The cooling wheel (1) can be fixed in a rotationally fixed manner adjacent to the stator (2) on a rotor (4) of the electric motor (3), which is rotatable about an axis of rotation (A). The cooling wheel has a bottom disc (10) that extends orthogonally to the axis of rotation (A) with an annular radially inner portion (12) and a radially outer portion annularly extending around it. The cooling wheel (1) has, in the axial direction adjacent to the radially outer portion of the bottom disc (10), a cover disc (30) that annularly extends around the axis of rotation (A). A plurality of blades (20) extend from the bottom disc (10) to the cover disc (30) and radially outwards. A flow channel is formed between two immediately adjacent blades (20) which is delimited by the two blades (20), a portion (11) of the bottom disc (10), located between the two blades and a portion (31) of the cover disc (30), located between the two blades (20).

Abstract: An electronics unit and a plug-in junction box for plug-in connection of a plug-in connector integrated therein in the plug-in direction (S) into a plug-compatible socket of an electronics housing of an electronics unit of an electric motor. The junction box has a housing with a pot-like accommodation region delimited by housing walls for accommodating a contact carrier of the plug-in connector. A plurality of hollow-cylindrical screw bushings extending in the plug-in direction (S) are provided in the accommodation region. At a plurality of positions corresponding to those positions of the screw bushings, the contact carrier has externally located guide elements at which the contact carrier can be guided into its final assembly position, and in the final assembly position, the respective guide elements at least partially engage around the cylindrical screw bushings.

Abstract: System and methods for characterizing a response of a structure-under-test to applied excitation forces using a test fixture. The fixture is selectively coupleable to the structure-under-test and is configured to hold the structure-under-test at a known position and in a known orientation relative to the fixture. A plurality of excitation devices and response sensors are coupled to the fixture. Excitation forces applied to the fixture by the excitation devices are conveyed by the fixture to the structure-under-test and each response sensor measures a dynamic response indicative of a response of the structure-under-test and the fixture to the applied excitation force. A controller receives response sensor data and applies a mathematical coordinate transformation to project the forces and moments corresponding to the applied excitation and the measured dynamic responses to a target point of the structure-under-test and to calculate a system response function based at least in part on the projection.

Abstract: A suspension system for an exciter device. The exciter device includes a piston extending through an opening of a moveable housing and generates a vibrational force by causing a linear reciprocating movement of the housing relative to the piston. The suspension system includes an axial suspension magnet fixedly coupled to the housing and positioned proximate the opening. The axial suspension magnet is configured to oppose a magnetic field of a permanent magnet that is fixedly coupled to the piston and the opposing magnetic fields dampen movement of the housing relative to the piston as the first axial suspension magnet approaches the permanent magnet. A radial guide bushing is positioned within the opening surrounding a circumference of the piston. The radial guide bushing is formed of a compressible and flexible material and is configured to restrict radial movement of the housing relative to the piston.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a shaker device using 3D-printing (i.e., additive manufacturing). An electromagnet is formed by producing a bobbin body and winding an electrical conductor on the bobbin body to form an electromagnet coil. A cylindrical body is 3D-printed and the bobbin body with the electromagnet coil is coupled within an interior of the cylindrical body. A piston assembly is then positioned within the bobbin assembly. The shaker device is operated by controllably applying a magnetic field through the electromagnet coil that impinges a permanent magnet of the piston assembly to cause movement of the cylindrical body relative to the piston. By using these 3D printing techniques, the composition of materials can be varied within a single component part, fine structural details can be included in the components, and components can be 3D printed directly on each other to eliminate tolerance issues relating to small variations in component size.

Abstract: An exciter device is configured to apply both a vibrational force and an impact force to a device-under-test. A first end of a piston is couplable to the device-under-test and a second end of the piston is aligned with a position of an impact hammer tip. The impact hammer tip and an electromagnet are both coupled to a moveable housing that is positioned around the piston. The exciter device applies a vibrational force to the device-under-test when an alternating magnetic field is applied by the electromagnet to the permanent magnet causing a linear reciprocating movement of the moveable housing relative to the piston. The exciter device applies an impact force to the device-under-test when a magnet field is applied by the electromagnet to the permanent magnet causing a linear movement of the moveable housing that is sufficient to cause the impact hammer to contact the second end of the piston.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automated MIMO force-response characterization of a structure-under-test. The structure-under-test is coupled to a plurality of exciter devices and a plurality of response sensors. An excitation signal is automatically and iteratively applied to each exciter device while sensor data is collected from each response sensor to collect response data for a plurality of different exciter-sensor combinations (i.e., response data collected by a single response sensor while the excitation signal is applied to a single exciter device). A signal quality test is applied to the collected sensor data and, in response to determining that the collected response data for a particular exciter-sensor combination is of insufficient quality, the data collection for that exciter-sensor combination is automatically repeated. The excitation signal can be automatically adjusted before repeating the data collection to improve the quality of the collected data for the exciter-sensor combination.

Abstract: Methods and systems for in-situ determination of system response functions. One example method includes coupling a controlled blocked force exciter to a calibration receiver structure. The method also includes operating the controlled blocked force exciter under controlled operation conditions to induce vibration in the calibration receiver structure and measuring response data for the calibration receiver structure. The method further includes determining blocked forces based on the response data for the calibration receiver structure. The method also includes coupling the controlled blocked force exciter to a target receiver structure. The method further includes operating the controlled blocked force exciter under the controlled operation conditions to induce vibration in the target receiver structure and measuring response data for the target receiver structure.

Abstract: An audio processor for generating a frequency enhanced audio signal from a source audio signal has: an envelope determiner for determining a temporal envelope of at least a portion of the source audio signal; an analyzer for analyzing the temporal envelope to determine temporal values of certain features of the temporal envelope; a signal synthesizer for generating a synthesis signal, the generating having placing pulses in relation to the determined temporal values, wherein the pulses are weighted using weights derived from amplitudes of the temporal envelope related to the temporal values, where the pulses are placed; and a combiner for combining at least a band of the synthesis signal that is not included in the source audio signal and the source audio signal to obtain the frequency enhanced audio signal.

Abstract: A controllable vibration damper includes a damping force control system, having a damper housing tube. The damper is at least partially filled with a damping medium. A damping valve for damping force control is arranged on and fluidly connected to the damper housing tube. The damper housing tube has an inner tube, which is inserted into the tubular damper housing via a bottom valve element. The vibration damper has a piston rod, which can be moved longitudinally in the inner tube and has a working piston.

Abstract: System and methods for characterizing a response of a structure-under-test to applied excitation forces using a test fixture. The fixture is selectively coupleable to the structure-under-test and is configured to hold the structure-under-test at a known position and in a known orientation relative to the fixture. A plurality of excitation devices and response sensors are coupled to the fixture. Excitation forces applied to the fixture by the excitation devices are conveyed by the fixture to the structure-under-test and each response sensor measures a dynamic response indicative of a response of the structure-under-test and the fixture to the applied excitation force. A controller receives response sensor data and applies a mathematical coordinate transformation to project the forces and moments corresponding to the applied excitation and the measured dynamic responses to a target point of the structure-under-test and to calculate a system response function based at least in part on the projection.

Abstract: An audio processor for generating a frequency enhanced audio signal from a source audio signal has: an envelope determiner for determining a temporal envelope of at least a portion of the source audio signal; an analyzer for analyzing the temporal envelope to determine temporal values of certain features of the temporal envelope; a signal synthesizer for generating a synthesis signal, the generating having placing pulses in relation to the determined temporal values, wherein the pulses are weighted using weights derived from amplitudes of the temporal envelope related to the temporal values, where the pulses are placed; and a combiner for combining at least a band of the synthesis signal that is not included in the source audio signal and the source audio signal to obtain the frequency enhanced audio signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automated MIMO force-response characterization of a structure-under-test. The structure-under-test is coupled to a plurality of exciter devices and a plurality of response sensors. An excitation signal is automatically and iteratively applied to each exciter device while sensor data is collected from each response sensor to collect response data for a plurality of different exciter-sensor combinations (i.e., response data collected by a single response sensor while the excitation signal is applied to a single exciter device). A signal quality test is applied to the collected sensor data and, in response to determining that the collected response data for a particular exciter-sensor combination is of insufficient quality, the data collection for that exciter-sensor combination is automatically repeated. The excitation signal can be automatically adjusted before repeating the data collection to improve the quality of the collected data for the exciter-sensor combination.

Abstract: A suspension system for an exciter device. The exciter device includes a piston extending through an opening of a moveable housing and generates a vibrational force by causing a linear reciprocating movement of the housing relative to the piston. The suspension system includes an axial suspension magnet fixedly coupled to the housing and positioned proximate the opening. The axial suspension magnet is configured to oppose a magnetic field of a permanent magnet that is fixedly coupled to the piston and the opposing magnetic fields dampen movement of the housing relative to the piston as the first axial suspension magnet approaches the permanent magnet. A radial guide bushing is positioned within the opening surrounding a circumference of the piston. The radial guide bushing is formed of a compressible and flexible material and is configured to restrict radial movement of the housing relative to the piston.

Abstract: System and methods for characterizing a response of a structure-under-test to applied excitation forces using a test fixture. The fixture is selectively coupleable to the structure-under-test and is configured to hold the structure-under-test at a known position and in a known orientation relative to the fixture. A plurality of excitation devices and response sensors are coupled to the fixture. Excitation forces applied to the fixture by the excitation devices are conveyed by the fixture to the structure-under-test and each response sensor measures a dynamic response indicative of a response of the structure-under-test and the fixture to the applied excitation force. A controller receives response sensor data and applies a mathematical coordinate transformation to project the forces and moments corresponding to the applied excitation and the measured dynamic responses to a target point of the structure-under-test and to calculate a system response function based at least in part on the projection.

Abstract: An exciter device is configured to apply both a vibrational force and an impact force to a device-under-test. A first end of a piston is couplable to the device-under-test and a second end of the piston is aligned with a position of an impact hammer tip. The impact hammer tip and an electromagnet are both coupled to a moveable housing that is positioned around the piston. The exciter device applies a vibrational force to the device-under-test when an alternating magnetic field is applied by the electromagnet to the permanent magnet causing a linear reciprocating movement of the moveable housing relative to the piston. The exciter device applies an impact force to the device-under-test when a magnet field is applied by the electromagnet to the permanent magnet causing a linear movement of the moveable housing that is sufficient to cause the impact hammer to contact the second end of the piston.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a shaker device using 3D-printing (i.e., additive manufacturing). An electromagnet is formed by producing a bobbin body and winding an electrical conductor on the bobbin body to form an electromagnet coil. A cylindrical body is 3D-printed and the bobbin body with the electromagnet coil is coupled within an interior of the cylindrical body. A piston assembly is then positioned within the bobbin assembly. The shaker device is operated by controllably applying a magnetic field through the electromagnet coil that impinges a permanent magnet of the piston assembly to cause movement of the cylindrical body relative to the piston. By using these 3D printing techniques, the composition of materials can be varied within a single component part, fine structural details can be included in the components, and components can be 3D printed directly on each other to eliminate tolerance issues relating to small variations in component size.