Abstract: The invention relates to a positioning module (1) with a base (2) and a positioning element (3) that is movable relative to the base (2), wherein the positioning element (3) is coupled to the base (2) via a leg element (4) of constant length, and the leg element (4) is connected to the positioning element (3) via a joint device (5), and the leg element (4) is assigned a drive module (6) arranged on the base with a drive unit (62), with a drive element (64) that is displaceable along a direction of movement by the drive unit (62), which is connected to the leg element (4) via a joint device (5), and with a force compensation device (7) connected to the drive element (64), wherein a defined force can be exerted on the drive element (64) along the direction of movement of the drive element (64) by means of the force compensation device (7).

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuation device for a braking or clamping device is provided, having a stator with an energizable magnetic coil, an armature movable relative to the stator, and a spring operatively connected to the armature such that, when the magnetic coil is de-energized, an air gap with a first width is formed between the armature and stator. The spring has a first pretension, and, when the magnetic coil is energized, the air gap width is reduced relative to the first width, and has a second pretension, greater than the first pretension. An actuation element is in operative communication with the armature and actuates the braking or clamping device subject to an armature position. A shock-absorbing element having a speed-dependent damping force characteristic is arranged between the armature and stator; or on a side of the armature remote from the stator, between the armature and a bearing/housing part; or both locations.

Abstract: A control device for fail-safe control of an electric actuator, having: an electrical power source; a power path from the source to an output connection for an actuator, in which a power part is arranged. The power part switches the polarity of the output voltage and/or changes the amount of electrical power that is output. A power switching element in the path switches the electrical power at the output on and off. A sensor downstream of the power part determines the electrical power at the output. An enable signal actuates the power switching element, and a switching signal provides the electrical power at the output based on a switching state. A combinational circuit logic assembly carries out logic operations between the switching state of the switching signal and the electrical power determined by the sensor and generates a further enable signal used to act on the power switching element.

Abstract: A control device with integrated energy conditioning and energy management for actuating an electrically operated and/or controlled actuator, including: a controller for generating an actuation signal for the actuator; a connection for connecting the control device to an external electrical energy supply that provides a grid voltage; a circuit arrangement for the conditioning, rectification and conversion of the grid voltage into a first intermediate circuit DC voltage, a level of which is independent of a level of the grid voltage; at least one electrical buffer store for the first intermediate circuit DC voltage for buffering a power necessary for maintaining a further voltage, derived from the first intermediate circuit DC voltage, for supplying power to the controller unit in the event of failure of the external electrical energy supply and for transferring the actuator to a safe state, for example upon failure of the external electrical energy supply.

Abstract: A biaxial positioning device is described. The positioning device includes: a stationary base element; a first positioning element movably mounted relative to the base element along a first direction by means of a first guide device; a second positioning element movably mounted relative to the first positioning element along a second direction, which is different to the first direction, by means of a second guide device; a first drive for adjusting the first positioning element along the first direction of movement; and a second drive for adjusting the second positioning element along the second direction of movement. The stationary base element and the second positioning element each have a printed circuit board, and the first positioning element is a metal support element and is disposed between the base element and the second positioning element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a planar positioning apparatus for positioning loads on a predetermined plane, said positioning apparatus comprising:—a base plate having a flat surface that extends parallel to and at a specific distance from the predefined positioning plane, thus defining same;—four identical linear guides/drives which are collinearly fastened to or on the base plate in pairs parallel to the two other linear guides/drives; and—a parallel kinematic unit which comprises a load platform, is disposed between the parallel linear guides/drives, and is rotationally connected to the rotors of all linear drives via one passive joint each.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electric motor having at least one magnetic track, which has a plurality of magnet elements connected in a line in a longitudinal direction or in the shape of a ring, in particular in a Halbach array configuration, and having at least one coil assembly, which includes a support that is substantially electrically and magnetically non-conductive with respect to the magnetic track, which is configured such that the coil assembly and the magnetic track are capable of carrying out a guided movement relative to each other, and which includes at least one group of three conductive flat coils.

Abstract: A biaxial positioning device is described. The positioning device includes: a stationary base element; a first positioning element movably mounted relative to the base element along a first direction by means of a first guide device; a second positioning element movably mounted relative to the first positioning element along a second direction, which is different to the first direction, by means of a second guide device; a first drive for adjusting the first positioning element along the first direction of movement; and a second drive for adjusting the second positioning element along the second direction of movement. The stationary base element and the second positioning element each have a printed circuit board, and the first positioning element is a metal support element and is disposed between the base element and the second positioning element.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electric motor having at least one magnetic track, which has a plurality of magnet elements connected in a line in a longitudinal direction or in the shape of a ring, in particular in a Halbach array configuration, and having at least one coil assembly, which includes a support that is substantially electrically and magnetically non-conductive with respect to the magnetic track, which is configured such that the coil assembly and the magnetic track are capable of carrying out a guided movement relative to each other, and which includes at least one group of three conductive flat coils.

Abstract: A variable displacement vane-type fluid pump is provided which permits improved regulation of the pump discharge such that the pump can meet the various requirements of lubrication for internal combustion engines at all speeds with minimized use of power. Of course, the vane pump may also be utilized in a wide range of power transmission and other fluid distribution applications. The vane pump of the invention may also use both hydrostatic and mechanical actuators to control the position of its containment ring or eccentric ring and hence, regulate the output of the pump. According to yet another aspect of the present invention, to prevent inlet flow restriction or cavitation, a valve may be provided to permit some of the pump outlet or discharge flow to bleed into the pump inlet to provide needed velocity energy to the fluid flow into the pump inlet.

Abstract: A method of producing a device with a movable portion spaced apart from a support wafer comprises a step of providing the support wafer having a structured surface and a further step of providing a device wafer with a backing layer and a device layer disposed thereon. Further, the method comprises the step of generating a first planarization layer from a first starting material on the support wafer with a first method to fill in the structures of the structured surface of the support wafer, whereby a surface with a first degree of planarization is obtained. Further, the method comprises a step of generating a second planarization layer from a second starting material on the planarized surface of the support wafer with a second method to obtain a surface with a second degree of planarization, which is higher than the first degree of planarization, wherein the first and second planarization layers can be removed together.

Abstract: A method of producing a device with a movable portion spaced apart from a support wafer comprises a step of providing the support wafer having a structured surface and a further step of providing a device wafer with a backing layer and a device layer disposed thereon. Further, the method comprises the step of generating a first planarization layer from a first starting material on the support wafer with a first method to fill in the structures of the structured surface of the support wafer, whereby a surface with a first degree of planarization is obtained. Further, the method comprises a step of generating a second planarization layer from a second starting material on the planarized surface of the support wafer with a second method to obtain a surface with a second degree of planarization, which is higher than the first degree of planarization, wherein the first and second planarization layers can be removed together.

Abstract: A variable displacement vane-type fluid pump is provided which permits improved regulation of the pump discharge such that the pump can meet the various requirements of lubrication for internal combustion engines at all speeds with minimized use of power. Of course, the vane pump may also be utilized in a wide range of power transmission and other fluid distribution applications. The vane pump of the invention may also use both hydrostatic and mechanical actuators to control the position of its containment ring or eccentric ring and hence, regulate the output of the pump. According to yet another aspect of the present invention, to prevent inlet flow restriction or cavitation, a valve may be provided to permit some of the pump outlet or discharge flow to bleed into the pump inlet to provide needed velocity energy to the fluid flow into the pump inlet.

Abstract: A hinge is provided at an edge of a container and a cover of the container. The hinge is designed such that the edge of the container can be both lifted off from the edge of the container and folded away. The pivoting movement of a second member (4) is limited by two stop positions I and II, of which the stop position I defines a stable position of the cover of the container on the edge of the container, fixed by the inner part (8) and the outer part (9). The closed container can be opened from the stop position I by lifting off the cover of the container, and the other stop position II defines a stable position of the cover of the container folded away from the edge of the container with the container opened, likewise fixed by the inner part (8) and the outer part (9).

Abstract: A hinge is provided at an edge of a container and a cover of the container. The hinge is designed such that the edge of the container can be both lifted off from the edge of the container and folded away. The hinge is thus especially suitable for incubators in order to guarantee simple and rapid access to the premature or newborn patient. The pivoting movement of a second member (4) is limited by two stop positions I and II, of which the stop position I defines a stable position of the cover of the container on the edge of the container, fixed by the inner part (8) and the outer part (9). The closed container can be opened from the stop position I by lifting off the cover of the container, and the other stop position II defines a stable position of the cover of the container folded away from the edge of the container with the container opened, likewise fixed by the inner part (8) and the outer part (9).

Abstract: An optical catheter including an absorption chamber and distensible semipermeable diaphragm are disclosed for the simultaneous measurement of blood gases, blood pressure and pulse rate.

Abstract: A pipetting device comprising a housing and a plurality of tubes mounted on the housing. The housing has a manifold chamber and a plurality of passages leading from the tubes, respectively, to the manifold chamber. A flexible impervious membrane extends across the passages to divide each of the passages into a first passage section and a second passage section. The first passage sections provide communication between the tubes and one side of the membrane, and the second passage sections provide communication from the other side of the membrane to the manifold chamber. A substantially incompressible flowable material, such as a liquid, fills the second passage sections and the manifold chamber. A mechanism is provided for moving the flowable material to deflect the membrane in opposite directions whereby liquid can be drawn into, and expelled from, the tubes.