Patents Assigned to Volkswagen AG
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Publication number: 20080319614Abstract: A motor vehicle includes at least one first crash sensor for measuring a motion variable of the motor vehicle, arranged in a safety zone of the motor vehicle, and at least one second crash sensor for measuring a motion variable, arranged in a crash zone of the motor vehicle, the motor vehicle including an ignition protection device controllable via an ignition signal and a control unit for ascertaining the ignition signal as a function of the measured motion variables or, in each instance, as a function of a time average of the measured motion variables over at least one first time interval.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2004Publication date: December 25, 2008Applicant: VOLKSWAGEN AGInventors: Andreas Kuhn, Antoni Palau Motino, Andre Neubohn, Christian Weiss
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Patent number: 7467084Abstract: A method and a device are for operating a voice-enhancement system, such as a communication and/or intercom/two-way intercom or duplex telephony device in a motor vehicle. The device includes at least one microphone and at least one loudspeaker for reproducing a signal generated by the microphone, as well as a bandpass filter configured between the microphone and the loudspeaker. The bandpass filter is adjusted as a function of a comparison between the power of the signal generated by the microphone at a test frequency, and the power of the signal generated by the microphone at an at least substantially integral multiple of the test frequency, or as a function of a comparison between the power of the signal generated by the microphone at a test frequency, and the power of the signal generated by the microphone at the test frequency at at least an earlier point in time.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2003Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Audi AGInventors: Brian Michael Finn, Shawn K. Steenhagen
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Patent number: 7463953Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2007Date of Patent: December 9, 2008Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Volkswagen of America, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Lee, Daniel Rosario, Arne Stoschek, Knut Sanny
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Patent number: 7461850Abstract: An underride protection device for passenger vehicles, in particular all-terrain vehicles, which is placed below longitudinal chassis beams and in front of a sub-frame or cross member as an additional crash plane, includes a two-dimensionally extensive element delimiting the vehicle towards the ground, at least one member extending in a transverse direction of the vehicle and two lateral members extending in a lengthwise direction of the vehicle, first coupling elements for connecting interior portions of the two-dimensionally extensive element to the sub-frame or cross member, and second coupling elements for rigidly connecting exterior portions of the two-dimensionally extensive element to the longitudinal chassis beams. In vehicles whose longitudinal chassis beams are arranged at a high level, the underride protection device with its integrated crash beam provides a compatibility of the impact zones for protecting the occupants of a struck vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2005Date of Patent: December 9, 2008Assignee: Volkswagen AGInventor: Andreas Kurth
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Patent number: 7445428Abstract: An exhaust-gas turbocharger for an internal combustion engine, in particular of a motor vehicle, includes a turbine housing, a bearing housing, a guide vane carrier, a flow passage component which forms a portion of a flow passage in a turbine of the exhaust-gas turbocharger, and guide vanes, which are disposed on the guide vane carrier such that they can pivot in an annular passage formed between the flow passage component and the guide vane carrier. At least one securing bolt secures the guide vane carrier to the bearing housing. The securing bolt extends through the guide vane carrier and into the bearing housing in a plane parallel to the annular passage.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2005Date of Patent: November 4, 2008Assignee: Volkswagen AGInventor: Roland Baar
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Patent number: 7438051Abstract: A method and a device for supplying fuel to internal combustion engines comprise a regulated high-pressure system and a controlled low-pressure system, wherein an adaptation value for correcting the desired preliminary pressure is detected in an adaptation mode, in order to adjust a variable preliminary pressure in the low-pressure system. For this purpose, the preliminary pressure is specifically changed in the adaptation mode until vapor bubbles are detected by a regulator response of the high-pressure regulator of the high-pressure system. When vapor bubbles are detected, current process parameters of the fuel supply system are determined and the adaptation value is derived therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2007Date of Patent: October 21, 2008Assignee: Volkswagen AGInventors: Axel Wachtendorf, Leonhard Lang, Nicola Piantadosi
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Patent number: 7436560Abstract: A display device for a vehicle includes a transparent window with a light emission layer intended to separate the interior of the vehicle for emitting visible light when light is beamed onto the light emission layer, a light source for beaming light onto the window, a reflector mounted in a light path between the light source and the window to reflect the light generated by the light source and an adjustable image generator located between the light source and the reflector.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2005Date of Patent: October 14, 2008Assignee: Volkswagen AGInventors: Pao Chen, Sven Strohband, Cedric Dupont, Derek Pai, Brian Ng, Arne Stoschek
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Patent number: 7432459Abstract: A seat control unit for adjusting a vehicle seat includes a touch sensor having a touch-sensitive fabric. The touch-sensitive fabric is disposed on a support layer which may be formed by a vehicle interior component such as the vehicle seat, an interior door panel or an armrest. The touch sensor generates signals in response to a force exerted on the touch-sensitive fabric. A control circuit is connected the touch sensor and receives the signals generated by the touch sensor. The control circuit determines a position of the force exerted on the touch-sensitive fabric and generates control signals for controlling the vehicle seat in dependence on the position of the force exerted on the touch-sensitive fabric.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2006Date of Patent: October 7, 2008Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Audi AGInventors: Arne Stoschek, Brian Ng, Michael Derse, Philippe Alessandrini, Steffen Ross, Sven Strohband
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Publication number: 20080219880Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2007Publication date: September 11, 2008Applicants: Dead Sea Magnesium Ltd., Volkswagen AGInventors: Boris Bronfin, Nir Moscovitch, Mark Katzir, Soenke Schumann, Rudolph Boehm
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Patent number: 7410202Abstract: A substantially flat control element for controlling a vehicle component has touch-sensitive regions and is configured to generate control signals for moving the vehicle component into respective end positions in response to a first and a third one of the touch-sensitive regions of the control element being touched. A second region of the control element has subregions for allowing a variable adjustment of the vehicle component into intermediate positions between the end positions.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2006Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Volkswagen of America, Inc.Inventors: Kai Christen Rose, Arne Stoschek
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Patent number: 7408115Abstract: A sealing grommet for leads to pass through between vehicle parts that can move in relation to one another has two fixing devices for being sealed against an opening in the respective vehicle part and an elastic sealing bellows designed between the fixing devices. A sealing grommet of this type is created such that the installation space required for the sealing grommet between the vehicle parts is minimized. To this end, a return spring (15) for the lead guided in the sealing grommet (1) is supported on one fixing device (3) and is fixed on the lead at a distance from the sealing bellows (4).Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2006Date of Patent: August 5, 2008Assignee: Volkswagen AGInventor: Bernd Döring
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Publication number: 20080178409Abstract: The invention relates to a wiper blade (10) comprising a wiper strip (24) that is provided with a folding wedge (38) and a wiper strip back (34) that are connected to each other via a tilting web (36). It is proposed that additional webs (42) be arranged lateral to the tilting web (36).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2005Publication date: July 31, 2008Applicants: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH, VOLKSWAGEN AGInventors: Jan Dietrich, Wilhelm Fangmeier
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Patent number: 7395896Abstract: It is important to recognize the severity of an accident more accurately and reliably. To do so, the present invention consists of installing a compression element (25) that can be compressed reversibly into an impact absorption device (2) in order to dampen the impact on a vehicle component. A pressure sensor is integrated in this compression element (25) which detects the pressure during compression of the compression element (25). From the pressure signal, data such as the collision speed can be determined and a safety device such as an airbag can be triggered. By doing so, expensive early crash sensors and similar devices become unnecessary, while the severity of an accident can be reliably determined.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2005Date of Patent: July 8, 2008Assignee: Volkswagen AGInventors: Klaus Gerlach, Olaf Stindl, Heiko Jürgens
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Publication number: 20080149405Abstract: An internal combustion engine drives, via a belt drive, a first and a second auxiliary unit embodied respectively as a water pump and an air-conditioning compressor and drives a starter-generator operating as a starter and as a generator depending on the operating mode. The belt drive is connected through a clutch element, which has a freewheel, to the internal combustion engine such that, when the internal combustion engine is at standstill, only the two auxiliary units, but not at the same time the internal combustion engine, are driven by the starter-generator. The clutch element which has a freewheel allows a stepless transition of the drive mode from the internal combustion engine to the starter-generator. In order to start the internal combustion engine, the clutch element is engaged only for a short time, so that the drive power of the starter-generator is transmitted to the internal combustion engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2007Publication date: June 26, 2008Applicant: VOLKSWAGEN AGInventors: Marc Hladun, Marcel Zirwes, Kai Bohnstedt, Ekkehard Pott, Georg Kruse
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Patent number: 7389880Abstract: A method and system are for sorting shredder residues of metal-containing wastes, in particular of body shells Shredder residues are separated into a shredder light fraction and a non-ferromagnetic fraction (shredder heavy fraction). During the sorting of the shredder light fraction and the shredder heavy fraction in preliminary processes and a main process, a crude-sand fraction is produced by separating out at least a ferromagnetic fraction, a fraction containing nonferrous metals, a fiber fraction, and a granulate fraction. In a refining process, the crude-sand fraction is separated into a residual fraction rich in organics, a dust fraction containing heavy metals, a sand fraction depleted in organics and metals, and a metallic fraction, using the sequential process steps of density separation and metal separation.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2001Date of Patent: June 24, 2008Assignee: Volkswagen AGInventors: Daniel Goldmann, Bram den Dunnen, Michael Knust
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Patent number: 7383749Abstract: A twin clutch transmission for a motor vehicle has two input shafts, two clutches, and driving shafts. The first input shaft can be actively connected to the first clutch, and the second input shaft can be actively connected to the second clutch. The first driving shaft is situated underneath the input shafts and the second driving shaft is situated above the input shafts, or vice versa. The input and driving shafts have intermeshing gear wheels, with fixed gears and loose wheels or idler gears. Each driving shaft has a gear wheel for transferring torque to the axle drive. A further shaft implements the reverse gear RG. A highly versatile and compact transmission is obtained by providing a third driving shaft that has a drive gear wheel for transferring torque to the axle drive, and the drive gear wheels of the driving shafts engage with an axle drive gear.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2006Date of Patent: June 10, 2008Assignee: Volkswagen AGInventors: Michael Schäfer, Wolfgang Schreiber, Fritz Blumenstein
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Patent number: 7385495Abstract: The present invention relates to an illumination device for vehicles with at least light-emitting diode (3) and a light control unit (1), wherein the light control unit (1) is connected to the at least one light-emitting diode (3) and a pulse-width modulated clock signal (PWM) can be generated and transmitted to the at least one light-emitting diode (3) with the light control unit (1). The illumination device for vehicles according to the invention comprises a circuit (2) arranged between the light control unit (1) and the at least one light-emitting diode (3), with which, depending on the control signal (S), the pulse-width modulated clock signal (PWM) can be fed via different resistors (R1, R2, R3) to the at least one light-emitting diode (3). The present invention further relates to a method for controlling an illumination device for vehicles with at least one light-emitting diode (3) and a light control unit (1).Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2005Date of Patent: June 10, 2008Assignee: Volkswagen AGInventors: Christoph Buhr, Anja Böttcher
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Patent number: 7382237Abstract: A display arrangement for a vehicle has, in particular, a multipurpose instrument or is configured as a multipurpose instrument. The display arrangement includes a first display device to display information concerning operation of the vehicle, a glass with adjustable transparency arranged in front of the first display device, with reference to the viewing direction of the display arrangement, and a second display device to display information concerning operation of the vehicle or additional information concerning operation of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2005Date of Patent: June 3, 2008Assignee: Volkswagen AGInventors: Arne Stoschek, Cedric Dupont, Pao Chen, Derek Pai, Sven Strohband
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Publication number: 20080122231Abstract: A pedestrian protection system for a motor vehicle includes an impact recognition sensor for recognizing an impact of the motor vehicle with a pedestrian. The impact recognition sensor is located in a front fender of the motor vehicle, next to an outer skin that lines the fender, or in a front part of the motor vehicle, next to an outer skin that lines the front part of the motor vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2005Publication date: May 29, 2008Applicant: VOLKSWAGEN AGInventors: Stefan Schinke, Thorsten Gaas, Andre Zander
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Patent number: 7379804Abstract: An occupant protection system for a motor vehicle includes at least one crash sensor for measuring a motion variable. The occupant protection system includes an occupant protection device, controlled by an ignition signal, and a control device for determining the ignition signal subject to an average time value of the motion variable measured by the crash sensor during at least one first time interval.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2004Date of Patent: May 27, 2008Assignee: Volkswagen AGInventors: Andreas Kuhn, André Neubohn, Christian Weiss, André Zander