Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Joseph Andreas Urhahne

Robert Spahl

Methods and devices assist in a parking maneuver of a vehicle. The vehicle includes a parking aid that produces a first signal. The first signal is perceptible in an interior of the vehicle during a parking maneuver. A signal property of the first signal is adapted to a currently prevailing distance of the vehicle from a parking obstruction. The first signal is converted into a second signal that is perceptible by an operator located outside the vehicle. The second signal is transmitted to the operator disposed outside the vehicle during a remotely-controlled performance of the parking maneuver.

Method and device for assisting a parking maneuver

A motor vehicle is automatically forward or reverse parked into a perpendicular or transverse parking space. After the driver has stopped the motor vehicle, ahead of the parking space in a position that appears suitable to him/her for a direct parking procedure, has exited the motor vehicle and has started the method via a remote control, according to the disclosure the vehicle is automatically allowed to drive a short distance straight ahead. During the short distance of straight-ahead travel, the parking-space gateway is ascertained via an environment sensor system, from which a parking trajectory is calculated. At the end of the short distance of straight-ahead travel, the motor vehicle stops automatically and steers the front wheels into a position corresponding to the calculated parking trajectory.

Parking assistant for automatic forward or reverse parking

A method and an apparatus for changing a motor vehicle in an autonomous travel mode to a safe state when the driver of the motor vehicle is not able to monitor the autonomous travel mode and to assume control of the motor vehicle. The vehicle driver is warned using warning signals of increasing intensity; other road users in the area surrounding the motor vehicle are warned using optical and/or acoustic signals; the motor vehicle is braked and/or accelerated repeatedly such that parts of the body of the vehicle driver noticeably move in the direction of travel owing to inertia (the braking and/or acceleration being so brief that the travel speed of the motor vehicle changes relatively little); and the motor vehicle is brought to a standstill or is kept at a standstill by automatic braking in order to change the vehicle to a safe state.

Method and apparatus for changing an autonomously travelling motor vehicle to a safe state

In a method for detecting contact between a driver's hands and the steering wheel () of a vehicle, an actuator () for selectively applying a steering force and sensors () for measuring the instantaneous steering force and/or the steering angle being associated with the steering wheel (), the actuator () impresses () a test force pulse pattern on the steering wheel (). The steering force sensor and/or the steering angle sensor () measure(s) the reaction of the steering wheel movement to the test pulse pattern, and the reaction of the steering wheel movement is used to decide whether or not at least one of the driver's hands is in contact with the steering wheel ().

Hands-on-off steering wheel detection for motor vehicle

The disclosure describes a method and a system for evaluating the driving style of a driver in a motor vehicle with respect to the use of fuel. A disclosed method includes: determining a first value which is characteristic of the current speed of the vehicle; calculation of a second value by low-pass filtering said first value; and evaluating of the driving style with respect to the use of fuel by evaluating the difference between said first value and said second value.

Method and device for evaluating the driving style of a driver in a motor vehicle with respect to the use of fuel

A wiper-washer system for vehicles comprises at least one wiper drivable by a wiper motor and a washer device which includes a water reservoir and a water pump motor. The wiper and water pump motors are activated through a switching arrangement. The wiper motor is in the form of a direct current motor with a gearbox, designed for only a single rated speed. In addition a hybrid electronics unit provided with a control, a driver and a power output stage is fitted directly on or in the housing of the wiper motor. It is advantageous that the direct current motor for the wiper is of simpler construction and operates at more favourable working conditions than a two-speed direct current motor conventionally used. By means of the hybrid electronics unit the working current is supplied to the wiper motor in the absence of mechanical contact devices. Compared with conventional wiper-washer systems the outlay on cabling is reduced. Advantageous embodiments of the system are also described.

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Pulheim, Germany

Joseph Andreas Urhahne