Abstract: A method to manufacture electric power steering systems is proposed. First, an electric motor having a drive shaft, a coupling device, and a worm gear having a worm shaft are provided. Then, an adjusting sleeve is provided, and an individual axial position of each adjusting sleeve in its associated opening is determined in order to achieve a specific axial preloading force on the worm shaft. The adjusting sleeve is press-fitted into the axial opening in the determined axial position, and a spring element is installed in the adjusting sleeve so that the spring element is supported on one end axially on the drive shaft and on its other end it is supported axially on the adjusting sleeve, and said spring element acts upon the worm shaft with the preloading force in the axial direction via the adjusting sleeve.

Abstract: A steering column assembly comprises a telescopic shroud having an outer shroud portion and an inner shroud portion, a clamp rail fixed to an upper face of the inner shroud portion including a slot, a clamp bolt that extends perpendicular to the shroud, a rocker comprising a body from which extends a lever arm, the body having an opening through which the clamp bolt passes, the rocker converting a rotation of the clamp bolt about its axis in a first direction into an upward motion of the lever arm and into a downward motion when the clamp bolt is rotated in the opposing second direction, a toothed block having two opposed racks of locking teeth that is connected to a carrier element, the carrier element in turn being connected to the lever of the rocker arm such that movement of the lever arm up and down causes movement of the carrier element up and down between an upper position and a lower position.

Abstract: An energy absorption device for a vehicle steering column comprising a metal band and an adjustable deformation unit through which the metal band extends. The deformation unit is a rotatable hollow roller having a first contact surface inside the hollow roller that is separated from an outer contact surface by an outlet slot. The metal band passes through an inlet slot into the interior of the roller, and then through the outlet slot leaves the roller, in a manner that that said metal band is entirely deformed along an S-shaped curve.

Abstract: The invention relates to a belt tensioner (30) for a vehicle occupant restraint system comprising a housing (32), a working chamber (34) into which the compressed gas released in the case of restraint is flowing, a pull rope (24) extending through an opening (36) within the housing (32) and a sealing bush (10) for sealing the working chamber (34) against the opening (36) between the pull rope (24) and the housing (32), with the sealing bush (10) comprising a sleeve (16) and a sealing element (12) and the sealing bush (10) being pressed onto the pull rope (24) by plastic deforming of the outer sleeve (16).

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of a drivers hands on the steering wheel of a motor vehicle is described. By means of a mathematical model, at least one part of a steering system of the motor vehicle is modeled. In addition, a rotational angle of a lower end and/or an upper end of a torsion bar of the steering system is determined. A torque acting on the torsion bar is determined by means of a measuring device and a total torque acting on the steering wheel and a rotational angle acceleration of the steering wheel are estimated by means of a Kalman Filter.

Abstract: A frontal airbag for vehicle occupants, especially a passenger airbag, includes a contact panel (26) facing the vehicle occupant (12). Inside the airbag plural tethers (38) and/or partitions (38) are arranged which in portions withhold the contact panel (26) in the inflated state of the airbag (10) and form at least one lateral bead (34) and plural central beads (36) which in cross-section are smaller than the lateral beads (34). Furthermore, an airbag module is presented.

Abstract: A belt buckle includes a casing (12) and an illumination system (24) present in the area of a locking tongue insertion opening (14). The illumination system (24) includes a lamp (32) and a light conductor (26; 26?) having a light emission area, and the light conductor (26; 26?) includes an annular portion (42; 42?) which surrounds at least a major part of the locking tongue insertion opening (14).

Abstract: A multi-piece gearwheel comprising an inner core section and an external toothed ring with external teething is presented. The core section has intermeshing teeth extending radially outwards, which have an undercut in cross-section in the radial direction. The toothed ring has recesses that originate from an inner side of the tooth ring and extend radially outwards, wherein the recesses are at least partially complementary to the intermeshing teeth, and wherein the intermeshing teeth are received in the recesses. Furthermore, a gearbox for an electromechanically-assisted steering system is described.

Abstract: The invention relates to an inflatable airbag (1) for the protection of a person comprising a flexible sheath (10) which comprises at least two fingerlike extensions (11), wherein the flexible sheath (10) delimits a closed gas expansion chamber by the fingerlike extensions (11). The invention excels by the fact that the fingerlike extensions (11) are connected by at least one of being stitched, glued or welded to each other so that in an inflated state the airbag (1) takes a three-dimensional shape. The invention further relates to an airbag module, a vehicle occupant restraint system as well as vehicle parts comprising such airbag.

Abstract: An electric power steering system with a worm gear includes a worm shaft and a worm wheel, wherein an electric motor is associated with the worm shaft, which is connected to the worm shaft in a force-transmitting manner. A bearing element, arranged on the worm shaft at the end of the worm shaft facing away from the electric motor, is received in a guide bush, wherein the guide bush has, on its circumferential side, a passage opening. It is provided a pre-tensioning device comprising a spring-loaded actuator element extending through the passage opening of the guide bush and acting on the worm shaft in the direction of the worm wheel with a defined pre-tensioning force (K), wherein the pre-tensioning device comprises a limiting device which is adapted to limit a pivoting movement that displaces the worm wheel away from the worm shaft. Furthermore, it is proposed a method for the production of steering systems and a test system for performing the method.

Abstract: A method for controlling access to a vehicle includes storing at a vehicle-based system a GPS location of the vehicle associated with the location at which the vehicle is parked. The vehicle-based system communicates with a mobile device to obtain a GPS location of the mobile device. The vehicle-based system blocks entry to the vehicle if the GPS location of the mobile device is outside a predetermined distance from the stored GPS location of the vehicle.

Abstract: A steering column assembly for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, provides that an absorption part extends into a reduction part through a passage, which has a smaller cross-section than an end portion of the absorption part having the form of a rod, tube or wire. By a relative movement between the reduction part and the absorption part the end portion is pulled through the passage and plastically deformed. In such a way, an energy absorption device is formed.

Abstract: A power supply diagnostic strategy for discrete power supply diagnostic states is independent of the underlying memory structure. The values used in the associated algorithm are selected to ensure that random linked failures will be detected. This applies to planar memory structures with 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 16 common lattices, or physical memory structures with individual bit dispersed memories with 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 16 consecutive bit splices. Further, the strategy provides that the various monitored voltage tables remains distinct even with compiler optimization activated.

Abstract: An electric power steering system includes a control for providing a calculated torque assist demand in the event of failure of a steering wheel torque sensor. The control is responsive to one or more of a vehicle speed, a steering column position, a steering column velocity, a gear lever position, a vehicle yaw rate and a vehicle lateral acceleration for generating the calculated torque assist demand. The control is operable to modify the torque assist demand by providing one or more of (a) friction and inertial compensation, (b) vehicle oversteer compensation, (c) reverse motion compensation, (d) damping compensation and (e) self steer prevention.

Abstract: A bearing device for motor vehicle shafts is described, in particular for motor vehicle steering shafts. The bearing device is provided for torque transmission between an inner shaft and the hollow shaft surrounded by the inner shaft. The inner shaft and the hollow shaft each have opposing bearing grooves, in which rolling elements are received. At least one positive locking cam in radial direction is provided. A safety contour is assigned to the positive locking cam, the safety contour comprising two engagement positions for the positive locking cam. In the case of unoccupied bearing grooves the positive locking cam is rotationally movable along the safety contour between the engagement points during a torque transmission, in a manner that a defined relative movement between the inner shaft and the hollow shaft is possible, which generates both tactile feedback and acoustic feedback. Furthermore, an automotive shaft assembly is described.

Abstract: A control system for an electric motor comprises a controller which receives as an input a demanded motor current and produces at an output an intermediate voltage demand signal, a voltage demand signal correction means arranged to generate a voltage demand correction signal, and a combining means arranged to combine the intermediate voltage demand signal and the voltage demand correction signal to produce an actual voltage demand signal that is applied to the motor by pulse width modulation of the switches of a motor bridge driver. The correction signal compensates for unwanted non-linearities caused by interlock delays in the switching of the motor bridge switches.

Abstract: A method of introducing an electric conductor (22), especially a heating wire, into foam padding (20) of a steering wheel skeleton (18) includes introducing at least one cut (26) into the foam padding (20) by means of a cutting tool (34). At the same time the conductor is introduced into the produced cut (26). Moreover a tool as well as a tool assembly for implementing the method and a vehicle steering wheel are provided.

Abstract: A steering gear includes a housing defining a chamber. A piston divides the chamber into first and second chamber portions. The piston is moveable along a linear axis relative to the housing upon pressurization of fluid in one of the first and second chamber portions. A pressure relief vents pressurized fluid from one of the first and second chamber portions to one other of the first and second chamber portions upon movement of the piston to a predetermined position. The pressure relief assembly includes a first valve at a first end of the pressure relief assembly and a second valve at a second end of the pressure relief assembly. The pressure relief assembly is axially movable relative to the piston to adjust the position of the first valve and the second valve relative to the piston.

Abstract: Method for preventing security breaches via the two-thief method of attack of passive remote keyless entry systems for vehicles. The method involves the transmission of a signal between a fob and the vehicle, where the level of the signal changes in a particular pattern. At the receiving side, anomalies in the pattern of the received signal (e.g., levels, timing) are detected and used to detect attempts to mimic the signal.

Abstract: A steering assist device for a motor vehicle is described, which encloses a steering-wheel-side steering shaft and a wheel-side steering shaft coupled to the latter, whereby a gear wheel coupled to a backup drive is installed on the wheel-side steering shaft. Moreover, a sensor element is integrated into the gear wheel and interacts with a second sensor counter element fixed in space over a first sensor counter element installed at the steering-wheel-side steering shaft.