Abstract: A return pump is provided in a coffee beverage preparing device having a brewing unit, to which hot water from a hot water heater can be supplied under pressure, and a beverage outlet which is connected to the brewing unit via an outlet line and via which a freshly brewed coffee beverage can be dispensed into a drinking vessel to be placed thereunder, the return pump being connected on the intake side in a fluid-conducting manner to the outlet line and opening on the delivery side into a drain or a collecting container in order to suction coffee beverage out of the coffee line before, during or after a brewing operation and to conduct the coffee beverage into the drain or collecting container. A controller activates the return pump and the return pump during pre-heating in which hot water is introduced into the brewing unit and/or the outlet line.

Abstract: An integrated optical transducer for measuring displacement of a diaphragm comprises the diaphragm, a lens element and a substrate body having a waveguide structure and a coupling element. The diaphragm is arranged distant from the substrate body and substantially parallel to a main extension plane of the substrate body. The waveguide structure is configured to guide light from a light source to the coupling element and from the coupling element to a photodetector. The coupling element is configured to couple at least part of the light in the waveguide structure onto a light path between the coupling element and the diaphragm and to couple light reflected by a surface of the diaphragm from the light path into the waveguide structure. The lens element is arranged on the light path such that light on the light path passes through the lens element.

Abstract: A beverage preparation apparatus for automatically dispensing hot beverages, in particular coffee beverages, having a hot water preparation unit which supplies hot water to a brewing apparatus, a water pump for conveying pressurized water in the direction of the brewing apparatus, an outlet device connected to the brewing apparatus via a hot beverage line and a controller which controls automatic preparation and dispensing of the selected beverage after beverage selection. The controller varies the brewing pressure at which the hot water is supplied to the brewing apparatus or the throughflow rate at which the hot water is conveyed, over the preparation operation of the selected beverage in accordance with a predetermined or predeterminable profile. The beverage preparation apparatus has a mechanical operating element having an electrical consumer connected to the controller and via which the profile can be predetermined by a user during a beverage preparation operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing a liquid foodstuff, in particular milk, includes a heating device for heating the liquid foodstuff, which has a fluid path for the liquid foodstuff and an electric heater. The fluid path and heater are in thermal contact with a heat store made from a material of high thermal mass and conductivity, and the heat store is brought by the heater to an operating temperature which lies below 80° C., preferably below 70° C. The fluid path is connectable via at least one directional control valve to a flushing line via which water and/or detergent can be conducted through the fluid path for cleaning purposes. A control device is provided that is configured to heat the heat store of the heating device to a temperature above 100° C. to carry out thermal regeneration, and to open the directional control device one or more times for conducting water or detergent solution through the fluid path of the heating device heated to a high temperature.

Abstract: A beverage preparation device, in particular for preparing coffee, tea or milk beverages, having a milk system for dispensing milk and/or milk froth, and having a control unit for controlling the beverage preparation device to dispense beverages portion by portion. The milk system here has a connectable conveying line to a milk container, and a milk pump which is attached to the conveying line. A first mechanical flow meter is arranged in the conveying line, this flow meter meters the volume of milk conveyed by the milk pump and is connected in terms of signaling to the control unit.

Abstract: A sensor includes a substrate; and a corrugated diaphragm offset from the substrate. The corrugated diaphragm is configured to deflect responsive to a sound wave impinging on the corrugated diaphragm. A cavity is defined between the corrugated diaphragm and the substrate, the corrugated diaphragm forming a top surface of the cavity and the substrate forming a bottom surface of the cavity. A pressure in the cavity is lower than a pressure outside of the cavity.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a rechargeable battery, in particular as a power supply device for a power tool, has a rechargeable battery housing, at least one energy storage cell, a controller and a display. The rechargeable battery has a detector for detecting and a display for displaying a mechanical deformation on the rechargeable battery housing. A method for open-loop control and closed-loop control of the rechargeable battery is also provided. The method senses a mechanical deformation using the detection device and emits at least one signal using the detector for displaying the sensed mechanical deformation on the display device.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting a critical fall of a rechargeable battery and a rechargeable battery having an apparatus for detecting a critical fall, wherein the rechargeable battery contains a control device having a discharging device and also at least one energy storage device. The apparatus contains at least one sensor for detecting an acceleration value in a predetermined direction, control electronics that are configured to control at least one function of the rechargeable battery and also a fastening element for the at least one sensor, whereby the at least one sensor is mounted pivotably about a point of rotation in relation to the rechargeable battery and is kept essentially in a predetermined spatial position in relation to the rechargeable battery when the rechargeable battery rotates about at least one axis of rotation.

Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical system, MEMS, microphone assembly comprises an enclosure defining a first cavity, and a MEMS microphone arranged inside the first cavity. The microphone comprises a first die with bonding structures and a MEMS diaphragm, and a second die having an application specific integrated circuit, ASIC. The second die is bonded to the bonding structures such that a gap is formed between a first side of the diaphragm and the second die, with the gap defining a second cavity. The first side of the diaphragm is interfacing with the second cavity and a second side of the diaphragm is interfacing with the environment via an acoustic inlet port of the enclosure. The bonding structures are arranged such that pressure ventilation openings are formed that connect the first cavity and the second cavity.

Abstract: In a method for dispensing a beverage in which a gas from a gas pressure vessel in which the gas is stored under pressure is mixed with the beverage, it is provided that the beverage is transported out of the storage container (2) by a pump (3) and that the pressure of the gas is lowered to less than 0.5 bar, more preferably less than 100 mbar, above ambient pressure and is fed to the aspirated beverage on the suction side of the pump (3).

Abstract: An integrated optical transducer for measuring displacement of a diaphragm comprises the diaphragm, a lens element and a substrate body having a waveguide structure and a coupling element. The diaphragm is arranged distant from the substrate body and substantially parallel to a main extension plane of the substrate body. The waveguide structure is configured to guide light from a light source to the coupling element and from the coupling element to a photodetector . The coupling element is configured to couple at least part of the light in the waveguide structure onto a light path between the coupling element and the diaphragm and to couple light reflected by a surface of the diaphragm from the light path into the waveguide structure. The lens element is arranged on the light path such that light on the light path passes through the lens element.

Abstract: In order to reduce limescale formation on the continuous flow heater during operation of an apparatus for preparing freshly brewed hot beverages which has a hot water generator, which is embodied as a continuous flow heater, and a brewing apparatus, to which hot water from the hot water generator can be supplied, a controller for actuating the continuous flow heater is provided, which controller switches on the continuous flow heater for the purpose of drawing a pre-specified quantity of hot water and switches off said continuous flow heater shortly before the quantity of hot water is completely output, so that the temperature of the hot water at the output of the continuous flow heater is declining at the end of the drawing operation.

Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical system, MEMS, microphone assembly comprises an enclosure defining a first cavity, and a MEMS microphone arranged inside the first cavity. The microphone comprises a first die with bonding structures and a MEMS diaphragm, and a second die having an application specific integrated circuit, ASIC. The second die is bonded to the bonding structures such that a gap is formed between a first side of the diaphragm and the second die, with the gap defining a second cavity. The first side of the diaphragm is interfacing with the second cavity and a second side of the diaphragm is interfacing with the environment via an acoustic inlet port of the enclosure. The bonding structures are arranged such that pressure ventilation openings are formed that connect the first cavity and the second cavity.

Abstract: A sensor includes a substrate; and a corrugated diaphragm offset from the substrate. The corrugated diaphragm is configured to deflect responsive to a sound wave impinging on the corrugated diaphragm. A cavity is defined between the corrugated diaphragm and the substrate, the corrugated diaphragm forming a top surface of the cavity and the substrate forming a bottom surface of the cavity. A pressure in the cavity is lower than a pressure outside of the cavity.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing a liquid foodstuff, in particular milk, includes a heating device for heating the liquid foodstuff, which has a fluid path for the liquid foodstuff and an electric heater. The fluid path and heater are in thermal contact with a heat store made from a material of high thermal mass and conductivity, and the heat store is brought by the heater to an operating temperature which lies below 80° C., preferably below 70° C. The fluid path is connectable via at least one directional control valve to a flushing line via which water and/or detergent can be conducted through the fluid path for cleaning purposes. A control device is provided that is configured to heat the heat store of the heating device to a temperature above 100° C. to carry out thermal regeneration, and to open the directional control device one or more times for conducting water or detergent solution through the fluid path of the heating device heated to a high temperature.

Abstract: A beverage preparation device, in particular for preparing coffee, tea or milk beverages, having a milk system for dispensing milk and/or milk froth, and having a control unit for controlling the beverage preparation device to dispense beverages portion by portion. The milk system here has a connectable conveying line to a milk container, and a milk pump which is attached to the conveying line. A first mechanical flow meter is arranged in the conveying line, this flow meter meters the volume of milk conveyed by the milk pump and is connected in terms of signaling to the control unit.

Abstract: A sensor arrangement comprises a first capacitive sensor with a first and a second terminal, a second capacitive sensor with a first and a second terminal, a charge pump arrangement coupled to the first terminal of the first capacitive sensor and to the first terminal of the second capacitive sensor, and a differential output. The differential output comprises a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first capacitive sensor and a second terminal coupled to the second terminal of the second capacitive sensor. The first and the second capacitive sensor having opposite geometric orientation.

Abstract: An unpacking device for use in an apparatus for producing a three-dimensional work piece by irradiating layers of a raw material powder with electromagnetic or particle radiation, the unpacking device comprises a holding device which is configured to hold a building chamber arrangement. The building chamber arrangement comprises a building chamber accommodating a carrier, wherein the carrier is configured to receive a three-dimensional work piece produced from a raw material powder by an additive layering process. An engagement unit of the unpacking device is configured to engage with the carrier of the building chamber arrangement. A moving mechanism is configured to cause a relative movement between the building chamber and the engagement unit with the carrier engaged therewith so as to allow a separation of the carrier with a three-dimensional work piece received thereon from the building chamber.

Abstract: In order to reduce limescale formation on the continuous flow heater during operation of an apparatus for preparing freshly brewed hot beverages which has a hot water generator, which is embodied as a continuous flow heater, and a brewing apparatus, to which hot water from the hot water generator can be supplied, a controller for actuating the continuous flow heater is provided, which controller switches on the continuous flow heater for the purpose of drawing a pre-specified quantity of hot water and switches off said continuous flow heater shortly before the quantity of hot water is completely output, so that the temperature of the hot water at the output of the continuous flow heater is declining at the end of the drawing operation.

Abstract: The application relates to a device for producing three-dimensional workpieces, the device including: a structural surface designed to receive a molding compound; and an irradiation arrangement designed to selectively irradiate the molding compound on the structural surface with electromagnetic radiation, in order to produce a workpiece by means of generative layer construction, where the irradiation device comprises a plurality of irradiation units, the irradiation units being designed to irradiate an individual region of the structural surface respectively associated with the irradiation units, and where the beams emitted by the irradiation units respectively have a cross-sectional surface corresponding to between approx. 2% and approx. 170% of the surface of the respectively associated individual region. The application also relates to the use of such a device and to a method for producing three-dimensional workpieces by means of such a device.