Patents by Inventor Steffen Franke

Steffen Franke 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: 8227992
    Abstract: A high-pressure discharge lamp may include a discharge vessel, which contains: electrodes, at least one noble gas as a start gas, at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, In, Mg, Tl, Hg, and Zn for arc transfer and discharge vessel wall heating, and at least one rare earth halide for the generation of radiation, which is configured such that the generated light is dominated by molecular radiation, wherein at least one member of a first group of rare earth halides is used together with at least one member of a second group of rare earth halides, the first group having the property that the color distance decreases with a power increase when the power of the lamp is increased in a predetermined power interval, and the second group having the property that the color distance increases with a power increase when the power of the lamp is increased in this predetermined power interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Osram AG
    Inventors: Marko Kaening, Bernhard Schalk, Steffen Franke, Ralf-Peter Methling
  • Publication number: 20100213867
    Abstract: A high-pressure discharge lamp may include a discharge vessel, which contains: electrodes, at least one noble gas as a start gas, at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, In, Mg, Tl, Hg, and Zn for arc transfer and discharge vessel wall heating, and at least one rare earth halide for the generation of radiation, which is configured such that the generated light is dominated by molecular radiation, wherein at least one member of a first group of rare earth halides is used together with at least one member of a second group of rare earth halides, the first group having the property that the color distance decreases with a power increase when the power of the lamp is increased in a predetermined power interval, and the second group having the property that the color distance increases with a power increase when the power of the lamp is increased in this predetermined power interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: OSRAM GESELLSCHAFT MIT BESCHRAENKTER HAFTUNG
    Inventors: Marko Kaening, Bernhard Schalk, Steffen Franke, Ralf-Peter Methling
  • Publication number: 20090302784
    Abstract: A high-pressure discharge lamp with a discharge vessel comprising electrodes; at least one noble gas as starting gas; at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, In, Mg, Tl, Hg, Zn for arc transfer and discharge vessel wall heating; and at least one rare-earth halide for the generation of radiation. The lamp is designed in such a way that the light generated is dominated by molecular radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Steffen Franke, Helmut Hess, Lothar Hitzschke, Marko Käning, Ralf-Peter Methling, Bernhard Schalk, Hartmut Schneidenbach, Heinz Schöpp
  • Patent number: 7051711
    Abstract: Devices and methods for knock detection and knock control are described, in which, in addition to the customary component parts, the knock-detection circuit has a filter with switchable filter characteristic. The switchover of the filter characteristic, i.e. the shift, for example, of the mid-frequency of the filter, is carried out taking into consideration specifiable quantities or parameters, for instance, as a function of rotational speed. During the switchover of the filter characteristic, i.e. the shift of the mid-frequency, problems could occur in the knock detection; that is why measures are proposed which carry out the knock detection according to a special knock-detection algorithm during a switchover phase lasting a specifiable time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Sauler, Steffen Franke, Stefan Unland, Oskar Torno, Axel Heinstein, Carsten Kluth, Werner Haeming, Michael Baeuerle
  • Patent number: 6796288
    Abstract: A method for controlling incidences of combustion in an unloaded internal combustion engine of a vehicle. The method includes, determining a load-dynamics threshold, detecting an unloaded operating state of the internal combustion engine, detecting an incidence of the load-dynamics threshold being exceeded in the unloaded operating state, and retarding the ignition timing to form a load-dynamics aiming-off allowance that prevents combustion knock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Steffen Franke, Stefan Unland, Iwan Surjadi, Carsten Prause
  • Patent number: 6769402
    Abstract: A method for knock control of an internal combustion engine, a knock detection being carried out on the cylinders of the internal combustion engine and a moment of ignition being retarded by a specifiable value as a function of detected knocking combustion in at least one of the cylinders, the system including at least two evaluation electronics and at least one cylinder being assigned to each of these evaluation electronics, and the knock sensor signals assigned to the cylinders being evaluated by the evaluation electronics assigned in each case, and the knock detection and the specification of the moment of ignition being effected by a control electronics, and the evaluation electronics being monitored for functionality. It is provided that, upon detection of a malfunction of at least one of the evaluation electronics, the at least one cylinder assigned to this evaluation electronics is linked to the control of at least one cylinder having intact evaluation electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Steffen Franke, Oskar Torno, Axel Heinstein, Carsten Kluth, Werner Haeming, Michael Baeuerle
  • Patent number: 6735552
    Abstract: A method for error detection and error correction in the monitoring of measurement values is disclosed, in which the value to be tested is checked for plausibility in an evaluation device, for example a computer, and in the event that an implausibility is identified, the existence of an error is determined. If a further check finds that the error no longer exists, then an error correction takes place. A prerequisite for the error correction, however, is that the range of the value to be monitored in which the error has occurred is also the range in which a current error is no longer occurring. In an expanded method, a differentiation is also made between different errors and an error correction is only possible if it involves the same type of error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Steffen Franke, Kristina Eberle, Carsten Kluth, Detlef Heinrich, Thomas Edelmann
  • Patent number: 6729300
    Abstract: A method for regulating knocking in an internal combustion engine, particularly of a motor vehicle, has the following steps: determining a knocking combustion for a calculated first base ignition angle in one or more cylinders of the internal combustion engine originated from a previous operating condition; and setting a new, second base ignition angle taking into account the existing operating condition. A query concerning the relative sizes of a setpoint ignition angle for efficiency reduction and the first base ignition angle is provided for setting the second base ignition angle to allow for knocking regulation which is favorable to the operation. If the setpoint ignition angle is smaller than the base ignition angle, an ignition angle retardation is performed with an adjustment value that must be adjusted, and which is given by the sum of a previously determined, constant retardation value and an adjusted, variable retardation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Steffen Franke, Martin Haussmann
  • Patent number: 6718944
    Abstract: The method and the device are used for cylinder shut-off in an internal combustion engine (10), in particular of a vehicle, using a control unit (15) in effective operational contact with the cylinders (11, 12, 13, 14) of the internal combustion engine (10), which has a monitoring unit (21), a knock regulating unit (20) and a fuel injector shut-off unit (22). At the same time the provision is made that the fuel injector shut-off unit (22) is operationally linked to the knock regulating unit (20) to achieve coordinated cylinder shut-off. The fuel injector shut-off unit (22) is provided with a memory medium (23) for storing a cylinder shut-off program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Steffen Franke, Axel Heinstein
  • Publication number: 20040030486
    Abstract: Devices and methods for knock detection and knock control are described, in which, in addition to the customary component parts, the knock-detection circuit has a filter with switchable filter characteristic. The switchover of the filter characteristic, i.e. the shift, for example, of the mid-frequency of the filter, is carried out taking into consideration specifiable quantities or parameters, for instance, as a function of rotational speed. During the switchover of the filter characteristic, i.e. the shift of the mid-frequency, problems could occur in the knock detection; that is why measures are proposed which carry out the knock detection according to a special knock-detection algorithm during a switchover phase lasting a specifiable time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Juergen Sauler, Steffen Franke, Stefan Unland, Oskar Torno, Axel Heinstein, Carsten Kluth, Werner Haeming, Michael Baeuerle
  • Patent number: 6662781
    Abstract: A method and a device for controlling knock in response to the failure of a phase detector are described, which implement the normal, cylinder-selective knock control under the condition, that the dual ignition is not activated. If the dual ignition is activated when the phase detector fails, then the knock control is carried out, using a non-cylinder-selective measure. Such a non-cylinder-selective measure could include safety-ignition retard or knock control, using one knock-detection threshold value for all of the cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Oskar Torno, Axel Heinstein, Carsten Kluth, Werner Haeming, Michael Baeuerle, Steffen Franke
  • Patent number: 6659073
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine, especially for a motor vehicle, is described which is provided with a combustion chamber wherein fuel can be injected directly by an injection valve in a first operating mode during an induction phase, in a second operating mode during a compression phase or in a third operating mode during the induction phase and during the compression phase and can be ignited by a spark plug. In the third operating mode, the mass of the fuel, which is injected during the induction phase, is reduced (32) by the control apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Steffen Franke, Michael Baeuerle
  • Publication number: 20030188713
    Abstract: The method is used for controlling incidences of combustion in an unloaded internal combustion engine (10) of a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Inventors: Steffen Franke, Stefan Unland, Iwan Surjadi, Carsten Prause
  • Publication number: 20030154958
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for knock control of an internal combustion engine, a knock detection being carried out on the cylinders of the internal combustion engine and a moment of ignition being retarded by a specifiable value as a function of detected knocking combustion in at least one of the cylinders, the system including at least two evaluation electronics and at least one cylinder being assigned to each of these evaluation electronics, and the knock sensor signals assigned to the cylinders being evaluated by the evaluation electronics assigned in each case, and the knock detection and the specification of the moment of ignition being effected by a control electronics, and the evaluation electronics being monitored for functionality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: Steffen Franke, Oskar Torno, Axel Heinstein, Carsten Kluth, Werner Haeming, Michael Baeuerle
  • Patent number: 6591660
    Abstract: A method for knock detection in an internal combustion engine is disclosed, in which the output signal of at least one knock sensor, which is associated with the engine, is evaluated with the aid of an evaluation device. Knocking is detected when the prepared signal of the knock sensor exceeds a predeterminable reference level. The calculation of the input signal of the reference level tracking takes place as a function of whether the internal combustion engine is in a dynamic operating state or not, wherein in order to calculate the reference level in the event of dynamics, measurement values are also used which were determined when knocking was detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Steffen Franke, Oskar Torno, Axel Heinstein, Carsten Kluth, Werner Haeming, Michael Baeuerle
  • Publication number: 20030116129
    Abstract: The method and the device are used for cylinder shut-off in an internal combustion engine (10), in particular of a vehicle, using a control unit (15) in effective operational contact with the cylinders (11, 12, 13, 14) of the internal combustion engine (10), which has a monitoring unit (21), a knock regulating unit (20) and a fuel injector shut-off unit (22). At the same time the provision is made that the fuel injector shut-off unit (22) is operationally linked to the knock regulating unit (20) to achieve coordinated cylinder shut-off. The fuel injector shut-off unit (22) is provided with a memory medium (23) for storing a cylinder shut-off program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Steffen Franke, Axel Heinstein
  • Patent number: 6581570
    Abstract: A method for knock control of an internal combustion engine, in which values are provided by an adaptive characteristics map for retarding an ignition angle is proposed, the values of the adaptive characteristics map being assigned to at least one operating parameter. Upon occurrence of a dynamic in the at least one operating parameter, a characteristics map value (wkra) is read from the adaptive characteristics map as a function of the instantaneous value of the at least one operating parameter. In this context, a previous value for the ignition angle adjustment (wkr(old)) is only replaced by the characteristics map value (wkra) when the amount of the difference between the previous value for the ignition angle adjustment (wkr(old)) and the characteristics map value (wkra) is less than a predefinable ignition angle difference (KRDWAA) (|wkr(old)−wkra|<KRDWAA).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Steffen Franke, Siegmar Foerster
  • Patent number: 6513495
    Abstract: A device for suppressing engine knocks in an internal combustion engine, using a detection device for the detection of the respective operating parameters of the internal combustion engine; a control unit for determining manipulated variables for the injection and ignition on the basis of the acquired operating parameters; a dynamic phase detection device for acquiring a dynamic phase of the internal combustion engine; and a correction device for correcting the manipulated variables for the ignition, which is constructed so that for knock suppression, the ignition control quantity, given a dynamic phase acquired by the dynamic phase detection device, can be adjusted in the late direction by a dynamic lead that is dependent on a predicted load difference, and at the end of the dynamic phase can be brought step-by-step back to the manipulated variable determined by the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Steffen Franke, Oskar Torno, Axel Heinstein, Carsten Kluth, Werner Haeming, Michael Baeuerle
  • Publication number: 20020148440
    Abstract: The method for regulating knocking in an internal combustion engine, particularly of a motor vehicle, has the following steps:
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventors: Steffen Franke, Martin Haussmann
  • Patent number: 6446601
    Abstract: A method for ignition control is described in which the load gradient is determined. The load gradient is compared with a first specifiable dynamic threshold and the ignition control variable is additively retarded by application of an adaptable dynamic derivative action if the load gradient exceeds the first dynamic threshold. If the load gradient exceeds a second specifiable dynamic threshold and no knock occurs, then the output dynamic derivative action is reduced so that the ignition is advanced again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Steffen Franke, Oskar Torno, Carsten Kluth, Werner Haeming, Iwan Surjadi, Michael Baeuerle