Abstract: Disclosed is a method for managing the starting of a combustion engine of a hybrid drive system including a combustion engine and an electric machine, as well as a drive shaft, the electric machine producing torque to start the combustion engine and drive the drive shaft at least during an initial phase of the start. In a transient starting phase, the combustion engine drives the drive shaft and the electric machine is stopped. The electric machine is regulated, during the initial phase and transient phases, with a first engine speed setpoint. The transient phase begins when the drive shaft reaches the first engine speed setpoint and remains steady. Torque control produced by the electric machine during the transient starting phase being configured so that the electric machine is stopped as soon as the control determines that the torque produced by the electric machine is tending toward zero torque.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 12, 2017
Date of Patent:
March 23, 2021
Assignees:
CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
Abstract: The disclosure relates to a circuit apparatus for controlling a switchable glazing unit. The circuit apparatus has a potential-isolated circuit part configured to generate a periodically alternating drive voltage which has a predetermined first period duration on the glazing unit. The disclosure provides a voltage source, to which the potential-isolated circuit part is connected via a transformer and which is configured to operate the transformer with an AC voltage which has a second period duration shorter than the first period duration, wherein the potential-isolated circuit part is configured to receive the transformed AC voltage from the transformer and, in repeatedly alternating switching phases, to respectively forward only positive half-cycles of the transformed AC voltage to an electrical capacitance of the glazing unit and to forward only negative half-cycles of the transformed AC voltage to an electrical capacitance of the glazing unit by means of a converter device.
Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detecting the direction of rotation of a crankshaft of an engine of a motor vehicle. The detection method includes in particular, when the crankshaft is in a second predetermined angular position between a low angular position and a high angular position of the crankshaft, a step of commanding the closure of a control valve for the intake of fuel into the high-pressure pump, a step of measuring a second pressure value in the high-pressure rail, and a step of detecting a nominal direction of rotation of the crankshaft if the second pressure value measured is greater than or equal to an expected pressure value or of detecting a reverse direction of rotation of the crankshaft if the second pressure value measured is less than the expected pressure value.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 8, 2018
Date of Patent:
March 23, 2021
Assignees:
CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
Abstract: A housing for accommodating a single or multi-part printed circuit board includes an opening in a first housing side for inserting the printed circuit board, at least one guide rail having a groove for receiving the printed circuit board and being situated on at least one first housing side wall of a group of housing side walls running perpendicularly to the first housing side. The guide rail is configured to receive a peg disposed on one of the printed circuit board parts. The guide rail runs from the first housing side towards a second housing side opposite the first housing side, so that the end of the guide rail near the first housing side is further away than the other end of the guide rail from the housing side wall which is oriented perpendicularly to the first housing side wall and is closest to the guide rail.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 10, 2017
Date of Patent:
March 16, 2021
Assignee:
Continental Automotive GmbH
Inventors:
Andreas Bernhardt, Manuel Fernando Lopera Diaz
Abstract: A camera-monitor system for a motor vehicle has a camera that is embodied to provide an image of an environment of the motor vehicle, and a monitor for representing images of the camera, said monitor having a telephony unit.
Abstract: A method comprises determining the distance between a first transceiver unit and a second transceiver unit, wherein the first transceiver unit is mounted on a vehicle and the second transceiver unit is mounted on a trailer connected to the vehicle. The method also includes determining at least one parameter relating to the trailer, taking into account the distance between the first transceiver unit and the second transceiver unit.
Type:
Application
Filed:
November 18, 2020
Publication date:
March 11, 2021
Applicant:
Continental Automotive GmbH
Inventors:
Andreas Weinlich, Thomas Smits, Marten Kabutz, Tobias Schmalriede
Abstract: A system is configured to repair artefacts in image data when representing vehicle surroundings. This involves: detecting an artefact-comprising area of a vehicle camera for a first time point, creating a reconstructed version of the artefact-comprising area from image data of an adjacent image area, determining a sample point of the artefact-comprising area, transforming the sample point to a new location predicted for a second time point, determining whether the new location still lies within the artefact-comprising area, and if so updating the artefact-comprising area in the image for the second time point by using motion-compensated image data from the reconstructed version of the sample point from the first time point.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 24, 2019
Date of Patent:
March 9, 2021
Assignee:
Continental Automotive GmbH
Inventors:
Markus Friebe, Sukumar Srikanth, Pavannag Prabhakar
Abstract: Disclosed is a method for remotely loading digital data to an electronics unit for measuring operating parameters of a wheel of a motor vehicle, the remote loading being carried out by a remote loading tool external to the wheel. The method includes the positioning of the external remote loading tool in the proximity of the wheel at least, emission of at least one frame of mechanical waves by the external remote loading tool toward the electronics unit, the waves being representative of the data to be remotely loaded, reception of at least the frame of mechanical waves by the electronics unit via the mechanical parameter measurement sensor, and the conversion of the mechanical waves into electrical signals and then into digital signals containing the remotely loaded data in digital form, and the storage of the remotely loaded data in the electronics unit.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 21, 2017
Date of Patent:
March 9, 2021
Assignees:
CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
Abstract: A method for operating a camera-monitor system for a motor vehicle, in which the camera-monitor system has a camera that is designed to provide an image of an environment of the motor vehicle and has a monitor for representing images from the camera comprises providing an image from the camera, ascertaining an attention-relevant object in the environment, temporarily changing at least one representation property of the image in dependence on the ascertained object to form a changed image, and representing the changed image on the monitor.
Abstract: Various embodiments include a method for operating a camera-monitor system for a motor vehicle, wherein the camera-monitor system has a side camera assigned to a longitudinal side of the motor vehicle to provide an image of surroundings of the motor vehicle. The method may include: specifying a region of interest in the surroundings; and transforming the image of the camera into a transformed image wherein the region of interest in the transformed image is arranged in a specified image region with a specified magnification independent of any change in relative position between the region of interest and the motor vehicle.
Abstract: Various embodiments include a method for providing an image using a camera monitor system for a motor vehicle with a trailer, wherein the camera monitor system has a rear camera assigned to a rear side of the trailer, a side camera assigned to a longitudinal side of the motor vehicle, and a monitor for presenting images of the cameras. The method may include: capturing a first image with the rear camera; capturing a second image with the side camera; constructing a composite image comprising the first image and the second image based at least in part on an ascertained trajectory of the motor vehicle; and displaying the composite image on the monitor.
Abstract: A system for detecting command gestures made by a finger of a motor vehicle driver, including at least one interface pad, a light source that emits an infrared optical beam toward the interface pad, an imaging sensor, in order to capture images steered by the interface pad away from the driver, the interface pad including a base frame and a movable plate that is movable between a rest position and at least one activation position, the base frame including a first inclined edge and the movable plate including a second inclined edge, the first and second inclined edges forming a zone of contrasts of interest as seen by the imaging sensor, and being separated by a space or brought closer together depending on the position of the movable plate, and generating a contrast effect in the images of the interface pad that are captured by the imaging sensor.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 4, 2018
Date of Patent:
February 23, 2021
Assignees:
CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
Abstract: A method for identifying the contour of a vehicle based on measurement data from an environment sensor system is disclosed. The measurement data includes a set of spatial points of an object detected by the environment sensor system. The method includes: producing an envelope in the form of a polygonal chain around the object based on the set of spatial points; reducing the set of spatial points; removing spatial points from the polygonal chain that are irrelevant to identifying the contour of the vehicle and determining spatial points of the polygonal chain that are relevant to identifying the contour of the vehicle; classifying one or more edges as belonging to a front and a side of the vehicle on the basis of the reduced set of spatial points.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 30, 2020
Publication date:
February 18, 2021
Applicant:
CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
Inventors:
Michael Feser, Kilian Schneider, Thomas Brandmeier, Alexander Kamann, Robert Lugner, Daniel Weichselberger, Robert Naumann
Abstract: The disclosure relates to an electronic module comprising a source terminal for receiving an input current from an electrical voltage source and comprising an electrical input capacitance which is effective with respect to the source terminal, wherein the input capacitance is connected to the source terminal via a transistor circuit. The disclosure additionally provides that the transistor circuit is configured to conduct the input current via a respective switching path of at least one transistor, and a control device is configured to switch, during the switch-on process for limiting the input current, a control voltage at a respective control terminal of the at least one transistor, in a plurality of steps, from an off value at which each switching path is switched off, to a connection value at which a contact resistance of each switching path is minimized.
Abstract: Disclosed is a method for estimating a physical stoppage of an engine of a motor vehicle, subject to bounce-back, a target equipped with teeth being borne by the crankshaft and successive passes of the teeth past a sensor being detected, a first time count incrementing since a last detection of the passing of a tooth and being associated with a first time threshold with the first count being reset to zero when the time between passes of two successive teeth is below the first threshold. A second count associated with a second time threshold is performed, with this count being suspended when and for as long as a time between the passes of two successive teeth is below the second threshold, the engine being estimated to have stopped as soon as the counts have respectively reached the first and second thresholds.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 12, 2017
Date of Patent:
February 16, 2021
Assignees:
CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
Inventors:
Fabien Joseph, Benjamin Marconato, Stéphane Eloy
Abstract: A cover assembly for a sensor component is provided. The cover assembly includes a sensor housing portion and a cover. The sensor housing portion has a protrusion portion. The protrusion portion has a ramp surface. The cover has a protrusion receptacle and the protrusion portion is arranged in the protrusion receptacle. The cover has a clamping tab where the clamping tab preloads the cover in a removal direction. The protrusion receptacle interlockingly lies against the protrusion portion in the removal direction. Additionally, the clamping tab lies on the ramp surface of the protrusion portion.
Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detecting a fault in an electric motor of a power-assisted steering system of an automobile vehicle. The method notably includes a step for: determination of a residual direct sinusoidal voltage and of a residual quadrature sinusoidal voltage based on the measured direct sinusoidal current, on the estimated direct sinusoidal current, on the measured quadrature sinusoidal current and on the estimated quadrature sinusoidal current; and detection of a fault when the difference between the value of the residual direct sinusoidal voltage and its moving average is greater than a first threshold and/or when the difference between the value of the quadrature sinusoidal voltage and its moving average is greater than a second threshold.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 14, 2016
Date of Patent:
February 2, 2021
Assignees:
CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus for determining an angle of a trailer with respect to a vehicle. A camera captures first, second, and third images when the trailer is at a first, second, third orientations respectively with respect to the vehicle. A processing unit determines at least one image location of at least one feature of the trailer in the first image, the second image, and the third image. The processing unit determines a rotational angle of the trailer about the tow ball for the trailer in the third orientation with respect to the first orientation comprising utilization of the at least one 3D location of the at least one feature of the trailer when the trailer was in the first orientation and the 3D location of the one feature of the trailer when the trailer was in the third orientation.
Abstract: A method and system for evaluating the reliability of data supplied by multi-function WFC sensors of tires of wheels of a vehicle for targeted applications, on the basis of the irregularities of the road, which use displacement data sent from the road handling adaptation equipment of the vehicle, enabling the variations in the road condition to be reflected. The system includes equipment for monitoring the wheel displacement data for adapting it to the variations of profile of the road on which it is traveling, in order to maintain a stable body position. The monitoring equipment is linked to the WFC sensors via a central processing unit which is capable of correlating data supplied by the WFC sensors and values of wheel displacement data supplied by the monitoring equipment for the purpose of weighting the values of at least one parameter obtained from the data delivered by the WFC sensors.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 26, 2018
Date of Patent:
January 26, 2021
Assignees:
CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
Abstract: A safety-critical controller of a vehicle monitors functioning of the controller, at least one sensor and/or at least one actuator to detect an error. When specific error conditions exist, a warning for the driver is generated. It is detected whether the error is remediated within a specified time span, and if not, then corresponding error data is transmitted to a vehicle manufacturer and/or a vehicle service provider. The time span may be extended if the driver confirms the warning by operating a corresponding operating device.