Abstract: A method for controlling an electric motor including a mechanical commutator, includes determining points in time at which commutation takes place by a sensor or without a sensor. The method further includes controlling the electric motor by a supply voltage signal having a sequence of pulses. The method further includes modulating the supply voltage signal by a modulation signal to reduce the magnitude of the supply voltage signal at the commutation points in time.

Abstract: Disclosed is a driver stage for activating a first ultrasonic transducer and a method for the operation thereof. The driver stage comprises a first charge pump or power source and a first capacitor. The driver stage also comprises first means for charging the first capacitor with electrical energy from the charge pump and second means for connecting the first capacitor and ultrasonic transducer to different polarities. The first means do not charge the first capacitor with energy from the charge pump or power source when the first capacitor is connected to the ultrasonic transducer by the second means.

Abstract: A self-testing measuring system includes at least three modes: an operating mode and at least two test modes. In a third test mode, a digital signal generating unit stimulates the digital input circuit directly by means of test signals. In a second test mode, the digital signal generating unit stimulates the analogue signal string and the digital input circuit by means of test signals. In a first test mode, the digital signal generating unit stimulates the analogue signal string, the measuring unit (typically an ultrasound transducer) and the digital input circuit by means of test signals, thereby allowing this signal string to be tested. In the operating mode, the digital signal generating unit stimulates the analogue signal string, the measuring unit (typically an ultrasound transducer) and the digital input circuit by means of output signals, thereby allowing the signal string to be monitored for parameter compliance.

Abstract: A method for identifying bus nodes in a bus system makes it possible to be able to operate bus slaves of two different types in mixed systems. The detection of which bus slave has not yet been allocated an address in an addressing phase is carried out differently depending on a type of the bus slave. In all cases, however, the bus slave connected to the bus line farthest away from the bus master is identified as that bus slave to which an address is to be allocated.

Abstract: The device executes a method for determining the delay time of a first wavelet in a transmission path (I1). For this purpose, the first wavelet is transmitted into the transmission path (I1) at a time after a reference time. After passing through the transmission path (I1), the delayed and typically deformed transmission wavelet is scalar-multiplied with a second (analysis) wavelet. The result is compared to a reference value. The scalar product value adopts the reference value at a time (ts). The delay of the first and/or second wavelet in relation to the reference time is adjusted according to said time (ts) in relation to the reference time. An amplitude adjustment is not carried out.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detecting a value which represents the temperature of a vibrating element of an ultrasonic transducer. The ultrasonic transducer has a resonant frequency (fr). The method comprises the steps of operating the ultrasonic transducer with an electric measuring signal at a measuring frequency (fm) which is above the resonant frequency, and of detecting the absolute value of the complex impedance of the ultrasonic transducer at this measuring frequency (fm) and, building thereon, ascertaining the desired value, which is to represent the temperature of a vibrating element of an ultrasonic transducer, as a function of the detected absolute value of the complex impedance of the ultrasonic transducer at this measuring frequency (fm).

Abstract: Disclosed is a light module and a matching housing for a bus node. The light module is provided to be used in a data bus system for transmitting data for light-emitting components via a differential two-wire data bus. The data bus transmits data between a bus master and at least two bus nodes. The data bus is divided by the bus nodes into at least two two-wire data bus sections. The housing comprises at least two rows of connections arranged opposite each other. Each row comprises one negative supply voltage connection and one positive supply voltage connection, which are arranged to be connected in pairs without intersection. The two connections for each of the respective two-wire data bus sections are arranged between the connections for the supply voltages in each row. A light-emitting component is arranged in a recess of the housing.

Abstract: A method for detecting an obstacle utilizing reflected ultrasonic waves, comprises transmitting an ultrasonic burst transmission signal by an ultrasonic transmitter to a detection area to be observed and receiving an ultrasonic signal reflected by an obstacle in the detection area by an ultrasonic receiver as an ultrasonic reception signal. In the ultrasonic reception signal at least one echo is detected resulting from an obstacle. The echo section of the ultrasonic reception signal belonging to the echo is transformed from the time domain into the frequency domain. The frequency spectrum of the echo section is then examined for the presence of at least one of a plurality of predetermined spectral characteristics, wherein each spectral characteristic is representative of a predetermined obstacle type or a plurality of predetermined obstacle types. The echo section is allocated to a predetermined obstacle type based on the examination.

Abstract: In a method for generating a blocking moment in a standstill state of an electrically commutated electric motor having at least two windings, on which electric motor a possibly varying load moment acts from outside in the standstill state, first, a blocking current is supplied at a maximum value into a first winding. This blocking current is successively reduced to, possibly, a minimum value. From that moment the inductivity of the electric motor is controlled, namely by controlling the blocking current if the control deviation between the actual value and the set value of the inductivity exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Thereby, it is possible to control the blocking current in an adaptive manner insofar as, despite a varying load moment, the standstill state of the electric motor can be maintained by varying the blocking current.

Abstract: A method for identifying bus nodes in a bus system makes it possible to be able to operate bus slaves of two different types in mixed systems. The detection of which bus slave has not yet been allocated an address in an addressing phase is carried out differently depending on a type of the bus slave. In all cases, however, the bus slave (BS2-BS8) connected to the bus line farthest away from the bus master is identified as that bus slave to which an address is to be allocated.

Abstract: A device for supplying at least two LED chains with electricity detects and then signals an interruption in the current path through the LED chains. A sub-device, in the event of a short circuit of an LED within a first LED chain, brings about a detection and/or a subsequent signalling of an interruption of the current path within another LED chain of these at least two LED chains. The associated method comprises the steps of detecting the short circuit of an individual LED in a first LED chain and of interrupting, as a result, the flow of current through at least one other LED chain and subsequently detecting this interruption of the flow of current through the other LED chain by means of the interruption detection system already existing as required.

Abstract: In the method for transmitting data representing an ultrasonic measurement signal of an ultrasonic measuring device, in particular for a vehicle, from a transmitter to a receiver a digitized analog ultrasonic measurement signal is provided in the transmitter. On the transmitter side the ultrasonic measurement signal is sampled at a multiple of its frequency and divided into individual successive blocks of sampling values. The sampling values of the sampled ultrasonic measurement signal are transformed in blocks into the frequency range. Those frequency portions of the spectrum whose amplitude is smaller than a presettable threshold value, or the frequency portions of the spectrum above an upper frequency limit value and/or below a lower frequency limit value are removed. The amplitude range covered by the remaining frequency spectrum is scaled by a scaling factor for further reduction of the data. The data of each block with the scaling factor assigned to the respective block are transmitted to the receiver.