Patents Assigned to Siemens VDO Automotive
  • Patent number: 7542291
    Abstract: In order to improve the heat dissipation capacity in an electronic circuit configuration with one or more printed circuit boards thermally coupled by one flat side to a heat sink having at least one coolant duct, the flat side immediately adjoins the coolant duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Volker Karrer, Bernhard Lichtinger, Johannes Mehler, Folker Renken, Florian Schupp, Arnoud Smit
  • Publication number: 20090127078
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary/push-button controller having a controller ring (18) which can be rotated about a rotation axis (7) and is arranged such that it can rotate on a holding cylinder (6) which is arranged coaxially within the control ring (18). In this case, the holding cylinder (6) is provided at its end with an input and/or display field (14), and the control ring (18) and the holding cylinder (6) can be moved axially with respect to the rotation axis (7) against a spring force from a neutral position to a switch position which operates a switching element. The input and/or display field (14) is mounted so that it can rotate about the rotation axis (7). A rotary transmitter ring is arranged coaxially on the control ring (18) and is arranged coaxially alongside a rotary transmitter (17) which is firmly connected to the holding cylinder (6) with the relative rotation position of the rotary transmitter ring with the respect to the rotary transmitter (17) being recordable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: SIEMENS VDO AUTOMOTIVE AG
    Inventors: Daniel Hostmann, Thien Nhu Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20090126344
    Abstract: An exhaust gas catalytic converter is laden with oxygen until it is saturated at least upstream of an exhaust gas probe. A predefined first rich air/fuel ration is set in a combustion chamber of a cylinder. A first oxygen storage capacity value is determined as a function of the measurement signal of an exhaust gas probe and the predefined first rich air/fuel ratio. The exhaust gas catalytic converter is laden with oxygen until it is saturated. A predefined second rich air/fuel ration is set in the combustion chamber of the cylinder. A second oxygen storage capacity value is determined as a function of the measurement signal of the exhaust gas probe and the predefined second rich air/fuel ration. A corrected oxygen storage capacity value is determined as a function of the first and second oxygen storage capacity values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Tino Arlt, Rosel Gerd
  • Publication number: 20090126507
    Abstract: A flow sensor for use in a main duct is disclosed. The flow sensor includes a main body having a bypass duct having an inlet and an outlet, a pressure loss element fixedly attached to the main body, and a sensor element disposed in the bypass duct. When the flow sensor is operatively mounted in the main duct, the inlet and the outlet are oriented perpendicularly with respect to a main flow direction of a fluid mass flow in the main duct, the pressure loss element is disposed in the main duct, downstream of the inlet and upstream of the outlet, and the sensor element is operable to generate a measurement signal which is a representative of the fluid mass flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventor: Roland Achhammer
  • Publication number: 20090129436
    Abstract: A device for measuring a temperature of an exhaust gas flow in an exhaust branch of an exhaust gas section of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. A sub-region of the exhaust branch is configured as a parabolic mirror having a focal point positioned outside of the exhaust branch. The device includes a side channel member attached to the exhaust branch and having an open end adjacent to the exhaust branch and a closed end; and a radiation sensitive sensor disposed in the side channel member and at the focal point. The open end is in fluid communication with an interior of the exhaust branch through a cutout of the exhaust branch so that the sensor is coupled to radiation of the exhaust gas flow for measuring a temperature of the exhaust gas flow. A related method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Manfred Glehr, Stephan Heinrich
  • Publication number: 20090125224
    Abstract: Presented is a method for selecting a label from a multiplicity of labels stored in a memory element. The method includes inputting a handwritten character into a handwritten input apparatus, associating an alphanumeric character with the handwritten input character using a character recognition apparatus, adding the associated alphanumeric character to an already input character string to produce an extended character string, comparing the extended character string with the labels stored in the memory element, and selecting one or more of the stored labels using the comparison. The alphanumeric character is selected from a dynamically alterable character set which contains only characters which, in addition to the already input character string, produce an extended character string, which is an initial component of at least one of the stored labels. Also presented is a motor vehicle navigation system in which address database entries are selected by the above described method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Boris Basche, Nhu Nguyen Thien
  • Publication number: 20090079140
    Abstract: An air mass sensor arrangement is disclosed. The air mass sensor arrangement includes a duct having a recess and an outer face; a sensor comprising a main body and a baseplate extending radially outward from the main body, the sensor being releasably attached to the duct by a screw connection so that the main body is partially inserted into the recess and the baseplate faces the outer face; and a sealing arrangement disposed around the recess for sealing between the duct and the sensor. The sealing arrangement includes a first web formed on one of the baseplate and the outer face and completely surrounding the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Roland Achhammer, Rudolf Bierl, Jan-Erik Hauschel, Stefan Pesahl, Manfred Schweimeier, Frank Steuber, Andreas Wildgen
  • Publication number: 20090067109
    Abstract: A circuit and method to provide dynamic fault protection to transistors are disclosed. The fault protection may be particularly suited for protecting insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: SIEMENS VDO AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fengtai Huang, Bryan Ludwig, Fred Flett, Subramanian S. Vadula, Lizhi Zhu, Richard J. Hampo
  • Patent number: 7502683
    Abstract: A device is designed for determining a pre-set air/fuel ratio in the combustion chamber of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. The device is further designed for determining a filtered, pre-set air/fuel ratio in the combustion chamber of the cylinder by filtering the pre-set air/fuel ratio in the combustion chamber of the cylinder by means of a filter which models the dynamic behavior of the upstream region of the exhaust gas catalyst relative to the arrangement of the exhaust gas probe in the exhaust gas catalyst, in particular its storage, reduction and/or oxidation properties. The device is further designed for determining an adjustable variable by means of a regulator as a function of the filtered and pre-set air/fuel ratio, and of a sensed air/fuel ratio in the combustion chamber of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Paul Rodatz, Gerd Rösel, Hong Zhang
  • Publication number: 20090045763
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to an arrangement for monitoring signals which are guided to a multi-phase motor by an end stage and the pulse width thereof is controlled by a controller. The total of the pulse widths of the signals of each phase is measured by, respectively, a counter, respectively for a predetermined programme flow in the controller. The meter reading is read by a counter according to a predetermined period of time and an error signal is produced if the total amount of time exceeds a predetermined tolerance range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Bay, Michael Henninger, Sven Kretschmar
  • Publication number: 20090035153
    Abstract: A fuel supply unit includes a fuel reservoir (22) for holding fuel. A fuel pump (18) is in the reservoir for pumping fuel from the reservoir. A jet pump assembly (16) is within the reservoir for drawing fuel from a fuel tank into the reservoir. A seal structure (24) has a flange (28) with a living hinge (31). The seal structure is operatively coupled with a housing of the jet pump assembly and disposed between the housing and a portion of the reservoir, with a portion of the flange being pivoted about the living hinge such that the portion of the flange engages an interior surface of the reservoir, providing a seal between the housing of the jet pump assembly and the interior surface of the reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Paul F. Briggs, Jeffery John Milton, Matthias Nederegger, John P. Wattai
  • Publication number: 20090033260
    Abstract: Presented in an apparatus for controlling a brushless DC motor with a permanent magnet arranged on a rotor and a stator with windings. The apparatus includes an observer that is adapted to determine an estimated temperature of the permanent magnet as a function of the temperature of the windings, and determine at least one actuating signal for controlling the DC motor as a function of the estimated temperature of the permanent magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Mathias Fernengel, Reiner Grossmann, Frank Sader
  • Publication number: 20090020162
    Abstract: A hose connection (51) includes mounting structure (32) and suction structure (46) having an axis (B). The suction structure is mounted to the mounting structure such that the suction structure can rotate with respect to the mounting structure about the axis. The hose connection includes a hose (26?) coupled to the suction structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Matthias Nederegger, Hugo Ritzenthaler
  • Publication number: 20090009311
    Abstract: A method of detecting a transmission fault of a wheel unit belonging to a tire pressure monitoring system which includes a plurality of wheel units associated with a central unit placed in the vehicle. The method includes: a) transmitting messages by the wheel units, b) receiving these messages by the central unit having an active antenna exhibiting a plurality of reception lobes each able to receive a message originating from a predetermined wheel unit, c) when a lobe has received a message originating from the wheel unit with which it is associated, deactivating this lobe, d) repeating steps b) and c) until all the lobes have received a message, e) if after a predetermined time span all the messages of all the wheel units have been received, all the lobes are reactivated, in the converse case the wheel units whose messages have not been received are counted “mute”.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: SIEMENS VDO AUTOMOTIVE
    Inventor: Valerie Escarpit
  • Publication number: 20080306659
    Abstract: A device for differentiating between a person sitting on the seat surface of a vehicle seat and an object includes at least one largely flat bearing surface that is arranged over a large part of the seat surface including a central region. The novel device includes a vehicle seat, a cushion with weight sensors that are distributed over the seat surface of the vehicle seat in a plane manner, and an evaluation unit to which the signals of the weight sensors are supplied. A central region of the seat surface is curved in a concave manner in the direction of the bottom of the vehicle, in such a way that a first weight sensor arranged therein is closer to the bottom of the vehicle than a plurality of second weight sensors arranged in the region of the seat surface covered by the object, outside the central region. The capacity to differentiate between a person and an object is especially useful when the object is a child seat. In this case, the triggering of a passenger retaining means must be prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: SIEMENS VDO AUTOMOTIVE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Manfred Geyer, Gerd Winkler
  • Publication number: 20080296415
    Abstract: A fluid injector has a housing, an actuator and a valve body. The valve body has a cartridge (21) with a recess, that forms an injection nozzle on one end, and with a needle (22), that is arranged in the recess and closes the injection nozzle, if it rests with its seat area (224) on a needle seat (215) of the cartridge (21). The area (216) of the cartridge (21) adjacent to the needle seat (215) has a cylindrically-shaped outer contour and the needle (22) has a cylindrically-shaped area (223) adjacent to the seat area (224). The area (216) adjacent to the needle seat (215) and the cylindrically-shaped area (223) have the same diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: SIEMENS VDO AUTOMOTIVE SPA
    Inventor: Fabrizio Biagetti
  • Publication number: 20080297241
    Abstract: An application-specific integrated circuit (CS) comprises a first analog stage (E1), comprising first filtering means (C11-C2M, R11-R2P) responsible for carrying out a filtering of the high-pass type on an input signal (SE) so as to deliver an intermediate signal (SI), and a second digital stage (E2), comprising second filtering means (M2) capable of introducing various first time constants depending on combinations of coefficient values and responsible for correcting any distortion potentially present in the intermediate signal (SI). The first filtering means comprise an assembly of electronic components configured in parallel and/or in series and capable of introducing various second time constants depending on their combination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: SIEMENS VDO AUTOMOTIVE
    Inventors: Alain Ramond, Simon-Didier Venzal, Michel Suquet
  • Publication number: 20080284559
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for controlling at least one air conducting element (15) in a motor vehicle. Said device comprises a first gas sensor (51) and a second gas sensor (52) which generate signals in accordance with the harmful gas concentration in the ambient air. An output signal that is used for triggering the air conducting element is generated with the aid of a signal evaluation unit. The aim of the invention is to create a method and a device which are used for controlling an air conducting element, accurately detect and distinguish the different development of harmful gas concentrations in the atmosphere and trigger the air conducting elements accordingly, and are embodied in an inexpensive, reliable, and durable manner. Said aim is achieved by configuring an electronic decision unit (4) that determines which of the two sensor signals is fed to a single signal evaluation unit during the current interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Peter Biber, Stephan Heinrich, Andreas Ott, Michael Schlogl
  • Publication number: 20080285230
    Abstract: To improve coolant sealing or reduce the risks in the event of leakage for an electronic unit, e.g. an engine control unit, containing electric and/or electronic components which are disposed on an upper side of a thermally conductive electronic base plate and thermally coupled to the base plate, the base plate in turn being thermally coupled to a coolant passage, there is provided a particular configuration and arrangement of the components delimiting a coolant passage. Advantageously, the underside of the base plate can come into direct contact with a coolant (“direct cooling”). By making a ridge running in an annularly closed manner and being formed in one-piece with the base plate, coolant escaping from the coolant passage is prevented from passing directly to the underside of the base plate. Accordingly, the coolant passage may be sealed by a “double sealing arrangement” on the underside of the base plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicant: SIEMENS VDO AUTOMOTIVE AG
    Inventors: Radu Vasile Bojan, Arnoud Smit, Remus Sovagau
  • Patent number: 7451740
    Abstract: In an adaptation method of an internal combustion engine for optimized combustion, the actually supplied cylinder-specific air masses are determined by determining the change in speed of the internal combustion engine within a thrust phase and by assigning these changes in speed to the cylinder-specific compression phases 20. This enables the fuel quantity to be injected to be more precisely adjusted to the cylinder-specific air mass available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Christian Birkner, Joris Fokkelman, Karl Müller