Patents by Inventor Alexander Maass

Alexander Maass 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: 8738205
    Abstract: A method for determining the beginning of a start phase of an internal combustion engine in a hybrid vehicle, in which a second drive unit drives the hybrid vehicle, the internal combustion engine being started upon reaching a certain drive torque of the second drive unit. In order to always be able to achieve the maximum solely electric driving range of the hybrid vehicle using the second drive unit and simultaneously improve the driving comfort of the hybrid vehicle by optimizing the internal combustion engine start triggering, the internal combustion engine is started when a predicted drive torque of the second drive unit is less than or equal to the drive torque, as instantaneously measured and increased by a torque reserve, of the second drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Steuernagel, Alexander Maass, Andreas Seel
  • Publication number: 20130337973
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a drive device (1) of a motor vehicle, said drive device (1) comprising at least one combustion engine (3) and at least one electric machine (9), as well as a dual clutch transmission (4) which can be functionally connected to the combustion engine (3) and which comprises a first sub-transmission (5), a first clutch (6) being associated therewith, and a second sub-transmission (7), a second clutch (8) and the electric machine (9) being associated therewith. In a purely electrical driving operation, the electric machine (9) is operated in a motorised manner, a driving gear is engaged in the second sub-transmission (7), and both clutches (6, 8) are disengaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Alexander Maass, Boyke Richter
  • Patent number: 8527168
    Abstract: A method for ascertaining a rotational speed parameter for determining a setpoint torque for driving a drivetrain. The drivetrain comprises a first and at least one second drive assembly for driving a hybrid vehicle. The first drive assembly can be coupled to the drivetrain by means of a clutch. The second drive assembly is mechanically coupled to the drivetrain. When the hybrid vehicle is being driven by means of at least the first drive assembly, the rotational speed parameter corresponds to the value of a shaft rotational speed. When the hybrid vehicle is being driven only by means of the second drive assembly, the rotational speed parameter corresponds to the value of a determined rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Maass, Christian Vienken, Manfred Hellmann, Kai Moegle
  • Patent number: 8370023
    Abstract: A driver assistance system having a lane-keeping function, having a device for detecting the lanes on a roadway, and a control unit for intervening in the steering system of the vehicle for lane-keeping. Means are provided in the driver assistance system for detecting the position of the vehicle with respect to the lane marking of the lane. Furthermore, means are provided for detecting a travel of the vehicle through a curve. The control unit executes its control function as a function of the position of the vehicle on the lane and as a function of the cornering. The intervention depends on whether the vehicle is located on the inner side of the curve or on the outer side of the curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Alexander Maass
  • Patent number: 8237794
    Abstract: A method for detecting an optical structure from image sequences of an image recording system. An optical flow field is derived from the image sequences of the image recording system. The vectors of the optical flow field are broken down into components by projection onto a coordinate system of the image recorded by the image recording system. At least one component of the flow vectors is analyzed for a change of direction. The image elements containing a change of direction of a vector component are connected to form a curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Moritz, Alexander Maass, Jens Schick, Alexander Wuerz-Wessel
  • Publication number: 20120130579
    Abstract: A method for determining the beginning of a start phase of an internal combustion engine in a hybrid vehicle, in which a second drive unit drives the hybrid vehicle, the internal combustion engine being started upon reaching a certain drive torque of the second drive unit. In order to always be able to achieve the maximum solely electric driving range of the hybrid vehicle using the second drive unit and simultaneously improve the driving comfort of the hybrid vehicle by optimizing the internal combustion engine start triggering, the internal combustion engine is started when a predicted drive torque of the second drive unit is less than or equal to the drive torque, as instantaneously measured and increased by a torque reserve, of the second drive unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventors: Frank Steuernagel, Alexander Maass, Andreas Seel
  • Publication number: 20120116623
    Abstract: A method is described for operating a vehicle, in particular a hybrid vehicle, in which at least one of the axles of the vehicle is driven by a drive unit causing the vehicle to be accelerated at a predefined setpoint torque, in that a partial drive torque is transferred to at least one axle and the wheels coupled to it. For the setpoint torque requested by the driver to be converted into the corresponding acceleration of the vehicle, the partial drive torque of the steered axle and/or the unsteered axle is corrected while negotiating a curve in such a way that the vehicle is accelerated at the predefined setpoint torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Alexander Maass, Manfred Hellmann
  • Patent number: 8126640
    Abstract: A method for travel course prediction in a motor vehicle having a position finding system for objects situated ahead of the vehicle is provided. In accordance with the method, a function describing the shape of the roadside is calculated on the basis of measured distance data and angle data for stationary roadside targets, wherein multiple stationary targets are identified and tracked. The path of the road is estimated for various subsets of the set of tracked stationary targets, under the assumption that these stationary targets are situated along the roadside, and roadside targets are differentiated from interfering objects on the basis of the plausibility of the resulting possible shapes of the roadside, the most probable shape of the roadside being determined on the basis of the roadside targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Hermann Winner, Werner Urban, Jens Lueder, Alexander Maass
  • Publication number: 20120022730
    Abstract: A method for driving a hybrid vehicle during a load reversal includes: the application of a first torque on a first hybrid vehicle axle during an acceleration reversal; and the application of a second torque on a second hybrid vehicle axle during the acceleration reversal, a direction of action of the second torque being opposite to a direction of action of the first torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Alexander Maass, Jens-Werner Falkenstein, Markus Vogelgesang, Benjamin Klotz, Manfred Hellmann
  • Publication number: 20110301797
    Abstract: A method and a device for operating a hybrid vehicle, which ascertain the torque necessary for starting the non-operating internal combustion engine, and this torque is reserved by an additional drive unit. The torque necessary for starting the non-operating internal combustion engine is minimized by appropriately adjusting parameters of the internal combustion engine system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Frank Steuernagel, Alexander Maass, Thorsten Juenemann
  • Publication number: 20110288709
    Abstract: A method and a device for operating a drive train for a vehicle is described, which has at least one drive unit, which is suitable for outputting a drive torque. The rates of change for triggering a torque increase and a torque reduction of the drive torque of the at least one drive unit are specified. This occurs in such a way that the specifiable rates of change of the torque increase and the torque reduction of the drive torque of the at least one drive unit are different.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventor: Alexander Maass
  • Patent number: 7620497
    Abstract: A method and a device for driver information and for a reaction upon leaving the traffic lane by a vehicle. In this context, the course of at least one edge marking of the traffic lane is ascertained, the track of the vehicle that is to be expected is determined, and as a function of these variables the possible leaving of the traffic lane by the vehicle is ascertained. In the determination of the track of the vehicle, future reactions of the driver are taken into consideration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Alexander Maass
  • Publication number: 20090216404
    Abstract: A driver assistance system having a lane-keeping function, having a device for detecting the lanes on a roadway, and a control unit for intervening in the steering system of the vehicle for lane-keeping. Means are provided in the driver assistance system for detecting the position of the vehicle with respect to the lane marking of the lane. Furthermore, means are provided for detecting a travel of the vehicle through a curve. The control unit executes its control function as a function of the position of the vehicle on the lane and as a function of the cornering. The intervention depends on whether the vehicle is located on the inner side of the curve or on the outer side of the curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventor: Alexander Maass
  • Patent number: 7551093
    Abstract: A method and a device for warning a driver, the magnitude of the generated warning signal being a function of the probability of the driver inattentiveness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Alexander Maass
  • Patent number: 7382236
    Abstract: A method and a device are proposed for driver information and for a reaction upon the leaving of the traffic lane by the vehicle. The driver warning and the driver intervention are a function, in this context, of the driving situation, especially of the type of an edge marking of the traffic lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Maass, Joerg Heckel
  • Publication number: 20080061952
    Abstract: A method and a device for driver information, according to which a warning is produced on the basis of the lane information which indicates crossing of the lane edge. Upon branching of a roadway line, the particular outer lines are used as lane edge markings as the basis for the lane departure warning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Alexander Maass
  • Publication number: 20070299596
    Abstract: A method for detecting an optical structure from image sequences of an image recording system. An optical flow field is derived from the image sequences of the image recording system. The vectors of the optical flow field are broken down into components by projection onto a coordinate system of the image recorded by the image recording system. At least one component of the flow vectors is analyzed for a change of direction. The image elements containing a change of direction of a vector component are connected to form a curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Rainer Moritz, Alexander Maass, Jens Schick, Alexander Wuerz-Wessel
  • Patent number: 7292920
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for the lateral guidance of a vehicle. A warning device that outputs a warning signal when straying from a traffic lane is able to be turned off by a switching means when driving on a road that is not suitable for lateral guidance, in particular an inner-city road, and be turned on again when reaching a road that is suitable for lateral guidance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Maass, Klaus-Guenther Fleischer
  • Patent number: 7289059
    Abstract: A method and a device for course prediction in motor vehicles, which have a position-finding system for objects situated in front of the vehicle, where a function describing the path of the roadway is calculated on the basis of measured distance and angular data, in that several fixed targets are identified and tracked and supplied (subjected) to a statistical evaluation, a plausibility criterion being that at least one parameter of the functions, which describe these roadway paths, has a significant frequency maximum at the value which corresponds to the real roadway path. At the beginning of the evaluation, the frequency distribution for all parameters is set to a predefined frequency value, and the frequency values of the parameters are reduced or increased by a predefined numerical value as a function of the position of fixed targets or vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Alexander Maass
  • Publication number: 20070063855
    Abstract: A method and a device for warning a driver, the magnitude of the generated warning signal being a function of the probability of the driver inattentiveness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Inventor: Alexander Maass