Abstract: A method to determine myocardial wall dynamics and tissue characteristics using a method provided to determine myocardial wall dynamics and tissue characteristics using a 3D model of the myocardium. The method comprises generating an epicardial surface and an endocardial surface from a plurality of SAX and LAX slices; identifying a plurality of nodes on the epicardial and endocardial surfaces or in between these surfaces within the myocardium in a reference frame; defining a set of coefficients, each coefficient being associated with the respective location of the corresponding node in a phase; determining the coefficients and in this way determining the model; determining the myocardial wall dynamics in terms of strain values and displacements.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes a combustion engine, an electric motor, and a drive train that is optionally connectible to the electric motor or the combustion engine. An operating mode of the hybrid vehicle is determined automatically as a function of a setpoint torque and an operating state of the hybrid vehicle, the operating mode specifying whether the combustion engine, the electric motor, or the combustion engine and the electric motor is/are used as the drive mechanism of the hybrid vehicle. The operating mode is determined at least such that an efficiency of the drive train including the drive mechanism selected in accordance with the determined operating mode is at a maximum. Depending on the determined operating mode, the combustion engine and/or the electric motor is/are coupled automatically to the drive train for operating the hybrid vehicle.

Abstract: In a method and a device (8) for operating a hybrid vehicle (1), the internal combustion engine (2) of the hybrid vehicle is started automatically in case the hybrid vehicle (1) is in a ready-to-drive mode and an opening of an engine covering (4) of the hybrid vehicle is detected.

Abstract: At least one chemical heating measure, which causes an increase in the catalytic converter temperature essentially by introducing into the exhaust gas channel additional chemical energy in excess of energy provided at an initial engine operating point, is combined with at least one thermal heating measure, which causes an increase in the catalytic converter temperature essentially by introducing into the exhaust gas channel additional thermal energy in excess of energy provided at an initial engine operating point, so that a major fraction of the chemical energy is introduced temporally before a major fraction of the thermal energy is introduced.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes a combustion engine, an electric motor, and a drive train that is optionally connectible to the electric motor or the combustion engine. An operating mode of the hybrid vehicle is determined automatically as a function of a setpoint torque and an operating state of the hybrid vehicle, the operating mode specifying whether the combustion engine, the electric motor, or the combustion engine and the electric motor is/are used as the drive mechanism of the hybrid vehicle. The operating mode is determined at least such that an efficiency of the drive train including the drive mechanism selected in accordance with the determined operating mode is at a maximum. Depending on the determined operating mode, the combustion engine and/or the electric motor is/are coupled automatically to the drive train for operating the hybrid vehicle.

Abstract: In a method and a device (8) for operating a hybrid vehicle (1), the internal combustion engine (2) of the hybrid vehicle is started automatically in case the hybrid vehicle (1) is in a ready-to-drive mode and an opening of an engine covering (4) of the hybrid vehicle is detected.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for controlling the temperature of at least one catalyst arranged in an exhaust gas cleaning system (12) of a lean-runnable multi-cylinder engine (10), wherein energy is introduced into the exhaust gas cleaning system (12) by a lambda split, and to a corresponding multicylinder engine (10). It is provided that the introduction of energy is limited depending on at least one of the parameters catalyst temperature, exhaust gas temperature and exhaust gas mass flow rate, and/or at least one of the parameters change of the catalyst temperature, change of the exhaust gas temperature and change of the exhaust gas mass flow rate, or at least one of the parameters rate of change of the catalyst temperature, rate of change of the exhaust gas temperature and rate of change of the exhaust gas mass flow rate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for at least temporarily increasing an exhaust gas temperature of a spark-ignition, direction injection internal combustion engine (10) involving at least one measure, which is executed by the engine, whereby this at least one measure consists of a spark retarding and of a multiple injection (ME). During the multiple injection (ME), at least two fuel injections into the cylinder (12) are carried out within an induction cycle and compression cycle of a cylinder (12) of the internal combustion engine (10), and the latest of these injections ensues during a compression cycle of the cylinder (12). The invention also relates to the utilization of the method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for heating up at least one catalytic converter (34) that is disposed in an exhaust gas duct (28) of an internal combustion engine, especially an NOx storage catalytic converter (34) which is mounted upstream of a precatalytic converter (30, 32). According to the invention, at least one chemical heating measure causing a temperature increase in the catalytic converter (34) that is to be heated substantially by means of chemical energy which is fed into the exhaust gas duct (28) in addition to the energy supplied at an original engine operation point, and at least one thermal heating measure causing an increase in the temperature of the catalytic converter especially by means of thermal energy that is supplied in addition to the energy supplied at an original engine operation point, are combined in such a way that a main portion of chemical energy is supplied before a main portion of thermal energy.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for controlling the temperature of at least one catalyst arranged in an exhaust gas cleaning system (12) of a lean-runnable multi-cylinder engine (10), wherein energy is introduced into the exhaust gas cleaning system (12) by a lambda split, and to a corresponding multicylinder engine (10). It is provided that the introduction of energy is limited depending on at least one of the parameters catalyst temperature, exhaust gas temperature and exhaust gas mass flow rate, and/or at least one of the parameters change of the catalyst temperature, change of the exhaust gas temperature and change of the exhaust gas mass flow rate, or at least one of the parameters rate of change of the catalyst temperature, rate of change of the exhaust gas temperature and rate of change of the exhaust gas mass flow rate.

Abstract: The invention relates to two methods for controlling a fuel metering of a direct-injection internal combustion engine (10) in a multiple injection operating mode according to which at least two fuel injections into a cylinder (12) are carried out during a compression cycle of the cylinder (12) of the internal combustion engine (10) by means of at least one injection valve (22). The invention provides that a pressure (rail pressure, PR), under which the fuel is stored in front of the injection valve (22), is present in such a manner and/or injected fuel portions of the individual injections of a combustion cycle and/or a total fuel quantity, which is injected during a multiple injection, are varied in such a manner as to prevent a forthcoming valve opening time (?t) of the injection valve (22) from falling below a preset valve opening time (?tK) during at least one injection of a combustion cycle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for warming up at least one catalytic converter that is arranged downstream from a spark-ignition, direct injection internal combustion engine. To this end, an exhaust gas temperature is at least temporarily increased by at least one measure, which is executed by the engine, after the conclusion (t1) of the engine start of the internal combustion engine. The measures, which are executed by the engine, consist of a multiple injection during which at least two fuel injections into the cylinder are carried out within an induction cycle and compression cycle of a cylinder of the internal combustion engine, and/or said measures consist of a spark retarding. The invention provides that the measure executed by the engine or a combination of measures having the strongest heating action is available, at the earliest, after a retardation of at least two working cycles of the internal combustion engine after the conclusion (t1) of the engine start.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for at least temporarily increasing an exhaust gas temperature of a spark-ignition, direction injection internal combustion engine (10) involving at least one measure, which is executed by the engine, whereby this at least one measure consists of a spark retarding and of a multiple injection (ME). During the multiple injection (ME), at least two fuel injections into the cylinder (12) are carried out within an induction cycle and compression cycle of a cylinder (12) of the internal combustion engine (10), and the latest of these injections ensues during a compression cycle of the cylinder (12). The invention also relates to the utilization of the method.

Abstract: The invention relates to two methods for controlling a fuel metering of a direct-injection internal combustion engine (10) in a multiple injection operating mode according to which at least two fuel injections into a cylinder (12) are carried out during a compression cycle of the cylinder (12) of the internal combustion engine (10) by means of at least one injection valve (22). The invention provides that a pressure (rail pressure, pR), under which the fuel is stored in front of the injection valve (22), is preset in such a manner and/or injected fuel portions of the individual injections of a combustion cycle and/or a total fuel quantity, which is injected during a multiple injection, are varied in such a manner as to prevent a forthcoming valve opening time (&Dgr;t) of the injection valve (22) from falling below a preset valve opening time (&Dgr;tK) during at least one injection of a combustion cycle.