Patents by Inventor Alexander Kalbeck

Alexander Kalbeck has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20220308116
    Abstract: A battery sensor for sensing at least one battery parameter including at least two measuring units. The measuring units each include at least one sensing device for sensing at least one measured value and at least one evaluation circuit for determining at least one battery parameter from the respectively sensed at least one measured value. An evaluation unit is provided, which compares the battery parameters determined by the evaluation circuits and outputs an error signal in the event that a defined difference between the battery parameters is exceeded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicant: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Frimberger, Alexander Kalbeck, Martin Schramme, Karlheinz Warnke
  • Patent number: 10808690
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a start-up of an electric vacuum pump for a vacuum system of a vehicle, wherein the start-up can occur according to at least two different start-up modes, i.e., according to a standard mode and according to at least one special mode, wherein in the standard mode the vacuum pump is connected to a supply voltage in a non-clocked manner and in the special mode the vacuum pump is connected to a supply voltage in a dynamically clocked manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Kalbeck, Jürgen Schicke, Christian Märkl
  • Patent number: 9709044
    Abstract: A method for supplying vacuum for a pneumatic brake booster for a motor vehicle braking system, using an electromotively-driven displacement type pump assembly. At least one pressure sensor for monitoring a pneumatic pressure is associated with the pump assembly, and electric signals of the pressure sensor are fed to an electronic unit, analyzed, and processed in order to regulate the pressure. A plausibility check of the pressure sensor signal is carried out by a pressure value amplitude being determined, by signal analysis, in the form of a difference between a maximum pressure value and a minimum pressure value within a stroke of the displacement element, and this being compared to a stored comparison value wherein if the pressure value amplitude deviates from the comparison value by a defined amount, the signal of the pressure sensor is then defined as implausible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Alexander Kalbeck, Bernd Pfaffeneder, Jürgen Stürzer
  • Publication number: 20150322930
    Abstract: A method for supplying vacuum for a pneumatic brake booster for a motor vehicle braking system, using an electromotively-driven displacement type pump assembly. At least one pressure sensor for monitoring a pneumatic pressure is associated with the pump assembly, and electric signals of the pressure sensor are fed to an electronic unit, analysed, and processed in order to regulate the pressure. A plausibility check of the pressure sensor signal is carried out by a pressure value amplitude being determined, by signal analysis, in the form of a difference between a maximum pressure value and a minimum pressure value within a stroke of the displacement element, and this being compared to a stored comparison value wherein if the pressure value amplitude deviates from the comparison value by a defined amount, the signal of the pressure sensor is then defined as implausible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Alexander Kalbeck, Bernd Pfaffeneder, Jürgen Stürzer
  • Patent number: 9020684
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for monitoring the function of a safety monitoring system of a control unit of an actuator system of a motor vehicle, wherein it is checked by the function monitoring whether the safety monitoring is performed faultlessly, wherein the safety monitoring is carried out by a first monitoring entity and the function monitoring is carried out by a second monitoring entity, wherein the first monitoring entity sends a result of the safety monitoring as an information item to the second monitoring entity at defined time intervals, wherein the first monitoring entity and the second monitoring entity are free of a common interface, wherein the information item is received by the second monitoring entity by utilizing an interface between the second monitoring entity and the control unit, and wherein the information item is coded in a format which cannot be interpreted by the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Pfaffeneder, Alexander Kalbeck, Stefan Goss
  • Publication number: 20140356190
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a start-up of an electric vacuum pump for a vacuum system of a vehicle, wherein the start-up can occur according to at least two different start-up modes, i.e., according to a standard mode and according to at least one special mode, wherein in the standard mode the vacuum pump is connected to a supply voltage in a non-clocked manner and in the special mode the vacuum pump is connected to a supply voltage in a dynamically clocked manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Alexander Kalbeck, Jürgen Schicke, Christian Märkl
  • Patent number: 8763767
    Abstract: In a method for controlling an electronic parking brake system and an electronic parking brake system, a travel-optimized method is used to achieve the released state of the parking brake system. When the parking brake is applied, travel-force values are detected and a plausibility check is run, the values being used to arrive at a first optimized position when the brake is released. If the residual force applied to the brake exceeds a threshold value, the parking brake is released even more until the value remains just under the threshold value or until a maximum defined release travel is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Goss, Alexander Kalbeck, Armin Sauer
  • Publication number: 20140168826
    Abstract: An electric vacuum pump actuating module for boosting the braking force of a motor vehicle, including a main controller and a driver circuit for operating the electric vacuum pump. The driver circuit includes a first and a second switch. The first switch switches a supply voltage above a predefined voltage level of an operating voltage of the vacuum pump. The second switch switches a supply voltage below the voltage level of the vacuum pump. The main controller controls the first switch by first control signals and the second switch by second control signals. The actuating module determines a state of the electric vacuum pump as a first piece of information based on a first response of the electric vacuum pump resulting from the first or second control signals. The actuating module assesses the state of the electric vacuum pump as error-free or erroneous operation of the electric vacuum pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Continental Automotive GmBH
    Inventors: Alexander Kalbeck, Jürgen Schicke, Bernd Pfaffeneder, Michael Irsigler
  • Publication number: 20140012463
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for monitoring the function of a safety monitoring system of a control unit of an actuator system of a motor vehicle, wherein it is checked by the function monitoring whether the safety monitoring is performed faultlessly, wherein the safety monitoring is carried out by a first monitoring entity and the function monitoring is carried out by a second monitoring entity, wherein the first monitoring entity sends a result of the safety monitoring as an information item to the second monitoring entity at defined time intervals, wherein the first monitoring entity and the second monitoring entity are free of a common interface, wherein the information item is received by the second monitoring entity by utilizing an interface between the second monitoring entity and the control unit, and wherein the information item is coded in a format which cannot be interpreted by the control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: Bernd Pfaffeneder, Alexander Kalbeck, Stefan Goss
  • Publication number: 20130342147
    Abstract: An assembly for controlling an electric vacuum pump for a vehicle, which is connectable by at least one switch, which can be controlled by an electronic control unit, to a supply voltage, wherein the electronic control unit in a start-up phase connects the vacuum pump to an additional electrical resistor between the supply voltage and the vacuum pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Dieter Bidlingmeyer, Alexander Kalbeck, Bernd Pfaffeneder, Michael Irsigler, Christian Märkl
  • Patent number: 8532902
    Abstract: In a method for controlling at least one electromechanical parking brake unit in a vehicle, the current vehicle speed is detected by a speed sensor system in the form of a speed measuring signal, and a deceleration measuring signal displaying the current vehicle deceleration is detected by at least one acceleration sensor system. In the event of a defective speed signal or a failure of the speed sensor system, the electromechanical parking brake system is operated in an emergency operation mode wherein, at the beginning of a braking, a dynamic braking function is provided by the electromechanical parking brake unit. Advantageously, the current vehicle deceleration is determined from the deceleration measuring signal and compared with a pre-determined minimum deceleration value, and if the determined current vehicle deceleration falls short of the pre-determined value in the emergency operation mode, a static brake function is provided by the electromechanical parking brake unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Bentner, Alexander Kalbeck
  • Patent number: 8370039
    Abstract: During service and repair work on an electric parking brake (1) of a motor vehicle, there is the problem that, in order to switch into a service mode in which the parking brake (15) can be completely opened, in order for example to be able to exchange a brake cable, a special diagnosis unit must generally be used. A diagnosis unit of this type is however not always available in workshops. It is therefore proposed to carry out the switch into the service mode of the electric parking brake (1) with at least one control element (2,2a) of the motor vehicle. Here, it is provided that, for safety reasons and in order to avoid an undesired switch into the service mode, the actuation of the at least one control element (2, 2a) must take place according to a predefined input procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Bentner, Alexander Kalbeck, Norbert Labermeier
  • Patent number: 8352144
    Abstract: In a method for controlling an electromechanical parking brake system (EPB) of a vehicle, wherein the electromechanical parking brake system (EPB) comprises at least one actuating element (BE), at least one brake mechanism unit (BME), and at least one control device (SG), in order to statically brake the vehicle, the actuating element (BE) is actuated and, depending thereon, the at least one brake mechanism unit (BME) is applied with a predetermined application speed (AV) controlled by a control and evaluation routine (SAR) run in the control device (SG). The vehicle speed (V) prevailing when the at least one actuating element (BE) is actuated is advantageously determined and the application speed (AV) of the brake mechanism unit (BME) is selected depending on the determined vehicle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Bentner, Alexander Kalbeck
  • Patent number: 8255136
    Abstract: A method and arrangement for running in and calibrating an electromechanical parking brake system (EPB) has at least one brake mechanism unit (BME) and at least one control device (SG), the actuation of the brake mechanism unit (BME) being controlled by a control routine (SR) provided in the control device (SG). The electromechanical parking brake system (EPB) is advantageously run in by at least one running-in routine (EFR) and/or calibrated by at least one calibration routine (KRR), the running-in routine (EFR) and/or the calibration routine (KRR) checking for the existence of at least one safety-critical condition (SB) and/or the existence of at least one system error (SF) before and/or during the running-in operation and/or calibration operation and in dependence thereon the running-in operation and/or calibration operation is continued or terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Bentner, Alexander Kalbeck
  • Publication number: 20100268430
    Abstract: In a method for controlling an electromechanical parking brake system (EPB) of a vehicle, wherein the electromechanical parking brake system (EPB) comprises at least one actuating element (BE), at least one brake mechanism unit (BME), and at least one control device (SG), in order to statically brake the vehicle, the actuating element (BE) is actuated and, depending thereon, the at least one brake mechanism unit (BME) is applied with a predetermined application speed (AV) controlled by a control and evaluation routine (SAR) run in the control device (SG). The vehicle speed (V) prevailing when the at least one actuating element (BE) is actuated is advantageously determined and the application speed (AV) of the brake mechanism unit (BME) is selected depending on the determined vehicle speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventors: Johannes Bentner, Alexander Kalbeck
  • Publication number: 20100262330
    Abstract: In a method for controlling at least one electromechanical parking brake unit in a vehicle, the current vehicle speed is detected by a speed sensor system in the form of a speed measuring signal, and a deceleration measuring signal displaying the current vehicle deceleration is detected by at least one acceleration sensor system. In the event of a defective speed signal or a failure of the speed sensor system, the electromechanical parking brake system is operated in an emergency operation mode wherein, at the beginning of a braking, a dynamic braking function is provided by the electromechanical parking brake unit. Advantageously, the current vehicle deceleration is determined from the deceleration measuring signal and compared with a pre-determined minimum deceleration value, and if the determined current vehicle deceleration falls short of the pre-determined value in the emergency operation mode, a static brake function is provided by the electromechanical parking brake unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: Johannes Bentner, Alexander Kalbeck
  • Publication number: 20090326733
    Abstract: In a method and an arrangement for the determination of an updated wheel circumference (U*) of at least one wheel (R) arranged on a vehicle, during which at least one wheel circumference (U) is assigned to at least one wheel (R) in a control unit (CU), and during which the wheel speed (RaV) is determined by means of the control unit (CU) according to the speed of rotation (RoV) of the at least one wheel (R) and according to the assigned wheel circumference (U), advantageously, a reference speed (RefV) of the vehicle and/or the wheel (R) is determined which is independent of the determined wheel speed (RaV). The discrepancy (V) between the at least one wheel speed (RaV) and the reference speed (RefV) is detected and the updated wheel circumference (U*) of the at least one wheel (R) is determined according to the discrepancy (V).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Andreas Abele, Alexander Kalbeck
  • Patent number: 7630814
    Abstract: In a system for controlling a parking brake of a brake system of a motor vehicle, a first target value for the braking force of the parking brake is predefined by a operating element for the parking brake and the braking force for the parking brake is released by a operating element. When a start-up intention is detected, the control system minimizes the braking force of the parking brake in relation to the first target value, in accordance with the environmental conditions of the motor vehicle. For the first time a provisional minimization of the braking force of a parking brake for a foreseeable start-up situation is permitted, thus allowing the start-up operation of a motor vehicle to be as comfortable as possible with maximum security of the automatic functions. The system is particularly suitable for electromechanical parking brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Goss, Alexander Kalbeck, Damiano Molfetta
  • Publication number: 20090227423
    Abstract: During service and repair work on an electric parking brake (1) of a motor vehicle, there is the problem that, in order to switch into a service mode in which the parking brake (15) can be completely opened, in order for example to be able to exchange a brake cable, a special diagnosis unit must generally be used. A diagnosis unit of this type is however not always available in workshops. It is therefore proposed to carry out the switch into the service mode of the electric parking brake (1) with at least one control element (2,2a) of the motor vehicle. Here, it is provided that, for safety reasons and in order to avoid an undesired switch into the service mode, the actuation of the at least one control element (2, 2a) must take place according to a predefined input procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: Johannes Bentner, Alexander Kalbeck, Norbert Labermeier
  • Publication number: 20090043472
    Abstract: A method and arrangement for running in and calibrating an electromechanical parking brake system (EPB) has at least one brake mechanism unit (BME) and at least one control device (SG), the actuation of the brake mechanism unit (BME) being controlled by a control routine (SR) provided in the control device (SG). The electromechanical parking brake system (EPB) is advantageously run in by at least one running-in routine (EFR) and/or calibrated by at least one calibration routine (KRR), the running-in routine (EFR) and/or the calibration routine (KRR) checking for the existence of at least one safety-critical condition (SB) and/or the existence of at least one system error (SF) before and/or during the running-in operation and/or calibration operation and in dependence thereon the running-in operation and/or calibration operation is continued or terminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: Johannes Bentner, Alexander Kalbeck