Abstract: A transparent panel element formed as a glass surface includes an array, the variable total transmission factor of which can be controlled through application of an operating voltage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for identifying an object O in an opening that can be closed by means of a mobile element (12). Light is fed into at least one fiber-optic light guide (33, 34) from a light source (1, 2), and variations in the received light are detected by means of at least one receiver (Ea, Eb), the fiber-optic light guide being arranged at least partially along the edge of the opening (11). A first fiber-optic light guide sends light transversally to the length thereof, said light being then received by a second fiber-optic light guide transversally to the length thereof. The second fiber-optic light guide (34) is connected to the receiver (Eb). The fiber-optic light guides are arranged on the edge of the opening (11) in such a way that a light field (F) at least partially bridging the opening is produced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for identifying an object O in an opening that can be closed by means of a mobile element (12). Light is fed into at least one fibre-optic light guide (33, 34) from a light source (1, 2), and variations in the received light are detected by means of at least one receiver (Ea, Eb), the fibre-optic light guide being arranged at least partially along the edge of the opening (11). A first fibre-optic light guide sends light transversally to the length thereof, said light being then received by a second fibre-optic light guide transversally to the length thereof. The second fibre-optic light guide (34) is connected to the receiver (Eb). The fibre-optic light guides are arranged on the edge of the opening (11) in such a way that a light field (F) at least partially bridging the opening is produced.

Abstract: A control arrangement for a control element for opening and closing a hatch in a motor vehicle has a motorized vehicle panel. The control element is designed in such a way that, upon a short actuation of the control element, depending on the direction of actuation of the control element, a control unit outputs a signal to a motor in order to displace the vehicle panel, and the vehicle panel is displaced in response to the signal. A safety operating device for the arrangement has at least one light transmission section which is actuated upon actuation of the control element and which correspondingly outputs an activation confirmation signal to a control unit. The control unit will not output a signal in response to which the motor displaces the vehicle panel until the signal from the control element and the activation confirmation signal from the safety operating device are present at the same time.

Abstract: A method for testing and safeguarding the availability of a networked system which is assigned to a system carrier, wherein a multiplicity of subscribers exchange data via a bus-type network which is comprised of one or more bus lines. Specific voltage levels are applied to the bus line or the lines by the appropriate subscribers. By virtue of this, as a minimum, at least individual subscribers transmit data. The bus line or the lines is/are monitored by the at least one receiving subscriber for an overshoot or undershoot of voltage levels. Due to this, the data is evaluated in at least one receiving subscriber with the aid of voltage levels. During operation of the system, signals present on the bus-type network are discriminated, tested or measured with respect to at least one signal criterion by individual subscribers under conditions defined in a network-wide manner for all subscribers.

Abstract: A semiconductor circuit for an electronic unit having at least one microcontroller comprises at least one voltage regulator for providing, from a first supply voltage, at least one second supply voltage for the microcontroller and for circuits of the unit which cooperate with the microcontroller. The circuit further comprises, in monolithic form, a transceiver unit having transmitting and receiving device for coupling a microcontroller to the two-wire bus. This monolithic construction may additionally comprise watchdog functions, various wake-up functions and an interface via which a serial data exchange with the at least one microcontroller is possible. Furthermore, it may have an apparatus for determining, throughout the network, bus subscribers having reference-ground potential faults and for quantifying such faults.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining potential shifts between electronic modules in a wire bus network or for determining the correspondence quality of their communications operating levels in the network interconnection. The bus medium comprises at least one wire bus which is directly electrically connected to the electronic modules. An offset voltage is added in at least one bus subscriber (test subscriber) on the transmission side to at least one of two dominant, normal source levels and a test message is transmitted into the bus network by the test subscriber which is in this dominant state onto the bus network. This results in a modification of the source level in a predetermined manner. Depending on whether at least one of the two dominant source levels is decreased or increased by the adjustable offset voltage, an evaluation of whether the (reference-earth) potential-defective bus subscriber loses or gains its reception capability is performed.

Abstract: In a method for testing the ground contact of parts of a networked system in which data are sent and received via at least one line, at least one line at each part is connected via a resistance arrangement to a common potential of the parts and is connectable via a controllable switch to a further potential. The voltage across the resistance arrangement is compared with a predetermined potential when the line is at one potential in a steady state, and the state of the ground contact of the part is deduced from a comparison of the voltage across the resistance arrangement with the predetermined potential.

Abstract: An electronic vehicle key has a radio receiver for receiving radio call information which is transmitted by a control center, and a key communication device for communicating with a vehicle communication device in an associated vehicle, signals transmitted by the key communication device to the vehicle communication device serving to activate or deactivate an immobilizer on the vehicle. According to the invention, a key controller, which administers a mobility account, is provided in the electronic vehicle key; and radio call information is transmitted by a control center is registered as a “credit” in the mobility account. Relevant events are processed as “debits” in the mobility account, and deactivation or activation of the immobilizer on the vehicle is dependent on the account value of the mobility account.

Abstract: An electronic vehicle key has a radio receiver for receiving radio call information which is transmitted by a control center, and a key communication device for communicating with a vehicle communication device in an associated vehicle, signals transmitted by the key communication device to the vehicle communication device serving to activate or deactivate an immobilizer on the vehicle. According to the invention, a key controller, which administers a mobility account, is provided in the electronic vehicle key; and radio call information is transmitted by a control center is registered as a “credit” in the mobility account. Relevant events are processed as “debits” in the mobility account, and deactivation or activation of the immobilizer on the vehicle is dependent on the account value of the mobility account.

Abstract: An adjusting device having a multi-function operating switch is provided. The function elements which can be controlled by the operating switch can be selected in a variable manner on the user side from a totality of function elements. In a motor vehicle, the operating switch may, for example, have the configuration of a tunnel driving switch by which function elements that can be selected by the user, such as window lifting mechanisms, low-beam and interior-light units, etc. can be controlled into function positions which can also be predetermined by the user for driving through tunnels. This implements a high operating comfort for the individual and situation-adapted adjustment of a condition which can be influenced by a totality of function elements.