Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for operating control apparatus during delayed shutoff after switching off the ignition of an internal combustion engine. This method protects the battery as far as possible and for this method, three principles are applied individually or in any desired combination but preferably all together. The first principle provides that the delayed-shutoff functions are no longer carried out, as has been conventional, until a fixed pregiven time duration is reached; instead, the functions are either interrupted when values of special variables reach a fixed pregiven threshold or a threshold fixed in dependence upon operating variables in advance of switch-off of the engine is reached.

Abstract: The method of igniting a gas-discharge lamp includes the steps of generating an exciting signal T in an operating circuit having an AC voltage generator on receipt of a lamp switch-on signal E by the operating circuit; exciting an ignition resonant circuit connected to a gas-discharge lamp with the exciting signal T to produce a decaying oscillating process, advantageously a decaying oscillating voltage, in the ignition resonant circuit; determining a resonant frequency of the ignition resonant circuit from the decaying oscillating voltage or process with a signal processing circuit, advantageously a microprocessor, connected to the ignition resonant circuit and operating the AC voltage generator at the determined resonant frequency by controlling the AC voltage generator with the signal processing circuit. The apparatus can be shut off or a warning signal generated when a predetermined parameter of the decaying oscillating process is exceeded.

Abstract: In a height regulation system for a vehicle having an air spring suspension, the actual value (h) of the height of the vehicle body (10) is filtered with a short time constant (t.sub.1) to produce a first signal (NIV.sub.1) which is compared with a desired height (h.sub.o). The actual value (h) is also filtered with a longer time constant (t.sub.2) to produce a second (delayed) signal (NIV.sub.2) which can be compared with the desired value (h.sub.o). The selection of the first signal (NIV.sub.1) or the second signal (NIV.sub.2) is effected by an electronic switch (46) under the control of a velocity comparator (50). When the vehicle is at rest or moving at a relatively slow speed (below v.sub.o) at which large oscillations are not expected, the filter (40) with the shorter time constant (t.sub.1) is connected to the comparator (48) for comparison with the desired height (h.sub.o) whereas, at higher velocities (v>v.sub.o) the second filter (42) with the longer time constant (t.sub. 2) is brought into use.

Abstract: A height sensor (20) of a height regulating device of an air spring suspension system of a vehicle is calibrated by using the air spring bellows (16) as jacks while the height regulation by the control device (44) is disabled. A dialog is set up between a test device (50) connected by an interface (52) with the control device (44), whereby the test device (50) takes over the control of the air supply to and from the air spring bellows (16) and the height of the vehicle body (10) is brought to a desired null height. The output (h.sub.n) of the sensor (20) is then stored in a non-volatile memory and is used as a reference height (h.sub.o) for the height regulation.

Abstract: A height adjustment system for a vehicle including a solenoid valve arrangement that controls air flow to and from an air spring of an air suspension arranged between a vehicle body and a wheel axle, a sensor unit for determining a height between the vehicle body and the wheel axle and a velocity of vertical movement of the vehicle body relative to the wheel axle, and a control unit that controls operation of the solenoid valve arrangement in accordance with the velocity of vertical movement of the vehicle body relative to the wheel axle as well as a comparison between threshold height values and the distance between the vehicle body and the wheel axle. The air suspension may also be provided with an oscillating damper of substantially constant damping characteristics, such as a shock absorber.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining the individual manipulated variables of an internal combustion engine such as a gas turbine or the like derived on the basis of given and measured operating characteristics such as rpm and temperature, including a computer having associated programs for control and data detection or data output and the various program courses take place preferably in alternation. The control program is interrupted at fixed times, and during the interruption, a special program for data detection or data output is performed. The method of the invention makes input data available continuously, which then can be called up during the normal control program course from working memories and from time to time input and output data is brought up to the most recent state.