Abstract: Electronic devices, such as consumer electronics devices and control systems in vehicles are controlled by way of a haptic operating device with a rotating unit. Selectable menu items are displayed on a display unit, and a menu item is selected by rotating the rotating unit. The rotating unit latches at a number of haptically perceptible latching points during rotation. The number and rotational position of the haptically perceptible latching points is dynamically changed in accordance with a specific menu item selected by the user.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for operating vehicles and other technical equipment by way of a haptic operating device having a rotating unit. Selectable menu items are displayed on a display unit, and a menu item being selected by rotating the rotating unit. The rotating unit latches at a number of haptically perceptible latching points during rotation. The number and rotational position of the haptically perceptible latching points is dynamically changed.

Abstract: A door component has a controllable damper device that contains a magnetorheological fluid as a working fluid. Two connection units of the damper device can be moved relative to each other. One of the two connection units can be connected to a support structure, and the other connection unit can be connected to a pivotal door device in order to damp a movement of the door device between a closed position and an open position in a controlled manner. The magnetorheological damper device has a piston unit and a cylinder unit which surrounds the piston unit. The piston unit divides a cylinder volume into two chambers. The piston unit has a first piston rod, which extends through the first chamber, and a second piston rod, which extends through the second chamber.

Abstract: A minicomputer has a processor and a display unit and a communication unit and a haptic operating device. The haptic operating device has a rotatable rotating unit with a rotational resistance which can be changed by way of a control device. Selectable menu items are displayed on a display unit and a menu item is selected by rotating the rotating unit. A rotational resistance of the rotating unit is dynamically changed during a rotation of the rotating unit and the rotating unit is latched at a plurality of haptically perceptible latching points during the rotation of the rotating unit.

Abstract: A valve device, a damper with a valve device, and a method for operating the same are described. The valve device is formed with a flow channel through which a magnetorheological medium flows. A magnetic circuit device provides a magnetic field in the flow channel. The magnetic circuit device includes a hard magnetic magnet component and at least one electrical coil that can be controlled by a control device. The magnetic circuit device has two segments, which differ in the dynamic magnetic properties thereof. Thus, by way of a magnetic pulse that can be output by the electrical coil, a specific inhomogeneity of the magnetic field in the flow channel can be set and can be stored in the hard magnetic magnet component.

Abstract: A magnetorheological transmission device and a method for influencing the coupling intensity of two components, which can be coupled and whose coupling intensity can be influenced. To influence the coupling intensity, a channel is provided, which contains a magnetorheological medium with magnetically polarizable particles. A magnetic field generating unit generates a magnetic field in the channel in order to influence the magnetorheological medium in the channel. An outer component encloses an inner component. At least one of the two components is mounted via a separate bearing. A distance between the outer and inner components at least 10 times as great as a typical mean diameter of the magnetically polarizable particles in the magnetorheological medium. The magnetic field of the magnetic field generating unit can be applied to the channel in order to selectively chain together the particles and/or release them.

Abstract: A transmission apparatus has two components that move in translation relative to one another and a coupling gap between the components containing a magnetorheological medium. The gap is formed and sealed outwardly at first and second ends so that the magnetorheological medium remains in the coupling gap as a sort of controllable friction lining, irrespective of a coupling between the components, in accordance with the magnetic field applied in the coupling gap. One of the components has plurality of radially extending arms that carry a magnetic field generation device. Each magnetic field generation device has an electric coil with a least one winding extends completely beside the central axis and at a distance therefrom. Different poles of the magnetic field generation devices are provided at the adjacent ends of adjacent arms of a component. The coupling gap is connected to a reservoir of magnetorheological medium.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for operating vehicles by way of a haptic operating device having a rotating unit. Selectable menu items are displayed on a display unit, and a menu item being selected by rotating the rotating unit. The rotating unit latches at a number of haptically perceptible latching points during rotation. The number and rotational position of the haptically perceptible latching points is dynamically changed.

Abstract: A subassembly and a method of producing a subassembly. The subassembly has a dividing body or separating body and at least one flow channel formed on the dividing body and extending along it with at least one flow path to influence a flow of a magneto-rheological fluid along the flow channel of the dividing body. The dividing body includes a magnetic field generation device for generating a magnetic field and a field closing device. At least the magnetic field generation device and the field closing device are filled with at least one solidifying medium using a placeholder which can be removed to form the three-dimensionally predefined flow channels on the dividing body.

Abstract: In a movement damping apparatus, a magnetorheological fluid is pressed through a flow path. A device generating a variable magnetic field comprises a core around which a coil is wound as well as pole surfaces in the flow path, the magnetic field acting on the magnetorheological fluid by way of said pole surfaces. The coil is arranged within the flow path along with the core, the axis of the coil extending perpendicular to the direction of flow of the magnetorheological fluid. The flow path has a jacket made of a magnetically conducting material.

Abstract: A damper has a damper chamber divided by a movable piston into first and second chambers, which are connected via a return channel, a controllable throttle valve and a connecting channel. A magnetic field source controlled by an electronic control device applies a magnetic field to a magnetorheological damping medium flowing through the throttle valve. A compensation chamber has a pre-loaded compensation volume connected to the throttle valve and the second chamber. A one-way circuit with one-way valves causes the damping medium to flow in the same direction of circulation when the piston rod plunges into the damper chamber and when it emerges therefrom. A first one-way valve on the piston allows the damping medium to flow from the second into the first chamber. A second one-way valve between the throttle valve and the second chamber allows the damping medium to flow from the throttle valve into the second chamber.

Abstract: Closed-loop control of an energy absorber acting as a damper between two parts that are movable relative to one another. A damping force of the energy absorber, or damper, can be adjusted by way of the change in the viscosity of a magnetorheological fluid (MRF), which change can be influenced by a magnetic field of a coil. According to the method it is possible to decelerate an impact or a movement with the lowest possible forces in order to minimize possible consequential damage/loading by way of setting as constant a deceleration as possible, as small a deceleration as possible, by way of using the entire available deceleration travel, and low or zero residual speed at the end of the deceleration travel independently of the moving mass or speed.

Abstract: Magnetorheological transmission device and method for influencing the coupling intensity of two components, which can be coupled and whose coupling intensity can be influenced. A channel is provided, which contains a magnetorheological medium with magnetically polarizable particles, which can be influenced by a magnetic field. A magnetic field generating unit generates a magnetic field in the channel in order to influence the magnetorheological medium in the channel. A body is disposed in the channel. A free distance between the body and the component is at least ten times greater than a typical mean diameter of the magnetically polarizable particles in the magnetorheological medium. A space with magnetorheological medium is disposed between the body and a component. The magnetic field is applied to the region in order to optionally chain together the particles and/or wedge or release them with the body.

Abstract: A valve for a magnetorheological fluid is formed with a duct through which the magnetorheological fluid can flow and which can be exposed to a variable magnetic field such that the flow resistance of the duct can be set using the magnetic field in the duct. The magnetic field can be lastingly generated using a magnet device that is made at least in part of magnetically hard material. The magnetization of the magnet device can be lastingly modified by a magnetic pulse of a magnetic field generation device in order to lastingly change the magnetic field in the duct and thus the flow resistance of the duct. A valve of the invention requires energy only to change settings while a specific setting can be lastingly maintained without supplying energy.

Abstract: A valve device is formed with a through-channel and a field generating device. A fluid which can be influenced by a field is provided in the through-channel and the field generating device is configured to act on the field-influenced fluid in the through-channel by way of a field. At least one adjustment device is provided with which the field that is active in the through-channel can be adjusted. A portion of the cross-sectional area of the through-channel can be adjusted, the portion being exposed to a field of a specific intensity so that the through-channel can also only partly be exposed to a field of a specific intensity. Thus, the through-channel, as seen in the direction of the flow, can be divided into regions of different flow resistance, whereby characteristic curves, which were previously attained only with difficulty, are easily obtained when using the valve device in a damper, for example.

Abstract: A device for generating electrical energy has at least one pair of permanent magnets and at least one coil. They are moved about a pivot axis relative to one another by agitating or shaking. Each coil is disposed between the pole surfaces of the at least one pair of permanent magnets which are disposed opposite each other.

Abstract: A valve is particularly suited for a movement damping apparatus. The valve has a field-generating device, such as a magnet unit, and a fluid that is subjected to the field, such as a magnetorheological fluid, is pressed through a flow path forming a bottleneck. At the bottleneck the fluid is subject to the field and it changes its flow characteristics in response to the field. The flow path is divided into at least two flow tracks by a partition that forms one or more additional friction surfaces.

Abstract: In a movement damping apparatus, a magnetorheological fluid is pressed through a flow path. A device generating a variable magnetic field comprises a core around which a coil is wound as well as pole surfaces in the flow path, the magnetic field acting on the magnetorheological fluid by means of said pole surfaces. The coil is arranged within the flow path along with the core, the axis of the coil extending perpendicular to the direction of flow of the magnetorheological fluid. The flow path has a jacket made of a magnetically conducting material.

Abstract: A valve is particularly suited for a movement damping apparatus. The valve has a field-generating device, such as a magnet unit, and a fluid that is subjected to the field, such as a magnetorheological fluid, is pressed through a flow path forming a bottleneck. At the bottleneck the fluid is subject to the field and it changes its flow characteristics in response to the field. The flow path is divided into at least two flow tracks by a partition that forms one or more additional friction surfaces.

Abstract: Magnetorheological transmission device and method for influencing the coupling intensity of two components, which can be coupled and whose coupling intensity can be influenced. A channel is provided, which contains a magnetorheological medium with magnetically polarizable particles, which can be influenced by a magnetic field. A magnetic field generating unit generates a magnetic field in the channel in order to influence the magnetorheological medium in the channel. A body is disposed in the channel. A free distance between the body and the component is at least ten times greater than a typical mean diameter of the magnetically polarizable particles in the magnetorheological medium. A space with magnetorheological medium is disposed between the body and a component. The magnetic field is applied to the region in order to optionally chain together the particles and/or wedge or release them with the body.