Abstract: The invention describes a process for triggering a passive safety device for vehicle occupants inside a vehicle, in particular airbags, pretensioning systems, buckle switches, and roll-over bars, where--by means of electric sensors, an evaluation circuit evaluating the acceleration signals of these sensors, and a triggering agent--an activation of these triggering agents is effected if the acceleration signals indicate a vehicle condition which may be potentially hazardaous for the vehicle occupants. According to the invention, the sensor signals will first be quantified, followed by detection of those signals that indicate simultaneously an impact direction against the direction of vehicle travel. At the same time that such sensor signals are detected, a linearly increasing crash signal as well as a trigger threshold increasing with the clock pulse are generated. If the crash signal reaches this dynamic trigger threshold, the trigger agents will be activated.

Abstract: A process for the fabrication on a monocrystal silicon substrate of epitaxial layers of a III-V nitride compound semi-conductor having the structure In.sub.x Al.sub.y Ga.sub.1-x-y N (0.ltoreq.x, 0.ltoreq.y, x+y.ltoreq.1). The process consists of the following steps. A parcel-like structure is created on the surface of a monocrystal silicon substrate. The silicon surface within the parcels is uncovered and the edges of the parcels are covered by a masking material. By means of epitaxial growth of the nitride compound semiconductor exclusively within the parcels on the silicon surface, local islands are created on whose edges the dislocations generated by the lattice mismatches are able to break down. Finally, components are fabricated in and on the parcels.

Abstract: Process and circuit layout for using an independent capacitor for the momentary retention of an output voltage when an input voltage is lost. To facilitate a reduction in capacitance in independent circuits of this type at a constant amount of charge, the input voltage is transformed by a DC/DC up converter to a higher capacitor voltage, which is stored in the independent capacitor and the capacitor voltage is transformed by a DC/DC down converter to the output voltage for the load element, which is less than the capacitor voltage. As the DC/DC down converter can utilize capacitor voltages until the output voltage is reached, the residual voltage remaining in the independent capacitor (C) is no longer used. The independent time interval is correspondingly short. According to the invention, the capacitor is disconnected from the output of the DC/DC up-converter and connected to its input when the input voltage is less than a reference voltage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for sealing pressure compensation openings in components in particular of a motor vehicle control unit. Previously, pressure compensation openings were sealed in the interior of the housing by a watertight and gas-permeable material affixed by adhesion. In accordance with the invention, the opening is sealed from the outside with a two-layered material where a wide-area first layer consists of a material that can be inscribed and a second layer, which can also be provided over just a part of the total area, is a watertight and gas-permeable membrane. At those places where pressure compensation occurs, the first layer is removed so that only the membrane acts. The first layer can be used here as a label. Advantages offered by this device are that the housing and the membrane are joined over a much larger area, the process can be monitored, and one process step is saved.

Abstract: A method for the cylinder-selective control of combustion processes in diesel engines. In this case, a measuring device with associated processing unit is used to detect the rotational crankshaft angle and to determine the instantaneous rotational crankshaft speed. A control device determines suitable parameters from the rotational crankshaft speed, which parameters permit a cylinder-selective equalizing or a defined unequalizing of the mean pressures in various operating ranges of the internal combustion engine, thereby minimizing the effects of component differences in the fuel feed system and the combustion system on the combustion process.

Abstract: A process used to trigger a passive occupant protection system for motor vehicles where at least one electric ignition agent for a safety device protecting one person in the event of a hazardous impact, in particular an airbag or a belt tensioner, is provided with ignition energy by a trigger current which--in the event of a functional failure occurring in the on-board electric system of the motor vehicle--is generated as the discharge current of an autarchic capacitor. According to the invention, this autarchic capacitor simultaneously provides the trigger currents for multiple ignition agents--in particular squibs used for airbags--, with the respective trigger current of each ignition agent being pulse-width modulated such that the ignition energy required for the respective ignition agent is preset by the pulse-to-pause ratio of the trigger current.

Abstract: A method of testing a large number of products in which every product to be tested is subjected to at least one test mode that is carried out in a test sequence successively on all products by means of a test operation comprising several successively performed measurement operations, where statistical information on the test operation of products already tested is allowed for and where a test result is allocated for every product tested. In every test mode the order of the measurement operations of a test operation is specified such that the measurement operations are arranged in accordance with their fault frequency per measurement time and the functional dependencies between the measurement operations. Every test operation within the test sequence of a test mode is allocated a measurement mode which has a certain quantity of measurement operations to be performed and which is specified in accordance with the quantity and the products already tested in a test sequence.

Abstract: On a known electromagnetic actuator for valve control of an internal combustion engine an armature (1) is moved by magnetic force between the pole faces (21, 31) of an opening magnet (2) and a closing magnet (3) to activate an intake/exhaust valve (5). Owing to the work that has to be done when the intake/exhaust valve (5) is opened in order to counteract the high internal gas pressure in the combustion chamber the opening operation takes longer than the closing operation. The disclosed actuator permits faster opening of the intake/exhaust valve (5), in that the magnetic force exerted by the opening magnet (2) is increased for large stroke lengths (d.sub.o) in comparison with the magnetic force exerted by the closing magnet (3) on the armature (1) in conjunction with the same stroke length (d.sub.s) by the provision of a two-section connecting sleeve (7) enclosing the space between the pole faces (21, 31).

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for driving a sensor with offset control. Such processes for driving are required, for example, to be used in acceleration transducers in motor vehicles for triggering, e.g., airbags or belt-tensioning devices. However, with existing processes the output nominal signal was repeatedly corrupted, e.g., by temperature-related interference signals, also known as the offset. In addition, existing systems are unreliable during turn-on. However, with the process according to this invention, the sign and the value of the difference between the output signal and a reference voltage is detected at a fixed or variable time pulse, with the sign changing the measuring voltage at the output and the difference value determining the clock frequency for this control process. Also, during turn-on a significantly increased clock frequency will be reduced in stages until the operating frequency is reached.

Abstract: For electrically and mechanically connecting a printed circuit board bonding pad to a metallic housing part, in particular for connecting to ground, friction-type connections such as screw fastenings or rivets are usually provided for connecting the printed circuit board directly to the housing part. However, since the printed circuit boards are mostly made of plastic material and the forces at the friction-type connections diminish, the electrical connection may become loose, especially in the aging process. To prevent this a connecting element comprising a base surface having a hole for inserting the friction-type connection to the housing part and at least one contact finger on the base surface are provided, whereby the contact finger provides connection to the printed circuit board bonding pad. The base surface is insensitive to mechanical loads at the friction-type connection and can distribute these evenly. Electrical connection is guaranteed and fabrication simplified.

Abstract: This invention concerns an ignition rail featuring a movable connection between the recesses of the tube portion carrier (ZT) and the connectors of the tube portions (ZR) by means of two O-rings, which connection protects against mechanical overloads and the ingress of humidity.

Abstract: The invention concerns a procedure for selectively connecting a status detection device--from a group of such devices based on different physical action principles, in particular belt buckle status detection, and seat occupation detection, within a passive safety system for motor vehicles, in particular an airbag system, and/or a belt pretensioning system,--to the signal input of a control unit, using a single wire connection, by causing the control unit to activate an appropriate current/voltage supply in accordance with the physical action principle, and by appropriately processing the signals generated by the status detection device, which signals will then be fed to the control unit for evaluation. Furthermore, an interface circuit is specified for implementing the procedure according to the invention.

Abstract: A process for regulating continuously variable transmissions in motor vehicles by means of a controller includes a first control circuit as a speed controller for regulating the transmission input speed as the product calculated from the transmission output speed and the transmission ratio, and a second control circuit post-connected to the first control circuit as a speed gradient controller for regulating the time derivative of the transmission input speed. A correction value, dependent on the functional value of a correcting function and obtained from a correction element, is added to the summation element at the controller input of one of the two control circuits. The correction value is obtained such that the regulating ranges are specified, respectively, with a different control behavior of the controller.

Abstract: In an image detection device comprising at least one column arrangement consisting of photo detector elements linearly arranged in a row, an image field will be swung alternately across the photo detector elements in both longitudinal directions of the column arrangement. For time-correct summing and output of the detector signals, the photo detector elements of one column arrangement will be connected with a TDI arrangement. The TDI arrangement features a switch arrangement comprising several switches as well as a memory unit containing several memory cells. By appropriate control of the switch arrangement, its switches will be set such that the detector signals generated in the photo detector elements by one and the same image field pixel will be integrated into one and the same memory cell of the memory unit.

Abstract: The power supply to a load in a power supply circuit is controlled by a power supply switch which in turn is controlled by a control circuit and by a feedback signal representing a voltage drop across the load. The control circuit provides at its output a high level signal, a low level signal, and a high impedance signal level, whereby the high signal level initially closes the power supply switch, and the feedback signal normally keeps the power supply switch in its closed "ON-state" as long as said high impedance level prevails. The switch is caused to open and assume its "OFF-state" in response to a circuit fault as signified by said feedback signal or in response to said low level signal. A monitor detects the "ON" or "OFF" state of the switch under normal operating conditions and also the "OFF" state when a circuit fault such as a short occurred in the power supply circuit.

Abstract: The reduction of surface recombination is required for the manufacture of electronic devices made of silicon as well as for the application of various measurements and analytical methods for determining the purity of silicon. According to this invention, a process will be described for applying a laquer layer to the surface of silicon wafers, wherby the surface recombination velocity will be reduced to a value below 100 cm/s.

Abstract: In a method and system for transmitting digital data, a data acceptance clock signal generator that has a controllable clock frequency in a peripheral module is correspondingly adapted to clock frequency information derived from a synchronization pulse train transmitted by a central unit. The same oscillator is used as a frequency source for determining the clock frequency information and for generating the data acceptance clock pulse. In this manner, simple RC oscillators are adequate to fulfill any requirements of long time accuracy of the oscillator. The clock frequency can be changed in that the central unit simply transmits altered clock frequency information. It is also possible to carry out an adjustment or adaptation in the case of deviations of the oscillator frequency in the peripheral unit.

Abstract: A power module for the control of electric motors is described which displays an integrated design and provides the following functional units: A power unit with a circuit arrangement on the upper side of a substrate with power semiconductor components. A cooling unit with a cooling medium flowing through it, which has a heat sink with structured surface formed as an insert section onto which the underside of the substrate is directly fitted. A control unit with semiconductor components arranged on a carrier, which is arranged in parallel to and at a given distance from the substrate of the power unit. Contact pins between the substrate of the power unit and the carrier of the control unit for the connection and contacting of the circuit arrangement of the power unit with the semiconductor components on the control unit. A housing body, which encloses the power unit and the control unit.

Abstract: An arrangement for supplying electrical power to at least one load arranged along a power supply line, preferably in motor vehicles, is characterized by having a power supply facility that has at least one input for a supply voltage and at least one output for the supply voltage and a testing device, by the testing device being designed to test an output for the supply voltage to establish whether a short-circuit, i.e. a resistance of too low a value, exists at this output, and by the power supply facility having a switching device and being designed in such a way that a supply voltage fed to it is switched through by the switching device to the output tested by the testing device only when the test has established the non-existence of a short-circuit. This allows the power supply to be maintained if a single fault occurs.

Abstract: A method for acquiring measured values in electronic analog circuits having at least one measurement point, in particular safety-relevant circuits for passenger protection systems in motor vehicles. The electrical potentials generated at the measurement points are each compared as measured quantities with a ramp voltage that rises in steps, where the number of steps required to reach the voltage value of the measured quantity at the respective measurement point is provided as a unit of measurement that is proportional to the measured quantity. This allows the comparison of all measured quantities with the ramp voltage to be performed simultaneously, the ramp voltage being selected to cover the entire range of measurement.