Patents by Inventor Dirk Dreyer

Dirk Dreyer 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: 11597437
    Abstract: A method for operating a steering system of a vehicle, wherein an actuator is provided for generating a moment at a steering handle of the vehicle, wherein the following steps are carried out: generating the moment up to a maximum moment if the maximum moment is enabled, and up to a lower limited moment if the maximum moment is limited, identifying a vehicle situation of the vehicle, enabling the maximum moment if the vehicle situation is identified as being a boarding and/or deboarding situation in order to brace the steering handle, and limiting the maximum moment if the vehicle situation is identified as being driving operation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Johannes Maria Schäfer, Björn Makkus, Dirk Dreyer, Andreas Pöhland
  • Patent number: 11370478
    Abstract: A drive part, in particular, a steering system for a transportation vehicle, having an electric motor and at least one control device, wherein the electric motor has at least one winding, wherein the winding has connection points for a power electronics system of the at least one control device, wherein the drive component has at least one sensor system for detecting fluid, wherein the sensor system has an evaluation and control unit connected to the connection points of the at least one winding, wherein the evaluation and control unit generates a test signal and detects a change in impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Inventor: Dirk Dreyer
  • Publication number: 20210371009
    Abstract: Generating a steering wheel torque (ML) on a steering wheel in a vehicle steering system as a tactile feedback. A value for a rack force (FZ) may be obtained, and at least a component (MZ) of an actuator-generated target steering wheel torque (MS) utilizing a characteristic curve (K1) that defines the steering wheel torque (MS) as a function of the rack force (FZ). A steering wheel torque (ML) is generated on the basis of the target steering wheel torque (MS) using an actuator mechanically connected to the steering wheel. A steering system for a vehicle, and a control unit for such a steering system may be configured to perform the functions disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Felix Heinrich, Dirk Dreyer
  • Publication number: 20210070353
    Abstract: A drive part, in particular, a steering system for a transportation vehicle, having an electric motor and at least one control device, wherein the electric motor has at least one winding, wherein the winding has connection points for a power electronics system of the at least one control device, wherein the drive component has at least one sensor system for detecting fluid, wherein the sensor system has an evaluation and control unit connected to the connection points of the at least one winding, wherein the evaluation and control unit generates a test signal and detects a change in impedance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventor: Dirk DREYER
  • Publication number: 20200385055
    Abstract: A method for operating a steering system of a vehicle, wherein an actuator is provided for generating a moment at a steering handle of the vehicle, wherein the following steps are carried out: generating the moment up to a maximum moment if the maximum moment is enabled, and up to a lower limited moment if the maximum moment is limited, identifying a vehicle situation of the vehicle, enabling the maximum moment if the vehicle situation is identified as being a boarding and/or deboarding situation in order to brace the steering handle, and limiting the maximum moment if the vehicle situation is identified as being driving operation of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Applicant: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Johannes Maria Schäfer, Björn Makkus, Dirk Dreyer, Andreas Pöhland
  • Patent number: 10766527
    Abstract: A steering angle controller which controls an actual value to a desired value, wherein the steering angle controller outputs, as an output signal, an actuating signal for power electronics to control an electric servo motor, wherein the actual value is a steering angle or a measurement variable corresponding to the steering angle and the desired value is a steering angle request or measurement variable request, wherein the steering angle controller is assigned at least one memory which stores at least two different control algorithms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Dirk Dreyer
  • Patent number: 10464599
    Abstract: The invention relates to a steer-by-wire system comprising a first control device that controls at least one steering actuator, and at least one second control device that controls at least one actuator on a steering handle in order to generate a haptic torque, wherein a sensor system for detecting a steering wheel angle is assigned to the second control device, wherein the first control device is connected with a first bus system and the second control device is connected with a second bus system, wherein the two bus systems are connected with each other via a gateway control device, and the first control device and the second control device are connected with each other directly via a third bus system, as well as a method for data exchange in such a steer-by-wire system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Dirk Dreyer
  • Publication number: 20190054953
    Abstract: A steering angle controller which controls an actual value to a desired value, wherein the steering angle controller outputs, as an output signal, an actuating signal for power electronics to control an electric servo motor, wherein the actual value is a steering angle or a measurement variable corresponding to the steering angle and the desired value is a steering angle request or measurement variable request, wherein the steering angle controller is assigned at least one memory which stores at least two different control algorithms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventor: Dirk DREYER
  • Publication number: 20180257703
    Abstract: The invention relates to a steer-by-wire system comprising a first control device that controls at least one steering actuator, and at least one second control device that controls at least one actuator on a steering handle in order to generate a haptic torque, wherein a sensor system for detecting a steering wheel angle is assigned to the second control device, wherein the first control device is connected with a first bus system and the second control device is connected with a second bus system, wherein the two bus systems are connected with each other via a gateway control device, and the first control device and the second control device are connected with each other directly via a third bus system, as well as a method for data exchange in such a steer-by-wire system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicant: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Dirk Dreyer
  • Patent number: 5909166
    Abstract: A safety switch includes a spring-biased locking pin which is displaceable axially inside a switch housing by a lifting magnet against the biasing force of the spring to switch a switching element between a blocking position and a release position, and a retention magnet which holds the locking pin in the release position when the lifting magnet is de-energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Hans Bernstein Spezialfabrik fur Schaltkontakte
    Inventors: Rolf Wecke, Heinz Scharlibbe, Dirk Dreyer, Joachim Ulfik