Abstract: A decorative functional component with a transparent partial surface includes a substrate and a flat cover body. The substrate is of a first plastic material and has a recess. The cover body is of a transparent second plastic material and covers the recess of the substrate. The substrate and the cover body are connected together by a loose form-fit connection. The substrate and the cover body and are jointly coated with a low viscosity curing transparent plastic flooded thereon.

Abstract: A system for conductively charging a motor vehicle includes a charging device and a receiving device. The charging device has an electrical contacting unit and a lifting device operable, for axially moving the contacting unit between retracted and extended positions. The receiving device has a receiving chamber for receiving the contacting element inserted therein when the contacting element is moved to an extended position. The contacting unit has a cylindrical or truncated cone body and includes an electrical contact ring extending around a lateral surface of the body of the contacting element. The receiving device includes a radially position-able electrical contact element along the receiving chamber. When the contact element is in one radial position while the contacting unit is inserted into the receiving chamber the contact element electrically contacts the contact ring and mechanically fixes the contacting unit to the receiving device inside the receiving chamber.

Abstract: A functional component having a button function includes a support component, a film, and an electrical switching element. The support component has a recess. The film covers the recess. The electrical switching element is situated below the recess and is actuatable by pressure being exerted on the film in the area above the recess. A ring-shaped or hollow cylindrical body is situated along an inner edge surface of the recess and is in contact with the film.

Abstract: A control element for roof or window adjustment in a motor vehicle includes a surface and a sensor. The surface has an introduced recess and a surface portion. The surface portion is connected to the surface in a gap-free manner above the recess. The surface portion only partially covers the recess. The sensor is formed within the surface portion or is arranged onto the bottom side thereof to detect deformations of the surface portion.

Abstract: An electric pushbutton switch includes a guide housing, a switching element having a haptic element that produces a pressure point and a return spring that generates a restoring force, an actuator for actuating the switching element, and a resilient tolerance compensation element arranged between the guide housing and the actuator. The switching element being stationary relative to the guide housing and the actuator being movable relative to the guide housing. The actuator actuates the switching element against the restoring force when the actuator is moved relative to the guide housing in an actuating direction of the actuator towards the switching element. The resilient tolerance compensation element is arranged between the guide housing and the actuator. The resilient compensation element has a spring force directed in the actuating direction of the actuator towards the switching element and opposite the restoring force of the return spring of the switching element.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing system for a vehicle includes a beverage dispenser and a drinking vessel. The beverage dispenser includes a nozzle having an upwardly directed nozzle tube for dispensing a beverage liquid. The drinking vessel is connectable to the nozzle tube and is fillable with the beverage liquid from a bottom side of the drinking vessel. The drinking vessel has a hollow dome which is opened on its bottom and top sides and is formed by a central section of the bottom side of the drinking vessel extending into the drinking vessel interior. The hollow dome is pushed onto the nozzle tube for the drinking vessel to be filled with the beverage liquid from its bottom side. The drinking vessel may be a cylindrical or truncated conical mug in which the central section of its bottom side is curved into the drinking vessel interior to form the hollow dome.

Abstract: An operating arrangement for a vehicle includes a steering column retractable into and extendable out of a dashboard, a steering shaft that is retractable and extendable relative to the steering column, a steering wheel on an end of the steering shaft, and a steering column module arranged on the steering column between the steering wheel and the dashboard. The steering column module has a screen positioned behind the steering wheel. In a manual vehicle driving mode, the steering column is extended out of the dashboard to position the steering wheel and the steering column module away from the dashboard. In an automatic (or autonomous) vehicle mode, the steering column is retracted into the dashboard to position the steering column module against the dashboard and the steering shaft is retracted relative to the steering column to position the steering wheel adjacent the dashboard with the screen resting against the steering wheel.

Abstract: A voltage converter for direct current includes a power converter circuit having a transformer, a switch converter bridge on a primary-side of the transformer, and a full-bridge rectifier on a secondary side of the transformer. The full-bridge rectifier has first and second rectifier branches. A capacitor is asymmetrically connected to the second rectifier branch.

Abstract: An electrical multidirectional force sensor includes a sensor element having a sensor pin and a sensor plate and a circuit board. The sensor pin is movable in at least two actuation directions. The sensor plate is integrally connected to multiple strip-shaped support elements. Each strip-shaped support element has an end portion with an opening. The sensor plate and the strip-shaped support elements are cut free in one piece from a metal plate. The sensor plate is connected to the sensor pin to move relative to the circuit board in correspondence with movement of the sensor pin.

Abstract: A switching device for actuating drive elements includes first switching elements situated on a housing surface to be actuatable by fingers of a person and a second switching element situated on a housing surface to be actuatable by a palm, a palm heel, or a thumb of the person. The first and second switching elements are formed by touch surface sensors without switching contacts. In one variation, actuation of one of the first switching elements causes actuation of a corresponding one of the drive elements only when the second switching element is actuated during the actuation of the one of the first switching elements. In another variation, simultaneous actuation of one of the first switching elements and the second switching element causes a drive element corresponding to the one of the first switching elements to be actuated according to a function corresponding to the second switching element.

Abstract: A coil spring cassette includes a stator housing part and a rotor housing part that is rotatable relative to the stator housing part about a longitudinal axis. The stator housing part and the rotor housing part together form therebetween a first chamber and a second chamber at respective positions along the longitudinal axis. A first flat cable with a reversal of winding direction is arranged in the first chamber. A second flat cable with a uniform winding direction is arranged in the second chamber.

Abstract: A seat adjustment switch includes a multidirectional force sensor, a carrier plate, and a button cap. The multidirectional force sensor is arranged on the carrier plate and includes a sensor pin. The sensor pin is pivotable via which the multidirectional force sensor is actuatable. The button cap is connected to the sensor pin. The button cap serves as an actuating element operable by an operator for pivoting the sensor pin in order to actuate the multidirectional force sensor. The carrier plate includes a receiving sleeve that is integrally formed with the carrier plate and is connected to other portions of the carrier plate via flexible regions, the sensor pin is guided through the receiving sleeve for the multidirectional force sensor to be arranged on the carrier plate. The button cap forms a form-fit connection with the receiving sleeve.

Abstract: A method for determining a time of contact of a capacitive sensor includes continuously measuring a capacitance value of the capacitive sensor and processing the measured capacitance value into a digital sensor signal. The sensor signal is filtered to output a filter signal. Initial dynamics of the filter signal are identified upon the filter signal exceeding a first set filter threshold value. A time at which the filter signal falls below a second set filter threshold value is determined as being a potential time of contact of the capacitive sensor. An actual time of contact of the capacitive sensor is determined when the sensor signal relative to an offset of the sensor signal exceeds a sensor signal threshold value. The offset of the sensor signal is a value of the sensor signal prior to the contact of the capacitive sensor.

Abstract: An electromagnetic feedback actuator for an operating element includes an electromagnet, a magnet armature, and a metal body. The electromagnet includes a magnetic coil and a magnetic core. The magnet armature is moveable relative to the electromagnet. The operating element includes an actuating element (e.g., touch surface, sensor surface). The magnet armature is mechanically coupled to the operating element to provide a force pulse to the operating element in response to contact with, or pressure actuation on, an actuating element of the operating element. The electromagnet is arranged in the metal body. The metal body, in integral fashion, forms the magnet armature, a magnet yoke for the magnetic core of the electromagnet, and a holder for the electromagnet. An arrangement includes at least one such electromagnetic feedback actuator coupled to an operating element.

Abstract: A flat plug-in connector assembly includes a flat contact, a mating plug connector, and a contact chamber. The flat contact has a middle strip having opposite first and second sides and further has a first end that forms a blade contact section. The mating plug connector includes a pair of contact springs for accommodating the blade contact section. The flat contact further includes first and second spring arms for damping relative movements between the blade contact section and the contact springs. The first and second spring arms are integrally formed in one piece at the first and second sides of the flat contact. The first and second spring arms have first and second free end sections in a form of first and second detent hooks. The flat contact is inserted in the contact chamber with the first and second detent hooks being displaceable supported in the contact chamber.

Abstract: A capacitive sensor system for touch detection includes a sensor surface, a first sensor electrode, a second sensor electrode, and an evaluation device. The sensor electrodes are both situated on and border the sensor surface. The first sensor electrode has a first closed conductor loop and the second sensor electrode has a second closed conductor loop. The first closed conductor loop surrounds the second closed conductor loop without the closed conductor loops touching each other. Each sensor electrode generates a sensor signal that depends on a position of a touch of an object on the sensor surface relative to the closed conductor loop of the sensor electrode. The evaluation device detects the touch based on a comparison of a ratio value to a threshold value, wherein the ratio value is a ratio of (i) a difference and (ii) a sum of the sensor signals.

Abstract: A capacitive sensor system for touch detection includes a sensor surface, a first sensor electrode, a second sensor electrode, and an evaluation device. The sensor electrodes are both situated on and border the sensor surface. The first sensor electrode has a first closed conductor loop and the second sensor electrode has a second closed conductor loop. The first closed conductor loop surrounds the second closed conductor loop without the closed conductor loops touching each other. Each sensor electrode generates a sensor signal that depends on a position of a touch of an object on the sensor surface relative to the closed conductor loop of the sensor electrode. The evaluation device detects the touch based on a comparison of a ratio value to a threshold value, wherein the ratio value is a ratio of (i) a difference and (ii) a sum of the sensor signals.

Abstract: A method for measuring a capacitance value of a capacitive sensor uses an integration process involving charge quantities being transferred in successive integration cycles from the capacitive sensor to an integration capacitor. The method includes performing the integration process until the number of integration cycles carried out has reached a number N of integration cycles to be carried out, wherein a starting value NStart is set to N and an end value NEnd is determined. An A/D converter measures a voltage value UCI(N) at the integration capacitor and the voltage value is added to a voltage sum value UTotal. The number N is increased by a value n, where n is at least one and is less than NDiff=NEnd?NStart. The steps are repeated until the number N exceeds the end value NEnd. The ending voltage sum value is indicative of the capacitance value of the capacitive sensor.

Abstract: A capacitive measuring system includes capacitive sensors and an evaluation circuit having a multiplexer, a synchronous rectifier, a sinusoidal signal generator, and a reference voltage divider. The capacitive sensors are acted on by a mono-frequency voltage signal generated by the sinusoidal signal generator, output signals of the capacitive sensors are transmitted in alternation to the synchronous rectifier via the multiplexer, and signal amplification of output signals of the synchronous rectifier are calibrated as a function of an activatable reference impedance. The synchronous rectifier is formed by a MOS semiconductor switch. A source-drain section of the MOS semiconductor switch forms a shunt that is controlled by the mono-frequency voltage signal. A channel of the multiplexer is provided for transmitting a calibration signal, generated by the reference voltage divider, to the synchronous rectifier alternately with the output signals of the capacitive sensors.

Abstract: A method for detecting contact of a capacitive sensor includes transferring charge quantities in multiple successive cycles from the capacitive sensor to an integration capacitor having a known capacitance value. A voltage of the integration capacitor is measured. The measured voltage is processed to generate a sensor amplitude that is indicative of a capacitance value of the capacitive sensor. Contact of the capacitive sensor is detected based on a temporal behavior of the sensor amplitude. For instance, contact of the capacitive sensor is detected based on the rate of change of the sensor amplitude.