| LEOPOLD KOSTAL GMBH & CO. KG Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120035750 | Control System for Safely Operating at Least One Functional Component - A system includes a functional control unit and a controller. The functional control unit is configured to enable and disable operation of a functional component. The controller is configured to receive a sensor signal, evaluate safety quality of the sensor signal, generate an evaluation parameter representing the safety quality of the sensor signal, and output the sensor signal with the evaluation parameter as a pair for receipt by the functional control unit. The functional control unit is configured to control operation of the functional component depending on the safety quality indicated by the evaluation parameter. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20110309827 | ANGLE SENSOR - An assembly for sensing the angular position of a rotatable shaft includes a bearing ring, a driving gear, and a measuring gear. The bearing ring is connectable to the shaft and has two recesses. The driving gear is rotatable about a rotational axis and has two entraining elements. The entraining elements extend radially toward the rotational axis of the driving gear and are arranged opposite one another with respect to the circumference of the driving gear. The entraining elements respectively penetrate into the recesses of the bearing ring such that the driving gear is connected to the bearing ring and rotates as the bearing ring rotates. The measuring gear is rotatable about a rotational axis and is engaged with the driving gear such that the measuring gear rotates as the driving gear rotates. One of the entraining elements is resilient. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110207348 | STEERING COLUMN MODULE - An electrical device such as a steering column module for a vehicle includes a connector, a movable element, and a transport securing element movable to a position in which the transport securing element blocks the movable element from moving. When the transport securing element is in the position blocking the movable element from moving the transport securing element also blocks the connector from connecting with an external connection element. The transport securing element is movable to a position in which the transport securing element does not block the movable element from moving. When the transport securing element is in the position not blocking the movable element from moving the transport securing element also does not block the connector from connecting with an external connection element. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110155874 | SENSOR ARRANGEMENT FOR A VEHICLE WINDOW - A sensor arrangement for a vehicle window includes a mounting frame having an engagement portion, a sensor housing attachable to the mounting frame, a spring-loaded bracket connected to the sensor housing, and a two-arm lever. The lever is pivotably mounted to the bracket, wherein pivoting of the lever causes the bracket to compress and press the sensor housing against the mounting frame. The second lever arm engages the engagement portion of the mounting frame after the lever is further pivoted to a final assembly position to thereby hold the sensor housing in place against the mounting frame. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110129209 | SENSOR ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE WINDSHIELD - A sensor assembly for a vehicle windshield includes a retaining frame, a sensor housing, clamping hooks, a spring, and an actuating lever. The retaining frame is attachable to the windshield. The clamping hooks are connected to the housing. The clamping hooks are attachable to the retaining frame to attach the housing to the retaining frame. The spring is connected to the housing and associated with one of the clamping hooks. The actuating lever is pivotably mounted to the clamping hooks. Pivoting of the actuating lever causes the spring to compress and press the housing against the windshield when both the retaining frame is attached to the windshield and the housing is attached by the clamping hooks to the retaining frame. | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110061445 | SENSOR ARRANGEMENT - A sensor arrangement includes an optical sensor, a non-optical sensor, a sensor holder, and main and flexible interconnect devices. The sensor arrangement can be fixed to a vehicle window by the sensor holder. The sensor holder is in the form of a sensor housing having a sensor housing cover and a second housing body attached to one another. The sensor housing cover and the sensor housing body each have corresponding bracket sections which form a bracket connected to the sensor housing. The main interconnect device is positioned within the sensor housing. The optical sensor is connected to the main interconnect device. The flexible interconnect device is connected to the main interconnect device and extends from the main interconnect device to the bracket connected to the sensor housing. The non-optical sensor is connected to the flexible interconnect device within the bracket and is held by the bracket. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20100241390 | COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR EVALUATING SAFETY CRITICAL SENSOR VARIABLES - A computer system for safety critical sensor variables includes first and second sensors which respectively output first and second sensor variables, a computer, and an independent comparator. The computer calculates an output variable from the first sensor variable by a first function. The computer calculates a comparison variable from the output variable by a second function. The comparison variable and the second sensor variable are applied to the input of the comparator. The second sensor variable is not an input variable of the computer and differs from the first sensor variable in terms of its qualitative value. By calculations of the computer and, if appropriate, of the comparator, an expected comparison variable for the second sensor variable is determined from the calculated output variable, and the correspondence of the two variables is checked by the comparator. Specific internal errors of the computer can thereby be discovered. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100045013 | STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY - A steering column assembly for a steering column of a vehicle includes a steering column starting lock module, a functional module, and a support plate. The starting lock module has a lock element for fixedly connecting the steering column starting lock module to a steering column extending in an axial direction. The functional module has a guide groove extending in the axial direction. The starting lock module is connected to the support plate. The support plate is insertable along the axial direction into the guide groove of the functional module to connect with the functional module and thereby connect the functional module with the starting lock module such that the functional module is connected to the steering column via the starting lock module when the starting lock module is connected to the steering column. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20090320634 | ELECTRIC SHIFTING DEVICE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE - An electric shifting device for a vehicle includes a shift lever, a gate channel, and a detent device. The detent device has a spring-loaded pin and a detent contour cooperating therewith. The detent contour includes first and second paths and a connection path therebetween. The detent contour is movable relative to the channel between a first position in which the first path is aligned with the channel and a second position in which the second path is aligned with the channel. The lever is connected to the pin such that the lever is movable within the channel along the first path when the detent contour is in the first position and within the channel along the second path when the detent contour is in the second position and such that the lever is movable along the connection path between the paths when the detent contour moves between the positions. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20090230288 | METHOD FOR THE OPERATION OF A PHOTOELECTRIC SENSOR ARRAY - A method for operating a sensor array of pixels which each generate a content corresponding to light incident thereon over an exposure period includes the following operations. The pixels are arranged into first and second regions and are reset such that the contents are cleared. The pixels are then exposed to receive light for a first exposure period. The exposure is then interrupted during which the content of each pixel in the first region is read. The pixels are then exposed to receive light for a second exposure period. The exposure is then interrupted during which the content of each pixel in the second region is read. The exposing and interrupting are performed without resetting the pixels such that the read content of each first region pixel depends on the first exposure period and the read content of each second region pixel depends on the first and second exposure periods. | 09-17-2009 |
| 20090188343 | OPERATING DEVICE HAVING RETAINED OPERATING LEVER - A vehicular operating device includes a lever movably attachable at one end to a housing such as a steering column such that the lever is pivotable relative to the housing between different positions. A connector connectable to the housing is adjacent to the first end of the lever and is in communication with the hollow body of the lever. A catch line having first and second ends runs through the hollow body of the lever with the first end of the catch line being connected to the connector and the second end of the catch line being connected to the second end of the lever. Upon the lever breaking, the catch line secures the lever to the connector as the catch line is connected to both of the second end of the lever and the connector to thereby prevent the lever from breaking away from the housing. | 07-30-2009 |
| 20090031569 | ANGLE SENSOR - An angle sensor includes two measuring pinions which rotate in the same direction in response to a drive pinion rotating. The measuring pinions have different absolute angular positions after rotating. The absolute angular position of the drive pinion is determinable from the absolute angular positions of the measuring pinions. A delta wheel between the measuring pinions has two coaxially arranged rings. One ring engages the second measuring pinion and the other ring engages the first measuring pinion such that the rings rotate relative to one another in the same direction in response to the measuring pinions rotating in the opposite direction. A spring connecting the rings together biases the rings to move in opposite directions toward one another after the rings have been rotated relative to one another in the same direction such that the rings respectively press the measuring pinions against the drive pinion. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20080284850 | Camera arrangement for amotor vehicle - A camera arrangement for a vehicle includes a camera and an electrical conductor structure. The camera is separated from a pane which divides an outside region from an inside region. The camera is in the inside region and is pointed at a portion of the pane such that the camera has a viewing detection region through the pane. The conductor structure forms a device and is on the portion of the pane within the viewing detection region of the camera whereby the camera and the device use the same portion of the pane for their operations. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080283782 | Camera arrangement for a motor vehicle - A camera arrangement includes a camera, a light source, and a light-guide which are in an inside region separated from an outside region by a window. The camera and the light source are pointed at the window. The light-guide is between the camera and the window and between the light source and the window. The light-guide couples light incident to the window from the outside region towards a portion of the camera. The light-guide couples light from the light source into the window which is reflected at the interface between the window and the outside region and couples the reflected light towards another portion of the camera. The camera records an image indicative of the incident light from the outside region through the light-guide and records an intensity of the reflected light from the light source through the light-guide. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080279543 | Camera arrangement behind an inclined pane - A camera arrangement includes a camera having a lens pointed at a pane and being separated from the pane. A light-guiding element is between the camera lens and the pane. The light-guiding element guides at least light which is incident on the pane in a grazing manner from a direction of incidence to the camera. | 11-13-2008 |
