Patents by Inventor Andreas Thimm

Andreas Thimm 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: 12275285
    Abstract: A mechanically suspended vehicle has a travel measurement device (9), a control unit (10) and an algorithm stored in the control unit (10). The algorithm performs a method for determining an axle load. In a first test routine a level signal of a travel measurement device is acquired and evaluated, wherein, in a loading operation of the vehicle, a loading curve (F_i) is determined, and, in an unloading operation of the vehicle, an unloading curve (F_u) is determined. The values of the two curves are used to calculate an averaged load-travel characteristic curve (F_m) to be stored in the control unit. After each start of the vehicle, an axle load determination routine is repeated cyclically, and axle load values are continuously determined with the averaged load-travel characteristic curve (F_m). An axle load average value is calculated from the axle load values and displayed as the current axle load value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: ZF CV Systems Europe BV
    Inventors: Johann Lucas, Andreas Thimm, Sebastian Jermis, Britta Warnecke
  • Patent number: 11975582
    Abstract: An air suspension control system (ECAS, electronic controlled air suspension) (10) for a utility vehicle, such as a truck or the like, or for a passenger car, includes a main control unit (12) for operating the air suspension control system (10) and at least two auxiliary control units (14) connected to the main control unit (12) via a data link (16). The auxiliary control units (14) each have at least one output (18) for actuating at least one actuator (20) which can be connected to the output (18), in particular an adjustment drive (28) for a valve (30). Furthermore, at least one function for generating control signals at the output (18) can be stored in the auxiliary control units (14), and the main control unit (12) is adapted to call up and/or to parameterize at least the stored functions by transmitting commands via the data link (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: ZF CV Systems Europe BV
    Inventors: Przemyslaw Zak, Stefan Filter, Ingo Jovers, Johann Lucas, Nosrat Moradi Dehdezi, Andreas Thimm
  • Publication number: 20220288991
    Abstract: A mechanically suspended vehicle has a travel measurement device (9), a control unit (10) and an algorithm stored in the control unit (10). The algorithm performs a method for determining an axle load. In a first test routine a level signal of a travel measurement device is acquired and evaluated, wherein, in a loading operation of the vehicle, a loading curve (F_i) is determined, and, in an unloading operation of the vehicle, an unloading curve (F_u) is determined. The values of the two curves are used to calculate an averaged load-travel characteristic curve (F_m) to be stored in the control unit. After each start of the vehicle, an axle load determination routine is repeated cyclically, and axle load values are continuously determined with the averaged load-travel characteristic curve (F_m). An axle load average value is calculated from the axle load values and displayed as the current axle load value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Johann Lucas, Andreas Thimm, Sebastian Jermis, Britta Warnecke
  • Publication number: 20210245567
    Abstract: An air suspension control system (ECAS, electronic controlled air suspension) (10) for a utility vehicle, such as a truck or the like, or for a passenger car, includes a main control unit (12) for operating the air suspension control system (10)and at least two auxiliary control units (14) connected to the main control unit (12) via a data link (16). The auxiliary control units (14) each have at least one output (18) for actuating at least one actuator (20) which can be connected to the output (18), in particular an adjustment drive (28) for a valve (30). Furthermore, at least one function for generating control signals at the output (18) can be stored in the auxiliary control units (14), and the main control unit (12) is adapted to call up and/or to parameterize at least the stored functions by transmitting commands via the data link (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Przemyslaw Zak, Stefan Filter, Ingo Jovers, Johann Lucas, Nosrat Moradi Dehdezi, Andreas Thimm