Abstract: A method for improving the driving behavior of an automotive vehicle is provided. The vehicle has a plurality of wheels, each wheel having a brake. The vehicle includes a plurality of sensors for generating signals representing the vehicle velocity, the vehicle steering angle and the measured yaw rate of the vehicle. A desired yaw rate is determined based on the vehicle velocity and the vehicle steering angle. A yaw rate adjustment value is calculated based on the desired yaw rate and the measured yaw rate. A velocity of the side slip angle is determined based on the vehicle velocity and the measured yaw rate. A value representing a yawing moment adjustment is determined based on the vehicle velocity value of the side slip angle. The yawing moment adjustment value is applied to control the yaw rate of the vehicle.

Abstract: A system for controlling the yaw rate of a vehicle is provided. The system includes a facility for measuring the yaw rate, the lateral acceleration and the reference velocity of the vehicle. The velocity of the side slip angle of the vehicle is determined according to the equation: ##EQU1## where .beta. is the velocity of the side slip angle, a.sub.trans is the lateral acceleration, .nu. is the reference velocity, .gamma. is the yaw rate, .nu. is the time derivative of the reference velocity, and .beta. is a side slip angle. The velocity of the side slip angle determining mechanism includes a mechanism for setting the value of the time derivative of the reference velocity to zero, and a mechanism for determining the side slip angle by integrating the velocity of the side slip angle.

Abstract: Yaw moment control apparatus is provided for improving the driving behavior of an automotive vehicle tending to oversteering or understeering. The vehicle's velocity, steering angle, measured yaw rate, and lateral acceleration are determined. A yaw controller generates a value representing a desired yaw rate adjustment based on the steering angle, the velocity and the measured yaw rate. An estimated coefficient of friction is calculated based on the vehicle velocity, the lateral acceleration, the measured yaw rate and the steering angle. The estimated coefficent of friction is used by the yaw controller to determined the desired yaw rate adjustment. The mechanism for calculating the estimated coefficient of friction is only enabled while the vehicle is traveling through a curve.

Abstract: A system for improving the driving stability of a vehicle during travel through a curve is provided. The system includes a sensor for measuring the actual yaw rate of the vehicle, and a facility for calculating a desired yaw rate. The difference between the desired yaw rate and the measured yaw rate is determined. A situation recognition facility determines whether the vehicle is travelling in a curve, and whether the vehicle is travelling in reverse. A logic initiates a corrective yawing moment if the difference exceeds a predetermined threshold value and the vehicle is not traveling in reverse.

Abstract: A cast element comprises an elongated cast body having an axial opening in a direction of its axis thereof, and first and second friction bearings at ends of the axial opening. The friction bearings are formed as a single piece with the cast body, and each friction bearing consists of several slide elements with a space between them. Each of the slide elements has a cross section shaped like a cylindrical ring segment, and the slide elements of the first bearing are circumferentially alternate with the slide elements of the second bearing.

Abstract: A quick connector assembly for coupling a flexible hose or tube to a bore formed in a housing thereby to establish fluid communication between the interiors of the hose and bore, respectively, comprises an elongate tubular male insert having one end adapted to receive and retain the tube about its periphery. The other end of the male insert includes a contoured external surface defining an external locking flange, and a pair of axially-spaced external circumferential grooves for receiving a pair of O-rings which ultimately sealingly engage complementary cylindrical sections of the housing bore upon insertion of the connector assembly thereinto. Prior to its insertion into the housing bore, the connector assembly includes a garter spring which is radially collapsed about the male insert's contoured external surface by an encompassing annular spring guide.

Abstract: Method and circuit configuration for controlling the flow rate of an electromotively driven hydraulic pump which is activated by a variable pulse/pulse-break train for controlling the auxiliary pressure supply of a brake system including anti-lock control (ABS) and traction slip control by brake management (BASR). The generator voltage produced by the pump motor during times of pulse break is evaluated as a standard of the rotational speed of the pump. The nominal value of the pump speed is compared with the actual value of the pump speed in a control circuit, and the new correcting variable for the pump activation is derived from the difference.

Abstract: An optical wireless communication method and apparatus configured to distinguish optical LAN data from optical noise is disclosed. The apparatus communicates using Manchester coded data via a connector connected to a personal computer. The Manchester coded data from the computer are converted to NRZ transmission data to be temporarily stored and read out. A frame of the read out data is appended with a head leader, and end data, at the head and end of the frame respectively to be convened to the DMI transmission optical data. The optical data inserted between the head leader and END data are receivable and can be distinguished from optical noise. The DMI received data removed from the head leader and end data are convened to data of the Manchester code in contrast with the transmission side to be delivered as the Manchester data via the connector. As the optical data with the head leader and end data are distinguishable from optical noise, high sensitive optical receivers are available.

Abstract: A power-on-reset and watchdog circuit is disclosed which employs discrete bipolar transistors to provide reset capability for microprocessors in the event of power-up or microprocessor malfunction. The present invention has a watchdog detection circuit which monitors a pulsed microprocessor output signal. As long as the watchdog detection circuit receives the pulsed microprocessor output signal, the microprocessor will not reset. In the event of microprocessor malfunction the pulsed microprocessor output signal will latch either high or low, initiating an oscillator circuit to reset the microprocessor. Upon power-up, the watchdog detection circuit will be forced into the off state for a specified amount of time so as to invoke the oscillator circuit, thereby resetting the microprocessor.

Abstract: A rotary actuator includes a pole riser that acts as a mechanical stop and provides advantageous magnetic latching features, which overcome the problems typically associated with the end of travel in conventional rotary actuators. The pole riser designed in accordance with this invention includes a necked region of reduced cross-sectional area, which allows for an air gap to be maintained between at least a portion of the pole riser and the rotor pole at the end of travel. The pole riser necked region provides an additional flux pathway that is magnetically saturated and the remainder of the pole riser provides a magnetic pathway for a latching flux, which maintains the rotor in an end of travel position without requiring an increase in the current through the coil. A rotary actuator design and control methodology are disclosed.

Abstract: A set of brake pads for a floating-caliper disc brake including a first brake pad with a first retaining spring for clamping engagement on a brake piston and a second brake pad with a second retaining spring for clamping engagement on an axially external leg of the floating caliper. The first retaining spring has two resilient tongues which are locked in a bore of the hollow brake piston, and the second retaining spring has identical resilient tongues which are locked in a recess of the external housing leg. According to the present invention, the distances between the respectively opposed resilient tongues are different in conformity with the different widths of the bore and the recess, respectively. The provision according to the present invention renders it impossible to attach the first brake pad to the external housing leg and the second brake pad to the brake piston.

Abstract: An assembly for manufacturing a plastic piston using a first mold and a second mold, each mold having an axial recess, centering element, core element and contact face. The second mold is movable toward and away from the first mold and can be connected to the first mold using a transverse slide on the first mold and a holding apparatus.

Abstract: A case is provided for receiving an electronic card (C), which includes a one-piece molded housing (10) that forms a pair of slideways (12, 14) that guide opposite side portions of the card and that includes upper and lower crosspieces (46, 20) that connect the slideways and that are vertically spaced. A separate electrical connector (60) is provided which includes a connector frame (61) and a plurality of electrical contacts (77) mounted on the frame, with each contact having an upwardly-projecting contact blade (63). The connector is mounted on the lower crosspiece of the housing, with the contact blades projecting through card-receiving slots (64) of the housing. The card receiver can have a butterfly shape, with each crosspiece having a middle section (36) of small length, and each crosspiece can be formed with large apertures (24, 28A, 28B), which reduce weight and cost.

Abstract: A process for controlling the driving stability of a vehicle is provided. To avoid complicated models for determining the desired value of a variable characteristic of the travel behavior, which variable usually must be calculated by an expensive calculation circuit, a controlled variable is selected, which directly describes the driving stability and is compared with an actual value, which can be calculated in a relatively simple manner. An advantageous embodiment describes comparing an actual value of the variable, which can be determined in a simple manner, with a desired value. The range of tolerance of the variable is set directly by the driving stability limits. Advantageous variants pertain to the suitable scheme of calculation and the selection of a suitable range of tolerance.

Abstract: A system for axially fixing a shaft, in its bearing casing in that the shaft portion surmounting the bearing casing is provided with an annular groove and in that a plastic material is injected around the annular groove.

Abstract: The invention pertains to an electrohydraulic pressure control device, with electromagnetically actuated hydraulic valves, which are arranged on a valve-holding element, with coils which extend beyond the valve-holding element, whereby the coils are provided with electrical contact elements at their parts extending beyond the valve-holding element, with a cover which covers the extending coil parts and the contact element, with a support element to hold the coils, that are positioned within the cover, whereby the cover or a portion of the cover is designed as an electromagnetic controller or for holding the connecting parts of an electronic controller. An essentially plate-like carrier element facing the coils features several slots into which form- and/or pressure-locking closing devices are engaged projecting from the outer surface of the cover.

Abstract: A connector assembly which includes a circuit board (18, FIG. 2 and 28, FIG. 3), a connector housing (40, 140), and a pair of flat flexible circuits (20, 22 and 30, 32). The flat flexible circuits have front end portions (50, 52 and 190, 192), where the circuit conductors form two spaced rows of connector contacts, and the circuits have stacked rear portions (60, 62 and 154, 156) where the conductors of the two flat flexible circuits are staggered and soldered to a single row of circuit board traces (80, FIG. 6).

Abstract: A clock generator circuit for clock controlled electronic devices, which causes minimal electromagnetic interference in adjacent electronic equipment. The clock generator circuit includes a clock source for generating a basic clock signal having a predetermined frequency. The basic clock signal defines a reference clock signal having a period T. A phase modulator coupled to the clock source for producing a system clock signal by delaying the basic clock signal. A signal source coupled to the phase modulator, which controls the phase modulator so that the system clock signal is delayed with respect to the reference clock signal by a time period less than half of the period T of the reference clock signal.

Abstract: A system for testing the operability of hydraulic devices, in particular pumps, by way of a compressible medium, for example air. In addition, the testing method disclosed permits tracing other defects which may appear.