Patents by Inventor Andreas Wendzel

Andreas Wendzel 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: 11852237
    Abstract: An electro-mechanical actuator for generating an axial actuation force is provided. The electro-mechanical actuator includes an electric machine having a stator (1) and a rotor (2). The electro-mechanical actuator also includes a spindle drive with a rotary element (6) and with an element that is movable in a translatory manner. A rotation of the rotary element (6) may result in a translatory motion of the element that is movable in a translatory manner. The rotor (2) and the rotary element (6) of the spindle drive are coupled to each other in a circumferential direction (U) such that a rotation of the rotor (2) results in a rotation of the rotary element (6) of the spindle drive (5). A rotational play (8) is formed between the rotor (2) and the rotary element (6) of the spindle drive in the circumferential direction (U).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Matthias Reisch, Andreas Füßl, Jürgen Wafzig, Andreas Wendzel, Lorenz Fischer, Holger Gohmert, Uwe Fehr, Michael Arnegger
  • Publication number: 20230049927
    Abstract: A processor unit (3) is configured to execute an autonomous driving function of the motor vehicle (1) during a first instance such that the motor vehicle (1) travels autonomously based at least in part on the execution of the autonomous driving function. The processor unit (3) is further configured to store a driver intervention, the driver intervention being performed by a driver of the motor vehicle (1) during the first instance while the motor vehicle (1) travels autonomously based on the execution of the autonomous driving function. Additionally, the processor unit (3) is configured to execute the autonomous driving function during a second instance, subsequent to the first instance, based at least in part on the stored driver intervention such that the motor vehicle (1) travels autonomously based at least in part on the execution of the autonomous driving function according to the stored driver intervention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Valerie Engel, Andreas Wendzel, Maik Dreher
  • Publication number: 20230026018
    Abstract: A processor unit is configured for determining target torque values (21), which lie within a prediction horizon (20), and target speed values (19), which lie within the prediction horizon (20), by executing an MPC algorithm, which includes a longitudinal dynamics model of a drive train of the motor vehicle. An autonomous driving function of the motor vehicle is carried out in a torque specification operating mode or in a speed specification operating mode as a function of the level of the target torque values (21). In the torque specification operating mode, a prime mover of the drive train is controlled by an open-loop system based on the target torque values (21). In the speed specification operating mode, a speed governor of the drive train is controlled by an open-loop system based on the target speed values (19).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Andreas Wendzel, Tobias Mindel
  • Publication number: 20220402476
    Abstract: A processor unit (3) for model-based predictive control of a vehicle (1) taking into account an arrival time factor is configured to calculate a trajectory for the vehicle (1) based at least in part on at least one arrival time factor, with the trajectory including an entire route (20) to a specified destination (19) at which the vehicle (1) is to arrive, and with the at least one arrival time factor influencing an arrival time of the vehicle (1) at the specified destination (19). Additionally, the processor unit (3) is configured to optimize a section of the trajectory for the vehicle (1) for a sliding prediction horizon by executing a model-based predictive control (MPC) algorithm (13), where the MPC algorithm (13) includes a longitudinal dynamic model (14) of a drive train (7) of the vehicle (1) and a cost function (15) to be minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Valerie Engel, Andreas Wendzel, Michael Wechs, Maik Dreher, Lorenz Fischer, Oliver Schneider, Christian Baumann, Edgar Menezes, Felix Spura
  • Publication number: 20220402489
    Abstract: A device (16) for determining a discrete representation (30) of a road section ahead of a vehicle (12) includes an input interface (22) for receiving sensor data (20) of a sensor (14) with information about the road section ahead of the vehicle, a setting unit (24) for ascertaining a control distance at which a property of the road section ahead of the vehicle that is relevant for an open-loop control of the vehicle changes based on the sensor data and for setting a support point in a discrete representation of the road section corresponding to the control distance. The setting unit is configured for setting a lower predefined second number (n2) of support points based on a predefined first number (n1) of support points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Valerie Engel, Andreas Wendzel, Maik Dreher, Timon Busse
  • Publication number: 20220371450
    Abstract: A processor unit (3) is configured for executing an MPC algorithm (13) for model predictive control of an electric machine (8) of a drive train (7) of a motor vehicle (1). The MPC algorithm (13) includes a longitudinal dynamic model (14) of the drive train (7) and a cost function (15) to be minimized. The cost function (15) includes a first term, a second term, and a third term. The processor unit (3) is configured for determining an input variable for the electric machine (8) by executing the MPC algorithm (13) as a function of the first, second, and third terms such that the cost function is minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Valerie Engel, Andreas Wendzel, Lara Ruth Turner, Julian King, Edgar Menezes, Maik Dreher
  • Patent number: 11397191
    Abstract: An assembly has a rotating element, a sensor, and an evaluation unit; wherein the element has a number a of markings; wherein the markings pass through a region detected by the sensor in cycles when the element rotates; wherein the sensor is configured to send a signal to the evaluation unit; and wherein the evaluation unit is configured to assign a time ti for when each signal is sent, wherein the evaluation unit is configured to calculate a function m(t) over time t as a measure for a gradient of the rotational rate of the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Wendzel, Ralf Dreibholz
  • Publication number: 20220221052
    Abstract: An electro-mechanical actuator for generating an axial actuation force is provided. The electro-mechanical actuator includes an electric machine having a stator (1) and a rotor (2). The electro-mechanical actuator also includes a spindle drive with a rotary element (6) and with an element that is movable in a translatory manner. A rotation of the rotary element (6) may result in a translatory motion of the element that is movable in a translatory manner. The rotor (2) and the rotary element (6) of the spindle drive are coupled to each other in a circumferential direction (U) such that a rotation of the rotor (2) results in a rotation of the rotary element (6) of the spindle drive (5). A rotational play (8) is formed between the rotor (2) and the rotary element (6) of the spindle drive in the circumferential direction (U).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Matthias Reisch, Andreas Füßl, Jürgen Wafzig, Andreas Wendzel, Lorenz Fischer, Holger Gohmert, Uwe Fehr, Michael Arnegger
  • Publication number: 20210382083
    Abstract: An assembly has a rotating element, a sensor, and an evaluation unit; wherein the element has a number a of markings; wherein the markings pass through a region detected by the sensor in cycles when the element rotates; wherein the sensor is configured to send a signal to the evaluation unit; and wherein the evaluation unit is configured to assign a time ti for when each signal is sent, wherein the evaluation unit is configured to calculate a function m(t) over time t as a measure for a gradient of the rotational rate of the element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas WENDZEL, Ralf DREIBHOLZ
  • Patent number: 10876625
    Abstract: A method for operating a transmission for a motor vehicle having an input shaft, a first shaft connectable to the input shaft via a first input clutch and a second shaft connectable to the input shaft via a second input clutch, a plurality of gearshift clutches, and an output shaft. Different gear ratios between the input and output shafts are implementable by selective engagement of the plurality of clutches. A first torque transmission path between the first and second shafts is engageable with a first friction-locking clutch and a second torque transmission path between the first and second shafts is engageable with a second friction-locking clutch. The method includes actuating, at least intermittently during a synchronization phase in an upshift process of the transmission, the first friction-locking clutch to transmit a first torque and the second friction-locking clutch to transmit a second torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Andreas Wendzel, Matthias Reisch, Gregor Stoelcker
  • Publication number: 20190368603
    Abstract: A method for operating a transmission for a motor vehicle having an input shaft, a first shaft connectable to the input shaft via a first input clutch and a second shaft connectable to the input shaft via a second input clutch, a plurality of separating clutches, and an output shaft. Different gear ratios between the input and output shafts are implementable by selective engagement of the plurality of clutches. A first torque transmission path between the first and second shafts is engageable with a first friction-locking clutch and a second torque transmission path between the first and second shafts is engageable with a second friction-locking clutch. The method includes actuating, at least intermittently during a synchronization phase in an upshift process of the transmission, the first friction-locking clutch to transmit a first torque and the second friction-locking clutch to transmit a second torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Andreas Wendzel, Matthias Reisch, Gregor Stoelcker