Patents by Inventor Claus Schmitz

Claus Schmitz 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: 11724623
    Abstract: A system for cooling a battery of an electrified vehicle includes a vehicle air-conditioning system having a first cooling circuit in which a first cooling medium circulates, a second cooling circuit in which a second cooling medium circulates, a cooling unit in thermal contact with the battery, wherein the second cooling medium flows through the cooling unit, and with a heat exchanger through which the first and second cooling media flow in separate channels which are in thermal contact, wherein in the heat exchanger, heat is discharged from the second cooling medium towards the first cooling medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Claus Schmitz, Gerd Wittmacher
  • Publication number: 20210370798
    Abstract: A system for cooling a battery of an electrified vehicle includes a vehicle air-conditioning system having a first cooling circuit in which a first cooling medium circulates, a second cooling circuit in which a second cooling medium circulates, a cooling unit in thermal contact with the battery, wherein the second cooling medium flows through the cooling unit, and with a heat exchanger through which the first and second cooling media flow in separate channels which are in thermal contact, wherein in the heat exchanger, heat is discharged from the second cooling medium towards the first cooling medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Claus SCHMITZ, Gerd WITTMACHER
  • Patent number: 11006657
    Abstract: A meat aging chamber suitable for residential or portable use is provided. An aging apparatus comprises a refrigerated aging cabinet having a climate created by environmental apparatus. A server in a cloud resource communicates with a control circuit in the aging apparatus and with a portable interactive device. In a setup mode the portable interactive device communicates with a control circuit in the aging apparatus via a communications interface to identify the user to the control circuit. In an operating mode the communications interface enables communication between the cloud resource and the control circuit. A sensor module provides current values to the cloud resource for controlling operation in accordance with a software program embodying the aging protocol. The cloud resource can inform the smartphone of aging progress and alarm conditions. Physical features enable embodying the functions of a commercial aging chamber in a residential sized unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Inventor: Claus Schmitz
  • Publication number: 20190133165
    Abstract: A meat aging chamber suitable for residential or portable use is provided. An aging apparatus comprises a refrigerated aging cabinet having a climate created by environmental apparatus. A server in a cloud resource communicates with a control circuit in the aging apparatus and with a portable interactive device. In a setup mode the portable interactive device communicates with a control circuit in the aging apparatus via a communications interface to identify the user to the control circuit. In an operating mode the communications interface enables communication between the cloud resource and the control circuit. A sensor module provides current values to the cloud resource for controlling operation in accordance with a software program embodying the aging protocol. The cloud resource can inform the smartphone of aging progress and alarm conditions. Physical features enable embodying the functions of a commercial aging chamber in a residential sized unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventor: Claus Schmitz
  • Patent number: 9939640
    Abstract: A head-up display in a motor vehicle has an image combiner movable between an active position, in which it is situated in the field of view of a driver of the vehicle, and an inactive position, in which it is situated close to a surface of or within an instrument panel. The position of the image combiner is controlled depending on signals from vehicle devices that indicate a likelihood or probability of a fogging condition of the windshield. The fogging condition may be indicated by a driver actuation of a windshield defogging/heating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Claus Schmitz, Dietmar Koesters
  • Publication number: 20160363766
    Abstract: A head-up display in a motor vehicle has an image combiner movable between an active position, in which it is situated in the field of view of a driver of the vehicle, and an inactive position, in which it is situated close to a surface of or within an instrument panel. The position of the image combiner is controlled depending on signals from vehicle devices that indicate a likelihood or probability of a fogging condition of the windshield. The fogging condition may be indicated by a driver actuation of a windshield defogging/heating system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Claus SCHMITZ, Dietmar KOESTERS
  • Publication number: 20160106133
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for aging meat implemented in a form available to the general consumer market. A cooling device comprising a refrigerated chamber is instrumented to provide a controlled atmosphere. This means provides for the aging of meat. Sensors are provided to monitor controlled atmosphere parameters. These parameters may be commanded by a remote control unit via a local control unit or via a communications link. Commands to a control circuit can be provided from a smart phone loaded with an aging app. Through the app, the user may vary operational parameters. The user may vary the aging process, accelerate it, or stop it. The user can monitor the aging process, react to alarm conditions, derive new relationships between data and results, and develop new aging routines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventor: Claus Schmitz
  • Patent number: 6777914
    Abstract: In a method for determining the state of charge of rechargeable batteries by integration of the amounts of current flowing during charging and discharging, a first state of charge value LZA is determined by continuous integration of the rechargeable battery current. A second state of charge value LZB is determined by measurement of the no-load voltage U0 after receiving or supplying a defined amount of charge Q which is sufficient in order to leave the region of the mixed potential of the electrodes and to reach a no-load voltage of the rechargeable battery, and by comparison of this measured no-load voltage U0 with empirically determined no-load voltage characteristics for the rechargeable battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Varta Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Ullrich, Hans-Walter Folge, Claus Schmitz
  • Publication number: 20030085688
    Abstract: In a method for determining the state of charge of rechargeable batteries by integration of the amounts of current flowing during charging and discharging, a first state of charge value LZA is determined by continuous integration of the rechargeable battery current. A second state of charge value LZB is determined by measurement of the no-load voltage U0 after receiving or supplying a defined amount of charge Q which is sufficient in order to leave the region of the mixed potential of the electrodes and to reach a no-load voltage of the rechargeable battery, and by comparison of this measured no-load voltage U0 with empirically determined no-load voltage characteristics for the rechargeable battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Applicant: NBT GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Ullrich, Hans-Walter Folge, Claus Schmitz