Patents Assigned to Siemens VDO Automotive AG
  • Patent number: 7746013
    Abstract: Presented in an apparatus for controlling a brushless DC motor with a permanent magnet arranged on a rotor and a stator with windings. The apparatus includes an observer that is adapted to determine an estimated temperature of the permanent magnet as a function of the temperature of the windings, and determine at least one actuating signal for controlling the DC motor as a function of the estimated temperature of the permanent magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Mathias Fernengel, Reiner Grossmann, Frank Sader
  • Patent number: 7741571
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary/push-button controller having a controller ring (18) which can be rotated about a rotation axis (7) and is arranged such that it can rotate on a holding cylinder (6) which is arranged coaxially within the control ring (18). In this case, the holding cylinder (6) is provided at its end with an input and/or display field (14), and the control ring (18) and the holding cylinder (6) can be moved axially with respect to the rotation axis (7) against a spring force from a neutral position to a switch position which operates a switching element. The input and/or display field (14) is mounted so that it can rotate about the rotation axis (7). A rotary transmitter ring is arranged coaxially on the control ring (18) and is arranged coaxially alongside a rotary transmitter (17) which is firmly connected to the holding cylinder (6) with the relative rotation position of the rotary transmitter ring with the respect to the rotary transmitter (17) being recordable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Daniel Hostmann, Nhu Nguyen Thien
  • Patent number: 7684195
    Abstract: A cooling system through which liquid flows for carrying away waste heat for electronics housings is particularly suited for the automotive industry. The cooling system is adapted to the dimensions of the housing. The novel device is the first to create an effective cooling system for electronics housings with and for a number of circuit board levels, yet with a space-saving compact design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Nikolaus Kerner, Christian Weinzierl
  • Patent number: 7637150
    Abstract: Presented is a measuring device for recording a gas mass flow of an internal combustion engine. The measuring device includes a sensor element for recording the gas mass flow. The sensor element includes an evaluation circuit connected downstream of the sensor element. The evaluation circuit includes an adder for determining a total mass flow over a multiplicity of engine cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Bierl, Thorsten Knittel, Stefan Pesahl, Frank Steuber, Holger Weininger
  • Patent number: 7639841
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for on-road vehicle detection. A video sequence is received that is comprised of a plurality of image frames. A potential vehicle appearance is identified in an image frame. Known vehicle appearance information and scene geometry information are used to formulate initial hypotheses about vehicle appearance. The potential vehicle appearance is tracked over multiple successive image frames. Potential motion trajectories for the potential vehicle appearance are identified over the multiple image frames. Knowledge fusion of appearance, scene geometry and motion information models are applied to each image frame containing the trajectories. A confidence score is calculated for each trajectory. A trajectory with a high confidence score is determined to represent a vehicle appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignees: Siemens Corporation, Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Ying Zhu, Dorin Comaniciu, Martin Pellkofer, Thorsten Köhler
  • Publication number: 20090303647
    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: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicants: SIEMENS VDO AUTOMOTIVE AG, SCANIA CV AB
    Inventors: Bernhard Bauer, Ola Dovnäs, Mauricio Hernandez-Distancia, Milan Krstev
  • Publication number: 20090283072
    Abstract: A sealing arrangement of a piezoactuator (12) for a fuel injection valve of an internal combustion engine, has connecting pins (14) projecting out of the piezoactuator (12) and a head arrangement (16, 18) placed on to the piezoactuator (12), which is provided with openings (20) for the penetration of the connecting pins (14), wherein a liquid-tight sealing element (30) abuts against the outer surfaces of the connecting pins (14) on one side and also against the head arrangement (16, 18) on the other. In order to ensure a reliable seal with this arrangement, in particular also over extended periods of time, the sealing element (30) abuts against the outer surfaces of the connecting pins (14) located inside the openings (20), and sealing element sections (32) located inside the openings (20) are radially compressed in the openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: SIEMENS VDO AUTOMOTIVE AG
    Inventors: Marcus Unruh, Claus Zumstrull
  • Patent number: 7612512
    Abstract: In order to control an electromotive drive, a control unit has control modules for controlling half-bridge end power stages. Two of the control modules are pre-configured for alternatively controlling a commutator motor or a brushless electric motor via two half-bridge end power stages. A third control module can be subsequently configured to control a third half-bridge end power stage or two individual switching elements. An electromotive drive ideally can be configured with the stated control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Josef Loibl, Thomas Maier
  • Patent number: 7612332
    Abstract: An optical module includes a lens arrangement which is used to project electromagnetic radiation to a semiconductor element and a light source disposed in the surrounding area of the radiation inlet area of the lens arrangement. The lens arrangement and the light source are provided with a covering which is permeable to electromagnetic radiation. The covering is provided with a radiation barrier that blocks the radiation which is emitted by the light source and prevents a direct injection of radiation which is emitted by the light source into the lens arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Henryk Frenzel, Harald Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7609021
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to an arrangement for monitoring signals which are guided to a multi-phase motor by an end stage and the pulse width thereof is controlled by a controller. The total of the pulse widths of the signals of each phase is measured by, respectively, a counter, respectively for a predetermined program flow in the controller. The meter reading is read by a counter according to a predetermined period of time and an error signal is produced if the total amount of time exceeds a predetermined tolerance range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Bay, Michael Henninger, Sven Kretschmar
  • Publication number: 20090242426
    Abstract: Presented is a gas sensor and method for detecting the quantity of a measurement gas contained in a gas mixture. The sensor includes a prechamber, a first pump device disposed in the prechamber configured to set the partial pressure of a free gas component of a detection gas to a predetermined value, and a measuring chamber separated from the prechamber by a diffusion barrier. The measuring chamber includes a detection device configured to determine the concentration of the detection gas. The sensor further includes an inlet chamber separated from the prechamber by a diffusion barrier, a second pump device disposed in the inlet chamber configured to set the partial pressure of the free gas component of the detection gas to a predetermined value, and a third pump device disposed in the measuring chamber and configured to set the partial pressure of the free gas component to a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Muammer Kilinc, Bertrand Lemire
  • Patent number: 7545294
    Abstract: The sensor has only a first contact (1) and a second contact (2). In the first step of the method, current is passed through the sensor element (3) while simultaneously measuring the measured variable using a closed switch (4). In a second step, the measured value is then converted into a digital signal in an analogue/digital converter (5) and the digital signal is transformed into a digital output value in a digital switching mechanism (6) which is connected downstream of the analogue/digital converter (5). In a third step, the digital output value is serially sent via the first contact (1) and the second contact (2) with the switch (4) open or closed depending on the binary structure of the digital output value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventor: Peter Wiese
  • Publication number: 20090127078
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary/push-button controller having a controller ring (18) which can be rotated about a rotation axis (7) and is arranged such that it can rotate on a holding cylinder (6) which is arranged coaxially within the control ring (18). In this case, the holding cylinder (6) is provided at its end with an input and/or display field (14), and the control ring (18) and the holding cylinder (6) can be moved axially with respect to the rotation axis (7) against a spring force from a neutral position to a switch position which operates a switching element. The input and/or display field (14) is mounted so that it can rotate about the rotation axis (7). A rotary transmitter ring is arranged coaxially on the control ring (18) and is arranged coaxially alongside a rotary transmitter (17) which is firmly connected to the holding cylinder (6) with the relative rotation position of the rotary transmitter ring with the respect to the rotary transmitter (17) being recordable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: SIEMENS VDO AUTOMOTIVE AG
    Inventors: Daniel Hostmann, Thien Nhu Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20090126344
    Abstract: An exhaust gas catalytic converter is laden with oxygen until it is saturated at least upstream of an exhaust gas probe. A predefined first rich air/fuel ration is set in a combustion chamber of a cylinder. A first oxygen storage capacity value is determined as a function of the measurement signal of an exhaust gas probe and the predefined first rich air/fuel ratio. The exhaust gas catalytic converter is laden with oxygen until it is saturated. A predefined second rich air/fuel ration is set in the combustion chamber of the cylinder. A second oxygen storage capacity value is determined as a function of the measurement signal of the exhaust gas probe and the predefined second rich air/fuel ration. A corrected oxygen storage capacity value is determined as a function of the first and second oxygen storage capacity values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Tino Arlt, Rosel Gerd
  • Publication number: 20090126507
    Abstract: A flow sensor for use in a main duct is disclosed. The flow sensor includes a main body having a bypass duct having an inlet and an outlet, a pressure loss element fixedly attached to the main body, and a sensor element disposed in the bypass duct. When the flow sensor is operatively mounted in the main duct, the inlet and the outlet are oriented perpendicularly with respect to a main flow direction of a fluid mass flow in the main duct, the pressure loss element is disposed in the main duct, downstream of the inlet and upstream of the outlet, and the sensor element is operable to generate a measurement signal which is a representative of the fluid mass flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventor: Roland Achhammer
  • Publication number: 20090129436
    Abstract: A device for measuring a temperature of an exhaust gas flow in an exhaust branch of an exhaust gas section of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. A sub-region of the exhaust branch is configured as a parabolic mirror having a focal point positioned outside of the exhaust branch. The device includes a side channel member attached to the exhaust branch and having an open end adjacent to the exhaust branch and a closed end; and a radiation sensitive sensor disposed in the side channel member and at the focal point. The open end is in fluid communication with an interior of the exhaust branch through a cutout of the exhaust branch so that the sensor is coupled to radiation of the exhaust gas flow for measuring a temperature of the exhaust gas flow. A related method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Manfred Glehr, Stephan Heinrich
  • Publication number: 20090125224
    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: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Boris Basche, Nhu Nguyen Thien
  • Publication number: 20090079140
    Abstract: An air mass sensor arrangement is disclosed. The air mass sensor arrangement includes a duct having a recess and an outer face; a sensor comprising a main body and a baseplate extending radially outward from the main body, the sensor being releasably attached to the duct by a screw connection so that the main body is partially inserted into the recess and the baseplate faces the outer face; and a sealing arrangement disposed around the recess for sealing between the duct and the sensor. The sealing arrangement includes a first web formed on one of the baseplate and the outer face and completely surrounding the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Roland Achhammer, Rudolf Bierl, Jan-Erik Hauschel, Stefan Pesahl, Manfred Schweimeier, Frank Steuber, Andreas Wildgen
  • Patent number: 7502683
    Abstract: A device is designed for determining a pre-set air/fuel ratio in the combustion chamber of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. The device is further designed for determining a filtered, pre-set air/fuel ratio in the combustion chamber of the cylinder by filtering the pre-set air/fuel ratio in the combustion chamber of the cylinder by means of a filter which models the dynamic behavior of the upstream region of the exhaust gas catalyst relative to the arrangement of the exhaust gas probe in the exhaust gas catalyst, in particular its storage, reduction and/or oxidation properties. The device is further designed for determining an adjustable variable by means of a regulator as a function of the filtered and pre-set air/fuel ratio, and of a sensed air/fuel ratio in the combustion chamber of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Paul Rodatz, Gerd Rösel, Hong Zhang
  • Publication number: 20090045763
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to an arrangement for monitoring signals which are guided to a multi-phase motor by an end stage and the pulse width thereof is controlled by a controller. The total of the pulse widths of the signals of each phase is measured by, respectively, a counter, respectively for a predetermined programme flow in the controller. The meter reading is read by a counter according to a predetermined period of time and an error signal is produced if the total amount of time exceeds a predetermined tolerance range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Bay, Michael Henninger, Sven Kretschmar