Patents Assigned to Volkswagen AG
  • Patent number: 11031612
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell system comprising a shut-off element arranged in each case in a supply path and exhaust path of the anode and/or cathode supply, and comprising a gas connection arranged in each case between a shut-off element and a fuel cell stack for connecting to an external test gas supply. The gas connections allow diagnosis and/or maintenance of the fuel cell stack in the installed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Jan Denecke, Maren Ramona Kirchhoff
  • Patent number: 11014449
    Abstract: In a method for displaying information, in particular in a vehicle, a list of multiple graphic objects is graphically represented on a display, a display area of the display being associated with each represented graphic object and the objects being selectable for executing a function. Prior to the selection of one of the objects, an animation runs in the display area of at least one graphic object, which illustrates the function associated with the graphic object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Mathias Kuhn, Rainer Dehmann, Frank Hauschild
  • Patent number: 10996841
    Abstract: A console includes a console surface, an interactive touch bar disposed within the console, the touch bar configured to move from a position recessed within the console surface to a position raised above the console surface and the touch bar being configured to receive user touch input, and a proximity sensor disposed on the console surface, the proximity sensor configured to detect a user gesture. The touch bar is configured to rise above the console surface when the proximity sensor detects the user gesture. The interactive surface comprising a capacitive surface zone configured to detect user touch input. The interactive touch surface is configured to receive sliding user input across the interactive touch surface to navigate through content options and is configured to receive pressing user input for selecting the content options.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Audi AG
    Inventors: Matthew Jolda, Nils Koetter, William Lathrop
  • Patent number: 10991965
    Abstract: The invention relates to a membrane electrode assembly (15) for a fuel cell (10), comprising a membrane (11) on each side of which is disposed a catalytic layer (12, 13), and on this a gas diffusion layer (30). It is provided that the gas diffusion layer (30) comprises a layer with electrically conductive particles (35), and a portion of the particles (35) is arranged directly adjacent to the catalytic layer (12, 13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Audi AG
    Inventors: Lasse Schmidt, Martin Göbel, Miriam Stiefel, Julian Ronnenberg
  • Patent number: 10964959
    Abstract: A seal (34) for a fuel cell (10), which includes multiple bipolar plates (13) and at least one membrane electrode assembly (12), the seal (34) having a seal body (40) surrounding a free inner chamber (42) is provided. It is provided that at least two flow barriers (46) pointing into the inner chamber (42) are formed as a single piece with the seal body (40), the flow barriers (46) being situated at a distance from the seal body (40) by at least one connecting element (48).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Audi AG
    Inventors: Ian Stewart, Darcy McGowan
  • Publication number: 20210071563
    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: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicants: Audi AG, Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: SÖNKE ANDREAS TANGERMANN, HOLGER MORSCH, BERTRAM SEIDL, ONUR ULAS CAR, JANET SCHLOTHAUER
  • Patent number: 10936273
    Abstract: A method for displaying a display element on at least one vehicle-side display device of a vehicle includes: transmitting, from the vehicle to a terminal via a data link, information about a size of the vehicle-side display device; providing, by the terminal, data for displaying the display element, as a function of the transmitted information about the size of the display device; and transmitting, from the terminal to the vehicle via the data link, the data for displaying the display element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Patrick Lünnemann, Christopher Seubert
  • Patent number: 10938040
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bipolar plate (10) for a fuel cell stack. The bipolar plate (10) respectively has two profiled separator plates (12, 14) respectively having an active area (16) and two distribution areas (18, 20) for supplying and discharging reaction gases and coolant to or from the active area (16), wherein the separator plates (12, 14) are designed and arranged on top of each other such that the respective bipolar plate (10) has separate channels (28, 30, 32) for the reaction gases and the coolant, which channels connect ports (22, 24, 26) for reaction gases and coolant of both distribution areas (18, 20) to each other. In the mounted fuel cell stack, the channels (28, 30) for the reaction gases are respectively bordered by a surface of a separator plate (12, 14) and a surface of a gas diffusion layer (58).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignees: AUDI AG, VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventor: Hannes Scholz
  • Patent number: 10923749
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating a fuel cell that comprises at least one individual cell with a membrane and catalysts, wherein humidity within the fuel cell is actively influenced as a function of a voltage of the fuel cell, and the method further includes specifying an initial humidity at an initial operating-point-related voltage, and specifying a second humidity that is lower than the first humidity at a second operating-point-related voltage that is higher than the first operating-point-related voltage. Furthermore, the disclosure relates to a fuel cell system that is configured to perform the method according to the disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Julie Bellerive, Tommy Cheng, Andrew Desouza
  • Patent number: 10906401
    Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a steering wheel and a touchpad integrated into the steering wheel, situated in a channel, and adapted to input commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventor: William Brian Lathrop
  • Patent number: 10882478
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methodologies for providing a comfort system of a transportation vehicle include capturing and assessing movement data of a user. The movement data can include movement data captured upon the user's approach to the transportation vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, PORSCHE AG, BENTLEY MOTORS LIMITED
    Inventors: Benedict A. Recktenwald, David Irving
  • Patent number: 10886576
    Abstract: A battery includes a first battery cell including an endplate current collector cathode, an endplate current collector anode, a plurality of battery cell components between the endplate current collector cathode and the endplate current collector anode, each battery cell component including a cathode, a separator, an anode and a bipolar current collector, and at least one sense tab connected to and extending from one of the bipolar current collectors between the endplate current collector cathode and the endplate current collector anode. A second battery cell is connected in parallel to the first battery cell via the endplate current collector cathode and the endplate current collector anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG, Dr. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AG
    Inventors: Mirko Herrmann, Angela Speidel
  • Patent number: 10882492
    Abstract: A method for authenticating a user on a transportation vehicle, wherein the transportation vehicle is coupled to an external device storing an authentication secret code and to at least one token storing a token secret code. In the method the token secret code is transmitted to the transportation vehicle when an operator control action performed with the at least one token is sensed. A new secret code is generated from the token secret code and is compared with the authentication secret code. When the new secret code matches the authentication secret code, the user is authenticated on the transportation vehicle. Also disclosed is an apparatus for authenticating a user on a transportation vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Bastian Bartels, Sarah Boroske
  • Patent number: 10879549
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bipolar plate (1) for a fuel cell (100) comprising a profiled anode plate (7) and a profiled cathode plate (8), each having an active region (6) as well as two distributor regions (2) for supply and discharge of operating media to or from the active region (6), wherein the distributor regions (2) each have one main anode gas port (3) for supply and discharge of fuel, one main cathode gas port (4) for supply and discharge of oxidizer, which is arranged in such a manner that cathode channels (41) extending therefrom run straight, at least across the distributor region (2) of the bipolar plate (1), and have a flow direction that corresponds to a main flow direction in the cathode channels (41) in the active region, as well as a main coolant port (5) for the supply and discharge of coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG
    Inventor: Christian Martin Zillich
  • Patent number: 10872485
    Abstract: A communication system for managing usage rights to a vehicle, having a vehicle which includes a communication module inside the vehicle, a mobile terminal, and an electronic vehicle key which communicates with the communication module inside the vehicle and with the mobile terminal and allocates usage rights for the vehicle. Allocation of usage rights for the vehicle, which are carried out by the electronic vehicle key, are controlled by the mobile terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Hendrik Decke, André Oberschachtsiek
  • Patent number: 10870335
    Abstract: It is proposed to arrange a plurality of individual separator elements (48, 49) on the first side (40) of the membrane (38) in order to provide a humidifier (37) with integrated water separator, in particular for fuel cells (11) having a water vapor permeable membrane (38) and separator elements (48, 49) for separating water, wherein the membrane (38) on a first side (40) is in contact with a first channel (41) for a first humid gas stream, and on the second side (42) is in contact with a second channel (43) for a second, dry gas stream to be humidified, which allows an optimized exchange of moisture between the exhaust gas and operating medium streams of a fuel cell. Also provided is a fuel cell system and vehicle having the aforementioned humidifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignees: AUDI AG, VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Christian Lucas, Rune Staeck
  • Patent number: 10870421
    Abstract: A device for control of a safety-relevant process. For automated driving, safety precautions are necessary. The brake system is a redundant design including primary and secondary brake systems. Both brake systems safely decelerate the transportation vehicle and take over the function of the other brake system. The control of the safety-relevant process is based on the analysis of the signals of at least one sensor. A hardware architecture and a test mode for the hardware architecture are provided. A communications bus enables exchange of data between the primary and secondary control units. The at least one sensor of the hardware architecture connects to the primary control unit and to the secondary control unit, wherein a respective sensor arrangement isolation circuit is associated with the primary control unit and the secondary control unit, which isolates the associated primary or secondary control unit from the at least one sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventor: Alexander Tschiene
  • Patent number: 10850611
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel tank (10) having at least two layers (12) stacked one on top of the other, wherein the layers (12) each have a plurality of single tanks (14) lined together. The invention further relates to a vehicle (100) having the fuel tank (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Andre Buchholz, Christian Schönwald, Ismail Levent Sarioglu, Maik Kraus
  • Patent number: 10847817
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method to determine a content of a gas component in a gas mixture delivered recirculating through an anode chamber (12) or a cathode chamber (13) of a fuel cell (10), wherein the delivery takes place via a delivery device (26) functioning according to the positive displacement principle. The invention also relates to a fuel cell system (100) configured to execute the method. According to the invention, the content of the gas component is determined depending on geometric parameters (V, ?) and operating parameters (n, U, I) of the delivery device (26), as well as on thermodynamic state variables (p, T) of the gas mixture. The sought target quantity, for example a hydrogen component of an anode gas, can thus be determined in a simple and robust manner from quantities that are already known or measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Harald Heinrich, Wolfgang Hable, Torsten Schwarz
  • Patent number: 10847812
    Abstract: The invention relates to a separator plate, a membrane electrode assembly and a fuel cell stack, which are designed for higher voltages. It is provided that in the active region at least one of the cell components contains at least one insulating element which permanently enables different electrical potentials in a cell plane (orthogonal to the stacking direction).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Hannes Scholz, Matthias Reckers, Lutz Lackenmacher