Abstract: In a radiator module for a motor vehicle, a detachable connection is required between a housing of an electric motor and a retaining structure, which connection allows economic and secure assembly and cannot be loosened or detached by alternating reaction forces at the electric motor. To achieve this, an arrangement is proposed of a retaining structure and detachably connected therewith a housing for an electric motor, in which the housing has a number of radiating protruding tabs on the base side which can be inserted by successive tilt and shift movements in corresponding recesses of the retaining structure. Furthermore various methods for assembly are proposed.

Abstract: A brushless DC motor having a plurality of electrical windings and a control circuit operatively connected thereto. The control circuit includes a plurality of switches configured for a time-dependent application of an electrical voltage from an external voltage supply to the windings. A measuring device is also provided for generating an electrical signal depending on the current flow IB from the external voltage supply through the control circuit. An overcurrent fuse is further provided for protecting the control circuit and the windings. In order to achieve particularly high integration of the control circuit, the invention proposes supplying a voltage drop across the overcurrent fuse to the measuring device as an input value.

Abstract: A forward facing sensing system comprises a windshield electronics module disposed in the interior cabin of a vehicle at and behind the windshield. A radar sensor device is disposed within the windshield electronics module and a forward facing image sensor is disposed within the windshield electronics module, and with both disposed behind or adjacent to an upper region of the windshield. A control comprising an image processor analyzes images captured by the forward facing image sensor in order to, at least in part, detect an object present forward of the vehicle in its direction of forward travel. The radar sensor device may utilize beam aiming or beam selection or may utilize digital beam forming or digital beam steering or may comprise an array antenna or a phased array antenna or the forward facing image sensor may comprise a pixelated imaging array sensor. The radar sensor device comprises a silicon germanium radar sensor.

Abstract: A method for producing a time sequence of images of motor vehicle surroundings from a virtual elevated central perspective on a display wherein several cameras are used to record time sequences of subimage data records from a plurality of real perspectives differently offset and tilted with respect to the virtual perspective. Then, parameterized transformations are applied for obtaining sequences of transformed subimage data records and overall image data for an overall image from the virtual perspective is assembled. Finally, the sequence of the overall image data is displayed as an overall image. To compensate for positional and/or orientation deviations in the recording cameras a selection unit is proposed to recurrently apply a selection criterion for selecting a subimage data record from the sequence and to take this as a basis for redetermining the parameters of the transformations by an optimization method under a quality criterion for the overall image.

Abstract: An automatic lighting system for a vehicle includes a control and an imaging device having a forward field of view. The control is operable to process image data captured by the imaging device to determine if an object imaged by the imaging device is an object of interest present generally forwardly and/or sidewardly of the vehicle as the vehicle travels along the road. An illumination source is operable to illuminate generally forwardly and/or sidewardly of the vehicle. The illumination source includes an array of light emitting diodes and illumination emanating from the illumination source is adjustable via selectively activating at least some individual light emitting diodes of the array of light emitting diodes. Adjustment of the illumination source is responsive to determination by the control that an imaged object is an object of interest to the driver of the vehicle.

Abstract: An automatic lighting system for a vehicle includes an imaging device, an illumination source and a control. The illumination source is directed generally forwardly with respect to a direction of forward travel of the vehicle. The imaging device captures image data and the control processes the captured image data to detect an object of interest generally forwardly and sidewardly of the vehicle. The control is operable to adjust the illumination source in response to detection of an object of interest. The imaging device may be synchronized with flashing of at least one lighting element of the illumination source to capture image data during a time period that the lighting element is being flashed. The control may adjust the illumination source to direct illumination toward an area encompassing a detected object of interest when the object of interest is detected.

Abstract: An object detection system for a vehicle includes an imaging device, an image processor and a Lidar device. The imaging device is operable to capture image data representative of a scene exterior the vehicle. The image processor processes image data to detect an object of interest in the field of view of the imaging device. The Lidar device is responsive to the image processing so as to have its line of sight guided to point toward the detected object of interest. The Lidar device is operable to measure the distances between the host vehicle and the detected object of interest.

Abstract: A vehicular imaging system includes a forward facing photosensor array and a control responsive to the photosensor array. The control processes an image data set indicative of captured images, and the control processes a reduced image data set of the image data set to determine whether an object of interest is within a target zone of the captured image. The reduced image data set is representative of a portion of the captured images as captured by a particular grouping of the photosensor elements. The control adjusts the reduced image data set so as to be representative of a portion of the captured images as captured by a different particular grouping of the photosensor elements, and adjusts the reduced image data set in response to a determination of a change in a focus of expansion of the captured images.

Abstract: A radar sensing system for a vehicle includes a radar sensor device, a cover panel and a control. The radar sensor device is disposed at a pocket established at an upper edge of the vehicle windshield and having a forward transmitting and receiving direction that is not through the windshield. The cover panel is disposed at the radar sensor device and is substantially sealed at the vehicle windshield at or near the pocket at the upper edge of the vehicle windshield. The cover panel has a material that is substantially transmissive to radar frequency electromagnetic radiation waves. The radar sensor device emits radar frequency electromagnetic radiation waves that transmit through the cover panel. The control is responsive to an output of the radar sensor device.

Abstract: An automatic lighting system for a vehicle includes a detection device, an illumination source and a control. The illumination source is directed generally forwardly with respect to a direction of travel of the vehicle, and has an adjustable principal axis of illumination. The detection device may be operable to determine a gaze direction of a driver or driving instructor of a vehicle or may detect a sign or other object of interest, such as a deer or pedestrian or the like, generally forwardly and sidewardly of the vehicle. The control is operable to adjust the principal axis of illumination of the illumination source in response to an output of the detection device so as to provide enhanced illumination at areas sideward and forward of the vehicle.

Abstract: A predictive suspension system for a vehicle includes an imaging sensor, and energy source and a control. The imaging sensor is disposed at a vehicle and has a generally downward field of view, with the field of view encompassing an area forward of a tire of the vehicle. The energy source is operable to emit illumination in at least one linear pattern so that the linear pattern is projected onto a portion of the area forward of the tire of the vehicle that is encompassed by the field of view of the imaging sensor. The control processes image data captured by the imaging sensor and detects surface irregularities on a surface in front of the vehicle tire in response to the image processing.

Abstract: A load dump protection system is operable to provide protection for power transistors used to drive a blower motor of a vehicle. The load dump protection system includes circuitry for detecting an over-voltage transient. The circuitry adjusts a drive transistor into a saturation mode in response to a detection of an over-voltage transient. The circuitry lowers the power dissipated by the drive transistor when the drive transistor is in the saturation mode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a lifting device for raising the hood (20) of a motor vehicle during a collision with a pedestrian. The device comprises a retaining member (10) for connecting the hood (20) to the vehicle bodywork (14) and a pyrotechnic explosive unit (16) for detaching the retaining member (10). To guarantee a reliable operation, the device is equipped with lifting means (18) for raising the hood (20) into a collision position, the means being actuated by the energy of the explosive unit (16) released during the detachment of the retaining member (10).

Abstract: A vehicle starting system for activating an ignition of a vehicle. The system includes a remote transmitting device operable to communicate a start signal in response to a user input, and a control at a vehicle that receives the start signal. The control processes images captured by at least one imaging device to determine if the images are indicative of the vehicle being parked in an enclosed environment. The control activates an ignition of the vehicle in response to the start signal and the image processing.

Abstract: The invention indicates a correct one of multiple rotor positions. For example, the invention can determine, in a PM machine, which of two possible positions a rotor is in when the position is known only within ±? radians. If the actual rotor position is known to be one of ? and ?+?, for example as indicated by a resolver, the proposed invention can be used to determine whether the actual position is ? or ?+?.

Abstract: A load dump protection system is operable to provide protection for power transistors used to drive a blower motor of a vehicle. The load dump protection system includes circuitry for detecting an over-voltage transient. The circuitry adjusts a drive transistor into a saturation mode in response to a detection of an over-voltage transient. The circuitry lowers the power dissipated by the drive transistor when the drive transistor is in the saturation mode.