Abstract: An air purification unit including an electric filter module through which air to be purified can flow and a first electrode and a second electrode between which the air to be purified flows and between which a first electric field can be generated by applying an electric high voltage provided by a power supply module, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode form an ionizer and wherein a mechanical filter module with a mechanical filter element is arranged downstream of the electric filter module in the direction of flow of the air to be purified, wherein a third electrode is provided in the mechanical filter element or in the mechanical filter module downstream of the mechanical filter element, and wherein a second electric field can be generated between the second electrode and the third electrode by applying an electric voltage.

Abstract: A piston pump as a high-pressure fuel pump of a common rail system includes: a pump cylinder; a pump piston moveably mounted in a recess of the pump cylinder, the pump piston being moveable up and down in the recess; and a leakage groove arranged in the pump cylinder in a region of the recess, the leakage groove being coupled with a leakage line configured to discharge a fuel leakage. Between the pump cylinder and the pump piston a different size pairing clearance is formed in first and second portions of the pump cylinder.

Abstract: A hearing aid includes a speaker driver, an optical source secured directly to the speaker driver, an optical detector secured directly to the speaker driver, a first light guide extending outwardly from the optical source and in optical communication with the optical source, and a second light guide extending outwardly from the optical detector and in optical communication with the optical detector. The first light guide is configured to deliver light from the optical source into an ear region of the subject via a distal end thereof, and the second light guide is configured to collect light from the ear region via a distal end thereof and deliver collected light to the optical detector. The hearing aid may include at least one signal processor configured to process signals produced by the optical detector, and at least one of the following: an accelerometer, a humidity sensor, an altimeter, a temperature sensor.

Abstract: A monitoring device includes a band configured to be secured around an appendage of a subject, and a sensor module secured to the band via supporting material. The band has a first Durometer value, and the supporting material has a second Durometer value that is lower than the first Durometer value. The sensor module includes a housing, and a sensor assembly disposed within the housing. The sensor assembly includes at least one energy emitter and at least one energy detector, and the housing includes at least one protrusion extending outwardly to accommodate the at least one energy emitter, and a plurality of outwardly extending stabilizing members.

Abstract: A monitoring device includes a band capable of at least partially encircling a portion of a body of a subject. An optical source and an optical detector are supported by the band. A first light guide is in optical communication with the optical source and a second light guide is in optical communication with the optical detector. A distal end of the first light guide is configured to deliver light from the optical source into the body, and a distal end of the second light guide is configured to collect light from the body and deliver collected light to the optical detector. The first and second light guides define respective first and second axial directions that diverge outwardly from the band such that light rays directed into the body via the first light guide cannot overlap with light rays collected by the second light guide.

Abstract: An ear worn device includes an optical source, an optical detector, and a housing supporting the optical source and optical detector. The housing is configured to be positioned within an ear of a subject and includes a first light guide in optical communication with the optical source and a second light guide in optical communication with the optical detector. A distal end of the first light guide is configured to deliver light from the optical source into the ear, and a distal end of the second light guide is configured to collect light from the ear and deliver collected light to the optical detector. The first and second light guides define respective first and second axial directions that are outwardly diverging such that light rays directed into the ear via the first light guide cannot overlap with light rays collected by the second light guide.

Abstract: A sensor module includes a housing and a sensor assembly disposed within the housing. The sensor assembly includes a base having at least one energy emitter and at least one energy detector, and a guide layer overlying the base in face-to-face relationship. The guide layer has at least one protrusion extending outwardly to accommodate the at least one energy emitter, and a plurality of outwardly extending stabilizing members. The housing has at least one first opening through which the at least one protrusion extends, and a plurality of second openings through which the stabilizing members extend. Some of the stabilizing members have an outwardly extending length that is greater than an outwardly extending length of the at least one protrusion. Some of the stabilizing members are substantially cylindrical and have a circular cross-sectional profile, and some of the stabilizing members are partially cylindrical and have a partially circular cross-sectional profile.

Abstract: An orthopaedic aid with a reference element, a movement element that is movably fixed to the reference element and a position sensor for determining a position of the movement element relative to the reference element, which comprises at least one permanent magnet and at least three Hall sensors, wherein the Hall sensors are arranged on the reference element and for moving along a trajectory upon a movement of the movement element relative to the reference element, wherein the at least one permanent magnet is fixed to the movement element and wherein the Hall sensors and the permanent magnet are arranged in such a way that a movement of the movement element relative to the reference element and a resulting movement of the Hall sensors along the trajectory causes a linear change in Hall voltage for at least one Hall sensor.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of a semiconductor device, the device includes a semiconductor substrate having a transistor region and a diode region. The transistor region includes a plurality of IGBT cells, and a charge carrier compensation region configured to expel or admit drift zone minority charge carriers based on an on-state or an off-state of the IGBT cells. The diode region includes a plurality of diode cells. An isolation structure is provided between the transistor region and the diode region. The isolation structure includes a first trench extending lengthwise along at least part of a periphery of the diode region and a second trench interposed between the first trench and the transistor region. The charge carrier compensation region extends to the second trench of the isolation structure but not the first trench such that the charge carrier compensation region is electrically isolated from an anode potential of the diode region.

Abstract: An earpiece configured to be positioned within an ear canal of a subject includes a housing, a sensor assembly disposed within the housing, and a cover removably secured to a free end of the housing. The sensor assembly includes at least one optical emitter and at least one optical detector. The cover includes at least one light guide configured to guide light from the at least one optical emitter and/or guide light from the ear of the subject to the at least one optical detector. The cover also includes a plurality of stabilizing members extending outwardly from an outer surface of the cover adjacent the at least one light guide. The earpiece may also include at least one ear support fitting associated with the housing that is configured to stabilize the earpiece within the ear canal.

Abstract: A piston pump as a high-pressure fuel pump of a common rail system includes: a pump cylinder; a pump piston moveably mounted in a recess of the pump cylinder, the pump piston being moveable up and down in the recess; and a leakage groove arranged in the pump cylinder in a region of the recess, the leakage groove being coupled with a leakage line configured to discharge a fuel leakage. Between the pump cylinder and the pump piston a different size pairing clearance is formed in first and second portions of the pump cylinder.

Abstract: An optical adapter is configured to be removably secured to a wearable monitoring device. The monitoring device includes a housing having a portion with a biometric sensor that is wearably positionable adjacent the skin of a subject. The biometric sensor includes an optical emitter and an optical detector. The optical adapter includes a base that is configured to be removably secured to the housing portion. The optical adapter includes a first light guide extending outwardly from the base that is in optical communication with the optical emitter when the base is secured to the housing portion, and a second light guide extending outwardly from the base that is in optical communication with the optical detector when the base is secured to the housing portion. The optical adapter also includes a plurality of stabilizing members extending outwardly from the base.

Abstract: A device for assessing sunscreen coverage on a person includes a casing a lens assembly extending from about a front facing surface of the casing and allowing transmissivity to light energy in a wavelength range of about 300 to about 400 nm. A filter is in optical communication with the lens assembly and having a high optical density above about 390 nm and a low optical density below about 390 nm. A sensor is in optical communication with the filter, the sensor having a signal/noise ratio that is greater than about 36 db. A controller is configured for receiving input from a user to control the device. A display screen may be in communication with a controller for displaying an image associated with the filtered light.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for facilitating the extraction of cleaner biometric signals from biometric monitors. A motion reference signal is generated independently from a biometric signal and then the motion reference signal is used to remove motion artifacts from the biometric signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for facilitating the extraction of cleaner biometric signals from biometric monitors. A motion reference signal is generated independently from a biometric signal and then the motion reference signal is used to remove motion artifacts from the biometric signal.

Abstract: A device for assessing sunscreen coverage on a person includes a casing a lens assembly extending from about a front facing surface of the casing and allowing transmissivity to light energy in a wavelength range of about 300 to about 400 nm. A filter is in optical communication with the lens assembly and having a high optical density above about 390 nm and a low optical density below about 390 nm. A sensor is in optical communication with the filter, the sensor having a signal/noise ratio that is greater than about 36 db. A controller is configured for receiving input from a user to control the device. A display screen may be in communication with a controller for displaying an image associated with the filtered light.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is presented. The semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor body coupled to a first load terminal and to a second load terminal and configured to carry a load current between the first load terminal and the second load terminal. The first load terminal comprises a contiguous metal layer coupled to the semiconductor body; and at least one metal island arranged on top of and in contact with the contiguous metal layer and configured to be contacted by an end of a bond wire and to receive at least a part of the load current by means of the bond wire, wherein the contiguous metal layer and the metal island are composed of the same metal.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a digital camera configured to capture a plurality of images of a region of a body of a subject, a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor configured to sense blood flow information from the subject, and a processor in communication with the digital camera and the PPG sensor. The processor is configured to analyze a blood flow information signal from the PPG sensor and determine a heart rate frequency and/or a breathing rate frequency of the subject. The processor is also configured to analyze the plurality of images and determine whether or not a portion of the region of the body is modulating at a frequency that is similar to the heart rate frequency and/or the breathing rate frequency of the subject.

Abstract: A monitoring device includes a band capable of at least partially encircling a portion of a body of a subject. An optical source and an optical detector are supported by the band. A first light guide is in optical communication with the optical source and a second light guide is in optical communication with the optical detector. A distal end of the first light guide is configured to deliver light from the optical source into the body, and a distal end of the second light guide is configured to collect light from the body and deliver collected light to the optical detector. The first and second light guides define respective first and second axial directions that diverge outwardly from the band such that light rays directed into the body via the first light guide cannot overlap with light rays collected by the second light guide.

Abstract: An ear worn device includes an optical source, an optical detector, and a housing supporting the optical source and optical detector. The housing is configured to be positioned within an ear of a subject and includes a first light guide in optical communication with the optical source and a second light guide in optical communication with the optical detector. A distal end of the first light guide is configured to deliver light from the optical source into the ear, and a distal end of the second light guide is configured to collect light from the ear and deliver collected light to the optical detector. The first and second light guides define respective first and second axial directions that are outwardly diverging such that light rays directed into the ear via the first light guide cannot overlap with light rays collected by the second light guide.