Patents Assigned to Volkswagen AG
  • Method for operating a hybrid vehicle and hybrid vehicle with a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine coupled to an electric motor
    Patent number: 7278392
    Abstract: In a method for operating a hybrid vehicle with a combustion engine coupled to an electric motor having at least one inlet and one outlet valve per cylinder, a variable valve control, and a fuel injection device, with a first partial power, from the overall drive power provided to the vehicle, it is provided that upon request a cylinder that can be switched off is deactivated and filled with fresh gas, and upon request for activating the cylinder in the temporally next suction and/or compression phase of the cylinder a predetermined amount of fuel and an ignition of the mixture occurs by no later than the end of the compression phase and/or that in order to adjust the momentum during the activation of a cylinder that had been switched off a multiple injection of fuel occurs, preferably a dual injection, in a homogenous split mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Michael Zillmer, Ekkehard Pott, Matthias Holz
  • Exhaust-gas recirculation device and method for operating an exhaust-gas recirculation device
    Publication number: 20070214771
    Abstract: An exhaust-gas recirculation device for an internal combustion engine, in particular for a diesel engine of a passenger car, includes an air-supply line connected to an air inlet of the internal combustion engine and includes an exhaust-gas line connected to an exhaust-gas outlet of the internal combustion engine. A turbine, which drives a compressor disposed in the air-supply line, is disposed in the exhaust-gas line. The exhaust-gas line is connected to the air-supply line via an exhaust-gas recirculation line branching off in flow direction behind the turbine. An adjustable throttle is disposed in the air-supply line in flow direction in front of the compressor in order to achieve higher exhaust-gas recirculation rates. A method for operating an exhaust-gas recirculation device for an internal combustion engine is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Applicant: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Achim Freitag, Jorn Muller, Lothar Nee, Werner Aberle
  • Cylinder head gasket for use in an internal combustion engine and internal combustion engine equipped therewith
    Patent number: 7249578
    Abstract: A combustion engine includes a cylinder head and a cylinder crankcase having a cylinder bore and a coolant duct formed therein. The coolant duct is disposed adjacent the cylinder bore and is a cooling system component. A cylinder head gasket is provided between the cylinder head and the cylinder crankcase. The coolant duct has a coolant duct upper end and is open toward the cylinder head gasket at the coolant duct upper end. The cylinder head gasket has a side facing the cylinder crankcase when the cylinder head gasket is installed. The cylinder head gasket has a channel formed on the side of the cylinder head gasket that faces the cylinder crankcase. The channel is in a flow connection with the coolant duct and is part of the cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Jan-Henrik Fricke, Franz-Josef Bielefeld
  • Method and device for the display of information
    Patent number: 7236857
    Abstract: In a method for the display of optical information in an application with a display in a motor vehicle, the information is available in a given format. The information format is changed by a data processing process based on control information. The information is displayed in a changed format on the application page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, ESC Electronic System Concepts GmbH
    Inventors: Carsten Schnier, Stefan Lux, Doerte Falk, Rolf Feldmann, Uwe Heidemann
  • Exhaust gas recirculation means and process for operation of the exhaust gas recirculation means
    Patent number: 7219661
    Abstract: The invention relates to an exhaust gas recirculation means 1 for an internal combustion engine 2 with an air supply line 12 which has an air cooler 13 and which is connected to the air inlet 10 of the internal combustion engine 2, and with an exhaust pipe 14 which is connected to the exhaust gas outlet 11 of the internal combustion engine 2, the exhaust pipe 14 being connected by way of a closable exhaust gas recirculation line 16 to the air supply line 12, and the exhaust gas recirculation line 16 being connected in the flow direction to the air supply line 12 upstream from the air cooler 13. Furthermore the invention relates to a process for operating such an exhaust gas recirculation means 1. To improve the dynamics of the internal combustion engine 2, for the exhaust gas recirculation means 1 it is proposed that the air cooler 13 has a bypass air line 31.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventor: Werner Aberle
  • Internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 7210461
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle with a cylinder head, an intake manifold, and a fuel distributor rail. The downstream end of the intake manifold is connected by a flange to intake channels in the cylinder head of the internal combustion engine. The fuel distributor rail is located at the downstream end of the intake manifold and is connected to fuel injection valves. The internal combustion engine is installed in the motor vehicle in such a way that the intake manifold is located on the side of the cylinder head on which the external crash force will act during a crash. A protective strap, which extends at least over the entire width of the flange, is attached to the cylinder head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Nico Schreeck, Andreas Deyda, Kurt Hoppe
  • Motor vehicle comprising a drive train having a multiple clutch drive
    Patent number: 7207922
    Abstract: A power train for a motor vehicle is configured with a control unit operable to increase or decrease the flow of operating fluid as a function of the instantaneous demand for the supply of the operating fluid to at least one of multiple clutch arrangements in such a way that the control unit decreases or interrupts the flow of operating fluid when the supply demand is low and increases the flow of operating fluid unit when the supply demand is high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Jochen Kuhstrebe, Olaf Moseler, Axel Rohm, Eduard Steiner, Rainer Reuthal, Hans-Jürgen Schneider, Wolfgang Kundermann, Jörg Sudau, Thomas John, Thomas Strasser
  • Multi-cylinder internal combustion engine and method for the individual shutdown and restart of its cylinders
    Patent number: 7204226
    Abstract: In a method for the individual shutdown and restart of cylinders of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine having at least one intake and one exhaust valve per cylinder, a variable valve control, and a fuel injection system, according to the requirement of its shutdown, a deactivateable cylinder is filled with fresh gas and according to the requirement of its restart, an injection of a predetermined quantity of fuel as well as an ignition of the mixture takes place in the chronologically next intake phase or compression phase of the cylinder before the end of the compression phase at the latest. Furthermore, for the individual shutdown and restart of cylinders, the mass of fresh air present in the deactivateable cylinder in the deactivated operating state and/or the mixture parameters are determined and consulted for determining a fuel quantity to be injected when restarting said cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Michael Zillmer, Ekkehard Pott, Matthias Holz
  • Door system for a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 7193509
    Abstract: A door system for a motor vehicle includes a door, an environmental sensor for detecting an obstacle in the vicinity of the motor vehicle, a door sensor for outputting an output signal as a function of the initiation of the opening of the door, and a control unit for detecting an imminent collision between the door and the obstacle as a function of an output signal of the environmental sensor and for triggering a warning device such that a warning may be output by the warning device in response to the detection of an imminent collision between the door and the obstacle. During the triggering of the warning device, the control unit distinguishes between at least two selectable warning stages, a first warning stage and a second warning stage, and the selection of a warning stage by the control unit is a function of the output signal of the door sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Arne Bartels, Falk Beil, Brian Finn, Klaus Schaaf
  • Method and device for determining the geometric vehicle inclination of a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 7194341
    Abstract: A method is for determining a geometric vehicle inclination ? of a motor vehicle, where an acceleration signal of at least one acceleration sensor is used and a speed gradient dv/dt is determined from a measured vehicle speed v, where a) in the case of a moving or standing vehicle, an acceleration value aS is derived from a force acting on the acceleration sensor, b) a corrected acceleration value akorr is determined as a function of the speed gradient dv/dt, and c) the current vehicle inclination ? is directly deduced from the corrected acceleration value akorr.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventor: Manfred Altenkirch
  • Method and apparatus for controlling a transmission of a vehicle
    Patent number: 7188540
    Abstract: The movement of a shift rail in an automatic gear transmission system, wherein each shift rail is connected to an associated actuator, is controlled with an electrical control signal. When a first electrical control signal is sent to a first of the actuators to actuate the first of the actuators, a second electrical control signal is sent to the other actuator(s) to cause the other actuator(s) to be locked in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventor: Richard Taylor
  • Creep resistant magnesium alloys with improved castability
    Patent number: 7169240
    Abstract: A magnesium based alloy containing at least 86 wt % Mg; 4.8 to 9.2 wt % aluminum, 0.08 to 0.38 wt % manganese, 0.00 to 0.9 wt % zinc, 0.2 to 1.2 wt % calcium, 0.05 to 1.4 wt % strontium, and 0.00 to 0.8 wt % rare earth elements. The alloy may also comprise up to 0.02 wt % zirconium and up to 0.001 wt % beryllium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignees: Dead Sea Magnesium Ltd., Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Boris Bronfin, Eliyahu Aghion, Frank Von Buch, Soenke Schumann
  • Fender configuration for a vehicle, especially for a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 7159911
    Abstract: A bumper for a vehicle contains a bumper cross beam extending in a transversal direction of the vehicle, a bumper cover forming the external face of the bumper, and an energy-absorbing insert disposed at least in parallel between the mounted bumper cross beam and the bumper cover. The insert has a plurality of deformation cavities and/or deformation free spaces. The insert has a first boundary layer, a medial layer, and a second boundary layer. The medial layer has a different energy absorptive capacity than the two boundary layers and is associated with the bumper cross beam. The deformation cavities and/or deformation free spaces are embodied in the medial layer such that in case of a collision, the insert is plastically deformable at least partially in the transversal and/or longitudinal direction of the vehicle along a small part of a block length to absorb energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Ngoc-Dang Nguyen, Dirk Becker
  • Fuel cell system and method for generating electrical energy using a fuel cell system
    Patent number: 7160638
    Abstract: A fuel-cell system, particularly a fuel-cell system for a drive system of a motor vehicle, includes an autothermic reformer unit configured to generate hydrogen from a raw material. The hydrogen is used to operate a fuel-cell unit disposed downstream of the reformer unit. An oxidation device configured to convert carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide is disposed between the reformer unit and the fuel cell unit. A water injection device is disposed in the oxidation device and is configured to inject water into the oxidation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, AB Volvo
    Inventors: Olaf Duebel, Axel Koenig, Per Ekdunge, Peter Alin, Jessica Grace Reinkingh, Ronald Mallant
  • Headrest for a vehicle seat
    Patent number: 7144083
    Abstract: A motor-vehicle headrest has an upright mounting rod adapted to be anchored in a vehicle seat back and an upright rear wall at an upper end of the rod and forming part of a rear forwardly open housing shell. An upright front wall forming part of a front rearwardly open housing shell is spaced forward of and directly forms with the rear wall a cavity containing the upper end of the rod. The front wall is formed by a pair of side portions unitary with each other and each forming a wing. Membrane hinges between and formed unitarily with the side portions pivot the side portions about at least one upright axis. Upholstery surrounds the portions of the front wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignees: Grammer AG, Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Ronald List, Marian Edward Sikora, Peter Schmuda Von Trzebiatowski
  • Vehicle
    Patent number: D533480
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Klaus Bischoff, Urs Rahmel, Andreas Mindt
  • Windscreen wiper blade combination-element
    Patent number: D545752
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignees: Federal Mogul, S.A., Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Xavier Boland, Pierre Henin, Sophia Genet
  • Vehicle
    Patent number: D551121
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Peter Schreyer, Derek Jenkins, Sulaeman Halim
  • Vehicle
    Patent number: D552016
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Klaus Bischoff, Urs Rahmel, Andreas Mindt
  • Vehicle
    Patent number: D552511
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Ralf Dekena, Jens Manske, Laurent Boulay