Patents Assigned to Volkswagen AG
  • Patent number: 7746097
    Abstract: In a transceiver for a control unit having a transceiver core for adapting the level of messages received or to be sent, an adjustable terminating network is situated in the transceiver that makes it possible to adjust at least two connection resistance values, the terminating network and the transceiver core being monolithically integrated in a semiconductor circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Klaus Lange, Carsten Schanze
  • Patent number: 7744514
    Abstract: A machining station and a method produce vehicle bodies of different types. A clamping station has interchangeable clamping frames, at least one clamping frame magazine, into which the interchangeable clamping frames are deposited when not in use and from which the interchangeable clamping frames are removed when in use, and at least one robot for transporting the interchangeable clamping frames. The interchangeable clamping frames, in particular the clamping frames for the vehicle body side parts, are divided into a plurality of separable segmental clamping frames, with, to convert to a different type of vehicle body, one segmental clamping frame in each case being transported by a robot from the clamping station to the clamping frame magazine, being deposited there, a segmental clamping frame of a different type being removed from the clamping frame magazine and this segmental clamping frame being transported to the clamping station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventor: Markus Rössinger
  • Patent number: 7740541
    Abstract: A drive shaft is provided with a sleeve enclosing at least sections thereof. The sleeve is fixed to the drive shaft in order that it may rotate with the drive shaft. The sleeve forms a heat shield with heat-reflecting and/or heat-insulating properties. This serves to effectively reduce the heat input into the drive shaft. In contrast to conventional heat shield plates, the problem of fixing is eliminated. Moreover, a heat shield sleeve according to the invention can also still be fitted in situations wherein the space is too restricted for a heat shield plate. In addition a savings in weight and material also results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Dietmar Hirsch, Jürgen Linzmeier
  • Patent number: 7736775
    Abstract: A fuel cell system has a fuel cell stack composed of a plurality of fuel cells with a cathode side having a cathode inlet and a cathode outlet and an anode side having an anode inlet and an anode outlet. It is possible for a hydrogen-containing medium to be fed to the anode side and an oxygen-containing medium to be fed to the cathode side. It is further possible for at least some of the anode exhaust gas to be fed to the cathode side. An anode-side exhaust-gas line opens into an opening in a feed line for the oxygen-containing medium on a suction side of a compressor that feeds the oxygen to the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Torsten Schwarz, Sven Schmitz, Christoph Maume
  • Patent number: 7722077
    Abstract: An airbag configuration provides an airbag outlet opening in a front instrument panel wall region. A given safety distance is provided between the airbag outlet opening and a potential head impact region of a vehicle occupant. The potential head impact region is provided in a head-impact instrument panel wall region adjoining the front instrument panel wall region in a direction away from a windshield and towards the vehicle interior. The safety distance is provided in such a manner that the airbag, after advancing in the direction of the vehicle interior by a distance corresponding to the safety distance between the airbag outlet opening and the potential head impact region, has a filling pressure which is reduced in accordance with predetermined limit values in comparison with the initial filling pressure in the airbag at the beginning of the airbag activation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Holger Dietze, Peter Dahmen, Jörn Kessler
  • Patent number: 7725539
    Abstract: In a method, a computer program and a system for carrying out a project from a plurality of differently located electronic data processing (EDP) devices, which are connected via a data network with a main server serving the central data loading for the purpose of data exchange and whereby, during individual working time intervals, respectively one other from the plurality of EDP devices for carrying out the project is at least partially activated. A method, computer program and system provide that employees at other sites, located at a distance from the main server, are permitted full cooperation in a project. The data network is configured in a cross-locational manner, and that the individual EDP devices are located distributed at least partially in a cross-locational manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Hermann Steinel, Bjoern Kothe, Michael Salewski, Bernd Poettner, Olaf Baumert
  • Patent number: 7711472
    Abstract: A navigation system for a vehicle includes a man-machine interface to enter at least one key word for characterization of a point of interest and to enter a geometric figure and a search module to search for at least one of the points of interest assigned to the key word within a geographic area defined by the geometric figure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Brian Finn, Carly Williams
  • Publication number: 20100106399
    Abstract: In a method for controlling a display device in a motor vehicle, the display device displays a geographic map having elements which are assigned geographic positions and which are displayed on the displayed map at the geographic positions they are assigned. The relevance of the elements displayable on the map for the user is evaluated and an automatic decision is made as a function of the result of the evaluation as to which elements are displayed at the geographic positions they are assigned. A display device in a motor vehicle includes a control device, a display connected to the control device, a memory or a plurality of memories for storing data for displaying a geographic map and for storing elements that are assigned geographic positions and which are displayable on the displayed map at the geographic positions they are assigned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Christoph Waeller, Andreas Ebert, Jens Fliegner, Yongmei Wu, Heino Wengelik
  • Patent number: 7698842
    Abstract: A plate, e.g., a license plate for motor vehicles, includes a base body which is made of an electrically conductive material, or has an electrically conductive layer applied either directly or via a further layer. Thus, the electrically conductive base body or its electrically conductive coating forms a first electrode of a flat capacitor. A layer having an electroluminescent pigmentation is applied on the base body or the electrically conductive layer. The electroluminescent coating may be applied by various methods, e.g., spray painting, brushing, special screen-printing methods, etc. To create the electrical field, it may be necessary to apply to the electroluminescent layer an electrically conductive layer for forming the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Fitzke Werberechnik
    Inventors: Michael Fitzke, Michael Mueller
  • Patent number: 7702434
    Abstract: A motor vehicle and an indicating apparatus for a motor vehicle, includes a display for optical depiction of information concerning the motor vehicle by the emission of light, and having a decorative layer positioned on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Cedric Dupont, Arne Stoschek, Sven Strohband
  • Patent number: 7690074
    Abstract: The invention relates to a connecting device for a blade on the wiper arm of a windshield wiper system, the wiper blade being formed by a springy support element that is provided with a wiper strip. The inventive connecting device comprises a holding mechanism that is fastened to the outer edges of the support element, and a connecting bolt which is disposed on the holding mechanism and runs transversal to the longitudinal extension of the wiper blade. The aim of the invention is to design such a connecting device in such a way that the parts which are subject to wear are placed on the wiper blade. The aim is achieved by the fact that an adapter bracket is hinged to the connecting bolt. The final piece of the wiper arm, which is adapted to the adapter bracket, can be joined in a fixed and detachable manner to the adapter bracket via a locking connection or latch and is connected thereto in a fixed manner in the assembled state of the wiper blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Ostrowski
  • Patent number: 7689254
    Abstract: A mobile radio configuration for a motor vehicle has a vehicle-mounted terminal that is firmly installed in the vehicle. The terminal has, or is connected to, a mobile radio module linked with an antenna and a Bluetooth module. The system further includes a radio terminal that is provided with a SIM and a Bluetooth module. A Bluetooth connection can be established between the vehicle-mounted terminal an the mobile radio terminal, via which connection the SIM data can be transferred into the firmly installed terminal which then logs onto the mobile radio network using the SIM data. The mobile radio terminal functions as a handset of the vehicle-mounted terminal and the useful data are exchanged via the Bluetooth modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Volkmar Tanneberger, Nikolai Reimer
  • Patent number: 7682723
    Abstract: A membrane for fuel cells, which is characterized by a homogeneous absorption and good retention of doping agents, and which guarantees a high mechanical stability at high temperatures when doped. Such membranes consist of at least one polymer, whose nitrogen atoms are chemically bonded to a central atom of a derivative of a polybasic inorganic oxo acid. The membranes are produced from polymer solutions that are devoid of water and oxo acid derivatives, by heating the solution that has been introduced into a membrane mold until a self-supporting membrane has been formed and then by thermally regulating the latter. Inventive fuel cells having a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) that comprises a membrane of the invention and phosphoric acid as the doping agent have, for example, an impedance of 0.5-1 ?cm2 at a measuring frequency of 1000 Hz and at an operating temperature of 160° C. and a gas flow for hydrogen of 170 mL/min and for air of 570 mL/min.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Dieter Melzner, Annette Reiche, Ulrich Maehr, Suzana Kiel, Stefan Haufe
  • Patent number: 7681812
    Abstract: In a method for sorting shredder residues of metal-containing wastes, e.g., vehicle bodies, the shredder residues are separated into a shredder light fraction and a non-ferromagnetic fraction (shredder heavy fraction). A system is arranged for sorting shredder residues of metal-containing wastes, e.g., vehicle bodies. At least parts of the primary material streams produced during the sorting of the shredder light fraction and the shredder heavy fraction in preliminary processes are fed to a common, main process for final processing, at least a ferromagnetic fraction, a fraction containing non-ferromagnetic metals, a granulate fraction, a fiber fraction, and a sand fraction being produced as end products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Daniel Goldmann, Bram den Dunnen, Michael Knust
  • Patent number: 7681813
    Abstract: In a method for sorting shredder residues of metal-containing wastes, e.g., vehicle bodies, the shredder residues are separated into a shredder light fraction and a non-ferromagnetic fraction (shredder heavy fraction). A system is arranged for sorting shredder residues of metal-containing wastes, e.g., vehicle bodies. At least parts of the primary material streams produced during the sorting of the shredder light fraction and the shredder heavy fraction in preliminary processes are fed to a common, main process for final processing, at least a ferromagnetic fraction, a fraction containing non-ferromagnetic metals, a granulate fraction, a fiber fraction, and a sand fraction being produced as end products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Daniel Goldmann, Bram den Dunnen, Michael Knust
  • Patent number: 7678018
    Abstract: A method for implementing shifts from a source gear to a target gear of an automatic shift transmission includes storing a respective upshift threshold and a respective downshift threshold for each possible sequential gear shift. The respective upshift threshold and the respective downshift threshold are defined in dependence of an accelerator pedal position, such that a limit value that is valid for a respective upshift or downshift is stored as a vehicle speed value in a control device. The vehicle speed that changes while the motor vehicle is driving and a changing accelerator pedal position are measured. Downshifts are simplified for a driver by configuring at least two downshift thresholds to be substantially horizontally extending in a first region of a possible accelerator pedal position and at least partly step-shaped in a second region of the possible accelerator pedal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventor: Stephan Schaefer
  • Patent number: 7677637
    Abstract: A protective cover for motor vehicle, motor vehicle components, machines, etc., includes a cover protecting the principal part of the object, and at least one protective covering for at least one component movably affixed on the object. The protective covering for the movable component is a protective covering that is separate from the cover for the principal part of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Nalan Aydar, Uwe Lehrmann
  • Patent number: 7677645
    Abstract: An impact protection reinforcing element has at least one outer surface which is conformed to the contour of a surface of at least one vehicle body part in such a way that it may be positioned with extensive contact against the body part in the area of complementary construction and connected firmly to the body part. Provision is made for the impact protection reinforcing element to be formed of a fiber/plastics composite. A method of producing the impact protection reinforcing element uses an injection molding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventor: Hartmut Henkelmann
  • Patent number: 7669543
    Abstract: A display device for a motor vehicle, e.g., an instrument cluster, includes at least one first display device emitting image-forming light, and at least one illuminated and/or self-luminous electromechanical second display device. The first display device is arranged in a visual field of an observer. The second electromechanical display device is arranged at an angle to the first display device, and a combination element is provided between the first display device and the electromechanical display device, the combination device being transparent to the image-forming light in the first display device and reflective to the image-forming light of the electromechanical second display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Bernd Soltendieck, Robert Hofmann, Gustav Hofmann, Andreas Medler, Mathias Kuhn, Michael Bauer
  • Patent number: 7669579
    Abstract: In a method for controlling the air ratio lambda and for controlling the torque of an internal combustion engine, e.g. of a diesel engine, a fuel is supplied in at least two injection processes, including a main injection of a main injection quantity and a post-injection of a post-injection quantity, and the main injection quantity is influenced to control the torque and the post-injection quantity is influenced to control the lambda value. A corrective main injection quantity ascertained for the torque control is at least proportionally subtracted from the post-injection quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Thomas Lang, Joerg Larink