A method and a system having a sensor for detecting legs of a person in a monitored zone having protected fields and for releasing a function of a vehicle, having a control and evaluation unit for evaluating the protected fields, wherein the sensor is configured to generate at least two protected fields, wherein a first protected field detects at least a part of a first leg of the person, wherein a second protected field detects at least a part of a second leg of the person, the control and evaluation unit is configured to determine whether at least a part of a first leg of the person was detected in the first protected field and at least a part of a second leg of the person was detected in the second protected field, and to transmit at least a release signal to the vehicle and thus to release the function when at least a part of a first leg of the person was detected in the first protected field and at least a part of a second leg of the person was detected in the second protected field, wherein the sensor is a time of flight sensor wherein at least one light transmitter transmits a light signal and at least one light receiver receives a signal reflected or remitted by the person, and the control and evaluation unit is configured to evaluate the received signal on the basis of the time of flight and to form object determination signals.

A method and a system having a sensor for detecting legs of a person in a monitored zone having protected fields and for releasing a function of a vehicle, having a control and evaluation unit for evaluating the protected fields, wherein the sensor is configured to generate at least two protected fields, wherein a first protected field detects at least a part of a first leg of the person, wherein a second protected field detects at least a part of a second leg of the person, the control and evaluation unit is configured to determine whether at least a part of a first leg of the person was detected in the first protected field and at least a part of a second leg of the person was detected in the second protected field, and to transmit at least a release signal to the vehicle and thus to release the function when at least a part of a first leg of the person was detected in the first protected field and at least a part of a second leg of the person was detected in the second protected field, wherein the sensor is a time of flight sensor wherein at least one light transmitter transmits a light signal and at least one light receiver receives a signal reflected or remitted by the person, and the control and evaluation unit is configured to evaluate the received signal on the basis of the time of flight and to form object determination signals.

A method of operating a drive-train (1) of a motor vehicle, which has a drive aggregate (2), a transmission (3) with a hydrodynamic torque converter (4), an engine brake device (6) and a drive output (5). The engine brake device (6) which is activated when the drive-train (1) is operating in an overdrive mode, during a coasting process, before carrying out an overdrive downshift, when the turbine rotational speed (n_tu) of the torque converter (4) is lower than the engine idling rotational speed (n_mot_LL) of the drive aggregate (2). The engine brake device (6) is deactivated at a point in time chosen such that, when the overdrive downshift is carried out, a load change in the drive-train (1) is avoided.

A method of operating a drive-train (1) of a motor vehicle, which has a drive aggregate (2), a transmission (3) with a hydrodynamic torque converter (4), an engine brake device (6) and a drive output (5). The engine brake device (6) which is activated when the drive-train (1) is operating in an overdrive mode, during a coasting process, before carrying out an overdrive downshift, when the turbine rotational speed (n_tu) of the torque converter (4) is lower than the engine idling rotational speed (n_mot_LL) of the drive aggregate (2). The engine brake device (6) is deactivated at a point in time chosen such that, when the overdrive downshift is carried out, a load change in the drive-train (1) is avoided.

A control device and method for executing a holding function using a hydraulic braking system of a vehicle including building up an initial holding pressure in at least one wheel brake cylinder using at least one brake pressure buildup device and closing at least one shutoff valve situated between the at least one wheel brake cylinder and the at least one brake pressure buildup device, a new holding pressure being built up in the wheel brake cylinder, in that an intermediate pressure less than the new holding pressure is built up between the shutoff valve and the brake pressure buildup device using the brake pressure buildup device, the shutoff valve is opened upon the presence of the intermediate pressure between the shutoff valve and the brake pressure buildup device, and brake fluid is transferred using the brake pressure buildup device through the open shutoff valve into the wheel brake cylinder.

A control device and method for executing a holding function using a hydraulic braking system of a vehicle including building up an initial holding pressure in at least one wheel brake cylinder using at least one brake pressure buildup device and closing at least one shutoff valve situated between the at least one wheel brake cylinder and the at least one brake pressure buildup device, a new holding pressure being built up in the wheel brake cylinder, in that an intermediate pressure less than the new holding pressure is built up between the shutoff valve and the brake pressure buildup device using the brake pressure buildup device, the shutoff valve is opened upon the presence of the intermediate pressure between the shutoff valve and the brake pressure buildup device, and brake fluid is transferred using the brake pressure buildup device through the open shutoff valve into the wheel brake cylinder.

A hydrostatic traction drive in a closed hydraulic circuit includes two hydraulic machines in the closed hydraulic circuit and a control unit configured to control a braking torque of the traction drive. A method for controlling the hydrostatic traction drive includes controlling the braking torque for the hydrostatic traction drive.

A pneumatic booster capable of suppressing braking force from becoming excessive relative to an input force applied to a brake pedal. A valve mechanism (13) includes a poppet valve (14) movably attached to a small-diameter cylindrical portion of a valve body (6), an annular abutment portion formed on a plunger body of a plunger (20) to bring a variable-pressure chamber B into and out of communication with the atmosphere by unseating from and seating on the poppet valve, respectively, a movable seat member (29) movably guided by the valve body to bring a negative-pressure chamber A and the variable-pressure chamber B into and out of communication with each other, and a transmitting member (31) having one end abutting against the movable seat member and the other end disposed to surround a stepped piston of the plunger so as to be abuttable against a reaction disk (27).

A pneumatic booster capable of suppressing braking force from becoming excessive relative to an input force applied to a brake pedal. A valve mechanism (13) includes a poppet valve (14) movably attached to a small-diameter cylindrical portion of a valve body (6), an annular abutment portion formed on a plunger body of a plunger (20) to bring a variable-pressure chamber B into and out of communication with the atmosphere by unseating from and seating on the poppet valve, respectively, a movable seat member (29) movably guided by the valve body to bring a negative-pressure chamber A and the variable-pressure chamber B into and out of communication with each other, and a transmitting member (31) having one end abutting against the movable seat member and the other end disposed to surround a stepped piston of the plunger so as to be abuttable against a reaction disk (27).

A machine includes: an axle having wheels mounted to it; a brake system configured to provide service braking to the wheels; a brake pedal operatively connected to the brake system to provide a braking power to the wheels in proportion to the position of the brake pedal; a pedal sensor operatively connected to the brake pedal to sense the position of the brake pedal; a retarder system configured to selectively slow the wheels down; a speed sensor operatively connected to the machine to detect a speed associated with the machine; a controller operatively connected to the speed sensor, brake pedal position sensor, and retarder system wherein the controller is configured to operate the retarder system based on signals received from the speed sensor and brake pedal position sensor. A method for providing an indication to an operator may also be included.