Abstract: Magnesium-based alloys are provided which exhibit improved resistance to creeping and to corrosion, as well as improved strength, and good castability. The alloys are suitable for applications at both ambient and elevated temperatures.

Abstract: A device for acoustic communication and/or perception in a motor vehicle includes at least one microphone and at least one loudspeaker, which are assigned to a vehicle seat, the microphones taking the form of directional microphones, the at least one loudspeaker taking the form of a directional loudspeaker. A method is for improving the acoustic communication and/or perception in a motor vehicle.

Abstract: An electric steering lock for a drive authorization system in a motor vehicle, including a movable locking element which, according to a first position, can be brought into locking engagement with a latched-in position on the steering shaft in the steering wheel column and, according to a second position, can be brought out of locking engagement with said position. The steering lock also has a drive for moving the locking element between the two positions, and electronics for controlling the drive. The system may have an associated second device in the form of an electronic key, an identification (ID) transmitter, a chip card or the like, with the result that, when the second device is authorized, the drive can be controlled into the respective position by the electronics. The electronics generate those signals which are used to trigger functions which can otherwise be effected by an electric ignition lock.

Abstract: An exhaust-gas recirculation device for an internal combustion engine, in particular for a diesel engine of a passenger car, includes an air-supply line connected to an air inlet of the internal combustion engine and includes an exhaust-gas line connected to an exhaust-gas outlet of the internal combustion engine. A turbine, which drives a compressor disposed in the air-supply line, is disposed in the exhaust-gas line. The exhaust-gas line is connected to the air-supply line via an exhaust-gas recirculation line branching off in flow direction behind the turbine. An adjustable throttle is disposed in the air-supply line in flow direction in front of the compressor in order to achieve higher exhaust-gas recirculation rates. A method for operating an exhaust-gas recirculation device for an internal combustion engine is also provided.

Abstract: Load change impacts in a motor vehicle, especially as a result of abrupt changes in the position of the accelerator pedal, are prevented with the novel method. At least one dual clutch mechanism is provided between the drive engine and the gearbox. The gearbox has several selectable gear steps and the clutch is controlled in relation to the torque that is to be transmitted. The driving comfort is improved by controlling the clutch during the starting process of the motor vehicle and/or the gear steps are engaged during the starting process of the vehicle in such a way that the speed of rotation of the gear input shaft is lower than the idling speed of rotation of the engine.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the blind spot at the side of a motor vehicle, a warning function being activated which gives out a warning to the driver if an object is located in a warning region, includes the following steps: a) determining the relative speed between the object and the motor vehicle, determining the travel direction of the object relative to the motor vehicle, and determining the position of the object relative to the motor vehicle within a sensor region; and b) giving out a warning to the driver if the travel direction of the object corresponds to that of the motor vehicle, the relative speed between the object and the motor vehicle is within a predetermined range, defined by a lower range boundary and an upper range boundary, the predetermined region including the relative speed zero, and the position of the object being within the warning region.

Abstract: In a method for controlling a map display in a vehicle, a display device is controlled such that a section of a geographical map is displayed in a spatially non-linear scale. A display apparatus for displaying a geographical map includes a control unit and a display device, connected to the control unit, a map section, the control unit including an arithmetic-logic unit by which data assigned to the geographical map is able to be converted into display data, taking a spatially non-linear scale into consideration. A navigation system includes such a display apparatus.

Abstract: A hydraulic circuit for a motor vehicle transmission, preferably a twin-clutch transmission, is connected for cooling at least one clutch of the transmission. The hydraulic circuit is preferably a low-pressure circuit and it includes at least one hydraulic pump, at least one filter element, for filtering the hydraulic oil, and at least one pressure-regulating valve. The circuit-related control sequence and the power consumption of the hydraulic pump are optimized in that at least one adjusting valve is provided in order to control the volume flow of cooling oil flowing to the clutch, in that a pressure-compensation valve is provided in addition, and in that the pressure-regulating valve, the adjusting valve and/or the pressure-compensation valve are arranged and/or formed within the hydraulic circuit such that the pressure difference between the supply pressure and the establishing cooling-oil pressure is essentially constant.

Abstract: A method actuates two clutches which transmit torque in parallel in a drive train of a motor vehicle and have different successive fixed speed transmissions as gear stages between a drive shaft and an output shaft. The clutches are triggered during acceleration processes of the motor vehicle that both clutches simultaneously transmit torques and a resulting transmission of torque takes place continuously between the drive shaft and the output shaft. The rotational speed of the drive shaft is greater than the respective rotational speed of the respective transmission input shaft of the respective partial train at the secondary end of the respective clutch during the entire starting process, or the rotational speed of the drive shaft is greater than or the same as the respective rotational speed of the respective transmission input shaft of the respective partial train at the secondary end of the respective clutch during an acceleration process.

Abstract: A method for determining a tilt angle of a vehicle includes measuring accelerations of a vehicle in directions along a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis, and a vertical axis of the vehicle. A current tilt angle of the vehicle is calculated as a function of the measured accelerations. A magnitude-compensated tilt angle is calculated as a function of the current tilt angle, of a preceding tilt angle, and of the magnitude of the vector sum of the measured accelerations. A gyroscopically stabilized magnitude-compensated tilt angle is calculated as a function of the current tilt angle, of a preceding tilt angle, of the magnitude of the vector sum of the measured accelerations, and of a change in the tilt angle over a given time period calculated from angular rate data provided by a gyroscope.