Patents by Inventor Armin Steck

Armin Steck 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: 20230053329
    Abstract: A holding apparatus (15) for current and signal conductors of a traction battery of a motor vehicle has a plate-like base body with longitudinal sides (16), transverse ends (17) and a top (18) and bottom (19) extending between the longitudinal sides (16) and transverse ends (17). Elements (20) are arranged on the top (18) and the bottom (19) for guiding and fixing current conductors (12) of the traction battery, and elements (21) are arranged on the other of the top (18) and the bottom (19) for guiding and fixing at least one signal conductor (14) of the traction battery. The base body provides EMC shielding of the signal conductor (14) from the current conductors (12). The plate-like base body has on the opposite longitudinal sides (16) and/or on the opposite transverse sides (17) sections (22) for securing and grounding the holding apparatus on a frame of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Armin Steck, Felix Brendecke
  • Patent number: 11565593
    Abstract: A holding apparatus (15) for current and signal conductors of a traction battery of a motor vehicle has a plate-like base body with longitudinal sides (16), transverse ends (17) and a top (18) and bottom (19) extending between the longitudinal sides (16) and transverse ends (17). Elements (20) are arranged on the top (18) and the bottom (19) for guiding and fixing current conductors (12) of the traction battery, and elements (21) are arranged on the other of the top (18) and the bottom (19) for guiding and fixing at least one signal conductor (14) of the traction battery. The base body provides EMC shielding of the signal conductor (14) from the current conductors (12). The plate-like base body has on the opposite longitudinal sides (16) and/or on the opposite transverse sides (17) sections (22) for securing and grounding the holding apparatus on a frame of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h. c. F Porsche AG
    Inventors: Armin Steck, Felix Brendecke
  • Patent number: 11217831
    Abstract: A safety apparatus (20) for a battery (80) has a base (22) for a vehicle (10), sensors (31, 32, 33, 34) and an evaluation apparatus (40). Each sensor (31, 32, 33, 34) is designed to generate a sensor signal (35) on a basis of a deformation of the base (22) and to supply the sensor signal to the evaluation apparatus (40). The evaluation apparatus (40) ascertains from the sensor signals (35) both first information about the location of the deformation of the base (22) and second information about the level of the deformation, and uses the first information and the second information as a basis for determining whether a first state (Z1) is present, in which a driving mode can be maintained, or whether a second state (Z2) is present, in which a driving mode can no longer be maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas Fritz, Armin Steck, Marcus Zacher, Dominik Lembke, Ralf Keller, Maximilian Mueller, Marc Patt, Markus Graef, Philipp Straub
  • Patent number: 11081741
    Abstract: A battery module includes a plurality of individual electrical cells which are arranged within a common housing, wherein an end side of the housing has mechanical connecting elements for connecting the battery module to a temperature-control element which is provided outside the battery module in order to thereby enable good heat transfer between the battery module and the temperature-control element. The mechanical connecting elements are provided as corresponding upper and lower cutouts in the end side of the housing, which upper and lower cutouts are connected to one another by a through-passage, for receiving a connector of which the head can be positioned in the one cutout. The connector can extend vertically along the through-passage and can be connected to a mating piece which can be positioned at least partially in the other cutout and is fixedly connected to the temperature-control element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Inventors: Armin Steck, Felix Brendecke, Johannes Foth, Tamas Gyulai
  • Publication number: 20200298712
    Abstract: A holding apparatus (15) for current and signal conductors of a traction battery of a motor vehicle has a plate-like base body with longitudinal sides (16), transverse ends (17) and a top (18) and bottom (19) extending between the longitudinal sides (16) and transverse ends (17). Elements (20) are arranged on the top (18) and the bottom (19) for guiding and fixing current conductors (12) of the traction battery, and elements (21) are arranged on the other of the top (18) and the bottom (19) for guiding and fixing at least one signal conductor (14) of the traction battery. The base body provides EMC shielding of the signal conductor (14) from the current conductors (12). The plate-like base body has on the opposite longitudinal sides (16) and/or on the opposite transverse sides (17) sections (22) for securing and grounding the holding apparatus on a frame of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Armin Steck, Felix Brendecke
  • Publication number: 20200161717
    Abstract: A safety apparatus (20) for a battery (80) has a base (22) for a vehicle (10), sensors (31, 32, 33, 34) and an evaluation apparatus (40). Each sensor (31, 32, 33, 34) is designed to generate a sensor signal (35) on a basis of a deformation of the base (22) and to supply the sensor signal to the evaluation apparatus (40). The evaluation apparatus (40) ascertains from the sensor signals (35) both first information about the location of the deformation of the base (22) and second information about the level of the deformation, and uses the first information and the second information as a basis for determining whether a first state (Z1) is present, in which a driving mode can be maintained, or whether a second state (Z2) is present, in which a driving mode can no longer be maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas Fritz, Armin Steck, Marcus Zacher, Dominik Lembke, Ralf Keller, Maximilian Mueller, Marc Patt, Markus Graef, Philipp Straub
  • Patent number: 10166883
    Abstract: An underbody of an electrically driven motor vehicle, with a vehicle supporting structure, which is bounded laterally in a transverse direction of the vehicle by two vehicle sills between which a multiplicity of battery modules is arranged, which battery modules are assigned a battery supporting structure and at least one battery temperature control device, and with supply and removal devices for a temperature control medium. The supply and removal devices for the temperature control medium are arranged in the region of the vehicle sills.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Felix Brendecke, Armin Steck, Alexander Klausmann, Harald Raiser, Maik-Uwe Zillich, Juergen Hofmann, Thomas Fritz, Matthias Herntier, Nicolas Schneider
  • Publication number: 20180034120
    Abstract: A battery module includes a plurality of individual electrical cells which are arranged within a common housing, wherein an end side of the housing has mechanical connecting elements for connecting the battery module to a temperature-control element which is provided outside the battery module in order to thereby enable good heat transfer between the battery module and the temperature-control element. The mechanical connecting elements are provided as corresponding upper and lower cutouts in the end side of the housing, which upper and lower cutouts are connected to one another by a through-passage, for receiving a connector of which the head can be positioned in the one cutout. The connector can extend vertically along the through-passage and can be connected to a mating piece which can be positioned at least partially in the other cutout and is fixedly connected to the temperature-control element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicants: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Armin Steck, Felix BRENDECKE, Johannes FOTH, Tamas GYULAI
  • Patent number: 9594118
    Abstract: A method for predicting the usability of a relay or a contactor is described herein. A current flowing through the relay or the contactor and/or a voltage applied to the relay or the contactor is measured repeatedly, and the measured values are transmitted to an observation unit. The observation unit makes a prediction relating to the usability of the relay or of the contactor on the basis of the measured values and a model. Furthermore described are an observation unit and a battery which are configured to carry out the method according to the disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH, Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Armin Steck, Ralf Piscol
  • Publication number: 20170021740
    Abstract: An underbody of an electrically driven motor vehicle, with a vehicle supporting structure, which is bounded laterally in a transverse direction of the vehicle by two vehicle sills between which a multiplicity of battery modules is arranged, which battery modules are assigned a battery supporting structure and at least one battery temperature control device, and with supply and removal devices for a temperature control medium. The supply and removal devices for the temperature control medium are arranged in the region of the vehicle sills.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Felix Brendecke, Armin Steck, Alexander Klausmann, Harald Raiser, Maik-Uwe Zillich, Juergen Hofmann, Thomas Fritz, Matthias Herntier, Nicolas Schneider
  • Patent number: 9362758
    Abstract: A method for reducing a total loss of charge of battery cells by balancing states of charge includes checking boundary conditions as to whether a vehicle is in the park mode, whether a previous balancing step occurred in the past by at least a defined time period, whether a temperature of a balancing unit lies below an adjustable temperature limit and whether states of charge of all battery cells exceed a minimum state of charge. Additionally, the method includes determining a need for balancing such that a check is made as to whether a maximum difference of all states of charge of all battery cells is greater than an adjustable limit state of charge. Also the method includes, balancing by the balancing units if the first two steps of the method are affirmed. The balancing resistances are connected to respective battery cells for a predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Becker, Andre Boehm, Armin Steck, Christian Korn, Marianne Heizmann
  • Patent number: 9356452
    Abstract: A method for reducing a total charge loss of battery cells by equalizing states of charge includes making an initial check as to whether a temperature of at least one balancing unit lies below a preselectable temperature limit. Thereupon a check takes place as to whether a charging process of the battery cells has completed and the state of charge of the battery cells is >90%. A determination then follows as to whether a maximum state of charge difference between battery cells lies above an adjustable limit (DELTA_SoC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Steck, Christian Korn, Marianne Heizmann, Andreas Gleiter
  • Patent number: 9236731
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a method for limiting a switch-on current in an electrical system which is supplied with power by a battery. During a switch-on process, an electrical load is connected to the electrical system and precharged by means of a precharging resistor. A monitoring unit regularly records operating data of at least one variable which influences a temperature of the precharging resistor and estimates the temperature of the precharging resistor on the basis of said operating data. The disclosure also describes an apparatus and a battery which are designed to execute the method according to the disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Steck, Ralf Piscol
  • Publication number: 20140285151
    Abstract: A method for reducing a total charge loss of battery cells by equalizing states of charge includes making an initial check as to whether a temperature of at least one balancing unit lies below a preselectable temperature limit. Thereupon a check takes place as to whether a charging process of the battery cells has completed and the state of charge of the battery cells is >90%. A determination then follows as to whether a maximum state of charge difference between battery cells lies above an adjustable limit (DELTA_SoC).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicants: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Steck, Christian Korn, Marianne Heizmann, Andreas Gleiter
  • Publication number: 20140285152
    Abstract: A method for reducing a total loss of charge of battery cells by balancing states of charge includes checking boundary conditions as to whether a vehicle is in the park mode, whether a previous balancing step occurred in the past by at least a defined time period, whether a temperature of a balancing unit lies below an adjustable temperature limit and whether states of charge of all battery cells exceed a minimum state of charge. Additionally, the method includes determining a need for balancing such that a check is made as to whether a maximum difference of all states of charge of all battery cells is greater than an adjustable limit state of charge. Also the method includes, balancing by the balancing units if the first two steps of the method are affirmed. The balancing resistances are connected to respective battery cells for a predetermined time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicants: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Becker, Andre Boehm, Armin Steck, Christian Korn, Marianne Heizmann
  • Publication number: 20130278269
    Abstract: A method for predicting the usability of a relay or a contactor is described herein. A current flowing through the relay or the contactor and/or a voltage applied to the relay or the contactor is measured repeatedly, and the measured values are transmitted to an observation unit. The observation unit makes a prediction relating to the usability of the relay or of the contactor on the basis of the measured values and a model. Furthermore described are an observation unit and a battery which are configured to carry out the method according to the disclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicants: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd, Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Steck, Ralf Piscol
  • Publication number: 20130214705
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a method for limiting a switch-on current in an electrical system which is supplied with power by a battery. During a switch-on process, an electrical load is connected to the electrical system and precharged by means of a precharging resistor. A monitoring unit regularly records operating data of at least one variable which influences a temperature of the precharging resistor and estimates the temperature of the precharging resistor on the basis of said operating data. The disclosure also describes an apparatus and a battery which are designed to execute the method according to the disclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicants: SB LiMotive Company Ltd, Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Steck, Ralf Piscol