Patents by Inventor Christian Billig

Christian Billig 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: 7357208
    Abstract: A control unit of an at least temporarily four wheel-driven motor vehicle is provided. The control unit is arranged such that a displacement path for an actuator that actuates a transmission clutch is assigned to a setpoint clutch torque via a characteristic curve, and when at least one defined operating condition is present, ensures stable operation of the wheels. The control unit specifies a displacement path which according to the characteristic curve results in a not completely locked state of the transmission clutch, and subsequently computes the actual clutch torque from only the drive slip on the front axle, the drive slip on the rear axle, and the total drive torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christian Billig, Thomas Hopper
  • Patent number: 7334655
    Abstract: A control unit of a control system for an at least temporarily four wheel-driven motor vehicle is arranged such that a displacement path for an actuator that actuates a transmission clutch is assigned to a setpoint clutch torque via a characteristic curve, and the control unit checks whether slip of the transmission clutch occurs when a displacement path is specified that should result in an at least fully locked state of the transmission clutch according to the characteristic curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christian Billig, Thomas Hopper
  • Patent number: 7315776
    Abstract: In the case of a control device for an at least part-time four-wheel-driven motor vehicle, having a control unit which can variably distribute the driving torque of a drive unit to primary driving wheels, which are permanently connected with the drive unit, and to secondary driving wheels which, if required, can be connected by way of a transfer clutch with the drive unit, wherein the control unit determines a desired clutch torque which is to be set by an actuator device at the transfer clutch, the control unit consists of a main control unit and an additional control unit, the main control unit computing the desired clutch torque as a function of detected and/or determined parameters, which clutch torque is transmitted to the additional control unit, and the additional control unit converting the desired clutch torque to a corresponding electric control signal for the actuator device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Christian Billig
  • Patent number: 7248957
    Abstract: In the case of a control device for an at least temporarily four-wheel-driven motor vehicle, having a control unit which can variably distribute the driving torque of a drive unit as a function of operating conditions to primary driving wheels, which are permanently connected with the drive unit, and to secondary driving wheels which, if required, can be connected by way of a transfer clutch with the drive unit, in that the control unit determines a desired clutch torque which is to be set by an actuator device at the transfer clutch, one operating condition is the vehicle speed. The control unit is further developed such that, when the desired clutch torque is determined, at least one defined high-speed range is taken into account and in that a speed-range-related clutch torque assigned to the high-speed range is defined as a maximally permissible limit torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Christian Billig
  • Patent number: 7206683
    Abstract: In the case of a control device for an at least partially four-wheel-driven motor vehicle, having a control unit which can variably distribute the driving torque of a drive unit to primary driving wheels, which are permanently connected with the drive unit, and to secondary driving wheels which, if required, can be connected by way of a transfer clutch with the drive unit, in that the control unit determines a desired clutch torque which is to be set by means of an actuator device at the transfer clutch, the control unit receives at least one input signal for detecting an accelerator pedal position and is further developed such that, when the desired clutch torque is determined, a basic pilot control fraction is taken into account, which is defined as a function of the accelerator pedal position and is corrected as a function of additional parameters which are detected or determined by the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Christian Billig
  • Patent number: 7197386
    Abstract: In the case of a control system for a vehicle with at least part-time four-wheel drive, having a control unit which detects or determines quantities proportional to the wheel speeds of all wheels and the vehicle speed, and by means of which the driving torque of a drive unit can be variably distributed to primary driving wheels, which are permanently connected with the drive unit, and to secondary driving wheels which, if required, can be connected with the drive unit, for the distribution of the driving torque, a clutch torque of a transfer clutch arranged between the drive unit and the secondary driving wheels is set by means of the control unit, and the control unit is further developed such that the clutch torque is increased if a difference is detected between the wheel speed of a wheel and the vehicle speed and/or if a difference is detected between the two wheels speeds of the wheels of at least one vehicle side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christian Billig, Gerhard Fischer
  • Patent number: 7188018
    Abstract: In the case of a control device for an at least partially four-wheel-driven motor vehicle, having a control unit which can variably distribute the driving torque of a drive unit to primary driving wheels, which are permanently connected with the drive unit, and to secondary driving wheels, which, if required, can be connected by way of a transfer clutch with the drive unit, wherein the control unit determines a desired clutch torque which is to be set by an actuator device at the transfer clutch. The control unit is further configured such that, when the desired clutch torque is determined, at least one degree of stress to the transfer clutch and/or at least one degree of stress to the actuator device are taken into account. In this case, the taking into account of a short-duration degree of stress to the transfer clutch is particularly important with a view to a closing which is as fast as possible for preventing a slip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Christian Billig
  • Publication number: 20060191729
    Abstract: A control unit of a control system for an at least temporarily four wheel-driven motor vehicle is arranged such that a displacement path for an actuator that actuates a transmission clutch is assigned to a setpoint clutch torque via a characteristic curve, and the control unit checks whether slip of the transmission clutch occurs when a displacement path is specified that should result in an at least fully locked state of the transmission clutch according to the characteristic curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Publication date: August 31, 2006
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christian Billig, Thomas Hopper
  • Publication number: 20060180374
    Abstract: A control unit of an at least temporarily four wheel-driven motor vehicle is provided. The control unit is arranged such that a displacement path for an actuator that actuates a transmission clutch is assigned to a setpoint clutch torque via a characteristic curve, and when at least one defined operating condition is present, ensures stable operation of the wheels. The control unit specifies a displacement path which according to the characteristic curve results in a not completely locked state of the transmission clutch, and subsequently computes the actual clutch torque from only the drive slip on the front axle, the drive slip on the rear axle, and the total drive torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christian Billig, Thomas Hopper
  • Publication number: 20060148617
    Abstract: In the case of a control device for an at least temporarily four-wheel-driven motor vehicle, having a control unit which can variably distribute the driving torque of a drive unit as a function of operating conditions to primary driving wheels, which are permanently connected with the drive unit, and to secondary driving wheels which, if required, can be connected by way of a transfer clutch with the drive unit, in that the control unit determines a desired clutch torque which is to be set by an actuator device at the transfer clutch, one operating condition is the vehicle speed. The control unit is further developed such that, when the desired clutch torque is determined, at least one defined high-speed range is taken into account and in that a speed-range-related clutch torque assigned to the high-speed range is defined as a maximally permissible limit torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Christian Billig
  • Publication number: 20060122757
    Abstract: In the case of a control device for an at least part-time four-wheel-driven motor vehicle, having a control unit which can variably distribute the driving torque of a drive unit to primary driving wheels, which are permanently connected with the drive unit, and to secondary driving wheels which, if required, can be connected by way of a transfer clutch with the drive unit, wherein the control unit determines a desired clutch torque which is to be set by an actuator device at the transfer clutch, the control unit consists of a main control unit and an additional control unit, the main control unit computing the desired clutch torque as a function of detected and/or determined parameters, which clutch torque is transmitted to the additional control unit, and the additional control unit converting the desired clutch torque to a corresponding electric control signal for the actuator device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Christian Billig
  • Publication number: 20060122033
    Abstract: In the case of a control device for an at least partially four-wheel-driven motor vehicle, having a control unit which can variably distribute the driving torque of a drive unit to primary driving wheels, which are permanently connected with the drive unit, and to secondary driving wheels which, if required, can be connected by way of a transfer clutch with the drive unit, in that the control unit determines a desired clutch torque which is to be set by means of an actuator device at the transfer clutch, the control unit receives at least one input signal for detecting an accelerator pedal position and is further developed such that, when the desired clutch torque is determined, a basic pilot control fraction is taken into account, which is defined as a function of the accelerator pedal position and is corrected as a function of additional parameters which are detected or determined by the control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Christian Billig
  • Publication number: 20060122756
    Abstract: In the case of a control device for an at least partially four-wheel-driven motor vehicle, having a control unit which can variably distribute the driving torque of a drive unit to primary driving wheels, which are permanently connected with the drive unit, and to secondary driving wheels, which, if required, can be connected by way of a transfer clutch with the drive unit, wherein the control unit determines a desired clutch torque which is to be set by an actuator device at the transfer clutch. The control unit is further configured such that, when the desired clutch torque is determined, at least one degree of stress to the transfer clutch and/or at least one degree of stress to the actuator device are taken into account. In this case, the taking into account of a short-duration degree of stress to the transfer clutch is particularly important with a view to a closing which is as fast as possible for preventing a slip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Christian Billig
  • Publication number: 20060113135
    Abstract: In the case of a control system for a vehicle with at least part-time four-wheel drive, having a control unit which detects or determines quantities proportional to the wheel speeds of all wheels and the vehicle speed, and by means of which the driving torque of a drive unit can be variably distributed to primary driving wheels, which are permanently connected with the drive unit, and to secondary driving wheels which, if required, can be connected with the drive unit, for the distribution of the driving torque, a clutch torque of a transfer clutch arranged between the drive unit and the secondary driving wheels is set by means of the control unit, and the control unit is further developed such that the clutch torque is increased if a difference is detected between the wheel speed of a wheel and the vehicle speed and/or if a difference is detected between the two wheels speeds of the wheels of at least one vehicle side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Publication date: June 1, 2006
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christian Billig, Gerhard Fischer
  • Patent number: 6681169
    Abstract: A control unit of a control system for wheel-specific braking torque control is provided for a vehicle having an electronically controlled transmission. The control unit records the speeds of all wheels of the vehicle for the purpose of recognizing wheel slippage. The control unit records at least one vehicle dynamics operating parameter of the vehicle as an input signal, which can be recognized by a yawing of the vehicle. In the case of slippage on at least one wheel of an axle and when yawing of the vehicle takes place, the control unit initiates an up-shifting process in the transmission in order to reduce the engine torque by a certain torque amount. At the same time, the control unit initiates a braking intervention on both wheels of the other axle, i.e. the axle without the wheel slippage, in order to increase the braking torque by the same torque amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christian Billig, Gerhard Fischer
  • Publication number: 20020040269
    Abstract: A control unit of a control system for wheel-specific braking torque control is provided for a vehicle having an electronically controlled transmission. The control unit records the speeds of all wheels of the vehicle for the purpose of recognizing wheel slippage. The control unit records at least one vehicle dynamics operating parameter of the vehicle as an input signal, which can be recognized by a yawing of the vehicle. In the case of slippage on at least one wheel of an axle and when yawing of the vehicle takes place, the control unit initiates an up-shifting process in the transmission in order to reduce the engine torque by a certain torque amount. At the same time, the control unit initiates a braking intervention on both wheels of the other axle, i.e. the axle without the wheel slippage, in order to increase the braking torque by the same torque amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christian Billig, Gerhard Fischer