Abstract: A method and an apparatus for estimating a friction coefficient in a moving vehicle analyze image data from a forward-looking vehicle camera to produce a camera friction coefficient ?k, and analyze tire slip and tire vibration based on a wheel speed signal to produce a wheel friction coefficient ?w. The camera and wheel friction coefficients are both considered to produce a proactive estimated friction coefficient that is primarily based on the camera friction coefficient ?k, whereas the wheel friction coefficient ?w is taken into account to check plausibility of the camera friction coefficient ?k.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and an apparatus, respectively, for estimating a friction coefficient in a moving vehicle. For this purpose, image data from a forward-looking vehicle camera is analyzed in the vehicle so as to allow conclusions with respect to the road surface. The camera image data is used to perform a friction coefficient classification which provides a camera friction coefficient ?k. A tire slip and a tire vibration are analyzed based on a wheel speed signal and are used to perform a classification of the friction coefficient which provides a wheel friction coefficient ?w. Proactive estimation of the friction coefficient is performed as a merger of the camera and wheel friction coefficients, wherein the proactive friction coefficient estimation is primarily based on the camera friction coefficient ?k but the wheel friction coefficient ?w is continuously taken into account to check the camera friction coefficient ?k for plausibility.

Abstract: A method and control device for monitoring travel movements of an elevator car utilize an electronic control device positioned at the car. Travel movements of the elevator car are travels, speeds or accelerations of the car. At least individual travel movements are subject to redundant detection for the purpose of monitoring. Either the travels or the speeds are redundantly detected and the accelerations singularly detected, or alternatively the accelerations are redundantly detected and the travels or the speeds are singularly detected, or preferably the travels or the speeds and the accelerations are redundantly detected. The electronic control device is preferably arranged at the support rollers of the elevator car.

Abstract: A system and method for stabilizing a motor vehicle. The system includes a speed sensor for sensing a longitudinal speed and a transversal speed of the motor vehicle. The system also includes a calculation unit designed to calculate an attitude angle of the motor vehicle from the longitudinal speed and the transversal speed. The system also includes an evaluation unit designed to compare the attitude angle with a threshold value and to detect an oversteering situation if the attitude angle exceeds the threshold value. The system also includes an actuation unit which influences the driving behavior of the motor vehicle. The actuation unit is designed to actuate an actuator in an oversteering situation.

Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle braking system for motor vehicles including a hybrid or electric drive and hydraulically actutable wheel brakes on the front axle, wherein the wheels associated with the rear axle are driven at least partially by an electric motor that can be operated as a generator to recover braking energy and, in generator mode, exerts a braking force on the vehicle wheel associated with the respective axle, thereby generating a drag torque including the braking torque and the regeneration torque of the electric drive, the drag torque being separately regulatable on the front and rear axles. To prevent overbraking of the rear axle and a loss of driving stability of the vehicle, a regeneration torque acting on the rear axle is controlled or regulated such that the drag torque acting on the rear axle does not exceed a maximum drag torque value associated with that axle.

Abstract: A sensor arrangement for capturing the coefficient of friction from a roadway surface, wherein the sensor arrangement is arranged on a motor vehicle and includes at least one radiation emitter unit and at least one electronic evaluation circuit, wherein the radiation emitter unit emits electromagnetic radiation toward the roadway surface and the radiation is at least to some extent reflected and/or scattered at the roadway surface and the reflected and/or scattered radiation is at least to some extent captured in the radiation emitter unit and/or in one or more additional sensor units, wherein the electronic evaluation circuit is designed such that it ascertains a piece of coefficient-of-friction information for the roadway surface from the intensity of the reflected and/or scattered radiation or a variable which is dependent thereon.

Abstract: A system for stabilizing a motor vehicle including at least one speed sensor for sensing a longitudinal speed and a transversal speed of the motor vehicle; a calculation unit which is designed to calculate an attitude angle of the motor vehicle from the sensed vehicle longitudinal speed and the sensed vehicle transversal speed; an evaluation unit which is coupled to the calculation unit and is designed to compare the attitude angle with a predefined threshold value and to detect an oversteering situation if the attitude angle exceeds the threshold value; an actuation unit which is coupled to the evaluation unit, and an actuator which influences the driving behavior of the motor vehicle, wherein the actuation unit is designed to actuate the actuator in an oversteering situation. In addition, a method which the system is suitable for carrying out is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for determining a tendency to tilt about the longitudinal axis and a tendency to turn about the vertical axis of a vehicle. The detection system is characterized by a lateral acceleration sensor producing a lateral acceleration signal, a yaw rate sensor producing a yaw rate signal, a steering angle sensor producing a steering angle signal, wheel speed sensors producing the rotation signals of the wheels, and which includes a controller which, in response to the steering angle, the steering velocity and the vehicle speed, determines a tendency to tilt about the longitudinal axis of a vehicle and which, in response to the lateral acceleration sensor, the yaw rate sensor, the steering angle sensor and the wheel speed sensors determines the tendency to turn about the vertical axis of the vehicle, and with the controller generating a triggering signal for at least one passenger protection means depending on the extent of these tendencies.

Abstract: A sensor device for detecting a motion state of a motor vehicle. The sensor device includes at least one laser unit having a light source for emitting coherent light which is transmitted in the direction of a roadway surface, and an interference detector which is designed to detect at least one measurement variable which characterizes interference between the light scattered at the surface and the light of the light source. The measurement variable represents a speed component of the sensor device and/or a distance between the sensor device and the roadway surface. The laser unit is coupled to an evaluation device which is designed to determine, from the measurement variable, at least one variable which characterizes the motion state of the vehicle, in particular a speed component of the center of gravity of the vehicle, a rotational angle or a rotation rate of the vehicle.

Abstract: An allocation method combines two tire pressure monitoring systems in motor vehicles being equipped with pressure measuring modules. Each pressure measuring module records a value responsive to the tire inflation pressure and sends the latter to a receiving unit connected to an evaluating device together with an individual identification code (IDx) allocated to the respective pressure measuring module. Signals about the rotational speed of each one wheel being sensed by wheel rotational speed sensors are transmitted to the evaluating device, and since the installation positions y of the wheels at the vehicle are known to the evaluating device, the wheels at the vehicle are known, and the allocation method is performed by taking into consideration established probability values W_IDx_y, with the probability values W_IDx_y describing a frequency distribution which indicates how often pressure measuring modules with the identification codes IDx are detected as pertaining to the installation positions y.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tire pressure monitoring device for a motor vehicle. A tire pressure monitoring system with direct measurement includes a transmission device for transmitting tire pressure values determined by pressure sensors, and a tire pressure monitoring system with indirect measurement that operates on the basis of wheel speed sensors. The tire pressure monitoring system with direct measurement includes a tire pressure measuring device for measuring a tire pressure value only on each wheel of a driven vehicle axle and on at most one wheel of a non-driven axle. The tire pressure monitoring system with indirect measurement includes wheel speed sensors on the non-driven vehicle axle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of monitoring tire pressure monitoring systems in a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle has a tire pressure monitoring system with indirect measurement which detects tire inflation pressure loss on the basis of wheel speed data, and a tire pressure monitoring system with direct measurement (TPMS) which detects tire inflation pressure loss from tire inflation pressure values measured directly by pressure modules on the vehicle tire. According to the method a warning relating to tire inflation pressure loss emitted by a pressure module of the tire pressure monitoring system with direct measurement (TPMS) is not transmitted to the driver until this tire inflation pressure loss is confirmed by the tire pressure monitoring system with indirect measurement or by all pressure modules that are still working in fail-free manner. Also disclosed is a computer program product.

Abstract: The present device relates to a method for automatically determining the installation positions of wheels in a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle has a direct measure tire pressure monitoring system includes individual wheel tire pressure measuring devices and transmitting devices for the transfer of TPMS data containing tire air pressure values and identification numbers of the individual wheels to a receiving and evaluating device installed in or on the vehicle. The motor vehicle also includes an indirect measuring tire pressure monitoring system determining DDS data containing air pressure changes and installation positions from the rotational behavior of the individual wheels. The method includes determining correlation coefficients from the TPMS data and the DDS data by using a correlation function.

Abstract: The present device relates to a method for automatically determining the installation positions of wheels in a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle has a direct measure tire pressure monitoring system includes individual wheel tire pressure measuring devices and transmitting devices for the transfer of TPMS data containing tire air pressure values and identification numbers of the individual wheels to a receiving and evaluating device installed in or on the vehicle. The motor vehicle also includes an indirect measuring tire pressure monitoring system determining DDS data containing air pressure changes and installation positions from the rotational behavior of the individual wheels. The method includes determining correlation coefficients from the TPMS data and the DDS data by using a correlation function.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of monitoring tire pressure monitoring systems in a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle has a tire pressure monitoring system with indirect measurement which detects tire inflation pressure loss on the basis of wheel speed data, and a tire pressure monitoring system with direct measurement (TPMS) which detects tire inflation pressure loss from tire inflation pressure values measured directly by pressure modules on the vehicle tire. According to the method a warning relating to tire inflation pressure loss emitted by a pressure module of the tire pressure monitoring system with direct measurement (TPMS) is not transmitted to the driver until this tire inflation pressure loss is confirmed by the tire pressure monitoring system with indirect measurement or by all pressure modules that are still working in fail-free manner. Also disclosed is a computer program product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for controlling electromagnetically operable valves of an electrohydraulic brake system for motor vehicles of the ‘brake-by-wire’ type having an electronic control or regulation unit that comprises at least one valve driver stage. In order to ensure maximum possible availability of the electronically controlled system functions, especially with a view to achieving a short stopping distance and a sufficient degree of vehicle stability regardless of the vehicle type or of whether the vehicle is loaded or unloaded, according to the present invention, the control and regulation unit includes two additional valve driver stages associated with which is a first and a second group of valves, the said driver stages being used to disable the first or the second group when malfunction occurs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrically operable brake system and a method for its actuation. The brake system and the method are characterized in that the service brake system can be activated by two brake operating devices which are operable by the driver independently of each other. The main advantage which results is that upon failure of a brake operating device which is e.g. configured as a brake pedal module, braking of the vehicle can be achieved by means of the service brake system by way of the second brake operating device. The additional functions intended for the service brake system, such as ABS, TCS, driving dynamics control, brake assist system, etc., may then be implemented, if so desired. The redundant design of the actuation for the service brake permits achieving a high degree of operational safety because full braking functions can be maintained even in case of emergency braking.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electromechanical brake system, in particular for automotive vehicles, which includes a pedal module and at least two brake modules. Further, a central module may be provided. Connection between the aforementioned modules can be made by a data bus. The data bus is provided redundantly. In one embodiment, the central module can evaluate signals of a sensor system and examine them for their errors. Further, the central module can emit a corresponding nominal braking value which then is emitted to the brake modules. Thereupon, the brake modules determine appropriate actuating signals for the actuators which interact with the wheels in order to realize the driver's braking intention.

Abstract: Electronic brake systems are functionally split-up safety-critical real-time systems which are subject to high standards with regard to error detection and error handling. This invention describes a method and corresponding device for error handling in such systems which permits only a few defined system conditions, inclusive of a pre-check, with the transition from one system condition to the next condition only being possible if certain defined events take place.

Abstract: An electromechanical brake system, particularly for motor vehicles, with a pedal simulator and brake modules is disclosed. A central module is also provided. The connection between the aforesaid modules can be provided by a data bus. The central module evaluates the braking request signals from a sensor device and checks them for errors. Also, a central module supplies and appropriate desired braking value based on the braking request and possibly higher functions such as ABS or ASR. The desired braking value is then conveyed on to the brake module, which then determines the corresponding control signals for the actuators, which interact with the wheels in order to brake the vehicle as the driver requires.