Abstract: A method recognizes a wire-break fault during operation of a brushless DC motor. A switch-on delay duration of a transition of an electrical phase potential that rests on the stator winding phase from a switch-off potential to a switch-on potential and a switch-off delay duration of the transition of the phase potential from the switch-on potential to the switch-off potential are detected for a stator winding phase of the stator winding of the motor during each pulse width modulation cycle period. Moreover, a lower deviation limit is defined for a deviation of detected switch-off delay durations from detected switch-on delay durations. A wire-break fault is deduced if the deviations of the detected switch-off delay durations from the detected switch-on delay durations fall below the lower deviation limit.

Abstract: A control device for controlling a hydraulic pressure of a fluid transmission includes a pressure sensor for detecting actual pressure values of the hydraulic pressure, an electronic control unit for generating a control signal as a function of the actual pressure values detected by the pressure sensor and a reference pressure signal delivered to the control unit, a power switch controlled by the control signal and a solenoid valve actuated by the power switch for generating the hydraulic pressure. The control device is configured as a compact electromagnetic unit. The electronic control unit is respectively connected to the pressure sensor and to the power switch by a direct electrical connection. A method for controlling a hydraulic pressure of a fluid transmission is also provided.

Abstract: A method and a camera-based driver assistance system in a subject vehicle uses image processing to automatically recognize dynamic intangible symbols that are projected as light onto the road by another vehicle, and responds in an appropriate manner based on the recognized symbols. For example, advice is given to the driver or signals are transmitted to vehicle devices in order to bring about an appropriate vehicle response, such as an emergency braking action or a distance alert.

Abstract: Pulse width modulated controller systems. Implementations may include: a microcontroller coupled with a memory, a switch controller coupled with the microcontroller, and a calibration unit. The calibration unit may include one or more comparators, one or more passive electrical components, and an encoder logic all operatively coupled together and coupled with the microcontroller and with the switch controller where the at least one comparator and the one or more passive electrical components are electrically coupled with a supply voltage to the semiconductor switch and with a load voltage (output voltage) from the semiconductor switch.

Abstract: A method for automatic direction indication for a vehicle includes the following steps: detecting a driver activity and/or a vehicle position by a Lane Keeping System and/or a Lane Departure Warning System; and automatically activating or deactivating a direction indicator of the vehicle dependent on the detected driver activity or vehicle position.

Abstract: A charging device for charging an energy storage device of a portable electric device. The charging device has a load cell or load cells, each load cell is equipped with a controllable resonant circuit for inductively transmitting energy, a parallel resonant circuit with two coils and a controllable supply voltage, two controllable switching elements for a self-oscillation of the parallel resonant circuit, which have control connections that can be connected to each other via a respective controllable switch-off element, and a demodulator connected to an output of the load cell being formed by a coil end of one coil of said two coils, wherein said coil end is not connected to a coil end of another coil of said two coils. The self-oscillation can be interrupted in a controlled manner by switching the two controllable switching elements in order to modulate an amplitude of an electromagnetic field generated by the two coils.

Abstract: In a method for evaluating image data of a vehicle camera, information about raindrops on the vehicle's windshield within the field of view of the camera is taken into account in the evaluation of the image data for detection and classification of objects in the environment of the vehicle. Particularly, for example, depending on the number and the size of the raindrops on the windshield, different detection algorithms, image evaluation criteria, classification parameters, or classification algorithms are used for the detection and classification of objects.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for detecting rain on a pane (2). The device comprises a camera (1), a lighting source (3) for emitting light (h, o, p) and a diffusion element (6). The light (h, o, p) emitted by the lighting source (3) emerges as a light sheet(s) from the diffusion element (6). The camera (1), the lighting source (3) and the diffusion element (6) are designed and arranged in such a way that the camera (1) can detect a signal from the light (h, o, p) or an imaging (i1, i2) of the light sheet(s) which is emitted by the lighting source (3), impinges through the diffusion element (6) on the pane (2) and is reflected by the pane. In particular, in this case, the signal detected by the camera (1) or the light sheet(s) (i1, i2) correlate(s) with light from the lighting source (3) which is reflected or scattered at the inner face (2.1) or outer face (2.2) of the pane and/or at a raindrop.

Abstract: A method and a device determine whether a vehicle can pass through a passage of an object, based on image data from a 3-D camera, which records an image of surroundings of the vehicle. A trajectory of the vehicle is ascertained. From the image data, it is determined whether an object located above the trajectory is recognized and whether the object has at least one connection to the ground. The dimensions and the shape of an entry area or a passage space between the object and the roadway, through which the vehicle is to pass, are determined from the image data. By comparing the dimensions and shape of the entry area or the passage space with the dimensions and shape of the vehicle, it is determined whether and how the vehicle can pass through the entry area or passage space.

Abstract: A control device for a motor vehicle includes a housing having a housing cover and a housing base, a sealing device between the housing cover and the housing base, at least one circuit carrier having electrically conductive tracks, and at least one electronic component disposed on the circuit carrier. The control device further includes at least one conductor structure extending out of the interior of the housing, and at least one electrically conductive connecting line which connects the electronic component to the conductor structure. A getter layer is thermally sprayed on the inner face of the housing to protect the metal parts, which transmit current or data in the interior of the control device, against corrosive gases. The getter layer has a high specific surface area.

Abstract: A method of automatically preventing or reducing aquaplaning during the driving operation of a motor vehicle on a route provides that: a) a camera-based road sign recognition of a road sign on a section of the route determines whether the road sign indicates a risk of aquaplaning on the section of the route, b) at least one sensor device detects whether there is a wet road condition on the section of the route, and c) a driving assistance function for preventing or reducing aquaplaning is carried out if the road sign recognition determines that the road sign indicates the risk of aquaplaning and the sensor device detects the wet road condition on the section of the route.

Abstract: A camera module including an objective lens housing with an optical system, an image sensor chip with wire bonding connections, and a printed circuit board for contacting the image sensor chip. The printed circuit board is designed with wire bonding areas to which the wire bonding connections of the image sensor chip are connected, and the assembly made up of the image sensor chip and the printed circuit board is designed in such a manner that the image sensor chip is focus-adjusted to the optical system by changing its position relative to the printed circuit board taking advantage of the flexibility of the wire bonding connections of the image sensor chip. The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing the camera module.

Abstract: A driver assistance system with improved fault tolerance and a method for the same are provided. An actuator control variable for a reduced driver assistance application with reduced functionality is a calculated in a second control unit in case of unavailability of an actuator control variable for the main driver assistance application with full functionality as determined by a first control unit.

Abstract: An LC module for installation in a housing of a motor vehicle control device, a method for producing an LC module and a corresponding motor vehicle control device having an LC module. The LC module has a support plate, at least one electrolytic capacitor and a coil. The electrolytic capacitor and the coil are disposed in chambers of the LC module and are at least partially surrounded by casting compound. Furthermore, the support plate has a connecting part between the two chambers, the support plate being form-fittingly or frictionally connectable to the housing of the control device at least in the region of the connecting part.

Abstract: Pulse width modulated controller systems. Implementations may include: a microcontroller coupled with a memory, a switch controller coupled with the microcontroller, and a calibration unit. The calibration unit may include one or more comparators, one or more passive electrical components, and an encoder logic all operatively coupled together and coupled with the microcontroller and with the switch controller where the at least one comparator and the one or more passive electrical components are electrically coupled with a supply voltage to the semiconductor switch and with a load voltage (output voltage) from the semiconductor switch.

Abstract: A semiconductor circuit for an electronic control device for a system in a motor vehicle, wherein the system is not mechanically intrinsically safe, includes a functional computer (FR), at least one monitoring unit (MU) and a monitoring computer that are each physically independent of each other. A full or a restricted function of the semiconductor circuit is ensured by the functional computer (FR) in the event of a failure of the monitoring computer (UR) and vice versa. The semiconductor circuit is monitored according to a monitoring method.

Abstract: For recognizing traffic signs that include a main sign and an associated additional sign, a method involves using a camera to record image data of an environment outside a vehicle, evaluating the image data to detect the presence and the class of the main sign and to detect the presence and partially classify the content of the additional sign by pattern recognition, performing text recognition to read and interpret text of the additional sign, and comparing the recognized text with actual current situational information to determine whether the main sign is currently applicable.

Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle may include sensing the presence of a switch-off signal indicative of a command to switch off an ignition of a drive assembly of the vehicle, measuring a voltage value of an on-board power system voltage in an on-board power system of the vehicle in response to sensing the switch-off signal, and comparing the measured voltage value to a predetermined voltage threshold value. If the measured voltage value exceeds the predetermined voltage threshold value, the method may include switching an assistance system of the vehicle into an emergency operating state.

Abstract: A traffic sign recognition method analyzes and classifies image data of a sensor in an information processing unit. The image data is analyzed to select an image portion judged to contain a traffic sign of a particular sign class. A class-specific feature is identified in the image portion. A modified image portion is created, in which the class-specific feature has been shifted to a center of the modified image portion. Then the modified image portion is evaluated by a learning-based algorithm to recognize the traffic sign of the particular sign class.

Abstract: A method supports a vehicle's traffic-light-sequence assistant system that detects traffic light sequences of a traffic light (11) with a camera (1). According to the method, when the traffic light (11) is detected in the field of view (1a ) of the camera (1), a length or an end stopping point (L) of a driving path (W) toward the traffic light (11) is determined by a control unit (3), such that the traffic light will remain within view of the camera when the vehicle drives the determined length along the driving path to the end stopping point, and a control signal (St) concerning the determined length (L) or the end stopping point of the driving path (W) is outputted.