Abstract: A motor vehicle configuration includes a folding roof and an electro-hydraulic system for moving the folding roof between a closed position and an open position. A roof actuation request for moving the folding roof from the closed position to the open position is blocked if the total number of roof actuation requests occurring in a period when the engine is off has reached a given maximum number in order to protect the vehicle battery. A display provides a driver alert information if the total number of roof actuation requests occurring in the period when the engine is off has reached the given maximum number. A method for controlling a power-operated vehicle roof is also provided.

Abstract: A method for implementing shifts from a source gear to a target gear of an automatic shift transmission includes storing a respective upshift threshold and a respective downshift threshold for each possible sequential gear shift. The respective upshift threshold and the respective downshift threshold are defined in dependence of an accelerator pedal position, such that a limit value that is valid for a respective upshift or downshift is stored as a vehicle speed value in a control device. The vehicle speed that changes while the motor vehicle is driving and a changing accelerator pedal position are measured. Downshifts are simplified for a driver by configuring at least two downshift thresholds to be substantially horizontally extending in a first region of a possible accelerator pedal position and at least partly step-shaped in a second region of the possible accelerator pedal position.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a battery includes the steps of activating a power conservation mode of an electrical system of a motor vehicle, measuring a duration of activation of the power conservation mode of the electrical system, and measuring a quiescent voltage of a vehicle battery of the motor vehicle. A battery status is determined based on the duration of activation of the power conservation mode and based on the quiescent voltage of the vehicle battery. Information indicative of the battery status is provided such that the information is perceivable outside the motor vehicle. A flashing pattern of a light emitting diode may for example indicate the battery status. A motor vehicle having a battery monitoring configuration is also provided.

Abstract: A transmission configuration includes an automated dual-clutch transmission having two transmission sections with respective input shafts, respective output shafts and respective motor clutches. The motor clutches are connected, on a motor side thereof, to a drive shaft and to a respective one of the input shafts on a transmission side thereof. A drive-side speed sensor unit is disposed at the drive shaft. An input-side speed sensor configuration includes sensor wheels connected, fixed against relative rotation, to respective ones of the input shafts, and pulse sensors disposed stationary with respect to a housing and within an effective range of the respective sensor wheels. The input-side speed sensor configuration is configured to detect a speed of the input shafts and a direction of rotation of at least one of the input shafts. A method for controlling an automated dual-clutch transmission is also provided.

Abstract: An ignition lock for a motor vehicle includes a carrier element for holding an ignition key that is inserted in the ignition lock. The carrier element is movable along a longitudinal axis of the ignition lock. The carrier element pushes a slide bar from a blocking position to an unblocking position when the carrier element moves along the longitudinal axis. A latch bar, when in its latching position, restricts a movement of the carrier element along the longitudinal axis and, when in its unlatching position, allows the carrier element to move along the longitudinal axis. When the latch bar is in its unlatching position and the slide bar is in its blocking position, the slide bar prevents the latch bar from moving from the unlatching position to the latching position.

Abstract: A method for operating a hybrid motor vehicle which has an internal combustion engine and at least one electric machine is provided. When turning off the internal combustion engine and/or when starting the internal combustion engine, a torque characteristic of the electric machine for starting the internal combustion engine or turning off the internal combustion engine is feedforward-controlled.

Abstract: A method for operating active stabilizers in a motor vehicle includes an on-road mode and an off-road mode. In the on-road mode a stabilizer is activated and deactivated in dependence on operating parameters of the motor vehicle, in particular the travel speed and/or the lateral acceleration and/or a level sensor system, wherein in the activated state rolling motions of the vehicle are reduced by introducing torque into the stabilizer or stabilizers that counteracts the rolling motion. In the off-road mode, the stabilizer is deactivated up to a given travel speed or, in case of an alternate jouncing of the wheels, a control of the stabilizer is performed such that a downward force of the rebounding wheel is increased. Wheel slip may be used as a parameter when controlling the stabilizers. A motor vehicle having active stabilizers is also provided.

Abstract: A constant-velocity fixed joint includes an outer joint part with ball raceways and an inner joint part with ball raceways which are separated by webs. A cage, which is disposed between the outer joint part and the inner joint part, has windows for holding balls. The inner joint part can be inserted into the cage only when at least one of its webs engages in a window in the cage. As a result of certain ratios of the raceway angle to the web angle, a high resistance to fracturing at large deflection angles is achieved and a weakening at the functional faces of the inner joint part is avoided. The large angle of wrap around the balls at the ends of the raceways is advantageous for the load bearing capacity of the raceways. Due to its simple form, the cage can be manufactured with a small thickness.

Abstract: An exhaust-gas recirculation device for an internal combustion engine, in particular for a diesel engine of a passenger car, includes an air-supply line connected to an air inlet of the internal combustion engine and includes an exhaust-gas line connected to an exhaust-gas outlet of the internal combustion engine. A turbine, which drives a compressor disposed in the air-supply line, is disposed in the exhaust-gas line. The exhaust-gas line is connected to the air-supply line via an exhaust-gas recirculation line branching off in flow direction behind the turbine. An adjustable throttle is disposed in the air-supply line in flow direction in front of the compressor in order to achieve higher exhaust-gas recirculation rates. A method for operating an exhaust-gas recirculation device for an internal combustion engine is also provided.

Abstract: A method for determining a tilt angle of a vehicle includes measuring accelerations of a vehicle in directions along a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis, and a vertical axis of the vehicle. A current tilt angle of the vehicle is calculated as a function of the measured accelerations. A magnitude-compensated tilt angle is calculated as a function of the current tilt angle, of a preceding tilt angle, and of the magnitude of the vector sum of the measured accelerations. A gyroscopically stabilized magnitude-compensated tilt angle is calculated as a function of the current tilt angle, of a preceding tilt angle, of the magnitude of the vector sum of the measured accelerations, and of a change in the tilt angle over a given time period calculated from angular rate data provided by a gyroscope.

Abstract: A method for operating a hybrid vehicle is provided. The hybrid vehicle has a combustion engine and an electric motor each providing a torque for operating the hybrid vehicle. The hybrid vehicle has an exhaust gas system with a catalytic converter system for at least one exhaust gas component. An energy storage device stores and returns electric energy. At least one value of a catalytic converter activity is ascertained. The at least one value of the catalytic converter activity is compared with at least one given limit value. A torque addition of the electric motor is provided in dependence on the comparison result and on a status value of the energy storage device in order to influence activity parameters of the catalytic converter system wherein the torque addition is a motor torque addition or a generative torque addition. A hybrid vehicle is also provided.

Abstract: A seat control unit for adjusting a vehicle seat includes a touch sensor having a touch-sensitive fabric. The touch-sensitive fabric is disposed on a support layer which may be formed by a vehicle interior component such as the vehicle seat, an interior door panel or an armrest. The touch sensor generates signals in response to a force exerted on the touch-sensitive fabric. A control circuit is connected the touch sensor and receives the signals generated by the touch sensor. The control circuit determines a position of the force exerted on the touch-sensitive fabric and generates control signals for controlling the vehicle seat in dependence on the position of the force exerted on the touch-sensitive fabric.

Abstract: A substantially flat control element for controlling a vehicle component has touch-sensitive regions and is configured to generate control signals for moving the vehicle component into respective end positions in response to a first and a third one of the touch-sensitive regions of the control element being touched. A second region of the control element has subregions for allowing a variable adjustment of the vehicle component into intermediate positions between the end positions.

Abstract: A transmission configuration includes an automated dual-clutch transmission having two transmission sections with respective input shafts, respective output shafts and respective motor clutches. The motor clutches are connected, on a motor side thereof, to a drive shaft and to a respective one of the input shafts on a transmission side thereof. A drive-side speed sensor unit is disposed at the drive shaft. An input-side speed sensor configuration includes sensor wheels connected, fixed against relative rotation, to respective ones of the input shafts, and pulse sensors disposed stationary with respect to a housing and within an effective range of the respective sensor wheels. The input-side speed sensor configuration is configured to detect a speed of the input shafts and a direction of rotation of at least one of the input shafts. A method for controlling an automated dual-clutch transmission is also provided.

Abstract: A wind stop device, in particular for a convertible, includes a multi-part wind partition and a multi-part cover partition. A left and a right cover partition part can be folded about a cover partition folding axis and at the same time a left and a right wind partition part can be folded about a respective first and second wind partition folding axis from a non-use position into a cover position for covering a passenger compartment. The left and right wind partition parts and a middle wind partition part, which is provided between the first and second wind partition folding axes, can be folded about a connection folding axis, which extends perpendicular to a direction of travel, into a use position such that the wind partition parts are substantially perpendicular to the cover partition parts.

Abstract: A tire pressure control system for determining and/or monitoring a pressure in an air-filled tire of a vehicle uses a pressure-measuring device located in the tire. The tire pressure control system includes a seat diagnosis module for checking whether the pressure-measuring device is fastened in the tire.

Abstract: A method for operating a hybrid motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine and at least one electric machine is provided. At least one of the electric machines supplies a varying torque to the internal combustion engine such that cyclic irregularities of the internal combustion engine during idling are reduced and, at the same time, the internal combustion engine is operated during idling with an ignition angle and a volumetric efficiency optimized for this operating state and without retarding the ignition angle for building up a torque reserve.

Abstract: A constant velocity fixed joint includes a joint outer part and a joint inner part with crossed ball raceways. The ball raceways of the joint outer and inner parts form ball raceway pairs and balls are disposed in respective ones of the ball raceway pairs. A cage is held in place at one of the joint parts. Windows in the cage receive the balls. One of the joint parts has a cage guiding surface for axially holding the cage in a first direction. A termination element is provided as a separate element at the one of the joint parts. The termination element has a counterface and the cage is held axially in a second direction opposite the first direction by the counterface of the termination element. The cage guiding surface of the joint part has an undercut-free region toward the termination element.