Patents by Inventor Christian Zelger

Christian Zelger 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).

  • Publication number: 20090210115
    Abstract: In a method and a restraint system for the controlled paying-out of a seatbelt (16) of a seatbelt system (1) for a vehicle (100) in the event of a crash, a vehicle occupant who is secured by the seatbelt system (1) is additionally restrained by an airbag (110), wherein the paying-out of the seat belt is controlled in such a way that the vehicle occupant (102) is braked, in particular over a predefined time period (txid) in accordance with a characteristic curve (13) to be predefined, the braking operation being such that the vehicle occupant (102) impacts against an airbag which is unfolded in an ideal fashion at the end of this time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventors: Bernd Gombert, Leopold Krausen, Christian Zelger
  • Patent number: 6804596
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for triggering at least on firing element for restraining means in a motor vehicle. In said method and device a firing command is transmitted from a control unit to a firing device for the firing elements. The firing command is subsequently repeatedly n-fold, whereby n is at least equal to 1. The n+1 transmitted firing commmands are evaluated in the firing device and once the last of the n+1 firing commands has been transmitted, the firing elements are triggered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Christian Zelger
  • Patent number: 6777825
    Abstract: According to the invention, impact sensors are repeatedly interrogated during a polling mode and have to actively reply by emitting current pulses. If a sensor does not reply it is selectively addressed and can at that point signal a desired message. The master unit has full communications control over the bus so that data collisions can be avoided and very rapid transmission of the sensor signal is achieved. The master unit can change the communication priorities at any time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Marten Swart, Christian Zelger
  • Patent number: 6693372
    Abstract: To improve the protection against short circuits, a method for transmitting data and a data transmission system including switching over the line polarity of a two-wire bus, after a line short circuit has been detected, such that data transmission can still be continued. In addition, a line potential check is performed and, in dependence thereon, a decision is made as to whether or not an overloaded driver remains permanently switched off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Marten Swart, Christian Zelger
  • Patent number: 6609463
    Abstract: A firing device is described and has an electronic unit which is connected upstream of a firing cap and generates a constant firing voltage. A bypass line is provided for bypassing the electronic unit. A test switching device can be actuated by a test signal and, when a test signal is present, connects a line, which conducts a supply voltage, to the bypass line. In this way, a Brouston test can be carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Kevin Hovet, Peter Popp, Christian Zelger
  • Publication number: 20030040860
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for triggering at least on firing element (6, 7, 8) for restraining means in a motor vehicle. In said method and device a firing command (3) is transmitted from a control unit (2) to a firing device (5) for the firing elements. The firing command (3) is subsequently repeatedly n-fold, whereby n is at least equal to 1. The n+1 transmitted firing commands are evaluated in the firing device and once the last of the n+1 firing commands has been transmitted, the firing elements are triggered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventor: Christian Zelger
  • Patent number: 6459249
    Abstract: A reset circuit for deactivating a circuit configuration, which is fed by a supply voltage, in the case of an undervoltage supply. In this case, active components 1,2 (FIG. 1); or 3,2 (FIG. 3) are provided and their forward paths are connected in series between the supply voltage Uv and ground reference potential. The active components are fed directly or indirectly by a current mirror circuit 9 from a respective current source 10, 11. A reset signal Ureset (active=low signal) being present at the junction point 5 of the active components, where the junction point 5 is connected to ground reference potential via a resistor Rdown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Marten Swart, Ekkehart-Peter Wagner, Christian Zelger
  • Publication number: 20020135381
    Abstract: A firing device is described and has an electronic unit which is connected upstream of a firing cap and generates a constant firing voltage. A bypass line is provided for bypassing the electronic unit. A test switching device can be actuated by a test signal and, when a test signal is present, connects a line, which conducts a supply voltage, to the bypass line. In this way, a Brouston test can be carried out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Inventors: Kevin Hovet, Peter Popp, Christian Zelger
  • Patent number: 6448784
    Abstract: A circuit apparatus for controlling an occupant protection device for a motor vehicle has a parallel circuit, which includes an energy storage capacitor and a series circuit. The series circuit includes a triggering element and a controllable power stage. An energy source supplies a test current to the parallel circuit. When the energy storage capacitor is at least substantially discharged and when the power stage is switched to a conducting state for test purposes, a test voltage from the series circuit is taken up and evaluated. A method of testing an operability of an occupant protection device for a motor vehicle is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Horst Belau, Christian Zelger
  • Publication number: 20020060892
    Abstract: To improve the protection against short circuits, a method for transmitting data and a data transmission system including switching over the line polarity of a two-wire bus, after a line short circuit has been detected, such that data transmission can still be continued. In addition, a line potential check is performed and, in dependence thereon, a decision is made as to whether or not an overloaded driver remains permanently switched off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: Marten Swart, Christian Zelger
  • Patent number: 6307518
    Abstract: An antenna configuration in an apparatus for detecting a child safety seat placed on a seat in a motor vehicle. A single transmitting antenna formed as a loop surrounds two loop-shaped receiving antennas. The receiving antennas receive electromagnetic measurement fields originating from an electromagnetic exciter field transmitted by the transmitting antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Reinhard Hamperl, Marten Swart, Arnulf Pietsch, Christian Zelger, Erwin Hetzenecker
  • Patent number: 6286862
    Abstract: A method of controlling inflation of an airbag in a motor-vehicle accident protection device, includes activating a gas generator in response to a firing signal for inflating the airbag. A temperature and/or a pressure of the gas generator is measured and the inflation takes place in such a way that a desired pressure profile in the airbag is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Blank, Christian Zelger, Günter Heitzer
  • Publication number: 20010006341
    Abstract: A reset circuit for deactivating a circuit configuration, which is fed by a supply voltage, in the case of an undervoltage supply. In this case, active components 1,2 (FIG. 1); or 3,2 (FIG. 3) are provided and their forward paths are connected in series between the supply voltage Uv and ground reference potential. The active components are fed directly or indirectly by a current mirror circuit 9 from a respective current source 10, 11. A reset signal Ureset (active=low signal) being present at the junction point 5 of the active components, where the junction point 5 is connected to ground reference potential via a resistor Rdown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: Marten Swart, Ekkehart-Peter Wagner, Christian Zelger