Patents by Inventor Bernhard BRÜCKL

Bernhard BRÜCKL 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: 10583731
    Abstract: A method for operating a drive device for a motor vehicle, which has an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, and a gearshift transmission. A drive shaft of the internal combustion engine can be coupled by a shift clutch to a motor shaft of the electric motor and the motor shaft is coupled to a transmission input shaft of the gearshift transmission. A driven shaft of the drive device is coupled to or can be coupled to a transmission output shaft of the gearshift transmission. In a first shifting state, the shift clutch is disengaged for decoupling of the internal combustion engine and the electric motor and, in a second shifting state, is engaged for coupling of the internal combustion engine and the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Michael Schneider, Henrik Kaartometsä, Bernhard Brückl
  • Patent number: 10543834
    Abstract: A method for operating a drive device for a motor vehicle, which has an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. A drive shaft of the internal combustion engine can be coupled to a motor shaft of the electric motor by a shift clutch. The shift clutch is adjusted to a desired clutch torque over a dragging period for startup of the internal combustion engine. Prior to the startup, a quantity of heat that is expected to accrue in the shift clutch during the startup is predicted and, when the predicted quantity of heat exceeds a limit value, at least one operating parameter of the drive device that influences the startup is chosen in such a way that the quantity of heat expected to accrue is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Michael Schneider, Henrik Kaartometsä, Bernhard Brückl
  • Patent number: 10493979
    Abstract: A method for operating a drive device for a motor vehicle including an internal combustion engine and an electrical machine. A drive shaft of the internal combustion engine can be coupled to a machine shaft of the electrical machine by a shift clutch. The shift clutch is opened in a first shift state for decoupling the internal combustion engine and the electrical machine, and is closed in a second shift state for coupling the internal combustion engine and the electrical machine. When a switching occurs from the first shift state to the second shift state, a clutch target torque that is set at the shift clutch is determined in a first mode of operation by a closed-loop control, and in a second mode of operation is determined by an open-loop control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Michael Schneider, Henrik Kaartometsä, Bernhard Brückl
  • Publication number: 20180208180
    Abstract: A method for operating a drive device for a motor vehicle including an internal combustion engine and an electrical machine. A drive shaft of the internal combustion engine can be coupled to a machine shaft of the electrical machine by a shift clutch. The shift clutch is opened in a first shift state for decoupling the internal combustion engine and the electrical machine, and is closed in a second shift state for coupling the internal combustion engine and the electrical machine. When a switching occurs from the first shift state to the second shift state, a clutch target torque that is set at the shift clutch is determined in a first mode of operation by a closed-loop control, and in a second mode of operation is determined by an open-loop control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Michael SCHNEIDER, Henrik KAARTOMETSÄ, Bernhard BRÜCKL
  • Publication number: 20180208181
    Abstract: A method for operating a drive device for a motor vehicle, which has an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. A drive shaft of the internal combustion engine can be coupled to a motor shaft of the electric motor by a shift clutch. The shift clutch is adjusted to a desired clutch torque over a dragging period for startup of the internal combustion engine. Prior to the startup, a quantity of heat that is expected to accrue in the shift clutch during the startup is predicted and, when the predicted quantity of heat exceeds a limit value, at least one operating parameter of the drive device that influences the startup is chosen in such a way that the quantity of heat expected to accrue is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Michael SCHNEIDER, Henrik KAARTOMETSÄ, Bernhard BRÜCKL
  • Publication number: 20180208045
    Abstract: A method for operating a drive device for a motor vehicle, which has an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, and a gearshift transmission. A drive shaft of the internal combustion engine can be coupled by a shift clutch to a motor shaft of the electric motor and the motor shaft is coupled to a transmission input shaft of the gearshift transmission. A driven shaft of the drive device is coupled to or can be coupled to a transmission output shaft of the gearshift transmission. In a first shifting state, the shift clutch is disengaged for decoupling of the internal combustion engine and the electric motor and, in a second shifting state, is engaged for coupling of the internal combustion engine and the electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Michael SCHNEIDER, Henrik KAARTOMETSÄ, Bernhard BRÜCKL