Abstract: Lateral control of a vehicle, based on surroundings sensor signals of a surroundings sensor system of a host vehicle and/or maps, combined with an instantaneous position determination, wherein the course of the instantaneously traveled roadway and the position of the host vehicle on the roadway are determined, based on the surroundings sensor signals and/or the position determination, autonomous steering interventions are made in the host vehicle, which as a result, approximate or correspond to actuations of a steering wheel of the host vehicle, or provide a driver with information concerning steering interventions, a horizon position on the instantaneously traveled roadway to which the host vehicle is to be oriented is repeatedly determined, in that, starting from an instantaneous position of the host motor vehicle, an inner tangent point situated ahead of the host vehicle on the instantaneously traveled roadway is determined, and, starting from a point on the host motor vehicle, a tangent through this inner

Abstract: Method for detecting the presence of a drivers hands on the steering wheel is described. By means of a mathematical model, at least one part of a steering system of the motor vehicle is modeled. In addition, a rotational angle of a lower end and/or an upper end of a torsion bar of the steering system is determined. A torque acting on the torsion bar is determined by means of a measuring device. A sum of a torque with which the driver acts on the steering wheel and a counter-torque generated by friction in the upper part of the steering system is estimated by means of a Kalman Filter. In addition, the counter-torque is estimated, and the estimated sum of the torque and the counter-torque are used to determine whether the drivers hands are on the steering wheel.

Abstract: A locking device for an adjustable steering column assembly of a motor vehicle is described, comprising an operating unit which has at least one closed and one open position, a control element coupled to the operating unit, and at least one eccentric part which is actuated by the control element. A retaining part is provided, which interacts with the eccentric part in the closed position, wherein a locking portion of the eccentric part engages on an engaging portion of the retaining part in the closed position. The eccentric part has a force transmission portion which is substantially opposite to the locking portion, wherein the force transmission portion in the closed position rests against a support surface lying substantially opposite to the engaging portion. Furthermore, a steering column assembly is described.

Abstract: The invention relates to an inflatable airbag (1) for protecting a person (5), comprising a flexible cover (10) which includes at least two finger-type extensions (11), wherein the flexible cover (10) delimits a closed gas expansion compartment (12) by the finger-type extensions (11). The invention excels by the fact that the finger-type extensions (11) are arranged relative to each other such that in an inflated state the airbag (1) takes a three-dimensional shape and in the inflated state the finger-type extensions (11) at least in portions delimit a clearance (13), wherein the cover (10) is deferrable for absorbing impact energy while deforming, especially reducing, the clearance (13).

Abstract: A rack-and-pinion steering for a motor vehicle, having a rack which has a longitudinal axis, a rack housing in which the rack is guided for axial displacement, and at least one end stop damping assembly for the rack, the end stop damping assembly being received in the rack housing, the end stop damping assembly including a compression body for damping an end stop and a stop member which is mounted to the rack housing for limited displacement in the axial direction, the stop member resting against a first supporting surface of the rack housing at least partly by means of the compression body in a first axial direction and resting against a second supporting surface of the rack housing in an opposite, second axial direction.

Abstract: A steering device for a motor vehicle is described, the steering device comprising a steering element for steering the motor vehicle, and an actuating element by means of which wheels of the motor vehicle are adjusted as a function of an actuation of the steering element. The steering element has a steering assist unit associated with it, in particular an electronic steering assist unit for active return of the steering element, the steering assist unit comprising a motor and an open- and closed-loop control unit which drives the motor for generating an assist torque. The open- and closed-loop control unit receives data from a first sensor which directly senses the position of the actuating element, and drives the motor as a function of the position of the actuating element. Further described is a method of controlling a steering device.

Abstract: A steer-by-wire steering system for a motor vehicle is proposed, having a steering means which is attached to a steering column, the length and/or inclination of which can be adjusted, and having a steering means actuator which is configured to load the steering means with a torque. The steering means actuator is arranged non-displaceably and fixedly on the vehicle. The steering means actuator is assigned a first shaft, and the steering column is assigned a second shaft, the first and the second shaft having a variable axial offset and/or a variable angular offset at least over a part range of a length and/or inclination adjustment of the steering column. The first and second shafts are connected in a torque-transmitting manner via a compensation device which can compensate for a change in the axial offset and/or the angular offset.

Abstract: A reach adjustable steering column assembly comprises a telescopic steering shaft which in use supports a steering wheel of the vehicle; a shroud that supports the steering shaft comprising an upper shroud part and a lower shroud part, the upper shroud part moving telescopically relative to the lower part during reach adjustment of the steering column assembly, a support bracket that supports the shroud relative to the vehicle body, and a clamp mechanism that is operable between an unclamped position in which the steering column assembly is adjustable for reach and a clamped position in which the reach position of the steering column assembly is fixed. The clamp mechanism comprises a first locking part that is displaceable by an actuator assembly into and out of positive engagement with a second locking part.

Abstract: In a method of folding an airbag (10) for a vehicle occupant restraint system, especially of curtain-type side airbag, to form an airbag package (12?), the airbag (10) is rolled and/or folded to form an airbag roll (12) having a first volume (V1). The airbag roll (12) is fed to a pressing device (14) in which the airbag roll (12) is compressed to form an airbag package (12?) having a second volume (V2) which is smaller than the first volume (V1). The airbag roll (12) and, resp., the airbag package (12?) is heated within the pressing device (14) and the airbag package (12?) is cooled, with the airbag package (12?) retaining the second volume (V2) when it is removed from the pressing device (14; 114). The pressing device (14) includes a pressing mold or a molding shaft (18) whose height substantially corresponds to the desired height of the finished airbag packages (12?), a heating unit (20) for heating the airbag packages (12?) and a cooling device (22) for cooling the airbag packages (12?).

Abstract: In a belt retractor (10) comprising a frame (12), a sensor (16) for vehicle-sensitive blocking including a sensor lever (22), a belt reel (14) and a rocker arm (30) coupled to the belt reel (14) via a coupling (32) which is adjustable between a home position in which the sensor lever (22) is blocked and an extended position in which the sensor lever (22) is released, the coupling (32) is a wrap spring coupling comprising a drive element (34) coupled to the belt reel (14) as well as a driven element (40) connected to the rocker arm (30), wherein the drive element (34) and the driven element (40) include a respective annular outer friction surface (38, 44) and are arranged concentrically to each other and a coil spring (46) is provided which contacts the friction surfaces (38, 44) and couples the driven element (40) to the drive element (34).

Abstract: A method to manufacture electric power steering systems is proposed. First, an electric motor having a drive shaft, a coupling device, and a worm gear having a worm shaft are provided. Then, an adjusting sleeve is provided, and an individual axial position of each adjusting sleeve in its associated opening is determined in order to achieve a specific axial preloading force on the worm shaft. The adjusting sleeve is press-fitted into the axial opening in the determined axial position, and a spring element is installed in the adjusting sleeve so that the spring element is supported on one end axially on the drive shaft and on its other end it is supported axially on the adjusting sleeve, and said spring element acts upon the worm shaft with the preloading force in the axial direction via the adjusting sleeve.

Abstract: A steering column assembly comprises a telescopic shroud having an outer shroud portion and an inner shroud portion, a clamp rail fixed to an upper face of the inner shroud portion including a slot, a clamp bolt that extends perpendicular to the shroud, a rocker comprising a body from which extends a lever arm, the body having an opening through which the clamp bolt passes, the rocker converting a rotation of the clamp bolt about its axis in a first direction into an upward motion of the lever arm and into a downward motion when the clamp bolt is rotated in the opposing second direction, a toothed block having two opposed racks of locking teeth that is connected to a carrier element, the carrier element in turn being connected to the lever of the rocker arm such that movement of the lever arm up and down causes movement of the carrier element up and down between an upper position and a lower position.

Abstract: An energy absorption device for a vehicle steering column comprising a metal band and an adjustable deformation unit through which the metal band extends. The deformation unit is a rotatable hollow roller having a first contact surface inside the hollow roller that is separated from an outer contact surface by an outlet slot. The metal band passes through an inlet slot into the interior of the roller, and then through the outlet slot leaves the roller, in a manner that that said metal band is entirely deformed along an S-shaped curve.

Abstract: The invention relates to a belt tensioner (30) for a vehicle occupant restraint system comprising a housing (32), a working chamber (34) into which the compressed gas released in the case of restraint is flowing, a pull rope (24) extending through an opening (36) within the housing (32) and a sealing bush (10) for sealing the working chamber (34) against the opening (36) between the pull rope (24) and the housing (32), with the sealing bush (10) comprising a sleeve (16) and a sealing element (12) and the sealing bush (10) being pressed onto the pull rope (24) by plastic deforming of the outer sleeve (16).

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of a drivers hands on the steering wheel of a motor vehicle is described. By means of a mathematical model, at least one part of a steering system of the motor vehicle is modeled. In addition, a rotational angle of a lower end and/or an upper end of a torsion bar of the steering system is determined. A torque acting on the torsion bar is determined by means of a measuring device and a total torque acting on the steering wheel and a rotational angle acceleration of the steering wheel are estimated by means of a Kalman Filter.

Abstract: A belt buckle includes a casing (12) and an illumination system (24) present in the area of a locking tongue insertion opening (14). The illumination system (24) includes a lamp (32) and a light conductor (26; 26?) having a light emission area, and the light conductor (26; 26?) includes an annular portion (42; 42?) which surrounds at least a major part of the locking tongue insertion opening (14).

Abstract: A frontal airbag for vehicle occupants, especially a passenger airbag, includes a contact panel (26) facing the vehicle occupant (12). Inside the airbag plural tethers (38) and/or partitions (38) are arranged which in portions withhold the contact panel (26) in the inflated state of the airbag (10) and form at least one lateral bead (34) and plural central beads (36) which in cross-section are smaller than the lateral beads (34). Furthermore, an airbag module is presented.

Abstract: A multi-piece gearwheel comprising an inner core section and an external toothed ring with external teething is presented. The core section has intermeshing teeth extending radially outwards, which have an undercut in cross-section in the radial direction. The toothed ring has recesses that originate from an inner side of the tooth ring and extend radially outwards, wherein the recesses are at least partially complementary to the intermeshing teeth, and wherein the intermeshing teeth are received in the recesses. Furthermore, a gearbox for an electromechanically-assisted steering system is described.

Abstract: The invention relates to an inflatable airbag (1) for the protection of a person comprising a flexible sheath (10) which comprises at least two fingerlike extensions (11), wherein the flexible sheath (10) delimits a closed gas expansion chamber by the fingerlike extensions (11). The invention excels by the fact that the fingerlike extensions (11) are connected by at least one of being stitched, glued or welded to each other so that in an inflated state the airbag (1) takes a three-dimensional shape. The invention further relates to an airbag module, a vehicle occupant restraint system as well as vehicle parts comprising such airbag.

Abstract: An electric power steering system with a worm gear includes a worm shaft and a worm wheel, wherein an electric motor is associated with the worm shaft, which is connected to the worm shaft in a force-transmitting manner. A bearing element, arranged on the worm shaft at the end of the worm shaft facing away from the electric motor, is received in a guide bush, wherein the guide bush has, on its circumferential side, a passage opening. It is provided a pre-tensioning device comprising a spring-loaded actuator element extending through the passage opening of the guide bush and acting on the worm shaft in the direction of the worm wheel with a defined pre-tensioning force (K), wherein the pre-tensioning device comprises a limiting device which is adapted to limit a pivoting movement that displaces the worm wheel away from the worm shaft. Furthermore, it is proposed a method for the production of steering systems and a test system for performing the method.