Patents by Inventor Erland Max

Erland Max 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: 7845317
    Abstract: Method and arrangement for providing an energy converter that includes a combustion system (1) including at least one piston (2, 3), at least one combustion chamber (6, 7) having at least one inlet (11, 13) and at least one outlet (10, 12) with inlet and outlet valves (14, 15, 16, 17). At least one controllable inlet valve and at least one outlet valve is also provided. A fuel supply is provided (18, 19) for supplying fuel and a medium containing oxygen is provided for induction into the combustion chamber (6, 7). An electric machine (9) is arranged to interact directly or indirectly with the piston (2, 3) in an electromagnetic manner such that it produces electrical energy from the piston movements, as well as uses electrical energy to affect the piston movement. A control unit (30) controls the combustion system (1) and the electric machine (9). The energy converter is arranged to adapt its power output depending on the required load of the energy converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Erland Max, Staffan Lundgren, Joop Somhurst, Anders Höglund, Göran Wirmark, Lars Gertmar, Ingemar Denbratt
  • Publication number: 20080036312
    Abstract: Method and arrangement for providing an energy converter that includes a combustion system (1) including at least one piston (2, 3), at least one combustion chamber (6, 7) having at least one inlet (11, 13) and at least one outlet (10, 12) with inlet and outlet valves (14, 15, 16, 17). At least one controllable inlet valve and at least one outlet valve is also provided. A fuel supply is provided (18, 19) for supplying fuel and a medium containing oxygen is provided for induction into the combustion chamber (6, 7). An electric machine (9) is arranged to interact directly or indirectly with the piston (2, 3) in an electromagnetic manner such that it produces electrical energy from the piston movements, as well as uses electrical energy to affect the piston movement. A control unit (30) controls the combustion system (1) and the electric machine (9). The energy converter is arranged to adapt its power output depending on the required load of the energy converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicants: VOLVO TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC.
    Inventors: Erland Max, Staffan Lundgren, Joop Somhurst, Anders Hoglund, Goran Wirmark, Lars Gertmar, Ingemar Denbratt
  • Patent number: 6940190
    Abstract: An electric machine including a first member and a second member. The second member is movable in relation to the first member. The first member has at least one coil and the first and the second members both include a plurality of segments, where each segment of the first member comprises a plurality of sections have a first magnetic conducting material. Each segment of the second member includes a plurality of sections having a second magnetic conducting material, and in which the first and the second member includes a closed magnetic circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Volvo Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Edward Jobson, Erland Max
  • Publication number: 20040222704
    Abstract: An electric machine including a first member and a second member. The second member is movable in relation to the first member. The first member has at least one coil and the first and the second members both include a plurality of segments, where each segment of the first member comprises a plurality of sections have a first magnetic conducting material. Each segment of the second member includes a plurality of sections having a second magnetic conducting material, and in which the first and the second member includes a closed magnetic circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Applicant: VOLVO TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edward Jobson, Erland Max
  • Publication number: 20040125986
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for measuring and evaluating surface irregularities, comprising: illuminating a surface (8) by means of at least two sources of light (2, 3, 13, 14) arranged along a row which is substantially perpendicular to a reference plane (4) along which said surface (8) is arranged, each one of said sources of light (2, 4, 13, 14) presenting an angle of incidence (&bgr;1, &bgr;2, &bgr;3, &bgr;4) to at least one partial surface (1) forming part of said surface (8), generating by means of each source of light (2, 3, 13, 14) a set of reflections respectively from said surface (8), wherein each set contains at least one reflection from said partial surface (1), and detecting said sets of reflections by means of a light-sensitive detector (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Peter Larsson, Erland Max
  • Patent number: 6681619
    Abstract: A system for determining the effectiveness of a catalytic coating on a radiator in a motor vehicle. The system provides a driver or maintenance staff status of the catalytic function provided by the catalytic coating on a heat exchanger in a cooling system connected to an engine in a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle includes an engine, a cooling circuit, a heat exchanger having at least a partially externally coating of a catalytic material for converting environmentally harmful substances in ambient air. A sensor determines the effectiveness of the catalytic exchanger by comparing a parameter on one side of the heat exchanger with a parameter on the other side of the heat exchanger. The sensor determines the effectiveness of the catalytic exchanger by measuring untreated air and air that is treated by passing through the heat exchanger. A fan is used to reverse the flow of air to and from the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Alleving, Anders Unger, Jan Skold, Martin Petersson, Erland Max
  • Patent number: 6667800
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for measuring and quantifying surface finishing defects on a coated opaque test surface including utilizing at least one light source, at least one camera, and a central unit that has image analysis capability. At least two partial images are recorded with the camera while illuminating the opaque test surface using the light source. The two partial images are produced from the test surface by differing the angle of incident light for different partial images. The two partial images are processed by the central unit thereby establishing a difference image that is analyzed to quantify the degree of surface finishing defects on the coated opaque test surface. Optionally, the central unit further has operational control capabilities over at least one of the light sources and camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Larsson, Anders Larsson, Erland Max
  • Patent number: 6577404
    Abstract: An arrangement and method for measuring surface irregularities of an object comprising at least one source of light arranged to illuminate the object from at least two different positions at a small angle of incidence towards the object, a camera arranged to measure the shadow formation generated by the illumination of the surface microstructure, and an evaluator for determining the surface microstructure from the generated shadow formation by means of signal processing of an input signal from the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Volvo Personvagnar AB
    Inventors: Erland Max, Peter Larsson
  • Patent number: 6543217
    Abstract: A system for determining the effectiveness of a catalytic coating on a catalytic converter in a motor vehicle. The system provides a driver or maintenance staff status of the catalytic function provided by the catalytic coating on the catalytic converter which is downstream from a heat exchanger connected to a cooling system in an engine in a motor vehicle. The catalytic converter is arranged to be heated by an air flow passing through the catalytic converter. The catalytic coating on the catalytic converter converts environmentally harmful substances in ambient air into substances which are not harmful to the environment. The motor vehicle also includes a control unit and a sensor. The sensor is connected to the control unit and is able to determine a degree of conversion of one or more environmentally harmful substances by the catalytic coating on the catalytic converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Ålleving, Anders Unger, Jan Sköld, Martin Petersson, Erland Max
  • Patent number: 6541961
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for substantially temperature-independent detection of the position of a moving element (9) by way of an inductive position sensor (1), comprising a coil (5) and a core (4) movable within the coil, the position of said core in relation to the coil (5) being dependent on the position of said element (9), whereby a measurement of the inductance of said coil (5), corresponding to the core (4) position, is detected by connecting a voltage to said coil (5) and measuring the time period in which a current (i) through the coil (5) is changed between two predetermined levels. The method follows the steps of feeding a regularly alternating voltage to the coil (5), measuring the current (i) flowing through the coil (5), measuring the period of time (t1) needed for the current (i) to change from a first predetermined level (i1) to a second predetermined level (i2), and determining a measurement of the core (4) position through measuring the period of time (t1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventor: Erland Max
  • Publication number: 20020093664
    Abstract: An arrangement and method for measuring surface irregularities of an object comprising at least one source of light arranged to illuminate the object from at least two different positions at a small angle of incidence towards the object, a camera arranged to measure the shadow formation generated by the illumination of the surface microstructure, and an evaluator for determining the surface microstructure from the generated shadow formation by means of signal processing of an input signal from the camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventors: Erland Max, Peter Larsson
  • Publication number: 20020000088
    Abstract: A system for determining the effectiveness of a catalytic coating on a catalytic converter in a motor vehicle. The system provides a driver or maintenance staff status of the catalytic function provided by the catalytic coating on the catalytic converter which is downstream from a heat exchanger connected to a cooling system in an engine in a motor vehicle. The catalytic converter is arranged to be heated by an air flow passing through the catalytic converter. The catalytic coating on the catalytic converter converts environmentally harmful substances in ambient air into substances which are not harmful to the environment. The motor vehicle also includes a control unit and a sensor. The sensor is connected to the control unit and is able to determine a degree of conversion of one or more environmentally harmful substances by the catalytic coating on the catalytic converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Inventors: Peter Alleving, Anders Unger, Jan Skold, Martin Petersson, Erland Max
  • Publication number: 20010039928
    Abstract: A system for determining the effectiveness of a catalytic coating on a radiator in a motor vehicle. The system provides a driver or maintenance staff status of the catalytic function provided by the catalytic coating on a heat exchanger in a cooling system connected to an engine in a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle includes an engine, a cooling circuit, a heat exchanger having at least a partially externally coating of a catalytic material for converting environmentally harmful substances in ambient air. A sensor determines the effectiveness of the catalytic exchanger by comparing a parameter on one side of the heat exchanger with a parameter on the other side of the heat exchanger. The sensor determines the effectiveness of the catalytic exchanger by measuring untreated air and air that is treated by passing through the heat exchanger. A fan is used to reverse the flow of air to and from the heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Inventors: Peter Alleving, Anders Unger, Jan Skold, Martin Petersson, Erland Max