Abstract: In a method for monitoring a camshaft adjustment of an internal combustion engine in which a setpoint value of an angular position is compared with an actual value of the angular position, a more differentiated fault diagnosis is achieved in that at least two fault types are able to be detected on the basis of the profile of the actual value over time.

Abstract: A precontrol is carried out for the control of the position of the camshaft via a camshaft actuator especially in internal combustion engines and preferably in such engines of motor vehicles. For this purpose, a control for the position of a camshaft is carried out by a camshaft actuator with reference to a reference position in dependence upon the actual position of the camshaft and in dependence upon a determined desired position for the camshaft. An actuating signal for driving the actuator for the camshaft is determined from the desired position and the actual position of the camshaft actuator. In the determination of the actuating signal, a precontrol component is considered which is determined based on state quantities characterizing the operation of the camshaft actuator.

Abstract: A method for turning various classes of loads on and off by means of switch elements in the context of energy management performed by a control unit, particularly in a motor vehicle, is described, in which the triggering of the switch elements is done such that the selected priorities for triggering the switch elements can be varied during operation, that is, dynamically. This enables an adaptation of the switching priorities during ongoing operation as a function of the operating state. The turn-off of loads is done by varying the switching priority in such a way that the perceptibility of the operating states is suppressed as much as possible, and the priorities can also be varied in accordance with person-specific criteria.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement for determining an impact-free extremal set position of an actuating member (1, 5) of an internal combustion engine (10) provides for an increase of the tolerances in the position of the actuating member and a reduction of the requirements on the mechanics of the actuating member and the read-back accuracy for the set position. In the extremal set position of the actuating member (1, 5), an actuating quantity, which is to be adjusted, has an extreme value. In an operating state of the internal combustion engine (10), which is substantially independent of the set position, the actuating quantity is measured with the aid of a sensor (15, 20) for various set positions in a range wherein the extreme value for the actuating quantity is suspected and that set position is determined as the extremal set position whereat the measured actuating quantity has an extreme value.

Abstract: A method and a device are presented for power distribution in a motor vehicle having at least one battery and at least one generator. In this case a hierarchical control structure is used which has a higher-level component and a component on a lower level for the control of the at least one generator and the at least one battery. Between the higher-level and the lower-level components, specified interfaces with specified communication relations are provided. Communication relations are specified as instructions which are to be executed by the components to which they are addressed. Requests should be met by the components to which they are addressed, and queries are answered by the queried components. The power or voltage is set between the component of the at least one generator and the higher-level component as an instruction.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and an arrangement for controlling the position of an actuating element (1) which prevent damage to the actuating element by a collision with at least one stop (25, 30) and simultaneously ensure good dynamic characteristics. The position of the actuating element (1) tracks a desired value within a displacement range. The displacement range is limited for the actuating element (1) by at least one stop (25, 30). A check is made as to whether the distance between the desired value for the position of the actuating element (1) and the at least one stop (25, 30) drops below a pregiven value (S1). Only in this case is a change of the desired value limited.

Abstract: A method and a control unit for driving a control circuit (1) are suggested which make possible an improved distribution of the generated power loss. A component (15), especially of a motor vehicle, is driven via at least two outputs (5, 10) of the control circuit (1). Each output (5, 10) is connected pairwise to one of several potentials (40, 45) via controllable switch means (20, 25; 30, 35) and a drive voltage (UA) is formed for the component (15) from a difference between the potentials at the two outputs (5, 10). A pregiven clocked course of the drive voltage (UA) is adjusted by switching more than one of the controllable switch devices (20, 25; 30, 35).

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining a torque (MGL) of an electrical machine (19), in particular a generator (19) in a motor vehicle, are proposed. The method and the apparatus are characterized in that by a unit (43), the torque (MGL) of the electrical machine (19) is ascertained as a function of a current electrical power (PG) of the generator (19), a current generator rpm (NG), and a current generator efficiency (nG).

Abstract: A method and/or a device for forming a robust and reliable deployment criterion for a restraint system in a motor vehicle is formed with the help of a fuzzy classifier which receives at least two input quantities. The first input quantity is an operating time which begins when the measured acceleration exceeds a predetermined threshold; and a second input quantity takes into account the change in vehicle speed determined from the measured acceleration.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement for controlling electrical consumers in a vehicle are suggested with a control structure being provided for the consumers, the control structure including at least a higher-ranking consumer management which receives requests from the consumers with respect to the consumer power individually or as sums. The control structure further includes a coordinator for the vehicle electrical system and the power generation thereof, the coordinator receiving the sum of the requested electric consumer power from the consumer management. The coordinator of the vehicle electrical system adjusts the requested electric power via orders to the vehicle electrical system components and the consumer management takes the generated electrical power via control of the consumers.