Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft

Julian Eichhorn

Hermann Kuenzner

Etienne Iliffe-Moon

Philipp Kerschbaum

Julia Niemann

Marc Breisinger

Philipp Suessenguth

Sebastian Hergeth

Stephan Mueller

Frederik Platten

Lutz Lorenz

Nora Broy

Wolfgang Spiessl

Brian Mok

Christian Froemel

Gunnar Franz

Daniel Grein

Felix Schwarz

Rene Zocher

Jasper Stern

Martin Wiesinger

Zoltan Major

Benjamin Kuhn

Ankur Bhakta

Wei Wang

Albrecht Neff

Philipp Rottgardt

Dominik Odak

Francesco Mantovani

Zane Liu

Maik Schwalm

For automated driving, a driving system can be operated at least in a first automated driving mode with automated longitudinal and/or transverse guidance. A display device includes a driving mode display with a lighting unit. The driving mode display corresponds to a steering wheel display with a light strip structure for the steering wheel rim that can be lit up. A control device coupled to the display is also provided, for controlling the display. The control device is designed to control the driving mode display such that, upon activation of the first automated driving mode, the lighting unit lights up in a first lighting state with a specific luminous intensity, so as to indicate the activation of the first automated driving mode to the driver. The driving mode display is controlled such that, following the activation of the first automated driving mode, with the first driving mode still active, the lighting unit is operated in a dimmed lighting state as compared to the first lighting state, with a reduced luminous intensity in relation to the luminous intensity of the first lighting state.

Display device for a driving system for automated driving for displaying the active automated driving mode

A steering handle of a vehicle includes a support structure, which is mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation and at each end of which an angled gripping element for a hand of a driver is provided such that the gripping element can be rotated relative to the support structure. In at least one defined driving state of the vehicle, the two gripping elements are or have been positioned by way of an actuating device in such a way that portions of the gripping elements that are provided for grasping with the hands of the driver lie on a line, the free ends of the portions facing one another.

Steering handle of a vehicle

A driving system is operatable at least in a first automated driving mode with automated longitudinal and/or lateral control, and in a different second automated driving mode with automated longitudinal and/or lateral control. The driving system has a steering wheel display with luminous elements for illuminating the steering wheel, which can be operated in different illumination states that are distinguishable by the driver. The luminous elements may illuminate the steering wheel rim, and are typically integrated into the steering wheel rim. The driving system specifies which illumination state of the different illumination states the steering wheel display has. The driving system specifies that, during operation of the driving system in the first driving mode, the steering wheel display is illuminated in a first illumination state. During operation of the driving system in the second driving mode, the steering wheel display is illuminated in a second illumination state that can be distinguished from the first illumination state by the driver.

Driving system for automated driving with a steering wheel display

A connector assembly is provided. The connector assembly includes a socket to receive a plug and having an electrical contact. The connector assembly further includes a flexible fabric embedded with a pattern of electrically conductive elements and spanning the socket to conceal the electrical contact. The flexible fabric can deform toward the electrical contact of the socket to cause at least a portion of the pattern to contact the electrical contact.

Hidden power and data connectors for accessories

An air outlet apparatus for an interior of a motor vehicle includes a first ventilation gap and a second ventilation gap, which are spaced apart from each other, a decorative element, which is coupled to a fitting covering for the motor vehicle and arranged between the first and the second ventilation gap, and a control unit, which is coupled to the decorative element and has a first regulating element and a second regulating element. An intensity of an air flow through at least one of the ventilation gaps and, by way of the second regulating element, an alignment of the air flow through at least one of the ventilation gaps can be adjusted independently of each other.

Air outlet apparatus for an interior of a motor vehicle, and system

A driving system for an automated drive for a motor vehicle has an indicator for marking regions on the steering wheel, in particular on the steering wheel rim. The indicator is preferably an optical steering wheel display which is integrated into the steering wheel rim for example. During an automated drive, the driving system is designed to ascertain that the vehicle has approached an end of the automated drive lying ahead in such a manner that a first approach condition has been satisfied. If the system has ascertained that the vehicle has approached the end of the automated drive in such a manner that the approach condition has been satisfied, the indicator for marking regions on the steering wheel are actuated in response thereto such that a left and a right marking region on the steering wheel are marked. The driver is thus prompted to position their hands on the marked regions of the steering wheel in order to take over the task of driving.

Driving system for an automated drive with means for marking regions on the steering wheel, and corresponding method

A driving system for an automated drive for a motor vehicle includes a steering wheel display with a lighting strip structure. The lighting strip structure of the steering wheel display is luminous in a defined lighting color for a duration which can be modified according to the actuation. The driving system is designed to control the steering wheel display such that the lighting strip structure is luminous in the lighting color over a starting length during the automated drive. Upon approaching an end of the automated drive lying ahead, the driving system determines that the vehicle has approached an end point of the automated drive lying ahead in such a manner that a specified approach condition has been satisfied. In response thereto, the steering wheel display is actuated such that the lighting strip structure is luminous in the lighting color with a successively decreasing length starting from the starting length as the distance to the end point of the automated drive decreases successively in order to prepare the driver to completely or at least partly take over control of the vehicle again.

Driving system for an automated drive with a steering wheel display for displaying the distance to an end point of the automated drive, and method for displaying the distance

A storage bin for a vehicle interior having an adaptable object fixation device includes a guiding plate and a plurality of pins defining a pin matrix, wherein each pin is provided with a guide section and wherein the guiding plate is provided with a plurality of through holes, each of which defines a guide hole for receiving the guide section of an associated pin. The pins are individually movably mounted to the guiding plate. Each of the pins is provided with a magnetic end portion at the lower end of the guide section. The guiding plate is made of or includes a ferrous material. The adaptable object fixation device further includes a base plate made of or including a ferrous material. A non-ferrous reset plate is movably arranged between the guiding plate and the base plate below the magnetic end portions of the pins.

Storage bin for a vehicle interior

A control element for a vehicle is designed to change between a parking state and a driving state. In the parked state, the control element is designed to enable a driver to switch the vehicle from a parked state to a travel state. The control element also enables the vehicle driver to freely select a gear of the vehicle by changing from a parking state into a drive state.

Control element for a vehicle

A method for determining a route and time frame for the travel of a motor vehicle which assists the driver in planning their travel and in making fuller use of the technical potential of the motor vehicle is provided. For this purpose, the method includes the following steps: acquiring at least one destination, determining a travel route to the at least one destination; acquiring an adjustable travel mode of the motor vehicle for at least one first section of the travel route; determining the route and time frame for the travel of the motor vehicle depending on the acquired travel mode; and displaying the route and time frame of the travel.

Method for determining a route and time frame for the travel of a motor vehicle, and motor vehicle

An arrangement of a steering wheel in a motor vehicle suitable for autonomous driving is provided, wherein the steering wheel can be pivoted or tilted from a usage position into a rest position, in which the driver of the vehicle can still specify a steering request by rotating the steering wheel. The pivoting or tilting of the steering wheel from the usage position into the rest position switches on an autonomous vehicle operating mode, in which the vehicle moves along the roadway without assistance from the driver, whereas pivoting or tilting of the steering wheel from the rest position into the usage position switches off the autonomous vehicle operating mode. For this purpose, the steering wheel rim can be pivotably or tiltably attached to a spoke of the steering wheel, which spoke is stationary or connected to the steering wheel rim. The steering wheel rim can be guided within a rim guide sleeve such that the steering wheel rim can be rotated about the axis of rotation of the steering wheel, which rim guide sleeve in turn can be pivoted in a guiding end of the spoke about a pivot axis that extends parallel to a tangent of the steering wheel rim at the point of intersection with the spoke longitudinal axis.

Arrangement of a steering wheel in a motor vehicle suitable for autonomous driving

A display device for a vehicle indicates upcoming automatically performed steering interventions. The display device includes a vehicle steering wheel; a light strip comprising a plurality of light elements positioned one alongside another, the light strip being formed in the vehicle steering wheel and being visible therein; and a control device that is coupled to the light strip and is configured to receive information regarding upcoming automatically performed steering interventions, particularly from a unit for automatically determining upcoming driving maneuvers, and activate light elements of the light strip on the basis of the received information on upcoming steering interventions.

Growing community of inventors

Menlo Park, CA, United States of America

Julian Eichhorn