Patents Assigned to Vitesco Technologies GmbH
  • Patent number: 11946426
    Abstract: A method for controlling a variable valve timing system using minimum speed positions. The minimum speed positions allow the movement and the position of the various camshafts to be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Stéphane Eloy, Fabien Joseph
  • Patent number: 11946406
    Abstract: An electric heating device for an exhaust gas catalyst, the electric heating device including a sleeve and a heating cellular structure which is heated by a flow of electric current and which is contained in the sleeve. The electric heating device being designed to be positioned in a segment of an exhaust gas pipe upstream of a catalyst, so as to completely occupy a cross section of the segment such that exhaust gases flowing in the pipe pass through the cellular matrix before reaching the catalyst. The heating cellular structure is designed to dissipate an inhomogeneous thermal power in a section perpendicular to the direction of flow of the exhaust gases, such that the temperature of the exhaust gases at the outlet of the heating cellular structure is homogeneous in a section perpendicular to the direction of flow of the exhaust gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventor: Steven Maertens
  • Publication number: 20240103988
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a computer-implemented method and a control device for controlling a unit of an automotive system. An electrical/electronic architecture of the automotive system includes a first control unit, a second control unit, and the unit to be controlled. The method includes detecting that the control of the unit by a primary software cluster is faulty and/or defective. The method also includes activating the second control unit by the first control unit, whereby the second control unit is transferred to a fail-silent state and does not send any more potentially erroneous data. Additionally, the method includes controlling the unit by a backup software cluster of the first control unit, thereby maintaining the functionality of the unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Lex, Ralph Mader
  • Publication number: 20240100983
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a method for electrically charging vehicle batteries for a group of member vehicles. The method may include: predicting a total energy requirement for charging batteries for the group in a future time period; predicting a temporal distribution of the charging power requirement for the group over the future time period; calculating a total charging power profile optimized in respect of one or more optimization criteria according to the predicted total energy requirement and the predicted temporal distribution of the charging power requirement; purchasing an amount of energy in accordance with the optimized total charging power profile on a relevant energy market; and chronometrically controlling the charging processes of each member vehicle with a respective charging profile so the sum of the respective charging profiles of the individual member vehicles corresponds to the optimized total profile of the charging power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Heinrich
  • Publication number: 20240092340
    Abstract: Various teachings herein include a method of operating a vehicle comprising a combustion engine, an electric motor, and an electrically heated catalyst. The method includes: simultaneously evaluating energy consumption and emissions due to increasing or decreasing catalyst heating actions and due to increasing or decreasing electric motor torque based on an operating model; and determining an operating mode for each of the combustion engine, electric motor, and electrically heatable catalyst using the operating model to optimize operation based on an optimization goal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Hofstetter, Mattia Perugini, Stefan Rohrer, Stefan Grubwinkler
  • Patent number: 11932115
    Abstract: An electrical system for operating an AC electric motor in conjunction with a DC electrical energy storage and a DC electrical energy source is presented. It includes a multi-phase inverter or set of inverters, wherein multiple AC phases of the inverter or inverters are coupled to the motor, and separate DC connections of the inverter or inverters are coupled to the DC electrical energy source and the DC electrical energy storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Brüll, Florian Uhrig
  • Patent number: 11936289
    Abstract: A vehicle electrical system is equipped with a DC charging connection, a rechargeable battery, a first DC-DC converter and an electrical drive. The first DC-DC converter has a first side. This is connected to a connecting point via a first switch. The first DC-DC converter has a second side to which the electrical drive is connected. The second side is connected to the rechargeable battery via a second switch and via a connecting point or is connected to the rechargeable battery directly. The vehicle electrical system has a second DC-DC converter. This is connected to one side of the first switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Pfeilschifter, Martin Götzenberger, Felix Müller
  • Patent number: 11917798
    Abstract: A charging device module for installation in an electrically driveable vehicle, including a charging device and an internal cooling circuit for cooling the charging device, wherein the internal cooling circuit has connections for connection to a superordinate cooling circuit of the vehicle, wherein the connections comprise at least one inlet and at least one outlet, and a bypass line connects the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet while bypassing the internal cooling circuit, wherein an actuable valve is associated with the at least one inlet, by which valve the flow of coolant through the internal cooling circuit and the bypass line can be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Gregory Drew, Detlev Bagung, Jürgen Bock
  • Publication number: 20240059253
    Abstract: A distributing device D for supplying a pressurized liquid to individual cleaning locations of a vehicle. Here, the distributing device includes a housing with an electric-motor-drivable distributor arranged therein and also includes liquid-receiving and liquid-guiding means. Here, the distributor is rotatably adjustable relative to the housing into individual defined positions in which a feed connection AZ charged with liquid pressure is fluidically connected to one of multiple discharge connections ARSi, ARSi+1 . . . ARSi+n for providing a supply to an associated cleaning location. Here, the distributor, which is of substantially cylindrical form, directs the liquid—according to rotational adjustment—via radially circumferential liquid-receiving and liquid-guiding means to one of the discharge connections ARSi, ARSi+1 . . . ARSi+n.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Applicant: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Marius Müller, Georges Maguin, Konstantin Bart, Christof Heeger
  • Publication number: 20240063804
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and a device for evaluating a signal. The signal is provided from a signal source via a signal conditioning unit to a microcontroller for signal evaluation. The method includes detecting the signal from the signal source and transmitting the signal to the signal conditioning unit, which has an anti-aliasing filter. The method also includes filtering the signal by the anti-aliasing filter, which is set on the basis of the signal to be detected and providing the filtered signal to the microcontroller. The method also includes processing and evaluating the filtered signal in the microcontroller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Applicant: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus-Dieter Schneider, Martin Meier, Felix Zeis
  • Publication number: 20240060461
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and a device for operating a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, a fuel tank, an activated carbon filter, an air filter, an intake tract, a purging line arranged between the activated carbon filter and the intake tract, a purge air pump arranged between the activated carbon filter and the intake tract, a tank purge valve arranged between the purge air pump and the intake tract, and a ventilation arranged between the fresh air filter and the activated carbon filter. The hybrid vehicle can be operated in an electric mode in which the electric motor is activated and the internal combustion engine is deactivated. In such a hybrid vehicle, in electric mode the purge air pump is activated and detection of the concentration of hydrocarbons present in the activated carbon filter is performed with the purge air pump activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Applicant: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventor: Hong Zhang
  • Patent number: 11898507
    Abstract: A method for determining the load of a fuel vapor retention filter in a fuel evaporation retention system of an internal combustion engine. The fuel evaporation retention system includes: a fuel supply container for storing fuel, a connection line which couples the fuel supply container to the fuel vapor retention filter, a regeneration line which couples the fuel vapor retention filter to an intake tract of the internal combustion engine and in which an electrically controllable flow control valve is arranged, a ventilation line which couples the fuel vapor retention filter to the atmosphere, an electrically controllable purging air pump arranged in the regeneration line, such that purging air can be directed through the fuel vapor retention filter and supplied to the intake tract in order to regenerate the fuel vapor retention filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Hong Zhang, Gerhard Haft
  • Patent number: 11885412
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method of controlling a dog clutch by a DC motor configured to move the dog clutch via an actuator arm). The dog clutch including at least one gear having one or more dogs configured to engage one or more dogs of a sliding sleeve). The method includes supplying the DC motor with a pulse width modulated voltage having a duty cycle which is provided by a control algorithm). The control algorithm includes a trajectory planner generating a desired position of the actuator arm based on a 4th order trajectory planning algorithm and a motion controller based on the sliding mode theory for tracking the desired arm position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Eduardo Quintero Manríquez, Oscar Eduardo Sarmiento, Andreas Kelm, Mario Alberto Chinchilla Saborio, Seyoun Park
  • Patent number: 11885248
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for checking and ensuring the functionality of an exhaust gas aftertreatment system of an internal combustion engine. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system has a catalytic converter and a voltage source. The catalytic converter has a catalytic converter area and an electrical heating device which is selectively supplied with electrical energy from the voltage source. The method includes determining an actual value which is characteristic of an ohmic resistance of the heating device. The actual value being determined by using an electrical current strength supplied to the heating device and an electrical voltage supplied to the heating device from the voltage source. The method also includes providing a setpoint value which is characteristic of an expected ohmic resistance of the heating device. The setpoint value takes into account a specific heating-up behavior of the heating device and an expected long-term behavior of the catalytic converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventor: Dietmar Ellmer
  • Patent number: 11873745
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for determining the icing condition of a component of the exhaust-gas system of a motor vehicle that is not arranged directly in the exhaust-gas mass flow and/or of the feed line of the component. The method includes: determining a water quantity actually present in the component and in the feed line thereof and the state of aggregation of the water quantity; determining an energy quantity required for deicing and for volatilizing the water quantity; and determining an energy quantity supplied for deicing and for volatilizing the water quantity by radiated heat from components arranged directly in the exhaust-gas mass flow of the exhaust-gas system of the motor vehicle to the surroundings. The method also includes determining the icing condition of the component by comparing the energy quantity supplied for deicing and for volatilization with the energy quantity required for deicing and for volatilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Gernot Schlintl, Alexander Zimmerer
  • Publication number: 20240011423
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a method for heating a catalytic converter arranged in an exhaust-gas tract of an internal combustion engine and comprising an electric heating device. An example method may include: activating the electric heating device with a specified heating power at a time before the internal combustion engine is started; monitoring the catalyst temperature in a region of the catalytic converter adjacent the heating device; before the catalyst temperature has reached a predetermined first threshold value, supplying a secondary air mass flow with a first flow rate is supplied into the exhaust-gas tract upstream of the catalytic converter; and after the catalyst temperature has reached the predetermined first threshold value, increasing the secondary air mass flow to a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Florian Kleiner, Erwin Achleitner, Hendra Kurniawan, Soufiane Kolodziej
  • Patent number: 11870224
    Abstract: A high-voltage junction box for an electrically driven vehicle includes a housing part with at least one mounting hole, a contactor mechanically connected to the housing part by at least one fastening element extending through a through hole in the contactor into the mounting hole, and a bus bar having a first contact area and a second contact area. The first contact area is electrically and mechanically connected to the contactor and the second contact area is electrically and mechanically connected to a connector. A tolerance compensation element suitable to compensate for tolerance variations in a distance or space between the housing part and the contactor is mounted in the at least one mounting hole. An electrically driven vehicle with a charging unit including a high-voltage junction box is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Sorin Andrei, Eduard Iosif Trif
  • Publication number: 20240003311
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and a device for diagnosing an internal combustion engine of a powertrain. The powertrain includes the internal combustion engine and a transmission unit, and the diagnosis is carried out using a running irregularity signal, where potentially a gear change is actively requested. The method includes ascertaining a diagnostic value of the internal combustion engine during operation using the running irregularity signal of the internal combustion engine. The powertrain is operated using a diagnostic gear of the transmission unit. The method also includes detecting the diagnostic gear which is engaged in the transmission unit while ascertaining the diagnostic value; and comparing the ascertained diagnostic value with a predefined diagnostic threshold value and comparing the diagnostic gear of the transmission unit with at least one predefined gear of the transmission unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Schroth, Heiko Herzig
  • Publication number: 20240004640
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a computer-implemented method and device for the automated update of a communication unit of a control unit of a vehicle. The control unit includes a plurality of software clusters. The method includes providing the control unit of the vehicle, comprising a plurality of software clusters, a communication unit and a Multi Device Connector Routine. The communication unit is designed for handling communication between the software clusters and has a dedicated manifest and a configuration table for this purpose. The method includes updating at least one of the software clusters and executing the Multi Device Connector Routine, where at least the manifest of the updated software cluster is read in; at least one new manifest is generated for the communication unit by way of the read-in manifest; and at least one new configuration table is generated for the communication unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Ralph Mader, Rudolf Sieber, Stefan Kastner, Benjamin Kolb
  • Patent number: 11860208
    Abstract: A device tests the function of an antenna system which includes antenna units each having an antenna and a resistor and is connected between an input of a selection unit and an output of a further selection unit. A computing unit provides a control signal for the two selection units at a first output. The control signal determines which input is connected to an output of the selection unit, and which of the outputs of a further selection unit is supplied with a bias voltage present at the input of the further selection unit, and to receive the antenna signal present at the output of the selection unit at an input of the computing unit. A diagnosis circuit is connected between the output of the selection unit and a diagnosis voltage terminal. The computing unit infers a fault in the antenna system from the comparison of antenna signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Haggenmiller, Alexander Bueenfeld