Patents Assigned to Volkswagen AG
  • Patent number: 7654077
    Abstract: A method is for controlling the operation of an exhaust-gas sensor disposed in an exhaust duct of a motor vehicle and equipped with an internal or external sensor heating device, the motor vehicle including a combustion engine and an automatic switchoff, which causes an automatic switching off of the combustion engine when at least one stop condition is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Skoda Auto A.S.
    Inventors: Michael Zillmer, Matthias Holz, Ekkehard Pott, David Prochazka
  • Patent number: 7656586
    Abstract: A rear-view mirror (3) for a motor vehicle is provided with a reflector layer (40) which is used to reflect light which impinges on the rear-view mirror (3) from a first viewing direction, a display layer (36) which is arranged behind the reflector layer (40) in relation to the viewing direction (41) and which is used to emit light, a quarter wave plate (74) which is arranged between the display layer (36) and the reflector layer (40) and a reflecting linear-polarisation layer (73) which is arranged between the display layer and the quarter wave plate (74).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Daniel Rosario, Pao Hsu Chen, Cedric Dupont, Arne Stoschek, Will Specks
  • Patent number: 7655334
    Abstract: A proton-conducting electrolyte membrane is disclosed, comprising at least one base material and at least one dopant, which is the reaction product of an at least dibasic inorganic acid with an organic compound, comprising one acidic hydroxyl group, or the condensation product of said compound with a polybasic acid. The membrane may be produced by a single step method, which avoids the use of dangerous materials and environmental pollutants. Subsequent doping of the membrane, e.g., in conjunction with assembly of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is not excluded. The electrolyte membrane has a high and constant mechanical stability and flexibility, excellent chemical and thermal stability and a high and constant conductivity. The membrane may be used in a fuel cell in a wide temperature range from 50° C. to more than 200° C., for example, whereby the fuel cell has a high and constant power level over the entire temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Dieter Melzner, Suzana Kiel, Ulrich Mahr, Annette Reiche
  • Patent number: 7656056
    Abstract: A vehicle electrical system includes at least one battery, at least one fan and a device for detecting a critical state in the vehicle electrical system. The fan is activated when a critical state of the vehicle electrical system is detected. In this context, use is made of the fan's ability to store mechanical energy in the form of inertias. The fan operates in a regenerative manner and electrically feeds the mechanically stored energy back into the on-board electrical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Stefan Brosig, Holger Manz, Nikolaus Wahnschaffe
  • Patent number: 7650202
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a motor vehicle or a motor vehicle part, wherein the motor vehicle or the motor vehicle part is assembled from components, wherein at least two components are each connected to at least one transponder in order to transmit an identification information item, wherein an identification information item transmitted by a transponder is received by means of a first antenna, wherein an identification information item transmitted by a transponder is received by means of a second antenna and wherein it is checked whether a component can be installed or is correctly installed, wherein the component is installed or is classified as correctly installed only if at least one identification information item received by means of the first antenna corresponds both to an identification information item received by means of the second antenna and to a predefined identification information item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Sven Strohband, Manojkumar Debnath, Thomas Chan
  • Patent number: 7645404
    Abstract: A composition for producing a protective coat against scaling on metallic surfaces. The composition includes, as binders, hydrolysates/condensates of at least one silane or a silicone resin binder and also, further, at least one metallic filler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Nano-X GmbH, Thyssenkrupp Steel AG
    Inventors: Uwe Paar, Stefan Sepeur, Stefan Goedicke, Kurt Steinhoff
  • Patent number: 7643017
    Abstract: A servosystem, in particular a servosystem for a motor vehicle, includes a display showing a list of clickable menu items, a rotary knob with a rotary element to operate the rotary knob, with a number of mechanical detents to alternately increase the rotary momentum necessary for rotating the rotary element, with a brake to brake the rotary element and with a rotation sensor to measure the rotation of the rotary element with a resolution that is the least four times, in particular at least six times, and with particular preference at least eight times the number of mechanical detents per rotation of the rotary element, and a control for converting the rotation of the rotary element into a scrolling motion through a list and for activating the brake when the last clickable menu item of the list is reached or the first clickable menu items of the list is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Jackie Lai, Brian Finn, Philippe Alessandrini
  • Patent number: 7617708
    Abstract: An ignition lock for a motor vehicle includes a carrier element for holding an ignition key that is inserted in the ignition lock. The carrier element is movable along a longitudinal axis of the ignition lock. The carrier element pushes a slide bar from a blocking position to an unblocking position when the carrier element moves along the longitudinal axis. A latch bar, when in its latching position, restricts a movement of the carrier element along the longitudinal axis and, when in its unlatching position, allows the carrier element to move along the longitudinal axis. When the latch bar is in its unlatching position and the slide bar is in its blocking position, the slide bar prevents the latch bar from moving from the unlatching position to the latching position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Marquardt GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Frohne, Ralf Borngräber, Steffen Buhl, Dennis Meβmer, Thomas Schwarz
  • Patent number: 7615750
    Abstract: A device for determination of the surface condition of a roadway includes a light-sensitive sensor to measure a light signal reflected from the surface of the roadway and an analyzer to determine the surface condition of the roadway as a function of the power of the light signal at a first wavelength in the infrared range, at a second wavelength in the infrared range and at least a third wavelength in the infrared range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Cedric Dupont, Arne Stoschek, Jan MuEnchhoff
  • Patent number: 7607087
    Abstract: An input device, e.g., for a motor vehicle, includes: a touch screen for the input of commands by touching a control panel or by pressing on the control panel; an actuator for moving the touch screen in at least one direction with respect to a reference body; and an substantially unshaped spring for the mechanical connection of the touch screen to the reference body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventor: Michael Prados
  • Patent number: 7602352
    Abstract: A flush-fitted instrument cluster for a motor vehicle includes a first display device, a second display device, and a reflecting optical combination device. The first display device (2) displays a first image located in a direct field of vision (3) of a viewer. The first image includes a background surface area (2c). The second display device (4; 40, 41) is arranged at an angle to the first display device (2) and displays a second image including a background surface area (40a, 42a; 41a, 43a). The reflecting optical combination device (5) selectively displays the second image in the field of vision (3) of the viewer with the first image. The first image and the second image are not completely overlapping in the field of vision (3) of the viewer to form an overlapping surface area (40a, 41a) and non-overlapping surface area (42a, 43a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventor: Thomas Kiesewetter
  • Patent number: 7595722
    Abstract: In a multifunction operating device, e.g., for a vehicle, for selecting function groups and functions in a menu structure that may be represented on a display device, the operating device includes at least one two-directional rotating element. The two-directional rotating element may be arranged so that it may select function groups and/or functions in a menu plane. A second operating element may be provided for selecting the menu planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Matthias Heimermann, Heino Wengelnik, Carsten Schnier
  • Publication number: 20090230639
    Abstract: A method for operating active stabilizers in a motor vehicle includes an on-road mode and an off-road mode. In the on-road mode a stabilizer is activated and deactivated in dependence on operating parameters of the motor vehicle, in particular the travel speed and/or the lateral acceleration and/or a level sensor system, wherein in the activated state rolling motions of the vehicle are reduced by introducing torque into the stabilizer or stabilizers that counteracts the rolling motion. In the off-road mode, the stabilizer is deactivated up to a given travel speed or, in case of an alternate jouncing of the wheels, a control of the stabilizer is performed such that a downward force of the rebounding wheel is increased. Wheel slip may be used as a parameter when controlling the stabilizers. A motor vehicle having active stabilizers is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: Volkswagen AG
    Inventor: PATRICIO VAN CAYZEELE
  • Publication number: 20090228158
    Abstract: The multi-function control device for a motor vehicle has a plurality of operating elements, function groups and/or functions subordinate to the function groups being operable via the operating elements, the function groups having one or more menu levels, which are displayable via a display device, and one or more function groups being active, and a selected function group from among the group of the active function groups, and/or at least one function subordinate to the selected function group is displayable using the display device, it being possible to access non-selected, active function groups and/or at least one function subordinate to the non-selected function group, within the selected function group without leaving the context of the selected function group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Medler, Jan Michaelis, Frank Hauschild, Kyoung Sun Han
  • Publication number: 20090212928
    Abstract: A method, a device, and a communication system are provided for secure communication of at least one of multiple components of a vehicle with at least one external communication partner via a wireless communication link, the multiple components in each case including at least one communication module for data exchange. The method includes exchange of data packets between a transceiver device of the vehicle and an external transceiver station, a communication status of the wireless communication link being ascertained and a data exchange between the at least one component and/or the external communication partner on the one hand, and the others of the multiple components on the other hand and/or an access of the at least one component and/or of the external communication partner to the others of the multiple components being enabled or disabled as a function of the communication status. The device and the communication system are provided for implementing the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventor: Amer Aijaz
  • Patent number: 7578528
    Abstract: A configuration for sealing-off two fluid-carrying subassemblies, in particular for sealing-off a case, the inner space of which is filled with a first fluid and through the inner space of which there is led a pipeline filled with another fluid which flows into a construction space that is separated from the inner space filled with the first fluid by a case wall. Between a first sealing element and a second sealing element there is disposed a supporting ring, which, on each of its side faces assigned to the sealing elements, has a contour for the reception and diversion of a fluid volume which has flowed onto the supporting ring as a result of leakage in the region of the respectively assigned sealing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventor: Stefan Tölle
  • Patent number: 7580973
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for loading, storing and presenting web pages, by which means the required band widths and the time taken to load web pages for an application are reduced. To this end, components or information elements separate from web pages are provided with indicators by which means the expiry dates can be deduced. The indicators are evaluated by the application which may be a browser. In this way, the application can reload only the updated data/components from the original source. Information elements which are constant over a long period of time can be completed or loaded by the application from a memory associated with the same. The loading times and data quantities for a data transmission from an original source to an application can thus be considerably reduced. The invention also relates to an information system which uses said method, preferably in a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Dorte Falk, Stefan Lux, Dietmar Peters, Carsten Schnier, Uwe Heidemann, Rolf Feldmann
  • Patent number: 7580779
    Abstract: In a method for operating a hybrid vehicle with an electric motor coupled with a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder that can be switched off, with a first partial momentum, from an overall momentum provided to the vehicle, being provided by the internal combustion engine and a second partial momentum from the electric motor, and the second partial momentum is used specifically for dampening a cyclic irregularity of the internal combustion engine. Further, means are provided in a hybrid vehicle control, by which the second partial momentum can be used specifically to dampen the cyclic irregularity of the internal combustion engine when one or, if necessary, several cylinders are switched off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Michael Zillmer, Ekkehard Pott, Matthias Holz
  • Patent number: 7552928
    Abstract: A method for operating active stabilizers in a motor vehicle includes an on-road mode and an off-road mode. In the on-road mode a stabilizer is activated and deactivated in dependence on operating parameters of the motor vehicle, in particular the travel speed and/or the lateral acceleration and/or a level sensor system, wherein in the activated state rolling motions of the vehicle are reduced by introducing torque into the stabilizer or stabilizers that counteracts the rolling motion. In the off-road mode, the stabilizer is deactivated up to a given travel speed or, in case of an alternate jouncing of the wheels, a control of the stabilizer is performed such that a downward force of the rebounding wheel is increased. Wheel slip may be used as a parameter when controlling the stabilizers. A motor vehicle having active stabilizers is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventor: Patricio Van Cayzeele
  • Patent number: D604202
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Klaus Bischoff, Thomas Ingenlath, Christian Felske