Patents by Inventor Benjamin Berger

Benjamin Berger 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: 20260097688
    Abstract: A method is provided for heating components of a vehicle having a first electric drive unit, a second electric drive unit, and an inverter system for supplying the electric drive units with alternating current. The first electric drive unit produces a first torque and the second electric drive unit produces a second torque, where a sum of the first and second torques is a driving torque. For producing a desired driving torque the first electric drive unit is operated as a generator and the second electric drive unit is operated as a motor so that a total current flow is produced in the inverter system that is greater than a total current flow that would be produced in the inverter system when both electric drive units are operated as motors to produce the desired driving torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2025
    Publication date: April 9, 2026
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Thorsten LEIM, Stefan BLATTNER, Stefan BEMETZ, Dennis WOHLFAHRT, Christian MITTELBERGER, Jochen BREUER, Mario STEINBORN, Fabian LEY, Hannes WERNER, Stefan SPÜHLER, Benjamin BERGER
  • Publication number: 20260043470
    Abstract: A method for ensuring a desired shifting state in a shiftable electric drivetrain (16) of a vehicle (15) is characterized in that the method includes an ascertaining process during which it is ensured that the desired shifting state corresponds to an actual shifting state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2025
    Publication date: February 12, 2026
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Hannes WERNER, Stefan BEMETZ, Alexey RYABININ, Christian MITTELBERGER, Stefan BLATTNER, Xianghui SHEN, Mario STEINBORN, Matthias MÜLLER, Benjamin BERGER, Franz BITZER, Anton FRITZER
  • Patent number: 12409839
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle (1) having at least one driven axle (3) with a locking differential (10a), where when the motor vehicle (1) is driving and the locking differential (10a) concerned is engaged on at least one driven axle (3), it is checked whether the motor vehicle is driving round a curve. If it is found that the motor vehicle is driving round a curve, the engaged locking differential (10a) is actuated to disengage it and it is checked whether the locking differential (10a) concerned has in fact been disengaged. If it is found that the locking differential (10a) concerned has not been disengaged, the wheel of the driven axle (3) concerned on the outside of the curve is braked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2025
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Stefan Spühler, Stefan Blattner, Stefan Bemetz, Dennis Wohlfahrt, Thorsten Leim, Jochen Breuer, Mario Steinborn, Fabian Ley, Hannes Werner, Benjamin Berger, Christian Mittelberger
  • Publication number: 20240383476
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle (1) having at least one driven axle (3) with a locking differential (10a), where when the motor vehicle (1) is driving and the locking differential (10a) concerned is engaged on at least one driven axle (3), it is checked whether the motor vehicle is driving round a curve. If it is found that the motor vehicle is driving round a curve, the engaged locking differential (10a) is actuated to disengage it and it is checked whether the locking differential (10a) concerned has in fact been disengaged. If it is found that the locking differential (10a) concerned has not been disengaged, the wheel of the driven axle (3) concerned on the outside of the curve is braked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2024
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Stefan Spühler, Stefan Blattner, Stefan Bemetz, Dennis Wohlfahrt, Thorsten Leim, Jochen Breuer, Mario Steinborn, Fabian Ley, Hannes Werner, Benjamin Berger, Christian Mittelberger
  • Patent number: 9644733
    Abstract: A method of determining at least one drag torque acting on the input side of an automatic transmission, such that prior to the determination a separator clutch located between the transmission and an engine is disengaged. To be able to carry out the determination regardless of the type of transmission concerned, also prior to the determination, the transmission is shifted to neutral and subsequently the drag torque is calculated when the engine is deactivated. For this, a first gradient of a transmission input rotational speed is determined, before an engine rotational speed of the engine falls below the transmission input rotational speed, and a second gradient of the transmission input rotational speed is determined, after the engine rotational speed falls below the transmission input rotational speed. The method is stored as a computer program stored on data carrier of a drive-train control unit of a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Marcus Gansohr, Benjamin Berger, Florian Schneider
  • Patent number: 9217504
    Abstract: A shift control method for an automated transmission of a motor vehicle. The transmission has an input shaft that is connectable, via a separator clutch, to an engine driveshaft. An output shaft is connected with the axle transmission of a drive axle or with a transfer box, and starting gears are engagable by gear clutches. When tooth-on-tooth positions occurs at the associated gear clutch, during engagement of a starting gear while the vehicle is stationary, such tooth-on-tooth positioning is resolved with maximum comfort. The method provides that when a tooth-on-tooth position exists at the gear clutch of the starting gear, engagement of the gear clutch is first interrupted, then drive torque is applied to the input shaft or a transmission shaft in driving connection therewith to rotate the input-side clutch half of the gear clutch, and the drive torque is then eliminated before the engagement of the gear clutch continues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Marcus Haug, Benjamin Berger, Florian Schneider
  • Publication number: 20150152960
    Abstract: A shift control method for an automated transmission of a motor vehicle. The transmission has an input shaft that is connectable, via a separator clutch, to an engine driveshaft. An output shaft is connected with the axle transmission of a drive axle or with a transfer box, and starting gears are engagable by gear clutches. When tooth-on-tooth positions occurs at the associated gear clutch, during engagement of a starting gear while the vehicle is stationary, such tooth-on-tooth positioning is resolved with maximum comfort. The method provides that when a tooth-on-tooth position exists at the gear clutch of the starting gear, engagement of the gear clutch is first interrupted, then drive torque is applied to the input shaft or a transmission shaft in driving connection therewith to rotate the input-side clutch half of the gear clutch, and the drive torque is then eliminated before the engagement of the gear clutch continues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventors: Marcus HAUG, Benjamin BERGER, Florian SCHNEIDER
  • Publication number: 20150046048
    Abstract: A method of determining at least one drag torque acting on the input side of an automatic transmission, such that prior to the determination a separator clutch located between the transmission and an engine is disengaged. To be able to carry out the determination regardless of the type of transmission concerned, also prior to the determination, the transmission is shifted to neutral and subsequently the drag torque is calculated when the engine is deactivated. For this, a first gradient of a transmission input rotational speed is determined, before an engine rotational speed of the engine falls below the transmission input rotational speed, and a second gradient of the transmission input rotational speed is determined, after the engine rotational speed falls below the transmission input rotational speed. The method is stored as a computer program stored on data carrier of a drive-train control unit of a motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Marcus GANSOHR, Benjamin BERGER, Florian SCHNEIDER
  • Patent number: 6701956
    Abstract: A water control device (10, 70) including a housing (12), including as one unit, an inlet port (14) and an exit port (16) for flow therethrough of water, and a water meter mounting flange (18) and a water flow control valve seat member (20) in fluid communication with each other and with at least one of the inlet and outlet ports, and a water meter (30) sealingly attached to the water meter mounting flange (18), and a water flow control valve (44) sealingly attached to the water flow control valve seat member (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Bermad
    Inventor: Benjamin Berger
  • Publication number: 20030197617
    Abstract: A household fluid flow-rate monitor and control system is provided to prevent flood damage, fluid leakage and loss of fluid. The system includes a plurality of alarm units for monitoring fluid flow in the system; an automatic electrically operated valve for shutting off the fluid flow to prevent damage; a fluid meter for sending to a monitor an electrical signal for every unit of fluid flowing through the system; and a controller unit including a microprocessor unit and a memory unit connected to the automatic valve to shut off the system. The monitor receives input from the fluid meter or from a flood sensor and sends alarm signals for several types of events, such as burst flow, leakage, flood, etc. to the controller unit. The unit also has a manual override switch to bypass the electronics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Applicant: National Water Management, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Berger, Zev Weintraub, Saul Gertzulin
  • Patent number: 4778204
    Abstract: A coupling device between the bottom end of a plastic instrument and a nipple comprising:an exteriorly threaded ring element rotatably mounted about said bottom end;a nut element mounted for rotation about said nipple and said ring element; andtwo O-rings, one sealingly mounted between the nut element, the ring element and the bottom end, and the second sealingly mounted between the nut element and the nipple;wherein a gap is provided between the nipple and the bottom end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1988
    Inventor: Benjamin Berger
  • Patent number: 4058286
    Abstract: A valve having a delayed action closing means comprises a membrane positioned above the valve seat and partitioning the interior of the valve casing into a first and second chamber, a water wheel in the first chamber positioned to be rotated by the incoming water, a shaft from the water wheel acting on a train of gears in the second chamber, an auxiliary valve actuated by the train of gears after the passage of a predetermined quantity of water, a by-pass provided from the upstream part of the valve and leading into the second chamber, and a connection from the auxiliary valve leading into the downstream part of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1973
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1977
    Inventor: Benjamin Berger