Abstract: For regulating the speed of a motor vehicle, a control apparatus is equipped with an object detection system, and the reference speed is determined as a function of at least one preceding vehicle in the evaluation region of the object detection system, such that upon recognition of an imminent lane change by the regulated vehicle, vehicles in the adjacent destination lane are additionally taken into consideration for calculation of the reference speed by expanding the evaluation region in the direction of the destination lane, and consideration is given only to vehicles in the destination lane whose distance from the regulated vehicle is less than a predetermined distance value.

Abstract: An adaptive cruise control for motor vehicles, having a sensor system for locating preceding vehicles and a controller which regulates the speed of the vehicle and/or the clearance from a preceding vehicle, based on specified control parameters, and having a traffic jam detection device and a specification device for adjusting the control parameters to a detected traffic jam situation. In response to a detected traffic jam, as differentiated, for instance, from a red traffic light, startup instructions can be suppressed, and, in particular, the setpoint acceleration of the vehicle can be reduced.

Abstract: For regulating the speed of a motor vehicle, a control apparatus is equipped with an object detection system, and the reference speed is determined as a function of at least one preceding vehicle in the evaluation region of the object detection system, such that upon recognition of an imminent lane change by the regulated vehicle, vehicles in the adjacent destination lane are additionally taken into consideration for calculation of the reference speed by expanding the evaluation region in the direction of the destination lane, and consideration is given only to vehicles in the destination lane whose distance from the regulated vehicle is less than a predetermined distance value.

Abstract: A start assist system for motor vehicles, including a long-range locating system for determining the location of vehicles traveling ahead and a starting regulator for initiating and controlling a starting operation, wherein the locating system is combined with a near-range locating system for determining the location of objects directly ahead of the host vehicle and a decision unit is designed to suppress the starting operation in response to a signal from the near-range locating system.

Abstract: An adaptive cruise control for motor vehicles, having a sensor system for locating preceding vehicles and a controller which regulates the speed of the vehicle and/or the clearance from a preceding vehicle, based on specified control parameters, and having a traffic jam detection device and a specification device for adjusting the control parameters to a detected traffic jam situation. In response to a detected traffic jam, as differentiated, for instance, from a red traffic light, startup instructions can be suppressed, and, in particular, the setpoint acceleration of the vehicle can be reduced.

Abstract: A driver assistance system for motor vehicles, having a localization system for localizing objects in the surroundings of the vehicle and having a device for recognizing stationary objects by comparing the difference between the relative motion of the object and the inherent motion of the vehicle with a threshold value, wherein the device is embodied to vary the threshold value as a function of variables that influence the accuracy with which the relative and inherent motions are determined.

Abstract: A method and a device are provided for distance regulation of a motor vehicle equipped with an object detection sensor which detects objects located in front and regulates the velocity of the host vehicle in the sense of distance regulation, the distance control system being able to brake the host vehicle to a standstill. If objects are no longer detected during the stopping process due to the fact that they are located within the invisible region in the immediate vicinity of the object detection sensor, object positions relating to the objects detected earlier are stored, and a starting process of the vehicle resulting from the driver's intention to start, implemented via an actuation and/or confirmation element, is prevented until the object is detected again. The restarting process is not prevented when a turning maneuver of the object located in front has been detected due to the fact that the absolute value of the transverse offset of the object located in front exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: In a method and a device for regulating the speed of a vehicle including an object detection system in the sense of an adaptive distance and speed control system, the adaptive distance and speed control system includes at least two operating modes. In the first operating mode, a vehicle speed between standstill and a limiting speed is set, and in the second operating mode, a vehicle speed between a limiting speed and a maximally regulable speed is set. In the first operating mode, in the absence of a speed-limiting object, the vehicle speed is increased beyond the limiting speed and thereafter is set to the limiting speed.

Abstract: A start assist system for motor vehicles, including a long-range locating system for determining the location of vehicles traveling ahead and a starting regulator for initiating and controlling a starting operation, wherein the locating system is combined with a near-range locating system for determining the location of objects directly ahead of the host vehicle and a decision unit is designed to suppress the starting operation in response to a signal from the near-range locating system.

Abstract: A sensor system on motor vehicles for locating objects in front of the vehicle, wherein at least two sensors, each having a locating depth of at least 50 m, are arranged in such a way on both sides of longitudinal center axis of the vehicle that their locating angular ranges together cover the entire vehicle width as of a first distance d1, and overlap each other as of a second distance d2.

Abstract: A cruise controller having a stop-and-go function for motor vehicles, including a control element for activating the cruise controller, and an activation lock which prevents activation when the brake pedal is operated. The activation lock is ineffective when predefined conditions—including the condition that the speed is not greater than a specific activation speed—are met.

Abstract: Lane changing assistant for motor vehicles, controlling an automatic changing of the vehicle to a neighboring lane in response to a command by the driver as part of a lane keeping system of the motor vehicle and having an operating element that is movable in opposite directions out of a neutral position, wherein a sensor is assigned to the operating element for each adjustment direction and the sensor supplies a multi-valued output signal which corresponds to the operation of the operating element and determines the dynamics of the lane changing procedure.

Abstract: To provide a device associated with at least one means of transport, in particular at least one motor vehicle, for the detection, in particular intuitive detection, of the operating and/or system states of at least one assistance/support system for the lateral guidance of the means of transport, in which the acceptance of the assistance/support system is increased, for example in such a way that the response of the system may be readily assessed at any time by the driver of the means of transport, at least one display element is provided for displaying the particular operating and/or system state.

Abstract: A method and a device are described for detecting the contact between hands and a steering wheel, which assures that the driver of a vehicle has his hands on the steering wheel.

Abstract: A sensor system on motor vehicles for locating objects in front of the vehicle, wherein at least two sensors, each having a locating depth of at least 50 m, are arranged in such a way on both sides of longitudinal center axis of the vehicle that their locating angular ranges together cover the entire vehicle width as of a first distance d1, and overlap each other as of a second distance d2.

Abstract: An object sensing apparatus for driver assistance systems in motor vehicles, including at least two sensor systems which measure data concerning the location and/or motion status of objects in the vicinity of the vehicle, and whose detection regions overlap one another, characterized by an error recognition device that checks the data measured by the sensor systems for absence of contradictions, and outputs an error signal upon detection of a contradiction.

Abstract: In a method and a device for regulating the speed of a vehicle including an object detection system in the sense of an adaptive distance and speed control system, the adaptive distance and speed control system includes at least two operating modes. In the first operating mode, a vehicle speed between standstill and a limiting speed is set, and in the second operating mode, a vehicle speed between a limiting speed and a maximally regulable speed is set. In the first operating mode, in the absence of a speed-limiting object, the vehicle speed is increased beyond the limiting speed and thereafter is set to the limiting speed.

Abstract: Lane changing assistant for motor vehicles, controlling an automatic changing of the vehicle to a neighboring lane in response to a command by the driver as part of a lane keeping system of the motor vehicle and having an operating element that is movable in opposite directions out of a neutral position, wherein a sensor is assigned to the operating element for each adjustment direction and the sensor supplies a multi-valued output signal which corresponds to the operation of the operating element and determines the dynamics of the lane changing procedure.

Abstract: A method serves for detecting the touch contact of an operator-controlled element of a machine by a user. In order to be able to continuously and with great safety and meaning carry out the detection, it is suggested that an actual vibration characteristic (FR) of the operator-controlled element is detected during operation, which changes in dependence upon a touch contact of the operator-controlled element by a user, and is compared to at least one desired vibration characteristic (FR0), which is present in a defined state of the operator-controlled element (34, 42), and an announcement (48, 52) takes place in dependence upon the result of the comparison.

Abstract: To provide a device associated with at least one means of transport, in particular at least one motor vehicle, for the detection, in particular intuitive detection, of the operating and/or system states of at least one assistance/support system for the lateral guidance of the means of transport, in which the acceptance of the assistance/support system is increased, for example in such a way that the response of the system may be readily assessed at any time by the driver of the means of transport, at least one display element is provided for displaying the particular operating and/or system state.