Patents Assigned to Mannesmann VDO
  • Patent number: 6113354
    Abstract: In a fuel delivery device for a motor vehicle a delivery pump (15) is provided in addition to a fuel pump (14). The delivery pump (15) serves to fill a surge baffle (5) and to drive a sucking jet pump (6). The fuel pump (14) draws in fuel from the surge baffle (5) and delivers it to an internal combustion engine (2). For this purpose, the fuel pump (14) is arranged in a feed line (3) in the vicinity of the internal combustion engine (2). A return line (4) leads from the internal combustion engine into the surge baffle (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Klaus-Dieter Meese, Joachim Gunther
  • Patent number: 6112564
    Abstract: A lock, particularly for the door of a motor vehicle, having lock elements including at least one lock element which can be connected by connecting elements to at least one manipulator. A coupling device is arranged in a force transmission path between the manipulator and the at least one lock element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Klaus Rathmann, Theo Baukholt, Sven Petzold, Jens Lubben
  • Patent number: 6109133
    Abstract: A control arrangement, in particular a power-control arrangement for engines of vehicles, having an actuating lever (1), in particular a pedal, and a damping device (5-8; 10) which counteracts a movement of the actuating lever (1), comprising a freewheel (9; 16, 17; 18) which at least reduces in one direction of movement the damping force which acts on the actuating lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventor: Peter Kohlen
  • Patent number: 6111521
    Abstract: An apparatus for supplying traffic-related information in a vehicle receives a message concerning a traffic-related event, for instance a traffic queue. This message contains information about the location of the traffic-related event. The apparatus calculates the time and/or distance interval between the location of the event and the current position of the vehicle and gives an alarm if the time and/or distance interval is smaller than a predetermined time and/or distance interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Edwin W. Mulder, Erik J. Walgers, Carla J. M. Emmerink, Paul D. M. E. Lahaije
  • Patent number: 6102653
    Abstract: In a feed pump (2) designed as a side channel pump, with an impeller (5) rotating in a pump casing (3) and having blade chambers (12, 13), the blade chambers (12 13) have an inflow region (16, 17), the profile of which is designed asymmetrically to that of an outflow region (18, 19). The feed pump (2) can thereby be adapted to an intended characteristic simply by exchanging or reversing the rotation of the impeller (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventor: Peter Marx
  • Patent number: 6104315
    Abstract: A navigation system (100) includes a vehicle position determining module (110) for determining the current position of the vehicle and a planning module (114) for planning a route between the current position and a desired destination. The navigation system (100) further includes a guidance module (118) for presenting guidance information to guide the driver along the planned route. The navigation system (100) is arranged to detect when the vehicle has left the planned route and to deactivate the guidance module (118) when the vehicle has left the planned route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Andreas Volkel, Hans G. M. Hermans
  • Patent number: 6100869
    Abstract: In an illuminating system for a display screen device, there is at least one lamp located in an accessory unit (2). This lamp (3) is connected via a light guide (4) with a display field (6) of the display screen device (1). This arrangement serves for illumination of the display field (6) by transmitted light. In order that the display screen device (1) can be removed without the lamp (3), the light guides (4) at the transition between accessory unit (2) and display screen device (1) are interrupted and have a light output surface (7) of the accessory unit and a light input surface (8) of the screen device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignees: Mannesmann VDO AG, Mannesmann AG
    Inventors: Helmut Angermuller, Josef Heimann
  • Patent number: 6100476
    Abstract: An operating device with a two-dimensional dialogue movement for selecting and calling functions and groups of functions, especially for use in motor vehicles. The dialogue can be moved in a first dimension by rotating a rotary switch that is in a first axial position. The dialogue can be moved in a second dimension by turning the rotary switch which is in a second axial position. The selected functions or groups of functions can be called by another switch. A device feeds back the selected functions or groups of functions optically, acoustically, and/or haptically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Hubert Adamietz, Guido Meier-Arendt
  • Patent number: 6087829
    Abstract: In a method for detecting the rotational angle (.alpha.) of a rotatable shaft, in which two sinusoidal signals are generated by rotation of the shaft, the signals having a phase shift of 90.degree. with respect to one another, and being standardized, and in which the signal values of the two signals are measured at the desired rotational angle (.alpha.), the following provisions are made:a) the signal values that are larger than the standardized maximum value or smaller than the standardized minimum value are limited to the maximum or minimum values;b) from the value of the measured signals, the quadrant is determined in which the desired angle (.alpha.) is located;c) depending on the sign of the respective curve slope, the sign of the signal value is changed or retained;d) the adapted signal values thus obtained are added to produce a first sum (S);e) the following equation is valid for the angle difference (.beta.) between the middle of the determined quadrant and the desired angle (.alpha.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Jager
  • Patent number: 6086474
    Abstract: A ventilating device (1) for a motor vehicle, having a ventilation opening (5) arranged in the central region of an instrument panel (2) and/or a ventilation opening (5) arranged in a center, console which can be connected optionally to a suction side or a pressure side of a fan having an air filter. Ventilation openings arranged in a lateral region of the instrument panel (2) can be connected to the pressure side of the fan. This makes it possible for air which has been used, for example, by a smoker in the front region of the motor vehicle to be cleaned particularly quickly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventor: Klaus Dohring
  • Patent number: 6084417
    Abstract: In a method and a system for the operation of a resistive moisture sensor, conductance of the sensor is measured, whereby current through the moisture sensor is measured preferably during an application of a voltage to the moisture sensor. In order to avoid electrolytic phenomena, the voltage is fed to the moisture sensor via a capacitor, and has a waveform of two pulses of different polarity following shortly one after the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventor: Reinhold Berberich
  • Patent number: 6082158
    Abstract: A lock device, in particular for doors of motor vehicles, has lock elements such as at least a rotary latch and a pawl, wherein at least one lock element (a pawl) can be connected via connecting elements with at least one handle or such connection can be eliminated. An actuator device has a cam disk of the lock device, the connection being made or eliminated as a function of the cam disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventor: Torsten Wegner
  • Patent number: 6078863
    Abstract: In method for preparing the driver of a vehicle for route guide information which is to be given in the form of indications for turning at route turn points, in which connection a route leading over route turn points to a destination is determined by means of stored street map, by which this route is provided to the driver of the vehicle as the correct route. The route is checked by means of the stored street map upon approach to a route turn point at which the driver is to turn off from the street on which he is traveling. This feature is provided whether one or more cross streets, which are at a shorter distance from the route turn point or from each other than a predetermined distance, lie on the same side of the street being driven on as the predetermined turn in front of the route turn point. If so, then all cross streets which lie between the vehicle and the route turn point at the time of the transmitting of the route turn information to the driver are included in the route turn information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Kai Schmischke, Gerald Helmstadter
  • Patent number: 6072678
    Abstract: A short-circuit protection circuit for a switching output having a non-self-protected field-effect transistor to whose control electrode a control voltage can be supplied via an input. A series circuit comprising a timer, a switch-off release stage and a switch-off stage is provided at the control electrode of the non-self-protected semiconductor switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventor: Martin Degen
  • Patent number: 6070492
    Abstract: A pedal (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising a pedal plate (4) fastened on a u-shaped retaining region (9) of a pedal bar (2) by means of an eyelet (7) and a clip (8). The u-shaped retaining region (9) extends directly along a frame web (5) on the border of the pedal plate (4), this minimizing to the greatest possible extent tilting movements which could result in the pedal plate (4) being released from the pedal bar (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventor: Egon Beil
  • Patent number: 6072387
    Abstract: A device for triggering a control and/or warning process in a motor vehicle has sensors for determining the existing value of the crosswind actually acting on the vehicle. A crosswind warning device for motor vehicles which permits of a reliable warning for the driver even under varying conditions of the wind, has a first device for the determination and evaluation of the limiting value of crosswind in the motor vehicle for determining a crosswind speed limiting value which is dependent on the actual travel conditions of the vehicle. The values detected by a second device for the determination of the existing crosswind value are fed to the first device and compared with the detected crosswind speed limiting values. A driver-information device is actuated as a function of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Felix Overbeck, Werner Wallrafen
  • Patent number: 6068295
    Abstract: To facilitate the joint raising and lowering and pivoting of the steering wheel (2) or the steering column (1) and the dashboard (4) of a motor vehicle, it is suggested to form an assembly consisting of the steering column (1) and the dashboard (4), which can be secured in a motor vehicle as a pre-manufactured unit by using a suitable bracket (7). The dashboard (4) is associated with a stabilizing device (18) including slideway guide arrangements (40/41 and 37) combined with a toothed wheel/rack connection (35/36 and 33/34) provided on each of widely spaced guide rails (19/20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Klaus Skabrond, Gunther Bartholomai
  • Patent number: 6070120
    Abstract: A method and system for the determining in advance of the travel corridor of a motor vehicle for an automatic system for establishing a safe tailing distance in which a signal corresponding to the speed is used to determine a turning radius of the motor vehicle, the travel corridor being determined from the turning radius.For the exact determination of the travel corridor of the motor vehicle, and in order sufficiently to take into consideration the travel dynamics of the motor vehicle, the speed of at least two wheels of the vehicle are measured and the yawing of the vehicle determined from the difference between the two wheel speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Peter Sager, Thomas Landsiedel
  • Patent number: 6062614
    Abstract: A invention relates to a handle (2) for a closing part, especially a door, of a vehicle, with the handle (2) being located movably in a handle pocket (9). A movable cover plate (3) is associated with the handle (2), with the cover plate (3) is maximally covering the handle (2) in one position and releasing the handle (2) in another position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventor: Sven Petzold
  • Patent number: 6062019
    Abstract: A method of controlling the fuel/air ratio of an internal combustion engine in which the output signal of a first lambda probe which is arranged in the exhaust gas passage in front of a catalytic converter of the internal combustion engine is fed to a controller which has a proportional-and-integral (PI) characteristic. The controller gives off a setting variable for the fuel/air ratio. A further signal which is obtained from the output signal of a second lambda probe arranged behind the catalytic converter is fed to the controller and acts on the control circuit of the first lambda probe.In order to permit an accurate, adaptable control, the proportional portion of the output signal of the control circuit of the first lambda probe is modified as a function of the output signal of the second lambda probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventor: Ulrich Staufenberg