Abstract: In a method for checking the proper functioning of a component in a vehicle by evaluating the system state of the component with the aid of a sensor, a state variable is measured first and then the measured state variable is examined for at least one characteristic feature that is descriptive of the system state of the component.

Abstract: A premold housing for accommodating a chip structure in which a part of the housing that is connected to the chip structure is connected in a manner that permits elastic deflection to another part of the housing which is attached to the supporting structure bearing the entire housing, the two housing parts not contacting one another.

Abstract: The invention relates to an inertial sensor arrangement (2), in particular for installation in a motor vehicle, having a sensor module (8) which is fitted to a carrier (6) and comprises a micromechanically produced inertial sensor and an evaluation circuit. The invention provides for the sensor module (8) to be connected to the carrier (6) by means of an elastic coupling element (14).

Abstract: In a method for checking the proper functioning of a component in a vehicle by evaluating the system state of the component with the aid of a sensor, a state variable is measured first and then the measured state variable is examined for at least one characteristic feature that is descriptive of the system state of the component.

Abstract: The invention relates to an inertial sensor arrangement (2), in particular for installation in a motor vehicle, having a sensor module (8) which is fitted to a carrier (6) and comprises a micromechanically produced inertial sensor and an evaluation circuit. The invention provides for the sensor module (8) to be connected to the carrier (6) by means of an elastic coupling element (14).

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a rotation rate has an oscillatory body 11 on which a plurality of electromechanical converters A, A′, B, B′, C, C′, D, D′ are mounted. At least a first converter A, A′ is caused to oscillate mechanically by an electric driver signal UF,O generated in a first circuit arrangement 12. Further, at least a second converter D, D′ is caused to oscillate mechanically by an electric damping signal UF, D generated in a second circuit arrangement 13. At least a third converter C, C′ emits an electric sensor damping signal US, D which corresponds to the oscillation of the body 11 in the location where the at least third converter D, D′ is mounted. The damping sensor signal US, D is fed back to the input of the second circuit arrangement 13. A voltage divider 31 is provided, by means of which the signal UF, D generated in the second circuit arrangement 13 can be reduced.

Abstract: A method and a device for measuring the angle of a rotatable body, in particular a body rotatable by more than 360.degree., are described. In this case this rotatable body cooperates with at least two further rotatable bodies, for example gear wheels, whose angular positions are determined with the aid of two sensors. The angular position of the rotatable body is determined from the angular positions detected in this way. So that unequivocal statements can be made, it is necessary for all three rotatable bodies or gear wheels to have defined predetermined numbers of teeth. The method and the device can be used, for example, for determining the steering angle of a motor vehicle.

Abstract: The apparatus for determining turning rate, particularly of a motor vehicle, includes two sensor systems (1,3), each of which generate at least one output signal depending on the turning rate. The sensor signals from both sensor systems are combined by a microcontroller including a memory to determine the turning rate accounting for offset drift and sensitivity drift. The first sensor system (1) includes an electronic compass with at least two sensor components (10) each including at least one magnetoresistive element (19) arranged in a Wheatstone bridge for detecting an X-component, a Y-component or a Z-component of the earth's magnetic field. The second sensor system (3) generates a sensor signal according to a Coriolis force experience by an oscillating structure. Each sensor component (10) of the first sensor system also includes an integrated field compensation coil (L.sub.F) and a set/reset coil (L.sub.

Abstract: The sensing device for determination of a steering wheel angle of a steering column of a vehicle includes a first coded disk which is read by a first group of receiving devices to form a fine code signal and which rotates at the same speed as the steering wheel. A second coded disk rotates with a fourth the speed of the first disk and has two or more pole change positions which are detected by a second group of receiving devices to form a gross code signal. Hall elements are used as receiving devices. Magnetically coded disks having a predetermined sequence of alternating North and South pole regions are used as the coded disks. These regions are distributed around the periphery of the disk and have different arc lengths. Hall switching devices are used as receivers which cooperate with the magnetic regions of the coded disks.

Abstract: The apparatus for determination of absolute angular position of a steering wheel (w) rotatable through several revolutions includes a fine code disk(2) nonrotatably attached to the steering column (c) and provided with circumferentially distributed code elements (2',2", 2'", . . . ) and circumferentially distributed code element sensors (5) for sensing the code elements (2", 2", 2"', . . . ) to generate fine signals which repeat after each revolution of the steering wheel and are indicative of a relative steering wheel angular position during each revolution; and a coarse code disk (7) provided with at least three code tracks (A,B,C, . . . ) and at least three code track sensors (8a, 8b, 8c , . . . ) for sensing respective code tracks (A,B,C, . . . ) to generate a progressive 3-bit coded signal indicative of the absolute steering wheel angular position over the several revolutions.

Abstract: An acceleration switch has a housing having a housing recess, an elongated tilting body located in the housing recess and operating as a seismic mass, a magnetic system, and a reed switch. The tilting body is arranged so that upon exceeding of a predetermined threshold value a control signal is released by interaction of the magnetic system and the reed switch. The magnetic system includes at least two permanent magnets having opposite polarization directions and connected with a magnetic flux conducting body at an end side facing away from the reed switch. The reed switch has contacts located in a magnetic field between the permanent magnets. The polarization directions of the permanent magnets extend perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tilting body. The contacts of the reed switch are arranged in a tilting direction of the tilting body.

Abstract: A sensor for automatically triggering safety devices in motor vehicles has a housing a having a recess, a body arranged in the housing so as to serve as a seismic mass and to trigger a control signal when a predetermined threshold value is exceeded, a permanent magnet enclosed by a region of magnetically nonconductive material, a Hall element arranged in the body in working connection with the permanent magnet and comprising magnetically conducting material. The Hall element substantially evaluates magnetic flux lines running parallel to a polarization direction of the permanent magnet, so that the Hall element evaluates the magnetic flux lines running parallel to the polarization direction of the permanent magnet in a basic position, and evaluates the magnetic flux lines running in an opposite direction in a tilting position.

Abstract: A tilt-actuated switch features a housing 11 and a contact element 14 movable within the housing between a stable first position and a second position in which the contact element electrically connects two fixed contact elements secured to the housing. The movable contact element responds to tilting of said housing beyond a predetermined critical angle, with respect to the vertical, by flipping from the stable first position through an unstable position (FIG. 2) into a second position (FIG. 3) which is stable. Unlike prior art tilt-actuated switches, this improved switch applies sufficient force against the fixed contacts, even when the tilting is gradual, to assure reliable electrical contact, necessary for applications such as a "dead-man-switch" in a portable radio transceiver.