Patents Assigned to Daimler
  • Publication number: 20120276461
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes an anode circuit by means of which unused gas from the anode region of a fuel cell can be recirculated via a recirculation delivery device into the anode region. At least one liquid separator is provided in the anode circuit. The liquid separator is integrated with the recirculation delivery device to form an assembly. Fresh hydrogen is supplied to the anode region by feeding the hydrogen into the liquid separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2010
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Thomas Baur, Holger Richter
  • Publication number: 20120277947
    Abstract: A method for the automatic operation of a vehicle in an autonomous driving mode not requiring user action is provided. This involves detection of a present traffic situation, a check whether the traffic situation fulfils a first criterion, and a blocking of a functionality which offers to a driver during the autonomous driving mode a secondary activity not related to driving the vehicle if the first criterion is fulfilled. A device for the automatic operation of a vehicle in an autonomous driving mode not requiring user action includes devices designed for carrying out the method for the automatic operation of a vehicle in an autonomous driving mode not requiring user action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Michael Boehringer, Stefanie Dubiella-Zimmermann, Stefan Jansen, Julie Lockhart, Erik Sengewald, Fabian Stiebert
  • Patent number: 8301335
    Abstract: A system for controlling air-conditioning of a vehicle includes an input, an offset generator module, and an evaporator temperature control module. The input receives an input temperature. The offset generator module receives a psychrometric parameter of air inside the vehicle and generates offsets based on the input temperature and the psychrometric parameter. The evaporator temperature control module generates a target evaporator temperature based on the offsets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignees: Chrysler Group LLC, Daimler AG
    Inventors: Mark A. Hill, Alfred Jeckel, Curt O'Donnell, Mark Bigler, Lance Tagliapietra
  • Patent number: 8301336
    Abstract: A method and a device for warning following vehicles in a group of several sequential vehicles, including at least a leading vehicle, a middle vehicle and a following vehicle, wherein a warning is transmitted from the middle vehicle to the following vehicle. A total distance and a total relative speed between the leading vehicle and the following vehicle are calculated based on measurements made by the middle vehicle. The total distance and total relative speed are used to determine whether a critical approach of the following vehicle to the leading vehicle is occurring, and if so, an automatic warning is transmitted from the middle vehicle to the following vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Baumann, Michael Fehring, Rainer Justen
  • Patent number: 8297046
    Abstract: An exhaust gas aftertreatment installment and associated exhaust gas aftertreatment method utilizes a nitrogen oxide storage catalytic converter and an SCR catalytic converter. A particulate filter is provided upstream of the nitrogen oxide storage catalytic converter or between the latter and the SCR catalytic converter or downstream of the SCR catalytic converter. The time of regeneration operating phases of the nitrogen oxide storage catalytic converter can be determined as a function of the nitrogen oxide content of the exhaust gas downstream of the nitrogen oxide storage catalytic converter or of the SCR catalytic converter and/or as a function of the ammonia loading of the latter. Moreover, a desired ammonia generation quantity can be determined for a respective regeneration operating phase. The installation and method are adopted for use for motor vehicle internal combustion engines and other engines which are operated predominantly in lean-burn mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Brigitte Bandl-Konrad, Andreas Hertzberg, Bernd Krutzsch, Arno Nolte, Markus Paule, Stefan Renfftlen, Norbert Waldbuesser, Michel Weibel, Guenter Wenninger, Rolf Wunsch
  • Publication number: 20120266714
    Abstract: A steering column arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a bracket, to which a jacket tube of a steering column supporting a steering shaft is releasably fixed by a clamping mechanism. The clamping mechanism includes at least one clamping part that is supple in the transverse direction (y direction) of the steering column arrangement and rigid in shear terms in the longitudinal direction (x direction and z direction) of the steering column arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Detlef Hansen, Horst Hartmann, Jens-Werner Kirchner, Holger Kittler, Ivica Milicevic, Ralf Prigge
  • Patent number: 8296021
    Abstract: A hybrid transmission includes torque machines and an energy storage device connected thereto. Thee hybrid transmission is operative to transfer power between an input member and an output member and the torque machines. A method for controlling the hybrid transmission includes monitoring operating parameters of the hybrid transmission, monitoring an operator demand for power, determining an output torque range to the output member based upon states of the operating parameters of the hybrid transmission, constraining the output torque range to the output member based upon the operator demand for power, and determining input torque constraints to the input member based upon the constrained output torque range to the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler Group LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, Tung-Ming Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8291880
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine having several combustion chambers formed in in-line cylinders wherein an air/fuel mixture can be combusted and which include a common cylinder head, with discharge passages formed within the cylinder head and extending to a common confluence zone in communication with a discharge manifold, the common confluence zone is delimited on a first side (A) by at least one cylinder head wall and a separate shell element on a second side mounted to the outside of the cylinder head, the shell element being curved funnel-like for conducting the exhaust gas away from the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Jochen Häfner, Dieter Nowak
  • Patent number: 8296027
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electro-mechanical transmission through an unlocking state of a clutch, the transmission mechanically-operatively coupled to an internal combustion engine and an electric machine adapted to selectively transmit mechanical power to an output member includes decreasing a reactive torque acting upon the clutch, including overriding torque commands to the engine and to the electric machine, and simultaneously decreasing a clutch torque capacity, including, during a lead period selected according to an engine command reaction time, commanding an intermediate clutch torque command maintaining sufficient clutch torque capacity to exceed an initial reactive torque calculated at an initiation of the unlocking state, and following the lead period, decreasing through a ramp down the clutch torque capacity, maintaining sufficient clutch torque capacity to exceed the decreasing reactive torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler Group LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, Lawrence A. Kaminsky, Jy-Jen F. Sah
  • Patent number: 8291877
    Abstract: In a valve drive arrangement for an internal combustion engine including a camshaft carrying axially movable cam elements provided with cams for operating gas exchange valves of the internal combustion engine and an actuation device having at least one shift element which is provided to shift cam element by means of a shifting gate between opposite axial positions, the valve drive arrangement has a change-over device for changing the axial shift direction of the shift element from one to the opposite axial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Jens Meintschel, Thomas Stolk, Alexander Von Gaisberg-Helfenberg
  • Patent number: 8290681
    Abstract: A method for controlling a powertrain including an electro-mechanical transmission coupled to an engine and an electric machine includes monitoring a desired input speed; signal processing the desired input speed to create a lead control signal to control the engine, wherein the signal processing includes low pass filtering the desired input speed and applying system constraint limits upon the desired input speed; signal processing the desired input speed to create an immediate control signal to control the electric machine, wherein the signal processing includes delaying the desired input speed by a lead period, low pass filtering the desired input speed, and applying system constraint limits upon the desired input speed; and controlling the powertrain through a powertrain transition based upon the lead control signal and said immediate control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler Group LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Kaminsky, Anthony H. Heap, Jy-Jen F. Sah
  • Patent number: 8287426
    Abstract: A method for controlling a powertrain system includes monitoring voltage of an energy storage device. The method further includes modifying a preferred voltage limit when the voltage of the energy storage device transgresses a trigger voltage limit, and determining the power constraint of a first power actuator based on the estimated output power of the energy storage device when the voltage of the energy storage device transgresses the preferred voltage limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler Group LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, Wilfried Brunssen
  • Publication number: 20120258382
    Abstract: Ligand additives having two or more coordination sites in close proximity can be used in the polymer electrolyte of membrane electrode assemblies in solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells in order to reduce the dissolution of catalyst, particularly from the cathode, and hence reduce fuel cell degradation over time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicants: Ford Motor Company, Daimler AG
    Inventors: Jing Li, Keping Wang, Yunsong Yang, Scott McDermid, Sumit Kundu
  • Patent number: 8281885
    Abstract: A powertrain includes an electro-mechanical transmission mechanically-operatively coupled to an internal combustion engine and an electric machine to selectively transmit mechanical power to an output member. Powertrain operation includes monitoring operator inputs, and determining input speeds and changes in input speeds for the internal combustion engine and the electric machine. The input speeds are compared to threshold input speeds, and the changes in input speeds are compared to threshold changes in input speeds. Input torques of the internal combustion engine and the electric machine are reduced when any one of the input speeds and changes in input speeds exceeds the corresponding threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler Group LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andrew M. Zettel, Charles J Van Horn, Peter E. Wu, Ryan D Martini, Anthony H. Heap
  • Patent number: 8281913
    Abstract: A motor vehicle transmission device is described. The transmission has an actuating unit, used for canceling a tooth-on-tooth position of coupling elements, wherein the actuating unit actuates a transmission brake when the tooth-on-tooth position is detected. The transmission also has a second actuating unit for actuating a disconnect clutch, the second actuating unit actuating the disconnect clutch when the tooth-on-tooth position is detected. The actuating unit for actuating the transmission brake and the second actuating unit for actuating the disconnect clutch are actuated in coordination with one another, in order to cancel the tooth-on-tooth position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Manfred Guggolz, Werner Hillenbrand, Wilhelmus Kok, David Ulmer
  • Patent number: 8282526
    Abstract: A method for controlling a powertrain comprising an electro-mechanical transmission mechanically-operatively coupled to an engine and an electric machine adapted to selectively transmit mechanical power to an output member through selective application of a plurality of torque-transfer clutches includes monitoring a clutch slip speed, synchronizing an oncoming clutch, and constraining reactive clutch torque limits for the oncoming clutch to achieve a reactive clutch torque that is less than an estimated clutch torque capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler Group LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, Lawrence A. Kaminsky, Jy-Jen F. Sah
  • Patent number: 8285462
    Abstract: A hybrid transmission is operative to transfer torque between an input member and torque machines and an output member in one of a plurality of fixed gear and continuously variable operating range states through selective application of torque transfer clutches. The torque machines are operative to transfer power from an energy storage device. A method for controlling the hybrid transmission includes operating the hybrid transmission in one of the operating range states, determining a first set of internal system constraints on output torque transferred to the output member, determining a second set of internal system constraints on the output torque transferred to the output member, and determining an allowable output torque range that is achievable within the first set of internal system constraints and the second set of internal system constraints on the output torque transferred to the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler Group LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, Tung-Ming Hsieh, Bin Wu
  • Patent number: 8285431
    Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle includes determining a transmission input speed, operating the transmission using the transmission input speed, and providing a braking torque request to cause braking of the vehicle according to a scheme selected from the group consisting of a first braking mode and a second braking mode. The transmission input speed and the transmission operating range state are dependent on said braking torque request in the first braking mode, and wherein the transmission operating state, but not the transmission input speed, is dependent on the braking torque request in the second braking mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler Group LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, Kee Yong Kim
  • Patent number: D669408
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Hans, Kai Hilpert
  • Patent number: D669410
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventor: Mark Fetherston