Patents by Inventor Felix Bühle
Felix Bühle 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: 20240039440Abstract: A method for controlling the operation of an electric machine, particularly an electric machine of a motor vehicle, wherein the electric machine is controlled to generate torque based on alternating current produced by a control device from a direct current supplied by an electrical energy storage. A function current which is determined depending on an actual operating point of the electric machine and which reduces a waviness of the direct current is impressed on the alternating current.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2023Publication date: February 1, 2024Inventors: Felix BÜHLE, Hans-Dieter ENDRES, Felix LESER, Martina JEHLE, Morteza DJEBELI-SINAKI, Mario KAMM
-
Patent number: 11635136Abstract: A method for operating a power shiftable transmission of a motor vehicle, the transmission including a control unit, an input shaft, an output shaft, a gear set, and multiple shift elements, the method including transmitting, with the control unit, a request for a reduction of a drive torque acting on the input shaft for carrying out an upshift, and determining, with the control unit, whether the reduction is completely possible, partially possible, or impossible based on a signal. When the reduction is completely possible, the method includes controlling, with the control unit, a torque transmission rate of a shift element of the multiple shift elements to be engaged during the upshift according to a first way. When the reduction is partially possible or impossible, the method includes controlling, with the control unit, the torque transmission rate according to a second way, the second way differing from the first way.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2020Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Felix Bühle, Frank Deprez
-
Patent number: 11529947Abstract: A method for operating a drive train of a motor vehicle, which utilizes at least one permanent-magnet electric machine (EM) as a motor vehicle drive source, is provided. A transmission (G) with different gear ratios is arranged in a power path between the electric machine (EM) and driving wheels (DW) of the motor vehicle. A power converter (LE) is associated with the electric machine (EM) and can operate the electric machine (EM) in a field weakening condition. The method includes prematurely carrying out, delaying, or preventing a changeover of the gear step of the transmission (G) specified by a driving strategy depending on a temperature value of the electric machine (EM) in order to reduce, not increase, or increase with delay a rotational speed of the electric machine (EM). An electronic control unit (ECU) for carrying out the method and a motor vehicle with the control unit (ECU) are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2021Date of Patent: December 20, 2022Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventor: Felix Buehle
-
Publication number: 20220112948Abstract: A method for operating a power shiftable transmission of a motor vehicle, the transmission including a control unit, an input shaft, an output shaft, a gear set, and multiple shift elements, the method including transmitting, with the control unit, a request for a reduction of a drive torque acting on the input shaft for carrying out an upshift, and determining, with the control unit, whether the reduction is completely possible, partially possible, or impossible based on a signal. When the reduction is completely possible, the method includes controlling, with the control unit, a torque transmission rate of a shift element of the multiple shift elements to be engaged during the upshift according to a first way. When the reduction is partially possible or impossible, the method includes controlling, with the control unit, the torque transmission rate according to a second way, the second way differing from the first way.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2020Publication date: April 14, 2022Inventors: Felix Bühle, Frank Deprez
-
Publication number: 20210300330Abstract: A method for operating a drive train of a motor vehicle, which utilizes at least one permanent-magnet electric machine (EM) as a motor vehicle drive source, is provided. A transmission (G) with different gear ratios is arranged in a power path between the electric machine (EM) and driving wheels (DW) of the motor vehicle. A power converter (LE) is associated with the electric machine (EM) and can operate the electric machine (EM) in a field weakening condition. The method includes prematurely carrying out, delaying, or preventing a changeover of the gear step of the transmission (G) specified by a driving strategy depending on a temperature value of the electric machine (EM) in order to reduce, not increase, or increase with delay a rotational speed of the electric machine (EM). An electronic control unit (ECU) for carrying out the method and a motor vehicle with the control unit (ECU) are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2021Publication date: September 30, 2021Inventor: Felix Buehle
-
Patent number: 10793154Abstract: A method for operating a drive train of a motor vehicle, the drive train having at least one transmission (2) for carrying out different transmission gear ratios between an input shaft (21) and an output shaft (22) of the transmission (2) by selectively engaging hydraulically actuatable shift elements of the transmission (G), the drive train further having an electric machine as a drive source (1), and a hydraulically actuatable or bridgeable starting component (3) in the power path between the drive source (1) and the output shaft (22). The method includes performing a starting process of the motor vehicle driven solely by the drive source (1) with an engaged or bridged starting component (3). The method further includes limiting a drive source torque (1t) during the starting process to a maximum value dependent on a current system pressure (2p) of a hydraulic system of the transmission (2).Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2017Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Felix Bühle, Falko Platzer, Thomas Lemp
-
Patent number: 10717426Abstract: A method for operating a drive train of a motor vehicle includes selecting between first and second operating strategies for controlling a starting component (3A, 3B) during a stopping process of the motor vehicle, and carrying out a downshift of the transmission (G) during the stopping process after implementing the first operating strategy or the second operating strategy. In the first operating strategy, the starting component (3A, 3B) is engaged or locked up and/or remains engaged or locked up at least until the motor vehicle comes to a standstill. In the second operating strategy, the starting component (3A, 3B) is disengaged or the lock-up of the starting component (3A, 36) is released before the motor vehicle come to the standstill. The downshift of the transmission (G) is triggered at a different rotational speed limit value upon implementation of the first operating strategy than upon implementation of the second operating strategy.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2018Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Felix Bühle, Thomas Lemp
-
Patent number: 10703191Abstract: A method for operating a drive train of a motor vehicle includes, for a starting process according to a first operating strategy, completely engaging a torque converter lockup clutch (WK) and, according to a second operating strategy, not completely engaging the torque converter lockup clutch (WK). A hydraulic pressure gradient for filling a piston chamber of the torque converter lockup clutch (WK) is selected to be higher upon selection of the first operating strategy than upon selection of the second operating strategy. A drive train module of a motor vehicle includes a control unit (5) for controlling, by way of an open-loop control system, the method.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2018Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Felix Bühle, Christoph Hess
-
Patent number: 10309529Abstract: A method for operating a drivetrain of a motor vehicle, includes, when the motor vehicle is at a standstill and upon demand for a drive torque of the motor vehicle, increasing power (25p) supplied to a separate electric pump drive (25) such that a pressure chamber whose pressurization effects a complete closure or lock-up of a launch element (3) is fast charged with hydraulic pressure from a pump (24). The method also includes performing a launch process of the motor vehicle with the drive source (1) and with a closed or locked-up launch element (3) and reducing the power (25p) supplied to the separate electric pump drive (25) after fast charging the pressure chamber. A related drive train module is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2017Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Felix Bühle, Falko Platzer, Thomas Lemp
-
Publication number: 20190152310Abstract: A method for operating a drive train of a motor vehicle includes, for a starting process according to a first operating strategy, completely engaging a torque converter lockup clutch (WK) and, according to a second operating strategy, not completely engaging the torque converter lockup clutch (WK). A hydraulic pressure gradient for filling a piston chamber of the torque converter lockup clutch (WK) is selected to be higher upon selection of the first operating strategy than upon selection of the second operating strategy. A drive train module of a motor vehicle includes a control unit (5) for controlling, by way of an open-loop control system, the method.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2018Publication date: May 23, 2019Inventors: Felix Bühle, Christoph Hess
-
Patent number: 10293814Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle originates from a condition in which a torque converter lockup clutch (6) or a master clutch (13) is engaged and the transmission (2) is friction-locking. The torque converter lockup clutch (6) or the master clutch (13) is then brought into a slip condition on a control side, and a prime-mover rotational speed is decoupled from a driven-end rotational speed. The torque converter lockup clutch (6) or the master clutch (13) is brought into the slip condition without reducing a pressure control of the torque converter lockup clutch (6) or the master clutch (13) and by specifying a target rotational speed or a target torque for the prime mover (1) such that a torque or a target torque is greater than a power transmission capacity of the torque converter lockup clutch (6) or the master clutch (13) and slip is built up.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2018Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Felix Bühle, Thomas Lemp
-
Publication number: 20190143976Abstract: A method for operating a drive train of a motor vehicle, the drive train having at least one transmission (2) for carrying out different transmission gear ratios between an input shaft (21) and an output shaft (22) of the transmission (2) by selectively engaging hydraulically actuatable shift elements of the transmission (G), the drive train further having an electric machine as a drive source (1), and a hydraulically actuatable or bridgeable starting component (3) in the power path between the drive source (1) and the output shaft (22). The method includes performing a starting process of the motor vehicle driven solely by the drive source (1) with an engaged or bridged starting component (3). The method further includes limiting a drive source torque (1t) during the starting process to a maximum value dependent on a current system pressure (2p) of a hydraulic system of the transmission (2).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2017Publication date: May 16, 2019Inventors: Felix Bühle, Falko Platzer, Thomas Lemp
-
Patent number: 10274029Abstract: A method for operating a drive train of a motor vehicle includes performing a startup operation of the motor vehicle or a stopping operation of the motor vehicle. A starting component (3) is engaged or bridged during the startup operation or the stopping operation of the motor vehicle. The startup operation is driven by a drive source (1). The method also includes comparing an actual value of an output shaft (22) based variable with a target value of the output shaft (22) based variable during the startup operation or the stopping operation and, on reaching or exceeding a specific deviation of the actual value from the target value, moving the starting component (3) into a slipping state. The starting component (3) transmits torque in the slipping state. A related drive train module for a motor vehicle is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2017Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Felix Bühle, Falko Platzer, Thomas Lemp
-
Publication number: 20190061733Abstract: A method for operating a drive train of a motor vehicle includes selecting between first and second operating strategies for controlling a starting component (3A, 3B) during a stopping process of the motor vehicle, and carrying out a downshift of the transmission (G) during the stopping process after implementing the first operating strategy or the second operating strategy. In the first operating strategy, the starting component (3A, 3B) is engaged or locked up and/or remains engaged or locked up at least until the motor vehicle comes to a standstill. In the second operating strategy, the starting component (3A, 3B) is disengaged or the lock-up of the starting component (3A, 3B) is released before the motor vehicle come to the standstill. The downshift of the transmission (G) is triggered at a different rotational speed limit value upon implementation of the first operating strategy than upon implementation of the second operating strategy.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2018Publication date: February 28, 2019Inventors: Felix Bühle, Thomas Lemp
-
Publication number: 20180354498Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle originates from a condition in which a torque converter lockup clutch (6) or a master clutch (13) is engaged and the transmission (2) is friction-locking. The torque converter lockup clutch (6) or the master clutch (13) is then brought into a slip condition on a control side, and a prime-mover rotational speed is decoupled from a driven-end rotational speed. The torque converter lockup clutch (6) or the master clutch (13) is brought into the slip condition without reducing a pressure control of the torque converter lockup clutch (6) or the master clutch (13) and by specifying a target rotational speed or a target torque for the prime mover (1) such that a torque or a target torque is greater than a power transmission capacity of the torque converter lockup clutch (6) or the master clutch (13) and slip is built up.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2018Publication date: December 13, 2018Inventors: Felix Bühle, Thomas Lemp
-
Publication number: 20170307071Abstract: A method for operating a drivetrain of a motor vehicle, includes, when the motor vehicle is at a standstill and upon demand for a drive torque of the motor vehicle, increasing power (25p) supplied to a separate electric pump drive (25) such that a pressure chamber whose pressurization effects a complete closure or lock-up of a launch element (3) is fast charged with hydraulic pressure from a pump (24). The method also includes performing a launch process of the motor vehicle with the drive source (1) and with a closed or locked-up launch element (3) and reducing the power (25p) supplied to the separate electric pump drive (25) after fast charging the pressure chamber. A related drive train module is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2017Publication date: October 26, 2017Inventors: Felix Bühle, Falko Platzer, Thomas Lemp
-
Publication number: 20170307030Abstract: A method for operating a drive train of a motor vehicle includes performing a startup operation of the motor vehicle or a stopping operation of the motor vehicle. A starting component (3) is engaged or bridged during the startup operation or the stopping operation of the motor vehicle. The startup operation is driven by a drive source (1). The method also includes comparing an actual value of an output shaft (22) based variable with a target value of the output shaft (22) based variable during the startup operation or the stopping operation and, on reaching or exceeding a specific deviation of the actual value from the target value, moving the starting component (3) into a slipping state. The starting component (3) transmits torque in the slipping state. A related drive train module for a motor vehicle is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2017Publication date: October 26, 2017Inventors: Felix Bühle, Falko Platzer, Thomas Lemp