Daimler Chrysler Ag

Markus Hartlieb

Walter Eberle

Wilfried Bullinger

Siegfried Rothe

Matthias Nohr

Frank Zerrweck

Florent Paviot

Michael Meyer

Luigi Brambilla

Manfred Mueller

Christian Michael Mayer

Markus Hess

Manfred Griesinger

Heinz-Werner Spaude

Michael Friederich

Peter Betzitza

Juergen Gimbel

Matthias Kroeger

Hans-Georg Leis

Harald Kroeger

Josef B&uuml;chler

Roland Stiegler

Karl Popp

Wilhelm Kinces

An illumination device has an illumination means formed by an arrangement of a plurality of semiconductor light sources () grouped together to form a field. Sensor elements () are arranged at individual positions of the field instead of the semiconductor sources (). A multifunctional headlight can thus be advantageously created. The headlight can be embodied as a robust, compact, low-space unit. By virtue of the fact that the light sources () and the sensor elements () do not necessarily use the same lens system () i.e. each individual element of the multifunctional headlight can be provided with an individually designed lens system (), the beam path of the illumination device can be separated from the field of vision of the sensor system and can thus be determined independently over large areas.

Multifunctional illumination device

The invention relates to a sensor system for sensing objects in an area of the surroundings of a motor vehicle, in which, in order for the sensor system to sense the objects, waves are emitted in a predefinable main irradiation direction, are reflected partially at the objects to be sensed and are then partially received again by the sensor system and evaluated. According to the invention, the main irradiation direction of the emitted waves is predefined by the sensor system in such a way that the emitted waves are firstly reflected at the underlying surface and then reach the spatial area to be monitored.

Sensor system for determination of environment for motor vehicles

The invention relates to a hazard-prevention system for a vehicle. The vehicle has devices for sensing driving state variables, for sensing ambient data and for sensing the driver's activity, and a data processing device. The data processing device is provided for processing the sensed data and for actuating a safety device in accordance with a predefined control strategy. According to the invention, the vehicle has a device for identifying the driver, and the data processing device derives a driver load factor related specifically to the driver from the driving state variables, the ambient data and the data relating to the activity of the driver, and said driver load factor is used to adapt the control strategy.

Hazard-prevention system for a vehicle

A method and system for restraining an occupant on a vehicle seat, the occupant being pulled into the vehicle seat is provided with a force by a belt tensioner when a critical driving state is detected and then held in a pulled-back position on the vehicle seat with a holding force. The holding force selected is lower than the force for pulling the occupant back. A forward-looking detection system for a dangerous driving state and an occupant-position detection system unprovided, in which, when a dangerous driving state is detected, a belt tensioner is subjected to a force and the occupant is thereby pulled into the vehicle seat, and in which the occupant is held in a pulled-back position on the vehicle seat with a holding force which is lower than the force for pulling the occupant back.

Method and safety restraint device for restraining an occupant on a vehicle seat

In a method for preventing a collision of a vehicle with an obstacle located on its front (such as preferably another vehicle traveling in front of the vehicle), the headway between the vehicle and the obstacle and the difference in speeds of the vehicle and of the obstacle (relative speed) and also the speed and acceleration/deceleration of the vehicle are detected and a collision message and/or a braking operation is triggered as a function thereof. The driver's activity, the state of the road, the loading state and the degree of overlap of the vehicle relative to the obstacle are detected, and from this information, a first headway (D_brake) between the vehicle and the obstacle is calculated, which is the least necessary to avoid a collision of a vehicle with the obstacle by steering the vehicle past the obstacle. In addition, a second headway (D_steer) is calculated, which is the least necessary to avoid a collision by steering the vehicle past the obstacle. Automatic braking is initiated only when the detected headway is smaller than both the first and second calculated headway values, and when the degree of overlap

Method for preventing the collision of a vehicle with an obstacle located in front of the vehicle and braking device

A vehicle impact detection sensor for providing an input variable for an activation logic unit or for generating an activation signal for an active occupant protection system, has a radar transmitter and a radar receiver which are arranged on a sensor-carrying superstructure of the vehicle. The radar receiver receives radar waves which are emitted by the radar transmitter and reflected at an impact-relevant reflexion surface that moves relative to the sensor-carrying superstructure in the event of an impact. A Doppler frequency evaluation unit uses the frequency of the transmitted radar waves and the frequency of the radar waves reflected from the impact-relevant reflexion surface to determine the associated Doppler frequency and detects therefrom a relative movement of the impact-relevant reflexion surface with reference to the sensor-carrying vehicle superstructure. The impact-relevant reflexion surface is a surface permanently connected to the vehicle, preferably, an outer surface of the vehicle.

Vehicle impact detection sensor system

An impact damper for a motor vehicle comprises an impact plate on which a collision force acts, as well as an elastically deformable part adjoining the impact plate in the impact direction, by whose elastic deformation in a collision impact energy is absorbed. At least one plastically deformable part is selectively connectable with the elastically deformable part. The plastically deformable part being subject to the influence of the impact plate and being plastically deformable as it absorbs energy in a vehicle collision when connected to operate together with the elastically deformable part.

Impact damper for a motor vehicle and method of making same

A shock absorber for a motor vehicle has a deformation body, which can be deformed in the case of a collision and into the path of which a blocking part protrudes, with which, due to the forces acting during a collision, a plastic deformation of the deformation body is achieved with absorption of the collision energy, it being possible to increase the deformation resistance of the deformation body by directing it into an additional deformation stage. For this purpose, the blocking body has at least two switched positions, in which it protrudes into the path of movement of the deformation body, as a result of which the deformation body is plastically deformed to a greater or lesser extent due to the forces acting during impact.

Shock absorber for a motor vehicle and method of making same

The invention provides a vehicle with a laterally mounted optical scanning device for zero-contact scanning of a lateral highway area and an evaluation unit connected thereto. The optical scanning device comprises a linear array of infrared transmitting devices located side by side and a corresponding CCD array, and the connected evaluation unit is programmed to perform time measurement, contrast measurement, and contour recognition. With this optical scanning system, a function to warn against falling asleep, an automatic lane maintenance function, a rear-area monitoring or environment monitoring function for the vehicle can be provided, with reaction to various types of lane boundaries being possible depending on the situation.

Vehicle with optical scanning device for a lateral road area

The invention relates to a triggering control device for occupant restraint systems in a vehicle whose triggering readiness can be influenced as a function of collision-relevant parameters. According to the invention, collision parameter detection comprises object detection, which can detect a collision object before a collision occurs in an area near the vehicle, and can determine at least a relative speed. Whenever a collision object is detected, a signal generator delivers a collision parameter signal that depends on the relative speed determined. In a preferred embodiment the collision parameter detection unit also determines the intrinsic speed of the vehicle and whenever no collision object is detected, the signal generator supplies a collision parameter signal influenced by the intrinsic speed.

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Walddorfhaeslach, Germany

Markus Hartlieb