Patents by Inventor Christian A. Berger

Christian A. 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).

  • Patent number: 9527407
    Abstract: A motor vehicle including at least one driving safety system which provides a safety feature during travel, and a control device, wherein the control device is configured to determine a first information commensurate with the proper functioning of the at least one driving safety system and to actuate at least a driver side device for adjusting the seat position and/or at least a driver side belt tensioner when the at least one driving safety system malfunctions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Markus Erlacher, Christian Berger, Torsten Krüger
  • Patent number: 9404399
    Abstract: An exhaust valve assembly has a valve actuator, a first valve part (FVP) operatively connected to the actuator, a second valve part (SVP), and at least one auxiliary valve operatively connected to the second valve part. When the actuator is in a first position, the FVP is in a fourth position, the SVP is in a seventh position and the at least one auxiliary valve is in a ninth position. When the actuator is in a second position, the FVP is in a fifth position, the SVP is in the seventh position and the at least one auxiliary valve is in the ninth position. When the actuator is in a third position, the FVP is in a sixth position, the SVP is in an eighth position and the at least one auxiliary valve is in a tenth position. The second position is intermediate the first and third positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: BRP-ROTAX GMBH & CO KG
    Inventors: Markus Doppelbauer, Christian Berger, Gunther Zauner, Gottfried Kaiser, Michael Seyrl
  • Patent number: 9341092
    Abstract: An exhaust valve assembly for a two-stroke internal combustion engine has a valve actuator having a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber, and a valve operatively connected to the valve actuator. The first and second pressure chambers are adapted for selectively receiving one of a first pressure and a second pressure. The first pressure is higher than the second pressure. The valve actuator moves the valve between at least a first valve position and a second valve position. The valve actuator moves the valve to the first valve position when the first pressure is supplied to the first pressure chamber and the second pressure is supplied to the second pressure chamber. The valve actuator moves the valve to the second valve position when the second pressure is supplied to the first pressure chamber and the first pressure is supplied to the second pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: BRP—POWERTRAIN GMBH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gunther Zauner, Markus Doppelbauer, Christian Berger, Ralph Jurjevec, Guenther Roland
  • Publication number: 20160032793
    Abstract: An exhaust valve assembly for a two-stroke internal combustion engine has a valve actuator having a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber, and a valve operatively connected to the valve actuator. The first and second pressure chambers are adapted for selectively receiving one of a first pressure and a second pressure. The first pressure is higher than the second pressure. The valve actuator moves the valve between at least a first valve position and a second valve position. The valve actuator moves the valve to the first valve position when the first pressure is supplied to the first pressure chamber and the second pressure is supplied to the second pressure chamber. The valve actuator moves the valve to the second valve position when the second pressure is supplied to the first pressure chamber and the first pressure is supplied to the second pressure chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Gunther ZAUNER, Markus DOPPELBAUER, Christian BERGER, Ralph JURJEVEC, Guenther ROLAND
  • Patent number: 9150194
    Abstract: A method for controlling a reversible belt tensioner of a safety belt in a motor vehicle includes detecting a time profile of at least one state variable and/or at least one variable relating to the surroundings of the motor vehicle, identifying a predetermined driving maneuver and/or a value characterizing the attentiveness of a driver from the time profile of the at least one detected state variable and/or variable relating to the surroundings, and controlling the reversible belt tensioner based on the identified driving maneuver or on the basis of the value characterizing the attentiveness of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignees: AUDI AG, AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Erlacher, Michael Botsch, Christian Berger, Torsten Krüger
  • Publication number: 20150034060
    Abstract: An exhaust valve assembly has a valve actuator, a first valve part (FVP) operatively connected to the actuator, a second valve part (SVP), and at least one auxiliary valve operatively connected to the second valve part. When the actuator is in a first position, the FVP is in a fourth position, the SVP is in a seventh position and the at least one auxiliary valve is in a ninth position. When the actuator is in a second position, the FVP is in a fifth position, the SVP is in the seventh position and the at least one auxiliary valve is in the ninth position. When the actuator is in a third position, the FVP is in a sixth position, the SVP is in an eighth position and the at least one auxiliary valve is in a tenth position. The second position is intermediate the first and third positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Markus DOPPELBAUER, Christian BERGER, Gunther ZAUNER, Gottfried KAISER, Michael SEYRL
  • Publication number: 20140263800
    Abstract: A method for controlling a reversible belt tensioner of a safety belt in a motor vehicle includes detecting a time profile of at least one state variable and/or at least one variable relating to the surroundings of the motor vehicle, identifying a predetermined driving maneuver and/or a value characterizing the attentiveness of a driver from the time profile of the at least one detected state variable and/or variable relating to the surroundings, and controlling the reversible belt tensioner based on the identified driving maneuver or on the basis of the value characterizing the attentiveness of the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Audi AG
    Inventors: Markus Erlacher, Michael Botsch, Christian Berger, Torsten Krüger
  • Patent number: 8813697
    Abstract: A method of supplying air to an air spring biasing one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve of an internal combustion engine to a closed position is disclosed. The method includes: driving an air compressor with a motor prior to starting of the internal combustion engine, the air compressor fluidly communicating with the air spring to supply air to the air spring; determining that a predetermined condition has been reached; starting the engine once the predetermined condition has been reached; and driving the air compressor with a rotating shaft of the engine once the engine has started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: BRP-Powertrain GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Dopona, Johann Neuboeck, Werner Brandstaetter, Christian Berger, Roland Ennsmann, Gerhard Wiesinger, Stefan Leiber, Roland Spatzenegger
  • Publication number: 20130276729
    Abstract: A method of supplying air to an air spring biasing one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve of an internal combustion engine to a closed position is disclosed. The method includes: driving an air compressor with a motor prior to starting of the internal combustion engine, the air compressor fluidly communicating with the air spring to supply air to the air spring; determining that a predetermined condition has been reached; starting the engine once the predetermined condition has been reached; and driving the air compressor with a rotating shaft of the engine once the engine has started.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Michael DOPONA, Johann NEUBOECK, Werner BRANDSTAETTER, Christian BERGER, Roland ENNSMANN, Gerhard WIESINGER, Stefan LEIBER, Roland SPATZENEGGER
  • Patent number: 8550044
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve. A first spring biases the at least one intake valve to a closed position. A second spring biases the at least one exhaust valve to a closed position. At least one of the first and second springs is an air spring. An air compressor fluidly communicates with the air spring to supply air to the air spring. The air compressor is operatively connected to a rotating shaft of the engine to be selectively driven thereby. A motor is operatively connected to the air compressor to selectively drive the air compressor. A method of supplying air to the air spring of the above engine is also disclosed. A method of supplying air to an air spring of an engine having both a mechanical and an electrical air compressor is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: BRP-Powertrain GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Dopona, Johann Neuboeck, Werner Brandstaetter, Christian Berger, Roland Ennsmann, Gerhard Wiesinger, Stefan Leiber, Roland Spatzenegger
  • Patent number: 8467269
    Abstract: Advantageous online and/or real-time OFDM-based underwater acoustic (UWA) apparatus, systems and methods are provided according to the present disclosure. The apparatus, systems and methods employ a receiver with a bank of parallel branches, with each branch having a self-correlator matched to a different waveform scaling factor. A detection is declared when any of the branches leads to a correlation metric larger than a pre-defined threshold. The branch with the largest metric yields a Doppler scale estimate and a coarse synchronization point. The proposed apparatus, systems and methods use one OFDM preamble, thereby avoiding the need to buffer the whole data packet before data demodulation and enabling online and/or real-time operation. Thus, the disclosed apparatus, systems and methods are advantageously applicable to UWA communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: University of Connecticut
    Inventors: Shengli Zhou, Peter Willett, Christian Berger, Sean Mason
  • Publication number: 20130096779
    Abstract: A motor vehicle including at least one driving safety system which provides a safety feature during travel, and a control device, wherein the control device is configured to determine a first information commensurate with the proper functioning of the at least one driving safety system and to actuate at least a driver side device for adjusting the seat position and/or at least a driver side belt tensioner when the at least one driving safety system malfunctions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: Audi AG
    Inventors: Markus Erlacher, Christian Berger, Torsten Strelle
  • Patent number: 8375902
    Abstract: A poppet valve has a valve head and a valve stem. A piston is capable of reciprocating motion relative to a housing along a reciprocation axis. The piston has a valve-receiving portion for receiving therein an end portion of the valve stem. A cotter secures the valve stem to the piston. A cap is disposed around the valve-receiving portion. A cap lateral portion extends away from the cap end portion in the direction of the valve head. The valve-receiving portion is held between the cap end portion and the cap lateral portion in a direction parallel to the reciprocation axis. At least part of the cap lateral portion is angled toward the reciprocation axis. The part of the cap lateral portion is closer to the reciprocation axis than at least part of the valve-receiving portion. A method of assembling a valve assembly is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: BRP-Powertrain GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christian Berger, Johann Neuboeck, Roland Ennsmann, Walter Hinterberger, Stefan Leiber
  • Patent number: 8375903
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve. A first spring biases the at least one intake valve to a closed position. A second spring biases the at least one exhaust valve to a closed position. At least one of the first and second springs is an air spring. An air compressor is disposed inside the cylinder head and fluidly communicates with the air spring to supply air to the air spring. The air compressor being disposed between a crankshaft and a cylinder head cover in a direction parallel to a cylinder axis is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: BRP-Powertrain GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Dopona, Johann Neuboeck, Christian Berger, Roland Ennsmann, Stefan Leiber, Gerd Ohrnberger, Rene Vormuendl
  • Patent number: 8327640
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an adjustment device (1) for adjusting a valve or a flap, in particular a pressure nozzle for actuating a bypass valve when a limit charge pressure on an exhaust-driven turbocharger is exceeded, which comprises a single- or multi-part housing (2), in particular a housing (2) having a housing lower part (3) and a housing lid. Essential to the invention is that a clip device (4) is provided, by means of which the adjustment device (1) is fastened to a part (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Bosch Mahle Turbo Systems, GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christian Berger, Jochen Gückelmann
  • Patent number: 7950625
    Abstract: A shut-off instrument for a flow medium, in particular a slide valve instrument designed for pressurization on both sides with an instrument housing forming a flow channel and a slide valve chamber and with a soft-sealing shut-off element closing off the flow channel and with a slide valve stem which penetrates a seal arrangement and/or bearing arrangement in a housing neck extension delimiting the slide valve chamber and which is rotationally connected to a stem nut coupled to the shut-off element by a screw contact. The shut-off element is designed to include more than one part and at least one external dimension of the main body is slightly smaller than a nominal width of the flow channel and seal elements are arranged on opposite support surfaces of the main body via an engaged connection projecting over the external dimension with a peripheral edge collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: E. Hawle Armaturenwerke GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Johann Pohn, Rupert Schlagnitweit, Christian Berger, Gerhard Führer
  • Publication number: 20110013487
    Abstract: Advantageous online and/or real-time OFDM-based underwater acoustic (UWA) apparatus, systems and methods are provided according to the present disclosure. The apparatus, systems and methods employ a receiver with a bank of parallel branches, with each branch having a self-correlator matched to a different waveform scaling factor. A detection is declared when any of the branches leads to a correlation metric larger than a pre-defined threshold. The branch with the largest metric yields a Doppler scale estimate and a coarse synchronization point. The proposed apparatus, systems and methods use one OFDM preamble, thereby avoiding the need to buffer the whole data packet before data demodulation and enabling online and/or real-time operation. Thus, the disclosed apparatus, systems and methods are advantageously applicable to UWA communications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: University of Connecticut
    Inventors: Shengli Zhou, Peter Willett, Christian Berger, Sean Mason
  • Publication number: 20100180842
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve. A first spring biases the at least one intake valve to a closed position. A second spring biases the at least one exhaust valve to a closed position. At least one of the first and second springs is an air spring. An air compressor is disposed inside the cylinder head and fluidly communicates with the air spring to supply air to the air spring. The air compressor being disposed between a crankshaft and a cylinder head cover in a direction parallel to a cylinder axis is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: BRP-POWERTRAIN GMBH & CO KG
    Inventors: Michael DOPONA, Johann NEUBOECK, Christian BERGER, Roland ENNSMANN, Stefan LEIBER, Gerd OHRNBERGER, Rene VORMUENDL
  • Publication number: 20100180841
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve. A first spring biases the at least one intake valve to a closed position. A second spring biases the at least one exhaust valve to a closed position. At least one of the first and second springs is an air spring. An air compressor fluidly communicates with the air spring to supply air to the air spring. The air compressor is operatively connected to a rotating shaft of the engine to be selectively driven thereby. A motor is operatively connected to the air compressor to selectively drive the air compressor. A method of supplying air to the air spring of the above engine is also disclosed. A method of supplying air to an air spring of an engine having both a mechanical and an electrical air compressor is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: BRP-POWERTRAIN GMBH & CO KG
    Inventors: Michael DOPONA, Johann NEUBOECK, Werner BRANDSTAETTER, Christian BERGER, Roland ENNSMANN, Gerhard WIESINGER, Stefan LEIBER, Roland SPATZENEGGER
  • Publication number: 20100181515
    Abstract: A poppet valve has a valve head and a valve stem. A piston is capable of reciprocating motion relative to a housing along a reciprocation axis. The piston has a valve-receiving portion for receiving therein an end portion of the valve stem. A cotter secures the valve stem to the piston. A cap is disposed around the valve-receiving portion. A cap lateral portion extends away from the cap end portion in the direction of the valve head. The valve-receiving portion is held between the cap end portion and the cap lateral portion in a direction parallel to the reciprocation axis. At least part of the cap lateral portion is angled toward the reciprocation axis. The part of the cap lateral portion is closer to the reciprocation axis than at least part of the valve-receiving portion. A method of assembling a valve assembly is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: BRP-POWERTRAIN GMBH CO KG
    Inventors: Christian BERGER, Johann NEUBOECK, Roland ENNSMANN, Walter HINTERBERGER, Stefan LEIBER