Patents by Inventor Wolfgang Stowasser

Wolfgang Stowasser 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: 11352919
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a method for actuating a camshaft adjuster of an internal combustion engine, in which a current is generated in an electric motor of the camshaft adjuster comprising: measuring an instantaneous strength of the current; calculating a mean value of the measured strength of the current over a predefined elapsed time; measuring a temperature of the camshaft adjuster; comparing the mean value of the measured strength of the current to a threshold value obtained from a characteristic diagram stored in a memory based on the measured temperature and the predefined elapsed time; and reducing the current if the calculated mean value of the strength of the current is higher than the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Stowasser, Suk-Ju Kim, Thomas Burkhardt
  • Publication number: 20210189919
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a method for actuating a camshaft adjuster of an internal combustion engine, in which a current is generated in an electric motor of the camshaft adjuster comprising: measuring an instantaneous strength of the current; calculating a mean value of the measured strength of the current over a predefined elapsed time; measuring a temperature of the camshaft adjuster; comparing the mean value of the measured strength of the current to a threshold value obtained from a characteristic diagram stored in a memory based on the measured temperature and the predefined elapsed time; and reducing the current if the calculated mean value of the strength of the current is higher than the threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Stowasser, Suk-Ju Kim, Thomas Burkhardt
  • Patent number: 10808636
    Abstract: A method according to the invention for controlling an internal combustion engine having a camshaft whose phase with respect to a crankshaft can be adjusted by means of an electric adjustment device, and a control device comprises the steps S1 to S3, wherein in step S1 a stop request is output from the control device to the electric adjustment device. Subsequently, in step S2 a manipulated variable in the form of a pulse duty factor is output from the electric adjustment device, wherein the pulse duty factor counteracts a camshaft torque. In step S3, the direction of rotation of the camshaft is monitored, wherein in step S4, when a reversal of the direction of rotation of the camshaft is detected, an intensity level of this reversal of the direction of rotation is calculated by determining a rotational speed gradient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Stowasser, Suk-Ju Kim
  • Patent number: 10301980
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to internal combustion engines. Various embodiments of the teachings may include a method for adjusting an actuator element for a camshaft of an internal combustion engine, wherein the actuator element is coupled to the camshaft to adjust a camshaft setting. The method may include determining a torque imposed by a component of the engine, based on an operating parameter and controlling an adjuster of the actuator to counteract the determined torque and resist adjustment of the actuator element and the camshaft setting. Without controlling the adjuster, the torque is transmitted from the camshaft to the actuator element and can bring about an adjustment of the actuator element and of the camshaft setting. The magnitude of the adjustment corresponds to the torque imposed by the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Stowasser, Andreas Brunnhoelzl
  • Publication number: 20180298836
    Abstract: A method according to the invention for controlling an internal combustion engine having a camshaft whose phase with respect to a crankshaft can be adjusted by means of an electric adjustment device, and a control device comprises the steps S1 to S3, wherein in step S1 a stop request is output from the control device to the electric adjustment device. Subsequently, in step S2 a manipulated variable in the form of a pulse duty factor is output from the electric adjustment device, wherein the pulse duty factor counteracts a camshaft torque. In step S3, the direction of rotation of the camshaft is monitored, wherein in step S4, when a reversal of the direction of rotation of the camshaft is detected, an intensity level of this reversal of the direction of rotation is calculated by determining a rotational speed gradient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang STOWASSER, Suk-Ju KIM
  • Publication number: 20170145871
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to internal combustion engines. Various embodiments of the teachings may include a method for adjusting an actuator element for a camshaft of an internal combustion engine, wherein the actuator element is coupled to the camshaft to adjust a camshaft setting. The method may include determining a torque imposed by a component of the engine, based on an operating parameter and controlling an adjuster of the actuator to counteract the determined torque and resist adjustment of the actuator element and the camshaft setting. Without controlling the adjuster, the torque is transmitted from the camshaft to the actuator element and can bring about an adjustment of the actuator element and of the camshaft setting. The magnitude of the adjustment corresponds to the torque imposed by the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Applicant: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Stowasser, Andreas Brunnhoelzl
  • Patent number: 6644257
    Abstract: An actuator which is displaced by a force in one end position and is displaced into the other end position by an adjusting device that is controlled using a pulse duration modulated signal. If a quasi-stationary condition is identified, in which despite repeated control intervention the actual position of the actuator lies outside a targeted range around the desired position, the retaining pulse duty factor which is used by the adjusting device to main the actuator in one position is modified based on the distance from the desired position. If drift is identified, the drift behavior is determined and the retaining pulse duty factor is modified according to said drift behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Franz Kunz, Wolfgang Stowasser
  • Publication number: 20030106513
    Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator (5) which is impinged by a force in one end position and is displaced into the other end position by an adjusting device (54) that is controlled using a pulse duration modulated signal. According to said invention, if a quasi-stationary condition is identified, in which despite repeated control intervention the actual position of the actuator lies outside a targeted range around the desired position, the retaining pulse duty factor which is used by the adjusting device (54) to maintain the actuator (5) in one position is modified based on the distance from the desired position. If a drift is identified, the drift behaviour is determined and the retaining pulse duty factor is modified according to said drift behaviour.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Frank Kunz, Wolfgang Stowasser