Abstract: An internal combustion engine drives, via a belt drive, a first and a second auxiliary unit embodied respectively as a water pump and an air-conditioning compressor and drives a starter-generator operating as a starter and as a generator depending on the operating mode. The belt drive is connected through a clutch element, which has a freewheel, to the internal combustion engine such that, when the internal combustion engine is at standstill, only the two auxiliary units, but not at the same time the internal combustion engine, are driven by the starter-generator. The clutch element which has a freewheel allows a stepless transition of the drive mode from the internal combustion engine to the starter-generator. In order to start the internal combustion engine, the clutch element is engaged only for a short time, so that the drive power of the starter-generator is transmitted to the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A method for updating a geographic database containing image data and road vector data to be used in vehicle navigation systems includes determining whether a vehicle is in an on-road position based on information provided by the vehicle navigation system. A geographically coded image is generated with a vehicle-mounted camera if the vehicle is not in an on-road position according to the information provided by the vehicle navigation system. The geographically coded image generated by the vehicle-mounted camera is analyzed in order to determine whether the geographic database requires updating.

Abstract: A method for managing an ongoing telephone call in a vehicle includes the steps of monitoring signals provided by vehicle systems and monitoring conversational cognitive load indicators for a driver during the telephone call. A current driving situation is assessed by evaluating the signals provided by the vehicle systems and by evaluating the conversational cognitive load indicators. A semantic cue is provided during the telephone call, wherein the semantic cue is indicative of the current driving situation and wherein the semantic cue is audible at least for a caller calling the driver. Methods for managing incoming telephone calls and assisting the driver with outgoing telephone calls are also provided.

Abstract: A camera system for a vehicle includes a camera unit mounted on the vehicle for viewing an area outside the vehicle. A image processing unit receives image data from the camera unit. A control unit receives vehicle operation data including vehicle speed data. A display unit is configured to transition between a screen image defined by a first viewing angle and a screen image defined by a second viewing angle. The first viewing angle and the second viewing angle extend substantially in a vertical plane, and the first viewing angle is greater than the second viewing angle. The display unit further displays supplemental information based on the vehicle operation data, the supplemental information includes vehicle speed information and information indicating a transition behavior of the display unit configured to transition between the first viewing angle and the second viewing angle. A method for controlling a camera system is also provided.

Abstract: A speech communications system for a vehicle includes a microphone system provided in the vehicle interior in order to detect audio information. An interaction manager provides grammar information to a speech recognizer. The speech recognizer provides speech recognition results to the interaction manager. An acoustic echo canceller eliminates portions of the audio information detected by the microphone system. A sound localizer determines a sound source location in the vehicle interior. A method of operating a speech communications system in a vehicle is also provided. An interruptible text-to-speech operation provides a speech output to a user. Voice information is requested from the user for a maximum number of times if insufficient voice information or no voice information is provided in response to the speech output provided by the interruptible text-to-speech operation. The dialog context of an unfinished speech interaction is saved.

Abstract: A method for offering a user reward based on a chosen navigation route includes calculating alternative routes from a starting location to a destination location by taking into consideration route segments including public transportation route segments and road network route segments. The alternative routes are presented to a user. A reward is offered for choosing a respective one of the routes. A navigation system that performs the route calculation preferably queries a network database for public transportation information.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a high-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation line and a low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation line with a low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation valve. The low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation line branches off from the exhaust-gas system downstream of a turbine of an exhaust-gas turbocharger and opens into a fresh-air system upstream of a compressor of the exhaust-gas turbocharger. An exhaust-gas flap is disposed in the exhaust-gas system downstream from where the low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation line branches off from the exhaust-gas system. At least one pressure sensor is disposed in the low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation line and configured such that the at least one pressure sensor determines a pressure difference in the low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation line between a point upstream of the low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation valve and a point downstream of the low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation valve.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an intake manifold in a fresh air system. The intake manifold opens into inlet ports of a cylinder head. An exhaust-gas turbocharger has a turbine and a compressor, which is driven by the turbine. The turbine is disposed in the exhaust-gas system. The compressor is disposed in the fresh air system. The turbine has a turbine wheel and a wastegate channel configured to allow a bypassing flow of exhaust-gas past the turbine wheel of the turbine. A wastegate valve is disposed in the wastegate channel for selectively opening and closing the wastegate channel. An electric actuator is provided for operating the wastegate valve. A charge-air cooler is disposed, downstream of the compressor, in the fresh air system. The charge-air cooler is integrated into the intake manifold and is embodied with a water-cooled heat exchanger.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an exhaust-gas system with n>1 exhaust-gas flow configurations, wherein n is an integer. The exhaust-gas flow configurations are at least partly separated from one another and each of the exhaust-gas flow configurations includes at least one catalytic converter. The internal combustion engine includes a secondary air supply system with at least one secondary air pump and at least one secondary air valve. The at least one secondary air pump is connected, via the at least one secondary air valve, to at most n?1 of the exhaust-gas flow configurations upstream of the at least one catalytic converter of the at most n?1 of the exhaust-gas flow configurations. The remaining ones of the exhaust-gas flow configurations are separated from the secondary air supply system.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine which operates in accordance with an auto-ignition principle includes at least one working cylinder, at least two inlet valves per working cylinder and at least one outlet valve per working cylinder. The internal combustion engine has a first camshaft and a second camshaft. The second camshaft actuates at least one of the inlet valves per working cylinder and actuates at least one outlet valve per working cylinder. The internal combustion engine has an adjuster disposed at the second camshaft. The adjuster adjusts valve control times of the inlet and outlet valves actuated by the second camshaft selectively in an early direction and a late direction in relation to valve control times of the first camshaft. A method for operating an internal combustion engine is also provided.

Abstract: A system for providing information to a vehicle occupant includes a haptic control element which is provided in the vehicle and is configured to generate a haptic signal. An electronic control unit is operatively connected to the haptic control element and activates the haptic control element in order to indicate with a haptic signal that information is available for retrieval.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an exhaust-gas tract and a supply system for combustion air. A compressor of an exhaust-gas turbocharger is disposed in the supply system for combustion air. A turbine of the exhaust-gas turbocharger, a first particulate filter, and an adjustable exhaust-gas throttle are disposed in series in a downstream direction in the exhaust-gas tract. A low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation line branches off from the exhaust-gas tract downstream of the first particulate filter and discharges into the supply system for combustion air upstream of the compressor. An exhaust-gas recirculation cooler, an exhaust-gas recirculation valve, and a second particulate filter with a filter mesh size of at least 50 ?m are disposed in the low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation line.

Abstract: A motor vehicle seat has an element formed of expanded polypropylene foam or of a material with comparable properties with respect to its firmness and weight provided between a seat part and a vehicle body floor, wherein the seat part is directly or indirectly connected to the vehicle body floor via the element formed of expanded polypropylene foam or of the material with comparable properties with respect to its firmness and weight, or the seat part is formed essentially of expanded polypropylene foam or of a material with comparable properties with respect to its firmness and weight and is directly or indirectly connected to the vehicle body floor.

Abstract: A motor vehicle has a speech interface for an acoustic input of commands for operating the motor vehicle or a module of the motor vehicle. The speech interface includes a speech recognition database in which a substantial portion of commands or command components, which can be input, are stored in a version according to a pronunciation in a first language and in a version according to a pronunciation in at least a second language, and a speech recognition engine for automatically comparing an acoustic command to commands and/or command components, which are stored in the speech recognition database, in a version according to the pronunciation in the first language and to commands and/or command components, which are stored in the speech recognition database, in a version according to the pronunciation in the second language.

Abstract: A method for controlling a drivetrain of a motor vehicle is provided. The drivetrain includes, as components, at least an internal combustion engine, an electric drive machine, a clutch and a transmission that can be connected to drive wheels. A control device initiates gear shifts at the transmission based on a wide variety of sensor signals by using a characteristic diagram. In order to ensure an excellent shift quality over long operating periods, a drive torque value MV of the internal combustion engine, which is determined by the control device, can be checked and if necessary corrected in dependence of given conditions by determining the drive torque value ME of the electric drive machine.

Abstract: A button configuration includes a shape-changing button that has a central region and a peripheral region. The peripheral region encircles the central region and defines a surface plane. The shape-changing button has an active state and an inactive state. The central region of the button protrudes from the surface plane and provides a push button function when the button is in the active state. The central region of the button extends substantially in the surface plane and provides no push button function when the button is in the inactive state. A control panel having shape-changing buttons is also provided.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder crankcase, a mechanically driven compressor for compressing charge air, and a compressor mounting for the compressor. The compressor mounting is provided at the cylinder crankcase and a pressure damper is integrated into the compressor mounting.

Abstract: A method for operating active stabilizers in a motor vehicle includes an on-road mode and an off-road mode. In the on-road mode a stabilizer is activated and deactivated in dependence on operating parameters of the motor vehicle, in particular the travel speed and/or the lateral acceleration and/or a level sensor system, wherein in the activated state rolling motions of the vehicle are reduced by introducing torque into the stabilizer or stabilizers that counteracts the rolling motion. In the off-road mode, the stabilizer is deactivated up to a given travel speed or, in case of an alternate jouncing of the wheels, a control of the stabilizer is performed such that a downward force of the rebounding wheel is increased. Wheel slip may be used as a parameter when controlling the stabilizers. A motor vehicle having active stabilizers is also provided.

Abstract: A method for a shift control of a drivetrain of a motor vehicle includes providing the drivetrain of the motor vehicle as a hybrid drivetrain wherein an electric machine is connected to an input shaft of an automated stepped shift transmission and wherein an internal combustion engine is connected to the input shaft of the automated stepped shift transmission via a decoupling clutch. Currently valid shift characteristic curves used for triggering respective shifts of the automated stepped shift transmission are determined respectively in dependence of current driving and operating parameters by performing an interpolation between a first limit shift characteristic curve for a first driving characteristic and a second limit shift characteristic curve for a second driving characteristic wherein the respective limit shift characteristic curves are identical in all operating modes, however a permissible interpolation range in a purely electric operation is limited.

Abstract: An engine configuration includes an internal combustion engine with a plurality of cylinders, at least one turbocharger and a first and a second exhaust gas tract. A turbine of the at least one turbocharger is associated with the first exhaust gas tract. Increased torque and increased power can be achieved when a bypass exhaust gas line emerging from at least one cylinder, which is associated with the first exhaust gas tract, is connected to the first exhaust gas tract such that it bypasses the at least one turbocharger.