Patents Assigned to Continental Automotive GmbH
  • Publication number: 20120109454
    Abstract: A device for assisting a driver in steering a vehicle along a bottleneck. The device has a bottleneck detection unit which is configured to detect bottleneck information for characterizing a bottleneck in which the vehicle is located. A bottleneck information processing unit is configured to process the detected bottleneck information in order to derive therefrom assistance information for assisting the driver in steering the vehicle along the bottleneck. An actuation unit is provided and is configured to actuate a light source of the vehicle in such a way that the light source generates a light pattern, which can be seen by the driver, outside the vehicle, which light pattern displays the assistance information to the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: MARC FISCHER, DIRK ULBRICHT, STEFAN DOLLINGER, MAXIMILIAN AUSTERER, STEFAN KRAUS
  • Patent number: 8168896
    Abstract: An electronic housing, which includes at least two housing parts, has at least one housing base, a housing cover, and at least one electronic connection in the form of a printed circuit board between electronic substrates disposed in the housing interior and components positioned outside the housing, with the electronic connection being fixed on the housing base. The housing cover has a filling port for a casting compound, and the filling port is closed by a label. A method for the production of such an electronic housing and the use thereof for transmission control of a motor vehicle, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Loibl, Karl Smirra
  • Patent number: 8170773
    Abstract: For the direct re-entry in the CAI operating mode following a pull fuel cut off phase the CAI specific valve lift is maintained during its pull fuel cut off phase. Upon a request signal for the CAI re-entry after the closing time of the particular cylinder, an advance fuel injection quantity is injected in the combustion chamber and externally ignited and combusted in the following CAI interim compression phase of the exhaust stroke, as a result of which hot exhaust gas is formed in the combustion chamber, fresh air is drawn into the combustion chamber during the following intake stroke, a main fuel injection quantity is injected in a main compression phase during the following compression stroke, and the exhaust gas content brought about from the earlier auxiliary fuel injection, is mixed with the air-fuel mixture newly introduced for the main ignition to form a self-ignitable, homogenous fresh air-exhaust gas-fuel mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Erwin Bauer, Dietmar Ellmer
  • Patent number: 8170776
    Abstract: In order to control an internal combustion engine with self-ignition of the air/fuel mixture, at least one injection parameter with respect to fuel metering is determined as a function of at least one operating variable, assuming a steady-state operating state. If a transient operating state is present, a target combustion chamber temperature is determined for the steady-state operating state as a function of at least one of the operating variables. An actual combustion chamber temperature is determined as a function of a physical model for the transient operation, depending on the target combustion chamber temperature and at least one of the operating variables. A correction value is determined for the at least one injection parameter as a function of the target and actual combustion chamber temperatures. The fuel valve is controlled as a function of the at least one injection parameter and the associated correction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Hong Zhang
  • Patent number: 8161948
    Abstract: The switched state of a pressure switch in a tank ventilation system of a motor vehicle is used for testing the function of the tank ventilation system, the pressure switch being in a low-pressure position if the pressure in the tank ventilation system is lower than a predefined pressure limit while being in a high-pressure position if that is not the case. A defective pressure switch can result in wrong assessments. Disclosed is a method for testing the function of the pressure switch, the method encompassing the following steps: a switched state of the pressure switch is detected; a measure is carried out that increases the pressure in the tank ventilation system above the pressure limit if the pressure switch is in the low-pressure position; a defect of the pressure switch is identified if the pressure switch remains in the low-pressure position after carrying out the measure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignees: Continental Automotive GmbH, Audi Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Oliver Grunwald, Armin Köhler
  • Patent number: 8165783
    Abstract: In a method for controlling the injection amount for an injector on an internal combustion engine, dependent on a given time period and the duration of the hold phase, the energy stored in the injector is calculated either with a correction value or with the voltage and charge values at the end of the hold phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Gabriel Marzahn
  • Patent number: 8162240
    Abstract: An actor device (14) for an injector has a solid-state actuator (17) and a first and a second end plate (18, 16) which are coupled to the solid-state actuator (17) at first and, respectively, at second axial end of the solid-state actuator (17). Further, the actor device (14) has a sliding body (24) which is rigidly coupled to the first end plate (18) and which extends to the second end plate (16). The sliding body (24) radially surrounds the solid-state actuator (17) and has a clearance to the solid-state actuator (17) and to the second end plate (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Antonio Bondi
  • Publication number: 20120095641
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for wireless communication between vehicles (2, 3), according to which a second vehicle (3) located in relation to a first vehicle (2) is identified by the first vehicle; the second vehicle (3) emits wireless driving information which is received by the first vehicle, the driving information comprising information on the traffic situation in the surroundings of the second vehicle (3) and/or on the state variables of the second vehicle (3); the driving information received in the first vehicle (2) is processed in the first vehicle (2); and the processed driving information is outputted in the first vehicle (2) at least partially by means of an output means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Stephan Merk
  • Patent number: 8154517
    Abstract: A multifunctional display and operating device in a motor vehicle includes a display field for displaying information, and, situated adjacent to the display field, includes operating elements for selecting functions, the operating elements arranged as keys which are each pivotable about a rotational axis extending in, or at an end region of the keys parallel to a surface of the display field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Olaf Schwarz, Rüdiger Woike, Jörg Seifert, Reiner Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8154298
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an electrical variable of a rechargeable battery and a method for producing said apparatus, has: a measuring element (1), a printed circuit board (4) and a contact element (5) having a first end (6) and a second end (7), wherein the first end (6) of the contact element (5) is electrically connected to the printed circuit board (4), and the second end (7) of the contact element (5) is electrically connected to the measuring element (1) by a welded joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Schimmel
  • Patent number: 8155863
    Abstract: In a process for controlling an internal combustion engine (10) having at least one cylinder (Z1 to Z4) in which a combustion chamber (13) is formed, fuel is injected in at least two modes of operation. The process has the following steps: relative to an operating point determined by at least one operating variable (100), an operating mode quality value is calculated for each of at least two operating modes, an operating mode (OPMOD_SEL) is selected from the at least two operating modes depending on the operating mode quality values, and correcting variables are determined and set depending on the at least one operating variable (100) and the selected operating mode (OPMOD_SEL).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Kia Hsu, Dirk Schneider
  • Patent number: 8154570
    Abstract: An arrangement (1) with a mobile data carrier (2) and a handheld device (4) displays driving periods, rest periods and other types of activity recorded by a tachograph and evaluated by the hand-held device (4). The hand-held device has an evaluation unit (11), a display unit (6) and an input unit. In order to minimize the outlay necessary for evaluating the periods of time, the recording data (20) stored in digital form in a memory of the mobile data carrier (2) designed as a data card (3) can be transmitted via a data transmission interface (17), to computers or notebooks in the transport company or in the vehicle of the control units, and the evaluation unit (11) determines and evaluates the driving periods and/or rest periods and/or the period of time spent in other types of activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Blank, Roland Gessner, Patrik Helbig
  • Patent number: 8146715
    Abstract: A disk brake, in particular for a motor vehicle, is provided. The disk includes a rotatable brake disk, a brake caliper covering the brake disk, an actuator for applying an actuation force and a friction lining applicable to the brake disk by means of the actuation force, and a device for measuring the actual braking force. In order to obtain the more reliable and accurate actual braking force measurement, the device for measuring the actual braking force uses the elastic enlargement of the brake caliper in the form of a measuring parameter and comprises an element having a first end secured to the brake caliper and a second free end, wherein a gap is formed in the extension direction between the brake caliper and the element. The device for measuring the actual braking force produces a signal according to the actual measure gap width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Baier-Welt
  • Patent number: 8148642
    Abstract: A printed circuit board has a first main side and a second main side disposed opposite the first main side. A first and a second rigid zone are linked to each other by way of a flexible zone and the flexible zone is embodied thinner than the first and second rigid zones perpendicular to the first and second main sides. The flexible zone has at least one metallization layer and at least one substrate layer formed of an insulating material and connected to the at least one metallization layer. The substrate layer is formed with a plurality of trenches which in each case extend at the most up to one of the one or more metallization layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Detlev Bagung
  • Patent number: 8150563
    Abstract: An anti-theft system, especially in the form of an access and/or starting system for a vehicle has a vehicle-mounted receiver for receiving a request signal containing the instruction to find out whether objects that are associated with the vehicle, e.g. lost identifiers, are located in specific areas of the vehicle. The anti-theft system further has a vehicle-mounted control and evaluation unit for verifying whether the objects are in the specific areas of the vehicle and outputting information on whether an object that is associated with the vehicle has been found. The anti-theft system finally has a vehicle-mounted transmitter for transmitting a result signal containing the information on whether objects have been found. Such an anti-theft system allows an identifier, for example, which is associated with a user, to start a search from a distance in order to verify whether certain objects are located near or inside the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Georgi, Roland Wagner
  • Patent number: 8149100
    Abstract: A device and a method for distinguishing positions of two tire sensors of a double tire include an LF antenna attached to a vehicle and connected to a central processing unit and one tire sensor each per tire. The tire sensors have a device for measuring field strength of a signal emitted by the LF antenna and the tire sensors report back information on the measured field strength through the LF antenna to the central processing unit. The central processing unit determines the position of the two tire sensors of the double tire from a distribution or course of a current flow during wheel rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Janos Gila, Alfred Pohl, Robert Tschofen, Johannes Österreicher
  • Patent number: 8144448
    Abstract: A control unit has a closed-loop controller which is connected to a regulating electrovalve by way of a feedback branch, forming a closed-loop control circuit, in order to regulate the electrical coil current of the regulating electrovalve. The armature of the electrovalve is used to adjust a desired volume flow in a motor vehicle hydraulic device. The armature of the regulating electrovalve is continuously subjected to an armature oscillation in order to reduce the static friction and/or magnetic hysteresis. Inside the closed-loop controller of the closed-loop control circuit itself, the nominal current, which is supplied to the closed-loop controller on the input side as a command variable, is subjected to a dither signal generated inside the closed-loop controller for producing the armature oscillation, essentially synchronously to the clock cycle of the closed-loop controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Lehner, Michael Robl
  • Patent number: 8143954
    Abstract: A device can be coupled to an electrical load for supplying electrical power to the electrical load. The device contains an oscillator unit and an auxiliary oscillator unit. The oscillator unit is configured to generate an output signal of the device which can be supplied to the electrical load and which has a first frequency. The auxiliary oscillator unit is electrically coupled to the oscillator unit. The auxiliary oscillator unit is configured to excite the oscillator unit to oscillate at a second frequency greater than the first frequency. The auxiliary oscillator unit contains a timing element which is configured and arranged to terminate the excitation of the oscillator unit after the expiration of a pre-specified period of time after the start of the oscillator unit and the auxiliary oscillator unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Stephan Bolz
  • Patent number: 8143832
    Abstract: In a method for operating an electromechanical adjusting device, having an actuating part driven by a controller controlled motor, and which can be adjusted according to a manual specification for a controller operating element between a first and a second end position, the controller detects the precise position of a blockage of an adjusting movement from fed sensor signals, wherein user action performed on the operating element adjusts the actuating part by a first movement directed toward the end position to a position at which mechanical blockage occurs in order to determine a reference position, and adjusts the actuating part by a second movement into the second end position to examine the validity of the previously determined reference position by a test program which decides whether an automatic operating mode, in which an actuating process runs automatically, is activated, or blocked, as a function of the test result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Holzmann, Roman Morawek, Daniel Zuffer
  • Publication number: 20120061436
    Abstract: A vehicle equipment designed to detachably hold an electronic appliance provided with a screen and manually activatable function keys. This equipment has a cavity (11) designed to hold the appliance and which for that purpose is open at the front. The cavity contains thrust elements (17, 19) in order to wedge the electronic appliance therein, and a cable guide shoe (160), urged by at least some of the thrust elements. This shoe has a passage, or a marked-out passage ready to be cut out (161) through which a lead and its connector (23, 23a) for connecting to the electronic appliance can pass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicants: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE
    Inventor: Pascal Clochard