Abstract: A lateral high voltage semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate with a frontside and a semiconductor element. The semiconductor element includes: a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type formed within the semiconductor substrate; a second semiconductor region formed within the semiconductor substrate and spaced apart from the first semiconductor region in a first lateral direction parallel to the frontside; and an extension region adjoining the second semiconductor region. The semiconductor device is configured to control a load current between the first and second semiconductor regions. The extension region extends along the frontside of the semiconductor substrate and includes at least one mesa protruding at the frontside of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A high voltage semiconductor device includes a substrate having a background doping of a first conductivity type. The substrate includes doped shielding regions of a complementary second conductivity type formed along a first substrate surface. An insulator layer is formed on the first substrate surface. A semiconductor layer is formed on the insulator layer opposite the substrate. A first interlayer dielectric is formed on the semiconductor layer. A first metal layer including laterally separated first field plate elements is formed on first portions of the first interlayer dielectric in a high voltage termination region. A second interlayer dielectric is formed on the first metal layer and on second portions of the first interlayer dielectric between the first field plate elements.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate layer having a floating base region of a first conductivity type. A first well of a second conductivity type and the floating base region form a first pn junction. A first conductive structure is electrically connected to the first well. A barrier region of the second conductivity type and the floating base region form an auxiliary pn junction. A second conductive structure is electrically connected to the floating base region through a rectifying structure. A pull-down structure is configured to produce a voltage drop between the barrier region and the second conductive structure, when charge carriers cross the auxiliary pn junction.

Abstract: A control module of a vehicle includes a plurality of electromechanical functional elements arranged on a carrier plate and fixed in an interlocking and force-fitting manner to the carrier plate by clamping elements. The clamping elements are formed on a pressure plate that is secured to spacers of the carrier plate. To simplify production and fitting of the pressure plate provided with the clamping elements and to be able to use them with functional elements having different structural heights, the spacers have a slightly greater height than the structural height of the highest functional element. The pressure plate, for each of the functional elements, has at least one clamping element in the form of a clamping tab. The clamping tabs are each arranged at an opening in the pressure plate, which opening is partially closed by the clamping tabs, and are angled toward the carrier plate.

Abstract: A self-cleaning mechanism for a pneumatic central clutch release includes: a release piston which is coaxially arranged around a hollow shaft and is mounted such that it moves in the direction of an axis of the hollow shaft; and a housing which at least partially surrounds the release piston so as to form a pressure chamber between the hollow shaft, the housing and the release piston, which is sealed from the environment and can be connected to a fluid pressure source; and a cleaning chamber fluidically arranged between the pressure chamber and the environment. The cleaning chamber is able to be connected to the environment by way of a ventilation channel.

Abstract: A clutch actuator transmitting a disengaging force to a clutch disengaging device of a includes an actuating element which receives the disengaging force, and a piston rod for transmitting the disengaging force from the actuating element to the disengaging device. The piston rod bears against an actuating element connection region such that the piston rod is movable towards the connection region by the reaction force of the clutch. The positioning of the connection region and the piston rod relative to each other due to the movement can be fixed by applying the disengaging force to the actuating element. The actuating element at least partly deflects the disengaging force, producing a normal force and/or a radial force acting between the connection region and the piston rod. The normal force and/or the radial force fixes the position of the connection region and the piston rod relative to each other.

Abstract: A self-aligning rotating joint, for mounting in a first component and connecting to a second component, the rotating joint comprising: a housing having: an external mounting surface; an internal chamber with an internal surface forming a spherical segment symmetric about a center point; a base end with an assembly opening; and an aperture in a cap end opposite the base end; a stud having: a longitudinal axis passing through the center point; a proximal stud end housed within the internal chamber; and a distal connecting end extending through the aperture, the proximal end having a cylindrical surface and a head laterally extending from the cylindrical surface; and a longitudinally split bearing having: an external bearing surface matching the internal surface of the housing; an internal bearing surface matching the cylindrical surface of the stud; and a longitudinal channel extending radially from the internal bearing surface to the external bearing surface.

Abstract: A ball joint having alignment guides to ensure correct assembly of a directional bearing into the internal chamber of a housing, the directional bearing having an elliptical external surface engaging a mating elliptical alignment surface of the internal chamber such that the ball end of the ball joint stud is pivotally mounted for angular motion within a major swing plane and a minor swing plane relative to the housing axis.

Abstract: A sensor device is provided for detecting a shifting position of a vehicle transmission. The vehicle transmission includes a transmission chamber, in which transmission elements are arranged. The sensor device includes a bar element, which extends from the transmission chamber into a secondary chamber sealed off from the transmission chamber and is arranged such that the bar element can be moved in dependence on the shifting position. The bar element has an interface arranged in the transmission chamber for coupling the bar element to a transmission element positioned in dependence on the shifting position and an accommodating segment arranged in the secondary chamber. The sensor device also has a transducer element, which is attached to the accommodating segment of the bar element. The sensor device also has a detecting device for detecting a position of the transducer element depending on the shifting position or a motion of the transducer element depending on a change in the shifting position.

Abstract: A self-cleaning mechanism for a pneumatic central clutch release includes: a release piston which is coaxially arranged around a hollow shaft and is mounted such that it moves in the direction of an axis of the hollow shaft; and a housing which at least partially surrounds the release piston so as to form a pressure chamber between the hollow shaft, the housing and the release piston, which is sealed from the environment and can be connected to a fluid pressure source; and a cleaning chamber fluidically arranged between the pressure chamber and the environment. The cleaning chamber is able to be connected to the environment by way of a ventilation channel.

Abstract: A self-aligning rotating joint, for mounting in a first component and connecting to a second component, the rotating joint comprising: a housing having: an external mounting surface; an internal chamber with an internal surface forming a spherical segment symmetric about a center point; a base end with an assembly opening; and an aperture in a cap end opposite the base end; a stud having: a longitudinal axis passing through the center point; a proximal stud end housed within the internal chamber; and a distal connecting end extending through the aperture, the proximal end having a cylindrical surface and a head laterally extending from the cylindrical surface; and a longitudinally split bearing having: an external bearing surface matching the internal surface of the housing; an internal bearing surface matching the cylindrical surface of the stud; and a longitudinal channel extending radially from the internal bearing surface to the external bearing surface.

Abstract: A ball joint having alignment guides to ensure correct assembly of a housing and a directional bearing, the ball joint comprising: a housing having an internal chamber having a bearing seat with a first alignment guide and an open end, the housing and open end having a housing axis; a ball stud having a longitudinal stud axis, a spherical ball end within the housing and a shank extending axially out of an open end of the housing; a directional bearing having an external surface engaging the bearing seat, the external surface having a second alignment guide mating with the first alignment guide, and an internal spherical surface within which the ball end is pivotally mounted for angular motion of the longitudinal stud axis within a major swing plane through the housing axis in a range of ±angle ? relative to the housing axis and a minor swing plane through the housing axis in a range of ±angle ? relative to the housing axis, where ? is greater than ?.

Abstract: A clutch actuator for transmitting a disengaging force to a disengaging device of a clutch includes an actuating element to which the disengaging force can be applied and includes a piston rod for transmitting the disengaging force from the actuating element to the disengaging device. The piston rod is mounted against a connection region of the actuating element such that the piston rod can be moved towards the connection region by the clutch reaction force of the clutch, and the positioning of the connection region and the piston rod relative to each other as a result of the movement can be fixed by applying the disengaging force to the actuating element. The actuating element is designed to at least partly deflect the disengaging force so as to produce a normal force and/or a radial force which acts between the connection region and the piston rod, and the normal force and/or the radial force fixes the position of the connection region and the piston rod relative to each other.

Abstract: An automotive component having an opening through which a ball joint extends, the ball joint comprising: a housing having an exterior substantially cylindrical surface, a seating surface radially extending from the exterior surface for abutting an adjacent first side of the automotive component, and a peripheral groove disposed in the exterior surface spaced axially from the seating surface a predetermined distance; a ball stud having a ball end mounted within the housing and a shank extending axially out of a crown of the housing; a flexible boot having an distal end sealingly engaged on the shank and an opposing proximal base end, the base end including a metal base ring with an inwardly extending flexible detent engaged in the peripheral groove in the housing and a base seal sealing engaged on the exterior surface, the base ring having a radially extending abutment surface for retaining an adjacent second side of the automotive component, and wherein the automotive component is selected from the group cons

Abstract: A sensor device is provided for detecting a shifting position of a vehicle transmission. The vehicle transmission includes a transmission chamber, in which transmission elements are arranged. The sensor device includes a bar element, which extends from the transmission chamber into a secondary chamber sealed off from the transmission chamber and is arranged such that the bar element can be moved in dependence on the shifting position. The bar element has an interface arranged in the transmission chamber for coupling the bar element to a transmission element positioned in dependence on the shifting position and an accommodating segment arranged in the secondary chamber. The sensor device also has a transducer element, which is attached to the accommodating segment of the bar element. The sensor device also has a detecting device for detecting a position of the transducer element depending on the shifting position or a motion of the transducer element depending on a change in the shifting position.