Abstract: A steering column for a motor vehicle may include a crash device that has at least two components that have mutually facing surfaces. The at least two components may be connected to each other by means of a shear element that is arranged in an opening passing at least partially through the components such that the shear element is broken in two if the components move relative to each other. To improve the predetermined breaking connection, the opening may have, in at least one edge region bounding one of the mutually facing surfaces, a widened portion that extends at least over a partial circumferential region and is open towards the respective other surface.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a steering column for a motor vehicle, comprising a steering shaft which is mounted so as to be rotatable about its longitudinal axis (L) relative to a carrying unit, a rotation limiter having an end stop for limiting the rotation of the steering shaft, and a rotary sensor coupled to the steering shaft by means of a torque-locked connection. In order to permit a greater operational reliability, the invention proposes that the rotation limiter has a threshold torque and, if said threshold torque is exceeded, the rotation of the steering shaft beyond the end stop is permitted, wherein the threshold torque is less than a maximum transmission torque of the connection between the steering shaft and rotary sensor.

Abstract: A printed circuit board may include a top side, a bottom side, and a circumferential surface that connects the top side to the bottom side. The circumferential surface may have a toothing for forming a gear wheel. The toothing may be circumferentially closed and may be arranged over an entire surface area of the circumferential surface. The toothing may be configured as an involute toothing, an epicycloid toothing, a hypocycloid toothing, or a lantern gear toothing. The printed circuit board may be formed of fiber-reinforced plastic. Further, the printed circuit board may include a track, a surface structure, and/or a conductor track configured for inductive sampling, capacitive sampling, optical sampling, and/or acoustic sampling.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a steer-by-wire steering system for a motor vehicle containing a steering shaft that can be torsionally connected to a steering handling device, a feedback actuator having an electric motor acting on a rotor shaft, a transmission by means of which the rotor shaft is connected to the steering shaft, and a first angle sensor and a second angle sensor. A control unit assigned to the steering system is designed to receive a first sensor signal S provided by the first angle sensor, to receive a second sensor signal S provided by the second angle sensor, and to provide a control signal ST for controlling the electric motor.

Abstract: An adjusting drive for a motor-adjustable steering column may include an outer threaded spindle that has an external thread that engages with a spindle nut and that has an internal thread that is engaged by an inner threaded spindle. The spindle nut, the outer threaded spindle, and the inner threaded spindle can be driven in rotation relative to one another about an axis by a motor-type drive unit. The adjusting drive may also include a blocking device that is switchable between a first position and a second position. In the first position the outer threaded spindle is locked together with the spindle nut for conjoint rotation. In the second position the outer threaded spindle is locked together with the inner threaded spindle for conjoint rotation.

Abstract: A method may be utilized to control a steer-by-wire steering system for a motor vehicle that includes an electronically controllable steering actuator that acts on steered wheels, a control unit, a feedback actuator to which a driver's request for a steering angle can be applied by a driver via steering input means and which outputs a feedback signal to the steering input means as a reaction to the driver's request and a driving condition of the motor vehicle, and a signal transmission that transmits the driver's request to the control unit. The control unit controls the steering actuator to convert the driver's request into deflection of the steered wheels. The method may involve determining wheel slip of a front wheel, performing frequency analysis of a profile over time of a wheel slip signal of the front wheel, and determining the feedback signal based on the result of the frequency analysis.

Abstract: A multiphase electric motor is disconnectable from a DC voltage source by way of a control unit. Phase windings with connection lines can each be alternately connected via a high-side and a low-side switching element to a respective pole of the DC voltage source, and the connection lines each have a device for disconnecting the phase windings from the DC voltage source upon a fault. The control unit may monitor the switching elements for short-circuit faults, switch off the switching elements when a fault occurs, determine whether the switching element causing the fault is a high-side or a low-side switching element, switch on at least a second of the high-side or correspondingly at least a second of the low-side switching elements in addition to the switching element causing the fault to brake the electric motor, switch off the switching elements after a braking period, and open the phase disconnection devices.

Abstract: A method for determining a risk of instability of a calculation of an angle ? of a steering shaft of a motor vehicle can be employed where a first gear wheel is fixed to the steering shaft and cooperates with a second gear wheel and a third gear wheel, which are smaller than the first gear wheel. The number of teeth of the first gear wheel is n. The number of teeth of the second gear wheel is m. And the number of teeth of the third gear wheel is m+1. The angles ? and ? of the two smaller gear wheels are determined and the angular position ? of the steering shaft is calculated by evaluating the equation ? = m * ? + ( m + 1 ) * ? - ( 2 ? m + 1 ) * k * ? 2 ? n , with ? being an angle of the sensor range and a whole number k given by k = round ? ( ( m + 1 ) * ? - m * ? ? ) , wherein the risk of instability is determined by calculation of a stability margin t according to t = k - ( ( m + 1 ) * ? - m * ? ? ) .

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns an electromechanical steering system with a steering shaft, with a magnetic torque sensor device for measuring a torque applied to the steering shaft and with a shielding element. The steering shaft comprises an input shaft which can be rotationally fixedly connected to a steering handle and penetrates through the shielding element, and an output shaft which is connected to the input shaft via a twistable torsion bar. The torque sensor device comprises a multipole magnetic ring rotationally fixedly connected to the input shaft, a stator ring element rotationally fixedly connected to the output shaft and surrounding the magnetic ring, a magnetic flux collector and a sensor for detecting a magnetic flux density. The shielding element is arranged following the magnetic ring, wherein the shielding element covering the surface of the magnetic ring and the stator ring element with respect to the steering handle.

Abstract: A motor vehicle control device may have a switch-on and switch-off function for at least one electrical load to be controlled by the motor vehicle control device. The motor vehicle control device may include an electronic switching element for arrangement in a supply voltage path of the electrical load and a control unit for controlling the electronic switching element. The control unit is designed to provide a control signal for switching the electronic switching element based on at least one input signal. The control unit may include a resistor connected to the supply voltage path and a current control means connected in series therewith for generating a predefinable voltage difference at the resistor as the control signal for the electronic switching element.

Abstract: A steering column for a motor vehicle may include a casing unit in which a steering spindle is mounted so as to be rotatable about a longitudinal axis extending in a length direction. The casing unit may have at least two casings that are adjustably guided relative to one another through a range of adjustment travel in the length direction. Part of the adjustment travel may correspond to a transitional portion, and part of the adjustment travel may correspond to a functional portion. The casings may be guided with a greater play in the transitional portion than in the functional portion. One casing may have a guide track and another casing may have a guide element that engages in the guide track and is guided in the length direction and has a guide play in the guide track that is greater in the transitional portion than in the functional portion.

Abstract: A steering shaft may include an inner shaft at least partially within an outer shaft where the inner shaft includes a sliding element with an outer profile portion. The outer shaft may be displaced relative to the inner shaft axially in a direction of a longitudinal axis between a storage position and an operating position. A steering column may include an inner covering pipe in which such a steering shaft is rotatably supported and an outer covering unit in which the inner covering pipe is retained. The outer shaft may have a bearing means having an inner profile portion that corresponds to the outer profile portion. In the storage position the outer profile portion is at least partially received in the bearing means.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electrically adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle, comprising a positioning unit on which a steering control element can be arranged, a support unit by which the positioning unit is held in an adjustable manner, an adjustment device which is configured to adjust the positioning unit relative to the support unit and which comprises, for the adjustment of the positioning unit, an electric motor. The steering column further has a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to activate the electric motor. The control unit is further configured, for the activation of the electric motor, to generate a first signal and a second signal, wherein the activation of the electric motor requires the presence of the first signal and of the second signal, in particular at a first switch unit and a second switch unit of the control unit which are connected in series with the electric motor.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle, comprising a support unit by which a positioning unit is adjustably held, and an adjustment device which is designed to adjust the positioning unit relative to the support unit. Associated with the steering column is a control unit which is designed to receive a signal, to evaluate the signal in terms of a predefined release condition, and to produce a release state of the steering column when the signal meets the release condition, and to produce a locked state of the steering column when the signal does not meet the release condition. Adjustment of the positioning unit is thus enabled exclusively in the release state.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for operating an operating system (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) of a motor vehicle, in which a control command (M1) for controlling the motor vehicle is specified via a control element (3.1, 3.2, 3.3), the control command (M1) specified via the control element (3.1, 3.2, 3.3) is sensorially acquired and passed on from an electronic control unit (4) to an electromechanical actuator unit (5.1, 5.2, 5.3) as a control signal, wherein the actuator unit (5.1, 5.2, 5.3) implements the control command (M1) according to the control signal. The operating system (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) is monitored here for an occurrence of a deviation from a target behaviour of the actuator unit (5.1, 5.2, 5.3), wherein tactile feedback is applied to the control element (3.1, 3.2, 3.3) if a deviation is detected.

Abstract: A helical gear transmission for an electromechanical servo steering mechanism may include a shaft that meshes with a helical gear. The shaft may be arranged in a transmission housing and, at its first end, may be mounted in a drive-side bearing arrangement so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation. At its second end, the shaft may be mounted in a drive-remote bearing arrangement in the transmission housing. The drive-side bearing arrangement may have a rolling bearing, an outer ring of which is spherical. The rolling bearing may be enclosed by two bearing shells. The outer side of the outer ring may have two flat points that are opposite one another and form a pivot axis about which the shaft is pivotable in a direction of the helical gear.

Abstract: An electromechanical power steering system may include an electric servomotor that has a motor shaft and drives a shaft that meshes with a helical gear. The shaft is disposed in a gearbox housing and rotatably mounted in a bearing assembly. A pretensioning installation, for adjusting engagement between the helical gear and the shaft, resiliently pretensions a movable bearing element of the bearing assembly relative to the gearbox housing. The gearbox housing has a housing portion having first and second contact faces, the normals of which do not intersect. The bearing assembly has a bearing support that forms the movable bearing element and has a lever arm having a free end that extends from a main body of the bearing support and on the gearbox housing lies against the second contact face. The main body has an eccentric cam that on the housing lies against the first contact face.

Abstract: A steering column may include a casing unit in which a steering spindle is mounted rotatably about a longitudinal axis extending in a longitudinal direction, and casing tubes that are adjustable telescopically relative to one another in the longitudinal direction. A roller guide with at least one bearing support can be displaced radially on a first of the casing tubes, and in which at least one roller is mounted rotatably about a roller axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis. The roller can roll via its outer circumference in the longitudinal direction on a second of the casing tubes. A pretensioning device interacts with the bearing support to pretension the roller against the second casing tube. The bearing support may be guided on the first casing tube with an oblique inclination relative to the longitudinal axis, and the pretensioning device may apply an axial force to the bearing support.

Abstract: A steering column includes an outer jacket that is adjustably secured to a carrier unit and clamped to a telescopically adjustable inner jacket. The outer jacket has a tubular body with a clamping slot extending longitudinally. Opposing side plates disposed alongside the clamping slot extend longitudinally. The side plates are connected to the tubular body and each have a longitudinally-extending elongated hole spaced apart from the tubular body in an outer region that protrudes from the tubular body. A clamping bolt extends through the elongated holes and an opening of the carrier unit. The clamping bolt applies a clamping force to load the side plates. An inner region of each side plate is fixed to the tubular body. A support element is connected to each side plate between the elongated hole and the inner region and is connected to the tubular body in an edge region of the clamping slot.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a steering column for a motor vehicle, including an actuating unit. In order to render possible reduced friction and more flexible adaptation, the disclosure proposes that a stop body include a stop lever, which is mounted on the supporting unit rotatably about a lever axis (H) relative to the clamping shaft.