Patents Assigned to Bayerische Motoren Wërke Aktiengesellschaft
  • Publication number: 20110183804
    Abstract: An axle drive, includes an axle drive housing, a differential gear cage, and a left and a right roller bearing, by which the differential gear cage is mounted in a rotatable manner in the axle drive housing. The differential gear cage has a left and a right bearing seat for the left or the right roller bearing. The left and the right bearing seat is formed in each case by a separate component, which is different from the differential gear cage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Karsten FABIAN
  • Publication number: 20110175752
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for informing an occupant of a vehicle of surroundings of the vehicle are provided. A recording unit of the vehicle generates at least two images, which contain different road sections of a road plane in the surroundings of the vehicle. The at least two images are processed by an image processing unit, which generates a depiction in which the at least two images are imaged on a virtual road plane that is displayed in perspective. The depiction is displayed on a display unit in the interior of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Alexander Augst
  • Publication number: 20110173797
    Abstract: A method of fixing, particularly loosely prefixing, at least two components that are to be firmly connected with one another, especially two body parts of a vehicle body that are to be firmly connected with one another, includes the steps of providing a first component on which at least one first form-locking element projecting from the first component is provided, providing a second component which has at least one second form-locking element that interacts with the first form-locking element of the first component, and loosely prefixing the two components by placing them together such that the form-locking elements interlock with one another. As a result, the components are held relative to one another at least in one direction. The at least one first form-locking element is a separate part that differs from the first component and that is connected with the first component only after the manufacture of the first component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Johann van NIEKERK, Sonja Wolf, Robert Donharl, Klaus-Peter Sigl
  • Patent number: 7981343
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for welding two or more subcomponents together is described. The subcomponents may be welded to one another along seams, whereby sections of the seam that comprise similar materials are heated to a degree suitable for joining together those particular portions of the seam. Other sections of the seam may be heated to a different degree depending upon the material characteristics employed in that section of the seam. Embodiments of the apparatus include features for holding the subcomponents, simultaneously heating seams of each component, positioning the mating subcomponents together, and applying pressure between mating subcomponents to join them together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignees: Lisa Draexlmaier GmbH, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Nikolaus Feichtenschlager, Andreas Junger, Christian Auzinger, Philipp Seidl, Erich Katzlberger, Dieter Nagel, Leopold Eisterlehner, Hannes Zaleschak
  • Patent number: 7980155
    Abstract: An operating element for a vehicle steerable with a handlebar, in particular a motorcycle, having an operating ring in the area of a handle of the handlebar. The operating ring can be adjusted in multiple degrees of freedom, i.e., it can be rotated, shifted and depressed. Therefore, it can be used multifunctionally for triggering various functions in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Michael Geiger
  • Publication number: 20110171017
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an exhaust-gas turbocharger (1) having a turbine housing (2) and having a mani-fold section (3) which is connected to the turbine housing (2), wherein the turbine housing (2) and the manifold section (3) are formed as a single-piece cast part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicants: BorgWarner Inc., Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Robert Lingenauber, Patrick Steingass, Jan Velthuis
  • Patent number: 7977638
    Abstract: The present invention relates to optical sensor arrangements, especially sensors of the type that can be used in motor vehicles and which can detect hydrogen in a gaseous measured medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Robert Frodl, Thomas Tille
  • Publication number: 20110163727
    Abstract: A method controls or regulates the charge state of an electrical energy accumulator of a hybrid vehicle, where, in some operating states, the energy accumulator is charged from a low to a higher charge state level by way of an electric machine driven by an internal-combustion engine of the hybrid vehicle and operating as a generator. The level of the charge state to which the energy accumulator is charged by the internal-combustion engine is selected as a function of a parameter representing the load of the electrical system or correlating thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Holger HUMMEL
  • Patent number: 7974763
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reducing the energy consumption of a motor vehicle having an internal-combustion engine and having at least one electric onboard power supply to which at least a first electric consuming device is connected. In a first operating condition, the internal-combustion engine is operated with a first injection quantity and a first ignition point. In a second operating condition, the internal-combustion engine is operated with a second injection quantity higher than the first injection quantity and a second ignition point. The second ignition point in time is less favorable than the first ignition point in the case of the second injection quantity with respect to the capacity of the internal-combustion engine. Upon detecting a substantially imminent special driving situation, a driving situation detection device causes the internal-combustion engine to change from the first operating condition into the second operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Hauschild, Olaf Lemke, Torsten Herzog
  • Patent number: 7971447
    Abstract: A cooling system for a vehicle battery is described. The system has a cooling loop in heat transfer communication with the battery, for removing heat therefrom with a coolant, a first cooling device selectively coupleable to the cooling loop, using a refrigerant fluid to transfer heat with the coolant, and a second cooling device selectively coupleable to the cooling loop, using ambient air to transfer heat with the coolant. Various temperature sensors for sensing an ambient temperature and a battery temperature are provided, and connected to a controller that implements a coolant flow bypass function by commanding operation of a valve to bypass the selected one of the cooling devices in response to the battery and the ambient temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jerome Maitre
  • Patent number: 7974772
    Abstract: A method provides driving operation data in a network for wirelessly exchanging driving operation data. A first motor vehicle connected to the network by communication technology determines the absolute driving operation data of a second motor vehicle by way of at least one environment sensor disposed in the first motor vehicle. The absolute driving operation data of the second motor vehicle are transmitted by the first motor vehicle to at least one other subscriber to the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gregor Nitz, Felix Klanner
  • Publication number: 20110160952
    Abstract: A method for entering data into at least a first and a second control device of a motor vehicle is provided. Each of the first and the second control device is provided with a sequencing control that has a reversible deactivation state, a programming mode, and an operating mode with operating functions. The first and the second control device are each put into the deactivation state, during which the execution of operating functions of the operating mode is prevented, preferably at least to a large extent. The first and the second control device are each put into the programming mode, during which the reversible deactivation state of each control device is maintained. The deactivation state of all control devices will be canceled after the respective data have been entered into all control devices in the programming mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Roland Thomas, Anton Negele
  • Publication number: 20110160946
    Abstract: A process for operating a hybrid vehicle in an internal-combustion-engine-driven mode and/or in an electric-motor-driven mode, wherein, on a route section to be traveled and considered for driving in the electric-motor-driven mode, a change to the electric-motor-driven mode will take place only when a threshold value is exceeded which represents, or correlates with the efficiency advantage achievable on the route section by a change from the internal-combustion-engine-driven mode to the electric-motor-driven mode. Starting from the instantaneous position of the hybrid vehicle, the route is examined in an anticipatory manner with respect to such a route section, wherein the threshold value is adapted when such a route section was recognized and a driving through the route section in the electric driving mode would likely lead to a lowering of the state of charge of an electric energy accumulator into a critical state of charge range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas WILDE, Torsten Herzog
  • Patent number: D641677
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Christopher Weil
  • Patent number: D641678
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Karl-Johann Elmitt
  • Patent number: D642098
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dirk Mueller-Stolz, Henning Holstein
  • Patent number: D642101
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Nader Faghihzadeh
  • Patent number: D642290
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jacek Froehlich
  • Patent number: D642304
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jean-François Alexandre Huet
  • Patent number: D642711
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Alexander Schneider