Abstract: A light barrier having a light emitter (9) spaced apart from a light receiver (10), the emitter including a light source (12) and transmission optics (13) emitting a substantially parallel light beam 11. The light receiver (10) and the light emitter (9) are aligned with each other for focusing the light beam (11) from the light emitter (9) by means of reception optics (15) on a reception element (17) for generating an electrical signal as a function of the light received. A partially reflecting optical boundary surface between the reception optics (15) and the reception element (17), and an alignment plate (18) which includes a light entry opening (19) and a target disk (20), are positioned in front of the reception optics (15) and are used for aligning the light receiver (10) and the light emitter (9).

Abstract: The error concealment method improves the signal quality in transmission systems. The method is used for processing speech signals which have been encoded to speech parameters before transmission via a transmission channel. It allows detection at the receiving end of corrupted signal parameters due to adverse channel conditions. The method comprises estimations of the signal quality and a statistic study of the evolution of the signal parameters so as to derive an indication that the parameter is probably corrupted. A first signal quality estimation is performed. It may be e.g. an estimation of the error probability within the most important bits of the frame. A second signal quality estimation is performed. It may be e.g. an estimation of the error probability within all bits of the frame. Depending on the results of the estimations, the statistic study is performed in order to detect which signal parameters are probably corrupted.

Abstract: An optical filter apparatus for processing an optical signal comprising a spectrum broadening device for spectrally dividing one or more channels of the optical signal into a discrete set of spectral components for each channel, a collector for collecting the spectral components on a discrete number of corresponding light channels, one or more processors for individually processing one or more of the spectral components on the light channels, and a combiner for recombining the spectral components on the light channels.

Abstract: An economically manufactured heat exchanger is provided and includes a plurality of elongated, straight, flat tubes (16), each formed of two identical halves (78,80) joined to each other in mirror image fashion and each having opposed open ends and all arranged in a stack (18). At least one spacer wall (36) is disposed within each tube and extends generally from end to end thereof to define at least two side-by-side first fluid flow paths within a tube. An elongated housing (10) contains the stack and includes spaced headers (20,22) with each header including a tube slot for the adjacent end of each tube (16) in the stack (18). Spacers (26) in the stack separate adjacent tubes in the stack from one another and the spacers include ribs defining a serpentine flow path for a second fluid. An opening (30) is located in the housing (10) near each end thereof and is in fluid communication with the second fluid flow path (28).

Abstract: A system for fast forward error correction coding and decoding is provided. The system includes a transmitting device having a data source and a forward error correction (FEC) encoder. The FEC is coupled to the data source and is adapted to encode packetized data from the data source. A channelizer is coupled to the at least one FEC encoder and is adapted to interleave the FEC encoded packetized data among a plurality of communication channels. The system also includes a receiving device adapted to receive the plurality of communication channels. The receiving device includes a dechannelizer, adapted to de-interleave the plurality of communication channels and a FEC decoder to reconstituted the packetized data.

Abstract: In a first phase a first sensor signal, essentially comprising the current offset signal of the sensor, is applied to the input of an electronic circuit. The first sensor signal is fed to a first signal path and stored therein. In a second phase a second sensor signal, comprising the current offset signal and a time-dependent measured signal, is applied to the input and the stored first sensor signal is fed to the input by means of the first signal path, such that essentially the time dependent measured signal is fed by means of a second signal path coupled to the input.

Abstract: Changes of properties (for example, dampness, sliding characteristic, gloss) of a printing substrate web caused by a printing of a printing substrate web are corrected by a multifunction device that is arranged at an output of the printing device. In the multifunction device, arranged in succession in the transport direction of the printing substrate web are devices for buffering, for smoothing, for moistening, for cooling, for lubrication and for discharge of the printing substrate web. The devices are executed and adapted to one another such that they can be optionally deactivated by the uses without affecting the functions of the remaining devices.

Abstract: A method of communicating between a graphical component library and an appearance manager is provided that includes issuing a request, that includes component defining parameters, for rendering services by a graphical component library. The appearance manager receives the request for rendering services and assigns appearance characteristics to the graphical component based upon the provided parameters. A method of rendering graphical components on the display of a computer system is also provided that includes rendering the requested graphical component according to the appearance characteristics assigned by the appearance manager. A method is also provided for communicating between a graphical component library and an appearance manager that includes issuing a request that includes component defining parameters, for information about the defined component.

Abstract: In a method of analyzing and modifying a footprint depending on a specified number of texture elements touched by the footprint, in a graphics system providing the texture elements having a resolution, a dimension or a shape of the footprint is initially determined. On the basis of the specified number of texture elements and on the basis of the determined dimension or shape, the resolution of the texture elements associated with the footprint is specified. Then it is determined whether the graphics system provides texture elements having the specified resolution. If the graphics system provides texture elements having the specified resolution, the footprint is preserved.

Abstract: A method of making nanoscale ordered composites of covalent ceramics through block copolymer-assisted assembly. At least one polymeric precursor is mixed with a block copolymer, and self-assembly of the mixture proceeds through an annealing process. During the annealing step, the polymeric precursor cross-links to form a structure robust enough to survive both the order-disorder transition temperature the block copolymer and the pyrolysis process, yielding ordered nanocomposites of high temperature ceramic materials. The method yields a variety of structures and morphologies. A ceramic material having at least one ceramic phase that has an ordered structure on a nanoscale and thermally stable up to a temperature of at least about 800° C. is also disclosed. The ceramic material is suitable for use in hot gas path assemblies, such as turbine assemblies, boilers, combustors, and the like.

Abstract: Spirocyclic heterocyclic derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds, and methods for their pharmaceutical use are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the spirocyclic heterocyclic derivatives are ligands of the ? opioid receptor and may be useful, inter alia, for treating and/or preventing pain, anxiety, gastrointestinal disorders, and other ? opioid receptor-mediated conditions.

Abstract: In a steering mechanism for a motor vehicle having a steering wheel with a steering shaft connected to a steering gear arrangement, the steering shaft comprises a first vibration damping element for accommodating and attenuating vibrations with relatively low amplitudes as they are generated by uneven road surfaces and a second element having lower damping characteristics than the first element for the transmission of steering movements from the steering wheel to the steering gear arrangement.

Abstract: A brazed plate heat exchanger (30) is provided for transferring heat between a first fluid (32) and a second fluid (34), with the first fluid (32) being pressurized to a relatively high pressure. The heat exchanger includes plate pairs (41), with each pair (41) defining a plurality of flow channels (56) for the first fluid (32). Each of the flow channels (56) has a hydraulic diameter less than 1 mm. Reinforcements (62) are provided between each of the plate pairs (41) and are aligned with inlet and outlet openings (46,48) to define inlet and outlet manifolds (50,52) for the first fluid (32).

Abstract: In an electrophotographic printer or copier, toner images of images to be printed onto a printing substrate are generated and fixed, causing sliding characteristics to be worsened. In order to remedy this problem, a moistening device is provided that applies on the printing substrate a moistening agent made from a moistening fluid and a lubricant dissolved therein. Two problems are thus solved: the printing substrate is moistened and simultaneously lubricated.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system for recovering metal values from metal-bearing materials. During a reactive process, a seeding agent is introduced to provide a nucleation site for the crystallization and/or growth of solid species which otherwise tend to passivate the reactive process or otherwise encapsulate the metal value, thereby reducing the amount of desired metal values partially or completely encapsulated by such material. The seeding agent may be generated in a number of ways, including the recycling of residue or the introduction of foreign substances. Systems embodying aspects of the present invention may be beneficial for recovering a variety of metals such as copper, gold, silver, nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, zinc, rhenium, uranium, rare earth metals, and platinum group metals from any metal-bearing material, such as ores and concentrates.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to peptide analogues of glucagon-like peptide-1, the pharmaceutically-acceptable salts thereof, to methods of using such analogues to treat mammals and to pharmaceutical compositions useful therefor comprising said analogues.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting temperature use a first temperature detecting device to detect temperature is a first region, a calibrating device and a second temperature detecting device to detect a second temperature value in a second region contained in the first region. The calibrating device calibrates the first temperature detecting device by means of the second temperature value.

Abstract: An improved package, suitable for holding a treatment fluid comprising a volatile solvent and kits comprising the package containing the treatment fluid and an applicator are disclosed. The package comprises a reservoir for the liquid which is sealed by a ruturable seal. A cap, coupled to one end of the reservoir, is in the form of a sleeve which is axially translatable along the reservoir from first to second positions. A cutting tool integrated with the cap ruptures the rupturable seal as the cap is moved from first to second positions so that the liquid can thereby be made accessible through an opening in an end wall of the cap. The package provides excellent protection for volatile liquids, yet can be easily opened by a simple press-action, instantly providing access to the liquid so that it can subsequently accessed by a liquid applicator.

Abstract: A rear roof frame of a motor vehicle has a tailgate which is fastened to the roof frame and includes an upper shell and a lower shell which is fitted to the latter. For the design of a rear roof frame, which, in spite of the shell-type construction, provides, in a simple manner and lightweight construction, sufficient torsional and flexural stiffness in order to withstand high mechanical stresses, it is proposed to arrange within the shell structure a hollow profile which leads in each case from the transition region to the lateral roof frame and parallel to the longitudinal extent of the structure, and emerges, at least at the end facing away from the lateral roof frame, in a knee which kinks in the front-end direction of the vehicle. The end of the rear roof frame forms a tubular hollow profile of the lateral roof frame, which is connected to the hollow profile of the rear roof frame.

Abstract: A process for producing a semiconductor chip having contact elements protruding on one chip side within the context of wafer level packaging, the chip side provided with the contact elements being coated with a covering compound forming a protective layer, from which the protruding contact element project.