Abstract: A method for testing electric motor shut-off including injecting current into an electric motor, applying at least one of a short or an open to the electric motor for a predetermined length of time, calculating the rate of decay of the current and comparing rate of the decay with a predetermined decay criteria. In one implementation, a predefined sequence of opening and short circuiting the electric motor is used, and the shut-off path tests for the motor three phases can be verified with one test.

Abstract: A communications system for registering tolls, with vehicles which have communications devices for wirefree communication between the vehicles and the toll operator which is assigned to them and has a corresponding communications device. In this context, the vehicles transmit toll information relevant to the toll operator in a toll-registration area which is assigned to the toll operator, and the toll operator determines or bills the tolls to be charged therefrom. If the vehicles communicate, by means of their communication devices, with other toll operators outside the toll registration area of the toll operator assigned to them, in order to register tolls, the exchange of toll-related information takes place only when a certificate of the assigned toll operator is successfully transmitted and on the basis of a public key or a private key.

Abstract: A door pillar for a supporting frame structure of a vehicle body has an upper section which extends from a vehicle roof as far as a vehicle side edge, and a lower section which extends from the vehicle side edge in the direction of a vehicle floor. In order to improve the door pillar with regard to loading and weight, it has a pillar body which extends at least in the upper section and is made of iron or iron alloy, and a pillar base which is connected fixedly thereto, extends at least in the lower section, and is made of light metal or light metal alloy.

Abstract: In a wheel carrier unit comprising a basic wheel carrier member, a support member connecting the basic wheel carrier member to a vehicle body by way of axle links, and a brake cylinder arranged thereon, the brake cylinder is disposed on the side of the wheel carrier unit remote from the wheel location and a housing for a brake application unit serving as mechanical force transmission unit is formed on the opposite side of the wheel carrier unit.

Abstract: In a toroidal transmission with a continuously variable power transmission ratio, which is adjustable by displacement of a power transmission roller arranged between toric disks along an axis X-X under the control of an adjusting unit including a hydraulic piston, the adjusting unit has a bush which serves on the one hand to seal off the working space and, at the same time, forms two slide surfaces one for the piston and another for the guide bush, all in a small support space pivotally supporting a support member for the power transmission roller.

Abstract: In a compressor of an exhaust gas turbocharger of an internal combustion engine including a compressor wheel with an auxiliary rotor wheel which is rotatably supported adjacent to, and upstream of, the compressor wheel and which is movable axially between a coupled position with the compressor wheel and a decoupled position, wherein, in the coupled position, the auxiliary rotor wheel is rotationally connected to the compressor wheel, without contacting the compressor wheel, by means of a magnetic clutch for transferring a torque from the auxiliary rotor wheel to the compressor wheel in a low engine power operating range in order to maintain the compressor wheel at an increased speed.

Abstract: In an internal combustion engine provided with two exhaust gas turbochargers which each comprise a turbine in an exhaust line and one compressor in an intake section of the engine, two exhaust lines are provided which are each assigned to at least one of the exhaust gas turbines, an exhaust gas recirculation device being arranged between an exhaust line upstream of an exhaust gas turbine and the intake section downstream of a compressor and the two exhaust lines including bypass lines with a control valve for selectively permitting the exhaust gas to bypass the turbine closer to the engine.

Abstract: A motor vehicle has a rear-end impact warning device, which determines at least the distance to a following vehicle from the backscatter of a signal by means of a surroundings sensor system which is arranged at the rear of the vehicle. The rear-end impact warning device outputs light signals in a situation-dependent flashing mode by means of lights (e.g., brake lights) at the rear in order to provide the traffic behind with a warning of a rear-end impact if a following vehicle approaches to a critical distance. A braking process is sensed by means of a deceleration-sensing means, and a brake flashing mode is predefined if a vehicle approaches to a critical distance and at the same time a braking process is occurring.

Abstract: In a motor vehicle seat for a closed motor vehicle, an air supply device is provided for supplying the head, neck and shoulder region of the seat occupant with warm air that can emerge via an air discharge opening on that side of the backrest which faces the seat occupant. In order to surround the head, neck and shoulder region of the seat occupant with a draft-free and inconspicuous air cushion or air space, an air discharge opening that extends at least over approximately one third of the width of the backrest of the vehicle seat is provided.

Abstract: A method and a device are provided for detecting when the driver of a motor vehicle becomes inattentive. A steering inactivity phase and a subsequent steering action are detected in this context. A steering inactivity phase is detected if the absolute value of the steering wheel angle, of its change over time, or both, during a predefined time threshold value, does not exceed a first threshold value. A steering action is detected if the absolute value of the steering wheel angle, of its change over time, or both, exceeds a second threshold value. The first threshold value and the second threshold value are modified in a driver-specific fashion.

Abstract: An air-conditioning device and an air conditioning method make it possible to reduce the problem that, on entry in a tunnel with a warm internal temperature, in the case of otherwise cold outside temperatures as a result of which, inter alia, the vehicle windowpanes and exterior mirror surfaces are cooled, this cold windowpane and exterior mirror surfaces, the surface temperature of which is lower than the dew-point temperature of the warm air in the tunnel interior, immediately fog up, since the absolute humidity on the surface then corresponds to more than 100% relative humidity. The air-conditioning device according to the invention and the air-conditioning method according to the invention use data supplied by already existing sensors and relating to the ambient weather, for example temperature data from an outside temperature sensor and moisture data from a dew-point sensor, in order to detect weather which is critical to this fogging.

Abstract: A density reducing high carbon containing or UHC-steel and particular a superplastic steel, which besides iron and impurities conventionally accompanying steel, contains the following alloy components in wt. %: 0.8 to 2.5% C 3.5 to 15% Al 0.5 to 4% Cr 0.01 to 4% Si up to 4% Ni, Mn, Mo, Nb, Ta, V, and/or W, wherein the steel includes as additional alloy components 0.1 to 0.85 Sn, and 0 to 3% Ti, Be and/or Ga.

Abstract: A vehicle headlight, having multiple LEDs provided on a carrier and organized into a group arrangement having an asymmetric design arrived at by starting with an overall symmetric design and providing therein at least one area with non-functional or missing LEDs; and at least one optical element functioning as a common collection lens, wherein the vertical angle of beam spread ? is less than 5° and the horizontal angle of beam spread ? is in the range of less than 20° relative to the central optical axis of the optical element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a balancing shaft for an internal combustion engine and to a method for the production thereof. In this case, the balancing shaft consists of a tubular hollow body and contains a balancing weight and also functional elements arranged on the hollow body. In order to design a balancing shaft in as simple a manner as possible, which balancing shaft is designed to save construction space and in which the adequate balancing weight is arranged at the suitable location in accordance with the requirements, it is proposed that the balancing weight be arranged on the outer circumference of the hollow body and that it be fastened there.

Abstract: Casting mold for metal casting, in particular precision casting of fine parts of steel, in which at least the main part of the casting mold is made of porous ceramic with a high thermal coefficient of expansion which corresponds to the metal, and produced by generative rapid prototyping process, as well as generative rapid prototyping processes and coated powders particularly suitable therefore, as well as uses of the casting mold for tools and their components, in particular of steel.