Abstract: The invention relates to a brake system comprising at least one brake with a frictional surface, a pad carrier with a brake pad, and a control and monitoring unit. According to the invention, the brake system additionally comprises a brake temperature sensor which is connected to the control and monitoring unit that is designed to ascertain brake temperature maintenance values on the basis of the brake effectiveness request, to compare a temperature ascertained by the brake temperature sensor with corresponding brake temperature maintenance values, and to ascertain at least one correction factor on the basis of a deviation. The control and monitoring unit is additionally designed to correct the brake control signal by the at least one correction factor and to actuate the controller using the corrected brake control signal.

Abstract: A brake system includes an electromechanical brake having a friction surface, a lining support having a brake lining, an electric motor for moving the lining support, and a control and monitoring unit. The control and monitoring unit ascertains, from a first value ascertained during a first movement of the lining support by the electric motor, an operating parameter of at least one part of the brake, and a second value ascertained during a second movement opposite to the first movement of the lining support, by the electric motor, an operating behavior value for a real operating behavior of the relevant brake, and ascertains, by comparing the at least one real operating behavior value to at least one stored operating behavior expectation, a correction factor. The brake control system is corrected by the one correction factor and a regulator of the electric motor is activated using the corrected brake control signal.

Abstract: A method for determining design parameters of an electromechanical brake is provided. The brake comprises an electric motor connected to a brake lining by a transmission. The brake lining can be pressed against a friction lining movable relative to the brake lining. The electric motor is connected to the brake lining by a transmission that has a transmission ratio which is not constant over an actuation stroke. A reliable and economical brake is achieved in that an electric motor, a brake lining and a friction lining are selected, whereupon the transmission ratio is selected on the basis of the counter-torque acting over the actuation stroke, which counter-torque acts on the transmission. The transmission ratio is selected in such a way that the electric motor is operated at an optimal operating point, in particular at an operating point of maximum power, substantially over the entire actuation stroke.

Abstract: A sensor arrangement for capacitive position detection of a hand on a steering wheel. The sensor arrangement includes: a plurality of capacitive sensors disposed along a detection surface, which is an outer surface of the steering wheel, each sensor having at least one sensor electrode; and a measurement device electrically connected to the sensors. In order to increase the reliability of capacitive hand detection on a steering wheel, the measurement device is adapted to perform a sequence of detection operations, and in each detection operation, to activate at least one sensor by applying a detection signal to its at least one sensor electrode in order to capacitively detect the hand while grounding at least one other sensor by connecting at least one of its sensor electrodes to ground, and to activate different sensors in consecutive detection operations.

Abstract: A method of operating a capacitive sensing device for diagnosing a galvanic connection of at least one guard electrode. The capacitive sensing device includes at least one sense-guard capacitive sensor and a capacitive measurement circuit. The sense-guard capacitive sensor includes a first electrically conductive sense electrode and a first electrically conductive guard electrode and at least a second electrically conductive sense electrode, which is galvanically separated from the first sense electrode, and at least a second electrically conductive guard electrode. Each of the guard electrodes is proximally arranged to at least one of the sense electrodes and is galvanically separated from each of the sense electrodes. The method uses a calculated difference of imaginary parts of complex sense currents resulting from coupling mode measurements between at least two of the sense electrodes for assessing a status of the galvanic connection of the guard electrodes.

Abstract: A brake system includes an electromechanical brake having a friction surface, a lining support, an electric motor for moving the lining support, a spring acting on the lining support, and a control and monitoring unit. A control and monitoring unit ascertains from at least one first value ascertained during a first movement of the lining support by the electric motor, an operating behavior value for a real operating behavior of an operating parameter of the relevant brake, and ascertains, by a comparison of the at least one real operating behavior value to at least one stored operating behavior expectation, a correction factor. The brake control system corrects by the one correction factor and activates a regulator of the electric motor using the corrected brake control signal. The control and monitoring unit is performs a calibration by a spring force of the at least one spring during the first movement.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to ensure a reliable lift of both brake pads of a floating-caliper brake (1) after releasing the brake. This is achieved in that a lifting part (20) is hinged to the brake caliper (2) at a hinge point (21), and the lifting part (20) is supported on the support structure (7) at a contact point (23) at least partly at releasing the floating-caliper brake (1), wherein a lift drive (22) is provided which rotates the lifting part (20) about the hinge point (21) such that a support for the lifting part (20) is produced on the contact point (23), whereby the hinge point (21) and the brake caliper (2) are moved.

Abstract: Two-dimensional aerial images and other geo-spatial information are processed to produce land classification data, vector data and attribute data for buildings found within the images. This data is stored upon a server computer within shape files, and also stored are source code scripts describing how to reconstruct a type of building along with compiled versions of the scripts. A software game or simulator executes upon a client computer in which an avatar moves within a landscape. A classifier classifies a type of building in the shape file to execute the appropriate script. Depending upon its location, a scene composer downloads a shape file and a compiled script is executed in order to reconstruct any number of buildings in the vicinity of the avatar. The script produces a three-dimensional textured mesh which is then rendered upon a screen of the client computer to display a two-dimensional representation of the building.

Abstract: For rapid and precise actuation of a friction brake, the thermal expansion of the friction brake is determined using a thermal model of the friction brake and therefrom the temperature-dependent shift in the contact point is determined for the braking operation and the temperature-dependent shift in the contact point is taken into account when determining the actuation measure of the friction brake to be adjusted.

Abstract: A capacitive sensor arrangement includes: a sensing electrode having a capacitance (CX) which depends on the presence of an object in a detection space; a measurement device connected to the sensing electrode and configured to detect the capacitance (CX) of the sensing electrode; and a conducting structure, wherein the capacitance (CX) of the sensing electrode depends on a potential of the conducting structure. In order to obtain a reliable capacitive measurement, the measurement device is connected to a power supply between a first potential (VS) and a second potential (GND), the measurement device being connected to the second potential exclusively via the structure.

Abstract: Two-dimensional aerial images and other geo-spatial information are processed to produce land classification data, vector data and attribute data for buildings found within the images. This data is stored upon a server computer within shape files, and also stored are source code scripts describing how to reconstruct a type of building along with compiled versions of the scripts. A software game or simulator executes upon a client computer in which an avatar moves within a landscape. A classifier classifies a type of building in the shape file to execute the appropriate script. Depending upon its location, a scene composer downloads a shape file and a compiled script is executed in order to reconstruct any number of buildings in the vicinity of the avatar. The script produces a three-dimensional texture mesh which is then rendered upon a screen of the client computer to display a two-dimensional representation of the building.

Abstract: A capacitive vehicle seat occupancy detection and classification system includes an impedance measurement circuit and a control and evaluation unit. The impedance measurement circuit is configured for providing periodic electrical measurement signals to a capacitive sensor of N different fundamental frequencies, wherein N is a natural number of at least 3, and to determine a complex impedance from each of determined sense currents in the capacitive sensor. The control and evaluation unit is configured to determine a seat occupancy class for each one of the complex impedances determined at the at least N different fundamental frequencies, and to determine a final seat occupancy class derived by a majority decision among the determined seat occupancy classes.

Abstract: To reduce the attainable actuation times of an electrically actuated friction brake and simultaneously keep the friction brake inexpensive, a second transmission element (8) with an elevation curve (17) is proposed in which a coupling element (15) is provided on a first transmission element (5), and on the coupling element (15) there is arranged a follower element (14) which follows the elevation curve (17) under the action of the electric actuator (12) for the actuation of the first transmission element (5).

Abstract: A capacitive vehicle seat occupancy detection and classification system includes an impedance measurement circuit and a control and evaluation unit. The impedance measurement circuit is configured for providing periodic electrical measurement signals to a capacitive sensor of N different fundamental frequencies, wherein N is a natural number of at least 3, and to determine a complex impedance from each of determined sense currents in the capacitive sensor. The control and evaluation unit is configured to determine a seat occupancy class for each one of the complex impedances determined at the at least N different fundamental frequencies, and to determine a final seat occupancy class derived by a majority decision among the determined seat occupancy classes.

Abstract: A capacitive detection system for detecting occupancy of a vehicle seat includes a signal generating unit and a signal evaluation unit. The vehicle seat has a seat heater member configured for receiving time-varying output signals of the signal generating unit. The signal evaluation unit is configured to generate an output signal that is indicative of the seat heater member to be defective, if the sensed capacitance of the seat heater member is less than a second predetermined threshold value for the sensed capacitance.

Abstract: A capacitive occupancy or proximity detector includes a heating circuit, an impedance measurement circuit connected to the heating element, and a diagnostic circuit configured for determining integrity of the heater element. The heating circuit includes a heating element, a heating current source and a common mode choke having a first and a second winding, the heating element being connectable to the heating current source via the first and second windings. The diagnostic circuit includes at least one controllable switching element coupled across the second winding, circuitry for injecting a DC current into a series connection formed by the first winding the heating element and a parallel connection of the second winding and the at least one controllable switching element, and at least one detection circuit for detecting a voltage variation across the second winding.

Abstract: To reduce the attainable actuation times of an electrically actuated friction brake and simultaneously keep the friction brake inexpensive, an electrically actuated friction brake with a brake pad (3) actuated by an actuation device (10) is proposed, wherein for braking the actuation device (10) is driven by a spring and is held open by an electrical actuator (12), so that the spring actuates the friction brake (1) in case of a power loss, wherein a first transmission element (5), that is connected to the brake pad (3), and a second transmission element (8) with an elevation curve (17) are provided and a coupling element (15) is provided on the first transmission element (5), wherein a follower element (14) is arranged on the coupling element (15) that follows the elevation curve (17) under the action of the spring for actuating the first transmission element (5).

Abstract: A capacitive occupancy or proximity detector includes a heating circuit, an impedance measurement circuit connected to the heating element and a diagnostic circuit configured for determining integrity of the heater element. The heating circuit includes a heating element, a heating current source and a common mode choke having a first and a second winding, the heating element being connectable to the heating current source via the first and second windings. The diagnostic circuit includes at least one controllable switching element coupled across the second winding circuitry for injecting a DC current into a series connection formed by the first winding, the heating element and a parallel connection of the second winding and said at least one controllable switching element; and at least one detection circuit for detecting a voltage variation across the second winding.

Abstract: A capacitive detection system for detecting occupancy of a vehicle seat includes a signal generating unit and a signal evaluation unit. The vehicle seat has a seat heater member configured for receiving time-varying output signals of the signal generating unit. The signal evaluation unit is configured to generate an output signal that is indicative of the seat heater member to be defective, if the sensed capacitance of the seat heater member is less than a second predetermined threshold value for the sensed capacitance.

Abstract: To be able to selectively influence the braking effect of a friction brake (1) in a certain operating point to be able to reliably and easily achieve regulation or control of a required setpoint braking effect of the friction brake (1), it is proposed to determine an actuation energy (EE) of the electric motor (21) for the braking operation, and to determine the ascertained actuation energy (EE) as the actual actuation energy (EE_actual) in the predefined setpoint position of the friction brake (1), and to determine a setpoint actuation energy (EE_setpoint) with respect to the setpoint position or with respect to a setpoint braking effect from known data concerning the friction brake (1), and to compensate for a deviation between the actual actuation energy (EE_actual) and the setpoint actuation energy (EE_setpoint) by actuating the friction brake (1).