VDO Automotive AG Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20090134865 | Position sensor and method for operating a position sensor - The invention relates to a position sensor and to a method for operating a position sensor. In a position sensor, in particular, a selection area sensor in an automatic gearbox of a motor vehicle, wherein a displaceable slot is in magnetic contact in a contactless manner with a line of Hall elements, whereby the slot is arranged in the direction of displacement of each Hall sensor and comprises a strip made of bit-coded permanent magnets, an evaluation system is connected to the Hall elements which are used to transfer measuring signals of each Hall element. The evaluation system is embodied such that it can determine the actual position of the slot based on measuring signals of each of the Hall elements. The aim of the invention is to improve the connection between the position sensor and a respective evaluation system. As a result, the signal outputs of the two Hall elements are combined in order to add the output signals. | 05-28-2009 |
20090108909 | High Current Power Output Stage - A high current end power stage (PA) comprises at least four power transistors (T), two electrical supply lines and at least a safety fuse (S). The at least four power transistors (T) have each a diode (D) which is blocked during normal operation of the respective power transistor (T). The two electrical supply lines couple the at least four power transistors (T) with a supply potential (Up) and a reference potential (Un) in such a way that two of the at least four power transistors (T) are at a time connected in series to each other, to be precise connected electrically between the supply potential (Up) and the reference potential (Un). The at least one safety fuse (S) is connected in series to the at least four power transistors (T) in at least one of the two electrical supply lines. The at least one safety fuse (S) can be triggered by a current which flows through the diode (D) of the at least four power transistors (T), said diode being then arranged in the direction of conduction (D), when the supply potential (Up) and reference potential (Un) are exchanged. | 04-30-2009 |
20090051607 | Conductive Textile, Antenna, and Vehicle Seat - At least one antenna is disposed and fixed in a vehicle seat. The at least one antenna is formed from a conductive textile or nonwoven formed separately from a seat cover of the vehicle seat. Preferably, the at least one antenna can be coupled to a transmitting or receiving unit. | 02-26-2009 |
20080279742 | Method and Device For Desulfating a NOx Storage Catalyst - The desulfation of a NOx storage catalytic converter takes place in two phases. In a first phase, the NOx storage catalytic converter is alternately exposed to rich and lean exhaust gas. In a subsequent second phase, the NOx storage catalytic converter is operated using rich exhaust gas. This method permits the quantity of hydrogen sulfide that occurs during the desulfation process to be minimized and achieves at the same time an efficient removal of sulfate from the deep-seated layers of the NOx storage catalytic converter. | 11-13-2008 |
20080253090 | Ic Component Comprising a Cooling Arrangement - An IC component has a cooling arrangement that is embodied as an electronic housing provided with a cooling body. The IC component is directly disposed on the cooling body in the electronic housing. The invention advantageously provides a cooling arrangement for IC components that enables the IC component to be efficiently and directly cooled and assembled in a simple manner, without requiring additional components. It is especially suitable for applications in electronic housings in the automotive field. | 10-16-2008 |
20080252266 | Device and Method for Balancing Charge Between the Individual Cells of a Double-layer Capacitor - A device and a method for balancing charge between individual cells of a double-layer capacitor, in particular in a multi-voltage motor vehicle electrical system. Each individual cell of the double-layer capacitor is associated with a capacitor, the first terminal of which can be connected via a first switch to a first terminal of the associated cell and via a second switch to a second terminal of the associated cell, and the second terminal of which is connected to the second terminals of all of the capacitors. | 10-16-2008 |
20080247204 | Regulator Device for a Three-Phase Ac Machine - A regulating apparatus for a three-phase AC machine has a DC controller and an inverter. An input of the inverter is coupled to the DC controller and an output of the inverter can be coupled to the AC machine. | 10-09-2008 |
20080247146 | Fixing System For Printed Circuit Boards - A fixing system for printed circuit boards arranged one above the other in an electronics housing, in particular for automotive applications. One printed circuit board is fixed to the electronics housing by a rigid fixing means and all of the other printed circuit boards are fixed by way of sprung fixing means. The is provided an advantageous fixing system for printed circuit boards arranged one above the other in an electronics housing which makes it possible for the printed circuit boards to be mounted in a stress-free manner, but in the process forms defined thermal transition regions, and which requires little installation space on the printed circuit board. It is particularly suitable for automotive applications. | 10-09-2008 |
20080238199 | Current Source, Control Device and Method for Operating Said Control Device - A current source includes a first switching element configured to adjust an output current according to a control signal received at a control input. The current source also includes a reference resistance, which is electrically coupled to the first switching element such that the output current flows through the reference resistance. The latter includes first and second individual reference resistors, connected in series, and a diode connected in parallel to the first reference resistor. The first reference resistor has a higher impedance than the second reference resistor. A controller receives a predetermined reference potential and an actuating signal that constitutes the control signal of the first switching element. A second switching element supplies the controller with an actual value consisting of the voltage across the first and second individual reference resistors, when the element adopts a first switching position and consisting of the voltage drop across the second individual reference resistor, when the element adopts a second switching position. | 10-02-2008 |
20080231245 | Current Source and Control Device - A current source contains a first switching element which is provided with a control input and is embodied and arranged in such a way that an output flow on an output side of a current source can be adjusted according to a control signal at the control input. The current source also contains a reference resistance that is electrically coupled to a first switching element in such a way that a potential difference above the reference resistance represents the output flow. The adjustment signal of a regulator unit depends on the voltage difference above the reference resistance, is the control signal of the first switching element, and contains a time function element which limits a first value of the output flow to a maximum duration and then reduces the value of the output flow. | 09-25-2008 |
20080228350 | Communication System For a Technical Device, in Particular For a Motor Vehicle - A communication system for a technical device, in particular for a motor vehicle, contains a plurality of functional systems that are used to monitor and control various functions of the technical device. The functional systems each contain an evaluation unit and at least one functional component that is coupled to the evaluation unit in order to exchange signals. At least one of the functional systems is embodied such that it can detect a functional disturbance and/or a functional failure of at least one of the other functional systems, and in the event of a functional disturbance and/or a functional failure of the at least one other functional system it takes on at least part of the functionality of the at least one other functional systems. | 09-18-2008 |
20080221779 | Controller for Operating at Least One Fuel Injector of an Internal Combustion Engine - To simplify reliable detection of operating faults in a control unit for operating an electrical component (for example, a fuel injector), an end stage is provided on the output side and is provided with a first line section and a second line section for supplying current in a synchronized manner to an electrical consumer which can be connected to the two line sections via an external line pair. A detection coil configuration is provided for detecting operating faults on the basis of an evaluation of a current that is induced at the detection coil configuration. The detection coil configuration is flowed through by a magnetic flux that is composed of magnetic flow components which are caused by the current flows in the two line sections, and wherein mutual compensation of the magnetic flow components is provided in a normal mode. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221748 | Control Device for a Motor Vehicle - A control device for a motor vehicle has a microcontroller as well as a monitoring circuit for the microcontroller. The monitoring circuit has a clocked counter, with a reset input of counter being coupled to a diagnostic output of the microcontroller, a first counter output being coupled to a diagnostic trigger input of the microcontroller and a second counter output being coupled to a reset input of the microcontroller such that when the microcontroller functions correctly, a signal at the first counter output generates a diagnostic process of the microcontroller and a signal at the diagnostic output of the microcontroller resets the counter. However, when the microcontroller malfunctions, the counter is not reset, so that the counter continues to count and generates a signal for resetting the microcontroller at the second counter output. | 09-11-2008 |
20080212268 | Housing System for Electronic Devices - A housing system for electronic devices, especially for the automobile sector has a top part and a bottom part. A pressure compensation film is fixed to the bottom part of the housing as a top part of the housing. Advantageously, the housing system is flexible, can be individually and thus variably adjusted to the space required, and encompasses a sealing system that is integrated in a pressure compensation element. The housing is suitable particularly for applications in the automobile sector. | 09-04-2008 |
20080207020 | Combined Fastening and Contacting System for Electrical Components on Superimposed Circuit Boards - The invention relates to a combined fastening and contacting system for electrical components on superimposed circuit boards in an electronic housing, especially for the automobile sector, as well as a method for fastening and contacting electrical components. The novel fastening and contacting system has two parts, one of which is embodied as a holding frame for electrical components while the other part is configured as a pressing frame for fixing the holding frame. There is formed a combined fastening and contacting system for electrical components on superimposed circuit boards, which makes it possible to replace faulty electrical components in a simple fashion while allowing superimposed circuit boards to be electrically contacted in a safe manner. The system is particularly suitable for the automobile sector. | 08-28-2008 |
20080202475 | Device for Charging and Discharging at Least One Piezoactuator for an Injection Valve of an Internal Combustion Engine - A device for controlling at least one piezoactuator for an injection valve of an internal combustion engine, including a microcontroller that controls an output stage which generates the load current for charging and discharging the piezoactuator. The microcontroller controls the output stage through an integrated circuit. A discharge circuit interacts with the integrated circuit to reliably discharge the piezoactuator in case of a failure of the output stage and/or of a safety path of the microcontroller. The load current during the discharge is controlled by a control circuit having a controller which is part of the integrated circuit. The discharge circuit has emergency discharge elements that are activated in case of a failure of the controller or of the integrated circuit. | 08-28-2008 |
20080201559 | Switching Device and Corresponding Method for Activating a Load - A cost-effective safety concept for safety-relevant applications in motor vehicles accordingly activates a load not directly from a central unit, but instead indirectly via a switching device. The latter has a first and a second register for the acquisition of the same control data from the central unit, and a third register for outputting data to the load. A transmission device transmits data from the second register to the third register. A first comparison logic compares a content of the second register with that of the third register and sends an interrupt to the central unit, when the two contents are not identical. A second comparison logic compares the content of the first and second registers and enables the transmission device, when the contents of the two registers are identical and otherwise blocks the transmission device. The last held state is thus maintained in the event of an error. | 08-21-2008 |
20080200047 | Electrical Contact-Making Element - An electrical contact-making element for electrical carrier components in an electronic housing is particularly suited for automotive applications. The electrical contact-making element is in the form of a U-shaped plug pin having a base limb and two side limbs. There is provided a robust, reliable electrical contact connection between a plurality of electrical carrier components, such as printed circuit boards, for example, which ensures secure contact is made even in the case of external influences such as vibrations, for example, and can be fitted, by way of a simple press-in mechanism, at the end of the fitting process. | 08-21-2008 |