Patents by Inventor Andy Tiefenbach

Andy Tiefenbach 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: 10690580
    Abstract: A sensor for detecting particles, in particular, soot particles, is described. The sensor includes a sensor element having at least two measuring electrodes, which are situated on a carrier substrate, and a protective tube assembly having at least one outer protective tube and one inner protective tube. The sensor element is situated in the inner protective tube in a longitudinal extension direction. The outer protective tube and the inner protective tube are designed to permit the particles to access the sensor element in a direction deviating from the longitudinal extension direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andy Tiefenbach, Christopher Holzknecht, Enno Baars, Frank Freikamp, Michael Bessen
  • Patent number: 10539492
    Abstract: A device for determining a concentration of particles in a gas flow, e.g., soot particles in exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, includes a carrier and a sensor, which is situated on a surface of the carrier and can be exposed to the gas flow, the sensor including an electrode structure including at least two measuring electrodes that are of different polarity and that are formed as an interdigital comb structure including finger electrodes. In first areas of the interdigital comb structure, the finger electrodes have a first mutual distance in relation to each other, and in second areas of the interdigital comb structure, the finger electrodes have a second smaller mutual distance in relation to each other, the first areas and the second areas in the interdigital comb structure each at least partially adjoining each other alternately, occupying respective surface areas on the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andy Tiefenbach, Enno Baars, Sebastian Fuchs
  • Patent number: 10088405
    Abstract: A method for determining soot in exhaust gases of burners or internal combustion engines with the aid of a sensor element which includes at least two measuring electrodes exposed to the exhaust gas and one heating element, a voltage being applied to the at least two measuring electrodes during a measuring phase and the current flow or electrical resistance occurring between the measuring electrodes being determined and output as a measure for the particle concentration or the particle mass flow, characterized in that during the measuring phase, the temperature of the sensor element is monitored and the sensor element is heated by the heating element, if the temperature of the sensor element falls below a limiting temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Enno Baars, Andy Tiefenbach, Michael Bessen
  • Patent number: 10067048
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling the function of a sensor for detecting particles, in particular soot particles, the sensor including at least two measuring electrodes and a substrate on which the measuring electrodes are situated. The method includes the following: carrying out a first current-voltage measurement for ascertaining a first measured variable; carrying out a second current-voltage measurement for ascertaining a second measured variable, one measuring electrode of the measuring electrodes being applied to another electrical potential; carrying out a third current-voltage measurement for ascertaining a third measured variable; an configured forming a correction value for correcting the second measured variable with the aid of the first measured variable and the third measured variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Andy Tiefenbach, Benjamin Gaertner, Mathias Klenk
  • Publication number: 20180217045
    Abstract: A sensor for detecting particles, in particular, soot particles, is described. The sensor includes a sensor element having at least two measuring electrodes, which are situated on a carrier substrate, and a protective tube assembly having at least one outer protective tube and one inner protective tube. The sensor element is situated in the inner protective tube in a longitudinal extension direction. The outer protective tube and the inner protective tube are designed to permit the particles to access the sensor element in a direction deviating from the longitudinal extension direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Andy Tiefenbach, Christopher Holzknecht, Enno Baars, Frank Freikamp, Michael Bessen
  • Patent number: 9880083
    Abstract: The invention relates to a particle sensor (20) for determining a particle content in a gas flow, wherein the particle sensor (20) has, on the surface thereof, at least two interlocking interdigital IDE electrodes (23) and a heating element (26), separated from the IDE electrodes (23) by an insulating layer (21), by means of which heating element the particle sensor (20) can be heated in a regeneration phase and a soot load on the particle sensor can thus be removed, and by means of which particle sensor, in a diagnostic phase during the regeneration phase, a current is measured by intermittently applying a measurement voltage to the IDE electrodes (23) and, based on the chronological progression and size thereof, a functional inspection of the particle sensor (20) is carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Benjamin Gaertner, Andy Tiefenbach, Mathias Klenk
  • Publication number: 20170307499
    Abstract: A device for determining a concentration of particles in a gas flow, e.g., soot particles in exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, includes a carrier and a sensor, which is situated on a surface of the carrier and can be exposed to the gas flow, the sensor including an electrode structure including at least two measuring electrodes that are of different polarity and that are formed as an interdigital comb structure including finger electrodes. In first areas of the interdigital comb structure, the finger electrodes have a first mutual distance in relation to each other, and in second areas of the interdigital comb structure, the finger electrodes have a second smaller mutual distance in relation to each other, the first areas and the second areas in the interdigital comb structure each at least partially adjoining each other alternately, occupying respective surface areas on the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andy Tiefenbach, Enno Baars, Sebastian Fuchs
  • Publication number: 20170299490
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling the function of a sensor for detecting particles, in particular soot particles, the sensor including at least two measuring electrodes and a substrate on which the measuring electrodes are situated. The method includes the following: carrying out a first current-voltage measurement for ascertaining a first measured variable; carrying out a second current-voltage measurement for ascertaining a second measured variable, one measuring electrode of the measuring electrodes being applied to another electrical potential; carrying out a third current-voltage measurement for ascertaining a third measured variable; an configured forming a correction value for correcting the second measured variable with the aid of the first measured variable and the third measured variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Andy Tiefenbach, Benjamin Gaertner, Mathias Klenk
  • Patent number: 9707964
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device, in particular a control and evaluation unit, for recognizing a water passage or a high water level for a vehicle, which has, as a drive, an internal combustion engine having an exhaust train, in which the functionality of an emission control system is monitored or controlled by at least one exhaust sensor and the exhaust sensor is operated at least intermittently at high temperatures and has thermal shock susceptibility by design. According to the invention, a water recognition criterion is determined based on one or a plurality of distance sensors and, at critical values of the water level which are predicted or have already been reached, protective measures are initiated for the emissions control system of the vehicle or for the exhaust sensor or exhaust sensors arranged in the exhaust duct. Damage to exhaust sensors or to components of the emissions control system as a result of the severe cooling upon contact with water can thus be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ariel Di Miro, Andy Tiefenbach, Markus Becker
  • Publication number: 20170199111
    Abstract: A method for determining soot in exhaust gases of burners or internal combustion engines with the aid of a sensor element which includes at least two measuring electrodes exposed to the exhaust gas and one heating element, a voltage being applied to the at least two measuring electrodes during a measuring phase and the current flow or electrical resistance occurring between the measuring electrodes being determined and output as a measure for the particle concentration or the particle mass flow, characterized in that during the measuring phase, the temperature of the sensor element is monitored and the sensor element is heated by the heating element, if the temperature of the sensor element falls below a limiting temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Enno Baars, Andy Tiefenbach, Michael Bessen
  • Patent number: 9595704
    Abstract: The invention provides an electrical energy storage module (100), comprising: at least one storage cell stack (10), comprising: a plurality of energy storage cells (1), which each have a cell housing (1a) each having two pole connections (1b,1c), wherein the energy storage cells (1) are arranged in series in the storage cell stack (10) in such a way that in each case a first pole connection (1b) and a second pole connection (1c) having different polarities of two adjacent energy storage cells (1) are galvanically connected to one another by means of flat cell connecting elements (4), wherein the cell housings (1a) of all of the energy storage cells (1) are galvanically connected to one another, wherein the first pole connection (1b) of an energy storage cell (1) arranged at a first end of the storage cell stack (10) is galvanically connected to the cell housing (1a), and wherein the second pole connection (1c) of an energy storage cell (1) arranged at a second end of the storage cell stack (10) and the cell h
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andy Tiefenbach, Thomas Proepper, Martin Kessler
  • Patent number: 9570729
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical energy storage module, comprising at least one storage cell stack (7) that has a plurality of groups of first planar parallel energy storage cells (1), each having first electrode elements (1a), and a plurality of groups of second planar parallel energy storage cells (2) arranged planar parallel to the group of first energy storage cells (1), said second groups each having second electrode elements (2a). The groups of first and second energy storage cells (1; 2) are arranged alternately along a first direction of extension of the storage cell stack (7) and the first electrode elements (1a) have a polarity on a side face of the storage cell stack (7) that is different from the second electrode elements (2a) on the side face of the storage cell stack (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Schmidt, Andy Tiefenbach, Volker Doege, Martin Kessler
  • Publication number: 20160264142
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device, in particular a control and evaluation unit, for recognizing a water passage or a high water level for a vehicle, which has, as a drive, an internal combustion engine having an exhaust train, in which the functionality of an emission control system is monitored or controlled by at least one exhaust sensor and the exhaust sensor is operated at least intermittently at high temperatures and has thermal shock susceptibility by design. According to the invention, a water recognition criterion is determined based on one or a plurality of distance sensors and, at critical values of the water level which are predicted or have already been reached, protective measures are initiated for the emissions control system of the vehicle or in for the exhaust sensor or exhaust sensors arranged in the exhaust duct. Damage to exhaust sensors or to components of the emissions control system as a result of the severe cooling upon contact with water can thus be minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Ariel Di Miro, Andy Tiefenbach, Markus Becker
  • Patent number: 9343788
    Abstract: A battery cell (10), having a low-inductance, capacitive parallel path interconnected between the poles of the battery cell (10), wherein the parallel path is embodied as a discrete capacitor (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Kessler, Volker Doege, Andy Tiefenbach, Alexander Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20160103055
    Abstract: The invention relates to a particle sensor (20) for determining a particle content in a gas flow, wherein the particle sensor (20) has, on the surface thereof, at least two interlocking interdigital IDE electrodes (23) and a heating element (26), separated from the IDE electrodes (23) by an insulating layer (21), by means of which heating element the particle sensor (20) can be heated in a regeneration phase and a soot load on the particle sensor can thus be removed, and by means of which particle sensor, in a diagnostic phase during the regeneration phase, a current is measured by intermittently applying a measurement voltage to the IDE electrodes (23) and, based on the chronological progression and size thereof, a functional inspection of the particle sensor (20) is carried out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Benjamin Gaertner, Andy Tiefenbach, Mathias Klenk
  • Patent number: 9263887
    Abstract: The invention relates to a battery system (10), comprising a battery module (11), which comprises a first high-voltage connection (12a), a second high-voltage connection (12b) and a multiplicity of battery cell modules (11a, . . . , 11n) which are connected in series between the first and second high-voltage connections, and a switching matrix (13). The switching matrix comprises a large number of switching rails (14), which are each connected to one of the nodes between in each case two of the battery cell modules which are connected in series, a multiplicity of first switching devices (15a), which are designed to connect in each case one of the switching rails (14) to a first low-voltage connection (13a) of the switching matrix (13), and a multiplicity of second switching devices (15b), which are designed to connect in each case one of the switching rails (14) to a second low-voltage connection (13b) of the switching matrix. In this case, a first total voltage (HV) of all of the battery cell modules (11a, .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Andy Tiefenbach
  • Patent number: 9231404
    Abstract: An energy storage device. An energy supply branch, with a plurality of energy storage modules is connected in series via first module connections along a first energy supply line and via second module connections along a second energy supply line. The energy storage modules include an energy storage cell module having an energy storage cell, a first coupling device having first coupling elements, configured to switch or bypass the energy storage cell module selectively between the first module connections, and a second coupling device having second coupling elements, which are designed to switch or bypass the energy storage cell module selectively between the second module connections. The energy storage device also includes an output connection coupled to an output of the first energy supply line; and two additional connections coupled to the outputs of the second energy supply line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Andy Tiefenbach
  • Patent number: 9182370
    Abstract: A device for operating a gas sensor having both at least one pump cell and a measuring cell is provided. A constant current source is provided that makes available a pump current which acts upon an outer electrode of the pump cell. The constant current source provides at least two different amounts of the pump current and/or allows for an alternating operation having ON phases and OFF phases, the duration of the ON phases/OFF phases being specifiable. The device may be largely implemented in digital circuitry and adapted to different requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Berndt Cramer, Andy Tiefenbach, Bernd Schumann, Thorsten Ochs, Helge Schichlein
  • Publication number: 20150303431
    Abstract: The invention provides an electrical energy storage module (100), comprising: at least one storage cell stack (10), comprising: a plurality of energy storage cells (1), which each have a cell housing (1a) each having two pole connections (1b,1c), wherein the energy storage cells (1) are arranged in series in the storage cell stack (10) in such a way that in each case a first pole connection (1b) and a second pole connection (1c) having different polarities of two adjacent energy storage cells (1) are galvanically connected to one another by means of flat cell connecting elements (4), wherein the cell housings (1a) of all of the energy storage cells (1) are galvanically connected to one another, wherein the first pole connection (1b) of an energy storage cell (1) arranged at a first end of the storage cell stack (10) is galvanically connected to the cell housing (1a), and wherein the second pole connection (1c) of an energy storage cell (1) arranged at a second end of the storage cell stack (10) and the cell h
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Andy Tiefenbach, Thomas Proepper, Martin Kessler
  • Publication number: 20140370348
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical energy storage module, comprising at least one storage cell stack (7) that has a plurality of groups of first planar parallel energy storage cells (1), each having first electrode elements (1a), and a plurality of groups of second planar parallel energy storage cells (2) arranged planar parallel to the group of first energy storage cells (1), said second groups each having second electrode elements (2a). The groups of first and second energy storage cells (1; 2) are arranged alternately along a first direction of extension of the storage cell stack (7) and the first electrode elements (1 a) have a polarity on a side face of the storage cell stack (7) that is different from the second electrode elements (2a) on the side face of the storage cell stack (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Alexander Schmidt, Andy Tiefenbach, Volker Doege, Martin Kessler