Abstract: A device determined the state of a soot particle filter of an internal combustion engine. An electrical measuring arrangement is embodied as a soot sensor for measuring a soot deposit and comprises an electrical component with a conductor structure for exciting an electrical or magnetic field which can be influenced by the soot deposit and characterizes an electrical or magnetic characteristic variable of the component. A measuring arrangement measures the electrical or magnetic characteristic variable of the component as a measure of the soot deposit. The conductor structure is arranged so that a partial volume region of the soot particle filter is penetrated by the electrical field, and the partial volume region forms part of the component.

Abstract: In a motor vehicle having a front-end structure, a front bulkhead separates the front-end structure from an interior space, and a braking unit fixed to the front bulkhead has a master brake cylinder and a brake booster. The braking unit is pivotable about a pivot axis which runs through the front bulkhead, with an arrangement for pivoting the braking unit being arranged at a distance from the pivot axis and interacting with components arranged in the front-end structure in the event of a vehicle collision. In order to reliably reduce the risk of injury to a driver of a motor vehicle in the footwell region in the event of a vehicle collision, a transmitting element is provided to prevent a relative movement between the arrangement for pivoting the braking unit and the pivot axis.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack for gaseous fuel includes a membrane electrode unit and a distribution plate including a channel area having gas channels for distributing the anode gas and the cathode gas to the membrane electrode unit and a port area for supplying the anode gas and the cathode gas into the channel area. Additional connecting channels discharge from the port areas along the gas channels so that unused anode gas or cathode gas is locally meterable from the port areas into the gas channels via these connecting channels.

Abstract: Many day-to-day driving situations require that an operator of a motor vehicle guide the motor vehicle along a specific course and bring the vehicle to a stop at a specific location, for example in a parking bay or at a loading platform. To assist a vehicle operator in such situations, a method and a suitable device for implementing this method, include detecting the potential target objects in the image data of an image sensor and identifying the potential target objects as potential destinations in a multi-stage exclusionary method, whereupon a trajectory describing an optimized travel path is computed at least in relation to the most proximate destination. By using the multi-stage exclusionary method according to the present invention, it is possible to reliably identify potential destinations in complex image scenarios solely on the basis of their geometric form, even when the destinations have not been encoded by specific symbols.

Abstract: In a method of controlling an exhaust gas turbocharger of an internal combustion engine charged by a compressor wherein as guide value for the control an operating point of the compressor is used, the operation of each cylinder bank of the internal combustion engine is controlled by dividing the total air mass flow by the number of cylinder banks and an equal amount of desired air mass flow is assigned to each cylinder bank and if the air mass flow to any of the cylinder banks is smaller than that to the other or others air from the other cylinder bank or banks is supplied to the one cylinder bank via a compensation arrangement so that the air mass flows to all cylinder banks are essentially equal.

Abstract: A control element, in particular for a vehicle, is provided including a plurality of individual modules which change the shape of the control element as a function of the context. There are a plurality of degrees of freedom of adjustment which are enabled or disabled as a function of the control element context, it being possible to adapt the external shape of the control element to the enabled degrees of freedom of adjustment of the control element by raising and/or lowering at least one of the individual modules. The control element may be used, for example, in a motor vehicle operator control system.

Abstract: An outside door handle includes a handle and a switching component which is coupled to the handle in such a manner that, when there is an opening force which acts in a correct manner on the handle in order to open it, the switching component automatically responds and generates a switching signal. Operating convenience may be achieved by a response threshold of the switching component selected to be at such a low level that the switching component responds even before the opening force overcomes a restoring force counteracting it and prestressing the handle into an unactuated starting position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a hollow profile which has at least one flange by internal high pressure forming. During the internal high pressure forming, the dimensions and the position of the flange are not changed relative to the finished hollow profile then formed.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for producing a peripherally closed hollow profile having a secondary feature and/or a branch, the hollow profile is shaped from a hollow profile blank by an internal high pressure. The cap of the secondary feature and/or of the branch is severed by a counterholding punch that supports the secondary feature or the branch during the shaping process. In order to permit the production of a hollow profile having secondary features and/or branches, during which the cap of the secondary feature or of the branch is severed in a simple and reliable manner in terms of the process, the cap of the secondary feature and/or of the branch is severed at an internal high pressure which corresponds at most to the forming pressure for forming the hollow profile from the blank.

Abstract: The invention relates to a forming die having a cavity which forms a shaping space and into which a workpiece can be introduced. A passage, which connects the shaping space to the area surrounding the die, runs within the forming die. To achieve a contour during the shaping of the workpiece which is unaffected by the arrangement of passages connecting the shaping space to the area surrounding the die in a simple way, it is proposed that the die contains a liquid-permeable and gas-permeable insert body, which is held in a recess of the die near to the shaping space and by means of a peripheral region facing the shaping space forms a section of the cavity, and that the passage opens out at the insert body outside this peripheral region.

Abstract: A control system for a motor vehicle has a manual actuating device with a plurality of degrees of freedom of adjustment for selecting and/or activating entries in a menu structure with a plurality of menu levels. The system also has a screen display with a plurality of display areas for displaying the menu structure. Each of the display areas comprises at least one field for displaying one of the entries. In at least one level of the menu structure, at least one display area which is active for selecting an entry can be displayed on the screen display. At least one subarea of the other display areas is displayed graphically in a different way than the at least one active display area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a trunk of a motor vehicle, having a goods rail (14) which is oriented approximately in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L) of the vehicle and is intended for fixing goods to be transported. In the event of a rear impact, penetration into a seat region arranged in front of the trunk is prevented by reducing the effective of the goods rail (14), by the goods rail (14) being composed of at least two partial rails (15, 16). According to the invention, the separating plane (17) between the partial rails (15, 16) runs in an obliquely inclined manner.

Abstract: A cockpit component for a motor vehicle includes a basic body and an inflatable airbag cushion, and has an airbag cover for protecting vehicle occupants against injuries during traffic accidents. On an end side of an interior structure, facing the vehicle occupant, the airbag cover bears directly against the basic body and engages around at least one edge of that end side.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the predictive determination of the change in the yaw rate (?) of a vehicle. According to said method, the progress of the build-up of the braking pressures (p1 to p4) of the wheel brakes is monitored, and the change in the yaw rate (?) of the vehicle is determined in a predictive manner from the progress of the pressure build-up before the vehicle rotates around the vertical axis thereof. The inventive method allows the driving stability of a vehicle to be better regulated.

Abstract: Data bus system and method are provided for controlling service engagements for bus users. At least one bus user provides services and other bus users use these services. A resource manager stores information about the available services and information about the service-providing bus users. The resource manager reserves a service from a providing bus user if the service can be used, and sends a response to a requesting bus user, allowing the requesting bus user to use the service from the providing bus user via the data bus. Information about the provided services is provided on the data bus via a standard interface by the bus users and a change in the provision of a service by a bus user is made available to the resource manager via the standard interface. The resource manager controls the service engagement on the basis of a priority information item.

Abstract: The invention relates to an active impact protection system (1) for a knee area and/or a lower leg area of a vehicle occupant in a motor vehicle, particularly in a passenger car. The impact protection system (1) comprises an impact element (2) that can be extended toward the vehicle occupant out of a passive position and into an active position by means of a drive device (4). A particularly advantageous design results when the impact element (2) is formed by a lid of a passenger-side glove compartment (3).

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for automatic address allocation among control devices connected to a bus system in a vehicle, and address allocation period sending a message on the common data bus line. During the address allocation period, the common data bus line is broken into individual subsections by respective isolating means in each of the control appliances. In addition, the control devices which are to be addressed place their respective transmission unit at a transmission potential.

Abstract: The invention relates to a jack bracket (12) for a motor vehicle, which is fixed to a sill of the motor vehicle with flanges and an opening (16) for a receiving element in which the jack is placed. The invention also relates to a method for the production of said bracket (12). In order to simplify the production and configuration of the bracket (12) without comprising its stability, the bracket (12) is comprised of a tubular hollow profile (6) and a lid (13), which is fixed on the end (10) opposite the sill of the hollow profile (6) covering said end (10) and which has the opening (16) for the receiving element.