Abstract: Bimodal polyethylene blends are made from a high-molecular-weight ethylene copolymer and a low-molecular-weight ethylene homo- or copolymer and have a melt flow rate MFR 190/21.6 of from 6 to 14 g/10 min, a density of from 0.94 to 0.97 g/cm3, an environmental-stress-cracking resistance ESCR>150 h and a value of less than 3 when the quality of blending in the blend is measured to ISO 13949. A process prepares polyethylene blends of this type by melting and homogenization in a mixing apparatus and discharge via a gear pump. The blends are used to produce moldings, in particular hollow articles and pressure pipes.

Abstract: A modular switching system includes a transistor operative in a switching mode for applying current to a load. Adaptation of the system to accommodate different values of load is attained by coupling an input drive ,signal to a base terminal of the transistor via a variable gain amplifier wherein the gain is established by a load-adaption signal to meet the requisite base current drive signal for the load. Plural emitter terminals of the transistor connected to separate branches of a monitoring circuit, each branch having its own threshold detector, for monitoring of minimum and maximum values of load current.

Abstract: A switching system includes a module having at least one semiconductor switch for switching current to a load, in particular, a setting member in an automotive control or automatic control device. A short-circuit current monitoring circuit and an idle current monitoring circuit are provided for each semiconductor switch. Each switch may constructed as a multiple-emitter transistor with separate emitter terminals being connected to the respective monitoring circuits whereby load current in the multiple-emitter transistor can be monitored. The short-circuit monitoring circuit outputs a signal indicating excessively large load current in the transistor. The idle monitoring circuit outputs a signal indicating excessively small load current in the transistor.

Abstract: In a method and arrangement for controlling the fuel/air ratio of an internal combustion engine in which the output voltage of an oxygen measurement probe which is arranged in the exhaust pipe of the internal combustion engine is used, after comparison with threshold values, for regulating the fuel/air ratio, the threshold values can be controlled as a function of extreme values of the output voltage.

Abstract: In a monitoring system for a bridge output stage which is connected in series with a controllable source of current, to the terminals of a source of operating voltage, the voltage over the bridge output stage and the voltage drop over a current-measurement resistor are fed to a subtraction circuit. The subtraction circuit is connected, via an analog-to-digital converter, to an input of a microcomputer, and a program is provided by which it is tested whether the voltage at the input of the microcomputer lies within a predetermined range. The operating voltage and the voltage over the controllable source of current are preferably fed to a further subtraction circuit the output of which is connected to an output of the subtraction circuit.

Abstract: In a method for detecting the readiness for operation of a oxygen measurement probe which is arranged in the exhaust duct of an internal combustion engine and serves together with a regulating device to regulate the preparation of the mixture for the internal combustion engine, the output voltage of the oxygen measurement probe is integrated with an integration time constant which is dependent on the internal resistance of the oxygen measurement probe. The rate of change of the output voltage is measured. Above a predetermined value of the rate of change, readiness for operation is noted. In a circuit arrangement for the carrying out of the method, there is connected to the output of the oxygen measurement probe the input of an integrator whose output is connected via an analog-to-digital converter to the input of a microcomputer. Also there can be fed to an integrator an initial value which lies in a central part of the operating range of the output voltage of the integrator.

Abstract: A method for detecting the readiness for operation of an oxygen measurement sensor which is located in the exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine and serves, together with a regulating device, to regulate the preparation of the mixture for the internal combustion engine. The voltage present at the oxygen measurement sensor is measured in succession for two different conditions of load and the internal resistance is calculated from the results of the measurement and compared with a predetermined value.