Abstract: A device and method for determining a roadway gradient quantity, which describes the gradient of a roadway on which a vehicle is situated, is described. The device includes a liquid container, which is mounted to the vehicle and contains a liquid, at least one pressure sensor, which is mounted in the bottom of the liquid container and is used to ascertain a pressure quantity which describes the hydrostatic pressure in the liquid container, and an evaluation unit to which the pressure sensor is connected. In the evaluation unit, the roadway gradient quantity is determined as a function of the pressure quantity.

Abstract: A method and system for avoiding rollovers during braking of motor vehicles using an apparatus, including an arrangement or structure to reduce the braking force at at least one wheel, an apparatus, arrangement or structure to determine an angle of inclination of the vehicle and an apparatus, arrangement or structure to reduce the braking force that is activatable as a function of the angle of inclination.

Abstract: An apparatus for stabilizing a vehicle combination made up of a tractor vehicle and a trailer or semitrailer. For this purpose, the apparatus contains a first determination arrangement used to determine an inflection angle variable that describes the angle between the longitudinal axis of the tractor vehicle and the longitudinal axis of the trailer or semitrailer. The apparatus also contains a processing arrangement with which a comparison is performed as a function of the inflection angle variable and a comparison variable. The apparatus contains a first actuator arrangement associated with the trailer or semitrailer and with which a brake pressure can be established at at least one wheel of the trailer or semitrailer. The first actuator arrangement is actuated at least as a function of the comparison performed with the processing arrangement.

Abstract: The emergency operating device for releasing a trunk lock mechanism of a motor vehicle, in which a human, especially a small child, or an animal could be locked, includes a sensor device in the trunk and an evaluation device connected to the sensor device. The sensor device generates and transmits sensor signals that indicate whether or not the human or animal is present in the trunk. The evaluation device receives and evaluates or analyzes the sensor signals to ascertain whether or not the human or animal is present in the trunk. The evaluation device generates an operating signal for automatic activation of the release mechanism if the human or animal is present in the trunk.

Abstract: A device for stabilizing a vehicle is described. The device contains a first determining arrangement using which at least one vehicle motion quantity is determined. Furthermore, the device contains a second determining arrangement using which a characteristic quantity is determined for the vehicle motion quantity. In addition, the device contains a control arrangement using which intervention quantities are determined as a function of the vehicle motion quantity and the characteristic quantity and are supplied to an actuator arrangement to perform brake interventions and/or engine interventions in order to stabilize the vehicle. The second determining arrangement contains a computing arrangement using which a final value for the characteristic quantity is determined and is supplied to the adjusting arrangement using which the variation over time according to which the characteristic quantity attains its final value is adjusted to the behavior of the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and an arrangement for controlling a vehicle and for providing data to the driver as to a tire pressure loss. When a tire pressure loss is detected, a limit speed is pregiven to which the speed of the vehicle is limited. The limit speed is dependent upon the distance already traveled since occurrence of the pressure loss or the elapsed operating time. Furthermore, for a detected tire pressure loss, the maximum range or the maximum operating time of the vehicle having a tire with reduced air pressure is determined and this is displayed to the driver.

Abstract: A method for stabilizing a vehicle to avoid at least one of a vehicle rolling over about a vehicle axis oriented in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and the vehicle sliding in the transverse direction. The method determines at least one of a torsion variable that corresponds to how the vehicle behaves in reaction to a force acting on the vehicle about the vehicle axis oriented in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, and a load-shift variable that corresponds to how the vehicle load behaves in reaction to a force acting upon the vehicle. The method determines a vehicle speed and also determines at least one threshold value for the vehicle speed based on the torsion variable and the load-shift variable. The vehicle speed and the at least one threshold value are then compared, and interventions (or measures) are taken to stabilize the vehicle based on the comparison.

Abstract: A device and method for stabilizing a combination of a tractor vehicle and at least one semitrailer or trailer, the brakes of the at least one semitrailer or trailer being set automatically as a function of the yaw rate of the tractor vehicle and the setpoint yaw rate of the tractor vehicle, or as a function of the yaw rate of the tractor vehicle, the speed of the combination and the steering angle.

Abstract: A method of generating an error signal (F) in a motor vehicle having a brake actuating means (16) that is actuatable by the vehicle's driver, through which a brake system is activated, and detection means (16a), through which actuation of the brake actuating means (16) is detected, a gas pedal (18), a gas pedal position detector (18a), wherein a time at which the gas pedal is released (TO) is determined, a vehicle deceleration (av) is determined, which represents the longitudinal deceleration of the vehicle, a braking status (BSon/off) is determined, which represents the operating status of the brake actuating means (16a), an elapsed time since gas pedal release (Telapse) is monitored, and an error signal (F) is generated as a function of the vehicle deceleration (av), the elapsed time (Telapse), and the braking status (BSon/off).

Abstract: A device and a method for stabilizing a combination of a tractor vehicle and at least one semitrailer or trailer is described, where the trailer or semitrailer is automatically braked if the semitrailer or trailer buckles with respect to the tractor vehicle at a buckling rate which is greater than a predetermined limit buckling rate.

Abstract: A method for stabilizing a vehicle that avoids one of a vehicle rolling over with respect to a vehicle axis oriented in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the vehicle skidding in a transverse direction. The method determines a vehicle speed and at least two limit values for the vehicle speed, and selects one of the limit values as a reference quantity. In particular, the limit value with the smaller value may be selected as the reference quantity. The method also compares a speed quantity and the reference quantity, and implements measures to stabilize the vehicle based on the comparison. In particular, if the speed quantity is greater than the reference quantity, then the vehicle speed is reduced by intervening in at least one of a retarder operation, an engine operation and a braking operation until the speed quantity is reduced below the reference quantity.

Abstract: A system generates a signal to activate the brake lights of a motor vehicle. An accelerator pedal position change parameter is determined, which represents the variation over time of the accelerator pedal that can be actuated by the driver. This accelerator pedal position change parameter is compared with at least one predefinable threshold value. The signal for activating the brake lights is then generated as a function of this comparison. The threshold value is predefined as a function of at least one stability/safety parameter, which represents the instantaneous driving stability of the vehicle and/or the instantaneous driving safety of the vehicle. The method and the device provide an improved means to warn the trailing vehicles of an impending hazard (for example, an obstacle, skidding of the vehicle or a slippery road surface) via the brake lights in a timely and reliable manner.

Abstract: A method and a device for controlling the brake system of a vehicle, in which, when a collision situation is identified, braking force beyond the driver's intent is built up, preferably up to a maximum value.

Abstract: A hybrid inflator includes a pressure bottle containing compressed gas, combustible propellant for augmenting the stored gas and defining an outlet for delivering inflation gas from the inflator to a primary airbag cushion. The hybrid inflator further includes a vent opening defined as a second outlet from the pressure bottle for releasing stored compressed gas therefrom and a rupturable diaphragm positioned to seal the vent and prevent premature flow from the vent opening. A controller provides a signal for operating a squib for opening the primary outlet means and igniting the combustible propellant, and another signal for operating a squib rupturing the diaphragm covering the vent opening. The vent opening may be opened first to vent gas from the pressure bottle in advance of opening the primary outlet, may be opened with or after the primary outlet, or not at all.