Abstract: A location-determining device in a motor vehicle having at least one receiver device for receiving position signals and time signals for a multiplicity of satellites assigned to a global navigation system and a location-calculating module for calculating location information based on received position data and time data. The location-determining device has at least one receiver device structurally integrated into the housing of an optical sensor unit, wherein the housing is arranged in a passenger compartment in a region of an upper edge of a windscreen, and wherein the housing does not have more than a single connection to a vehicle data bus and not more than a single connection to a vehicle power supply.

Abstract: A brake force measurement system comprises at least one sensor configured to generate an output indicative of a force applied by to a first braking member associated with a rotatable wheel of a vehicle by a second braking member. The second braking member may be an actual brake pad or a substitute pad plate or member. In one embodiment, the sensor is a load cell configured to measure force applied by the pad or substitute pad member to a rotor of a brake mechanism associated with each wheel of the vehicle. In one embodiment, the sensor output is input to a processing unit configured to display brake force information in human-readable form, such as by an alpha-numeric display displaying brake force at each wheel in various units of measure or percentage of brake force at one or more wheels.

Abstract: A highly dependable process and device for monitoring wear for a holding brake is performed via an electronically controlled brake test. A shaft which is drivable by a motor can be braked by the holding brake. A reference angular position which is to be traveled by the motor during the brake test and which deviates from the current actual angular position of the motor is preset along with a maximum limit torque to be applied by the motor during the brake test are preset for the motor. During the brake test, the actual angular position of the shaft is monitored to determine whether the shaft rotates. The existence of wear in the holding brake is evidenced by rotation of the shaft during the brake test.

Abstract: A disc brake testing apparatus comprises operating means operable to operate pad moving means of the disc brake to urge pads of the brake towards the disc thereof. The operating means operable to urge the pads against the disc with a higher pressure sufficient to cause the pads to maintain constant contact with the disc and apply a significant braking force thereto. In order to simulate conditions which cause disc thickness variation, the operating means is alternatively operable to urge the pads against the disc with a lower pressure selected to cause the pads to make intermittent contact with the disc during each revolution of the disc.

Abstract: An ultrasonic wave is propagated through a brake pad to determine various brake conditions including brake pad wear, brake status (engaged/disengaged), a wet brake failure or a brake drag failure. The propagation and reflection time of an echo signal generated at a far boundary of the pad is indicative of brake wear. Brake drum or disc speed is determined by using radial indicia on the periphery of the drum or disc to modulate an ultrasonic wave reflected from or transmitted through the drum or disc and demodulating the sensed modulated signal as a speed indication. The various other conditions are determined by means of filters, comparators and logic.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for effecting precise adjustment of pointer on load indicator of ergometric exerciser having pedal-actuated wheel, adjustable caliper brakes engaging wheel and mounted on a pivoted frame for movement by the wheel to actuate load indicator pointer, and including introducing an adjustable biasing force against movement of pivoted frame in form of a spring and adjustable calibration screw and locknut engaging the spring, the biasing force being adjusted by hanging a weight from periphery of wheel, adjusting brakes to just prevent weight from turning wheel, manually turning wheel slightly in forward direction, allowing slight slippage of wheel past brakes, rapping side of wheel briskly adjacent brakes and noting reading of load indicator, manually rotating wheel slightly in rearward direction without brake slippage and repeating last recited step, and adjusting calibration screw in accordance with average of said readings to bring pointer to proper position.