Abstract: A heat accumulator device is provided having a metal phase-change material as an accumulator material, the heat accumulator device including at least one a holding chamber having a holding space for the accumulator material, a housing for the holding space, at least one heat input apparatus for inputting heat into the at least one holding chamber, and at least one heat output apparatus for outputting heat from the at least one holding chamber. A coupling region of the heat input apparatus, provided for thermal coupling to the accumulator material, and/or a coupling region of the heat output apparatus, provided for thermal coupling to the accumulator material, is arranged, at least in part, at a distance from the accumulator material.

Abstract: Tuning an optical network unit (ONU) to an appropriate communication wavelength may be performed by initiating an activation procedure responsive to receiving a wavelength configuration message, and identifying an instruction in the wavelength configuration message to modify a present wavelength used by the network unit to a different wavelength. The process may also provide assigning an optical network unit identifier (ONU-ID) to the network unit, modifying the present wavelength to the different wavelength, and transmitting subsequent data messages from the network unit at the different wavelength.

Abstract: A mold material having a material hardness higher than 340 HB and a fine-grain structure. The mold material having a composition in weight percent that includes: C=0.25-0.35 Si=0.04-0.20 Mn=1.00-2.00 Cr=1.00-2.00 Ni=0.30-less than 0.90 Mo=0.30-0.80 V=less than/equal to 0.20 Al=0.01-0.03 N=0.0025-0.0150 S=less than 0.15 a remainder of Fe and impurities.

Abstract: A method for producing an analysis tape for fluid samples, in particular body fluids, is proposed. The method comprises providing a laminate tape having a laminate carrier tape and at least one diagnostic functional layer, and cutting the laminate tape in such a way that a diagnostic auxiliary label arises; transferring the diagnostic auxiliary label to a vacuum roller; and transferring the diagnostic auxiliary label to a carrier tape. In general, at least one vacuum roller is used for the transfer of the diagnostic auxiliary label to the carrier tape. The cutting of the diagnostic functional layer is effected in such a way that a free end of the diagnostic functional layer is lifted off from the laminate carrier tape by guiding the laminate carrier tape around a cutting edge with a small radius, wherein the diagnostic functional layer is cut at a predetermined distance from the lifted off free end by means of a cutting device.

Abstract: A manner of managing data transmission and operating-mode transitions in a communication network. A network node having a transmitter and receiver is selectively transitioned into a Transmit state, where the Transmit state is a condition wherein the transmitter is turned on for data transmission only during timeslots provided for by a PBW (pre-allocation bandwidth) and remains off otherwise. The PBW and clock drift allowance permits the receiver to remain off during all or most of the Transmit state.

Abstract: A method for producing an analysis tape for fluid samples, in particular body fluids, is proposed. The method comprises providing a laminate tape having a laminate carrier tape and at least one diagnostic functional layer, and cutting the laminate tape in such a way that a diagnostic auxiliary label arises; transferring the diagnostic auxiliary label to a vacuum roller; and transferring the diagnostic auxiliary label to a carrier tape. In general, at least one vacuum roller is used for the transfer of the diagnostic auxiliary label to the carrier tape. The cutting of the diagnostic functional layer is effected in such a way that a free end of the diagnostic functional layer is lifted off from the laminate carrier tape by guiding the laminate carrier tape around a cutting edge with a small radius, wherein the diagnostic functional layer is cut at a predetermined distance from the lifted off free end by means of a cutting device.

Abstract: A manner of mitigating the self heating effect of a laser or other light source such as a laser in a network node of a communication network. A self-heating mitigation module is provided, the self-heating mitigation module includes one or both of a self-heating adjustment module to accelerate self heating at the beginning of a transmission and a sub-threshold lasing module that applies a sub-threshold current between transmissions. The self-heating adjustment module and the sub-threshold lasing module are preferable both used together and driven by a common signal, for example the burst_enable signal that facilitates transmission from the light source.

Abstract: A method for producing an analysis tape for fluid samples, in particular body fluids, is proposed. The method comprises providing a laminate tape having a laminate carrier tape and at least one diagnostic functional layer, and cutting the laminate tape in such a way that a diagnostic auxiliary label arises; transferring the diagnostic auxiliary label to a vacuum roller; and transferring the diagnostic auxiliary label to a carrier tape. In general, at least one vacuum roller is used for the transfer of the diagnostic auxiliary label to the carrier tape. The cutting of the diagnostic functional layer is effected in such a way that a free end of the diagnostic functional layer is lifted off from the laminate carrier tape by guiding the laminate carrier tape around a cutting edge with a small radius, wherein the diagnostic functional layer is cut at a predetermined distance from the lifted off free end by means of a cutting device.

Abstract: Tuning an optical network unit (ONU) to an appropriate communication wavelength may be performed by initiating an activation procedure responsive to receiving a wavelength configuration message, and identifying an instruction in the wavelength configuration message to modify a present wavelength used by the network unit to a different wavelength. The process may also provide assigning an optical network unit identifier (ONU-ID) to the network unit, modifying the present wavelength to the different wavelength, and transmitting subsequent data messages from the network unit at the different wavelength.

Abstract: A mold material having a material hardness higher than 340 HB and a fine-grain structure. The mold material having a composition in weight percent that includes: C=0.25-0.35 Si=0.04-0.20 Mn=1.00-2.00 Cr=1.00-2.00 Ni=0.30-less than 0.90 Mo=0.30-0.80 V=less than/equal to 0.20 Al=0.01-0.03 N=0.0025-0.0150 S=less than 0.15 a remainder of Fe and impurities.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cost-effectively providing protection in a PON. Protection ports, usually on a protection LT card, are configured to communicate with a selectable one of the downstream ODN splitter/combiners associated with the primary ports on the remaining LT cards of the OLT. Each protection port includes at least a splitter for distributing a transmitted signal from a light source to a plurality of switched protection fibers, and may have an optical amplifier to provide for lossless or low-loss distribution. Each port may also have a combiner for combining received signals from a plurality of switched protection fibers. When a failure is detected at a primary port, traffic is re-directed from the primary port to the protection port after the protection port has been configured to communicate with the same ODN splitter/combiner as the failed primary port.

Abstract: A method for producing an analysis tape for fluid samples, in particular body fluids, is proposed. The method comprises providing a laminate tape having a laminate carrier tape and at least one diagnostic functional layer, and cutting the laminate tape in such a way that a diagnostic auxiliary label arises; transferring the diagnostic auxiliary label to a vacuum roller; and transferring the diagnostic auxiliary label to a carrier tape. In general, at least one vacuum roller is used for the transfer of the diagnostic auxiliary label to the carrier tape. The cutting of the diagnostic functional layer is effected in such a way that a free end of the diagnostic functional layer is lifted off from the laminate carrier tape by guiding the laminate carrier tape around a cutting edge with a small radius, wherein the diagnostic functional layer is cut at a predetermined distance from the lifted off free end by means of a cutting device.

Abstract: A method for amplifying a time-varying optical signal comprising the steps of: generating an auxiliary optical signal the amplitude of which is chosen to be complementary to at least the envelope of the amplitude of the optical signal, superimposing the auxiliary optical signal to the optical signal resulting in a compound signal having an amplitude which is constant at least on average, amplifying the compound signal, and removing the amplified auxiliary optical signal from the amplified compound signal; as well as an optical amplification unit for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A method for amplifying a time-varying optical signal comprising the steps of: generating an auxiliary optical signal the amplitude of which is chosen to be complementary to at least the envelope of the amplitude of the optical signal, superimposing the auxiliary optical signal to the optical signal resulting in a compound signal having an amplitude which is constant at least on average, amplifying the compound signal, and removing the amplified auxiliary optical signal from the amplified compound signal; as well as an optical amplification unit for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A method to divide upstream timeslots in a multiple access system that couples a line terminator (LT) via a tree-like network to a plurality of network terminators (NT1, NT2, . . . , NT16) and that distributes downstream data packets by the line terminator to the plurality of network terminators. The method includes the following steps: inclusion by the line terminator in a downstream data packet at a predefined place of a grant (TEA1; TEA2; . . . ; TEA16) being associated to one of the plurality of network terminators and distributing that downstream packet, reacting by the network terminator upon reception and recognition of its own grant by transmitting an upstream data packet in a predefined upstream timeslot. In the event when the network terminator is a lower order network terminator and the predefined place is a predefined first place, the upstream data packet are transmitted in a lower order timeslot.

Abstract: A pre-hardened and pre-tempered tool steel is used for producing molds for plastic parts, in particular matrices of large dimensions. In order to make possible high core hardness without qualitative disadvantages even at large diameters, a tool steel is proposed, which has a composition in weight-% of C=0.25 to 0.30, SI=0.04 to 0.20, Mn=1.2 to 2.0, Cr=1.0 to 2.0, Ni=0.9 to 1.5, Mo=0.3 to 0.8, V≦0.2 and Al=0.01 to 0.03, wherein the remainder consists of iron and the unavoidable impurities. The addition of boron for increasing hardness was intentionally omitted since it has been shown that with larger diameters boron results in non-reproducible hardness, in particular in the core area.

Abstract: The invention concerns a diagnostic test carrier (1) containing a supporting layer (2) with a detection layer (3) arranged thereon containing the reagents required to determine an analyte in a liquid sample and a network (4) covering the detection layer (3) which is larger than the detection layer (3) and which is attached to the supporting layer (2), wherein the network (4) is a plied knitted fabric the threads of which are highly roughened on the side facing the detection layer (3) whereas the threads on the side of the knitted fabric which face away from the detection layer (3) are relatively smooth as well as the use of such a test carrier to determine an analyte in a liquid and the use of such a knitted fabric as a layer spreading liquid in a diagnostic test carrier. Moreover the invention concerns a method for the determination of an analyte in a liquid sample with the aid of a test carrier according to the invention.

Abstract: The invention concerns a diagnostic test carrier (1) containing a supporting layer (2) with a detection layer (3) arranged thereon containing reagents required for the determination of an analyte in a liquid sample and an inert layer (4) covering the detection layer (3) wherein the inert layer (4) is arranged at such a distance (5) from the detection layer to enable a capillary active liquid transport between the detection layer and inert layer (3,4), characterized in that the inert layer (4) extends beyond the detection layer and wherein the area (10) that extends beyond the detection layer is attached to the supporting layer (2) in such a way that a continuous capillary active liquid transport between the inert layer and detection layer (4,3) and between the inert layer and supporting layer (4,2) is possible and in addition the inert layer (4) contains several holes (7) in the area of the detection layer (3) through which the sample to be examined and the components contained therein can be applied to the d

Abstract: A coupling structure couples an optical termination (T1/T5) of an optical fiber conductor (F1/F5) to an optical terminal (T1'/T5') of an optical device which can be another optical fiber conductor. The structure includes a carrier (S, P) wherein the optical fiber conductor is embedded therein to have at least one locally bent portion reaching an outer surface of the carrier and forming there the optical termination. The carrier includes a first positioning device (P) to correctly position the optical termination with respect to the carrier and a second positioning device (L1-L3) which cooperates with a third positioning device (s1, s2, s3) of an optical arrangement including the optical device to provide the coupling.

Abstract: An interconnection unit OB includes a flat member FM with connectors OC1, and flexible tongue-shaped elements T formed to be integral with the flat member FM. Conductors F each have a first end part fixed to one of the tongue-shaped elements T and a second end part fixed to the flat member. The tongue-shaped elements T and the flat member FM are formed of a layer of rigid material and each of the tongue-shaped elements T has a portion thereof that includes separated transverse strips S, which are kept together by the conductors F fixed to the tongue-shaped elements, thereby making the tongue-shape elements flexible. A stainless steel plate is fixed to the rigid layer. The interconnection unit is especially useful as an optical backpanel to interconnect optical connectors of printed boards mounted in a rack.