Abstract: A method for operating a heat pump for a motor vehicle is proposed, wherein the heat pump comprises a refrigerant circuit with a refrigerant, an ambient heat exchanger, a compressor, a heating heat exchanger, and a throttle. The method comprises determining an expected start time of a charging process of a motor vehicle battery and determining a maximum dew point undershoot and/or a maximum frost mass. The method further comprises operating the heat pump such that the maximum dew point undershoot and/or the maximum frost mass are reached within a predefined time period before the expected start time.

Abstract: A method of forming a film of photonic crystal material. A first process is performed upon a material capable of having a photonic crystal structure, this process causing deformation of the material so as to form a film in which incident light received by the material is selectively reflected or transmitted to generate a first optical effect in the film. A second process is performed upon substantially all of the film which applies a shear stress to the film. This causes a change in the material structure so as to generate a second optical effect in the film, different from the first optical effect, in response to incident light. Security films, devices, articles and documents formed using the method are also discussed.

Abstract: A polymer opal material comprises a three dimensionally periodic arrangement of core particles in a matrix material and exhibits structural color via Bragg reflection. IN a process for manufacturing such a material, a sandwich structure is provided, of a precursor composite material held between first and second sandwiching layers. A relative shear strain of at least 10% is imposed on the precursor composite material by curling the sandwich structure around a roller. The shear strain is cycled, in order to promote the formation of the three dimensional periodic arrangement.

Abstract: A composite optical device has a layer of a composite optical material mounted on a substrate. The layer of composite optical material has substantially uniform thickness. The composite optical material is a polymer opal, in that it has a three dimensional arrangement of core particles distributed in a matrix, the refractive index of the material of the core particles being different to the refractive index of the material of the matrix and the three dimensional arrangement being capable of having a periodicity such that, when a surface of the material is illuminated with white light, the composite material exhibits structural colour. The local stiffness of the substrate is different at different positions of the substrate.

Abstract: A polymer opal material comprises a three dimensionally periodic arrangement of core particles in a matrix material and exhibits structural colour via Bragg reflection. IN a process for manufacturing such a material, a sandwich structure is provided, of a precursor composite material held between first and second sandwiching layers. A relative shear strain of at least 10% is imposed on the precursor composite material by curling the sandwich structure around a roller. The shear strain is cycled, in order to promote the formation of the three dimensional periodic arrangement.

Abstract: A method of forming a film of photonic crystal material. A first process is performed upon a material capable of having a photonic crystal structure, this process causing deformation of the material so as to form a film in which incident light received by the material is selectively reflected or transmitted to generate a first optical effect in the film. A second process is performed upon substantially all of the film which applies a shear stress to the film. This causes a change in the material structure so as to generate a second optical effect in the film, different from the first optical effect, in response to incident light. Security films, devices, articles and documents formed using the method are also discussed.

Abstract: An air-conditioning system for a motor vehicle includes a coolant circuit, through which it is possible to pump coolant with the aid of a compressor, the air-conditioning system having a torque-determining unit for determining a drive torque required for operating the compressor as a function of a temperature of air, which has flowed past an evaporator integrated into the coolant circuit for evaporating coolant, a pressure of the coolant prevailing in the coolant circuit in front of the compressor relative to a flow direction of the coolant or an actuating signal for setting a settable compressor stroke of the compressor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of inverse opals having adjustable channel diameters. This is achieved by partial fusing of solid organic or inorganic spheres.

Abstract: An air-conditioning system for a motor vehicle includes a coolant circuit, through which it is possible to pump coolant with the aid of a compressor, the air-conditioning system having a torque-determining unit for determining a drive torque required for operating the compressor as a function of a temperature of air, which has flowed past an evaporator integrated into the coolant circuit for evaporating coolant, a pressure of the coolant prevailing in the coolant circuit in front of the compressor relative to a flow direction of the coolant or an actuating signal for setting a settable compressor stroke of the compressor.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of core/shell particles whose shell forms a matrix and whose core is essentially solid, is built up essentially from an inorganic material and has an essentially monodisperse size distribution and is connected to the shell via an interlayer, for the production of mouldings having homogeneous, regularly arranged cavities and particles in the cavities, to a process for the production of mouldings having homogeneous, regularly arranged cavities, and to the corresponding mouldings.

Abstract: The object of the invention is a device, intended for a multifunctional, hand-held tool machine, for example, an electric combination hammer, for the ON/OFF switching or changeover of individual system functions when changing the processing mode, for example, from “hammer drilling” to “chiseling”. Pursuant to the invention, the changeover device, which is to be actuated by the user, is coupled with a mechanical driving mechanism, by which a bistable switch, comprising two mutually oppositely movable elements, is actuated. In a combination hammer, the invention guarantees that, when the chiseling operation is selected, certain functions of the system, such as a monitoring of the reaction moment, are interrupted or changed over.

Abstract: A multifunction handheld tool machine having an at least partially axially percussive tool receptacle (7), a safety coupling (8) disposed in the power line between the tool receptacle and an electrical motor (6), a hand-guided housing and an ATC safety module (1) with a rotational sensor (3) sensitive to an angular displacement. The ATC safety module (1) is connected to an axial displacement sensor (4) and, in the event of exceeding an axial limit value (13b), the binary control signal (5) is suppressed by the axial displacement.

Abstract: A multifunction handheld tool machine having an at least partially axially percussive tool receptacle (7), a safety coupling (8) disposed in the power line between the tool receptacle and an electrical motor (6), a hand-guided housing and an ATC safety module (1) with a rotational sensor (3) sensitive to an angular displacement. The ATC safety module (1) is connected to an axial displacement sensor (4) and, in the event of exceeding an axial limit value (13b), the binary control signal (5) is suppressed by the axial displacement.

Abstract: A process and a circuit (2) for regulating the speed of an electric motor (1) having a high speed (N1) to at least one additional lower speed (N2, N3, N4), whereby, in a first prioritized step, depending on a preselected speed (N1, N2), the regulation of the speed to a lower effective motor voltage (Ueff) has an upper limit, and in a second step, depending on the torque (M) needed for the regulation to this preselected speed (N1, N2), the effective motor voltage (Ueff) is regulated within the limited range.

Abstract: An electrical hand-tool device and start-up safety routine protecting against start-up blockages, in which an electrical motor is connected, for a short time span (T0), with the current supply at a determinable resistance. At least one of a limit value (&agr;G) and a shut-off point in time (tA) is determined, for the safety routine in the event of tool blockage, using a measurement of the angle of rotation (&phgr;) of the rotor taken over the time span (T0) dependent on the start-up behavior of a rotor in the time span (T0).

Abstract: A safety switch device (6) for the generation of a control signal (&THgr;) when the future angle of deflection of the housing of a rotary electrically powered hand tool exceeds a predetermined value, wherein a rotational rate sensor (7) directly measuring the rotational velocity (&ohgr;) is connected to a comparison element (8) in a signal-transferring fashion.

Abstract: A safety clutch for an electric hand-held tool and including a rotor (8), an anchor disc (9) frictionally engageable with the rotor (8) for transmitting a torque there-between, a stationary axial stop (13) for limiting the air gap (s) between the rotor and the anchor disc and engageable by the anchor disc under an axial reserved pre-stress applied to the anchor disc (g); and a stationary electromagnetic coil (11) provided on a side of the rotor (8) remote from the anchor disc (9) and coaxial with the rotor (8) for generating a rotationally symmetrical magnetic flux (&phgr;) for attracting of the anchor disc (g) to magnetic poles (12a, 12b) associated with the rotor (8).

Abstract: A process and a circuit (2) for regulating the speed of an electric motor (1) having a high speed (N1) to at least one additional lower speed (N2, N3, N4), whereby, in a first prioritized step, depending on a preselected speed (N1, N2), the regulation of the speed to a lower effective motor voltage (Ueff) has an upper limit, and in a second step, depending on the torque (M) needed for the regulation to this preselected speed (N1, N2), the effective motor voltage (Ueff) is regulated within the limited range.

Abstract: An electrical hand-tool device and start-up safety routine protecting against start-up blockages, in which an electrical motor is connected, for a short time span (T0), with the current supply at a determinable resistance. At least one of a limit value (&agr;G) and a shut-off point in time (tA) is determined, for the safety routine in the event of tool blockage, using a measurement of the angle of rotation (&phgr;) of the rotor taken over the time span (T0) dependent on the start-up behavior of a rotor in the time span (T0).

Abstract: A safety clutch for an electric hand-held tool and including a rotor (8), an anchor disc (9) frictionally engageable with the rotor (8) for transmitting a torque there-between, a stationary axial stop (13) for limiting the air gap (s) between the rotor and the anchor disc and engageable by the anchor disc under an axial reserved pre-stress applied to the anchor disc (g); and a stationary electromagnetic coil (11) provided on a side of the rotor (8) remote from the anchor disc (9) and coaxial with the rotor (8) for generating a rotationally symmetrical magnetic flux (&phgr;) for attracting of the anchor disc (g) to magnetic poles (12a, 12b) associated with the rotor (8).