Patents by Inventor Christof Thiel

Christof Thiel 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: 7953527
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing a motor vehicle and a control device for controlling a motor vehicle, a plurality of characteristic values, which are used for controlling the motor vehicle, being adapted. The adapted characteristic values are compared in each case to a threshold value, and an error message is generated if the adapted characteristic value goes beyond the threshold value. Normalized characteristic values are formed by a normalization, and a possibly faulty component of the motor vehicle is identified by a joint observation of a plurality of normalized characteristic values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Christof Thiel, Andreas Bethmann
  • Patent number: 7707868
    Abstract: A method for determining the operability of at least one pressure sensor of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, in which the ambient pressure is first determined by the pressure sensor, and the ambient pressure determined by the pressure sensor is then compared to the ambient pressure determined by a reference pressure sensor not belonging to the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Christof Thiel, Andreas Bethmann
  • Patent number: 7594389
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing a secondary-air system of an internal combustion engine. The secondary-air system introduces secondary air into the exhaust-gas region of the internal combustion engine, the secondary air exothermically reacting together with combustible exhaust-gas components, and a thermoreactor being formed in the reaction region. The method provides for a measure of the secondary air to be ascertained from the thermal behavior in the thermoreactor and evaluated. The measure of the secondary air, which reflects, for example, the volumetric flow rate of the secondary air, the mass flow rate of the secondary air, or the amount or mass of secondary air flowing in a time interval, is compared to at least one threshold value. At least one diagnostic signal is then generated as a function of the comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Kesch, Detlef Heinrich, Achim Guenther, Christof Thiel, Juergen Foerster
  • Patent number: 7578288
    Abstract: In a method for operating an internal combustion engine, a sensor for detecting and/or an actuator for setting a performance quantity of the internal combustion engine is/are monitored for the presence of a malfunction. Monitoring is performed at a first operating point of the internal combustion engine at a lower load and at an operating point of the internal combustion engine at a higher load. The two operating points are set alternatingly, and at least one of the two operating points is set multiple times for a single monitoring operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Christof Thiel, Matthias Heinkele, Andreas Bethmann, Kai Jakobs
  • Patent number: 7463960
    Abstract: In a method for error diagnosis of an ambient-pressure sensor and an intake-manifold pressure sensor of an internal combustion engine, a defective intake-manifold pressure sensor or a defective ambient-pressure sensor is unambiguously detected by measuring the signals of the ambient-pressure sensor and the intake-manifold pressure sensor with the internal combustion engine stopped, and comparing the ambient pressure represented by the sensor signal of the ambient-pressure sensor to the intake-manifold pressure represented by the sensor signal of the intake-manifold pressure sensor to determine a pressure difference. If the determined pressure difference is greater than a predetermined maximum value, at least one additional sensor signal is measured with the internal combustion engine running, which additional sensor signal is used for identifying the defective sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Christof Thiel, Andreas Bethmann, Steffen Ziel
  • Publication number: 20080125957
    Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle has the steps of determining angular positions of a crankshaft and a camshaft from signals of two detecting devices, monitoring a relative angular position of one of the shafts relative to the other of the shafts, and, depending on whether a change of the determined actual relative position is located outside the tolerance region, releasing an action, and also a computer program, a storage medium, a control and/or regulating unit, and an internal combustion engine with the use of inventive method are proposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventors: Ingolf Rupp, Bernd Kesch, Christof Thiel, Juergen Foerster, Tae Jeon Kwon
  • Patent number: 7370517
    Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle has the steps of determining angular positions of a crankshaft and a camshaft from signals of two detecting devices, monitoring a relative angular position of one of the shafts relative to the other of the shafts, and, depending on whether a change of the determined actual relative position is located outside the tolerance region, releasing an action, and also a computer program, a storage medium, a control and/or regulating unit, and an internal combustion engine with the use of inventive method are proposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ingolf Rupp, Bernd Kesch, Christof Thiel, Juergen Foerster, Tae Jeon Kwon
  • Publication number: 20080066522
    Abstract: A method for determining the operability of at least one pressure sensor of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, in which the ambient pressure is first determined by the pressure sensor, and the ambient pressure determined by the pressure sensor is then compared to the ambient pressure determined by a reference pressure sensor not belonging to the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Christof Thiel, Andreas Bethmann
  • Publication number: 20070265742
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing a motor vehicle and a control device for controlling a motor vehicle, a plurality of characteristic values, which are used for controlling the motor vehicle, being adapted. The adapted characteristic values are compared in each case to a threshold value, and an error message is generated if the adapted characteristic value goes beyond the threshold value. Normalized characteristic values are formed by a normalization, and a possibly faulty component of the motor vehicle is identified by a joint observation of a plurality of normalized characteristic values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Inventors: Christof Thiel, Andreas Bethmann
  • Publication number: 20070199553
    Abstract: In a method for operating an internal combustion engine, a sensor for detecting and/or an actuator for setting a performance quantity of the internal combustion engine is/are monitored for the presence of a malfunction. Monitoring is performed at a first operating point of the internal combustion engine at a lower load and at an operating point of the internal combustion engine at a higher load. The two operating points are set alternatingly, and at least one of the two operating points is set multiple times for a single monitoring operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Inventors: Christof Thiel, Matthias Heinkele, Andreas Bethmann, Kai Jakobs
  • Publication number: 20060282200
    Abstract: In a method for error diagnosis of an ambient-pressure sensor and an intake-manifold pressure sensor of an internal combustion engine, a defective intake-manifold pressure sensor or a defective ambient-pressure sensor is unambiguously detected by measuring the signals of the ambient-pressure sensor and the intake-manifold pressure sensor with the internal combustion engine stopped, and comparing the ambient pressure represented by the sensor signal of the ambient-pressure sensor to the intake-manifold pressure represented by the sensor signal of the intake-manifold pressure sensor to determine a pressure difference. If the determined pressure difference is greater than a predetermined maximum value, at least one additional sensor signal is measured with the internal combustion engine running, which additional sensor signal is used for identifying the defective sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Inventors: Christof Thiel, Andreas Bethmann, Steffen Ziel
  • Publication number: 20050150209
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing a secondary-air system of an internal combustion engine. The secondary-air system introduces secondary air into the exhaust-gas region of the internal combustion engine, the secondary air exothermically reacting together with combustible exhaust-gas components, and a thermoreactor being formed in the reaction region. The method provides for a measure of the secondary air to be ascertained from the thermal behavior in the thermoreactor and evaluated. The measure of the secondary air, which reflects, for example, the volumetric flow rate of the secondary air, the mass flow rate of the secondary air, or the amount or mass of secondary air flowing in a time interval, is compared to at least one threshold value. At least one diagnostic signal is then generated as a function of the comparison result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2005
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Inventors: Bernd Kesch, Detlef Heinrich, Achim Guenther, Christof Thiel, Juergen Foerster
  • Publication number: 20040236497
    Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle has the steps of determining angular positions of a crankshaft and a camshaft from signals of two detecting devices, monitoring a relative angular position of one of the shafts relative to the other of the shafts, and, depending on whether a change of the determined actual relative position is located outside the tolerance region, releasing an action, and also a computer program, a storage medium, a control and/or regulating unit, and an internal combustion engine with the use of inventive method are proposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Ingolf Rupp, Bernd Kesch, Christof Thiel, Juergen Foerster, Tae Jeon Kwon
  • Patent number: 6758190
    Abstract: A method and a device for controlling an output variable of a drive unit in the starting phase is described. A controller is provided, regulating the actual value of at least one output variable to a setpoint variable of this output variable which is specified as a function of time. When at least one condition marking entry into the starting phase exists, the setpoint value of the output variable is initialized with the actual value of the output variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Denz, Ruediger Weiss, Achim Guenther, Christof Thiel, Werner Hess, Martin Ludwig, Armin Hassdenteufel
  • Publication number: 20020195084
    Abstract: A method and a device for controlling an output variable of a drive unit in the starting phase is described. A controller is provided, regulating the actual value of at least one output variable to a setpoint variable of this output variable which is specified as a function of time. When at least one condition marking entry into the starting phase exists, the setpoint value of the output variable is initialized with the actual value of the output variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventors: Helmut Denz, Ruediger Weiss, Achim Guenther, Christof Thiel, Werner Hess, Martin Ludwig, Armin Hassdenteufel