Patents by Inventor Bernd Last

Bernd Last 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).

  • Patent number: 7829824
    Abstract: A pressure pickup heating bar, in particular for a pressure pickup glow plug, having an electrical heating element (1) and a pressure sensor (3) onto which the pressure present at the heating bar (1) is transmitted. The heating bar has a support tube (2) which encompasses the heating element (1) on the outside with an axial pretension. A pressure sensor (3) is arranged between the heating element (1) and the support tube (2) and is subjected to pressure that is present on the heating bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Beru AG
    Inventor: Bernd Last
  • Patent number: 7825352
    Abstract: A glow plug including a tubular body with elements for fixing it into a bore, an intermediate tubular part arranged inside the tubular body, a finger disposed inside the intermediate tubular part with a heating electrode, and a pressure sensor connected to the intermediate tubular part, wherein a face of the sensor facing the finger is pressed thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignees: Continental Automotive France, Federal-Mogul Ignition Srl
    Inventors: Bernd Last, Cyrille Patri, Alain Ramond, John Burrows, Sandro Goretti
  • Publication number: 20100236512
    Abstract: Glow plug, particularly for operation in a combustion engine, comprising at least one heating rod (1) and at least one body (2) and at least one annular gap (3) between the heating rod (1) and the body (2) and at least one chamber (4) primarily arranged between the heating rod (1) and the body (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventors: Karsten Volland, Bernd Last, Hans Houben, Dirk Von Hacht, Frank Pechhold, Christian Pottiez, Michael Haussner, Half Ehlert
  • Patent number: 7775187
    Abstract: A glow plug includes a glow plug body (2), a pressure sensor arranged inside the glow plug body (2), a threaded portion (6) on the outside of the glow plug body (2) and gripping elements (12), generally of cylindrical form with a hexagonal section, enabling the body (2) to be gripped and screwed into a corresponding tapping, the gripping elements (12) being made from synthetic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignees: Continental Automotive France, Federal-Mogul Ignition Srl
    Inventors: Michel Boucard, Bernd Last, Cyrille Patri, Alain Ramond, John Burrows, Sandro Goretti
  • Patent number: 7765974
    Abstract: This body (8) has on its outer surface both a screw thread (16) adapted for fixing the body (8) into a corresponding tapping in an engine (4), as well as a gripping zone (28), generally of cylindrical form with a hexagonal section, enabling gripping of the body (8) for screwing the glow plug (2) into the corresponding tapping. The outer diameter of the portion of the body between the thread (16) and the gripping zone (28) is throughout its entire height of a diameter at least equal to the outer diameter of the threaded portion (16). Application to internal combustion engines, in particular Diesel type engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignees: Continental Automotive France, Federal-Mogul Ignition Srl
    Inventors: Michel Boucard, Bernd Last, Cyrille Patri, Alain Ramond, John Burrows, Sandro Goretti
  • Patent number: 7759612
    Abstract: A glow plug (1), includes a pressure sensor (90), suitable for measuring the internal pressure of a motor cylinder in which the plug (1) is housed, a body (10) to be secured to the motor and a finger (20) in which a heater electrode is housed. The sensor (90) is firmly secured to the body (10) by the upper face thereof and rests on the finger (20), so that the pressure exerted on the finger (20) presses the sensor against the body (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Continental Automotive France
    Inventors: Bernd Last, Michel Boucard, Cyrille Patri, Alain Ramond
  • Publication number: 20100126983
    Abstract: Device for creating a temperature gradient, especially in gaseous media, comprising at least one ohmic resistor and at least two non-conducting insulators and at least one casing and at least one elastic element positioned between the non-conducting insulator and the casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventors: Martin Eller, Steffen Geiger, Erich Berdel, Nicolaus Wulff, Bernd Last, Gerald Fromm, Volker Brichzin
  • Patent number: 7444973
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device which is used as a force-transmitting device (38?) for a pressure sensor (14) associated with a glow plug in an internal combustion engine and is embodied in the form of a tubular piece whose cross-section is substantially annular. The inventive device comprises an area (40) on which the external diameter thereof increases towards one end thereof. The front surface of the device corresponding to said flared end is embodied in the form of a bearing face receiving the piezo-electric pressure sensor. A glow plug integrating said force-transmitting device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignees: Siemens VDO Automotive, Federal-Mogul Ignition SRL
    Inventors: Michel Boucard, Bernd Last, Cyrille Patri, Alain Ramond, John Burrows, Sandro Goretti
  • Publication number: 20070266980
    Abstract: This body (8) has on its outer surface both a screw thread (16) adapted for fixing the body (8) into a corresponding tapping in an engine (4), as well as a gripping zone (28), generally of cylindrical form with a hexagonal section, enabling gripping of the body (8) for screwing the glow plug (2) into the corresponding tapping. The outer diameter of the portion of the body between the thread (16) and the gripping zone (28) is throughout its entire height of a diameter at least equal to the outer diameter of the threaded portion (16). Application to internal combustion engines, in particular Diesel type engines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: Michel Boucard, Bernd Last, Cyrille Patri, Alain Ramond, John Burrows, Sandro Goretti
  • Publication number: 20070227486
    Abstract: The invention concerns a glow plug comprising a glow plug body (2), a pressure sensor arranged inside the glow plug body (2), a threaded portion (6) on the outside of the glow plug body (2) and gripping means (12), generally of cylindrical form with a hexagonal section, enabling the body (2) to be gripped and screwed into a corresponding tapping, the gripping means (12) being made from synthetic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Inventors: Michel Boucard, Bernd Last, Cyrille Patri, Alain Ramond, John Burrows, Sandro Goretti
  • Publication number: 20070228030
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device which is used as a force-transmitting device (38?) for a pressure sensor (14) associated with a glow plug in an internal combustion engine and is embodied in the form of a tubular piece whose cross-section is substantially annular. The inventive device comprises an area (40) on which the external diameter thereof increases towards one end thereof. The front surface of the device corresponding to said flared end is embodied in the form of a bearing face receiving the piezo-electric pressure sensor. A glow plug integrating said force-transmitting device is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Inventors: Michel Boucard, Bernd Last, Cyrille Patri, Alain Ramond, John Burrows, Sandro Goretti
  • Publication number: 20070227487
    Abstract: A glow plug consists of a tubular body including elements for fixing it into a bore, an intermediate tubular part (30) arranged inside the tubular body, a finger (10?) disposed inside the intermediate tubular part (30) and including a heating electrode and a pressure sensor (14) connected by the face opposite with respect to the finger (10?) to the intermediate tubular part (30), wherein the face of the sensor (14) disposed in front of the finger (10?) is pressed thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Inventors: Bernd Last, Cyrille Patri, Alain Ramond, John Burrows, Sandro Goretti
  • Publication number: 20070209625
    Abstract: A glow plug includes a pressure sensor mounted within a tubular member (8) and held in the tubular member (8) by a bearing member. The bearing member is held in the tubular member (8) by plastic deformation (52) of the wall of the tubular member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Inventors: Michel Boucard, Bernd Last, Cyrille Patri, Alain Ramond, John Burrows, Sandro Goretti
  • Publication number: 20070163329
    Abstract: A glow plug (1), includes a pressure sensor (90), suitable for measuring the internal pressure of a motor cylinder in which the plug (1) is housed, a body (10) to be secured to the motor and a finger (20) in which a heater electrode is housed. The sensor (90) is firmly secured to the body (10) by the upper face thereof and rests on the finger (20), so that the pressure exerted on the finger (20) presses the sensor against the body (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2004
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Inventors: Bernd Last, Michel Boucard, Cyrille Patri, Alain Ramond
  • Publication number: 20070095811
    Abstract: A pressure pickup heating bar, in particular for a pressure pickup glow plug, having an electrical heating element (1) and a pressure sensor (3) onto which the pressure present at the heating bar (1) is transmitted. The heating bar has a support tube (2) which encompasses the heating element (1) on the outside with an axial pretension. A pressure sensor (3) is arranged between the heating element (1) and the support tube (2) and is subjected to pressure that is present on the heating bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Applicant: BERU AG
    Inventor: Bernd LAST
  • Publication number: 20070062267
    Abstract: The preheater plug (1) includes a tubular body inside which a pressure sensor (90) is mounted, the pressure sensor measuring the internal pressure of an engine cylinder wherein the plug (1) is arranged. The pressure sensor is provided with connection lugs extending in a substantially longitudinal manner in relation to the axis of the tubular body. The body (10) has a lateral groove in the inner lateral wall. At least one connection lug is engaged in the groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Inventors: Michel Boucard, Bernd Last, Cyrille Patri, Alain Ramond, John Burrows, Sandro Goretti
  • Patent number: 6684143
    Abstract: A method for controlling an automatic transmission in a drive train of a motor vehicle having a transmission controller selecting and shifting gears of the transmission includes determining a new gear by reference to gear shift characteristic curves and generating a gear shift instruction as soon as a working point of the drive train exceeds a gear shift characteristic curve. The transmission controller determines a new gear that is expected to be engaged shortly. If the new gear differs from the current gear, an initial phase of the gear shift is carried out and the gear shift is completed as soon as the gear shift instruction has been generated. The initial phase is carried out as soon as the working point drops below a predefined distance from the gear shift characteristic curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Friedrich Graf, Tibor Kiss, Martin Lachmayr, Bernd Last, Stefan Lauer, Martin Manz, Stephan Pindl, Tanja Roy
  • Patent number: 6588291
    Abstract: A control current is converted into an activation pressure for a transmission actuator by a pressure regulating valve. Both a control current at a given time and the activation pressure at the given time are fed back to a regulator. A setpoint value for the activation pressure in a partial range of a torque to be transmitted is converted by the regulator into the control current in dependence on the control current at the given time and otherwise as a function of the activation pressure at a given time. The current measuring device for determining the control current at the given time is adjusted here in such a way that a high resolution is obtained in the partial range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Bernd Last
  • Patent number: 6507918
    Abstract: In a method for implementation of a fault diagnostic system having a number of diagnostic modules and in an in-vehicle fault diagnostic system, a second diagnostic module whose diagnostic result depends on the result of the fault diagnosis of at least one first diagnostic module begins its diagnostic cycle without waiting for the diagnostic result of the first diagnostic module. The second diagnostic module writes its diagnostic result into a secondary fault memory. When the first diagnostic module has ended its diagnostic cycle without finding a fault, the diagnostic result of the second diagnostic module is transferred from the secondary fault memory into a primary fault memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bernd Last, Martin Jehle, Stefan Treinies
  • Publication number: 20020142885
    Abstract: A method for controlling an automatic transmission in a drive train of a motor vehicle having a transmission controller selecting and shifting gears of the transmission includes determining a new gear by reference to gear shift characteristic curves and generating a gear shift instruction as soon as a working point of the drive train exceeds a gear shift characteristic curve. The transmission controller determines a new gear that is expected to be engaged shortly. If the new gear differs from the current gear, an initial phase of the gear shift is carried out and the gear shift is completed as soon as the gear shift instruction has been generated. The initial phase is carried out as soon as the working point drops below a predefined distance from the gear shift characteristic curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventors: Friedrich Graf, Tibor Kiss, Martin Lachmayr, Bernd Last, Stefan Lauer, Martin Manz, Stephan Pindl, Tanja Roy