Patents Assigned to VDO Adolf Schindling AG
  • Patent number: 6523376
    Abstract: A lock suitable for use in a motor vehicle door has a rotary latch, a locking wedge, a pawl, a setting device, and a transmission device wherein the rotary latch cooperates with the locking wedge to be locked in a locking position by the pawl. Upon actuation of a manipulator, the setting device brings the pawl electrically at least into one opening position. The transmission device brings the pawl into its opening position by actuation of the manipulator over a displacement range which is greater than a displacement range of an electric unlocking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventors: Theo Baukholt, Klaus-Peter Rathmann, Jens Lübben, Sven Petzold
  • Publication number: 20010029759
    Abstract: A lock suitable for use in a motor vehicle door has a rotary latch, a locking wedge, a pawl, a setting device, and a transmission device wherein the rotary latch cooperates with the locking wedge to be locked in a locking position by the pawl. Upon actuation of a manipulator, the setting device brings the pawl electrically at least into one opening position. The transmission device brings the pawl into its opening position by actuation of the manipulator over a displacement range which is greater than a displacement range of an electric unlocking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Applicant: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventors: Theo Baukholt, Klaus-Peter Rathmann, Jens Lubben, Sven Petzold
  • Patent number: 6279361
    Abstract: A lock, suitable for use in a car door, has a rotary latch which cooperates with a locking wedge, or the like, and can be locked by a locking pawl in a locking position. The pawl is actuatable by a setting device for bringing the rotary latch at least into an open position. In order to provide a lock which is of improved efficiency and is both compact in construction and operates reliably, transmission elements are arranged between the pawl and the setting device for transmitting movement of the setting device, in stepped-down fashion, to the pawl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventors: Theo Baukholt, Alfred Wipfler, Jens Lübben
  • Patent number: 6070337
    Abstract: A passive magnetic position sensor, has a substrate with a resistance network arranged on it, and a contact structure which is associated with the resistance network and which can be deflected under the action of a magnet device. An electric connection which is dependent on the position of the magnet device is produced between resistance network and contact structure. In order to provide a position sensor which has a high resolution, operates with a little wear, and is constructively simple to produce, the contact structure is developed as contact-spring structure, and the junction points of the resistance network are connected to contact surfaces also applied on the substrate. The contact-spring structure is arranged at a constant distance from the contact surfaces, the latter entering into contact with the contact-spring structure under the action of the magnet device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventor: Werner Wallrafen
  • Patent number: 6067081
    Abstract: A method of producing tactile markings on an input surface, in which information is transmitted to the input member in the form of movements of the input surface and an arrangement for the carrying out of the method. In order to produce a large number of tactile markings on an input surface at little technical expense, the position of an input member on the input surface is detected and the position so detected is compared with a virtual coordinate-oriented reference pattern which associates a given movement with each position. Depending on the position of the input member, the entire input surface carries out the movement corresponding to that position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventors: Gunter Hahlganss, Ulrich Roskoni, Guido Meier-Arendt
  • Patent number: 6055966
    Abstract: An intake device for a supercharged internal combustion engine is installed in a motor vehicle. In particular, the engine is a supercharged otto engine which can be installed in the rear of a motor vehicle, and has an air filter box which receives an air filter element, and a supercharger air cooler. The supercharger air cooler is integrated in the air filter box. In this way, optimal cooling of the supercharger air is assured even in the event that the otto engine and its supercharger as well as the supercharger air cooler are installed in the rear of the vehicle. Furthermore, in this way, the mounting, logistic, and test expenses, particularly at the manufacturing site, can be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventor: Matthias Zentgraf
  • Patent number: 6003404
    Abstract: An accelerator pedal, for controlling the power of an internal combustion engine, has a pedal lever which is acted on manually by force on an outer end region, and is swingably mounted on an inner end region around a swing shaft within a bearing housing. The inner end region of the pedal lever extends through an opening into the bearing housing, and is located on the shaft. The bearing housing is developed in two or more parts. The ends of the shaft are arranged on different ones of the housing parts to provide a jam-free mounting of the pedal lever. A spring-load brake contacts the inner region of the pedal lever within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventor: Thomas Hannewald
  • Patent number: 6005465
    Abstract: A coil assembly has a coil form on which the coil winding is arranged as well as a method of contacting the coil assembly on a support member. The coil assembly is easy to produce and also permits electrical contacting, namely, the provision of electrical contacts between terminals of the coil and an external circuit in a simple and reliable manner. The coil assembly has a coil form on which two contact feet are arranged, the ends of the coil winding being fastened to the respective contact feet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventors: Klaus Kronenberg, Sabine Vorberg, Markus Keutz, Andreas Wilhelm, Frank Weiand, Christian Beckhaus, Thomas Vorberg, Peter Schmidt, Jochen Blume
  • Patent number: 6003904
    Abstract: A plastic closure cap (1) produced by injection molding for a fuel tank of a motor vehicle is provided, within the region of fuel lines which extend through it, with bushings (6, 7) of a temperature-resistant material of low thermal conductivity. Polyphenylene sulfide containing a proportion of mineral and/or of glass fibers or polyacetate reinforced with glass fibers is suitable for instance as material for the bushings (6, 7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventors: Winfried Frohlich, Burkhard Dasbach
  • Patent number: 6004001
    Abstract: An illumination for a display and/or a part of a display in an illumination color with a display and/or a part of a display which can be transilluminated by a source of light of a different color than the illumination color. The source of light is arranged on the side of the display and/or the part of the display facing away from an observer and a color filter 5 is arranged between source of light and the display and/or a part of the display. The color filter 5 is a split filter through which a part of the light from the source of light can pass unfiltered and a further part of the light from the source of light can pass filtered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventor: Heinrich Noll
  • Patent number: 6002328
    Abstract: A tank display system for a tank filled with fuel, the tank being divided into a main tank and a supplementary tank, has a level limit switch which responds when the main tank is almost empty. If the switch gives off a signal, then a valve is opened, allowing fuel to flow from the supplementary tank into a flood cup of the main tank. Furthermore, this signal activates a unit for detection of fuel consumption, which unit calculates the remaining volume of fuel in the supplementary tank, which volume decreases as a result of the consumption of fuel. As starting volume for the calculation, the completely filled supplementary tank is used. The precise remaining volume of fuel is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventor: Werner Wallrafen
  • Patent number: 5992194
    Abstract: A lock including a device for unlocking the door of a motor vehicle in case of a malfunction of the lock, as in the event of an accident of the motor vehicle, to open the lock or allow the lock to be reliably opened manually. The unlocking is triggered by a setting device which can be operated during a malfunction independently of a supply of electric current for unlocking the door. Also included in the lock is a rotary latch for engaging a closure wedge upon a locking of the door, and a pawl which holds the latch in a locked position during normal locking of the door, but releasing the latch upon operation of the setting device in the event of a sensed malfunction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventors: Theo Baukholt, Klaus-Peter Rathmann, Jens Lubben
  • Patent number: 5986613
    Abstract: An electric contact for connecting a conductive system present on an insulating substrate, in particular for automobile windshields, in which the conductive system is connected via a conductive path with an electric mating contact. A moisture-resistant electric contact which is easy to manufacture and can be universally used consists of a conductive path which is disposed directly on a support substrate as a path-shaped conductive layer on which an electric connecting line of the conductive system is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventor: Klaus Weber
  • Patent number: 5963445
    Abstract: In a method for the production of actuator signals as a function of sensor signals in an open-loop and/or closed-loop control system, the sensor signals are read into a data processing device and converted into internal input signals. The internal input signals are evaluated together with stored status information with the use of predetermined functions, whereby internal output signals and possibly new status information to be stored result. Actuator signals are derived from the internal output signals and fed to at least one actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventor: Hans-Peter Lassle
  • Patent number: 5959457
    Abstract: In a circuit arrangement for measuring the resistance of a resistance sensor, for instance a wetness sensor, which is connected to an evaluation circuit, there is a galvanic separation, formed preferably by an isolating transformer, between the resistance sensor and the evaluation circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventor: Reinhold Berberich
  • Patent number: 5959844
    Abstract: An instrument cluster having a housing, a system support (21) to receive indicating instruments, and a circuit board (6) which is connected by fastening elements (35) to the system support (21) and mounted in floating fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventors: Ernst-Ulrich Simon, Stephan Zech, Norbert May
  • Patent number: 5955658
    Abstract: A device for measuring pressure changes, and preferably for testing the tightness of a fuel tank, wherein a high-pass filter, the time constant of which is greater than the time constant of the pressure changes to be measured and less than the time constant of the pressure changes of the surrounding air, is arranged behind an absolute-pressure sensor pressure in the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventor: Werner Wallrafen
  • Patent number: 5944151
    Abstract: An operating device with haptic response for the manual entering of information into a device comprises a setting member having a position which is variable under the action of an actuating force, and with which there is connected a transducer for producing electric signals which characterize the position of the setting member. There is connected with the setting member a braking element which, under control by the electric signals, exerts a force on the setting member, the value of which force depends on the position of the setting member. The braking element has at least two surfaces which are movable relative to each other and between which there is provided a force transmitting fluid the transmission properties of which can be varied by the electric signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventors: Hasko Jakobs, Heinz Bernhard Abel
  • Patent number: 5936315
    Abstract: A driving data recording device for a motor vehicle for collecting at least one of time- and speed-dependent data and including, housing having an element for securing the housing to a housing shell of a motor vehicle drive gear, a control module for processing collected data and located in the housing, and a memory located in the housing and cooperating with the control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventor: Norbert Lais
  • Patent number: D440924
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventor: Gunther Bartholomäi