Patents Assigned to Volkswagen AG
  • Patent number: 11958477
    Abstract: The invention relates to a driver assistance system (11) for an at least partially automatically driving motor vehicle (10), wherein the driver assistance system (11) comprises at least one environment detection means (13) which is designed to detect at least one area of an environment (U) of the motor vehicle (10), an evaluation device (14) which is designed to determine a target trajectory (T) to be traveled by the motor vehicle (10) according to the detected at least one area of the environment (U), and a control device (18) which is designed to adjust the target trajectory (T) determined by the evaluation device (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Jens Hoedt, Ulrich Hofmann
  • Patent number: 11953341
    Abstract: A method and a device for acquiring, offering, and transmitting vehicle-based data of a route section, in particular environment data acquired by a vehicle of a vehicle swarm traveling on the route section and offered to a back-end computer and transmitted if required, comprising: reporting available vehicle-based data relating to the route section currently being traveled on to the back-end computer; requesting at least one selection of the vehicle-based data offered relating to the predefined route section from the vehicle by means of the back-end computer; collecting the requested selection of the vehicle-based data by means of the sensors of the vehicle and storing the data in a memory the vehicle; and transmitting the requested and collected data to the back-end computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Stephan Max, Edson William Fangwa Nzeya
  • Publication number: 20240101057
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle, which comprises a high-voltage on-board electrical system and a low-voltage on-board electrical system, which are connected by means of a DC-to-DC converter. The high-voltage on-board electrical system is connected to a battery via a switching circuit, and an electromotive main drive is fed by means of the high-voltage on-board electrical system. An electrical contacting of the battery with the high-voltage on-board electrical system is terminated by means of the switching circuit, and the main drive is operated as a generator, such that electrical energy is fed into the high-voltage on-board electrical system, by means of which electrical energy the low-voltage on-board electrical system is fed via the DC-to-DC converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicants: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Richard AUER, Holger NÄTHER, Stefan SCHOBERER, Markus STOLZ
  • Patent number: 11936249
    Abstract: A measurement system for an electrical machine includes a position sensor device arranged on a rotor of the electrical machine, a carrier connected to the position sensor device, and a temperature sensor device fastened to the carrier. The position sensor device is configured to ascertain an item of information about an orientation of the rotor. The temperature sensor is configured to ascertain a temperature of a stator of the electrical machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignees: TE Connectivity India Private Limited, TE Connectivity Germany GmbH, Volkswagen AG, TE Connectivity Begium BV
    Inventors: Bram Embo, Dirk Pillu, Rainer Schindel, Sebastian Wiechert, Mathias Dohmann, Manivasakan Ravinthiran
  • Publication number: 20240068523
    Abstract: A shaft-hub connection includes a shaft and a hub which engage with one another for conjoint rotation about an axis of rotation via a first toothing and a second toothing. The first toothing has a first toothing region and a second toothing region, wherein the first toothing region and the second toothing region are, as viewed in the circumferential direction (u), arranged offset by a dimension (d) in such a way that the first toothing region engages with the second toothing via front tooth flanks as viewed in the circumferential direction (u), and the second toothing region engages with the second toothing via rear tooth flanks as viewed in the circumferential direction (u).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicants: AUDI AG, Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Michael FRISCH, Johannes ALBL, Wolfgang HEISE
  • Patent number: 11888178
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a battery cell component including providing a current collector foil and placing separators onto the current collector foil at spaced intervals. A battery cell component, battery and electric or hybrid vehicle is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Audi AG, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG
    Inventors: Mirko Herrmann, Angela Speidel
  • Patent number: 11885463
    Abstract: A pressurized gas accumulator has a hollow body which extends along a longitudinal axis and at least one connection piece. The hollow body has at least one layer of a weave structure with a plurality of warp threads running next to one another and a weft thread woven with the warp threads and oriented perpendicular thereto. The warp threads are oriented essentially parallel or essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the hollow body. A method for producing a pressurised gas accumulator and to a device for carrying out said method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignees: Audi AG, Volkswagen AG
    Inventor: Maik Kraus
  • Patent number: 11874370
    Abstract: A method for acquiring information in the spatial environment of a vehicle, comprising: providing at least two radar sensors arranged at different positions at the vehicle; transmitting radar signals by the radar sensors, the radar signals being assigned to the radar sensors; receiving reflected components of the radar signals assigned to the radar sensors at the respective radar sensors and further processing these reflected components of the radar signals as reception information; assigning time information to the reception information obtained from the respective radar sensors, the time information forming a time reference for the reception information; assigning location information to the reception information obtained from the respective radar sensors, the location information forming a location reference for the reception information; and processing the reception information obtained from the at least two radar sensors into common environment information by taking into account the time information and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTONOMOUS MOBILITY GERMANY GMBH, VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Andreas Löffler, Fabian Harrer, Thomas Gisder, Marc-Michael Meinecke, Thorsten Bagdonat
  • Patent number: 11876272
    Abstract: A fuel-cell stack has a first end plate and a second end plate and a plurality of fuel cells arranged between the end plates. At least one elastic tensioning element is tensioned in the stack direction between the end plates. Furthermore, a re-tensioning element is arranged between the tensioning element and a surface section of the fuel-cell stack. The re-tensioning element has a tensioning body and at least one adjusting element arranged between the tensioning body and the surface section. A distance between the tensioning body and the surface section can be variably adjusted and fixed by the at least one adjusting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Adel Jilani, Siva Sankar Voosani Krishna
  • Patent number: 11870028
    Abstract: A battery module includes a plurality of battery cells connected in series, each battery cell having a cathode, an anode, and a separator separating the cathode and the anode, and a bipolar current collector; a plurality of polymer frames, each having a window to receive part of the one of the plurality of battery cells; two of the plurality of polymer frames defining a compartment; and electrolyte filling the compartment for one of the plurality of battery cells. A method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Audi AG, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG
    Inventors: Mirko Herrmann, Angela Speidel
  • Patent number: 11862826
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the compressive tensile force acting on a fuel cell stack due to at least one tensioning element. Thereby, the compressive tensile force is the overall tensile force compressing the fuel cell stack. This is determined according to the invention by means of acoustic measurements on vibratable sections of the tensioning elements. The subject matter of the invention also includes a data processing program for carrying out the method according to the invention along with the use of a smartphone for carrying out the method according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Audi AG
    Inventors: Ian Stewart, Tegan Harrower, Matej Kusy
  • Patent number: 11855310
    Abstract: A flow-field plate is provided for distributing a reactant to an electrode or a gas diffusion layer of a fuel cell, the flow-field plate having a gas inlet, and having a plurality of channels defining a flow field. A pressure gradient is present between the gas inlet and the flow field given a state of throughflow, which leads to an intake of exhaust gas flowing in the channels in the direction of the gas inlet. Furthermore, there is a water/gas separator which is fluidically connected to the gas inlet for separating liquid water and/or water vapor from a gas which is connected to the flow field in order to supply the gas separated in the water/gas separator to the flow field. A flow cross-section at the gas inlet or at the gas inlet region is smaller than the flow cross-section at or in the region of the water/gas separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Audi AG
    Inventor: Rune Staeck
  • Patent number: 11855325
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cells received between two end plates, at least one end plate of which has flow channels formed therein with ports for the anode fresh gas and the anode exhaust gas as well as ports for the cathode fresh gas and the cathode exhaust gas, wherein a hygroscopic material forms the wall between the ports for the anode exhaust gas and the cathode fresh gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Audi AG
    Inventor: Christian Lucas
  • Patent number: 11848469
    Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises a clamping system for a fuel cell stack, the clamping system including a plurality of disc springs. The disc springs are connected together in a bonded and/or force-fitting manner on a plane perpendicular to an axis of rotational symmetry running through the center of the circle described by the disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Ian Stewart, Campbell Perry, Amy Warkentin
  • Patent number: 11837758
    Abstract: A humidification system for a fuel cell system is provided, comprising a feed line for supplying cathode gas which is to be or is humidified, to a heat exchanger, further comprising a liquid supply and an eddy generator, located upstream of the liquid supply, for generating eddies in the flowing cathode gas. A fuel cell system comprising a humidification system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Audi AG
    Inventors: Christian Lucas, Oliver Berger
  • Patent number: 11817611
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack is provided comprising a first end plate and a second end plate between which a plurality of fuel cells is arranged. At least one tensioning or tensile element is tensioned in the stack direction between the end plates. Inlet and outlet ports for operating resources are arranged in first end areas of the first end plates and in second end areas of the second end plates. At least one additional elastic tensioning element is tensioned between first end areas and/or second end areas of the end plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Audi AG
    Inventors: Adel Jilani, Siva Sankar Voosani Krishna
  • Patent number: 11791492
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack is provided comprising a first end plate and a second end plate between which a plurality of fuel cells is arranged. At least one elastic tensioning element is tensioned in the stack direction between the end plates. Furthermore, the fuel cell stack has at least one rotatably mounted mounting shaft. At least one end section of at least one tensioning element is fixed to the rotating mounting shaft. Moreover, the rotatable mounting shaft is connected to the fuel cell stack via a tensioned torsion spring. The torsion spring brings about an automatic retensioning of the tensioning element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Audi AG
    Inventors: Adel Jilani, Siva Sankar Voosani Krishna
  • Patent number: 11764387
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack is provided comprising a first end plate and a second end plate between which a plurality of fuel cells is arranged. At least one elastic tensioning element is tensioned in a stack direction between the end plates. According to the invention, a section of the at least one tensioning element is arranged between a surface section of the fuel cell stack and a retensioning element, wherein a distance between the retensioning element and the surface section can be variably adjusted and set. In this way, the tensioning element can be stretched in a targeted manner by means of the retensioning element and as such the compressive tensile force acting on the fuel cell stack can be increased. A vehicle is also provided comprising such a fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignees: Audi AG, Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Adel Jilani, Siva Sankar Voosani Krishna
  • Patent number: 11757112
    Abstract: A humidifier has a plurality of humidifier modules that are clamped between end plates by tie rods and have a membrane that is permeable to water vapor, in which on both sides of the membrane there is respectively arranged a flow field frame having a multiplicity of webs defining a flow field. The tie rods are configured as hollow rods forming coolant tubes for a coolant to be led through. A fuel cell device and a motor vehicle having such a humidifier are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Audi AG
    Inventors: Oliver Berger, Rune Staeck, Christian Lucas
  • Patent number: 11749812
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell plate (1) for supplying a reactant to an active region of a fuel cell, having at least one inlet (2) and at least one outlet (3) and also having a flow field (4) which is situated therebetween, is formed on a first surface (5) of the plate (1) and has a plurality of flow guides (6). In this case, at least some of the flow guides (6) are formed as deflection elements (7) in the form of guide vanes, guide panels or wings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Audi AG
    Inventor: Lars Kapitza