Patents by Inventor Frank Bederna

Frank Bederna 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: 6879891
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement for monitoring a computing element in a motor vehicle are suggested. The computing element generates, with the aid of the program modules, at least one output quantity for controlling at least one function in the motor vehicle in dependence upon at least one input quantity. At least one program module or at least a part thereof is selected for monitoring the correct function of the computing element (12). This at least one selected module or the at least one selected part thereof or a copy is run through in the computing element (12) on the basis of test data and the result of the test data computation is compared to a pregiven result for fault detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Frank Bederna
  • Patent number: 6854444
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement for controlling a drive unit are suggested wherein a maximum permissible value of an output quantity is determined. This maximum permissible value is compared to the actual value and, when the permissible value is exceeded by the actual value, reaction measures are initiated. The maximum permissible value is filtered at least in one operating state in accordance with filter means including a filter and a dead zone member. Furthermore, the maximum permissible value is continuously reduced in dependence upon the approaching of at least one quantity to a limit value. This quantity represents an operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Plagge, Ralf Dunke, Torsten Bauer, Frank Bederna, Berthold Steinmann
  • Publication number: 20030183193
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement for controlling a drive unit are suggested wherein a maximum permissible value of an output quantity is determined. This maximum permissible value is compared to the actual value and, when the permissible value is exceeded by the actual value, reaction measures are initiated. The maximum permissible value is filtered at least in one operating state in accordance with filter means including a filter and a dead zone member. Furthermore, the maximum permissible value is continuously reduced in dependence upon the approaching of at least one quantity to a limit value. This quantity represents an operating state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Frank Plagge, Ralf Dunke, Torsten Bauer, Frank Bederna, Berthold Steinmann
  • Patent number: 6421589
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and an arrangement for detecting a changing quantity for a motor vehicle. The changing quantity is the position of an operator-controlled element. At least one stop value is determined for the operator-controlled element when released. Outside of the operation of the motor vehicle, this stop value is dependent upon the operation of a test apparatus connected to the control unit of the motor and/or when a defined state of the control unit and/or when there is a defined sequence of specific actuations of operator-controlled elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Bederna, Martin Streib
  • Patent number: 6401017
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and an arrangement for detecting a changing quantity for a motor vehicle. The changing quantity is the position of an operator-controlled element. At least one stop value is determined for the operator-controlled element when released. Outside of the operation of the motor vehicle, this stop value is dependent upon the operation of a test apparatus connected to the control unit of the motor and/or when a defined state of the control unit and/or when there is a defined sequence of specific actuations of operator-controlled elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Bederna, Martin Streib
  • Patent number: 6386180
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement for operating internal combustion engines is suggested which is operated in at least one operating state with a lean air/fuel mixture. The fuel mass, which is to be injected, or the injection time, which is to be outputted, is determined in dependence upon a desired value. For monitoring the operability, the actual torque of the engine is determined on the basis of the fuel mass, which is to be injected, or the injection time, which is to be outputted, or the outputted injection time and compared to a maximum permissible torque and a fault reaction is initiated when the actual torque exceeds the maximum permissible torque. Parallel to the above, a quantity, which represents the oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas, is compared to at least one pregiven limit value and a fault reaction is initiated when this quantity exceeds the limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Gerhardt, Arndt Ehrlinger, Torsten Bauer, Winfried Langer, Frank Bederna, Ulrich Schopf
  • Patent number: 6357419
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement for operating and monitoring an internal combustion engine are suggested wherein, in at least one operating state, operation is undertaken with a lean air/fuel ratio. At least one quantity, which represents the degree of actuation of the accelerator pedal, and a quantity, which represents the engine rpm, are detected and, in at least one operating state, only an operation of the engine with an approximately stoichiometric or rich mixture is permitted and/or only an operation with limited air supply is permitted. The operation is monitored on the basis of at least one operating variable of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Winfried Langer, Frank Bederna, Martin Streib
  • Patent number: 6032644
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and an arrangement for controlling an internal combustion engine wherein the operational reliability of the control is ensured by comparing the actual torque of the engine to a maximum permissible torque. This torque comparison is switched off and another monitoring function is activated when a fault in the area of charge detection is suspected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Bederna, Martin Streib
  • Patent number: 5995885
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement for monitoring the measured-value detection for an electronic power control of a motor of a vehicle is suggested wherein the single computing element outputs a signal which operates on at least one of its input channels or operates indirectly on this at least one input channel by changing the supply voltage. A fault condition is detected when the variable, which is supply via this input channel, exceeds at least one pregiven limit value correlated in time to the output of the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Reinhard Pfeufer, Margit Muller, Wolfgang Haag, Frank Bederna
  • Patent number: 5983155
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for controlling an internal combustion engine wherein an error state is detected and/or at least one error reaction is initiated when the injection, which is determined in dependence upon the detected load, and the injection time, which is corrected in dependence upon at least an additional operating variable, deviate from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Bederna, Martin Streib
  • Patent number: 5880568
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement for controlling the drive power of a motor vehicle is suggested. Only one computing element (microcomputer) is provided for performing control functions and monitoring functions. At least two mutually independent levels are fixed in the microcomputer. A first level performs the control functions and a second level performs the monitoring functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Bederna, Thomas Zeller
  • Patent number: 5822706
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and an arrangement for checking the operability of the measured value detection system for an electronic power control arrangement of a motor vehicle. In the invention, and to check operation, the measured variable is converted by an analog/digital converter of the computer and is compared to a signal level determined from a signal derived from this measured variable. A fault condition in the area of the measured value detection system is assumed when impermissible deviations are determined between the two signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Reinhard Pfeufer, Margit Muller, Wolfgang Haag, Frank Bederna
  • Patent number: 5692472
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and an arrangement for controlling the drive unit of a motor vehicle. The maximum permissible torque or the maximum permissible power is determined and fault reactions are initiated when the limit value is exceeded by a computed actual torque value or an actual power value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Bederna, Martin Streib, Thomas Zeller
  • Patent number: 5335178
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for filtering out disturbances in the form of short term wheel acceleration signals when the wheel exhibits an overall deceleration, so that a more accurate deceleration signal can be used for control of drive slippage.Wheel speed v is measured at intervals T.sub.A and speed changes for each interval are determined. When a change is negative or zero following a positive change in a previous interval, the wheel speed is stored as a maximum speed v.sub.max while v continues to be measured and a counter determines the period of time .DELTA.t between the occurrence of v.sub.max and the instantaneous value v. Beginning at a predetermined filtering time .DELTA.T after storing v.sub.max, a quotient .DELTA.v/.DELTA.t representing the filtered slope of the value v is determined and used as a control variable to regulate wheel slippage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen Schafer, Thomas Frank, Frank Bederna
  • Patent number: 5320076
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an arrangement for detecting the position of an accelerator pedal and/or a power-determining element of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. The arrangement has at least two measuring devices as well as monitoring means which check the function of these measuring devices on the basis of the measuring signals thereof. In addition, a further measuring device in the form of a switch element is provided which likewise generates a signal representative of the position of an accelerator pedal and/or power-determining element of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. A microcomputer selects on the basis of all three measuring signals at least one of the measuring signals for controlling the drive power of the engine in a motor vehicle. The switching element is a Hall switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Reppich, Frank Bederna, Werner Huber, Rainer Norgauer
  • Patent number: 5224453
    Abstract: A system for the open-loop and/or closed-loop control of an internal combustion engine is suggested at least dependent upon signal values which represent the position at least of one element influencing the power of the internal combustion engine and which are determined by a measuring device for detecting this position. This measuring device includes several sensors which each detect the position of the same element. On the basis of the signal values generated by the sensors, a first malfunction detection is carried out as to whether the signal values with respect to each other lie in a first pregiven value range. A second malfunction check takes place especially in the idle or near-idle region of the position of the particular element as to whether the signal values individually and/or to each other lie in a pregiven second value region. In this connection, the second malfunction check is less sensitive than the first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Bederna, Alois Hils
  • Patent number: 5216916
    Abstract: An electronic engine power control system is disclosed for a motor vehicle wherein a measuring arrangement is utilized for determining the position of an actuating element. The measuring arrangement is configured in such a manner that it has different resolutions in various ranges of the position of the actuating element. The open-loop or closed-loop control of the position of the engine power-determining element or of the actuating element in idle or near idle is undertaken in dependence upon the measurement signal of high resolution while, outside of the idle or near idle range, the control of the actuating element is undertaken in dependence upon measurement signals of low resolution or a straight open-loop control of the position of the actuating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Bederna, Bernd Lieberoth-Leden, Dieter Sorg
  • Patent number: 5161505
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and an arrangement for detecting measured values in combination with an engine control system for motor vehicles. The position of an adjusting device is determined on the basis of stored extreme values of this position and the detected positioning signal. The stored extreme values are corrected or learned anew at the end of an operating cycle of the motor vehicle after the engine is switched off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Bederna, Bernd Lieberoth-Leden