Patents Assigned to CONTINENTAL
  • Patent number: 10151267
    Abstract: A method and to a device for operating a pressure reservoir, where during a compression phase in a pump chamber, a pump periodically increases the pressure of a fluid located therein, and by means of a discharge valve controlled by differential pressure fluid under high pressure is allowed to be introduced from the pump chamber into the pressure reservoir. During a decompression phase following a compression phase, fluid from a fluid reservoir is introduced into the pump chamber by means of a controllable intake valve. In order to be able also to operate the pressure reservoir without a high pressure measurement directly in the pressure reservoir, the fluid pressure in the pressure reservoir is ascertained by means of a pressure determination in the pump chamber. The pressure determination takes place indirectly, monitoring of the intake valve in the decompression phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Daniel Anetsberger, Tet Kong Brian Chia, Walter Sassler
  • Patent number: 10139514
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of detecting the approach and/or contact of a user's hand to a door handle, the handle having a first outer surface oriented toward the vehicle and a second outer surface oriented toward the user, the handle including at least one detection electrode and an additional electrode, positioned face to face in advance. The method includes: the two electrodes are electrically connected to the same power supply source; a first capacitance value is measured at the terminals of the detection electrode; a second capacitance value is measured at the terminals of the additional electrode; and the first and second values are compared, during a measurement period, with one another and/or with a predetermined threshold value, in order to detect the approach of a user's hand toward the first outer surface or toward the second outer surface and/or the contact of his hand with one of these surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Mickael Guibbert, Olivier Elie, Monirat Ung
  • Patent number: 10143118
    Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, an arrangement for protecting electronics from interference radiation includes a housing and a circuit carrier for accommodating the electronics in an interior of the housing. The housing defines an opening for compensating the different pressures inside and outside the housing. The arrangement of the exemplary embodiment is also distinguished by a contact-making element of an electronic component of the electronics arranged between the opening and the circuit carrier in such a manner that the electronics are at least partially screened from interference radiation entering the housing through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG
    Inventors: Jürgen Gilb, Michael Jürgens, Erwin Kreitmeyr, Ralf Weyrich
  • Patent number: 10137877
    Abstract: A brake system for motor vehicles, having a brake master cylinder actuated by a brake pedal with at least one first pressure chamber. The brake master cylinder communicating with wheel brakes; and a hydraulic fluid storage container. A pressure balancing connection connects to the fluid storage container. A first electrically controllable pressure supply device communicating with the wheel brakes. A pressure regulating valve arrangement for regulated wheel brake pressure. A first electronic control and regulating unit actuated the first pressure supply device and the pressure regulating valve arrangement. A second electrically controllable pressure supply device connected to the brake master cylinder and having a pressure outlet connection paired with a second electronic control and regulating unit. The first and the second pressure supply device generate braking pressures independently of each other, and the pressure outlet connection is connected to the pressure balancing connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG
    Inventors: Hans-Jörg Feigel, Harald Biller
  • Patent number: 10132822
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for forming a spacer extending at least partially within the length of a central bore passing from one side to the other of a barrel of a mounting base of an accelerometer sensor, the central bore being designed to receive a fastening element for fixing the mounting base onto a support element, the fastening element being centered by the spacer in the central bore, the mounting base being at least partially surrounded by an encapsulation of overmolded plastic material. When the plastic material is overmolded around the mounting base to form the encapsulation, a part of the plastic material passes through the barrel to form the spacer while fixing it to the encapsulation. Also described is a mounting base with at least one channel for the passage of the plastic material, and to an accelerometer sensor equipped with such a mounting base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Xavier Vermelle, Van-Est Jeroen
  • Patent number: 10132281
    Abstract: A fluid injector for injecting fuel into a combustion engine includes a valve, a tubular valve body and an orifice disc, wherein the valve comprises valve seat and a movable opening device in order to open and close the valve, wherein the orifice disc is arranged at the valve seat on the opposite side of the opening device and is configured to shape a spray of the fluid dispensed by the fluid injector in an open position of the valve. A compensation element and a fastening element are provided, wherein the compensation element is arranged between the valve seat and the fastening element, wherein the fastening element is configured and arranged to fasten the compensation element to the valve in the valve body in a pre-stressed manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMATIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Stefano Filippi, Marco Bartoli, Antonio Liuzzo, Tommaso Galgani
  • Patent number: 10135434
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic circuit for controlling a half H bridge, the half split H bridge including first and second MOSFET transistors of different respective types, with sources connected respectively to a supply line and to an electric mass, and with respective drains connected to a load. Moreover, the control circuit includes first and second bipolar transistors of different respective types, with collectors connected to the supply line and to the electric mass, respectively, and with respective bases connected to a control module for controlling the MOSFET transistors, as well as first and second arms mounted parallel relative to one another between the gates of the MOSFET transistors, connected to the emitter of the first bipolar transistor and of the second bipolar transistor, respectively, the first arm including a first diode and a first resistor, and the second arm including a second diode and a second resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Julien Mouret, Christian Pradelles
  • Patent number: 10132284
    Abstract: An ignition device is provided for an idle stop & go system (ISG)-equipped vehicle using a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as a fuel. A separately installed auxiliary LPG switch detects the ON/OFF state of the LPG switch, drives fuel cut-off solenoid valves, and switches on/off together with the LPG switch. The ON/OFF state of the LPG switch can be determined based on an output voltage of the auxiliary LPG switch, and then ISG control can be implemented. After the fuel cut-off solenoid valves are driven, the fuel pipeline pressure remains in the state before the idle stop to improve the engine starting performance upon restarting. Also, in an emergency, the LPG and auxiliary LPG switches are simultaneously switched off, the fuel cut-off solenoid valves are quickly switched off and the fuel pump motor is stopped to quickly cut off the fuel supply and prevent a secondary accident in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Kim Mihnsung
  • Patent number: 10131299
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling the voltage of an electrical apparatus of a motor vehicle. The method includes the steps of measuring (E2) the voltage at the terminals of the apparatus and measuring (E3) the strength of the output current of the apparatus, calculating (E4) the values of resistance, inductance and capacitance of the equivalent circuit on the basis of the measured current strength and the measured voltage, comparing (E7, E8, E9) the calculated values of resistance, inductance and capacitance with the values of resistance, inductance and capacitance, respectively, stored in a storage area of the electronic control unit, and initiating (E12) an action if the difference between at least one of the calculated values and the corresponding stored value is above a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Arnaud Pinel, Stephane Vitali
  • Patent number: 10132254
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to internal combustion engines and the teachings thereof may be embodied in methods for controlling an internal combustion engine. The method may include: measuring the actual camshaft position using a camshaft sensor, measuring the actual rail pressure using a rail pressure sensor, calculating, for each of the plurality of cylinders, a phase correction value depending at least in part on the measured actual rail pressure and a mass of fuel to be injected, calculating, for each cylinder, a corrected actual camshaft position based at least in part on the measured actual camshaft position and the respective phase correction value, and adjusting the camshaft position using a camshaft adjuster based on one or more of the corrected actual camshaft positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Hong Zhang
  • Patent number: 10136398
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to communication systems for a motor vehicle. In some embodiments, a communication device may provide, for example, car-to-car communication (vehicle-to-vehicle communication). A communication system for a motor vehicle, the system may include: a transceiver unit for generating transmission signals where at least two of the transmission signals differ in their signal power; a cable to transmit the transmission signals to an antenna via a controllable amplifier device; a power detector device capturing a respective power value correlated with a power of the transmission signals at a tapping point between the cable and the antenna; and a control device controlling the amplifier device on the basis of the captured power values. The transceiver device generates at least one of the transmission signals with a predetermined reference power. A reference value describing the reference power is permanently predefined in the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Christian Morhart, Richard Owen
  • Patent number: 10131333
    Abstract: A brake actuation unit (1) having a master brake cylinder (2) and a pressure-medium reservoir (4); a pressure provision device (5), having a piston (51) actuated by an electric motor (35), wherein the piston delimits a pressure chamber (50); first and second groups of electrically actuatable valves (6a-6d, 7a-7d); and an electronic control unit (12, 12?). The electric motor has at least two independently operable drive units, each having at least one winding, for driving the electric motor. The electronic control unit has a first microcontroller (201) and a second microcontroller (301). The first microcontroller controls (205) one of the drive units and the second microcontroller controls (305) the other of the drive units. The first and second microcontrollers control (207, 307) the second group of valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG
    Inventors: Hans-Jörg Feigel, Josko Kurbasa
  • Patent number: 10132719
    Abstract: A method and system for evaluating the reliability of data supplied by multi-function WFC sensors of tires of wheels of a vehicle for targeted applications, on the basis of the irregularities of the road, which use displacement data sent from the road handling adaptation equipment of the vehicle, enabling the variations in the road condition to be reflected. The system includes equipment for monitoring the wheel displacement data for adapting it to the variations of profile of the road on which it is traveling, in order to maintain a stable body position. The monitoring equipment is linked to the WFC sensors via a central processing unit which is capable of correlating data supplied by the WFC sensors and values of wheel displacement data supplied by the monitoring equipment for the purpose of weighting the values of at least one parameter obtained from the data delivered by the WFC sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINETAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Olivier Fudulea
  • Patent number: 10132311
    Abstract: A high pressure pump of a common rail pump system includes a pump body having a cylinder with a piston bore and a piston reciprocally driven in the piston bore to pressurize fuel in the cylinder. The piston has an inner end located in the piston bore and an outer end outside the piston bore. A bellow having a first opening and a second opening is arranged between the piston and the pump body, wherein the piston extends through the first and second openings, wherein the bellow is connected to the pump body such that the first opening is sealed on the pump body and wherein the bellow is connected to the outer end of the piston such that the second opening is sealed on the piston. This arrangement prevents mixing of engine oil and fuel. The bellow may be connected to a drainage line via a one-way valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Uwe Nigrin, Ngoc-Tam Vu, Andreas Ederer, Uday Bhat, Thejesh Kumar Magadibyredevaru, Marcin Olik
  • Patent number: 10132280
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for limiting fuel leakage from at least one injector in an engine of a motor vehicle, the engine being stopped and the motor vehicle ignition circuit being switched off, the injector being supplied with fuel via a fuel rail which is pressurized during operation, the pressurization persisting for a certain period when the engine has been stopped and the ignition circuit switched off, leading to leakage of fuel through the injector. The injection rail is subjected to forced cooling following the stoppage of the engine with the motor vehicle ignition circuit switched off, which is sufficient to reduce the pressure, the forced cooling continuing until the pressure in the rail is close to atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Philippe Serrecchia
  • Patent number: 10132718
    Abstract: A motor vehicle computer includes an input port connected to a crankshaft sensor and a module for processing signals received from the crankshaft sensor. The computer includes: a first adapting module, suited to making the signals, provided by a crankshaft sensor of a first type, conform to an input predefined format of the processing module; a second adapting module, suited to making the signals, provided by a crankshaft sensor of a second type, conform to the input format of the processing module; a routing unit suited to connecting the input port to the first or to the second adapting module; a unit for detecting the type of the crankshaft sensor connected to the input port; and a unit for commanding the routing unit according to the type of crankshaft sensor detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Yannick Leroy
  • Patent number: 10131298
    Abstract: The present disclosure teaches a control unit for the exchange of electrical power between a first, a second, a third, and a fourth wiring system branch of a wiring system of a vehicle. The control unit may include a first switching device, a second switching device, a third switching device, and a first, second, third, and fourth terminal configured for connection to the first, second, third and fourth wiring system branches respectively. The first switching device may be connected between the first terminal and the fourth terminal. The second switching device may be connected between the fourth terminal and the third terminal. The third switching device may be connected between the second terminal and the third terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Paul Boucharel, Sergio Perez Guillen, Dirk Reichow, Damien Verdier
  • Patent number: 10136256
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of determining the position of a portable user device around a vehicle by a location device placed on board the vehicle and communicating with the portable device by radio waves, including the execution of the following steps whenever the portable device receives a signal from the location device: step E3: Measuring and storing a value of strength of the signal) thus received; step E4: Measuring and storing a value of acceleration) of the portable device; step E5: Calculating a ratio between a variation of the strength value thus measured, relative to a strength value stored at a preceding instant-RSSI, and a variation of the acceleration value thus measured, relative to an acceleration value stored at the preceding instant-AC; step E6: Comparing the ratio thus calculated with at least one predetermined threshold, in order to determine a distance between the portable device and the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Sylvain Godet, Frederic Merlet
  • Patent number: 10132282
    Abstract: A fuel rail assembly for a combustion engine includes a fuel rail, a plurality of fuel injector cups arranged and configured to face a cylinder head of a combustion engine and being hydraulically and mechanically coupled to the fuel rail directly or via pipe elements, and at least one support element configured to be fixedly coupled to the cylinder head. The at least one support element is fixedly coupled to two of the injector cups or to two of the pipe elements being coupled to the injector cups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Marco Mechi, Daniel Marc
  • Patent number: 10132218
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to engines for a motor vehicle and some embodiments include a method for operating an exhaust train of a motor vehicle engine including: measuring a particle concentration downstream of a particle filter at a first operating point; determining the filter efficiency at the first operating point; changing operation of the engine to a second operating point to increase the particle emissions; measuring the particle concentration downstream of the filter at the second operating point; determining the filter efficiency at the second operating point; determining a difference between the efficiency levels; detecting an offset error, if the difference exceeds a defined threshold; and identifying a particle sensor as defective if an offset error is detected, rather than identifying the particle filter as defective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Paul Rodatz, Michael Nienhoff, Tino Arlt, Thomas Schoen