Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting the position of an object within the interior or a vehicle equipped with a door (4). The inventive method is characterized by recording a sequence of images by means of a camera (2) and calculating the actual position of the object by electronically evaluating the images of the sequence of images, and generating a differential image by comparing an actual recorded image with a previously stored image. The position of the object is calculated on the basis of the differential image. To achieve this, the camera (2) records images of the door (4). The images of the door (4) are evaluated and the open state of the door (4) is established on the basis of the differential image between the closed state and the opened state.

Abstract: An assistance system for motor vehicles, in particular an electronic rally-copilot, an over-taking assistant, or right-of-way assistant, includes at least one control unit, which selects data from at least three groups of global, local, and internal data. The selection is by way of a specification of a driver known by the control unit and they are connected together in such a manner that an output signal can be produced relating to the driving dynamics of the motor vehicle. Further, there is provided an assistance system, which simultaneously processes, in an advantageous manner, data prepared by three groups (and/or with the specification of the driver from four groups). Redundancy can be established in an advantageous manner, which is determined, in particular for security-related uses. It can be used, in particular, as a rally-copilot, an over-taking assistant and/or right-of-way assistant for modern vehicles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for determining whether the interior of a vehicle is occupied. The inventive device comprises image acquisition means (10) for acquiring images of an area of the vehicle interior, an image acquisition data generation unit (14) for generating image acquisition data in which every image point of a three-dimensional surface image is presented as a vector in an acquisition coordinate system of the image acquisition means, and a conversion unit (16) that converts the image acquisition data to vehicle image data. Said vehicle image data describe every image point as a vector in a coordinate system that is specific of the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for monitoring the interior of a vehicle, wherein changes occurring in the occupancy of a seat, e.g. with a person P, a child seat K, an empty seat L, or an occupancy in another occupancy category, are effected in a computer unit by means of transitional probabilities which are externally specified to the monitoring system and which reflect the rapid speed at which a change in occupancy is taken into account by said monitoring system. As a result, an associated airbag or another safety device is activated or de-activated accordingly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting the position of an object within the interior or a vehicle equipped with a door (4). The inventive method is characterized by recording a sequence of images by means of a camera (2) and calculating the actual position of the object by electronically evaluating the images of the sequence of images, and generating a differential image by comparing an actual recorded image with a previously stored image. The position of the object is calculated on the basis of the differential image. To achieve this, the camera (2) records images of the door (4). The images of the door (4) are evaluated and the open state of the door (4) is established on the basis of the differential image between the closed state and the opened state.

Abstract: Within a given area, the position of the head of the front seat passenger in a vehicle is determined by producing a differential image, in which only the contour of the moving object appears, from two frames that are recorded one after the other by a video camera. The contours of the differential images are used to calculate the position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for monitoring the interior of a vehicle, wherein changes occurring in the occupancy of a seat, e.g. with a person P, a child seat K, an empty seat L, or an occupancy in another occupancy category, are effected in a computer unit by means of transitional probabilities which are externally specified to the monitoring system and which reflect the rapid speed at which a change in occupancy is taken into account by said monitoring system. As a result, an associated airbag or another safety device is activated or de-activated accordingly.

Abstract: A three-dimensional image-forming method is utilized to generate three-dimensional position surface image data of an unoccupied seat and of a seat which is occupied with an object. By subtracting one of the image data items from the other one, the volume of a person located on the seat is determined. As a result, a vehicle-occupant protection device which is assigned to the seat can be controlled as a function of the position and the volume or weight of the person.

Abstract: Within a given area, the position of the head of the front seat passenger in a vehicle is determined by producing a differential image, in which only the contour of the moving object appears, from two frames that are recorded one after the other by a video camera. The contours of the differential images are used to calculate the position.

Abstract: The wheel speeds are measured and are transmitted to a control unit. The control unit calculates the wheel slip from the wheel speeds and determines a continuous correction value for the setpoint value of the wheel brake pressure from the wheel slip. Using the thus determined correction value, the setpoint value of the wheel brake pressure is continuously changed as a function of the wheel slip. The control unit contains an arithmetic circuit which determines the correction value for the setpoint value of the brake pressure from the wheel slip.

Abstract: The brake system includes a pedal unit through which operations of the brake pedal of the motor vehicle are detected with one or more sensors and desired values of the brake application force are generated according the driver requirement. The system also includes electrically actuated brake actuators at the wheels of the motor vehicle. An electronic central controller evaluates the sensor signals and generates control signals for additional brake functions. Data blocks are exchanged in a predefined cyclically repeating time pattern over a data bus connecting the pedal unit, the brake actuators, and the central controller. Over an additional signal line connecting together the pedal unit, the brake actuators and the central controller, the desired value for the brake application force is transmitted from the pedal unit to the brake actuators and the central controller and data are exchanged concerning the status of the connected devices.

Abstract: Computing units that are connected to one another via a bus system are synchronized in that two master units each cyclically output a time signal onto a data line of the bus system. The time signals are received by the computing unit to be synchronized. The unit checks the time signals with reference to its own time base. Particularly reliable synchronization of the computing units is ensured by this means.

Abstract: A brake system for a motor vehicle, comprising a pedal unit including a plurality of sensors generating sensor signals upon actuation of a brake pedal of a motor vehicle and further sensors generating additional brake signals. At least one electronic control unit including at least three arithmetic units are programmed to evaluate the sensor signals generated by the plurality of sensors, calculate desired values for a brake actuation force, compare the calculated desired values with each other, determine if at least two calculated desired values agree with each other within a predetermined tolerance, and upon this determination, output a wheel braking demand signal dependent upon the two agreed values. At least two of the arithmetic units are programmed to compare the additional brake signals generated by the further sensors, and if the additional brake signals agree within a predetermined tolerance, to output a corrected wheel braking demand signal.

Abstract: Electrical, continuously acting wheel brake actuators are individually controlled. The following calculation and control procedures are carried out in a control unit: the wheel slip and the wheel acceleration are calculated for each wheel; if the wheel slip or the wheel acceleration exceed a predefined first threshold value, then the respective actual value of the brake pressure is stored; the quotient of the stored actual value and a pressure value which is characteristic of the vehicle is formed for the respective wheel, and the coefficient of friction .mu. is thus estimated; and an ABS brake-pressure closed-loop control operation is carried out at the individual wheels using the value.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method detect the current thickness and thus the wear of a brake lining of a motor-vehicle brake system, which has a wheel-brake actuator at each wheel that actuates the wheel brake and is individually electrically controlled. The wheel-brake actuator contains a hydraulic piston which is moved by an electric motor and is provided with a sensor that detects the brake pressure or brake force as well as with a further sensor that detects the travel of the hydraulic piston. The thickness of the brake lining is determined from signals of the two sensors. To that end, a measurement is made of the travel performed by the hydraulic piston until a predetermined brake pressure is reached.

Abstract: A brake system for a motor vehicle with four wheels has four electrically controlled wheel brake devices. Each of the wheel brake devices has a control part and an actuator, with which the various wheel brakes are activated independently of one another in response to actuations of the brake pedal by the driver. The brake system has two separate electrical control units, each for a respective two of the four wheel brake devices. Both of the separate control units receive control signals separately from a brake force simulator, and they each have their own energy supply circuit. An additional central control unit controls additional functions of the system (ABS, traction control, etc.) at each of the four wheel brake devices which serve safety or comfort purposes of the motor vehicle.