Patents by Inventor Bernhard Kant

Bernhard Kant 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: 6702405
    Abstract: An electric parking brake system for a vehicle includes an electric control unit that controls a brake device and an operating element for actuating the electric parking brake system. When the vehicle is in a resting position, actuation of the operating element alternatively applies and releases the electric parking brake according to the driver's request. The electric parking brake system includes a parking operative mode and several starting operative modes. The electric parking brake system includes at least one distance sensor for enabling a controlled power braking involving dynamics and slip control when the vehicle is moving to avoid a potential collision with an obstacle, especially when parking the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., oHG
    Inventors: Jürgen Balz, Alfred Eckert, Bernhard Kant, Peter Skotzek
  • Patent number: 6173229
    Abstract: A microprocessor configuration for a control system of a vehicle comprises a plurality of microprocessor systems (4,5,6) which are interconnected by bus systems (1,2,3) and include an anti-lock and/or traction slip control system and further control systems, which require complex computing operations, as well as an input signal conditioning system (SC). For the purpose of error detection one part of the data processing is performed “symmetrically” redundantly in a plurality of microprocessor systems and another part of the data processing is additionally performed (“asymmetrically” redundantly) in accordance with simplified algorithms. Two like master microprocessor systems (5,6) are provided which serve the symmetrically redundant data processing. The input signal conditioning and the processing in accordance with simplified algorithms are installed in a third microprocessor system (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Helmut Fennel, Bernhard Kant, Herman Esselbr{umlaut over (u)}gge, Michael Zydek, Bernhard Giers
  • Patent number: 5895434
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a microprocessor arrangement for use in a vehicle control system which includes a plurality of microprocessor systems that are linked by bus systems and perform at least anti-lock control (ABS) and/or traction slip control (ASR) and at least one other high-computation control function, such as yaw torque control (GMR), and monitoring functions. The microprocessor arrangement includes three microprocessor systems to which the individual functions are allocated so that the first microprocessor system along with the second microprocessor system performs the ABS and ASR functions, including the monitoring of these functions, and that the third microprocessor system along with the second microprocessor system performs the other control function (GMR), including its monitoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises Inc.
    Inventors: Helmut Fennel, Bernhard Kant, Hermann Esselbrugge, Michael Zydek, Bernhard Giers
  • Patent number: 5713643
    Abstract: A control circuit for use with an automotive vehicle motion control system such as an anti-lock control (ABS) for an automotive vehicle brake system and/or traction slip control (TCS) includes circuits for processing sensor signals and for generating braking pressure control signals to enable hydraulic valves inserted into pressure fluid conduits of the brake system. The valve control signals are derived from the sensor signals by means of a single-chip microcontroller which processes the data in two successive or time-offset calculating operations performed according to different algorithms. The results of the calculating operations are temporarily stored and compared for coincidence. When the results differ from each other, their deviation is signaled to a monitoring circuit. In addition, the microcontroller is continuously tested by switch-on tests and, during operation, by cycle tests, self-tests, signature analyses and other known methods of error detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: ITT Automotive Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Hermann Esselbrugge, Bernhard Kant, Thomas Kranz
  • Patent number: 4813286
    Abstract: In a mechanical electrical transducer strain-sensitive resistors (26, 27) are arranged on a strain member (7, 28, 38, 51, 53) in each case on sections (16-18; 32, 33; 45-48; 58-60) developed in transverse-beam fashion, which from the center of the strain member, are arranged tangentially to a circular arc extending concentrically to the center of the strain member. The transverse-beam sections are subjected on their surfaces substantially only to one-dimensional states of stress. The pairs of strain sensitive resistors are therefore stressed in a manner which does not simulate changes in pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventor: Bernhard Kant
  • Patent number: 4763097
    Abstract: A measurement transformer has a pressure chamber which is sealed off by a membrane (2). On the membrane (2) there is seated a ram (16) which rests against a central part (7) of a spring plate (6). The central part (7) is connected by means of two flexural beam sections (9, 10) with the edge of the spring plate (6). Furthermore, web sections (13, 14, 15) connect the central part (7) to the edge part (8). For the adjustment of the measurement transformer the web sections (13, 14, 15) can be cut through. The more web sections (13, 14, 15) are cut through, the easier it is for the central part (7) to be displaced relative to the edge part (8). Wire strain gauges (11, 12) on the beam sections (9, 10) register this displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1988
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Kant, Wolfgang Porth
  • Patent number: 4730490
    Abstract: A container (1) formed of two half shells has wall ribs (3, 4) extending parallel to each other from one side down to the lowest point in the container. A conductive foil (5) is fastened by rivets to said wall ribs. The conductive foil serves for measuring the level in the container. It is wetted on both sides by the liquid in the container. As a result, the resistance of the conductive foil (5) changes, as can be determined in an evaluation device. It is important that the conductive foil be held by holding means of the container wall (2) so that it can positively reach the lowermost point of the container and participate in deformations of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Kant, Hans-Georg Lauth
  • Patent number: 4621526
    Abstract: A container (1) formed of two half shells has wall ribs (3, 4) extending parallel to each other from one side down to the lowest point in the container. A conductive foil (5) is fastened by rivets to said wall ribs. The conductive foil serves for measuring the level in the container. It is wetted on both sides by the liquid in the container. As a result, the resistance of the conductive foil (5) changes, as can be determined in an evaluation device. It is important that the conductive foil be held by holding means of the container wall (2) so that it can positively reach the lowermost point of the container and participate in deformations of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1986
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Kant, Hans-Georg Lauth
  • Patent number: 4592231
    Abstract: A device for the electric measurement of the level of a liquid in a container has a protective tube (1) within which a conductive foil (10) is arranged twisted. The protective tube is a corrugated tube with corrugations (2, 3). These corrugations (2, 3) have interruptions (4, 5, 7, 8). The interruptions lie along two helical lines (6, 8). The conductive foil (10) is pushed with its longitudinal edges (11, 12) into these interruptions (4, 5) which lie on two helical lines (6, 9). In order to permit of easy bending of the entire device, the conductive foil (10) has incisions (13, 14) which extend from both longitudinal edges (11, 12) up to the center of the conductive foil (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1986
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventor: Bernhard Kant
  • Patent number: 4564881
    Abstract: A device for electrically measuring the level of a liquid in a container has a protective tube (1) in which a conductive foil (5) is arranged untwisted. The protective tube (1) is made of two tube sections (2, 3) which are connected to each other by a joint (4). The joint (4) has a well-defined direction of bend as a result of reinforcing ribs (14, 15). This direction is such that the protective tube (1) can be bent only transverse to the plane of the conductive foil (5). The joint (4) is furthermore so developed that the tube sections (2, 3) are urged into a position in which they are aligned with respect to each other. In this way the device can be installed in a container in such a manner that the lower tube section (3), while forming an obtuse angle with the upper tube section (2), has its bottom end resting against a container bottom (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1986
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Kant, Hasko Jakobs
  • Patent number: 4562733
    Abstract: A device for the electric measurement of the level of a liquid within a container has a protective tube (1) within which a conductive foil (2) is helically arranged. The conductive foil (2) is wound with such a pitch that sufficient space remains between its longitudinal edges (3, 3') to provide a helically extending flexible protective-tube region (16, 16') within the protective tube (1). This protective-tube region has inwardly and outwardly directed U-shaped tube sections (17, 18, 19). As a result of this development the protective tube (1) bends exclusively in those regions which are located between the longitudinal edges (3) of the conductive foil (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1986
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventor: Bernhard Kant