Abstract: An electric vehicle includes an electric machine, a generator generating a first AC output current, an internal combustion engine driving the generator, and a first electric plug-in charging device. When the engine is started, the generator supplies the battery with charging power. The first plug-in charging device is geometrically configured to be connectable with single phase AC power mains to supply the battery with charging power in a vehicle deactivated state. The first plug-in charging device is configured for a maximum electric power voltage load of 240 volts and a maximum current strength of 32 amperes. A second electric plug-in charging device is integrated into the vehicle. A DC charging station is connectable to the second charging device in the deactivated state so the DC charging station is usable either exclusively or simultaneously with the single phase AC power mains for charging the battery.

Abstract: A charging device is provided for an external alternating current voltage source and a motor vehicle equipped with a high-voltage battery, wherein the motor vehicle has a low-voltage battery, a link circuit capacitor and a charging electronics unit with a charging voltage input and a supply voltage input. The charging device is designed such that the vehicle has a bidirectional auxiliary power supply with two interfaces. The first interface of the auxiliary power supply is connected in parallel with the link circuit capacitor and in parallel with the charging voltage input of the charging electronics unit, and the second interface of the auxiliary power supply and the low-voltage battery are connected in parallel with the supply voltage input of the charging electronics unit.

Abstract: A charging device is provided for an external alternating current voltage source and a motor vehicle equipped with a high-voltage battery, wherein the motor vehicle has a low-voltage battery, a link circuit capacitor and a charging electronics unit with a charging voltage input and a supply voltage input. The charging device is designed such that the vehicle has a bidirectional auxiliary power supply with two interfaces. The first interface of the auxiliary power supply is connected in parallel with the link circuit capacitor and in parallel with the charging voltage input of the charging electronics unit, and the second interface of the auxiliary power supply and the low-voltage battery are connected in parallel with the supply voltage input of the charging electronics unit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting optical defects in optical bus systems which use optical modules in communication with a plurality of nodes connected to each other. Deterioration of the optical transmission quality is detected as a resulting deterioration in an electrical output signal and noted deterioration is stored and read out.

Abstract: In a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine for vehicles, having a plurality of air ducts leading to the cylinders and an associated engine control device situated in a housing, the air ducts are combined into a single unit, on the exterior of which the engine control device housing is situated on its lower part which forms the underside, and the lower part of the engine control device housing simultaneously forms a part of the air ducts.

Abstract: A method is provided for transmitting messages between bus users that are each linked with a communication bus for the purpose of exchanging messages and with a diagnostic device for detecting the failure of the communication bus. In a diagnostic operation mode that is different from the normal operation mode, the bus user receiving the message is requested by the diagnostic device to output the message to the communication bus, thereby diagnosing a message transmission between two bus users.

Abstract: In a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine for vehicles, having a plurality of air ducts leading to the cylinders and an associated engine control device situated in a housing, the air ducts are combined into a single unit, on the exterior of which the engine control device housing is situated on its lower part which forms the underside, and the lower part of the engine control device housing simultaneously forms a part of the air ducts.

Abstract: In a method for exchanging data between several stations belonging to various data bus systems. The data bus systems are spatially and physically separate from each other. The stations exchange data via control devices which are respectively associated with a data bus system and which are interconnected by means of a faster data bus, which said bus is not busy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for exchanging data between a plurality of subscribers (K1, K2, K3, K) by means of a data bus. The subscribers are located in their totality in at least two spatially and physically separate subordinate data buses and exchange, in the interval in which the more rapid data bus is not busy, data via control devices that are associated with every subordinate data bus and that are interconnected via a more rapid data bus.

Abstract: In the case of a data bus for several users, the users have hierarchical transmission authorizations; the users are synchronized by a synchronization signal; and the communication of the user with the highest priority, which can be emitted at regular time intervals by this user, serves as a synchronization signal.

Abstract: A data bus arrangement for a plurality of nodes connected to each other including a logical decision gate having a plurality of inputs corresponding to the number of nodes. A converter module is connected between each node and the logical decision gate. Each convertor module converts an optical output from one of the nodes to an electrical signal which is fed to one of the inputs of the logical decision gate. A separate switch is connected between an output of the logical decision gate and an input of each one of said convertor modules for controlling the convertor module independent of an output signal on the output of the decision gate.

Abstract: A method is provided for transmitting messages between bus users that are each linked with a communication bus for the purpose of exchanging messages and with a diagnostic device for detecting the failure of the communication bus. In a diagnostic operation mode that is different from the normal operation mode, the bus user receiving the message is requested by the diagnostic device to output the message to the communication bus, thereby diagnosing a message transmission between two bus users.

Abstract: A data bus structure for cooperating with a plurality of nodes which are connected to each other. The data bus structure includes optical transmission modules associated with each node and a logical decision gate having inputs associated with each node. The logical decision output signal is provided in parallel to each node through the optical transmission modules. These modules serve to convert optical signals from the nodes to electrical signals and output to the logical decision gate and to convert electrical signals output from the logical decision gate to optical signals and output to the nodes. In order to separate a single node from the data bus, the transmission mode is monitored and an independently controlled switch is positioned between the logical decision gate and the optical transmission module. This arrangement functions to exclude a node from bus communication while leaving the remaining nodes uninterrupted.

Abstract: A data bus for establishing a connection among a plurality of nodes and having configuration whereby optical data messages are converted to an electrical signal and sent through a logical decision gate to each of the nodes. A memory element, which is connected in parallel to the input of the logic decision gate, provides an addressable manner of monitoring data traffic on the data bus and identifying a source of any malfunction.

Abstract: A rollover sensor for a vehicle continuously determines the inclination of a vehicle in at least one axis. In order to cancel drift deviations in the sensor, the inclination is average in the at least one axis, continuously along a defined route. The formed average value is assumed as the zero position. Inclination of the vehicle due to inclination of the road surface is compensated based on variations in ambient air pressure indicative of changes in altitude.

Abstract: In a method for exchanging data between several stations belonging to various data bus systems. The data bus systems are spatially and physically separate from each other. The stations exchange data via control devices which are respectively associated with a data bus system and which are interconnected by means of a faster data bus, which said bus is not busy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for exchanging data between a plurality of subscribers (K1, K2, K3, K) by means of a data bus. The subscribers are located in their totality in at least two spatially and physically separate subordinate data buses and exchange, in the interval in which the more rapid data bus is not busy, data via control devices that are associated with every subordinate data bus and that are interconnected via a more rapid data bus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for securing data transfer in a data bus via which data telegrams of at least one transmitter are transferred containing a data field of a variable length and a check sum and the data transfer quality is determined by the receiver using the check sum, said check having a shorter length when the data field length is shorter than when the data field is longer.

Abstract: In a data bus which is shared by several components, the components possess a hierarchical transmission token and are synchronized by a synchronization pulse. A clock signal of the synchronization pulse has a rate which is between the duration of transmission of the component with the highest priority token and the cumulative duration of transmission of all components.

Abstract: In a data bus for vehicles with several passenger safety devices, the devices are synchronized by a synchronization pulse and also share the data bus. The clock of the synchronization pulse is shorter than the accumulated transmission times of the bus-sharing devices.