Patents Assigned to Siemens VDO Automotive AG
  • Patent number: 8417036
    Abstract: Presented is a method for selecting a label from a multiplicity of labels stored in a memory element. The method includes inputting a handwritten character into a handwritten input apparatus, associating an alphanumeric character with the handwritten input character using a character recognition apparatus, adding the associated alphanumeric character to an already input character string to produce an extended character string, comparing the extended character string with the labels stored in the memory element, and selecting one or more of the stored labels using the comparison. The alphanumeric character is selected from a dynamically alterable character set which contains only characters which, in addition to the already input character string, produce an extended character string, which is an initial component of at least one of the stored labels. Also presented is a motor vehicle navigation system in which address database entries are selected by the above described method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Boris Basche, Nhu Nguyen Thien
  • Patent number: 8291204
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and system are disclosed for allowing prescribed components in the system to be started with minimal delay, wherein a multimedia system for a motor vehicle, which comprises a control unit and a plurality of prescribed components that can be selected and started by a user. The operating programs that are associated with at least one first component are provided with a greater proportion of the total available computational resources required for their execution. As a result, it becomes possible to use the at least one first component quite soon after the start-up phase of the system has begun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Matthias Becker, Thomas Góhring, Karl-Heinz Knobl, Bernd Weymann
  • Patent number: 8283685
    Abstract: The invention relates to a light-generating arrangement comprising a light-emitting semiconductor element provided with electric supply lines and a transparent light-directing element (2) which is arranged upstream of the semiconductor element in the emission direction at a distance therefrom and which is used for concentrating the light emitted by said semiconductor element in such a way that a light stream is formed. The light output surface (4) of the light-directing element (2) comprises a microstructure (6) consisting of a plurality of elevations and cavities deviating the trajectory of the light stream by <5°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventor: Eckhard Finger
  • Patent number: 8138898
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic device (1) that is to be incorporated into a motor vehicle. Said device (1) comprises a radio module (18) for establishing a short-distance wireless connection to an authorized cellular telephone (2) which is identified based on an identification key for the authorized cellular telephone (2) stored in a memory element (28) of the electronic device (1). In order to make it easier to retrieve the electronic device after the same has been stolen, the electronic device (1) further comprises means for detecting dismounting of the electronic device (1) from a motor vehicle as well as means for automatically establishing a short-distance wireless connection to another cellular telephone and automatically initializing a mobile wireless connection to said other cellular telephone when an identification key for the other cellular telephone is to be or is stored for the first time in the memory element (28) after restarting the electronic device once dismounting has been detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Thomas Jatschka, Alfred Pohl, Robert Tschofen, Gernot Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 8098236
    Abstract: A touch sensitive screen comprising a display device and a light-permeable, wherein a touch-sensitive arrangement arranged upstream of an image side of the display device at a distance therefrom. The arrangement can be displaced in relation to the display device such that a haptic acknowledgment is generated. The touch-sensitive arrangement forms part of the housing containing the display device, and the housing can be displaced in relation to the display device, by way of the touch-sensitive arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Martin Klein, Dieter Nau
  • Patent number: 8043047
    Abstract: A compressor casing for an exhaust gas turbocharger is disclosed. The exhaust gas turbocharger has a rotatable turboshaft, a compressor wheel mounted on the turboshaft, and a turbine wheel mounted on the turboshaft. The compressor casing includes a sensor for measuring a rotational speed of the turboshaft. The sensor is embedded in the compressor casing and forms an integral component of the compressor casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Johannes Ante, Markus Gilch
  • Patent number: 8033159
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor and a method for detecting soot, said method comprising the following steps: a first operating temperature is set on the sensor for a measuring phase, such that soot can be deposited on the surface of the substrate, but depositions interfering with the measurement of the soot are prevented; the time between the beginning of the measurement and the increase in conductivity between the electrodes is recorded; and a second operating temperature is set on the sensor for a regeneration phase, such that the deposited soot is burned with the oxygen in the test gas. The inventive product is a soot sensor for using in the automobile industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Maximilian Fleischer, Roland Pohle, Kerstin Wiesner
  • Patent number: 8004849
    Abstract: A control unit for a vehicle component, such as a transmission, is constructed by transferring electronic components from a rigid circuit board to a flexible circuit board. The flexible circuit board is guided through a housing that accommodates the rigid circuit board and a portion of the flexible circuit board. Some electronic components are disposed on the rigid circuit board and some electronic components are disposed on the flexible circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Gerald Hauer, Josef Loibl, Thomas Röhrl, Mike Vogel
  • Patent number: 8000072
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for short circuit protection. The apparatus comprises two supply inputs for connecting the apparatus to a terminal of a power supply and two supply paths being connected together and to the supply inputs, wherein each supply path comprises a disconnection means for disconnecting the supply path. Further the apparatus comprises a determination means for determining a current flowing from one of the supply paths through the other one of the supply paths and a control means for controlling the disconnection means of the supply paths dependent on the current determined by the determination means, wherein the control means is connected with the disconnection means and the determination means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignees: Siemens VDO Automotive AG, Scania CV AB
    Inventors: Bernhard Bauer, Ola Dovnäs, Mauricio Hernandez-Distancia, Milan Krstev
  • Patent number: 7956729
    Abstract: An electronic device, which for example includes a sensor element such as a rotational speed sensor, comprises a first network (4) having a first microcontroller (8) and a first supply voltage source (10). It also comprises a second network (4) having a second microcontroller (8) and a second supply voltage source (30). The electronic device is also provided with decoupling elements (42-50) which are adapted to decouple the networks (4, 6) form interferences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventor: Dietmar Schmid
  • Patent number: 7932628
    Abstract: A terminal state of a terminal 15 of a vehicle is enabled to be maintained for a minimum period of time even after a drop in the voltage supply. At the same time other loads are to have no effect on the holding time. A control device for controls access to a vehicle and has a voltage source, a voltage supply terminal to which a supply voltage can be applied, and a holding circuit to which the voltage source and the voltage supply terminal are connected in a common circuit point for the purpose of holding an On state for as long as the voltage at the voltage source does not fall below a predetermined value. A switching element that is connected into the circuit between the voltage supply terminal and the common circuit point serves to separate the common circuit point from the supply voltage. The holding time is thus decoupled from the VCC currents drawn by other loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Georg Deschermeier, Rainer Kagerbauer, Dirk Reichow
  • Patent number: 7906974
    Abstract: A full-bridge circuit includes a first, second, third and fourth switch element. According to the method the checking includes at least one measuring process. For the at least one measuring process either only the second or only the third switch element or only the first and the second switch element or only the third and the fourth switch element is/are switched on. At least one recording time in each measuring process, a parameter is recorded which is representative of an electrical current flowing through a measuring resistance Rm. Depending on the recorded parameter and the switched-on switch element(s), a fault or lack of fault is recognized in an inductive load L of an electromechanical converter in the full-bridge circuit. A duration for the checking is set such that during said duration an idle condition for the electromechanical converter is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventor: Reinhold Berberich
  • Patent number: 7899590
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for assigning an electronic wheel unit, which is assigned to a wheel of a vehicle and is for ascertaining at least one characteristic parameter of the wheel, to a side of the vehicle. In this case, a direction of rotation of the wheel is determined by means of the wheel unit. The direction of rotation of the wheel which is determined by means of the wheel unit is compared with a direction of rotation of another wheel which is determined by means of another wheel unit assigned to the other wheel, wherein the wheel and the other wheel are arranged on different sides of the vehicle on a shared axle. Depending on the comparison of the determined directions of rotation of the wheel and of the other wheel, the wheel unit is assigned on the basis of a first procedure for assigning the wheel unit to the side of the vehicle or on the basis of a second procedure for assigning the wheel unit to the side of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Walter Baumgartner, Frank Fischer
  • Patent number: 7872568
    Abstract: A method for stimulating wheel electronics systems of single tires of at least one tire group in a motor vehicle. The wheel electronics systems are stimulated with a low frequency trigger signal, as follows: a trigger signal is emitted from an LF trigger to the wheel electronics systems of the relevant tire group at a variably adjustable first transmission field strength. Radio frequency signals are transmitted from those wheel-side wheel electronics systems, at which a sufficiently high transmission field strength of the trigger signal has arrived containing an item of trigger information, to a vehicle-side receiving unit. A determination is made of the number of RF signals received by the vehicle-side receiving unit, each containing one item of trigger information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Alexander Fink, Frank Fischer, Gregor Kuchler
  • Patent number: 7868259
    Abstract: A device has a housing (1) with a frame element (8) which is arranged within the housing (1). The frame element (8) accommodates at least one component and has at least one bending arm (12). The bending arm (12) is designed such that a contact region (36) of the bending arm (12) bears with prestress against a contact region (38) of a wall (34) of the housing (1) in a mounted state within the housing (1). The bending arm (12) is cohesively connected to the housing (1) by means of transmission laser welding by supplying a laser beam (46) of prespecified wavelength to the device in such a way that the laser beam is transmitted through the housing (1) to the contact region (36) of the bending arm (12). At least one region of the housing (1), through which region the laser beam is transmitted, is produced from a material which is transparent to the prespecified wavelength of the laser beam (46).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Andreas Bermel, Thomas Krohn, Uwe Neumann-Henneberg
  • Patent number: 7864529
    Abstract: To improve coolant sealing or reduce the risks in the event of leakage for an electronic unit, e.g. an engine control unit, containing electric and/or electronic components which are disposed on an upper side of a thermally conductive electronic base plate and thermally coupled to the base plate, the base plate in turn being thermally coupled to a coolant passage, there is provided a particular configuration and arrangement of the components delimiting a coolant passage. Advantageously, the underside of the base plate can come into direct contact with a coolant (“direct cooling”). By making a ridge running in an annularly closed manner and being formed in one-piece with the base plate, coolant escaping from the coolant passage is prevented from passing directly to the underside of the base plate. Accordingly, the coolant passage may be sealed by a “double sealing arrangement” on the underside of the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Radu Vasile Bojan, Arnoud Smit, Remus Sovagau
  • Patent number: 7817056
    Abstract: A device and a method for differentiating between a person sitting on the seat surface of a vehicle seat and an object such as, for example, a child seat. The device has a cushion provided with weight sensors which are distributed over the seat surface in a plane manner, first weight sensors being arranged in a central region and second weight sensors being arranged on the edge of the seat surface. At least one central weight sensor is differentiated from a plurality of second weight sensors on the edge of the seat surface in that it always emits a comparatively low sensor signal when subjected to the same weight load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Erwin Hetzenecker, Peter Karges, Reinhard Schmid, Gerd Winkler
  • Patent number: 7772490
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical device (1), especially for a motor vehicle. Said device comprises an electrical component (2) and a connecting cable (5) which is connected to the component (2) and is surrounded by a sheathing (8), the end (9) of said sheathing being at a distance from the component (2). The sheath end (9) and the respectively connected regions (13, 14) of the sheathing (8) and the connecting cable (5) comprise a sealing coating (16). The aim of the invention is to improve the sealing and to increase the durability thereof. To this end, another section (10) of the sheathing (8), embodied in a sleeve-shaped manner, is arranged between the sheath end (9) and the component (2), and the coating (16) extends over a sleeve end (11) facing the sheath end (9) and over the region (17) of the sleeve-shaped section (10) of the sheathing (8) connected thereto. The invention also relates to a method for producing one such device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventor: Harry Skarpil
  • Patent number: 7774116
    Abstract: A device for controlling a passenger protection system of a motor vehicle includes at least one structure-borne noise sensor, used to receive body vibrations, and an evaluation device, used to evaluate the structure-borne noise signal. The evaluation provides information about an impact object and/or the characteristics of the impact. The evaluation device is configured to analyze the structure-borne noise signal in relation to the frequencies contained therein, wherein the frequency spectrum contained in a signal section is distributed into a plurality of frequency ranges. The current signal energy is determined for each frequency range, and the signal energy of the frequency range is a standardized. The device also comprises a passenger protection system, which can be actuated according to the information relating to the impact object and/or the characteristics of the impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Thomas Brandmeier, Michael Feser, Michael Köppl
  • Patent number: 7750585
    Abstract: A particularly high level of performance in a sensorless, electronically commutated multiphase electric motor can be achieved, wherein for one full cycle at least, one motor phase is controlled in an asymmetrical manner relative to a further motor phase by controlling a commutation angle of one motor phase by reduction relative to a corresponding commutation angle of the other motor phase. Alternatively or in addition, according to the aforementioned method, at least one motor phase is asymmetrically controlled by reduction by self-reference for a full cycle, a commutation angle being controlled by reduction relative to a preceding or subsequent commutation angle or the size of the intermediate angles between two commutation angles being varied, the reduced commutation angle always being preceded or followed by a measurement angle within which the relevant motor phase is switched at zero current for detecting the rotor position by measuring the counter-electromotive force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventor: Johannes Schwarzkopf