Daimler Chrysler Ag

Daimler Ag

Mercedes-benz Aktiengesellschaft

Juergen Seekircher

Gerhard Kurz

Helmuth Eggers

Thomas Wohlgemuth

Martin Bair

Future motor vehicles will require additional lighting means. Additional lighting means are required, above all, in conjunction with environmental sensors, especially sensors which are used in night vision systems. As a result of the generally increasing number of electric and electronic systems in motor vehicles, such systems must be easy to operate for the driver. The invention thus relates to a switching arrangement which enables a plurality of lighting systems to be ergonomically operated on one motor vehicle. Said switching arrangement comprises a single switch having a plurality of switching stages. In this way, all switching stages pertaining to different lighting systems are located in the same switching region, enabling the lighting systems to be operated in a simple and intuitive manner.

Switching arrangement for actuating lighting systems on a motor vehicle

A method for detecting surroundings by an automotive night vision system comprising several areas, including a detection area () in which surroundings related data is detected, an evaluation area within which the surroundings-related data detected by the night vision system is evaluated, and an area of representation in which information about the surroundings-related data detected therein is represented to the driver by an optical display unit. The area of representation is therefore restricted in the inventive method for detecting surroundings such that the area of representation comprises no more than the high beam area (). The driver is shown only the surroundings related data which he/she would see anyway when actuating the conventional high beam due to the fact that the area of representation is restricted.

Area of representation in an automotive night vision system

The invention relates to an automobile infrared-night viewing device comprising an infrared camera used to receive image data representing the surroundings of the automobile. Said device also comprises an image processing unit which is connected to the infrared-camera and which processes the image data supplied by said camera in such am manner that a continuous image section from the supplied image data is selected and said selected data is retransmitted to a display. Said display then completely or almost completely reproduces the selected data, thereby renouncing any other further representations of the image data. Preferably, the selection of the image data is made according to the speed of the vehicle, the surroundings of the vehicle or the driver.

Automobile infrared night vision device

The invention concerns an automobile display unit, an automobile infrared night vision device and an automobile with such a display unit or, as the case may be, with such an infrared night vision device. The display includes an image processing unit which processes the image data supplied to it such that contiguous areas of maximal light intensity are recognized and these image data are adapted to the extent that they are at least partially replaced by image data with reduced light intensity values. These changed image data are supplied to the display, which reproduces these image data. This display unit makes possible a reduction or a prevention of blinding by brilliant light, which is particularly disturbing in a case of display of infrared night vision image information.

Automobile infrared night vision device and automobile display

A shifting system for a motor vehicle transmission shifts the transmission into the neutral and returns a steering column shift lever to the neutral position from the reverse position, when the vehicle speed is above a pre-determined positive value and the shift lever is shifted into the reverse position. The system may further shift the transmission into the neutral and returns the steering column shift lever to the neutral position from the forward drive position, when vehicle speed is below a pre-determined negative value and the shift lever is shifted into the forward drive position.

Shifting system and method for a motor vehicle transmission

A method and an apparatus for testing the electrical connection of electrically controlled, electromagnetically operated injection valves of an internal-combustion engine which are equipped with solenoid coils. The cabling of such injection valves is tested in a non-contact manner by positioning a respective magnetic field sensor close to a respective injection valve within a magnetic stray field vicinity of the injection valves. A voltage is applied to the electric connection intended for the respective injection valve, and it is determined whether a magnetic stray field in the vicinity of the corresponding injection valve resulting from this voltage is detected by the assigned magnetic field sensor. The method and apparatus can be used to test whether the injection valves are correctly connected with the connection individually intended for them. The method and apparatus may be used in a bench test for an internal combustion engine.

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Ostfildern, Germany

Juergen Seekircher