Patents by Inventor Andreas Giefer

Andreas Giefer 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).

  • Publication number: 20100307276
    Abstract: An actuating device for a gear shifting transmission. The actuating device includes a selector lever which has stable selector lever positions, and a detent mechanism with a detent element and notched gate, the detent element is connected to the selector lever. The notched gate is disposed on a gate shaft that rotates when actuated. The gate shaft includes at least one helical return groove for the detent element. Due to rotation of the gate shaft, the detent element can be transferred from a start position, along the return groove, into a target position. The selector lever position always reflects the actual gear stage of the transmission, even with shift-by-wire-controlled gear shifting transmissions. The driver is provided with reliable visual and tactile feedback about the gear state of the transmission. The actuating device is structurally reliable, has low energy consumption, produces minimal noise, and requires minimal construction space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Ludger Rake
  • Publication number: 20100301876
    Abstract: A method of diagnosing an electronic display device (1) having a screen (3) and a graphics memory (2) in which image data (14), of an image displayed or to be displayed on the screen (3), are one of stored or changed. A measured value (15) characterizes a current consumption or the change in current consumption of the screen (3) or display device (1) while a reference value (16) characterizes the current consumption or the change in current consumption of the screen (3) or display device (1) on the basis of the image data (14) or the change in image data (14). The method compares the reference value (16) to the measured value (15) to determine any malfunction or error in the electronic display device (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Ralf Hartrampf, Ludger Rake, Andreas Giefer
  • Publication number: 20100300234
    Abstract: An actuating device for selecting gear steps in a gearshift transmission. The actuating device comprises a selector lever that can be moved between at least two drive-setting positions and a locking mechanism for restricting the movement range of the lever and locking certain positions or for locking the selector lever. The locking mechanism comprises a locking recess connected to the selector lever and a blocking cam that can be rotated by an actuator. The cam engages in the locking recess. Complex locking tasks are possible with the simplified actuating device. In addition, the range of movement of the selector lever can be freely positioned largely variably and its width can be changed. Furthermore, the selector lever of the actuating device is movable by the actuator or locked in a desired position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Ludger Rake, Sascha Rosentreter, Daniel Heitmann
  • Publication number: 20100288598
    Abstract: An emergency release device for manual actuation of the parking lock of a shift-by-wire transmission. The emergency release device comprises a mechanical transfer device located between an emergency release actuator and the transmission and engages a pivoting lever mechanism arranged on a transmission shifting shaft. A characterizing feature of the emergency release device is that the pivoting lever mechanism comprises a primary pivoting lever connected to the transfer device, a secondary pivoting lever connected to the transmission and a unidirectional coupling element located between the primary and the secondary pivoting levers. The advantage of this device relates to reduced susceptibility to corrosion, wear and noise emission and easier correct adjustment of the transfer device during assembly, while a separate prestressing mechanism for the cable of the emergency parking lock release can be omitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Ludger Rake
  • Publication number: 20100263475
    Abstract: An actuating device for selecting fixed gear ratios of a gear shifting transmission. The actuating device comprises a shift lever movable between at least three gear positions, and a lockout mechanism for limiting the range of motion of the shift lever. The lockout mechanism comprises a locking assembly including at least one locking chamber disposed in at least one locking roller, and the shift lever includes at least one locking cam. The locking cam can be inserted into the locking chamber to limit the range of motion of the shift lever. It is thus possible to implement actuating and locking tasks in the field of shift-by-wire transmissions, in a simple way and with minimal construction space requirements. The actuating device produces minimal noise and has short shifting times, and makes it shift-by-wire-controlled H shift patterns possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Ludger Rake, Sascha Rosentreter
  • Publication number: 20100257970
    Abstract: An operating device for selecting gear ratios of a transmission. The operating device comprises a selector lever that is movable between at least three gear selection positions and a locking device for limiting the range of motion of the selector lever. The locking device has a cantilever assembly with a plurality of locking contours that are connected to the selector lever. Each locking contour is assigned to a selector lever position and can be engaged with locking element to form a motion stop for the selector lever. It is thus possible to implement even complex locking tasks in a structurally simple manner such that jams, that occur during actuation, or undefined operating states in the locking device can be prevented. The range of motion of the selector lever is largely freely controlled using an actuator control, and the device is relatively silent and has short shifting times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Ludger Rake, Sascha Rosentreter
  • Publication number: 20100212447
    Abstract: A shifting device is provided for a vehicle transmission with a selector lever pivotable within a shifting device housing about at least one axis of rotation for selecting gears defined within the vehicle transmission. A shift position of the selector lever is assigned to at least one gear. A locking device for the individual shift positions of the selector lever can be released as a function of given general data of the state of motor vehicle components such as the pedal mechanism and the engine. The locking device has a locking element displaceable by the selector lever analogously to the individual shift positions of the selector lever. The locking element has a plurality of locking devices, which correspond to the individual shift positions and which can be brought into a locking position and an unlocking position by at least one actuating device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2006
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Jörg Meyer
  • Patent number: 7726215
    Abstract: A device is provided for transmitting a biaxial pivoting movement of a gearshift lever (2) into a planar movement of a gearshift lever position transmitter with a guide element (20, 27, 31, 32) for limiting the movement of the gearshift lever position transmitter to a movement in a noncurved plane. The device includes a transmission element (19, 7a) for transmitting a pivoting movement of the gearshift lever (2) about a first pivot axis (11) into a pivoting movement of the gearshift lever position transmitter in a noncurved plane, and with a hinge joint for converting a pivoting movement of the gearshift lever (2) about a second pivot axis (12) into a linear movement of the gearshift lever position transmitter in the noncurved plane. The positions (15a) of the gearshift lever (2) can be detected in the noncurved plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Jörg Meyer
  • Publication number: 20100101353
    Abstract: An actuating device for selecting shift positions of a shift-by-wire gear shifting transmission. The actuating device comprises a selector lever that may be moved between at least a drive position and a parking lock position, the lever having stable selector lever settings, and a locking device for locking the selector lever in the parking lock position. The locking device comprises an actuator device such that the selector lever may be moved from the drive position into the park position by way of the locking and actuator devices. The actuating device makes it possible that the position of the selector lever of the actuating device matches the actual shifting state of the transmission at all times, and thereby offers reliable optical and tactile feedback for the driver of the actual shifting state of the transmission and may also serve as a mechanical emergency actuator for the parking lock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Jorg Meyer, Ludger Rake
  • Publication number: 20100071506
    Abstract: An operating device for selecting shift stages in a shift-by-wire gearbox. The device comprises a selector lever which is movable between a drive gear position and a park position, and a locking device with a spring-loaded detent pin and a lock-in gate. An actuator device, that moves the selector lever, comprises a disengagement device. A detent pin and a lock-in gate can be brought, via a disengagement device, from a first relative position, in which the detent pin engages a shifting track of the lock-in gate, into another relative position, in which the detent pin disengages the shifting track. The operating device facilitates simple and safe actuator-induced return of the selector lever, into the park position, and offers the driver reliable optic and tactile feedback about the actual shift condition of the transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Kliemannel, Ludger Rake, Sascha Rosentreter, Harald Merklein, Andreas Giefer
  • Patent number: 7661334
    Abstract: A locking device (10) includes an adjustable bracket (7) provided with a recess (16), a stationary contour (9) with a contact surface (12), a pin (8), which is arranged movably in the recess (16) and on which an axial spring force generated by a compression spring (21) acts. A pin head (14) projects from the recess (16) of the bracket (7) and has a contact pair with the contact surface (12). At least one centering device (18) is provided between the pin (8) and the bracket (7). The locking device has a centering device (18), which has an elastically deformable ring (19). The ring (19) is arranged between the pin (8) and the bracket (7) within the recess (16) and is displaceably arranged within the recess (16). The ring (19) has a surface (22) with a cross section tapering against the direction of the force of the compression spring (21). The surface is in contact with a complementary surface (23) at the pin (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Jörg Meyer
  • Publication number: 20100024584
    Abstract: An actuating device for selecting shift positions of a shift-by-wire gearshift transmission. The actuating device comprises a selector lever that is movable between stable lever positions from at least one drive mode position to a parking lock position, a detent device with a spring-loaded detent element, a detent guide-plate and a separating device with an actuator-operated thrust wedge. The detent element and the detent guide-plate can be moved by the thrust wedge from a first position, in which the detent element engages in a shift track of the detent guide-plate, to another second position in which the detent element is disengaged from the shift track of the guide-plate. The actuating device enables automatic return of the selector lever to the parking lock position and thus provides the driver with correct visual and tactile feedback about the actual shift status of the transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Jorg Meyer, Ludger Rake
  • Publication number: 20090321215
    Abstract: A parking brake device for motor transmissions, especially automatic transmissions has a parking brake pawl (2) with an actuating or adjusting device (3) for engaging and disengaging the pawl (2) as well as a holding device for securing the parking brake pawl (3) in the disengaged position. The holding device includes a toggle mechanism (6, 7, 8, 9) that can be brought from a first, stretched position, in which the parking brake pawl (2) is fixed in the disengaged position, into a second, bent position, in which the parking brake pawl (2) can be engaged. This presents a reduction of the design effort, an improvement of robustness and resistance to different ambient conditions with no auxiliary energy requirement for maintaining the securing action for the parking brake pawl and also minimal releasing forces for releasing the parking brake securing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Jörg Meyer, Ludger Rake
  • Publication number: 20090266193
    Abstract: An actuating device for motor vehicle transmissions, especially for automatic transmissions has a selector lever (1), a transmission structure for sensing and transmitting the shift commands from the actuating device to the motor vehicle transmission, as well as a hinge structure with a four-bar mechanism (2) in which the selector lever (1) is mounted in such a way that it can perform shifting motions. The actuating device presents a small space requirements for installation with good ergonomic properties, good force-displacement curve at the selector lever qualities, as good sensing and signal transmission aspects. Visual shift gates and gear shifting gates can also be embodied at actuating devices of very compact design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Ludger Rake, Jorg Meyer
  • Patent number: 7541553
    Abstract: An actuating device is provided for a technical system, especially for selecting gears of a shift-by-wire speed-change gear. This includes a push button arrangement with at least one push button (1) as well as a device (4) generating electrical control signals for transmission to the technical system. The actuating device has a separately controllable blocking device (2, 3), each associated with at least one push button or all push buttons of the actuating device. The blocking device (2, 3) mechanically blocks the particular push button (1) and can be driven by auxiliary energy. This provides an unambiguous tactile feedback on the state of the system or the admissibility of the shifting operation when the push buttons are pressed. Hazards that arise from unrecognized states of the system, inadmissible shift commands or operating errors, defects on the system or non-functioning signal transmission between the actuating device and the system are eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Joerg Meyer, Andreas Giefer
  • Publication number: 20090014302
    Abstract: A push-button device (1) is provided for actuating a technical system (2), especially in a motor vehicle. The push-button device (1) comprises at least one push button (6) as well as a holding device (10). The push button (6) is arranged in the holding device (10) and can be moved between a neutral position and an actuation position. The push-button device (1) is characterized according to the present invention in that a flexible cable device (3) for signal transmission is arranged between the push button (6) and the technical system (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Jorg Meyer, Andreas Giefer, Wolfgang Kliemannel, Ludger Rake
  • Publication number: 20090000407
    Abstract: A control device is provided for a technical system (17), e.g. for a shift-by-wire vehicle transmission. The control device includes a control (actuating) element, e.g. a rotary knob (1), with at least two shifting positions. The control element (1), itself, can rotate without limitation, whereas the control device has at least one stop device (2, 3), which can be adjusted in a controlled manner and which limits the angle of rotation (W) of the control element (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Joerg Meyer, Andreas Giefer
  • Publication number: 20080295633
    Abstract: An actuating device (1) for a technical system, especially for selecting gears of a shift-by-wire speed-change gear includes an actuating element (2) with at least two shift positions and a locking device (8). The locking device (8) has at least one actuator (7) driven with auxiliary energy and is used to reduce the shifting path of the actuating element (2) or to lock the actuating element (2). The actuator (7) has at least three different shifting states to make it possible to embody the necessary locking functions of the actuating lever with a reduced number of actuators and hence with a comparatively low design effort. Space, weight and costs can thus be saved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Jorg Meyer
  • Publication number: 20080282829
    Abstract: An actuating device is provided for a technical system, especially for selecting gears of a shift-by-wire speed-change gear. The actuating device includes an actuating element (1), which is movable in relation to a base area (3), with at least two switching positions. At least one additional switching element (5), which acts on a signal transmission (8) with a signal transmitter (6), is arranged at the actuating element (1). The additional switching element (5) and the signal transmitter (8) are connected by means of a mechanical transmission means. However, the signal transmitter (6) is connected to the base area (3) of the actuating device. The present invention makes it possible to embody a robust additional switching element, which is protected from disturbances, at an actuating element. Mobile and hence susceptible cablings to the additional switching element, which were hitherto necessary, are eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Jorg Meyer
  • Publication number: 20080271560
    Abstract: A shifting device (1), for the transmission of shifting commands to a vehicle gearbox includes a housing (2) and/or a frame, a selector lever (4), transmitting shift commands to the gearbox. A knob (3) provides a grip for the hand of the vehicle driver. An adapter (7) is provided for the knob (3) with an integrated switch (5a). The adapter is fitted to the selector lever (4) and forms a connection point between the selector lever (4) and the knob (3). The shifting device (1) is provided for assembly in a motor vehicle and, preferably after fitting of the shifting device (1), a shifting gate is placed over the selector lever (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Jorg Meyer