An apparatus and method for monitoring a vehicle driver having at least one sensor for measuring pressure and/or humidity. The sensor includes at least one capacitor having at least two electrodes, which may be arranged horizontally on a flexible support material. At least one dielectric layer may be arranged between the electrodes. At least one electrode, and/or the dielectric layer, and at least one, at least partially liquid-permeable and/or liquid-absorbing moisture layer may be arranged on a side facing away from a support material. At least one electrode and/or the dielectric layer may be arranged transversely between the support material and the moisture layer. A capacitance may be changed by liquid on the dielectric layer, and a processing unit measures and/or stores values from the sensor, creating a capacitive humidity sensor. The processing unit may send the to a central CPU, wherein this data may be processed by the processing unit.

A unit for detecting a filling level of a liquid in a container. The unit includes at least one float gauge, which carries at least one permanent magnet, and including at least one switching unit, which is actuatable by the permanent magnet and is fastened in or at the container. It is provided that at least one energizable magnetic device for generating a magnetic field is assigned to the switching unit, which, when sufficiently energized, generates a magnetic field, which actuates the switching unit when the switching unit is functional.

A unit for detecting a filling level of a liquid in a container. The unit includes at least one float gauge, which carries at least one permanent magnet, and including at least one switching unit, which is actuatable by the permanent magnet and is fastened in or at the container. It is provided that at least one energizable magnetic device for generating a magnetic field is assigned to the switching unit, which, when sufficiently energized, generates a magnetic field, which actuates the switching unit when the switching unit is functional.

A method for avoiding obstacles surrounding a mobile vehicle is disclosed. The method discloses that it is more accurate to merge images after a depth information is obtained to construct an environment information. The mobile vehicle set an omnidirectional depth sensing module using a lot of depth sensors for capturing a depth information of an environment surrounding the mobile vehicle and identifying the obstacles on the road upon the depth information. Also, scanning the smooth degree of the road for identifying static obstacles and moved obstacles, Thereby, a control circuit controls the mobile vehicle to lower speed or circumvent the danger.

A controller drives a shifting actuator to move a first engagement member from an original position of a first engagement portion in one direction along a relative motion path and acquires first position information representing a first position, the first position being a position where the first engagement portion moved in the one direction contacts a second engagement portion. The controller drives the shifting actuator to move the first engagement member from the original position in the other direction along the relative motion path and acquires second position information representing a second position where the first engagement portion moved in the other direction contacts the second engagement portion. The controller calculates a center position of the first engagement portion on the relative motion path from the acquired first position information and the acquired second position information, compares the calculated center position to the original position.

A controller drives a shifting actuator to move a first engagement member from an original position of a first engagement portion in one direction along a relative motion path and acquires first position information representing a first position, the first position being a position where the first engagement portion moved in the one direction contacts a second engagement portion. The controller drives the shifting actuator to move the first engagement member from the original position in the other direction along the relative motion path and acquires second position information representing a second position where the first engagement portion moved in the other direction contacts the second engagement portion. The controller calculates a center position of the first engagement portion on the relative motion path from the acquired first position information and the acquired second position information, compares the calculated center position to the original position.

A mobile telecommunications device for providing an in-vehicle driver warning system during a vehicle journey using sensed driving information and local traffic information is described. The mobile telecommunications device comprises: a sensor set comprising at least one of an image sensor, an audio sensor, a geographic positioning sensor and an accelerometer; a user interface for receiving user input; a processor operatively connected to the sensor set and the user interface; a wireless communications module for communicating with a remote server, the wireless communications module being operatively connected to the processor; the processor, through its connection to the user interface, determining, during the vehicle journey, using the inputs received by the user interface, or through its connection to the sensor set, using sensor data received from the sensor set, a start of a driving period during which the mobile device is removably installed to the vehicle and the vehicle is in use; the processor, through its connection to the sensor set, using the sensor data received from the sensor set during the driving period to derive, in use, the sensed driving information associated with how the vehicle is driven; the processor, through its connection to the wireless communications module, receiving the local traffic information obtained from the wireless communications module, the local traffic information concerning other vehicles in the vicinity of the mobile telecommunications device; the processor using, in use, the local traffic information and the driving information and determining if the current relative position and speed of the vehicle exceeds a threshold profile; and wherein the processor generates, in use, a warning signal if the current relative position and speed of the vehicle exceed the threshold profile, and, through its connection to the user interface, transmits the warning signal to the user interface for warning the driver of the vehicle.

A mobile telecommunications device for providing an in-vehicle driver warning system during a vehicle journey using sensed driving information and local traffic information is described. The mobile telecommunications device comprises: a sensor set comprising at least one of an image sensor, an audio sensor, a geographic positioning sensor and an accelerometer; a user interface for receiving user input; a processor operatively connected to the sensor set and the user interface; a wireless communications module for communicating with a remote server, the wireless communications module being operatively connected to the processor; the processor, through its connection to the user interface, determining, during the vehicle journey, using the inputs received by the user interface, or through its connection to the sensor set, using sensor data received from the sensor set, a start of a driving period during which the mobile device is removably installed to the vehicle and the vehicle is in use; the processor, through its connection to the sensor set, using the sensor data received from the sensor set during the driving period to derive, in use, the sensed driving information associated with how the vehicle is driven; the processor, through its connection to the wireless communications module, receiving the local traffic information obtained from the wireless communications module, the local traffic information concerning other vehicles in the vicinity of the mobile telecommunications device; the processor using, in use, the local traffic information and the driving information and determining if the current relative position and speed of the vehicle exceeds a threshold profile; and wherein the processor generates, in use, a warning signal if the current relative position and speed of the vehicle exceed the threshold profile, and, through its connection to the user interface, transmits the warning signal to the user interface for warning the driver of the vehicle.

A method for controlling the movements of a controllable door of a motor vehicle that has two or more doors with movable door wings. One door is a main door and at least one other door is a secondary door. A control device and a sensor arrangement are associated to the doors. The secondary door includes a controllable motion influencing device, wherein a motion of the door wing of the secondary door can be at least partially controlled and influenced by way of the motion influencing device between a closed position and an open position. The motion influencing device brakes or arrests a door wing of the secondary door in the closed position for a predetermined time period after the main door has been opened, and/or in dependence on an identified situation.

A method for controlling the movements of a controllable door of a motor vehicle that has two or more doors with movable door wings. One door is a main door and at least one other door is a secondary door. A control device and a sensor arrangement are associated to the doors. The secondary door includes a controllable motion influencing device, wherein a motion of the door wing of the secondary door can be at least partially controlled and influenced by way of the motion influencing device between a closed position and an open position. The motion influencing device brakes or arrests a door wing of the secondary door in the closed position for a predetermined time period after the main door has been opened, and/or in dependence on an identified situation.