Continental Teves, Ag and Company Ohg

Conti Temic Microelectronic Gmbh

Stefan Fritz

Bernd Hartmann

Urs Bauer

Alfred Eckert

Ralf Schwarz

Matthias Muntu

Joachim Denzler

Markus Weinreuter

Manfred Rüffer

Manuel Amthor

Johann Jungbecker

Peter E Rieth

Georg Roll

Ulrich Neumann

Andreas Klein

Dieter Kroekel

Thomas Berthold

Thomas Raste

Stefan Lueke

Sighard Schräbler

Ronald Bayer

Dirk Waldbauer

Christian Albrich Von Albrichsfeld

Bernhard Schmittner

Manfred Reuter

Andree Hohm

Xiuxun Yin

Peter Cisarz

Robert Mutschler

Stefan Schubert

Steffen Tröster

Michael Kemmler

Bjoern Froehlich

Eric Bach

Stefan LÜKE

Sighard SCHRÄBLER

Steffen TRÖSTER

Rex Schilasky

In a method for detecting and assessing reflections on a road (), a camera () produces at least two digital images of at least one point () of the road, respectively from different recording perspectives (A, B) of the camera (). Diffuse reflection and specular reflection of the road () are then detected by assessing differences in the appearances of the point () of the road in the at least two digital images using digital image processing algorithms. Road reflections are preferably assessed using an approximative approach. An item of road condition information is determined based on the detected reflection, preferably an item of road condition information which states whether the road is dry, wet, snow-covered or icy. Also provided are an apparatus () for carrying out the above-mentioned method, and a vehicle having such an apparatus.

Method and apparatus for detecting and assessing road reflections

A method and an apparatus determine a road condition using a vehicle camera. At least one image is acquired using the camera. A first image area that includes an image of the road surface is determined in the at least one image. A classifier assigns the first image area to at least one class (among pre-established classes) that represents a specific road condition of the road surface. Information regarding this specific road condition is output.

Method and apparatus for determining a road condition

In a method and a driver assistance system for representing vehicle surroundings of a vehicle having a sensor system for detecting the environment, a boundary of a traffic lane or driving path on which the vehicle is currently being driven is represented by position points that each have a predefined set of attributes especially including a width attribute indicating a lateral width of an unobstructed area available as a maneuvering space on an opposite side of the respective position point.

Method for representing vehicle surroundings

In a device and a method for increasing the safety of a motor vehicle, a first sensor unit () detects the environment, in particular free spaces and objects () and the position and motion thereof, a second sensor unit () detects the environment state, a third sensor unit () detects the vehicle state, and a fourth sensor unit () detects the driver inputs. The respective data from the several sensor units are combined. In consideration of the data, a driving safety coordinator () calculates the risk of collision on the basis of a risk evaluation, and determines pre-collision phases (P, P, P, P, P) of the motor vehicle () with regard to the object ().

Safety device for a motor vehicle and method for operating a motor vehicle

The invention relates to a method and a device for performing open-loop or closed-loop control of the driving stability of a vehicle and for avoiding collisions with an object located in the traffic lane. The invention also relates to a closed-loop driving stability controller. The method according to aspects of the invention comprises: determining based on environmental signals whether a critical situation in terms of driving dynamics, in particular an imminent collision, exists, calculating an avoidance path if a critical situation in terms of driving dynamics exists, determining based on a plurality of input variables pressures for individual brakes of the vehicle, and activating preparatory measures of the driving dynamics regulator, in particular dynamic switching over of closed-loop control parameters if the critical situation in terms of driving dynamics exists. The device and the closed-loop driving stability controller are suitable for carrying out the method.

Method and device for performing closed-loop or open-loop control of the driving stability of a vehicle

The present device relates to a driving dynamics control system for vehicles, including at least one signal distribution to which vehicle data, environment data and data regarding the driver's request are sent in the form of input data, and including several controllable or regulatable subsystems which modify the dynamics of the vehicle such as a driver-independently adjustable steering system, a driver-independently adjustable chassis, a driver-independently adjustable brake, and a driver-independently adjustable driving track. The system is characterized in that the data of the signal distribution is sent to a central determining unit (driving condition detection, driver request detection), in that the central determining unit determines from the data of the signal distribution a central control target, and these items of data regarding the central control target are sent to a central regulating variable distribution or a central driving condition controller, respectively, which, in an interactive communication with the subsystems, actuates these subsystems in such a way that the control target is realized by the subsystems on the vehicle.

Driving dynamics control system for vehicles

A method for controlling the driving dynamics of a vehicle provides that a steering movement is carried out on the basis of a set value, which is calculated as a function of a deviation between a desired value and an acquired actual value of a vehicle state variable. In this method, at least one membership degree of an acquired value of a steering angle, which is set by a driver, and/or of a steering angle gradient, which is set by the driver, in a predetermined fuzzy set, are/is determined, and a value of the set value is changed as a function of the membership degree.

Method and device for controlling the driving dynamics of a vehicle

A device for controlling the driving dynamics of a vehicle senses at least one driving condition variable being representative of a driving condition and has a driving dynamics controller for determining an additional steering angle, according to which a steering motion can be carried out in addition to the steering motion commanded by an operator. The driving dynamics controller () has at least two control units (), which are respectively associated with one driving condition range. It includes a determinator for determining a prevailing driving condition, in which the prevailing driving condition can be established based on the driving condition variable ({dot over (&#x3a8;)}, {dot over (&#x3b2;)}, a), and in that it includes an activation logic () being in connection with the determination means and being adapted to enable a control unit (), which is associated with the established driving condition range.

Driving dynamics control adapted to driving conditions and based on steering interventions

The present invention discloses an electronically controllable brake actuating system for automotive vehicles, including an unpressurized pressure fluid supply reservoir, a pressure source actuatable by an electronic control unit, the pressure of which can be applied to wheel brakes of the vehicle, further including a device for detecting the driver's wish for deceleration as well as valve assemblies inserted upstream of the wheel brakes and connecting the wheel brakes alternatively to the pressure source or the pressure fluid supply reservoir. In order to increase the operational or functional reliability of a system of this type, the present invention discloses the provision of means for detecting gases or air disposed in the system.

Electronically controllable brake actuating system

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Erzhausen, Germany

Stefan Fritz