Patents by Inventor Alexander Kolbe

Alexander Kolbe has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11919519
    Abstract: A method and a device for operating an assistance system of a vehicle involves detecting laterally static and laterally dynamic objects, which the vehicle is to drive past, as lateral boundary objects. A respective lateral distance of the vehicle from the respective lateral boundary object is detected. A speed of the respective laterally dynamic object is determined and at least the respectively laterally dynamic object is classified according to its type. A set of characteristic curves is stored in a control unit of the vehicle, the characteristic curves of the set being assigned in each case to an environmental situation predetermined depending on lateral boundary objects. It is predetermined by a respective characteristic curve for the respective environmental situation at what maximum speed the vehicle is to drive past a lateral boundary object at different lateral distances from the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG
    Inventors: Andreas Spieker, Uli Kolbe, Alexander Heckmann, Raphael Raudenbusch
  • Patent number: 8855867
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor system including a plurality of sensor elements which are designed so that the elements detect at least partially different primary measured values and utilize at least partially different measurement principles, further including a signal processing apparatus, an interface apparatus and a plurality of functional apparatuses. The sensor elements are connected to the signal processing apparatus, which is designed so that it includes at least one of the following signal processing functions each for at least one of the sensor elements and/or the output signals thereof, an error handling, a filtering, a calculation and/or provision of a derived measured value. At least one measured value is derived from at least one primary measured value of one or more sensor elements, and all functional apparatuses are connected to the signal processing apparatus via the interface apparatus and the signal processing apparatus provides the signal processing functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., oHG
    Inventors: Stefan Günther, Alexander Kolbe, Bernard Schmid, Otmar Simon, Ulrich Stählin
  • Patent number: 8326490
    Abstract: A steering angle sensor system for measuring a steering angle in a motor vehicle. The steering angle sensor system includes a magnetic encoder which is coupled to at least one magnetic field sensor that senses a variation in the steering angle even when the ignition is switched off, and an electronic memory for storing the steering angle variation. The steering angle sensor system also includes at least one magnetic-field-sensitive element which is coupled to the magnetic encoder for detecting the occurrence of steering movements at an early time in order to at least partially activate the steering angle sensor system and/or another system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Christian Burgdorf, Klaus Rink, Frank Hickl, Patrick Schäfer, Alexander Kolbe
  • Publication number: 20120303221
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor system including a plurality of sensor elements which are designed so that the elements detect at least partially different primary measured values and utilize at least partially different measurement principles, further including a signal processing apparatus, an interface apparatus and a plurality of functional apparatuses. The sensor elements are connected to the signal processing apparatus, which is designed so that it includes at least one of the following signal processing functions each for at least one of the sensor elements and/or the output signals thereof, an error handling, a filtering, a calculation and/or provision of a derived measured value. At least one measured value is derived from at least one primary measured value of one or more sensor elements, and all functional apparatuses are connected to the signal processing apparatus via the interface apparatus and the signal processing apparatus provides the signal processing functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG
    Inventors: Stefan Günthner, Alexander Kolbe, Bernhard Schmid, Otmar Simon, Ulrich Stählin
  • Publication number: 20100057299
    Abstract: A steering angle sensor system for measuring a steering angle in a motor vehicle. The steering angle sensor system includes a magnetic encoder which is coupled to at least one magnetic field sensor that senses a variation in the steering angle even when the ignition is switched off, and an electronic memory for storing the steering angle variation. The steering angle sensor system also includes at least one magnetic-field-sensitive element which is coupled to the magnetic encoder for detecting the occurrence of steering movements at an early time in order to at least partially activate the steering angle sensor system and/or another system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Christian Burgdorf, Klaus Rink, Frank Hickl, Patrick Scháfer, Alexander Kolbe
  • Publication number: 20080039992
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement for detecting movements, which is designed as a monolithic arrangement and in which several sensors are integrated. A first sensor is provided to detect a linear acceleration and a second sensor to detect a yaw rate. The sensor arrangement also comprises a third sensor for detecting yaw acceleration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Peter Lohberg, Alexander Kolbe, Bernhard Hartmann
  • Patent number: 6145940
    Abstract: In a hydraulic brake system which is appropriate for active braking operations, the condition that at least one of the low-pressure accumulators is completely emptied during active braking without the suction line from the suction side of the return pump to the brake line being open has to be prevented. Therefore, the current consumption and/or the rotational speed of the drive motor of the return pumps is sensed and evaluated. When the pump idles and the low-pressure accumulator is empty, the rotational speed rises and the current consumption drops. This signal is used to open an electrically operated change-over valve in the corresponding suction line. In addition, a memorized pattern can ensure that the electrically operated change-over valve is open already shortly before exhaustion of the low-pressure accumulator, with the result that the low-pressure accumulator is prevented from being completely emptied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jochen Fuhrer, Alexander Kolbe
  • Patent number: 6082834
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement for a brake system having anti-lock control (ABS) and traction slip control by brake management (BASR) which has an electromotively driven hydraulic pump for the auxiliary pressure supply in the ABS mode and BASR mode, sensors to determine the wheel rotational behavior, and an electronic circuit for analyzing the sensor signals and generating braking pressure control signals. The hydraulic pump, in the BASR mode, is activated by a pulse train (at least temporarily), and the flow rate of the pump is adjusted to the requirements by modulating the pulse train, the requirements being determined by analyzing the traction slip and the instantaneous rotational speed of the hydraulic pump. Pulse patterns in the form of pulse trains with predetermined pulse times and times of pulse break serve to activate the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: ITT Automotive Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Kolbe, Thomas Sommer
  • Patent number: 6050652
    Abstract: For dampening vibrations in the drive system of a vehicle which is equipped with a control system (an anti-lock system, traction slip control system, etc.), torsional vibrations in the circumferential direction of the wheels are determined by evaluating the rotational behavior of the individual wheels. The torsional vibrations are dampened as a function of the amplitude and the phase positioning of the torsional vibrations by introducing braking pressure or by modulating the braking pressure introduced into the wheel brakes of the individual wheels for slip control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Kolbe, Klaus Honus
  • Patent number: 5980000
    Abstract: Circuitry for a brake system with traction slip control by brake management, wherein the traction slip control thresholds are variable, in excess of which braking pressure is introduced into the wheel brake of the overspeeding wheel. After the overspeeding of a wheel of a driven axle and the commencement of the control, the traction slip of the second, non-controlled wheel of the driven axle is determined and evaluated to produce a correction factor which adapts the traction slip control thresholds of the controlled wheel to the instantaneous slip of the second, non-controlled wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: ITT Automotive Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Kolbe, Verena Alberg
  • Patent number: 5795039
    Abstract: A circuit for a brake system with pressure fluid distribution, anti-lock control, and traction slip control. The circuit includes circuits to monitor the brake system and to change over or disconnect the control in response to defects and/or the respective control situation or driving situation. Upon failure of any one of the sensors which sense wheel rotation behavior or one sensor per axle or in the presence of an incorrect sensor signal, the vehicle reference speed is produced on basis of the intact sensors, and an electronic brake force distribution control function is still possible, however, an anti-lock control or a traction slip control is prevented. When the defective sensor is a rear-wheel sensor, both rear wheels are controlled synchronously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: ITT Automotive Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Fennel, Norbert Ehmer, Alexander Kolbe, Robert Schmidt, Thomas Proger
  • Patent number: 5704766
    Abstract: Method and circuit configuration for controlling the flow rate of an electromotively driven hydraulic pump which is activated by a variable pulse/pulse-break train for controlling the auxiliary pressure supply of a brake system including anti-lock control (ABS) and traction slip control by brake management (BASR). The generator voltage produced by the pump motor during times of pulse break is evaluated as a standard of the rotational speed of the pump. The nominal value of the pump speed is compared with the actual value of the pump speed in a control circuit, and the new correcting variable for the pump activation is derived from the difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: ITT Automotive Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Fennel, Alexander Kolbe, Klaus Honus
  • Patent number: 5415468
    Abstract: A circuit configuration and method for a traction slip control system which evaluates the speed (v.sub.ER) measured at a driven spare wheel with a correction factor K(t) in order to maintain or improve the control function even when a smaller size spare wheel has been mounted. This correction factor (K(t)) is determined by axlewise comparison of the rotating speeds (v.sub.na1, v.sub.na2 ; v.sub.a, v.sub.ER) of the wheels of one axle and by comparison of the speed differences measured on the driven and nondriven axles, with traction slip control being inactive. Upon transition from a very slippery road surface (.mu..sub.low homogeneous) to a dry road surface (.mu..sub.high homogeneous), without any prior determination of the correction factor, the slip threshold (S) is raised temporarily. When starting with different right/left friction coefficients (.mu.-split), with the spare wheel being mounted on the high friction coefficient side, a higher slip threshold (S.sub.ER) will be effective for this spare wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: Alfred Teves GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Latarnik, Alexander Kolbe, Klaus Honus
  • Patent number: 5322356
    Abstract: A method and a circuit configuration to augment the driving stability of a road vehicle using traction slip control by brake management. The drive wheel is identified which instantaneously exhibits the higher coefficient of friction (HM-wheel). The rotational pattern of this wheel is monitored and stabilized by brake management as soon as the traction slip of this wheel exceeds a limit value. Braking pressure which may exist in the wheel brake of the second drive wheel (LM-wheel) is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Alfred Teves GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Kolbe, Klemens Roesch
  • Patent number: 5293315
    Abstract: A variable control threshold (RS) is formed by a circuit configuration for the traction slip control through brake management, with the control threshold being composed of a basic threshold (GS) and a portion derived from the wheel slip acceleration. The wheel slip (VR) is compared to the control threshold to determine a control deviation, i.e. the difference between the control threshold (RS) and the wheel slip (VR). The brake pressure pattern (p), during a traction slip control process is controlled in response to the wheel slip acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: Alfred Teves GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Kolbe, Klaus Honus
  • Patent number: 5207484
    Abstract: A brake system with anti-lock and/or traction slip control, wherein quantities (.DELTA.t.sub.EV, .DELTA.t.sub.AV) determining the pressure in the wheel brakes (10, 11) are measured and assessed. A wheel pressure pattern (p(t)) is formed from these quantities by integration which, by approximation, represents the pressure variation in the wheel brakes (10, 11). The output signal of the integrator (20) is fed back to the control logic (16) and assessed for slip control and/or braking pressure control. For the integration, taken into account are the braking-pressure-increase and braking-pressure-decrease characteristic curves (P.sub.A, P.sub.E) and the initial conditions (21) which represent the initial pressure upon commencement of the control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Inventors: Hans W. Bleckmann, Helmut Fennel, Hans Wupper, Michael Latarnik, Alexander Kolbe