Patents by Inventor Gerhard Steiner

Gerhard Steiner 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: 20240055852
    Abstract: An electrical arrangement for protection in a direct current electric system includes an input connection, positive and negative input terminals, an output connection with positive and negative output terminals, and a stepping converting component with a switching topology with first and second positive connectors and a ground connector. A first switch is between the first and second positive connectors, and a second switch is between the second positive connector and the ground connector. The negative input terminal and the negative output terminal connect via the ground connector. The one switching topology is connected to the positive input terminal, the positive output terminal, and to the interconnected negative input and output terminals. The stepping converting component provides an operation switching mode for normal operation of the direct current electric system and to provide an overcurrent switching mode for overcurrent operation of the direct current electric system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Gerhard Steiner, Florian Kapaun
  • Publication number: 20230420168
    Abstract: An inductive component comprising an inductive element comprising a stack of an outer plurality of first strips of magnetic material, a central plurality of second strips of superconducting material, and an outer plurality of third strips of magnetic material, the inductive element being flexible and configured to form at least one loop of said stack of first strips, second strips and third strips, wound on itself. Also an inductive device and an aircraft with such an inductive component or device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Gerhard STEINER, Florian KAPAUN, Ludovic YBANEZ, Ravi Kiran SURAPANENI, Gowtham GALLA
  • Publication number: 20230396245
    Abstract: An overcurrent protection circuit and a protection method for fast switching semiconductors includes a semiconductor switch unit having one or more semiconductor switches, a resistor element which generates a voltage signal depending on a current through the semiconductor switch unit, an amplification unit which amplifies the voltage signal, a comparator unit which compares the amplified voltage signal with a threshold value, and which generates a disable signal when the amount of the amplified voltage signal is greater than the threshold value. A switching device is switching off the semiconductor switch unit when the switching device receives the disable signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Gerhard Steiner, Florian Kapaun
  • Publication number: 20230391466
    Abstract: Use of cryogenic fuel tanks for the cooling of power electronics circuits to improve cooling capabilities for power electronics in vehicles or an aircraft. The power electronics circuit can be cooled via a cryogenic cooling loop by the fuel directly, or the fuel is used to cool a separated coolant tank. A control valve controls the coolant flow within the cryogenic cooling loop based on an electrical property of the power switching element of the power electronics circuit and or based on the way the power switching elements are electrically connected together. The control valve can control the coolant flow such that a junction temperature is achieved which minimizes the drain-source resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Gerhard Steiner, Florian Kapaun
  • Publication number: 20230378952
    Abstract: An electronic circuit comprising a power transistor of the MOSFET type comprising a gate connected to a control circuit of the gate. The control circuit of the gate configured to operate at a temperature called ambient temperature, non-cryogenic. The power transistor as well as an interfacing circuit connected between said gate and said control circuit configured to operate at a cryogenic temperature. Each component of the interfacing circuit established at a maximum distance (L) from the power transistor. At least one measurement means configured to measure at least one measurement signal, representative of a junction temperature of the power transistor, is connected between the interfacing circuit operating at a cryogenic temperature and the control circuit operating at ambient temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Gerhard STEINER, Florian KAPAUN, Ludovic YBANEZ, Ravi Kiran SURAPANENI, Gowtham GALLA
  • Publication number: 20230343676
    Abstract: An electronic component with a substrate connected a plurality of connection pins and on one face of which is affixed an electronic die fixing layer, and at least one electronic die assembled on said electronic die fixing layer. The electronic component includes a first heat exchanger and a layer of thermally conductive and electrically insulating material arranged in contact with said substrate. The first heat exchanger receives a circulating cryogenic fluid, and the electronic die, the electronic die fixing layer, the substrate, and the layer of thermally conductive and electrically insulating material as well as one end of each of said connection pins are enveloped in a volume of electrically insulating material at cryogenic temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Gowtham GALLA, Ravi Kiran SURAPANENI, Ludovic YBANEZ, Florian KAPAUN, Gerhard STEINER
  • Publication number: 20230198249
    Abstract: A circuit breaker with pre-charging and current limiting functions, wherein the circuit breaker is configured for being provided in a power line connecting an electrical energy source and an electric network. The circuit breaker includes a short circuit protection unit including a first semiconductor switch, a precharge unit connected in parallel to the short circuit protection unit and including a second semiconductor switch, and a current limit unit connected in parallel to the short circuit protection unit and to the precharge unit, the current limit unit including a third semiconductor switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Gerhard STEINER, Florian KAPAUN
  • Patent number: 11674856
    Abstract: A system for estimating junction temperatures of a power semiconductor module includes a constant current source to apply constant drain current to a drain terminal of a power semiconductor device, an adjustable gate voltage source to apply a gate voltage signal to a gate terminal, a drain-source voltage sensor between the drain terminal and the source terminal and configured to measure a value of the current drain-source voltage across the power semiconductor device and output a corresponding drain-source voltage signal, a gate controller to determine a difference between the drain-source voltage signal and a constant reference voltage and control output of the adjustable gate voltage source dependent on the determined difference, and a system controller to switch the power semiconductor device to its fully conducting state and to estimate junction temperature within the power semiconductor device in dependency from the on-state resistance in the fully conducting state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Airbus (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Gerhard Steiner, Florian Kapaun
  • Publication number: 20220416275
    Abstract: An electrical energy supply system for mobile platforms includes an electrical arrangement having at least two fuel cell units in a serial interconnection in relation to one another in the electrical arrangement and configured to provide an electrical voltage to supply at least one consumer. The electrical energy supply system includes a ground unit which is assigned an electrical reference potential, and at least two control units, which are each assigned to at least one of the fuel cell units, wherein each of the at least two control units is configured to detect an electrical voltage of the assigned fuel cell unit in relation to the reference potential. An aircraft is disclosed having an electrical energy supply system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Gerhard STEINER, Christian WEHLE, Florian VOGEL, Jürgen STEINWANDEL, Michael HOFMANN
  • Publication number: 20220376601
    Abstract: To enable early detection of AC insulation faults, or to permit easier, faster and more accurate measurement of small currents in inverters, a current measuring circuit for a converter is provided. The current measuring circuit has a positive supply rail, a negative supply rail, a reference potential rail and a current measuring device that contains a Y-capacitor and a current sensor connected in series therewith. The load current can be decoupled from the measurement current through the at least one Y-capacitor, so that at high load currents even small fault currents can be acquired reliably with the current sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Florian KAPAUN, Gerhard STEINER
  • Patent number: 11383186
    Abstract: A filter element group for a filter device for filtering a fluid may include a ring-shaped working filter element, a ring-shaped protective filter element, an assembly device, and a securing device. The working filter element may include a ring-shaped working filter body, a first outer end plate, and a second outer end plate. The protective filter element may include a ring-shaped protective filter body, a first inner end plate, and a second inner end plate. The securing device may be adjustable between a securing state where the cover plate is axially secured to the second outer end plate and a release state where the cover plate is axially removable from the second outer end plate. When in the securing state, the securing device may secure the cover plate to the second outer end plate preventing rotation of the cover plate in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Inventors: Gerhard Steiner, Gernot Hesse, Wilhelm Schoepp
  • Publication number: 20210325257
    Abstract: A system for estimating junction temperatures of a power semiconductor module includes a constant current source to apply constant drain current to a drain terminal of a power semiconductor device, an adjustable gate voltage source to apply a gate voltage signal to a gate terminal, a drain-source voltage sensor between the drain terminal and the source terminal and configured to measure a value of the current drain-source voltage across the power semiconductor device and output a corresponding drain-source voltage signal, a gate controller to determine a difference between the drain-source voltage signal and a constant reference voltage and control output of the adjustable gate voltage source dependent on the determined difference, and a system controller to switch the power semiconductor device to its fully conducting state and to estimate junction temperature within the power semiconductor device in dependency from the on-state resistance in the fully conducting state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Gerhard Steiner, Florian Kapaun
  • Patent number: 11121429
    Abstract: A battery module and a vehicle including the same are disclosed. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the battery module may include: a plurality of battery cells; a housing configured to include a base plate, a housing frame, and a cover plate; and a gasket interposed between the housing frame and the base plate and between the housing frame and the cover plate, wherein an upper flange of the housing frame facing the cover plate and a lower flange of the housing frame facing the base plate have a step shape forming a recess portion opened to an inner side of the housing plate, and the gasket is disposed in the recess portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Guido Poscharnig, Gernot Zavcar, Gerhard Steiner
  • Patent number: 10931098
    Abstract: An energy supply device for reliably supplying energy to electrical loads, provides the energy supply by constant voltage sources. The number of constant voltage sources corresponds to the number of electrical loads. The energy supply device has a deactivatable balancing network. In this case, only the compensating currents are conducted via the balancing network, while the energy supply is provided via a direct electrical connection between the constant voltage source and the load. If a fault occurs, the balancing network can be deactivated. Faults in one branch thus do not affect the level of reliability of the energy supply in the remaining branches. After a faulty component has been located and isolated, the sources that are still intact, and the intact loads, can be brought back into operation by suitably configuring the balancing network. The availability of the drive system can thus be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Friedl, Gerhard Steiner
  • Publication number: 20200261830
    Abstract: A filter element group for a filter device for filtering a fluid may include a ring-shaped working filter element, a ring-shaped protective filter element, an assembly device, and a securing device. The working filter element may include a ring-shaped working filter body, a first outer end plate, and a second outer end plate. The protective filter element may include a ring-shaped protective filter body, a first inner end plate, and a second inner end plate. The securing device may be adjustable between a securing state where the cover plate is axially secured to the second outer end plate and a release state where the cover plate is axially removable from the second outer end plate. When in the securing state, the securing device may secure the cover plate to the second outer end plate preventing rotation of the cover plate in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Gerhard Steiner, Gernot Hesse, Wilhelm Schoepp
  • Publication number: 20190312238
    Abstract: A battery module and a vehicle including the same are disclosed. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the battery module may include: a plurality of battery cells; a housing configured to include a base plate, a housing frame, and a cover plate; and a gasket interposed between the housing frame and the base plate and between the housing frame and the cover plate, wherein an upper flange of the housing frame facing the cover plate and a lower flange of the housing frame facing the base plate have a step shape forming a recess portion opened to an inner side of the housing plate, and the gasket is disposed in the recess portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Guido POSCHARNIG, Gernot ZAVCAR, Gerhard STEINER
  • Patent number: 10263611
    Abstract: A DC switching device has at least one switching unit which is arranged between two terminals. Further, the DC switching device has a control unit for controlling the at least one switching unit. The switching unit has a first and a second semiconductor switching element, which are arranged in parallel with one another, the first switching element being a high-voltage switching element and the second switching element being a low-power-loss switching element. The switching unit is controllable by the control unit in such a way that, when the switching unit is switched off, initially the second switching element is switched to be non-conductive, and subsequently the first switching unit is switched to be non-conductive, and when the switching unit is switched on, initially the first switching element is switched to be conductive and subsequently the second switching element is switched to be conductive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Steiner, Alexander Kaiser, Peter Jaenker
  • Publication number: 20180205218
    Abstract: An energy supply device for reliably supplying energy to electrical loads, provides the energy supply by constant voltage sources. The number of constant voltage sources corresponds to the number of electrical loads. The energy supply device has a deactivatable balancing network. In this case, only the compensating currents are conducted via the balancing network, while the energy supply is provided via a direct electrical connection between the constant voltage source and the load. If a fault occurs, the balancing network can be deactivated. Faults in one branch thus do not affect the level of reliability of the energy supply in the remaining branches. After a faulty component has been located and isolated, the sources that are still intact, and the intact loads, can be brought back into operation by suitably configuring the balancing network. The availability of the drive system can thus be increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Stephan Friedl, Gerhard Steiner
  • Publication number: 20170346478
    Abstract: A DC switching device has at least one switching unit which is arranged between two terminals. Further, the DC switching device has a control unit for controlling the at least one switching unit. The switching unit has a first and a second semiconductor switching element, which are arranged in parallel with one another, the first switching element being a high-voltage switching element and the second switching element being a low-power-loss switching element. The switching unit is controllable by the control unit in such a way that, when the switching unit is switched off, initially the second switching element is switched to be non-conductive, and subsequently the first switching unit is switched to be non-conductive, and when the switching unit is switched on, initially the first switching element is switched to be conductive and subsequently the second switching element is switched to be conductive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Gerhard STEINER, Alexander KAISER, Peter JAENKER
  • Patent number: 8956531
    Abstract: A filter device may include a filter housing having at least one filter element configured to separate the filter housing into a raw side and a clean side. A bypass valve may control a bypass for circumventing the at least one filter element, wherein the bypass valve may have a valve member for controlling a bypass opening connecting the clean side of a coupling chamber of the bypass valve with the raw side. The valve member may be configured to close the bypass opening via a pretension generated by a closing spring. The bypass valve may be an actuating device for changing the pretension acting on the valve member and the actuating device may be coupled with at least one control chamber and configured to set the pretension acting on the valve member based at least in part on a control pressure of the control chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Alfred Gröner, Gerhard Steiner