Patents Assigned to Volkswagen AG
  • Publication number: 20230132671
    Abstract: A method, by a control device, to activate an active discharge circuit to discharge a capacitive energy storage of at least one electrical consumer of an on-board power supply for a motor vehicle. An energy source for the on-board power supply can be coupled to the on-board power supply and be disconnected from the on-board power supply by a switching device. The control device receives a signal (S) for activating the active discharge circuit, examines, after receiving the signal (S), if the energy source is disconnected from the on-board power supply according to at least one first criterion, and activates the active discharge circuit only upon satisfaction of a condition that the energy source has been disconnected from the on-board power supply according to the at least one first criterion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicants: AUDI AG, VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Tobias GRASSL, Jan SCHMÄLING, Samy ARNAOUT, Marko KERTES, Markus NOVOTNY, Tobias KNOKE
  • Patent number: 11517974
    Abstract: Device (10) for manufacturing a component compound by resistance welding, comprises a welding electrode (12) for transmitting an electric current to a joining element (17) and for exerting a joining force onto the joining element (17) along a joining direction (22) in order to establish a connection of the joining element (17) with a structural element by resistance welding; as well as a positioning device (20) for positioning at least one joining element (17) on the axis of the joining direction (22) in order to contact and particularly apply a force to the joining element (17) by means of the welding electrode (12). The positioning device (20) comprises a retention device (30) for exerting a retention force onto the joining element (17), wherein the retention device (30) is movably arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, ARNOLD UMFORMTECHNIK GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Noack, Friedrich Beck, Uwe Wolfarth, Lars Wiese, Christoffer Meyer
  • Patent number: 11506107
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement (100) for connecting a first fluid-conducting component (110) to a second fluid-conducting component (120), more particularly in the exhaust gas line of a motor vehicle, having a seal (130), which seals the components (110, 120) at the connecting point, and having a band clamp (140), which encloses the components (110, 120) at the connecting point and attaches the components (110, 120) to each other. According to the invention, the seal (130) is formed with a tab (131), which protrudes at the connecting point after the components (110, 120) have been connected and is visible through a separation joint (141) of the band clamp (140). The invention further relates to a corresponding method for connecting a first fluid-conducting component (110) to a second fluid-conducting component (120).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignees: AUDI AG, VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Sönke Andreas Tangermann, Holger Morsch, Bertram Seidl, Onur Ulas Car, Janet Schlothauer
  • Patent number: 11500087
    Abstract: A method for classification of ground conditions in the vicinity of a vehicle using a radar sensor, comprising: receiving reflected portions of a radar signal at a receiver unit of a radar system; calculating information derived from the received portions of the radar signal for discrete spatial regions by the radar system or a control unit connected thereto; assigning the information to data structure units associated with a geographical location and the assignment of the information taking into account movement of the vehicle; collecting pieces of information in the respective data structure units, the pieces of information being obtained from reflected portions of radar signals transmitted at different times; evaluating the information contained in the data structure using a classifier to obtain information regarding the ground condition; assigning ground condition types to the data structure units based on evaluation results obtained by the classifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignees: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbH, Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Thorsten Bagdonat, Marc-Michael Meinecke, Andreas Löffler, Thomas Fechner
  • Patent number: 11495813
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a membrane-electrode assembly comprising a membrane structure with an anode layer, a cathode layer, and a membrane layer, wherein the membrane layer is positioned between the anode layer and the cathode layer. The membrane-electrode assembly furthermore comprises an anode-side gas-diffusion layer arranged on the anode layer and a cathode-side gas-diffusion layer arranged on the cathode layer. Furthermore, at least one of the anode-side gas-diffusion and the cathode-side gas-diffusion layers has a structure on the side facing away from the membrane structure. According to some embodiments, the structure comprises a plurality of columns for forming a laterally-open flow field, wherein the columns have support surfaces for supporting a bipolar plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Adel Jilani, Sanjiv Kumar, Sebastian Voigt
  • Patent number: 11489177
    Abstract: A humidifier is provided having a humidifier module which is arranged between end plates and has a steam-permeable membrane, wherein on each of the two sides of the membrane, a flow field frame having a plurality of bridges defining a flow field is arranged, and between each flow field frame and the membrane a seal is arranged. A motor vehicle with a fuel cell device having a humidifier is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventor: Rune Staeck
  • Patent number: 11489178
    Abstract: A method for determining the starting state of a fuel-cell system is provided having cathode and anode chambers separated by a membrane-electrode assembly, comprising the steps of initially introducing hydrogen into the anode chamber, measuring the voltage and evaluating whether at least a threshold value has been reached immediately after the start of the introduction of hydrogen into the anode chamber, and determining the starting state as a function of whether the threshold value has been reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Maren Ramona Kirchhoff, Christian Schröder
  • Patent number: 11473728
    Abstract: A method for filling a high-pressure gas accumulator from a reservoir is provided, comprising: removing the gas from the reservoir, transporting the gas through a gas line to a jet pump coupled to the interior of the high-pressure gas accumulator, and generating a ring flow guided along the inside of the wall of the high-pressure gas accumulator. A high-pressure gas accumulator that is suitable for carrying out the method and has a casing having a heat-sensitive layer on the inside, and has an inlet opening that traverses the casing and the layer, wherein a jet pump coupled to the inlet opening is arranged within the casing, and wherein the jet pump is oriented to generate a guided flow to the wall of the casing opposite the jet pump with deflection therein into a ring flow flowing along the heat-sensitive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Maik Kraus, Florian Hennecke
  • Patent number: 11469425
    Abstract: A humidifier comprises at least one humidifier module, which has a membrane permeable to water vapor and respectively on both sides of the membrane, a flow field frame with at least two walls defining a flow channel. A thermal bridge with an increased thermal conductivity compared to the membrane protrudes through the membrane. A fuel cell device comprises such a humidifier and a motor vehicle includes a fuel cell device comprising such a humidifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Rune Staeck, Christian Lucas, Oliver Berger
  • Patent number: 11450865
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack formed from a plurality of cell units, which have gas diffusion layers, wherein the gas diffusion layer of at least one of the edge cell units has a heat transfer mechanism of reduced efficiency in comparison with the gas diffusion layer of a cell unit from the middle of the fuel cell stack. A motor vehicle may include such a fuel cell system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Lasse Schmidt, Hannes Scholz, Sebastian Kirsch
  • Patent number: 11442595
    Abstract: In a method for controlling the selection of media files for playback, graphical objects are displayed, and each media file is assigned to one graphical object in each case. In addition, first probabilities, by which the media files are selected for playback, are indicated in the method via a feature of the graphical objects. An operating action by a user, by which the feature of at least one graphical object is modified, is detected. Moreover, second probabilities are assigned to the graphical objects as a function of the modification of the feature of the at least one graphical object. The media files are selected for replay as a function of the second probabilities. In addition, a device is arranged for controlling the selection of media files for replay purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventor: Robert Schulz
  • Patent number: 11424466
    Abstract: A membrane electrode unit has a seal arranged on the edge region, wherein the seal in part penetrates into the edge region of the membrane electrode unit and in part fully covers the edge region outside the membrane electrode unit, which enables sealing of the gas chambers of a fuel cell and at the same time reliably interrupts a leakage path at the edge in membrane electrode units with flush cut. The membrane electrode unit is surrounded by a sealing frame which at least partially surrounds the edge region with the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignees: AUDI AG, VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Matthias Reckers, Hannes Scholz
  • Publication number: 20220255127
    Abstract: A solid-state electrolyte (for an electrode layer of a solid-state battery has a core made of a core material and a shell layer surrounding the core and made of a shell material, wherein the core material has a crystalline structure, and the shell material has an amorphous structure, and wherein the core material and the shell material have the same chemical composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Applicant: Volkswagen AG
    Inventor: Wenbo ZHANG
  • Patent number: 11362338
    Abstract: A battery component includes a polymer frame having at least one window, the polymer frame having a first planar side and an opposite second planar side, and a window edge between the first and second planar sides. The battery component also has a battery cell component having a separator and bipolar current collector, the battery cell component being attached to the frame, the separator or bipolar current collector being attached to the first planar side or the window edge. A battery stack, a method for handling the battery component as an individual unit are also provided, electric vehicle battery and electric vehicle are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG, DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE
    Inventors: Mirko Herrmann, Angela Speidel, Rouven Scheffler
  • Patent number: 11362371
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a battery component includes unrolling a polymer foil from a roll; forming windows into the unrolled polymer foil; and placing a battery cell component over each window. The battery cell component advantageously can be a solid-state electrolyte functioning as a separator, which is thereby well protected for handling and in later use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG, DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE
    Inventors: Mirko Herrmann, Angela Speidel, Rouven Scheffler
  • Patent number: 11322758
    Abstract: A method for reducing cell degradation in a fuel cell system includes adding oxygen-containing gas to a fuel in the anode chamber to prevent an increase in a cell voltage above a predetermined maximum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Miriam Stiefel, Lasse Schmidt, Gerold Hübner
  • Patent number: 11316179
    Abstract: In order to provide a method for producing a composite of a bipolar plate and an MEA, the following is proposed: arranging the bipolar plate in a tool, which has a ferromagnetic or magnetic element, which partially forms the contact surface for the bipolar plate and is designed to be removable from the tool, arranging a membrane electrode assembly on the bipolar plate, arranging a second ferromagnetic or magnetic element on the membrane electrode assembly, removing the membrane electrode assembly and bipolar plate fixed to one another by the two ferromagnetic or magnetic elements, inserting the bipolar plate fixed to the membrane electrode assembly into a second tool, injecting a melt of a polymeric sealing material into the at least one mold cavity of the tool, allowing the melt to solidify, and demolding and removing the composite or the composites. In addition, a composite and a fuel cell stack are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG
    Inventor: Brian Walter Dickson
  • Publication number: 20220115931
    Abstract: A measurement system for an electrical machine includes a position sensor device arranged on a rotor of the electrical machine, a carrier connected to the position sensor device, and a temperature sensor device fastened to the carrier. The position sensor device is configured to ascertain an item of information about an orientation of the rotor. The temperature sensor is configured to ascertain a temperature of a stator of the electrical machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Applicants: TE Connectivity India Private Limited, TE Connectivity Germany GmbH, Volkswagen AG, TE Connectivity Belgium BV
    Inventors: Bram Embo, Dirk Pillu, Rainer Schindel, Sebastian Wiechert, Mathias Dohmann, Manivasakan Ravinthiran
  • Patent number: 11302927
    Abstract: A method for producing a noble metal-free catalyst comprises providing a catalyst support comprising organic heterocycles as catalyst, and applying an oxidation-inhibiting protective layer. Embodiments further relate to a noble metal-free catalyst, a fuel cell, and a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Gerold Hübner, Lasse Schmidt, Alexander Vollbrecht
  • Patent number: D974273
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignees: Trico Belgium, SA, Volkswagen AG
    Inventor: Arthur Taillard