Patents by Inventor Marc Suermann
Marc Suermann 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).
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Patent number: 11198420Abstract: A system and method for operating a motor vehicle with an electric parking brake. The system includes a clutch sensor, generating a clutch sensor signal representing operation of a clutch of the motor vehicle. A gear selection sensor generates a sensor signal indicating a particular gear selection or position of a manual gearbox of the motor vehicle. Using these and if needed other various inputs, the system generates a deactivation signal for releasing the electric parking brake when a clutch operation is detected and the vehicle gearbox is positioned or has a gear selection other than a neutral position of the manual gearbox.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2017Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jill Trappe, Sebastian Leitermann, Marc Suermann
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Patent number: 10407067Abstract: A hill start assist system for a motor vehicle including a control system using sensor data from at least one sensor to provide the hill start assist with improved response behavior. The control system activating the hill start assist automatically and independently of whether the motor vehicle is on an upward incline depending on sensor data from the sensor indicating a local upward gradient in a driving surface in a region of a vehicle axle.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2016Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Christoph Henel, Sebastian Leitermann, Tadeusz Bularz, Marc Suermann
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Patent number: 10259439Abstract: A method for controlling an electric parking brake for a motor vehicle including a brake actuator having an electric motor disposed directly on the brake caliper. When the parking brake is utilized as an additional service brake, depending on a brake pedal brake command, the electric motor is initially energized on detection of an imminent or commencing brake-pedal actuation however the electric motor generates no braking force until a predetermined or specific brake command is received. As a result, an overload of the vehicle voltage source is avoided if simultaneous utilization of multiple parking-brake actuators occurs.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2016Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Marc Suermann, Jill Trappe, Rudolf Daniels, Thomas Svensson
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Publication number: 20170369046Abstract: A system and method for operating a motor vehicle with an electric parking brake. The system includes a clutch sensor, generating a clutch sensor signal representing operation of a clutch of the motor vehicle. A gear selection sensor generates a sensor signal indicating a particular gear selection or position of a manual gearbox of the motor vehicle. Using these and if needed other various inputs, the system generates a deactivation signal for releasing the electric parking brake when a clutch operation is detected and the vehicle gearbox is positioned or has a gear selection other than a neutral position of the manual gearbox.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2017Publication date: December 28, 2017Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jill Trappe, Sebastian Leitermann, Marc Suermann
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Patent number: 9738132Abstract: An active vehicle suspension system includes an active damping mechanism operatively coupled to a vehicle wheel and configured for controlling a damping force applied to the wheel responsive to a control signal. A controller is operatively coupled to the damping mechanism and configured for generating a control signal to the damping mechanism responsive to velocity of the wheel in a downward vertical direction. At least one of a timer threshold and velocity threshold, used to determine whether a vehicle wheel has encountered a depression in a road surface, may be varied on a basis of a speed of the vehicle. A damping mechanism for a rear wheel of a vehicle may be controlled on a basis of how a damping mechanism for a front wheel is controlled.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2015Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Russ Lee Norton, Benjamin Bulat, William Gregory Suter, Albert Chenouda Salib, David Michael Russell, Uwe Hoffmann, Marc Suermann, Darrell Erick Butler, Louis Joseph Jamail
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Publication number: 20170028975Abstract: A method for controlling an electric parking brake for a motor vehicle including a brake actuator having an electric motor disposed directly on the brake caliper. When the parking brake is utilized as an additional service brake, depending on a brake pedal brake command, the electric motor is initially energized on detection of an imminent or commencing brake-pedal actuation however the electric motor generates no braking force until a predetermined or specific brake command is received. As a result, an overload of the vehicle voltage source is avoided if simultaneous utilization of multiple parking-brake actuators occurs.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2016Publication date: February 2, 2017Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Marc Suermann, Jill Trappe, Rudolf Daniels, Thomas Svensson
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Publication number: 20170015327Abstract: A hill start assist system for a motor vehicle including a control system using sensor data from at least one sensor to provide the hill start assist with improved response behavior. The control system activating the hill start assist automatically and independently of whether the motor vehicle is on an upward incline depending on sensor data from the sensor indicating a local upward gradient in a driving surface in a region of a vehicle axle.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2016Publication date: January 19, 2017Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Christoph Henel, Sebastian Leitermann, Tadeusz Bularz, Marc Suermann
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Patent number: 9321320Abstract: An active vehicle suspension system includes an active damping mechanism operatively coupled to a vehicle wheel and configured for controlling a damping force applied to the wheel responsive to a control signal. A controller is operatively coupled to the damping mechanism and configured for generating a control signal to the damping mechanism responsive to velocity of the wheel in a downward vertical direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2014Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Russ Lee Norton, Ben Bulat, Gregory Suter, Albert Chenouda Salib, David Michael Russell, Uwe Hoffmann, Marc Suermann
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Publication number: 20160046166Abstract: An active vehicle suspension system includes an active damping mechanism operatively coupled to a vehicle wheel and configured for controlling a damping force applied to the wheel responsive to a control signal. A controller is operatively coupled to the damping mechanism and configured for generating a control signal to the damping mechanism responsive to velocity of the wheel in a downward vertical direction. At least one of a timer threshold and velocity threshold, used to determine whether a vehicle wheel has encountered a depression in a road surface, may be varied on a basis of a speed of the vehicle. A damping mechanism for a rear wheel of a vehicle may be controlled on a basis of how a damping mechanism for a front wheel is controlled.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2015Publication date: February 18, 2016Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Russ Lee NORTON, Benjamin BULAT, William Gregory SUTER, Albert Chenouda SALIB, David Michael RUSSELL, Uwe HOFFMANN, Marc SUERMANN, Darrell Erick BUTLER, Louis Joseph JAMAIL
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Publication number: 20150084290Abstract: An active vehicle suspension system includes an active damping mechanism operatively coupled to a vehicle wheel and configured for controlling a damping force applied to the wheel responsive to a control signal. A controller is operatively coupled to the damping mechanism and configured for generating a control signal to the damping mechanism responsive to velocity of the wheel in a downward vertical direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2014Publication date: March 26, 2015Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Russ Lee NORTON, Ben BULAT, Gregory SUTER, Albert Chenouda SALIB, David Michael RUSSELL, Uwe HOFFMANN, Marc SUERMANN
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Patent number: 8918253Abstract: An active vehicle suspension system includes an active damping mechanism operatively coupled to a vehicle wheel and configured for controlling a damping force applied to the wheel responsive to a control signal. A controller is operatively coupled to the damping mechanism and configured for generating a control signal to the damping mechanism responsive to velocity of the wheel in a downward vertical direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2012Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Russ Lee Norton, Benjamin Bulat, Greg Gregory Suter, Albert Chenouda Salib, David Michael Russell, Uwe Hoffmann, Marc Suermann
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Publication number: 20130345933Abstract: An active vehicle suspension system includes an active damping mechanism operatively coupled to a vehicle wheel and configured for controlling a damping force applied to the wheel responsive to a control signal. A controller is operatively coupled to the damping mechanism and configured for generating a control signal to the damping mechanism responsive to velocity of the wheel in a downward vertical direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2012Publication date: December 26, 2013Inventors: Russ Lee Norton, Benjamin Bulat, Greg Gregory Suter, Albert Chenouda Salib, David Michael Russell, Uwe Hoffmann, Marc Suermann
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Patent number: 8523192Abstract: A method and system for operating a motor vehicle is described. In one example, spring rates for suspension springs and damping rates for shock absorbers are adjusted in response to vertical acceleration, longitudinal angular acceleration, and lateral angular acceleration of a vehicle body in the absence of accelerometers. The system and method may improve vehicle driving dynamics and lower system cost as compared to other systems.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2011Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Yvonne Baeumchen, Michael Seemann, Marc Suermann, Markus Schommer, Uwe Hoffmann, Russ Lee Norton
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Publication number: 20110233881Abstract: A method and system for operating a motor vehicle is described. In one example, spring rates for suspension springs and damping rates for shock absorbers are adjusted in response to vertical acceleration, longitudinal angular acceleration, and lateral angular acceleration of a vehicle body in the absence of accelerometers. The system and method may improve vehicle driving dynamics and lower system cost as compared to other systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2011Publication date: September 29, 2011Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Yvonne Baeumchen, Michael Seemann, Marc Suermann, Markus Schommer, Uwe Hoffmann, Russ Lee Norton