Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of error detection of a microprocessor in a control unit of an automotive vehicle, wherein a control unit can send and receive data by way of a data bus, wherein the output of the microprocessor is monitored by a watchdog circuit, wherein the watchdog circuit compares the signals output by the microprocessor with predetermined signal patterns, and an error is detected when the signals output by the microprocessor are not concurrent with one of the predetermined signal patterns.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an automotive vehicle control system, preferably comprising a control logic with at least two control functions, such as ABS and YTC functions, with a tire sensor (tire wall torsion sensor or SWT), i.e., with at least one pick-up for measuring data fitted stationarily on the vehicle body, e.g. a spring strut of a vehicle wheel, and cooperating with at least one encoder applied to the tire wall and co-rotating with the wheel or tire, and with at least one conventional rotational speed sensor that is mounted on the wheel, for example, on the wheel bearing, and includes a measuring data emitter and a pick-up for measuring data, wherein the output information or output signals of the tire sensor and the at least one conventional sensor are correlated and evaluated in an electronic evaluating circuit of the control system to determine vehicle condition variables by means of forces that act on the individual wheels and tires.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of controlling the performance of a motor vehicle in which the forces acting upon wheels and tires are detected by wheel force or tire sensors and are used as controlled variable(s) for an automotive servo-system, such as ABS, TCS, EMB etc. The variables are referred to determine and/or modulate the brake pressure in the wheel brakes of the wheels and/or the drive torque. The aim of the invention is to provide a method of controlling the performance of a motor vehicle which allows to optimize the influence on the movement of the vehicle. To this end, the working point and/or the operative range of the controlled variable(s) is adjusted using the detected wheel slippage.

Abstract: In a method for determining vehicle status quantities on the basis of the forces acting on the individual wheel and detected by means of tire sensors, where the measured quantities represent the longitudinal and lateral tire forces as well as the vertical tire forces, the angular yaw velocity and acceleration, the steering angle, the side slip angle of the vehicle as well as the vehicle velocity and acceleration are established by inclusion of corrective quantities established, estimated and/or calculated in corrective step. By means of the corrective steps, the quantities dependent on wheel forces, intermediate quantities, or components are weighted in dependence on further measured quantities which have been established by conventional sensor devices, etc., and/or which represent the vehicle situation.

Abstract: System and method for ascertaining the emergency running condition of a pneumatic tire on a motor vehicle. The system includes at least one sensor device arranged at least on each axle. The at least one sensor device is adapted to supply a permanently present first periodic oscillation proportional to a wheel rotation speed as a speed output signal. The at least one sensor device includes one of an active and a passive magnetic field sensor being mounted to one of rotate with the tire and be stationary. The transmitter device is arranged complementary to the at least one passive and active magnetic field sensor and is adapted to produce a periodic magnetic field change in proportion to the wheel rotation speed in a detection range. At least one signal processing device is used for processing and evaluating the speed output signal.

Abstract: A system for establishing a table of correction values for detecting deviations from zero in a sensor module of a vehicle, wherein a sensor sensing the movement of the vehicle a sensor for sensing the temperature of the vehicle movement sensor and is provided, and a method for determining a corrected sensor signal and a sensor module for determining a corrected sensor signal.

Abstract: A method for improving side roll, initially based on a conceivably unfavorable motor vehicle load to indicate a stability-critical transversal acceleration or related variable when the vehicle begins to travel. By observing the motor vehicle during travel, information on real mass distribution can be obtained. Whenever there is a danger of tilting during cornering, braking occurs in at least the front wheel that is located towards the outside of the bend, resulting in a reduction of lateral forces and transversal acceleration. An additional active motor vehicle suspension can also be provided.

Abstract: In a method and an arrangement for data transmission or for supplying automotive vehicles with data which are used for the operation of regulating and control systems, for the exchange of data and/or for polling, modifying and updating of data of this type, the data transmission is performed at fixed intervals by means of a wireless data transmission device comprising a transceiver (1), a relay station (100) and a central unit (200). Data which may contain one or more pieces of information about the technical analysis of the brake system and other systems, the thickness of brake linings, the oil level, the air pressure, etc., is transmitted via this channel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for controlling the driving behavior of an automotive vehicle which determines from tire sensing signals at least the vehicle mass and the momentary location of the mass center of gravity of the automotive vehicle. According to another embodiment of the invention the use of a mass distribution model is suggested containing, as the basic data, the basic mass distribution of the vehicle, namely such masses that are always identical even if the loading is different. Moreover, variable masses, such as location and mass of passengers, luggage etc., are determined from the tire sensing signals and are incorporated into the mass distribution model to provide a variable mass distribution.

Abstract: To improve the control behavior of an anti-lock brake system, which also permits active braking intervention when the brake pedal is not applied, braking pressure is introduced into the wheel brake of the bend-outward front wheel, or asymmetrically into the wheel brakes of both front wheels upon identification of a cornering situation and simultaneous deceleration of the vehicle if additionally the slip on the bend-outward rear wheel exceeds the slip on the bend-outward front wheel. ‘Veering’ or overspinning of the vehicle is this way counteracted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of improving the control , behavior of an electronically regulated and/or controlled driving stability control system, wherein input quantities for the control are derived from the rotational behavior of the wheels and wherein in situations which are critical for driving stability, the driving stability is increased by braking pressure introduction and/or braking pressure modulation. In order to obviate the need for a precharging pump, the present invention proposes that criteria for evaluation of the driving situation and for the early detection of a driving situation inhering an increased risk are derived from the rotational behavior of the wheels, and that the commencement of driving stability control is prepared upon detection of a driving situation inhering an increased risk. A brake system for implementing the method is also an object of the present invention.

Abstract: In a combined system for controlling the driving behavior of an automotive vehicle according to different control principles or control functions, such as Anti-lock Brake Systems, Traction Slip Control, Brake Force Distribution System, etc., which also comprises arrangements for monitoring the individual control functions and for modifying the control sequence or deactivation of individual functions upon the occurrence of defects, the individual control functions are ranked according to their necessity and their importance for the safety of the vehicle. The potential errors are also classified in a defined ranking and assigned to the control functions so that upon detection of an error or a source of error, only the control functions ranked below a defined safety level are maintained.

Abstract: In an automotive vehicle brake system with an arrangement (rear-axle ABS) which controls or regulates the braking pressure or the brake force on the rear wheels and prevents locking of the rear wheels, the front wheels and the rear wheels are individually equipped with rotational speed sensors. Further, the distribution of the brake force to the front and rear axle (EBD function) is controlled or regulated on the basis of the rotational speed sensor signals and by means of the arrangement (rear-axle ABS) which prevents locking of the rear wheels. In addition, there is provision of an indicator and/or alarm device which signals the imminent locking of a front wheel or the second front wheel to the driver.

Abstract: Taking into account the signals of tire sensors to adjust the driving performance of a vehicle is known. For example, the signals of contact sensors can be used to indicate the forces which act on the individual vehicle tires. According to this new method, to permit a control intervention in the shortest possible real time, especially those forces are used as a control quantity which are determined by the signals from tire sensors. This means that nominal conditions of the vehicle are converted into nominal forces Fi,Soll which are compared to the actually applied forces Fi,Ist. The so produced differences in forces &Dgr;Fi are then converted by a wheel force controller (2), for example, into brake pressure variations or variations of the engine drive torque which then influence the vehicle (3) as a controlled system.

Abstract: To govern or control the distribution of brake force, first a switch-over to maintaining the brake force or the braking pressure on the rear wheels constant will be performed upon the commencement and/or detection of a braking operation. From the initial vehicle deceleration upon commencement of the braking operation, a vehicle reference quantity is derived by measuring the rotational behavior of the rear wheels, by filtering the measured values and by extrapolation, whereupon the current rotational behavior of the rear wheels is compared with this reference quantity. Preferably, three cases are distinguished in the analysis of the rotational behavior of the rear wheels and thereafter, depending on the result of the analysis, the braking pressure is kept constant or braking pressure increase in the rear-wheel brakes is allowed.

Abstract: A sensor for measurement of yawing motion, pitching or rolling motion, particularly as suited for use in motor vehicle control systems, contains an annular hollow object (1, 2, 4) in which a magnetic fluid (MF) is located. The magnetic fluid is set into rotation by an electromagnetic field and serves as the rotating mass of the sensor. The measuring signal is obtained by measuring the forces (F) acting on the rotating mass or by generating compensation fields.

Abstract: A device for monitoring the tire pressure on the basis of the signals provided by the individual wheel speed sensors includes an electronic evaluating circuit which determines correction factors for the wheel speeds of the individual wheels. The values of the individual correction phases are determined and stored in a learning phase. The deviation of the correction factors from the learnt values is detected and analyzed in an identification phase, and possible loss of tire pressure is signaled. A switch is mounted on the wheel suspension of each vehicle wheel which resets the memories, upon rebound of the wheel until its end position, and re-starts the learning phase for the correction factors.

Abstract: A microprocessor configuration for a control system of a vehicle comprises a plurality of microprocessor systems (4,5,6) which are interconnected by bus systems (1,2,3) and include an anti-lock and/or traction slip control system and further control systems, which require complex computing operations, as well as an input signal conditioning system (SC). For the purpose of error detection one part of the data processing is performed “symmetrically” redundantly in a plurality of microprocessor systems and another part of the data processing is additionally performed (“asymmetrically” redundantly) in accordance with simplified algorithms. Two like master microprocessor systems (5,6) are provided which serve the symmetrically redundant data processing. The input signal conditioning and the processing in accordance with simplified algorithms are installed in a third microprocessor system (4).

Abstract: To improve the control behavior of an anti-lock control system or brake slip control system, more particularly, to improve the steerability of a vehicle and its drivability when braking during cornering is performed, criteria for cornering identification and for determining the direction of cornering are derived from the wheel slip of the individual wheels. When cornering is identified, the normal control mode which is intended for straight travel and is configured for an individual control of all wheels or an individual control of the front wheels in conjunction with a select-low control of the rear wheels is changed to a cornering control mode. In the cornering control mode, the average pressure level of the curve-inward front wheel is decreased by a predetermined value and the average pressure level of the curve-outward front wheel is increased by a predetermined value.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a brake system which is equipped with anti-lock control (ABS) and a system for electronic control of brake force distribution (EBV). The system includes two brake circuits in a black/white brake circuit split-up, the EBV function or control is principally released only when the vehicle deceleration exceeds a predetermined limit value (GWN). To identify a front-axle brake circuit failure, acceleration criteria, i.e., criteria responsive to the acceleration behavior of the vehicle wheels, are predetermined and monitored. Further, slip range monitoring in conjunction with acceleration range monitoring is performed.