Abstract: An antenna diversity receiving system is disclosed which includes an antenna device with a plurality of FM antennas and a controllable switching circuit for sequentially switching through one of the plurality of FM antennas via an antenna cable to a receiver upon reception of a switching control signal. The receiver has a multipath detector coupled to a pulse generator for generating a pulse signal to be used as such switching control signal. To secure accurate detection of the switching control signal, the pulse generator is coupled to a pulse shaper to convert the pulse signal of the pulse generator into a pulse signal pair. The pulse signal pair has a first signal pulse followed by a second signal pulse having a signal polarity opposite to the signal polarity of the first signal pulse. The pulse signal pair has a waveform varying symmetrically around a reference level and is supplied through the antenna cable to the antenna device.

Abstract: A shield cleaning system, operating solely by spraying with washing fluid, for shields (2) of an automobile light has a plurality of washing nozzles (12-14) which are arranged on a washing arm (6) pivotable about a pivot axis (7) and which are located opposite and at a short distance from the shield (2) and together spray a part region of the shield (2) with washing fluid. The washing nozzles (12-14) are guided by the washing arm (6) over that region of the shield (2) which is to be cleaned.

Abstract: A limit-level sensor for measuring level of a liquid has a resistance element which has an electric resistance which suddenly varies a transition temperature which lies above the maximum liquid temperature. The resistance element is first of all heated by electric current. Thereupon, the electric resistance of the resistance element is measured. When the resistance element is covered with liquid, the heat generated by the electric current is led away so that the temperature of the resistance element is less than its transition temperature. If the resistance element is not covered by liquid, this heat is scarcely led away, so that the temperature of the resistance element remains above the transition temperature.

Abstract: In a feed device with a filling-level sensor fastened to a wall of a baffle, the filling-level sensor has a lever wire for holding a float. A carrier for mounting the filling-level sensor to a wall of the baffle has a first carrier part connected to the baffle and a second carrier part having the mounting for the lever wire. The pivoting range of the float is set by the selected orientation of the second carrier part on the first carrier part. The feed device is consequently suitable for use in differently constructed fuel tanks.

Abstract: A fuel pump for a motor vehicle has an outlet duct leading to an internal combustion engine and a connection leading to an ejector, and two delivery chambers which are separate from one another. The delivery chambers are concentric so that one surrounds the other. The fuel pump is simple to construct and can be manufactured at favorable cost.

Abstract: The method serves for assembling an electric motor (10) having a stator (34) and a rotor (32). It is endeavored to keep the air gap (38) as narrow as possible, in order to achieve good efficiency of the motor (10). However, component tolerances and assembly errors require generous dimensioning in order to avoid possible contact between the stator (34) and the rotor (32). To improve the accuracy of assembly, it is proposed that, during the insertion into one another of the rotor (32) and the stator (34), a centering aid (40, 42) is introduced into the air gap (38) at at least three points, the rotor (32) and the stator (34) are subsequently fixed in relation to one another and finally the centering aid (40, 42) is pulled out through openings (48) in the motor housing (20, 30).

Abstract: A method for calibration of a path length variable being used for navigating a terrestrial vehicle. The path length variable is measured by determining the number of revolutions of a wheel. For calibration of this value, two speed values are ascertained. A first speed value is determined using the number of revolutions of the wheel and a second speed value is determined using at least one external position sensor. One of the speed values is classified in a plurality of classes, and a calibration value in a class is ascertained using the speed values from this class.

Abstract: A pedal (14) having a pivotably mounted pedal arm (3), which is prestressed into an initial position by means of a restoring-spring element (12) designed as a leg spring (11), has a friction body (15) which is prestressed against a friction surface (18, 19) by means of the restoring-spring element (12). According to the invention, the friction body (15) is designed as an eccentric cam plate and thus, in addition to a hysteresis, also permits a non-linear profile of the pedal-actuating force (Fp).

Abstract: A vehicle navigation system (100) comprises a planning module (110) for planning a route between an origin and a destination and subsequently guides the driver along the planned route. The system further comprises a receiver (124) for the reception of traffic messages related to problem locations on roads, which messages are transferred to the driver. The navigation system according to the invention is arranged to read from its storage medium (106) with the map database additional information (404) indicating the potential problem locations for roads in the database. In this way, the information from the traffic message can be combined with the information from the map database and further exploited in the system, e.g. for planning a new route.

Abstract: A distributed data processing system in a surface vehicle comprises sensors, user I/O, data processing and mass storage of geographical data. By means of a restricted library of system calls or primitives that can only be processed as unitary entities after deterministic transport control while keeping the transfer stateless, the distributed real-time operating system allows coexistent running of a plurality of processes that share localized processing power and/or a device, a sensor, I/O and/or file data.

Abstract: In a feed pump designed for feeding fuel in a motor vehicle and having two feed chambers (11, 12) located opposite one another, of which one is connected to an inlet port (18) and the other to an outlet port (19), the feed chamber (11) connected to the inlet port (18) has a calming region (21) which a compression region (22) adjoins. Fuel entering the feed pump is thereby first calmed. Subsequently, in particular, gas bubbles present in hot fuel are dissolved due to the vapour pressure in the fuel being exceeded.

Abstract: In a sealing device for a filling opening, especially for sealing it against the escape of fuel fumes when filling stationary or mobile supply tanks, a seal is located in the vicinity of the filling opening and abuts in a sealing fashion an object such as a filling device that is inserted into the filling opening. The seal automatically controlled by means of a control unit between an inactive resting position and an active sealing position of the seal. As a result, the seal is protected especially well against damage during insertion or withdrawal of the filling device, and reliable sealing can be expected in the long term.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a microcontroller (7) which receives codes representing vocabulary elements, a speech synthesizer (20) which generates, in analog form, phonemes for a loudspeaker (5) which correspond to the vocabulary elements represented by said codes, and a vocabulary memory (8, 23) which can be addressed by means of codes.In accordance with the invention the memory contains, in correspondence with a given code, the ASCII characters of the word or the groups of words designated by this code, to be displayed on a display screen (10), as well as a sequence of digital data which defines the pronunciation thereof. The apparatus comprises means (22, 7, 21) for applying said sequence of digital data to the speech synthesizer (20) when the latter is to supply the loudspeaker (5) with the vocabulary element represented by the code. Moreover, a memory containing proper names and controlled in accordance with the invention is accommodated on a removable card (23).

Abstract: A broadcast receiver, comprises a control circuit (7) for delivering encoded messages, derived from a broadcast signal, to at least one storage device (12, 28), for receiving control data, derived from the encoded messages, from at least one storage device (12, 28), and for forming the messages from the control data in a form suitable for a display device (13) and/or a speech synthesizer circuit (14). In order to reduce the data file, the control data stored under an encoded message in at least one storage device (12, 28) contains at least one spelling of a first language and given spellings of predetermined further languages if they deviate from the first language. A spelling is to be understood to mean a phonetic notation. The spellings of all further languages comprise a respective introductory separating mark.

Abstract: A method of determining a directional change of a vehicle carries out dead-reckoning for which it utilizes sensors provided on two wheels. In order to compensate for differences between the wheels, the method utilizes given parameters in processing the data from the wheel sensors. The invention provides an extension of the method by estimating the parameters during normal operation of the vehicle, so that they are adapted to changing circumstances encountered by the vehicle. Estimation is performed by comparing data from the wheel sensors with independently determined directional data for a given period of time.

Abstract: The invention relates to a broadcast receiver, comprising a control circuit (7) for applying encoded messages, derived from a broadcast signal, to at least one storage device (12, 28), for receiving control data, derived from the encoded messages, from at least one storage device (12, 28), and for forming messages from the control data in a form suitable for a speech synthesizer circuit (14). The control data contains phonetic notations which are composed of phonetic characters. The speech synthesizer circuit (14) is capable of converting a given number of phonetic characters into announcements. In order to enable speech output in a language not envisaged thus far, at least one storage device (28) stores given phonetic characters which cannot be converted by the speech synthesizer circuit (14) and with which at least one substitute character (convertible phonetic character) is associated.