Patents by Inventor Stefan Ehrlich

Stefan Ehrlich 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: 11840873
    Abstract: A closing device for opening and closing an opening in a vehicle is disclosed. The closing device comprises a closing system, having a closing body (SK) that is fitted on the vehicle (FZ) in a movable manner and is configured to open and close the opening (O), a drive device (AV) that is operatively connected to the closing body (SK) and is configured to move the closing body (SK), and a transmission system (US) that is arranged between the closing body (SK) and the drive device (AV) and is configured to transmit a drive force generated by the drive device (AV) to the closing body (SK). The closing system (SLS) has a closing system spring rate (FRSLS) that characterizes an overall elasticity of the closing body (SLS), of the drive device (AV) and of the transmission system (US). The closing device (SV) also comprises a force transmission spring unit (KUFE) that is configured to pick up the drive force transmitted from the drive device (AV) to the closing body (SK).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Peter Gubesch, Andreas Egger, Stefan Ehrlich, Roland Enzlmüller
  • Patent number: 11722077
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a motor vehicle having at least one vehicle side, on which a front door and a rear door are provided, and to a method for operating an electric motor in a respective rear door of the at least one vehicle side. The disclosure relates to a motor vehicle having at least one vehicle side, on which a front door and a rear door are provided, wherein an electric motor configured to provide a motorized door function is provided in the rear door and wherein a control device configured to operate the motor which is connected to the motor via electrical conductor elements for transferring a motor current is provided. According to the disclosure, the control device is arranged in the front door and is configured to also control at least one door function of the front door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Egger, Marc Desgeans, Stefan Ehrlich, Johann Meier
  • Patent number: 11131126
    Abstract: A door handle assembly having a vehicle door handle and a vehicle door. The vehicle door handle moves between a first, retracted position, in which an essentially planar surface of the vehicle door handle is flush with an outer face of the vehicle door, and a second, extended position, in which a grip opening between the outer face of the vehicle door and a grip inner side of the vehicle door handle is cleared for a user. The vehicle door handle is movable between the first and second positions aided by an electric motor, controlled by a control unit. The electric motor can be set in rotation starting from the second position of the door handle by application of a user's external force on the basis of a mechanical coupling of the vehicle door handle to the electric motor sensed by a sensing unit and fed to the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Inventors: Stefan Ehrlich, Andreas Egger
  • Publication number: 20210172215
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a motor vehicle having at least one vehicle side, on which a front door and a rear door are provided, and to a method for operating an electric motor in a respective rear door of the at least one vehicle side. The disclosure relates to a motor vehicle having at least one vehicle side, on which a front door and a rear door are provided, wherein an electric motor configured to provide a motorized door function is provided in the rear door and wherein a control device configured to operate the motor which is connected to the motor via electrical conductor elements for transferring a motor current is provided. According to the disclosure, the control device is arranged in the front door and is configured to also control at least one door function of the front door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Andreas EGGER, Marc DESGEANS, Stefan EHRLICH, Johann MEIER
  • Publication number: 20200123833
    Abstract: A closing device for opening and closing an opening in a vehicle is disclosed. The closing device comprises a closing system, having a closing body (SK) that is fitted on the vehicle (FZ) in a movable manner and is configured to open and close the opening (O), a drive device (AV) that is operatively connected to the closing body (SK) and is configured to move the closing body (SK), and a transmission system (US) that is arranged between the closing body (SK) and the drive device (AV) and is configured to transmit a drive force generated by the drive device (AV) to the closing body (SK). The closing system (SLS) has a closing system spring rate (FRSLS) that characterizes an overall elasticity of the closing body (SLS), of the drive device (AV) and of the transmission system (US). The closing device (SV) also comprises a force transmission spring unit (KUFE) that is configured to pick up the drive force transmitted from the drive device (AV) to the closing body (SK).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Peter Gubesch, Andreas Egger, Stefan Ehrlich, Roland Enzlmüller
  • Publication number: 20190048623
    Abstract: A door handle assembly having a vehicle door handle and a vehicle door. The vehicle door handle moves between a first, retracted position, in which an essentially planar surface of the vehicle door handle is flush with an outer face of the vehicle door, and a second, extended position, in which a grip opening between the outer face of the vehicle door and a grip inner side of the vehicle door handle is cleared for a user. The vehicle door handle is movable between the first and second positions aided by an electric motor, controlled by a control unit. The electric motor can be set in rotation starting from the second position of the door handle by application of a user's external force on the basis of a mechanical coupling of the vehicle door handle to the electric motor sensed by a sensing unit and fed to the control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicant: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Ehrlich, Andreas Egger
  • Patent number: 7426877
    Abstract: A device for determining the actual reversal of the direction of rotation of a rotational drive continuing to operate after previous switching of the direction of rotation, in particular for window lifting systems or sliding roof drives in a motor vehicle, has a sensor wheel (1) with a coding structure (9) configured asymmetrically in respect of distribution along the periphery of the sensor wheel (1); a single detector (2), which generates a rotor speed-dependent pulse signal during rotation of the sensor wheel (1) by scanning the coding structure (9); and an evaluation unit (4), to which the pulse signal is fed and which determines the actual reversal of the direction of rotation by evaluating the pulse edges; wherein the coding structure (9) is formed by coding sectors (10) of a first sector width (11) and a reference coding sector pair (12) with a second sector width (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Ehrlich, Christian Stöger
  • Publication number: 20070113682
    Abstract: A device for determining the actual reversal of the direction of rotation of a rotational drive continuing to operate after previous switching of the direction of rotation, in particular for window lifting systems or sliding roof drives in a motor vehicle, has a sensor wheel (1) with a coding structure (9) configured asymmetrically in respect of distribution along the periphery of the sensor wheel (1); a single detector (2), which generates a rotor speed-dependent pulse signal during rotation of the sensor wheel (1) by scanning the coding structure (9); and an evaluation unit (4), to which the pulse signal is fed and which determines the actual reversal of the direction of rotation by evaluating the pulse edges; wherein the coding structure (9) is formed by coding sectors (10) of a first sector width (11) and a reference coding sector pair (12) with a second sector width (13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Inventors: Stefan Ehrlich, Christian Stoger
  • Patent number: 6356955
    Abstract: A programming interface for converting network management application programs written in an object-oriented language into network communication protocols. The application programs manipulate managed objects specified according to GDMO/ASN.1 ISO standards. Methods are provided for mapping from GDMO templates and ASN.1 defined types into C++ programming language. The interface has both an object interface composing means for generating code which provides proxy managed object classes as local representatives for managed object classes, and a run time system means for providing proxy agent object classes as representatives for remote agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ulf Hollberg, Ralf Stefan Ehrlich, Ulrich Scheere, Olaf Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 6182153
    Abstract: A programming interface for converting network management application programs written in an object-oriented language into network communication protocols. The application programs manipulate managed objects specified according to GDMO/ASN.1 ISO standards. Methods are provided for mapping from GDMO templates and ASN.1 defined types into C++ programming language. The interface has both an object interface composing means for generating code which provides proxy managed object classes as local representatives for managed object classes, and a run time system means for providing proxy agent object classes as representatives for remote agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ulf Hollberg, Ralf Stefan Ehrlich, Ulrich Scheere, Olaf Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 4283211
    Abstract: A power system is provided that uses the latent heat of fusion of water to raise the potential energy of a working fluid to a level that upon release generates power, preferably electrical power. The system is self-sustaining except for the energy that is supplied in water entering the system. The inlet water can be at any temperature within its liquid range under atmospheric or super atmospheric pressure, can advantageously contain the sensible waste heat typical of effluent from fossil fuel or nuclear power plants, can be relatively pure or be contaminated as with sewage or be the medium of a colloidal suspension, or consist of marine or other saline waters. In every case, purification of the water by freezing, for example, desalination, is accomplished without additional power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1981
    Assignee: Levor, Incorporated
    Inventors: Stefan Ehrlich, William L. Levenson