Patents by Inventor Bernd Schumann

Bernd Schumann 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: 6966978
    Abstract: A solid electrolyte-based sensor element of a gas sensor for determining a gas component in a gas mixture is described, in particular for determining the concentration of oxygen and/or nitrogen oxides in exhaust gases of internal combustion engines. The sensor element has an electrochemical cell that includes a first and a second electrode, both electrodes being located in internal gas spaces of the sensor element. The internal gas space in which the first electrode is located is largely in the same layer plane of the sensor element as at least one other internal gas space of the sensor element in which the second electrode or a reference electrode are located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Karl-Michael Ketterle, Bernd Schumann
  • Publication number: 20050235631
    Abstract: A sensor element for a sensor for determining the oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas of internal combustion engines, e.g., for a broadband lambda sensor, is provided. The sensor element has a solid electrolyte forming a pump cell together with an inner electrode inside a cavity, and an outer electrode exposed to the exhaust gas on the outside. The sensor element also includes a prechamber formed in the solid electrolyte, and a diffusion channel formed in the solid electrolyte, the diffusion channel connecting the prechamber and the cavity, and being filled with a diffusion barrier. To prevent measuring inaccuracies of the sensor in the presence of very high quantities of hydrocarbons in the exhaust gas, a catalytic converter for the oxidation of hydrocarbons is located in the prechamber, the catalytic converter being configured as an electrochemical catalytic converter having two electrodes electrically connected with one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Inventor: Bernd Schumann
  • Patent number: 6953620
    Abstract: A coating system and a method for its manufacture are provided. An electrically conductive base coat and a porous overcoat lying over the base coat are arranged on a ceramic substrate. At least one additional deposited layer is arranged on the base coat in such a way that the additional layer is formed in the pores of the porous overcoat adjacent to the base coat. The additional layer is deposited either by currentless or electrolytic deposition. For electrolytic deposition of the additional layer, the ceramic substrate sintered with the base coat and the overcoat is submerged in an electrolytic bath and the base coat is connected as a cathode. The currentless deposition takes place from a solution of the metal to be deposited with the addition of a reducing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Stefan Schneider, Frank Stanglmeier, Bernd Schumann
  • Patent number: 6949874
    Abstract: An electrode system, particularly for installation in an exhaust line, has a holding body made of an insulating material, on which at least one operating electrode is positioned. The holding body has a heating device for facilitating easy cleaning in the installed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Bernd Schumann
  • Patent number: 6942772
    Abstract: A sensor for determining a concentration of gas components in gas mixtures having a first measuring electrode (mixed potential electrode) which has little or no catalytic effect on the establishment of an equilibrium in the gas mixture and a second measuring electrode (equilibrium electrode) which catalyzes the establishment of an equilibrium in the gas mixture as well as a solid electrolyte that is conductive for oxygen ions arranged between the two measuring electrodes, with the two measuring electrodes being exposed to the gas mixture. At least the first measuring electrode (16) is a cermet electrode, where at least one metal oxide component of the cermet electrode is capable of reversible incorporation of oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Stefan Schneider, Gerhard Hoetzel, Bernd Schumann, Thomas Moser
  • Patent number: 6935881
    Abstract: An electric contact coupling for connection of a first group of electric conductors to a second group of electric conductors, and especially for use in the coupling of rail and other vehicles with one another, comprises a first plug contact carrier and a second socket contact carrier which are movable into assembly with one another to bring the plug contact elements of the first contact carrier into electric contact with the socket contact elements of the second contact carrier. The two contact carriers are arranged in respectively associated contact carrier housings. The first contact carrier is movable by a positioning mechanism axially relative to its housing to bring its contacts into engagement with the contacts of the second carrier after the two carrier housings have been brought into engagement with one another. Transversely movable closure members seal the carrier housings against the penetration of dirt and moisture when the carrier housings are uncoupled from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: era-contact GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Kainz, Dominik Neuberger, Uwe Ziegler, Gregor Nowak, Frank Moskob, Robert Dost, Jürgen Veit, Bernd Schumann, Robert Austen, Egbert Kurz, Othmar von Berg, Monika Bauer, Klaus Hiller, Bernd Nussbaumer
  • Publication number: 20050160793
    Abstract: A sensor element, in particular a planar gas sensor element, having a sensor structure is described, which is heatable by a heater structure. A first spacer layer is provided between the heater structure and the sensor structure, the spacer layer having a first recess in the area of the heater structure into which a first inlay, which electrically insulates the heater structure from the sensor structure, is inserted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Inventors: Bernd Schumann, Ulrich Eisele
  • Publication number: 20050155859
    Abstract: An insulating material for an electric component is provided, including sintered aluminum oxide to which a substance is added, the substance being deposited at the grain boundaries of the aluminum oxide and repressing the mobility of ions. In addition, a gas sensor is described having an insulating layer made of such an insulating material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Publication date: July 21, 2005
    Inventors: Bernd Schumann, Gudrun Oehler, Detlef Heimann, Berbdt Cramer
  • Publication number: 20050098449
    Abstract: A sensor element of a gas sensor, which is used for determining the concentration of ammonia and, optionally, at least one further component of a gas mixture, in particular in exhaust gases of combustion engines. The sensor element includes at least one first auxiliary electrode and at least one measuring electrode positioned downstream in the flow direction of the gas mixture, which are in direct contact with the gas mixture, a signal generated by the measuring electrode being used at least intermittently for determining the concentration of ammonia. A potential, at which ammonia contained in the gas mixture is oxidized, is applied at least intermittently to the first auxiliary electrode or the measuring electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Inventors: Thorsten Ochs, Helge Schichlein, Sabine Thiemann-Handler, Bernd Schumann
  • Patent number: 6890422
    Abstract: An electrochemical gas sensor determining the concentration of oxidizable gas components which has an electrochemical measuring cell having a measuring electrode and a reference electrode. Measuring electrode is made of a material which is not able, or not completely able to catalyze the establishment of gas equilibrium. In addition to the electrochemical measuring cell, at least one electrochemical pumping cell, having at least one inner pumping electrode, is provided, which, together with measuring electrode, is positioned in a measuring gas compartment. Oxygen is pumped into or out of measuring gas compartment by pumping cell, the partial pressure of oxygen in measuring gas compartment being set to a lambda value of ?1.3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Stanglmeier, Bernd Schumann, Thomas Moser
  • Publication number: 20050077178
    Abstract: A method and a sensor element are provided for determining the concentration of an oxidizable gas in a gas mixture, e.g., in exhaust gases of internal combustion engines. Within the sensor element of a gas sensor, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen, and/or carbon monoxide contained in the gas mixture are at least partially removed in an initial step. In a further step, the concentration of the gas to be detected in the gas mixture freed of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and/or hydrogen is ascertained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Publication date: April 14, 2005
    Inventors: Bernd Schumann, Thorsten Ochs
  • Publication number: 20050067282
    Abstract: A sensor element is used to determine a physical property of a measuring gas, which may be to determine the concentration of a component of an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine. The sensor element includes a first electrode, which is positioned on a solid electrolyte and which is connected to the measuring gas located outside the sensor element via a first diffusion pathway, in which a first diffusion resistor is provided. The sensor element also has a second electrode, which is positioned on a solid electrolyte and is connected to the measuring gas located outside the sensor element via a second diffusion pathway, in which a second diffusion resistor is positioned. The second diffusion resistor includes a catalytically active material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Inventors: Berndt Cramer, Bernd Schumann, Joerg Ziegler
  • Publication number: 20040216614
    Abstract: A device for detecting a failure of a filter used to clean a gas stream, in particular an exhaust gas stream, of soot particulates, including a chamber which is insertable into the gas stream to be cleaned in addition to the filter and which is at least partially closed by a filter body and has at least one opening through which gas entering the chamber through the filter body can exit the chamber, at least one gas sensor for determining the concentration of at least one component of the gas to be cleaned being arranged in the chamber, and at least one second gas sensor for determining the concentration of the at least one component of the gas to be cleaned being arranged outside the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas Schulte, Bernd Schumann
  • Patent number: 6776890
    Abstract: A method for operating a mixed-potential exhaust-gas probe for an internal combustion engine having a heatable probe ceramic 1.3 with a first electrode 1.5, which is arranged in a chamber 1.6 and is subjected to the reference atmosphere and with a second electrode 1.4 which detects gas molecules and is arranged in the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine, a pump voltage being applied between the first and second electrodes by means of a pump voltage source, so that, in the interior of the chamber 1.6, a somewhat reduced oxygen partial pressure is adjusted by the electrochemical pumping off of the oxygen molecules, characterized in that one applies a constant external voltage to the electrodes (1.4, 1.5) with this voltage deviating from the thermodynamic equilibrium voltage of the wanted reaction, measuring and evaluating the current dropping across the electrodes (1.4, 1.5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Mueller, Thomas Brinz, Bernd Schumann, Bernhard Bloemer
  • Patent number: 6773312
    Abstract: An electrical pressure contact includes a housing sleeve with an end facing the contact and an end facing away from the contact, a contact pin axially slidably supported in the housing sleeve, which pin extends out of the housing sleeve at the side facing the contact, which pin is a pushable into the housing sleeve against the biasing force of the a biasing element arranged in the housing sleeve, and through the conductive body of which pin the electrical contact is made, a terminal piece for fastening to an electrical supply conductor at the end of the housing facing away from the contact, and an axially flexible electrical conductor arranged in the housing sleeve between the terminal piece and the contact pin. The flexible electrical conductor is at its end facing the contact clamped into an axial bore formed in the end of the contact pin facing away from the contact and at its end facing away from the contact is clamped in an axial bore formed in the end of the terminal piece facing the contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: era-contact GmbH
    Inventors: Monika Bauer, Frank Moskob, Robert Dost, Bernd Schumann, Andreas Kainz, Jürgen Veit
  • Publication number: 20040146084
    Abstract: A lambda sensor for motor vehicles which permanently displays an at least temporary thermal overload by means of an indicator which, for fast reliable and unambiguous diagnosis without major additional measurement effort or expense, includes an indication material having at least one limit temperature adapted to the maximum allowable operating temperature of the component, and when this limit temperature is exceeded in at least one material component, a microstructural change ensues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventors: Andreas Hachtel, Thomas Schulte, Thomas Wahl, Andy Tiefenbach, Johann Riegel, Bernd Schumann, Petra Kuschel, Thorsten Ochs, Annika Kristoffersson, Stefan Nufer
  • Patent number: 6767449
    Abstract: Method for operating a sensor for determining the concentration of oxidizing gases in gas mixtures, especially of the nitrogen oxide concentration in exhaust gases of internal combustion engines, wherein the sensor includes: at least one chamber (1; 2) mounted in a solid state electrolyte (20), the chamber being connected to the gas mixture via a first diffusion barrier (4); a second chamber (3) arranged in the solid state electrolyte (20) and the chamber having a pregivable constant oxygen partial pressure; on the solid state electrolyte, an oxygen pump electrode (9) subjected to the exhaust gas; a further oxygen pump electrode (7; 8) as well as an NO pump electrode (10) in the at least one chamber (1; 2); and an oxygen reference electrode (6) arranged in the second chamber (3); and at least a voltage is made available at the electrodes and at least a pump current is evaluated as a measurement signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Berndt Cramer, Bernd Schumann
  • Publication number: 20040112765
    Abstract: A gas sensor based on solid electrolyte is proposed for measuring a gas component in a gas mixture, having at least one sensitive region, which has a first means for producing a reaction gas from an additional gas component of the gas mixture. A second means is situated in the sensitive region of the gas sensor, using which the residual content of the reaction gas may be determined, after a reaction that takes place between the reaction gas and the gas component to be measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Ulrich Alkemade, Bernd Schumann, Berndt Cramer, Marget Schuele, Thorsten Ochs, Sabine Thiemann-Handler
  • Publication number: 20040089055
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement for determining the concentration of an oxygen-containing compound in a test gas in an external volume are presented with the external volume containing also additional oxygen. The method utilizes a sensor having a first cavity which is connected to the external volume via a first diffusion barrier and a second cavity which is connected to the first cavity via a further diffusion barrier. In addition, means for reducing the oxygen concentration in the first cavity and means for detecting the concentration of oxygen in the second cavity are provided. The reduction of the oxygen concentration in the first cavity takes place in a first phase to a value at which a change of the concentration of the oxygen-containing compound does not occur. In a second phase, a further reduction takes place in the first chamber to a value at which also a reduction of the concentration of the first oxygen-containing compound occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: Berndt Cramer, Bernd Schumann
  • Publication number: 20040089054
    Abstract: A sensor element of a gas sensor is described, this sensor being used to determine the concentration of at least one component of a gas mixture, in particular in exhaust gases of internal combustion engines. It includes at least two electrodes (22, 23) which are situated in an internal gas space (15) which is in direct contact with the gas mixture, the one electrode (22) containing a first material and the second electrode (23) containing a second material. The internal gas space (15) contains a means (34, 26, 38, 39) which acts physically and/or chemically to prevent diffusion of metal between the electrodes (22, 23).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: Berndt Cramer, Carsten Springhorn, Detlef Heimann, Gudrun Oehler, Margret Schuele, Bernd Schumann, Thorsten Ochs, Sabine Thiemann-Handler