Abstract: A method is for determining the engine reference torque, used in a controller of a motor vehicle, of the engine of the motor vehicle, wherein the engine reference torque is determined by estimation. A value for the mass of the motor vehicle and a motor vehicle velocity value determined at each of two different times during acceleration of the motor vehicle are determined. An engine power of the engine is calculated from these values, and a value for the engine reference torque is estimated via the calculated engine power on the basis of power and torque curves, which are stored as a function of the speed of the engine.

Abstract: A method for monitoring an ABS control procedure in an electrically controllable brake system in a vehicle includes reading in input signals, wherein based on the input signals it is possible to derive currently prevailing control variables for the ABS control procedure and ABS control parameters that relate to a brake slip-controlled actuation of an ABS control valve of the brake system. The method further includes checking whether it follows that an activation of any ABS control valve that is allocated to a wheel of the vehicle is requested, and whether it follows that an ABS brake slip incident is present at at least a first wheel of the vehicle, and/or whether, based on the ABS control parameters, it follows that further ABS control valves, which are allocated at least to one second wheel of the vehicle, implement correctly a brake slip-controlled activation.

Abstract: A method for monitoring an ABS control procedure in an electrically controllable brake system in a vehicle includes reading in input signals, wherein based on the input signals it is possible to derive currently prevailing control variables for the ABS control procedure and ABS control parameters that relate to a brake slip-controlled actuation of an ABS control valve of the brake system. The method further includes checking whether it follows that an activation of any ABS control valve that is allocated to a wheel of the vehicle is requested, and whether it follows that an ABS brake slip incident is present at at least a first wheel of the vehicle, and/or whether, based on the ABS control parameters, it follows that further ABS control valves, which are allocated at least to one second wheel of the vehicle, implement correctly a brake slip-controlled activation.

Abstract: A method for stabilizing a vehicle combination including a towing vehicle and at least one trailer vehicle includes determining wheel revolution rates of a driven axle of the towing vehicle and a vehicle speed of the towing vehicle, checking, as a first criterion, whether there is braking wheel slip at the driven axle of the towing vehicle without the operation of a wheel brake of the driven axle of the towing vehicle, and actuating, in response to the first criterion being met, at least one wheel brake of the trailer vehicle.

Abstract: A method for stabilizing a vehicle combination including a towing vehicle and at least one trailer vehicle includes determining wheel revolution rates of a driven axle of the towing vehicle and a vehicle speed of the towing vehicle, checking, as a first criterion, whether there is braking wheel slip at the driven axle of the towing vehicle without the operation of a wheel brake of the driven axle of the towing vehicle, and actuating, in response to the first criterion being met, at least one wheel brake of the trailer vehicle.

Abstract: In a method and a device for controlling a driver assistance system of a vehicle, a process is carried out which includes the steps of emitting light of at least one wavelength onto a road surface under the vehicle, detecting the light reflected by the road surface, acquiring at least one piece of information on the nature of the road surface using the detected reflected light, transmitting the information on the nature of the road surface to the driver assistance system, and modifying at least one parameter of the driver assistance system such that the driver assistance system reacts depending on the nature of the road surface.

Abstract: The description relates to a method and a device for controlling at least one driver assistance system (82, 84, 86, 88) of a vehicle (60). The method comprises the following steps: emitting light (11) of at least one wavelength onto a road surface (1a) under the vehicle (60), detecting light (21, 31) of the at least one wavelength reflected by the road surface (1a), acquiring at least one piece of information (100) on the nature of the road surface (1a) using the detected reflected light (21, 31) of the at least one wavelength, transmitting (200) the at least one piece of information on the nature of the road surface (1a) to the at least one driver assistance system (82, 84, 86, 88) and modifying (300) at least one parameter of the at least one driver assistance system (82, 84, 86, 88) such that the at least one driver assistance system reacts depending on the nature of the road surface (1a).

Abstract: A force application device for a vehicle's braking system in the form of a variable gear system, in which, in response to a braking command by the driver, an adjusting device adjusts a proportioning device, which proportions the force fed from the force generator in such a way that it corresponds to the braking command. The force generator is disposed in a fixed position, thus decreasing the overall size of the force application device. In the force application device, energy recovery of the elastic energy of deformation contained in the disk brake during force application conditions is achieved by feeding the energy back, during release of the brake, into a force generator, which is constructed as a spring brake actuator and which makes the energy available for brake actuation. Thus the principle of an energy see-saw is implemented.

Abstract: A force application device for a vehicle's braking system in the form of a variable gear system, in which, in response to a braking command by the driver, an adjusting device adjusts a proportioning device, which proportions the force fed from the force generator in such a way that it corresponds to the braking command. The force generator is disposed in a fixed position, thus decreasing the overall size of the force application device. In the force application device, energy recovery of the elastic energy of deformation contained in the disk brake during force application conditions is achieved by feeding the energy back, during release of the brake, into a force generator, which is constructed as a spring brake actuator and which makes the energy available for brake actuation. Thus the principle of an energy see-saw is implemented.

Abstract: A windshield washing installation for a motor vehicle includes a reservoir tank for the washing liquid and a feed pump, especially a vane-type pump. A suction pipe of the feed pump is inserted into the reservoir tank under interposition of a sealing member, whereby an agitator arranged inside of the suction pipe is in contact with its free end directly with the washing liquid. In order to avoid a clogging of the spray nozzles of such a windshield washing installation, a lower end area of the suction pipe is surrounded by a sieve element.