Author: claimsbot

1. Optical waveguide with at least one fiber (1), especially synthetic fiber, glass or quartz fiber;
1.1 the fiber (1) comprises a fiber end (1.1) for coupling in light, characterized in that
1.2 the fiber end (1.1) comprises an infrared-reducing coating (2).
2. Optical waveguide as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the fiber end (1.1) comprises an IR-reflecting coating.
3. Optical waveguide as defined in any of the claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the coating (2) has UV-reflecting properties.
4. Optical waveguide as defined in any of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the coating (2) has UV-absorbing properties.
5. Optical waveguide as defined in any of the claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the coating (2) comprises a silver diffusion paint and especially layer packages consisting of TiO2 as UV-blockers.
6. Optical waveguide as defined in any of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the coating (2) has anti-reflection properties in the visible wave range.
7. Optical waveguide as defined in any of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the fiber end (1.1) comprises a non-scratch coating.
8. Optical waveguide as defined in any of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the coating (2) comprises a color conversion filter.
9. Optical waveguide as defined in any of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the fiber end (1.1) comprises a plurality of layers with varying refraction coefficients.
10. Optical waveguide as defined in any of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the coating (2) is applied to the fiber end (1.1) by means of at least one of the following methods:
PICVD (Plasma Impulse Chemical Vapor Deposition)
LPCVD (Low Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition)
PECVD (Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition)
Reactive and non-reactive sputtering methods
PVD method

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users comprising:
a control system having a processor capable of accessing a library associating a native bar code with the content of a prerecorded media disc, receiving the identification of a native bar code of a prerecorded media disc from an optical disc identification system adapted to read a native bar code on a prerecorded media disc, identifying the content of the prerecorded media disc read by the optical disc identification system by the native bar code when in the library, directing a disc transfer system to store the prerecorded media disc in a selected location of a disc storage system, and storing in a memory of the control system the selected location and content or native bar code of each prerecorded media disc, and
a user interface system operably connected to the control system and adapted to receive a prerecorded media disc from a user, and including a buy-back activator and at least one browsing and selection station operable by a user, the user interface system capable of receiving from the control system an identification of the content of the received media disc, communicating to the user a buy-back price provided by the control system for the received media disc, and directing credit of a user account for the buy-back price of the received media disc.

2. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 1 where the user interface system is also capable of transferring the received disc to the optical disc identification system.

3. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 1 where the optical disc identification system is part of the user interface system and is adapted to read the native bar code on receipt of the media disc from the user.

4. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 1 where the user interface system is also capable of receiving a user identification of the content of the prerecorded media disc and communicating such user identification to the control system, and the control system is capable of comparing the user identification of the content of the prerecorded disc media with the content identified by the native bar code.

5. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 1 where the user interface system is capable of receiving from the control system an identification of a prerecorded media disc read by optical disc identification system and displaying such identification to the user.

6. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs users as claimed in claim 1 where the optical disc identification system is capable of checking the quality of the prerecorded media disc and the user interface is also capable of dispensing back to the user a received disc that does not meet a given quality standard.

7. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 1 where the optical disc identification system is capable of checking the quality of the media disc and transferring a measure of the quality to the control system, and the control system is capable of adjusting the buy-back price displayed to the user by the user interface system based on the measured quality of the received media disc.

8. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 1 further comprising
a communication system capable of at least periodically updating a buy-back price database with prices for used prerecorded media discs.

9. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 8 where the communication system provides a continual updating of the prices for used prerecorded media discs.

10. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 1 where the control system is capable of instructing the user interface system to dispense back to the user a received media disc that cannot be identified by the native bar code.

11. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 1 where the control system is capable of identifying a prerecorded media disc whose native bar code is not present in the library and updating the library associating such native bar code with the content of the prerecorded media disc.

12. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 11 where the library communicates with other like control systems, and is capable of verifying an association of such newly added native bar code with content of prerecorded media disc identified by the control system.

13. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 12 where the control system is also capable of directing debit of a credit previously issued to a user for a buy-back price paid for a received disc when the control system is unable to verify the association between the native bar code and the identification of the prerecorded media disc.

14. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 1 where the user interface system is capable of reading a bar code from a case associated with the content of the received disc and transferring such identification of the case bar code to the control system, and where the control system is capable of comparing the disc content associated with the case bar code with the disc content associated with the native bar code of the received disc identified by the optical disc identification system and directing the user interface system to inform the user when the disc content associated with the native bar code does not agree with the disc content associated with the case bar code.

15. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 14 where the optical disc identification system comprises:
a disc holder adapted to support a received media disc to expose a center hub of the media disc,
a light source positioned to illuminate at least a portion of the hub of the media disc in the disc holder,
a sensor capable of capturing a digital image of at least a portion of the hub including a native bar code on the media disc, and
an image processor capable of reading the native bar code from the digital image.

16. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 1 where the optical disc identification system is capable of capturing a digital image of at least a portion of a center hub of a received media disc containing a native bar code and reading the native bar code from the digital image of the hub of the received media disc.

17. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 1 where the optical disc identification system comprises:
a disc holder adapted to support a received media disc to expose a center hub of the media disc,
a light source positioned to illuminate at least a portion of the hub of the media disc in the disc holder,
a sensor capable of capturing a digital image of at least a portion of the hub including a native bar code on the media disc, and
an image processor capable of reading the native bar code from the digital image.

18. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 17 where the optical disc identification system further comprises:
a mirror positioned to reflect an image of a surface of the received media disc illuminated by the light source,
where the sensor is capable of capturing the reflected image from the mirror of at least a portion of the surface of the media disc through an opening in the center hub of the media disc, and
where the control system is capable of accessing a library of art work associated with content of prerecorded media discs and is capable of comparing the reflected image captured by the sensor with the art work in the library to identify the content of the received media disc.

19. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 17 where the optical disc identification system further comprises:
a second light source positioned to illuminate at least a portion of a surface of the received media disc opposite the first light source,
a second sensor capable of capturing a digital image of at least a portion of the surface of the media disc illuminated by the second light source and transferring that digital image to the control system, and
where the control system is capable of accessing a library of art work associated with content of prerecorded media discs and is capable of comparing the digital image captured by the second sensor with the art work in the library to identify the content of the received media disc.

20. The optical disc identification system as claimed in claim 17 where the light source positioned to illuminate at least a part of the hub of the received media disc positioned in the disc holder is capable of producing light selected from the group consisting of indirect light, diffused light, and dispersed light.

21. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 1 where the prerecorded media discs are bare discs.

22. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 1 where the prerecorded media disc may be in a case and the optical disc identification system is capable of reading the native bar code on the received media disc through a window in the case.

23. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 1 where the prerecorded media disc may be in a case and the optical disc identification system is capable of reading the native bar code on the received media disc through an opening in the case.

24. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 1 where the prerecorded media discs are selected from the group consisting of CD’s, DVD’s, HD DVD’s, Blu-ray\xae discs, Wii\xae games, Playstation\xae games, Nintendo\xae games, Xbox\xae games and a mixture thereof.

25. A system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users comprising:
a control system having a processor capable of accessing a library associating native bar codes with content of prerecorded media discs, receiving the identification of a native bar code of a prerecorded media disc from an optical disc identification system adapted to read a native bar code on a prerecorded media disc and receiving the identification of the content of said media disc by a disc drive capable of reading at least part of the content of the prerecorded media discs, identifying the content of the prerecorded media read by the optical disc identification system and the content of prerecorded media disc identified by the disc drive, comparing the content of the received media disc identified by the native bar code with that identified by the disc drive, transferring information to a user interface when the identified contents do not match, directing a disc transfer system to store the prerecorded media discs in selected locations of a disc storage system, and storing in a memory system the selected location and content of each prerecorded media disc, and
the user interface system operably connected to the control system and adapted to receive a prerecorded media disc from a user, and including a buy-back activator and at least one browsing and selection station operable by a user, the user interface system is capable of receiving from the control system an identification of the content of the received disc, communicating to the user a buy-back price provided by the control system for the received disc, and directing credit of a user account for the buy-back price of the received disc.

26. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 25 where the user interface system is also capable of issuing a credit or debit to the user for the buy-back price of the received media disc based on comparing the contents identified by the optical identification system and by the disc drive.

27. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 25 where the user interface system is capable of transferring the received disc to the optical disc identification system.

28. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 25 where the optical disc identification system is part of the user interface system and is adapted to read the native bar code on receipt of the media disc from the user.

29. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 25 where the user interface system is capable of receiving a user identification of the content of a prerecorded media disc and communicating such user identification to the control system, and the control system is capable of comparing the user identification of the content of the prerecorded disc media with the content identified by the native bar code.

30. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 25 where the user interface system is capable of receiving from the control system an identification of a prerecorded media disc read by the optical disc identification system and displaying such identification to the user.

31. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 25 where the optical disc identification system is capable of checking the quality of the prerecorded media disc and the user interface is capable of dispensing back to the user a received disc that does not meet a given quality standard.

32. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 25 where the optical disc identification system is capable of checking the quality of the media disc and transferring a measure of the quality to the control system, and the control system is capable of adjusting the buy-back price displayed to the user by the user interface system based on the measured quality of the received media disc.

33. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 25 further comprising
a communication system capable of at least periodically updating a buy-back price database with prices for used prerecorded media discs.

34. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 25 where the communication system provides a continual updating of the prices for used prerecorded media discs.

35. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 25 where the control system is capable of instructing the user interface system to dispense back to the user a received media disc that cannot be identified by the native bar code.

36. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 25 where the control system is capable of identifying a prerecorded media disc whose native bar code is not present in the library and updating the library associating such native bar code with the content of the prerecorded media disc.

37. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 36 where the library communicates with other like control systems, and is capable of verifying an association of such newly added native bar code with content of a prerecorded media disc identified by the control system.

38. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 37 where the control system is capable of directing debit of a credit previously issued to a user for a buy-back price paid for a received disc when the control system is unable to verify the association between the native bar code and the identification of the prerecorded media disc.

39. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 25 where the user interface system is capable of reading a bar code from a case associated with the content of the received disc and transferring such identification of the case bar code to the control system, and where the control system is capable of comparing the disc content associated with the case bar code with the disc content associated with the native bar code of the received disc identified by the optical disc identification system and directing the user interface system to inform the user when the disc content associated with the native bar code does not agree with the disc content associated with the case bar code.

40. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 39 where the optical disc identification system comprises:
a disc holder adapted to support a received media disc to expose a center hub of the media disc,
a light source positioned to illuminate at least a portion of the hub of the media disc in the disc holder,
a sensor capable of capturing a digital image of at least a portion of the hub including a native bar code on the received media disc, and
an image processor capable of reading the native bar code from the digital image.

41. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 25 where the optical disc identification system is capable of capturing a digital image of at least a portion of a center hub of a received media disc containing a native bar code and reading the native bar code from the digital image of the hub of the received media disc.

42. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 25 where the optical disc identification system comprises:
a disc holder adapted to support a received media disc to expose a center hub of the media disc,
a light source positioned to illuminate at least a portion of the hub of the media disc in the disc holder,
a sensor capable of capturing a digital image of at least a portion of the hub including a native bar code on the media disc, and
an image processor capable of reading the native bar code from the digital image.

43. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 42 where the optical disc identification system further comprises:
a mirror positioned to reflect an image of a surface of the received media disc illuminated by the light source,
where the sensor is capable of capturing the reflected image from the mirror of at least a portion of the surface of the media disc through an opening in the center hub of the received media disc, and
where the control system is capable of accessing a library of art work associated with content of prerecorded media discs and is capable of comparing the reflected image captured by the sensor with the art work in the library to identify the content of the received media disc.

44. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 42 where the optical disc identification system further comprises:
a second light source positioned to illuminate at least a portion of a surface of the received media disc opposite the first light source,
a second sensor capable of capturing a digital image of at least a portion of the surface of the received media disc illuminated by the second light source and transferring that digital image to the control system, and
where the control system is capable of accessing a library of art work associated with content of prerecorded media discs and is capable of comparing the digital image captured by the second sensor with the art work in the library to identify the content of the received media disc.

45. The optical disc identification system as claimed in claim 42 where the light source positioned to illuminate at least a part of the hub of the received media disc positioned in the disc holder is capable of producing light selected from the group consisting of indirect light, diffused light, and dispersed light.

46. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 25 where the prerecorded media discs are bare discs.

47. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 25 where the prerecorded media disc may be in a case and optical disc identification system is capable of reading the native bar code on the received media disc through a window in the case.

48. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 25 where the prerecorded media disc may be in a case and optical disc identification system is capable of reading the native bar code on the received media disc through an opening in the case.

49. The system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users as claimed in claim 25 where the media discs are selected from the group consisting of CD’s, DVD’s, HD DVD’s, Blu-ray\xae discs, Wii\xae games, Playstation\xae games, Nintendo\xae games, Xbox\xae games and mixture thereof.

50. An optical disc identification system comprising:
a disc holder adapted to support a non-rotating prerecorded media disc to expose a center hub of the media disc,
a light source positioned to illuminate at least a portion of the hub of the non-rotating prerecorded media disc in the disc holder,
a sensor capable of capturing a digital image of at least a portion of the hub including a native bar code on the non-rotating prerecorded media disc, and
an image processor capable of reading the native bar code from the digital image, where the image processor is capable of selecting a linear section of the digital image and determining if the linear section intersects a portion of a native bar code.

51. The optical disc identification system as claimed in claim 50 further comprising:
a mirror positioned to reflect an image of a surface of the media disc illuminated by the light source,
where the sensor is capable of capturing the reflected image from the mirror of at least a portion of the surface of the media disc through an opening in the center hub of the media disc, and
the image processor is capable of comparing the reflected image captured by the sensor with a library of art work associated with the content of prerecorded media discs to identify the content of the media disc.

52. The optical disc identification system as claimed in claim 50 further comprising:
a second light source positioned to illuminate at least a portion of a surface of the media disc opposite the first light source,
a second sensor capable of capturing a digital image of at least a portion of the surface of the media disc illuminated by the second light source and transferring that image to the image processor,
where the image processor is capable of comparing the digital image captured by the second sensor with a library of artwork associated with the content of prerecorded media discs to identify the content of the media disc.

53. The optical disc identification system as claimed in claim 50 where the light source positioned to illuminate at least a part of the hub of the received media disc positioned in the disc holder is capable of producing light selected from the group consisting of indirect light, diffused light, and disperse light.

54. The optical disc identification system as claimed in claim 50 where the sensor has an adjustable focal length.

55. The optical disc identification system as claimed in claim 50 where the image processor is capable of identifying an approximate location of the center of the media disc and mapping concentric ellipses from successive approximations of the center of the media disc to identify and read the native bar code of the media disc.

56. The optical disc identification system as claimed in claim 50 where the image processor is capable of reading at least a portion of the native bar code and reporting the identified portion of the native bar code to a control system.

57. The optical disc identification system as claimed in claim 50 where the disc holder comprises a pair of disc supports capable of maintaining the media disc on an pivot to facilitate movement of the disc within the disc identification system.

58. The optical disc identification system as claimed in claim 57 where the disc supports are formed of non-scratching material.

1. A method of making a casting assembly for casting a first part movable with respect to a second part, comprising:
making first and second separate patterns of portions of the first part;
making a third pattern of the second part;
making a plurality of ceramic core pieces; and
mounting at least one of the core pieces on the first pattern to form a subassembly;
combining the subassembly with the third pattern so that the core pieces maintain a separation between the third pattern and the first pattern;
attaching the first and second patterns together to trap the third pattern and form a complete casting assembly.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein:
the third pattern is hollow; and
the subassembly is received by and inserted through the third pattern.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein:
the at least one of the core pieces is hollow and receives the first pattern;
the third pattern is hollow; and
the at least one of the core pieces and the first pattern are received by the third pattern.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein:
the patterns are formed out of wax and the assembly is used in an investment casting process.
5. (canceled)
6. A method of making a casting assembly for casting a first part movable with respect to a second part, comprising:
making a first pattern of the first part;
making a second pattern of a first portion of the second part;
making separate third pattern of another portion of the second part;
making at least one ceramic core pieces;
mounting the core piece on the first pattern to form a subassembly;
combining the subassembly with the second pattern so that the core pieces maintain a separation between the second pattern and the first pattern; and
bonding the third pattern to the second pattern and around the subassembly to trap the subassembly and form a complete casting assembly.
7. The method of claim 6, characterized by:
openings are formed between the second pattern and the third pattern, and the subassembly is received by said openings.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein:
the patterns are formed out of wax and the assembly is used in an investment casting process.
9. (canceled)
10. A method of making a casting assembly for casting a first part movable with respect to a second part, comprising:
making a first pattern of the first part;
making a second pattern of a first portion of the second part;
making separate third and fourth patterns of other portions of the second part;
making a pair of ceramic core pieces;
mounting the core pieces on the first pattern to form a subassembly;
combining the subassembly with the second pattern so that the core pieces maintain a separation between the second pattern and the first pattern; and
bonding the third and fourth patterns to the second pattern and around the subassembly to trap the subassembly and form a complete casting assembly.
11. The method of claim 10, characterized by:
openings are formed between the second pattern and the third and fourth patterns, and the subassembly is received by said openings.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein:
the patterns are formed out of wax and the assembly is used in an investment casting process.
13. (canceled)
14. A method of making a casting assembly for casting a first part movable with respect to a second part, comprising:
making a first pattern of the first part;
making a second pattern of a first portion of the second part;
making separate third pattern of another portion of the second part;
coating at least a portion of the first pattern with a ceramic coating;
combining the coated first pattern with the second pattern so that the ceramic coating maintains a separation between the second pattern and the first pattern; and
bonding the third pattern to the second pattern and around the subassembly to trap the subassembly and form a complete casting assembly.
15. The method of claim 14, characterized by:
an opening is formed between the second pattern and the third pattern, and the coated first pattern is received by said opening.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein:
the patterns are formed out of wax and the assembly is used in an investment casting process.
17. (canceled)
18. A method of making a casting assembly for casting a first part movable with respect to a second part, comprising:
making first and second separate patterns of portions of the first part;
making a third pattern of the second part;
making a plurality of ceramic core pieces;
mounting at least one of the core pieces on the first pattern to form a subassembly;
combining the subassembly with the third pattern so that the core pieces maintain a separation between the third pattern and the first pattern; and
attaching the first and second patterns together to trap the third pattern and form a complete casting assembly, and the patterns are formed out of foam and the assembly is used in a lost foam casting process.
19. A method of making a casting assembly for casting a first part movable with respect to a second part, comprising:
making a first pattern of the first part;
making a second pattern of a first portion of the second part;
making separate third pattern of another portion of the second part;
making at least one ceramic core pieces;
mounting the core piece on the first pattern to form a subassembly;
combining the subassembly with the second pattern so that the core pieces maintain a separation between the second pattern and the first pattern; and
bonding the third pattern to the second pattern and around the subassembly to trap the subassembly and form a complete casting assembly, and the patterns are formed out of foam and the assembly is used in a lost foam casting process.
20. A method of making a casting assembly for casting a first part movable with respect to a second part, comprising:
making a first pattern of the first part;
making a second pattern of a first portion of the second part;
making separate third and fourth patterns of other portions of the second part;
making a pair of ceramic core pieces;
mounting the core pieces on the first pattern to form a subassembly;
combining the subassembly with the second pattern so that the core pieces maintain a separation between the second pattern and the first pattern; and
bonding the third and fourth patterns to the second pattern and around the subassembly to trap the subassembly and form a complete casting assembly, and the patterns are formed out of foam and the assembly is used in a lost foam casting process.
21. A method of making a casting assembly for casting a first part movable with respect to a second part, comprising:
making a first pattern of the first part;
making a second pattern of a first portion of the second part;
making separate third pattern of another portion of the second part;
coating at least a portion of the first pattern with a ceramic coating;
combining the coated first pattern with the second pattern so that the ceramic coating maintain a separation between the second pattern and the first pattern; and
bonding the third pattern to the second pattern and around the subassembly to trap the subassembly and form a complete casting assembly, and the patterns are formed out of foam and the assembly is used in a lost foam casting process.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A protective device for an electrical power distribution network, with the protective device having means for processing of measured values from measurement appliances for the power distribution network, means for initiating switching commands by primary appliances for the power distribution network, as well as a programmable protective function which, when it is carried out, determines the switching commands on the basis of the measured values,
wherein the protective device has programmable logic which can be programmed in order to carry out the protective function,
wherein the programmable logic is programmed in order to carry out a first protective function, and the protective device has means for programming the programmable logic in order to carry out a second protective function, and
wherein a license management means is provided for determining and managing a license status, which includes information for the protective device as to what protective function may be used or should be carried out in what time period,
wherein the license management means is a computer program for determining and managing the license status, which offers a user interface for modification of the license status,
wherein the user interface is accessible to a network operator via a communication network, and
wherein the selection of a specific protective function is linked to a payment of a license fee.

2. The protective device as claimed in claim 1, which has means for receiving a description of a protective function via a communication link and means for loading the description in the programmable logic.

3. The protective device as claimed in claim 2, with the means for receiving having an interface to a communication network based on the TCPIP protocol.

4. The protective device as claimed in claim 1, with the programmable logic being an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or a CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device).

5. The protective device as claimed in claim 4, wherein a description of the protective function is a VHDL (VHSIC Hardware Description Language) description or a bit stream description of a hardware design for carrying out the protective function on the programmable logic.

6. A substation for an electrical power distribution network having a protective device as claimed in claim 1.

7. The protective device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for programming is configured to reprogram the programmable logic to carry out the second protective function, the means for programming being configured to reprogram the protective device after its installation in the electrical power distribution network.

8. The protective device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the license status for the protective function allows the protective function to be used by transmission of a description of the protective function to the protective device andor by loading of the description in the programmable logic, only when the license management means receives confirmation of payment of the license fee.

9. The protective device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a description of the respective protective function is a description of a hardware design.

10. A protective device for an electrical power distribution network, with the protective device having means for processing of measured values from measurement appliances for the power distribution network, means for initiating switching commands by primary appliances for the power distribution network, as well as a programmable protective function which, when it is carried out, determines the switching commands on the basis of the measured values,
wherein the protective device has programmable logic which can be programmed in order to carry out the protective function,
wherein the programmable logic is programmed in order to carry out a first protective function, and the protective device has means for programming the programmable logic in order to carry out a second protective function, and
wherein a license management means is provided for determining and managing a license status, which includes information for the protective device as to what protective function may be used or should be carried out in what time period, and
wherein a basic protective function, which implements predetermined minimal protection, is stored in a function memory, and if a license for a loaded protective function has elapsed on the basis of the license status, the basic protective function is loaded automatically.

11. A method for installation of a protective function in a protective device for an electrical power distribution network, wherein the protective device has means for processing measured values from measurement appliances for the power distribution network, and means for initiating switching commands by primary appliances for the power distribution network, and the protective function, when it is carried out, determines the switching commands on the basis of the measured values,
wherein the method has the following steps:
transmission of a description of the protective function via a communication link to the protective device,
programming of programmable logic in the protective device on the basis of the description of the protective function, and
carrying out the protective function by means of the programmable logic only when a license management means receives confirmation of payment of a license fee,
wherein a basic protective function, which implements predetermined minimal protection, is stored in a function memory, and if a license for a loaded protective function has elapsed on the basis of the license status, the basic protective function is loaded automatically.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the description of the protective function is a VHDL (VHSIC Hardware Description Language) description or a bit stream description of the hardware design for carrying out the protective function on the programmable logic.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the description of the protective function is transmitted via a communication network using the TCPIP protocol.

14. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the programming of programmable logic is performed in the protective device while the protective device is installed in the electrical power distribution network.

15. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the description of the protective function is in the form of a description of a hardware design.

16. A protective device for an electrical power distribution network, comprising:
means for processing measured values from measurement appliances for the electrical power distribution network;
means for initiating switching commands by primary appliances for the power distribution network;
a protective function means which determines the switching commands on the basis of the measured values;
a license management means for determining and managing a licence status, which includes information for the protective device as to what protective function may be used or should be carried out in what time period; and
a function memory storing a basic protective function for implementing a predetermined minimal protection,
wherein the protective function means includes a programmable logic which can be programmed in order to carry out a protective function,
wherein the programmable logic is programmed in order to carry out a first protective function, and the protective device has means for programming the programmable logic in order to carry out a second protective function, and
wherein the protective device has means for automatically loading the basic protective function if a license for a loaded protective function has elapsed on the basis of the license status.