Patents by Inventor Alexander Kruse

Alexander Kruse 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: 11198424
    Abstract: A method for operating a hybrid electric vehicle including an electric machine, a battery and an internal combustion engine, the load point of which is shifted upward to drive the electric machine for charging the battery in the generator mode, wherein a target state of charge of the battery is specified; a required target charging capacity is determined; the load point of the internal combustion engine initially is only shifted upward within an engine-map range of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Michael Vogt, Alexander Kruse, Stefan Appel, Christopher Hohm
  • Patent number: 10994720
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method for operating a start-stop system of a motor vehicle. The method include cutting off a drive motor when the speed of the motor vehicle falls below a speed threshold. The speed threshold is determined depending on at least one piece of environment-related information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Alexander Kruse
  • Publication number: 20200010075
    Abstract: A method for operating a hybrid electric vehicle including an electric machine, a battery and an internal combustion engine, the load point of which is shifted upward to drive the electric machine for charging the battery in the generator mode, wherein a target state of charge of the battery is specified; a required target charging capacity is determined; the load point of the internal combustion engine initially is only shifted upward within an engine-map range of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Michael VOGT, Alexander KRUSE, Stefan APPEL, Christopher HOHM
  • Publication number: 20180273020
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method for operating a start-stop system of a motor vehicle. The method include cutting off a drive motor when the speed of the motor vehicle falls below a speed threshold. The speed threshold is determined depending on at least one piece of environment-related information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Alexander KRUSE
  • Patent number: 9951839
    Abstract: A preloading device for a piston valve of a vibration damper includes a spring element which is fitted by an inner diameter onto a radially inner centering device which serves for inner centering of the spring element in the installed state of the preloading device. To provide a preloading device for a piston valve by which a reliable inner centering of a spring element can be ensured but which can be placed with low expenditure on assembly at the same time, the spring element is axially fixed at the centering device via retaining means in that the retaining means at least partially enclose the spring element axially on both sides and are rigidly connected to the centering device in each instance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Helmut Baalmann, Hassan Asadi, Hans Gonschorrek, Lothar Krill, Alexander Kruse, Oswald Lichtlein, Dirk Litterscheid, Thomas Manger, Heinz Sydekum, Harun Tucovic
  • Publication number: 20170009839
    Abstract: A vibration damper includes a piston rod (2) which transitions into a piston rod neck (4) while forming a contact shoulder (6) and guides a piston valve (1) at this piston rod neck (4), this piston valve (1) is pretensioned against the contact shoulder (6) of the piston rod (2). To reduce variances in damping force in batch fabrication of the vibration damper, a compensating disk (20) is fitted axially between the contact shoulder (6) and the piston valve (1), which compensating disk (20) is produced from a material with a lower yield strength compared to the piston rod (2) and/or compared to an immediately succeeding component of the piston valve (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Helmut BAALMANN, Hassan ASADI, Hans GONSCHORREK, Lothar KRILL, Alexander KRUSE, Oswald LICHTLEIN, Dirk LITTERSCHEID, Thomas MANGER, Harun TUCOVIC, Heinz SYDEKUM
  • Publication number: 20170002887
    Abstract: A preloading device for a piston valve of a vibration damper includes a spring element which is fitted by an inner diameter onto a radially inner centering device which serves for inner centering of the spring element in the installed state of the preloading device. To provide a preloading device for a piston valve by which a reliable inner centering of a spring element can be ensured but which can be placed with low expenditure on assembly at the same time, the spring element is axially fixed at the centering device via retaining means in that the retaining means at least partially enclose the spring element axially on both sides and are rigidly connected to the centering device in each instance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Helmut BAALMANN, Hassan ASADI, Hans GONSCHORREK, Lothar KRILL, Alexander KRUSE, Oswald LICHTLEIN, Dirk LITTERSCHEID, Thomas MANGER, Heinz SYDEKUM, Harun TUCOVIC
  • Patent number: 9079487
    Abstract: A device for operating a drive unit generates setpoint values for controlling the drive unit based on, for example driver-generated input parameters. The device generates a first setpoint value for a front-axle drive and a second setpoint value for a rear-axle drive and includes a load impact damping unit which, in the event of a risk of load impacts, processes the setpoint values so as to damp the load impacts. The load impact damping unit is divided into a first load impact damping filter for processing the first setpoint value for the front axle drive and into a second load impact damping filter for processing the second setpoint value for the rear axle drive, and supplies corresponding filtered setpoint values to these drives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Ruben Maier, Alexander Kruse
  • Patent number: 9007008
    Abstract: A method for controlling the operation of an arrangement of at least two electric machines coupled to different wheels of a motor vehicle and connected to a battery which provides an actual minimum and maximum limiting current for the electric machines. Desired torques are provided for the electric machines by a drive control logic. A desired current resulting from the desired torque is ascertained for each electric machine, and the sum of the desired currents are compared with the maximum and minimum limiting current. If the sum lies outside an interval defined by the limiting currents, the desired currents are adjusted using at least one change rule such that the sum of the desired currents lies within the interval. Adjusted desired torques are determined from the adjusted desired currents and used to control the electric machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Alexander Kruse, Tobias Schneider
  • Publication number: 20140300296
    Abstract: A method for controlling the operation of an arrangement of at least two electric machines coupled to different wheels of a motor vehicle and connected to a battery which provides an actual minimum and maximum limiting current for the electric machines. Desired torques are provided for the electric machines by a drive control logic. A desired current resulting from the desired torque is ascertained for each electric machine, and the sum of the desired currents are compared with the maximum and minimum limiting current. If the sum lies outside an interval defined by the limiting currents, the desired currents are adjusted using at least one change rule such that the sum of the desired currents lies within the interval. Adjusted desired torques are determined from the adjusted desired currents and used to control the electric machines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Alexander Kruse, Tobias Schneider
  • Publication number: 20140172208
    Abstract: For controlling a recuperation behavior in a motor vehicle having a hybrid drive or an electric drive, a basic value of a recuperation torque which is to be used for recuperation is predefined and/or can be set by at least one first operating element, a second operating element is used to set an intermediate value deviating from a basic value for the recuperation torque, after the intermediate value has been set by an operator temporarily, in particular for at least one coasting phase, the intermediate value is used as a recuperation torque, after which switching back to the basic value occurs where a resetting operation is entered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Audi AG
    Inventors: Reimund Limbacher, Alexander Kruse, Thomas Urban, Manfred Dietrich, Andreas Muigg
  • Patent number: 8738266
    Abstract: A vehicle has at least two drive wheels which can be driven in each case by single-wheel drive units which are in particular of structurally identical dimensions and which can be actuated by means of a control device, control device determines a target torque which, in a torque distribution unit, can be divided into a first target torque for the first drive unit and a second target torque for the second drive unit. The torque distribution unit is assigned an adjustment unit by means of which the first and/or the second target torque can be corrected with an adjustment factor which can be determined as a function of a torque difference, arising owing to manufacturing and/or component tolerances, between the drive units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Alexander Kruse, Ruben Maier, Michael Wein
  • Patent number: 8682519
    Abstract: A method operates a hybrid drive of a motor vehicle, which hybrid drive has an internal combustion engine and a first electric machine. The method generates, in response to a predefined setpoint torque value, a composite torque which drives the motor vehicle. In a transient operating mode which occurs during a change of the predefined setpoint torque value by a value, the composite torque is generated by summing a drive torque which is generated by the internal combustion engine and a drive torque which is generated by the first electric machine. At least one second electric machine is provided which is switched on during the transient operating mode in order to generate the composite torque of the internal combustion engine and of the first electric machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Ruben Maier, Harald Brunner, Alexander Kruse
  • Publication number: 20140039746
    Abstract: A control device for controlling operation of a motor vehicle having an electric motor in at least three operating states. In a first operating state, the motor vehicle is off; in a second operating state, the motor vehicle is on and the electric motor is not controllable; and in a third operating state, the motor vehicle is on and the electric motor is in operation. The control unit includes a basic control element for turning the motor vehicle on and off, and a gear-shift control element for selecting a gear-shift stage. The motor vehicle can be switched from a first operating state to a second operating state by a signal from the basic control element when the motor vehicle is turned on, and from the second operating state to the third operating state with the gear-shift control element by selecting a gear-shift stage associated with the third operating state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Inventors: Martin Geissenhöner, Alexander Kruse, Martin Bauer, Andreas Muigg
  • Publication number: 20130211640
    Abstract: The invention relates to a propulsion device for an all-wheel-drive vehicle with a front-axle drive (5, 7) and a rear-axle drive (19; 33, 34), which propulsion device has an electronic control device which defines a drive torque (MSumme) for driving the vehicle based on a driver request. The electronic control device is associated with a torque distribution unit (25), by way of which the drive torque (MSumme) can be variably distributed to the front-axle drive (5, 7) and the rear-axle drive (19; 33, 34) as a function of input parameters generated by a driver-assistance controller (31).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: Audi AG
    Inventors: Ruben Maier, Harald Brunner, Alexander Kruse
  • Publication number: 20130138284
    Abstract: A vehicle has at least two drive wheels which can be driven in each case by single-wheel drive units which are in particular of structurally identical dimensions and which can be actuated by means of a control device control device determines a target torque which, in a torque distribution unit, can be divided into a first target torque for the first drive unit and a second target torque for the second drive unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Alexander Kruse, Ruben Maier, Michael Wein
  • Publication number: 20130054063
    Abstract: A method operates a hybrid drive of a motor vehicle, which hybrid drive has an internal combustion engine and a first electric machine. The method generates, in response to a predefined setpoint torque value, a composite torque which drives the motor vehicle. In a transient operating mode which occurs during a change of the predefined setpoint torque value by a value, the composite torque is generated by summing a drive torque which is generated by the internal combustion engine and a drive torque which is generated by the first electric machine. At least one second electric machine is provided which is switched on during the transient operating mode in order to generate the composite torque of the internal combustion engine and of the first electric machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventors: Ruben Maier, Harald Brunner, Alexander Kruse
  • Publication number: 20130035838
    Abstract: A device for operating a drive unit generates setpoint values for controlling the drive unit based on, for example driver-generated input parameters. The device generates a first setpoint value for a front-axle drive and a second setpoint value for a rear-axle drive and includes a load impact damping unit which, in the event of a risk of load impacts, processes the setpoint values so as to damp the load impacts. The load impact damping unit is divided into a first load impact damping filter for processing the first setpoint value for the front axle drive and into a second load impact damping filter for processing the second setpoint value for the rear axle drive, and supplies corresponding filtered setpoint values to these drives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: Audi AG
    Inventors: Ruben Maier, Alexander Kruse
  • Patent number: 5957839
    Abstract: A tonometry catheter apparatus comprises an elongate, flexible, multilumen tube having a proximal end to be positioned outside the human body and a distal end to be positioned within a portion of the human body. Provided at the distal end are an ingress lumen through which gas may enter the tube, and an egress lumen through which gas may exit the tube. A hollow connecting member links the ingress lumen and the egress lumen to define a sampling circuit through which the gas may continuously recirculate. In one embodiment, the distal end of the tube is provided with a distensible, gas-permeable vessel in communication with the ingress and egress lumens. In an alternative embodiment, an extracorporeal gas-permeable membrane links the sampling circuit to a separate, gas-containing analyzing circuit. In each embodiment, a pump is provided for propelling gas through the circuits, and a sensor continuously quantifies the level of gas within the circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Wayne State University
    Inventors: James Alexander Kruse, Jorge Alberto Guzman
  • Patent number: 5743259
    Abstract: A tonometry catheter apparatus comprising an elongate flexible tube having a proximal extracorporeal end and a distal interacorporeal end. The distal end of the tube has a distensible, gas-permeable tonometry vessel, the vessel and the distal end defining therebetween a space which may be filled with a gas. An in-flow orifice lies in communication with the space, through which gas may enter the vessel. An in-flow lumen with a distal end and a proximal end is also provided, the distal end being in communication with the in-flow orifice. An out-flow orifice lies in communication with the space, through which the gas may exit the vessel. An out-flow lumen is disposed with a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being in communication with the out-flow orifice. The proximal end of the tube has a pump for propelling gas into the vessel. A capnometer and a sensor quantify the level of carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) gas exiting the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Wayne State University
    Inventors: James Alexander Kruse, Jorge Alberto Guzman