Abstract: The apparatus for energy distribution in a motor vehicle includes a vehicle electrical power supply system (11) with a generator (13) regulated by a voltage regulator (21), a battery (12) and consumers and a control arrangement (10) receiving required information from the power supply system for determining control parameters for engine or power supply system components. The control arrangement (10) includes the voltage regulator (21) and a supply system managing device (20). The supply system managing device (20) includes a device (24) for establishing an energy management strategy and a pre-control device (23) for generating a differential output for input to the device (24) according to an actual power and required power with respect to reference voltage. The pre-control device (23) and the device (24) for establishing an energy management strategy cooperate to determine a power supply set voltage (U_s) from the required information.

Abstract: A safety device for a drive is includes a monitoring system which evaluates a value describing the operating state of the drive in order to ascertain whether an emergency operation should be started for the protection of the drive instead of normal operation. The monitoring system generates at least one first output signal for an actuating element that influences the power supply to the drive. In normal operation an a.c. signal is used as the output signal and in emergency operation a d.c. signal is used.

Abstract: An electromechanical steering actuator for a steer-by-wire application in motor vehicles. An electronic closed-loop/open-loop control system generates steering signals for a pair of electric servomotors, which act via a gear unit on a steering control element of a rack-and-pinion steering system. The closed-loop/open-loop control system includes a pair of process computers which deliver corrective signals to the servomotors via drive units. The steering actuator is divided into two diversely redundant systems including two redundant process computers, each of which delivers corrective signals via two redundant drive units to two servomotors which act on a common steering shaft.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling a braking system, the control unit of which controls the wheel brakes receiving reference variables for control purposes. If these reference variables are not available, the control unit produces, on the basis of a predefined braking force distribution between the front and rear axles and in the context of an emergency mode, reference variables which it sets at the wheel brakes.

Abstract: A deceleration regulator which generates a nominal deceleration value, preferably a PID controller, can be adapted to the requirements of the brake engagement. A guidance magnitude filter is used, a preliminary control dependent on the nominal deceleration is performed, and the integral component of the regulator is activated only in certain states of operation. In certain courses of the nominal value, a portion of the regulator is corrected.

Abstract: A motor vehicle light, comprising a concavely curved reflector; a light source inserted in the reflector; a cover element arranged after the light source as considered in a light outlet direction, by which the light source is at least partially covered when seen from outside on the motor vehicle light; a light-permeable disk for covering the motor vehicle light in the light outlet direction and which is free from optical profiles, the reflector being shaped so that a light emitted by the light source is reflected by the reflector so that it passes on the cover element at least substantially unaffected.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and an arrangement for controlling an operating variable of a motor vehicle wherein the controller has at least one changeable parameter. This parameter of the controller is changed in dependence upon the operating range of the actuator, which is driven by the controller, and/or the magnitude of the change of the desired value.

Abstract: The sensor device accurately measures small angle changes of mechanical parts that rotate relative to each other. The sensor device includes only one cylindrical magnet (3) extending axially from a first part; two magnetoresistive sensors (5′,5″) mounted on a second part and located in the magnetic field of the sole magnet (3), the two magnetoresistive sensors having respective magnetic field sensitive layers (MS) facing a magnetic pole of the magnet (3), extending tangentially to a rotation direction in which the parts rotate relative to each other and generating respective output signals according to magnetic field line direction; and a device (PT) for combining the respective output signals of the two magnetoresistive sensors (5′,5″) to produce a combined output signal characteristic of the relative rotation angle of the parts. The combined output signal is set to zero when the parts are at a predetermined relative rotation angle.

Abstract: A device for determining a rotation rate is described, in which by means of digital evaluation circuits the output signals of a rotation rate sensor are evaluated. By identification of the transfer function from the electronically generated oscillation voltage that excites the oscillating body carrying the acceleration elements, to the output of the acceleration elements, or by identification of the transfer function from the electrically generated test voltage at the input of the acceleration elements to their output, the systematic errors of the rotation rate sensor are determined and taken into account in the digital sensor signal processing, with the aid of which the rotation rate is unequivocally determined.

Abstract: An electric motor-operated actuator for a motor vehicle lock is provided which permits manual activation in a very wide range of operation. The actuator includes a control crank formed by an outer and an inner guide cam which, over a considerable angular range, have a radial distance from one another which corresponds roughly to the radial distance from an inner stop and an outer stop to allow free manual switching of the control lever between two operating states. The guide cams which form the control crank have radii which change only in a relatively small angular range for purposes of displacement of the control lever, and therefore have a relatively large rise. Preferably, the actuator is overall self-locking.

Abstract: A headlight for a low beam and a high beam in a vehicle has a reflector, a light source, an adjusting device operative for displacing the light source relative to the reflector between a position for a low beam and a position for a high beam, the adjusting device including holding means which produce a holding force for fixing the light source in one of the two positions.

Abstract: A device for collision protection of projecting parts of motor vehicles has a controllable actuating mechanism at least for retracting and/or folding the projecting vehicle parts. At least one distance detection or proximity sensor, which is functionally connected to the actuating mechanism, is provided in the vehicle to detect the distance and/or the approach of an object with respect to the respective projecting vehicle part, and the actuating mechanism retracts or folds the respective vehicle part upon a detection signal delivered by the sensor and indicating a collision hazard with the object.

Abstract: A wiper blade (10) for cleaning windows (26) of motor vehicles has an elongated, rubber-elastic wiper strip (14), which can be pressed against the window (26) to be wiped and is held substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis on an elongated, spring-elastic support element (12), to whose middle portion, remote from the window (26), a connection device (16) for counterpart connection means of a driven wiper arm, which means can be loaded toward the window (26), are disposed. Problem-free, economical disposition of the connection device (16) on the support element (12) is obtained if the connection device (16) is embodied as a separate component and secured to the support element (12) by means of an adhesive.

Abstract: The invention is directed to the automatic determination of a quantity which represents the rpm ratio between the transmission and the wheels. For this purpose, first and second rpm values are first detected which represent the rpm of at least one wheel and the rotational speed of a transmission component. Furthermore, a driving state quantity is formed which represents the instantaneous driving state of the motor vehicle. The essence of the invention is that a pregiven driving state can be determined when the formed driving state quantity indicates an essentially steady state driving state. The determination of the rpm transmission ratio which is sought takes place in dependence upon the detected rpm values when the pregiven operating state is detected. Furthermore, the invention relates to a stepped method which, for example, ensures a rapid determination of the differential transmission ratio after a transmission control apparatus is newly built in.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle is described which is provided with an injection valve with which fuel can be injected directly into the combustion chamber either in a first mode of operation during a compression phase or in a second mode of operation during an induction phase. Furthermore, the engine is provided with means for feeding back the exhaust gas into the combustion chamber as well as with a control apparatus for controlling (open loop and/or closed loop) the quantity of the fed back exhaust gas. According to the invention, the quantity of the exhaust gas, which is fed back into the combustion chamber, can be controlled (open loop and/or closed loop) differently in the two modes of operation.

Abstract: A feeding device for fuel has a tank, a feeding pipe driven by an electric motor, a first reservoir for fuel arranged in a region of the feeding pipe so that fuel fills the first reservoir from the tank and is supplied to the feeding pump, at least one further reservoir which is offset from the first reservoir and coupled with the later, and a connecting conduit which connects the further reservoir with the first reservoir.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing semiconductor components having micromechanical structures, micromechanical structures being patterned in a wafer for detecting a physical quantity acting on micromechanical structures, and semiconductor components for converting the physical quantity into an electrical signal proportional to the physical quantity being produced. The semiconductor components and the micromechanical structures are defined in a self-aligning manner by process steps acting on one side of the wafer to produce semiconductor components.

Abstract: A separate irregular-running determination is carried out for each cylinder bank. Each ascertained irregular-running value is compared to a lower and an upper threshold value, the upper threshold value being set in such a way that all irregular-running values below it are not caused by combustion misses. A defect is signaled in one of the exhaust trains when, for at least one of the two cylinder banks, an irregular-running value is ascertained lying between the lower and the upper threshold value, and the difference between the irregular-running values of the two cylinder banks exceeds a threshold. This method makes it possible to ascertain a defect in one of the two cylinder banks very early.

Abstract: A thermophotovoltaic generator having a solid body located in a combustion chamber of a burner, with the surface of the solid body being excited to a state of radiation by an air-fuel mixture that is supplied by a delivery unit to the burner, where it combusts, and the radiation strikes a photocell, which then generates electrical energy; and having an exhaust pipe discharging the hot combustion gases from the combustion chamber.