Patents by Inventor Dirk Bormann

Dirk Bormann 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: 11906039
    Abstract: A selector device for a user input for shifting a vehicle transmission may be connected to the vehicle transmission for signal transfer. The selector device may include a slider unit coupled to a selector knob for the user input, and a housing unit for receiving the slider unit. The slider unit may be moveable in relation to the housing unit in a translatory manner. The selector device may have a ball bearing unit, where the ball bearing unit is designed to guide the slider unit linearly in the housing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Inventors: Dirk Bormann, Ludger Rake
  • Publication number: 20220136597
    Abstract: A selector device for a user input for shifting a vehicle transmission may be connected to the vehicle transmission for signal transfer. The selector device may include a slider unit coupled to a selector knob for the user input, and a housing unit for receiving the slider unit. The slider unit may be moveable in relation to the housing unit in a translatory manner. The selector device may have a ball bearing unit, where the ball bearing unit is designed to guide the slider unit linearly in the housing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Dirk Bormann, Ludger Rake
  • Patent number: 10967696
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic level control device for a vehicle having an air suspension system, for example a trailer vehicle having an air suspension system, the vehicle comprising a chassis having an axle and at least two wheels arranged on the axle, wherein an air spring is arranged between the axle and the chassis for at least one of the wheels, wherein an electronic control unit can initiate a level controlling procedure by actuating a solenoid valve, and wherein at least one capacitive level sensor is provided for the axle. The distance between the chassis and the at least one axle can be determined by the level sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Wabco Europe BVBA
    Inventors: Dirk Bormann, Jens Gröger, Marek Swoboda
  • Patent number: 10443723
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a parking brake device for a motor vehicle. The device may include a vehicle transmission including a parking lock and a gear selector lever coupled with the parking lock, where the gear selector lever is movable into a parking lock position for engaging the parking lock, and where the gear selector lever is movable out of the parking lock position for disengaging the parking lock. A first mechanical transmission element and a second mechanical transmission element may be arranged between the gear selector lever and the parking lock, where the first mechanical transmission element may be connected with the gear selector lever and configured for transmitting a moving force emanating from the gear selector lever to the second mechanical transmission element, and where the second mechanical transmission element may be connected with the parking lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Dirk Bormann
  • Patent number: 10393545
    Abstract: A sensor unit (2) for a motor vehicle or trailer is disclosed. The sensor unit comprises a sensor measuring arrangement (16) for sensing at least one physical variable, a sensor housing (12) partly or fully enclosing the sensor measuring arrangement (16) and at least two connecting lines (18). The sensor unit (2) with the sensor housing (12) is electrically connectable to a conductive part of the motor vehicle or trailer and the sensor measuring arrangement (16) is connectable to an analyzer (6) via the connecting lines (18). Related methods, a sensing and analysis device, and motor vehicles or trailers including the same are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: WABCO GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Bormann, Jens Gröger, Hartmut Schappler, Marek Swoboda
  • Publication number: 20190118606
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic level control device for a vehicle having an air suspension system, for example a trailer vehicle having an air suspension system, the vehicle comprising a chassis having an axle and at least two wheels arranged on the axle, wherein an air spring is arranged between the axle and the chassis for at least one of the wheels, wherein an electronic control unit can initiate a level controlling procedure by actuating a solenoid valve, and wherein at least one capacitive level sensor is provided for the axle. The distance between the chassis and the at least one axle can be determined by the level sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Dirk BORMANN, Jens GRÖGER, Marek SWOBODA
  • Patent number: 10151385
    Abstract: A transmission device may be provided for transmitting an angle of activation of a selector lever for a vehicle transmission, where the selector lever can assume a plurality of angles of activation. The transmission device may include a transmission lever, where the transmission lever may be rotatable about a first axis and may be configured to receive the angle of activation of the selector lever. The transmission device may further include a signal lever, where the signal lever may be rotatable about a second axis and may be configured to provide a transducer angle to a transmitter element of a sensor. A drive device may be included. The drive device may couple the transmission lever with the signal lever and may be configured to transmit the angle of activation received by the transmission lever to the transducer angle provided by the signal lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Michael Voelz, Dirk Bormann
  • Publication number: 20180003521
    Abstract: A sensor unit (2) for a motor vehicle or trailer is disclosed. The sensor unit comprises a sensor measuring arrangement (16) for sensing at least one physical variable, a sensor housing (12) partly or fully enclosing the sensor measuring arrangement (16) and at least two connecting lines (18). The sensor unit (2) with the sensor housing (12) is electrically connectable to a conductive part of the motor vehicle or trailer and the sensor measuring arrangement (16) is connectable to an analyzer (6) via the connecting lines (18). Related methods, a sensing and analysis device, and motor vehicles or trailers including the same are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Dirk BORMANN, Jens GRÖGER, Hartmut SCHAPPLER, Marek SWOBODA
  • Publication number: 20170307080
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a parking brake device for a motor vehicle. The device may include a vehicle transmission including a parking lock and a gear selector lever coupled with the parking lock, where the gear selector lever is movable into a parking lock position for engaging the parking lock, and where the gear selector lever is movable out of the parking lock position for disengaging the parking lock. A first mechanical transmission element and a second mechanical transmission element may be arranged between the gear selector lever and the parking lock, where the first mechanical transmission element may be connected with the gear selector lever and configured for transmitting a moving force emanating from the gear selector lever to the second mechanical transmission element, and where the second mechanical transmission element may be connected with the parking lock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Dirk Bormann
  • Publication number: 20170234903
    Abstract: A sensor device (12) to measure the speed of a wheel of a vehicle is disclosed. The sensor device (12) is assigned an identifier (28, 30, 32) which can be contactlessly read. The identifier (28, 30, 32) can be read by radio. A method for identifying the sensor device (12) and a vehicle including the sensor device (12) are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Dirk BORMANN, Jens GRÖGER, Marco GROSSE WORTMANN, Sebastian KOSS, Stefan NIEBER
  • Publication number: 20160377174
    Abstract: A transmission device may be provided for transmitting an angle of activation of a selector lever for a vehicle transmission, where the selector lever can assume a plurality of angles of activation. The transmission device may include a transmission lever, where the transmission lever may be rotatable about a first axis and may be configured to receive the angle of activation of the selector lever. The transmission device may further include a signal lever, where the signal lever may be rotatable about a second axis and may be configured to provide a transducer angle to a transmitter element of a sensor. A drive device may be included. The drive device may couple the transmission lever with the signal lever and may be configured to transmit the angle of activation received by the transmission lever to the transducer angle provided by the signal lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Michael Voelz, Dirk Bormann