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.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system are disclosed for allowing prescribed components in the system to be started with minimal delay, wherein a multimedia system for a motor vehicle, which comprises a control unit and a plurality of prescribed components that can be selected and started by a user. The operating programs that are associated with at least one first component are provided with a greater proportion of the total available computational resources required for their execution. As a result, it becomes possible to use the at least one first component quite soon after the start-up phase of the system has begun.

Abstract: The invention relates to a light-generating arrangement comprising a light-emitting semiconductor element provided with electric supply lines and a transparent light-directing element (2) which is arranged upstream of the semiconductor element in the emission direction at a distance therefrom and which is used for concentrating the light emitted by said semiconductor element in such a way that a light stream is formed. The light output surface (4) of the light-directing element (2) comprises a microstructure (6) consisting of a plurality of elevations and cavities deviating the trajectory of the light stream by <5°.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic device (1) that is to be incorporated into a motor vehicle. Said device (1) comprises a radio module (18) for establishing a short-distance wireless connection to an authorized cellular telephone (2) which is identified based on an identification key for the authorized cellular telephone (2) stored in a memory element (28) of the electronic device (1). In order to make it easier to retrieve the electronic device after the same has been stolen, the electronic device (1) further comprises means for detecting dismounting of the electronic device (1) from a motor vehicle as well as means for automatically establishing a short-distance wireless connection to another cellular telephone and automatically initializing a mobile wireless connection to said other cellular telephone when an identification key for the other cellular telephone is to be or is stored for the first time in the memory element (28) after restarting the electronic device once dismounting has been detected.

Abstract: A touch sensitive screen comprising a display device and a light-permeable, wherein a touch-sensitive arrangement arranged upstream of an image side of the display device at a distance therefrom. The arrangement can be displaced in relation to the display device such that a haptic acknowledgment is generated. The touch-sensitive arrangement forms part of the housing containing the display device, and the housing can be displaced in relation to the display device, by way of the touch-sensitive arrangement.

Abstract: A compressor casing for an exhaust gas turbocharger is disclosed. The exhaust gas turbocharger has a rotatable turboshaft, a compressor wheel mounted on the turboshaft, and a turbine wheel mounted on the turboshaft. The compressor casing includes a sensor for measuring a rotational speed of the turboshaft. The sensor is embedded in the compressor casing and forms an integral component of the compressor casing.

Abstract: A method for operating a vibrating gyroscope, wherein the vibrating gyroscope is used as a resonator and forms part of at least one control circuit that excites the vibration gyroscope by feeding an excitation signal with its natural frequency. An output signal can be tapped from the vibrating gyroscope from which the excitation signal is deriveable by filtering and amplification. Upon switching on a sensor arrangement that includes such a vibrating gyroscope, the frequency of the excitation signal is adjusted by exciting the vibrating gyroscope, before the excitation signal is fed, to oscillate freely, measuring the frequency of the free oscillation and feeding the excitation signal to the vibrating gyroscope with the measured frequency.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor and a method for detecting soot, said method comprising the following steps: a first operating temperature is set on the sensor for a measuring phase, such that soot can be deposited on the surface of the substrate, but depositions interfering with the measurement of the soot are prevented; the time between the beginning of the measurement and the increase in conductivity between the electrodes is recorded; and a second operating temperature is set on the sensor for a regeneration phase, such that the deposited soot is burned with the oxygen in the test gas. The inventive product is a soot sensor for using in the automobile industry.

Abstract: A tire monitoring system in or for a vehicle for determining tire-specific parameters has a distributed bus architecture. At least one intelligent receiving device is configured to receive transmit signals of a wheel electronic system. The receiving device has a signal processing device that carries out an evaluation of the received transmit signals and/or an evaluation of received signals of another subscriber of the bus architecture. The invention also relates to methods for operating the intelligent receiving devices of a distributed bus architecture of the novel tire monitoring or tire pressure system.

Abstract: A fixing system for printed circuit boards arranged one above the other in an electronics housing, in particular, for automotive applications. One printed circuit board is fixed to the electronics housing by a rigid fixing means. The other printed circuit boards are fixed to the electronics housing by a resilient fixing means.

Abstract: A control unit for a vehicle component, such as a transmission, is constructed by transferring electronic components from a rigid circuit board to a flexible circuit board. The flexible circuit board is guided through a housing that accommodates the rigid circuit board and a portion of the flexible circuit board. Some electronic components are disposed on the rigid circuit board and some electronic components are disposed on the flexible circuit board.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for short circuit protection. The apparatus comprises two supply inputs for connecting the apparatus to a terminal of a power supply and two supply paths being connected together and to the supply inputs, wherein each supply path comprises a disconnection means for disconnecting the supply path. Further the apparatus comprises a determination means for determining a current flowing from one of the supply paths through the other one of the supply paths and a control means for controlling the disconnection means of the supply paths dependent on the current determined by the determination means, wherein the control means is connected with the disconnection means and the determination means.

Abstract: A current source contains a first switching element which is provided with a control input and is embodied and arranged in such a way that an output flow on an output side of a current source can be adjusted according to a control signal at the control input. The current source also contains a reference resistance that is electrically coupled to a first switching element in such a way that a potential difference above the reference resistance represents the output flow. The adjustment signal of a regulator unit depends on the voltage difference above the reference resistance, is the control signal of the first switching element, and contains a time function element which limits a first value of the output flow to a maximum duration and then reduces the value of the output flow.

Abstract: An electronic device, which for example includes a sensor element such as a rotational speed sensor, comprises a first network (4) having a first microcontroller (8) and a first supply voltage source (10). It also comprises a second network (4) having a second microcontroller (8) and a second supply voltage source (30). The electronic device is also provided with decoupling elements (42-50) which are adapted to decouple the networks (4, 6) form interferences.

Abstract: A terminal state of a terminal 15 of a vehicle is enabled to be maintained for a minimum period of time even after a drop in the voltage supply. At the same time other loads are to have no effect on the holding time. A control device for controls access to a vehicle and has a voltage source, a voltage supply terminal to which a supply voltage can be applied, and a holding circuit to which the voltage source and the voltage supply terminal are connected in a common circuit point for the purpose of holding an On state for as long as the voltage at the voltage source does not fall below a predetermined value. A switching element that is connected into the circuit between the voltage supply terminal and the common circuit point serves to separate the common circuit point from the supply voltage. The holding time is thus decoupled from the VCC currents drawn by other loads.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring a sensor arrangement comprising a vibrating gyroscope, wherein the vibrating gyroscope is used as a resonator and forms part of at least one control circuit that excites the vibration gyroscope by feeding an excitation signal with its natural frequency. An output signal is tapable from the vibrating gyroscope from which the excitation signal is derivable by filtering and amplification.

Abstract: A full-bridge circuit includes a first, second, third and fourth switch element. According to the method the checking includes at least one measuring process. For the at least one measuring process either only the second or only the third switch element or only the first and the second switch element or only the third and the fourth switch element is/are switched on. At least one recording time in each measuring process, a parameter is recorded which is representative of an electrical current flowing through a measuring resistance Rm. Depending on the recorded parameter and the switched-on switch element(s), a fault or lack of fault is recognized in an inductive load L of an electromechanical converter in the full-bridge circuit. A duration for the checking is set such that during said duration an idle condition for the electromechanical converter is maintained.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for assigning an electronic wheel unit, which is assigned to a wheel of a vehicle and is for ascertaining at least one characteristic parameter of the wheel, to a side of the vehicle. In this case, a direction of rotation of the wheel is determined by means of the wheel unit. The direction of rotation of the wheel which is determined by means of the wheel unit is compared with a direction of rotation of another wheel which is determined by means of another wheel unit assigned to the other wheel, wherein the wheel and the other wheel are arranged on different sides of the vehicle on a shared axle. Depending on the comparison of the determined directions of rotation of the wheel and of the other wheel, the wheel unit is assigned on the basis of a first procedure for assigning the wheel unit to the side of the vehicle or on the basis of a second procedure for assigning the wheel unit to the side of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for operating a vibrating gyroscope and to a sensor arrangement comprising such a vibrating gyroscope, wherein the vibrating gyroscope is used as a resonator and is part of at least one control circuit that excites the vibration gyroscope by feeding an excitation signal with its natural frequency. An output signal can be tapped from the vibrating gyroscope from which the excitation signal can be derived by filtering and amplification. In accordance with the invention, once a sensor arrangement comprising the vibrating gyroscope is switched on, an initial value for the natural frequency is calculated from a previously measured value of the natural frequency stored in a memory and parameters that effect a modification of the natural frequency since start of the measurement, and the excitation signal is fed to the vibrating gyroscope with the calculated initial value of the frequency.

Abstract: A method for stimulating wheel electronics systems of single tires of at least one tire group in a motor vehicle. The wheel electronics systems are stimulated with a low frequency trigger signal, as follows: a trigger signal is emitted from an LF trigger to the wheel electronics systems of the relevant tire group at a variably adjustable first transmission field strength. Radio frequency signals are transmitted from those wheel-side wheel electronics systems, at which a sufficiently high transmission field strength of the trigger signal has arrived containing an item of trigger information, to a vehicle-side receiving unit. A determination is made of the number of RF signals received by the vehicle-side receiving unit, each containing one item of trigger information.