Patents Assigned to ZF Active Safety GmbH
  • Patent number: 12143050
    Abstract: A control circuit, is disclosed, which is developed and intended for use in a motor vehicle. The control circuit comprises a first circuit portion, which is developed and intended to detect an error state of a control module and/or supply source, such as a voltage supply, of a drive arrangement, for example a drive arrangement of a brake system of the motor vehicle, and/or an electric drive of the drive arrangement, and is developed and intended to cause a short-circuit of the electric drive of the drive arrangement if an error state has been detected. A control method is also disclosed, for operating a brake system of a motor vehicle, as well as a computer program and a control unit or system having multiple control units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Grieser-Schmitz
  • Patent number: 12122233
    Abstract: A device for detecting a driver demand, the device outputting a purely electronic actuating signal, includes an actuating surface, for a foot of a user, the actuating surface being displaceable in an actuation direction in order to generate the actuating signal. At least two compression bodies arranged one behind the other in the actuation direction are provided, each of which has one elastic element and one rigid element, which are arranged one behind the other in the actuation direction in such a way that one rigid element acts on one elastic element when the actuating surface is acted upon by an actuation force. In addition, a sensor system is provided, the signal of which permits an inference to be made regarding the displacement of the actuating surface and is usable for generating the actuating signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Marx
  • Patent number: 12091105
    Abstract: A method for operating a steering system includes the steps of: (1) acquiring a variable at least during the partially automated driving; (2) determining whether or not the driver wishes to control the vehicle manually using a variable; (3) ending the partially automated driving and converting steering movements applied by the driver into steering movements of the motor vehicle via a front-axle actuator unit irrespective of the current rotational angle of the steering wheel, if the driver wishes to control the vehicle manually. The variable acquired during partially automated driving may be any of the following: a driver gripping force applied to the steering wheel, a driver torque applied to the steering wheel, deflection of the steering wheel, a gradient of the driver gripping force to the steering wheel, a gradient of the driver torque applied to the steering wheel, and deflection gradient of the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety GMBH
    Inventor: Heinz-Dieter Heitzer
  • Patent number: 12030474
    Abstract: A brake pedal module for a brake-by-wire brake system of a vehicle is disclosed. The brake pedal module includes a pivotably mounted brake pedal and a damping unit. The damping unit is mechanically coupled to the brake pedal to generate a resistance when the brake pedal is actuated. The brake pedal module comprises a sensor unit for detecting a braking intention of a driver. The sensor unit comprises at least one sensor for detecting an actuating travel, which is arranged on a pivot bearing of the brake pedal, and at least one further sensor for detecting an actuating force, which is arranged on a rear side of the brake pedal when considered in a plan view of an actuating surface of the brake pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Beuerle, Marcus Janson
  • Patent number: 12024063
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a hydraulic brake system (10) in a motor vehicle with regenerative braking function. In the method, if a generator braking force of an electric machine (50) is present or incipient, a hydraulic connection (80) between a brake cylinder (16) and a wheel brake (28) is opened before a hydraulic fluid is displaced in the direction of the wheel brake (28) by means of the brake cylinder (16). The invention furthermore relates to a hydraulic brake system (10) for a motor vehicle with regenerative braking function, and to a method for controlling a hydraulic brake system (10) with regenerative braking function. The invention also encompasses a computer program product, a control unit and a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventor: Frank Heller
  • Patent number: 12024143
    Abstract: A brake pedal module for a brake-by-wire brake system of a vehicle is disclosed, having a carrier component for securing the brake pedal module on the vehicle, a brake pedal pivotably mounted on the carrier component, and a damping unit for producing a resistance during actuation of the brake pedal. The damping unit has an insert, which comprises at least one elastic element. A receptacle for the insert is formed on the carrier component, which receptacle forms a housing of the damping unit and into which the insert is inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventors: Marcus Janson, Christoph Beuerle, Peter Polke
  • Patent number: 11970147
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns an assembly (100) for an electromechanical brake booster (200) of a vehicle braking system (1000). The assembly (100) comprises a housing (160) which has a longitudinal axis (L) and can be loaded with an electromechanically generated actuating force, and an output element (150) which extends away from the housing (160) and is configured for transmitting the actuating force to a brake cylinder (300) of the vehicle braking system (1000). The assembly (100) furthermore comprises an elastic element (190) which is supported on the housing (160) and configured to move the housing (160) away from the brake cylinder (300) into a starting position, and a guide (180) which is arranged on the housing (160) for the output element (150) and is configured to guide an angular deflection of the output element (150) with respect to the longitudinal axis (L) of the housing (160).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventors: José Manuel Calvo Martinez, Jennifer Klein
  • Patent number: 11951961
    Abstract: A testing method includes the steps of: (1) providing a negative pressure generator; (2) generating a negative pressure in a fluid passageway and a chamber which are in fluid communication with a guiding section of a fluid reservoir wherein a second sensing element is affixed to a guiding section of the fluid reservoir; (3) transferring a fluid flow stream from the guiding section to the chamber via the fluid passageway and drawing a float having a first sensing element from an upper position to a lower position within the guiding section; (4) generating a signal via the first and second sensing elements as the float moves relative to the second sensing element within the guiding section; and (5) transmitting a signal to at least one of a control unit or a graphical user display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignees: ZF Active Safety US Inc., ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventors: Blaise Ganzel, Andreas Marx, Daniel Noll
  • Patent number: 11919490
    Abstract: A hydraulic motor vehicle braking system includes a first functional unit, a second functional unit and a switching device. The first functional unit comprises at least one first valve arrangement designed to optionally connect or disconnect at least one first wheel brake associated with a first axle to or from an existing hydraulic pressure, and at least one second valve arrangement designed to optionally connect or disconnect at least one second wheel brake associated with a second axle to or from an existing hydraulic pressure. The second functional unit comprises at least one second electrical brake pressure generator, by means of which a brake pressure can be generated on at least the at least one second wheel brake, and a second control system which is designed to control the at least one second electrical brake pressure generator for a brake pressure regulation on at least the at least one second wheel brake in the event of a failure of the first functional unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventors: Nicholas Alford, Andreas Marx, Oliver Wolf
  • Patent number: 11919491
    Abstract: A method for operating a brake system of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The brake system comprises a drive arrangement for applying and/or boosting a brake force, wherein the drive arrangement has an electric drive. The method comprises the step: short-circuiting the electric drive as soon as the electric drive has been disconnected from a supply source and/or a voltage drop and/or current drop has taken place. A computer program, control circuit and a control unit or system having multiple control units is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventor: Heinrich Plewnia
  • Patent number: 11820342
    Abstract: A hydraulic motor vehicle braking system includes a first sensor device, a first functional unit, a second functional unit and a switching device. The first functional unit comprises at least one first electrical brake pressure generator, by means of which a brake pressure can be generated on respective wheel brakes, and a first control system which is designed to control the at least one first electrical brake pressure generator on the basis of a sensor signal of the sensor device. The second functional unit comprises at least one second electrical brake pressure generator, by means of which a brake pressure can be respectively generated on a subset of the wheel brakes, and a second control system which is designed to control the at least one second electrical brake pressure generator on the basis of the sensor signal in the event of a failure of the first functional unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventors: Nicholas Alford, Andreas Marx
  • Patent number: 11820339
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a brake fluid device comprising a brake fluid reservoir having a storage space, having a fastening device for fastening to a pressure generator unit of a motor vehicle brake system and/or to a mounting interface in a motor vehicle. The brake fluid interface has an outlet interface for transporting brake fluid into such a pressure generator unit, and having an inlet interface (15) for brake fluid. The brake fluid device further includes a filling adapter having a filling opening, having a receiving space, and having an outlet interface for brake fluid. A brake fluid line connects the outlet interface of the filling adapter and the inlet interface of the brake fluid reservoir and through which brake fluid is able to flow from the filling adapter into the brake fluid reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Freund
  • Patent number: 11820349
    Abstract: A pneumatic brake pedal module for a “brake-by-wire” brake system of a vehicle is disclosed. The brake pedal module has a pivotably mounted brake pedal and having a damping unit, which is mechanically coupled to the brake pedal to generate a resistance when the brake pedal is actuated, such that the damping unit is subjected to tension when the brake pedal is actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventors: Erwin Michels, Peter Polke
  • Patent number: 11820350
    Abstract: A brake pedal module for a “brake-by-wire” brake system of a vehicle is disclosed. The brake pedal module has a pivotably mounted brake pedal and a damping unit. The damping unit is mechanically coupled to the brake pedal in order to generate a resistance when the brake pedal is actuated. The damping unit comprises a housing and a piston mounted in the housing in such a way that it can be moved from an initial position into an end position. In its initial position, the piston is supported on a base of the housing via at least two elastic elements arranged in series. A further elastic element is arranged parallel to the at least two elastic elements on the base of the housing. The further elastic element is not subject to any load in an initial position of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Beuerle, Marcus Janson, Peter Polke
  • Patent number: 11821479
    Abstract: A system for controlling an electric brake for a wheel rotor having a brake pad associated therewith includes a housing defining a passage. An assembly is provided in the passage and includes a spindle rotatable about an axis and a piston aligned with the brake pad and axially movable in response to rotation of the spindle. A planetary gear stage includes a sun gear, a ring gear, and planetary gears. A first motor is coupled to the sun gear. A second motor coupled to the ring gear. A control system is configured to, in response to a detected braking event, rotate the first motor in a first direction to supply torque to the sun gear while the second motor is rotated in a second direction at varying speeds to supply torque to the ring gear such that the piston is cyclically moved towards and away from the brake pad to modulate a braking force on the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignees: ZF Active Safety US Inc., ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventors: Galus Chelaidite, Kraig Gerber, Bogdan Draghici
  • Patent number: 11807201
    Abstract: A method for operating a hydraulic motor vehicle brake system, in the event of a malfunction of the second functional unit includes the steps of generating a hydraulic pressure by means of the first hydraulic pressure generator and controlling at least one of the first valve assembly and the second valve assembly in such a way that a lower hydraulic pressure is established at the rear wheel brakes than at the front wheel brakes. The vehicle brake system includes a first functional unit, a second functional unit, and a control system. The first functional unit includes at least one first hydraulic pressure generator, a first valve assembly, and a second valve assembly, which is arranged between the first hydraulic pressure generator and the rear wheel brakes. The second functional unit includes at least one second, electric hydraulic pressure and a third valve assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventor: Heinrich Plewnia
  • Patent number: 11801820
    Abstract: An electrically actuatable operating unit (106) for a motor vehicle brake comprises a housing body (122) which is arranged so as to be displaceable in a braking direction for operation of the motor vehicle brake, a recess (150) formed in the housing body (122), wherein the recess (150) is delimited at one longitudinal end by a contact shoulder (172), a through-opening (158) delimited by the contact shoulder (172), an operating member (124) which is arranged in the recess (150) so as to be displaceable for operation of the motor vehicle brake and projects through the through-opening (158) of the contact shoulder (172), wherein the operating member (124) can be arranged in a force-transmitting manner between a brake pedal and the motor vehicle brake (400).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventors: Kurt Wingender, Martin Hofmann, José Manuel Calvo Martinez, Martin Sakalla, Iosu Oloriz del Rosario, Jennifer Klein
  • Patent number: 11781609
    Abstract: The invention relates to an actuating arrangement for a parking brake, having two components, of which one component is an actuating piston for actuating at least one brake shoe or is an intermediate element which is or can be placed in operative connection with the actuating piston, and the other component is a gear mechanism element for a stroke-imparting gear mechanism, and having a relative-rotation-preventing securing means for securing the components against rotation relative to one another. Provision is made whereby the relative-rotation-preventing securing means has at least one receptacle and a projection which engages into the receptacle, which receptacle and projection are assigned to in each case one of the components. Furthermore, at least one damping element is provided which is arranged between the projection and the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Walden
  • Patent number: 11772626
    Abstract: A method for brake lining wear detection is disclosed. The method comprises detecting a wear state of a brake lining installed in the area of a wheel housing and producing a state signal that indicates the wear state. The method also comprises coupling the state signal into at least one electrical line that leads to an evaluation unit for the state signal. The at least one electrical line also transmits at least one other signal from or to at least one other device installed in the area of the wheel housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventors: Erwin Michels, Benedikt Ohlig, Lutz Muders, Matthias Fuchs
  • Patent number: 11772620
    Abstract: A hydraulic motor vehicle brake system is specified with a device for generating a hydraulic fluid pressure. The device comprises an electrically controllable actuator and a piston in a pressure chamber, which is movable by means of the electrically controllable actuator for changing a hydraulic fluid pressure in the pressure chamber. The brake system also comprises a wheel brake pressure control device with a reservoir for the storage of hydraulic fluid discharged from a motor vehicle wheel brake in a pressure reduction phase, wherein the reservoir is fluidically coupled to the pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Passmann, Stefan Kraemer