Abstract: The invention relates to a control system for driving a motorized closure element of a motor vehicle, wherein, in order to detect operator control events, at least one sensor control means and at least one elongate distance sensor which extends along a sensor extent are provided, wherein the sensor control means drives the associated distance sensor and/or evaluates the sensor signals from said distance sensor, and wherein the distance sensor detects a distance from a user. It is proposed that, with the control system installed, a vehicle component is arranged or can be arranged in or along the sensor extent, and that the distance sensor is designed such that it has a blind section in the region of the vehicle component, said blind section having no sensitivity or a lower level of sensitivity compared to that region of the distance sensor which adjoins the blind section.

Abstract: An electronic control device for use in a motor vehicle including an electronic housing, a capacitor sensor, and a control unit. The capacitor sensor may be provided with a capacitor sensor electrode arranged inside the electronic housing. The control unit may be configured to output a trigger signal in response to receiving a measured capacitance value deviating from a threshold value, from the capacitor sensor electrode, indicative of a conductive liquid in the electronic housing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control system for driving a motorized closure element of a motor vehicle, wherein, in order to detect operator control events, at least one sensor control means and at least one elongate distance sensor which extends along a sensor extent are provided, wherein the sensor control means drives the associated distance sensor and/or evaluates the sensor signals from said distance sensor, and wherein the distance sensor detects a distance from a user. It is proposed that, with the control system installed, a vehicle component is arranged or can be arranged in or along the sensor extent, and that the distance sensor is designed such that it has a blind section in the region of the vehicle component, said blind section having no sensitivity or a lower level of sensitivity compared to that region of the distance sensor which adjoins the blind section.

Abstract: An electronic control device for use in a motor vehicle includes an electronic housing for accommodating an electronics system that includes a circuit board, and a resistance sensor for detecting water that has penetrated into the electronic housing. The resistance sensor includes at least two sensor electrodes, each of which is present, at least in one section, in an uninsulated state with respect to the interior of the electronic housing, and a control unit that is configured to detect and evaluate a measured resistance value between the two sensor electrodes. The control unit is further configured to output a trigger signal when the detected measured resistance value or its deviation from a normal value meets a trigger criterion that is characteristic of a contact closure between the two sensor electrodes that is caused by the presence of water in the electronic housing.

Abstract: A capacitive distance sensor includes a sensor element having an electrically conductive, elongated, flat sensor area which in turn contains a number of holes. The sensor area is completely surrounded by an electrically non-conductive insulating body, with the result that the insulating body completely covers the edge regions of the holes. The sensor element is produced, in particular, by first of all making the holes in the sensor area. In a subsequent step, the sensor area is completely encased by the insulating body which also completely fills the holes in the sensor area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for controlling a capacitive anti-trap system of a vehicle. At least two transmission electrodes and one reception electrode of the capacitive anti-trap system are used for detecting an obstacle, and an electrical field is generated by a pair comprising transmission electrode and reception electrode by actuation of the respective transmission electrode by alternating electric current, said electrical field being influenced by an obstacle such that an electrical capacitance is measurably changed. A changing electrical capacitance is determinable on the basis of a signal received via the reception electrode and this signal is evaluated by means of an electronic evaluation unit at least during closing of the vehicle closing element in order to determine the presence of an obstacle in the displacement path of the vehicle closing element.

Abstract: A control system for driving a motorized closure element of a motor vehicle is provided, wherein, in order to detect operator control events, at least one sensor control means and at least one elongate distance sensor which extends along a sensor extent are provided, wherein the sensor control means drives the associated distance sensor, evaluates the sensor signals from the distance sensor or drives the associated distance sensor and evaluates the sensor signals from the distance sensor, and wherein the distance sensor detects a distance from a user. The control system can be configured such that when it is installed in a vehicle, a vehicle component can be arranged in or along the sensor extent, and that the distance sensor is designed such that it has a blind section in the region of the vehicle component, the blind section having no sensitivity or a lower level of sensitivity compared to that region of the distance sensor which adjoins the blind section.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating a capacitive sensor arrangement of a motor vehicle, a control unit being provided, the sensor arrangement having at least one electrode and a connection arrangement which is assigned to the electrode and has a connecting line and, on the latter, a connection on the electrode side and a connection on the control unit side, the electrode being controlled during a measurement routine by the control unit and the resulting distance values being determined on the basis of a measurement capacitance formed by the electrode with respect to a reference potential, the electrical connection state of the electrode being checked with respect to the connection to the control unit during a diagnostic routine by the control unit. It is proposed that the connection state is checked during the diagnostic routine by the control unit.

Abstract: An electronic control device for use in a motor vehicle includes an electronic housing for accommodating an electronics system that includes a circuit board, and a resistance sensor for detecting water that has penetrated into the electronic housing. The resistance sensor includes at least two sensor electrodes, each of which is present, at least in one section, in an uninsulated state with respect to the interior of the electronic housing, and a control unit that is configured to detect and evaluate a measured resistance value between the two sensor electrodes. The control unit is further configured to output a trigger signal when the detected measured resistance value or its deviation from a normal value meets a trigger criterion that is characteristic of a contact closure between the two sensor electrodes that is caused by the presence of water in the electronic housing.

Abstract: An electronic control device for use in a motor vehicle including an electronic housing, a capacitor sensor, and a control unit. The capacitor sensor may be provided with a capacitor sensor electrode arranged inside the electronic housing. The control unit may be configured to output a trigger signal in response to receiving a measured capacitance value deviating from a threshold value, from the capacitor sensor electrode, indicative of a conductive liquid in the electronic housing.

Abstract: During operation of a capacitive proximity sensor that is provided with at least two measuring electrodes, a first capacitance measurement variable and a second capacitance measurement variable are detected. The first capacitance measurement variable is correlated with the capacitance of at least one of the measuring electrodes to earth, while the second capacitance measurement variable is correlated with the capacitance between at least one of the measuring electrodes and at least one further measuring electrode. A change in the first capacitance measurement variable is evaluated together with a synchronous signal profile of the second capacitance measurement variable in order to distinguish a proximity of a conductor coupled electrically to earth from the proximity of dielectric matter. In this manner, a body part passing into the detection space of the proximity sensor can be distinguished effectively from other substances and objects, particularly water.

Abstract: A capacitive proximity sensor for a motor vehicle contains a transmission electrode for producing a measurement field and a reception electrode for detecting at least part of the measurement field. Furthermore, the proximity sensor contains a screen electrode that is disposed to form the measurement field between the transmission electrode and the reception electrode. The proximity sensor is in particular provided for use in a collision protection device for the motor vehicle.

Abstract: An actuating apparatus for a vehicle part contains an actuating motor for generating an actuating force under the action of which the vehicle part can be adjusted between a closed state and an open state along an actuating path. The actuating apparatus also contains a control unit which is configured to carry out an actuating method in which, according to the method, a position measure is continuously ascertained when the vehicle part is adjusted, the position measure being characteristic of the current actuating position of the vehicle part along the actuating path. Furthermore, the position measure is set to a prespecified reference value when the vehicle part is in the closed state and when a further condition is additionally met, the further condition being linked in a reproducible manner with a specific actuating position.

Abstract: A capacitive distance sensor includes a sensor element having an electrically conductive, elongated, flat sensor area which in turn contains a number of holes. The sensor area is completely surrounded by an electrically non-conductive insulating body, with the result that the insulating body completely covers the edge regions of the holes. The sensor element is produced, in particular, by first of all making the holes in the sensor area. In a subsequent step, the sensor area is completely encased by the insulating body which also completely fills the holes in the sensor area.

Abstract: A capacitive distance sensor is provided. The distance sensor includes a sensor element having an electrically conductive, elongated, flat sensor area which in turn contains a number of holes. The sensor area is completely surrounded by an electrically non-conductive insulating body, with the result that the insulating body completely covers the edge regions of the holes. The sensor element is produced, in particular, by first of all making the holes in the sensor area. In a subsequent step, the sensor area is completely encased by the insulating body which also completely fills the holes in the sensor area.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating a capacitive sensor arrangement of a motor vehicle, a control unit being provided, the sensor arrangement having at least one electrode and a connection arrangement which is assigned to the electrode and has a connecting line and, on the latter, a connection on the electrode side and a connection on the control unit side, the electrode being controlled during a measurement routine by the control unit and the resulting distance values being determined on the basis of a measurement capacitance formed by the electrode with respect to a reference potential, the electrical connection state of the electrode being checked with respect to the connection to the control unit during a diagnostic routine by the control unit. It is proposed that the connection state is checked during the diagnostic routine by the control unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting an operator control event using a sensor arrangement having at least one proximity sensor and a sensor controller, the operator control event being generated by a user of a vehicle. A first coarse evaluation of the sensor measured values for the occurrence of an operator control sign is carried out, that a predetermined number of the respective last sensor measured values of at least one sensor element are buffered, that the detection of an operator control sign triggers a fine evaluation of the sensor measured values for verifying the occurrence of an operator control event at a triggering time, and that the fine evaluation is based on the buffered sensor measured values and on the temporally subsequent sensor measured values, with the result that sensor measured values both before and after the triggering time are included in the fine evaluation.

Abstract: An electronic modular unit having electronics has a printed circuit board, a housing receiving the electronics and an electrical conductor. The conductor is in this connection directly soldered with a flat connection end to a contact surface of the printed circuit board. In order to simplify the soldering process, a spring element is arranged in the housing and presses the connection end of the conductor on the contact surface of the printed circuit board for the purpose of fixing the connection end during soldering. The modular unit is, in particular, a capacitive proximity sensor for a vehicle.

Abstract: In the course of an easily implemented anti-trap protection method for an adjustable vehicle part, a test variable is continuously determined by way of a distance sensor during the adjustment of the vehicle part. A direct anti-trap protection test determines, based on the test variable, whether an obstacle is detectable in the adjustment path of the vehicle part. The adjustment is stopped or reversed if necessary. An indirect anti-trap protection test determines on the basis of the same test variable whether the movement of the vehicle part has slowed down irregularly or come to a stop, and the adjustment is stopped or reversed if necessary. An associated anti-trap protection device includes an anti-trap protection control unit, which is designed for automatically performing the method.

Abstract: An electronic unit has an electronic assembly that comprises a circuit board, and also having a conductor that is connected to said electronic assembly and is provided with a flat connection end. At least one piercing contact protrudes down from the circuit board and connects the conductor electrically to the electronic assembly. The piercing contact penetrates the connection end of the conductor while forming an electrical connection with a conductor track of the conductor. The electronic component is particularly suited as a capacitive proximity sensor for a vehicle.