Abstract: A pneumatic valve, includes an air chamber with a supply port to supply compressed air into the air chamber and one or more discharge ports for discharging compressed air from the air chamber. An actuator with a movable closing element and a shape memory alloy SMA element are provided in the valve. The SMA element deforms in response to a supply of electrical heating current and effects an activation of the actuator by movement of the closing element. When the actuator is in an activated state, the closing element blocks the supply of compressed air via the supply port is blocked. When the actuator is in a deactivated state, the closing element enables the supply of compressed air via the supply port. Upon deactivation of the actuator, the closing element is moved by a restoring force into the free setting. The valve includes a check valve with an elastic element.

Abstract: A pneumatic device for varying a contour of a seat bearing surface includes a carrier foil TF composed of a first and a second foil ply which are arranged adjacent to one another. The pneumatic device has a first bladder for varying the contour of the seat bearing surface, including a bladder chamber which can be filled with pressure medium (DM). The pneumatic device furthermore has a first pressure medium line connected to the first bladder and which is formed by connection of the first and second foil plies along a line-side connection seam to create a pressure medium connection to the bladder chamber of the first bladder. One foil ply has, in the region of the first bladder, an opening in order to form a pressure medium channel to a further bladder, which can be filled with pressure medium and is connected to one of the foil plies.

Abstract: A method of performing a towing process by a towing vehicle (10) involves activating a towing mode (S1) and adapting a vehicle speed of the towing vehicle to a towing speed (S2). A camera system (100) for recognizing a towing process includes at least one camera (12) arranged on the rear of a vehicle, for detecting at least one sub-region located behind the vehicle, and an image processing device (16) configured to recognize a towing device (14) in detected image data, whereby a towing mode may be activated and/or terminated.

Abstract: Cleaning device for cleaning a transparent cover of a camera, in particular a lens of the camera, comprising at least one cleaning agent feed line and at least two cleaning agent spraying elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to recording images with variable resolution for a driver assistance system (101) of a vehicle (100). The driver assistance system (101) comprises a camera (102). In the standard operation mode, the camera (103) is configured to iteratively switch between recording images of a first type and images of a second type with a higher resolution than the images of the first type. In this way, the images of the first type can be used for analyzing a near-range of the vehicle environment without requiring too much computing power. Moreover, the images of the second type have a sufficient resolution for analyzing a far-range of the vehicle environment.

Abstract: A control device and an operating method for a driver assistance system of a vehicle are configured to selectively process image data from only a first vehicle camera or from only a second vehicle camera at any given time, depending on a current operating state of the vehicle, in order for driver assistance functions to be implemented.

Abstract: A camera device (2) for capturing a surrounding area of a driver's own vehicle has optoelectronics including a high-resolution image capturing sensor and a wide-angle optical system for capturing at least one initial image of the surrounding area. The optoelectronics are configured to generate, from the at least one initial image, a processed output image (4) that has, compared to the associated initial image, at least one non-modified image section (4a) and a resolution-reduced remainder image region (4b) bordering on the at least one non-modified image section (4a).

Abstract: A method for identifying correct operation of an electrical switching unit, having a full bridge circuit and inductive load operated by the full bridge circuit. The full bridge circuit includes a first semiconductor switching element supplying the inductive load with a first supply voltage potential and a second semiconductor switching element supplying the inductive load with a second supply voltage potential, having a smaller value than the first supply voltage potential. The first and second semiconductor switching element each have a diode.

Abstract: A method for classification of ground conditions in the vicinity of a vehicle using a radar sensor, comprising: receiving reflected portions of a radar signal at a receiver unit of a radar system; calculating information derived from the received portions of the radar signal for discrete spatial regions by the radar system or a control unit connected thereto; assigning the information to data structure units associated with a geographical location and the assignment of the information taking into account movement of the vehicle; collecting pieces of information in the respective data structure units, the pieces of information being obtained from reflected portions of radar signals transmitted at different times; evaluating the information contained in the data structure using a classifier to obtain information regarding the ground condition; assigning ground condition types to the data structure units based on evaluation results obtained by the classifier.

Abstract: A camera device for detecting a surrounding area of a subject vehicle has optoelectronics including a high-resolution image capturing sensor and a wide-angle optical system. The optoelectronics are designed to output an image sequence of the surrounding area with a periodic variation of high-resolution images and resolution-reduced images.

Abstract: A gear assembly has a gear housing. A first component group is arranged in a first partial area within the gear housing. The first component group includes at least one sensor element and/or at least one actuator. A remote control device is coupled to the first component group so that signals can be exchanged by way of a bus system.

Abstract: A method of recognizing edges in a camera image (A) produced by a camera, includes steps of: assigning (S1) a respective scaling size to each pixel (aij) of the camera image (A) as a function of an object distance, relative to the camera, of a spatial region imaged in the respective pixel (aij); producing (S2) an integral image (B) from the camera image (A); applying (S3) Haar wavelet transforms to the pixels (bij) of the integral image (B) to generate a gradient image (C), wherein a scaling of the Haar wavelets is determined for each pixel (bij) of the integral image (B) taking account of the scaling size assigned to the corresponding pixel (aij) of the camera image (A); and recognizing (S4) edges in the camera image (A) using the generated gradient image (C).

Abstract: A processing unit with at least one image that relates to a scene external to a vehicle, processes the image to extract low level features. A low level feature is defined such that an object in the scene cannot be characterized on the basis of at least one low level feature in a single image of the at least one scene. The processing unit determines if at least a part of an object is present in a part of the scene, the determination comprises an analysis of the low level features. An output unit outputs information that there is something present in the scene.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a pressure distributor for a motor vehicle, in particular for pneumatic actuators in seats, wherein a pressure generator and a plurality of pneumatic actuators can be connected to the pressure distributor, wherein each actuator is assigned at least one electrically controllable valve which forwards a pressure which is generated by the pressure generator in a targeted manner via a respective outlet to the actuator which is assigned to it, wherein the plurality of valves are supplied with compressed air by the pressure generator during operation of the pressure distributor via a respective inlet of a common air inlet line. The common air inlet line is connected as a separate component via a releasable connection to the plurality of valves.

Abstract: In a method of generating continuous images of a stored three-dimensional surroundings model of a vehicle, a camera image is generated and projected onto a projection surface in the surroundings model, and continuous images of the projection surface are generated and output by a mobile virtual camera.

Abstract: An electric bicycle has an electric motor and an electric energy store for supplying energy to the electric motor. Accordingly, the bicycle has a first controller coupled to the electric motor and is configured to store a first keycode. The bicycle has a second controller coupled to the energy store and is configured to store a second keycode. The controllers are connected or can be connected to a data transmission system, which is a bus. The first and second controllers are configured such that at least one specified controller of the controllers receives the keycode of the other controller. The specified controller is configured to determine whether its keycode matches the received keycode of the other controller using specified criteria. An immobilizer for an electric bicycle can be formed from these components.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for identifying an electrical line interruption during operation of a drive system (20), which comprises two parallel-connected DC motors (21, 41), which are mechanically coupled to one another by means of a part that is to be driven, a driver for driving the two parallel-connected DC motors (21, 41) and a measuring device for detecting different electrical variables of the drive system (20). The measuring device comprises a rotational speed determination apparatus (32) for determining the rotational speed of the two DC motors (21, 41) and for supplying a piece of rotational speed information representing the rotational speed.

Abstract: A connection device for a coaxial cable which allows a comprehensive shielding by continuing the outer conductor through the entire housing of the connection device and onwards through the entire camera module. The outer conductor of an interface for the connection of a coaxial cable is electrically coupled with an electrically conductive housing, wherein the housing allows an electrical shielding of the inner components of a camera module.

Abstract: A sensor module contains a sensor unit, a sensor cover, and a main body. The sensor unit has a sensor surface and a base surface. The sensor cover covers the sensor surface and at least a section of the base surface. The sensor cover is connected to the base surface and/or the main body by a fused connection. The main body is connected at least to the base surface of the sensor unit by a fused connection with a selectable relative position in relation to the sensor cover. Pre-mounting of the sensor unit in a sensor cover and advantageous encapsulation of a sensor can thus be achieved.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a control system and to a device for an ego-vehicle in a vehicle convoy in the case of the avoidance of an obstacle. Before the ego-vehicle follows an adopted avoidance trajectory of a vehicle driving in front, a hazard evaluation of the driving strategy of the vehicle driving in front is performed and the avoidance trajectory is modified on the basis of the result of the hazard evaluation.