Patents by Inventor Dirk Hofmann

Dirk Hofmann 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: 20080245622
    Abstract: The invention relates to a self-boosting electromechanical friction brakes particularly in the form of a partially lined disk brake. The friction brake includes a friction brake lining which is helically movable with respect to the direction of rotation of a brake disk and pressed there into. A ramp mechanism is provided with ramps which cooperate with a roller bearing mechanism supporting the brake lining, to obtain the self-boosting effect. According to the invention, two of three rolls of the ramp mechanism are embodied with directing flanges for guiding the rolls on the ramps in order to helically guide the friction brake lining.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Chi-Thuan Cao, Dirk Hofmann, Herbert Vollert, Willi Nagel, Bertram Foitzik, Bernd Goetzelmann, Hans Frick
  • Publication number: 20080217120
    Abstract: The invention relates to a self-reinforcing electromechanical disc brake having a brake caliper produced by means of shaping, in one piece with a housing for electromechanical parts of an actuating device of the disc brake, with the housing forming a dimensionally stable hollow body. It is possible in this way to produce a bending-resistant and torsionally rigid brake caliper with a low wall thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventors: Chi-Thuan Cao, Dietmar Baumann, Dirk Hofmann, Herbert Vollert, Willi Nagel, Andreas Henke, Bertram Foitzik, Bernd Goetzelmann, Hans Frick
  • Publication number: 20080217121
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electromechanical disk brake which has a switchable freewheel in order to be configured as a parking brake. The switchable freewheel includes a clamping roller freewheel having rollers for locking a motor shaft of an electric motor of the brake. A locating bearing of the motor shaft of an electric motor, and the freewheel are accommodated on a cover of a housing of the electric motor, and all the electric connections of the disc brake are routed via the cover. The number of components used can be reduced considerably by the integrated design. Moreover, the positional tolerances of the freewheel in relation to the motor shaft can be reduced with the aid of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventors: Chi-Thuan Cao, Dietmar Baumann, Dirk Hofmann, Herbert Vollert, Willi Nagel, Andreas Henke, Bertram Foitzik, Bernd Goetzelmann, Hans Frick
  • Publication number: 20080217118
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bellows for a self-energising electromechanical disc brake. According to the invention, a low deformation force may be achieved by means of a bellows with an elliptical, offset cross-section tapering in one direction and, in opposing circumferential sections of the bellows, the provision of circumferential folds of small curvature and inclined folds along the longitudinal sides of the bellows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventors: Chi-Thuan Cao, Dietmar Baumann, Dirk Hofmann, Herbert Vollert, Willi Nagel, Andreas Henke, Bertram Foitzik, Bernd Goetzelmann
  • Publication number: 20080190717
    Abstract: A self-boosting electromagnetic disk brake having an electromechanical actuating device and a mechanical self-boosting device that has a wedge mechanism. A wedge is displaceable parallel to a brake disk and relative to a friction brake lining, and the relative displaceability of the wedge is limited relative to the friction brake lining to one direction, by means of a slaving device. The wedge is decoupled from the friction brake lining in one direction of rotation of the brake disk. As a result, the self-boosting device is operative in only one direction of rotation of the brake disk; in the reverse direction of rotation of the brake disk, the disk brake is neutral in terms of self-help.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventors: Dietmar Baumann, Dirk Hofmann, Herbert Vollert, Willi Nagel, Andreas Henke, Bertram Foitzik, Bernd Goetzelmann
  • Publication number: 20080185240
    Abstract: The invention relates to a self-reinforcing electromechanical disk brake. The invention proposes to produce a lining carrier plate of the disk brake from a fiber composite material. A bending-resistant lining carrier plate can be produced cost-effectively in this way. In addition to fiber-reinforced plastic, steel-reinforced concrete can also be considered as a composite material for the lining carrier plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Chi-Thuan Cao, Dietmar Baumann, Dirk Hofmann, Herbert Vollert, Willi Nagel, Andreas Henke, Bertram Foitzik, Bernd Goetzelmann, Hans Frick
  • Patent number: 7398866
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electromechanical, self-boosting friction brake, in particular a disk brake. The friction brake is embodied with a wedge element for exerting contact pressure on a friction brake lining; a wedge angle (?) is selected such that a brake parameter C* is located at or near a pole point. As a result, a high self-boosting that tends toward infinity and consequently a low actuating force are attained. To avoid blocking of the friction brake, an actuating device is embodied to block an independent motion of the wedge element, or has a regulating device for regulating a contact pressure of the friction brake lining against a brake body (brake disk).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Dietmar Baumann, Juergen Hilzinger, Dirk Hofmann, Herbert Vollert, Andreas Henke, Frieder Keller, Hanniel Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20080164105
    Abstract: An electromechanical disk brake having a self-boosting by means of a ramp mechanism with an encapsulation to protect moving parts of the brake against becoming soiled. The friction brake lining has a three-point support with three roller bodies and thus is braced in a statically defined way, and a contate gear mechanism for actuating the disk brake, which is not vulnerable to positional tolerances and does not cause any axial forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Dietmar Baumann, Dirk Hofmann, Herbert Vollert, Willi Nagel, Andreas Henke, Bertram Foitzik, Bernd Goetzelmann
  • Publication number: 20080149077
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine in which fresh air, under ambient pressure, is compressed with the aid of a compressor, in particular an exhaust gas turbocharger, and supplied to a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine via a throttle device, the rotational speed of the compressor being ascertained with the aid of a sensor, in particular a pressure sensor, the rotational speed of the compressor being used for determining the ambient pressure or a boost pressure applied downstream from the compressor and upstream from the throttle device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Michael Nau, Gunter Winkler, Dirk Hofmann
  • Patent number: 7364021
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel brake for a motor vehicle including an electromechanical actuating device and a hydraulic actuating device, which are redundant. In this way, the likelihood of failure of the wheel brake is reduced. A self-boosting device increases a braking force of the wheel brake, so that an (underpressure) brake booster can be dispensed with. Wheel slip control is possible in a simple way by hydraulic actuation of the wheel brake and superposition of a braking force regulation on the electromechanical actuating device. The wheel brake includes a support member on the side of a friction brake lining opposite a brake body. The support member has two wedge inclines and a flattened middle portion on a side opposite the friction brake lining. The pressure fluid actuating device has a tappet resting on the flattened middle portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Dietmar Baumann, Dirk Hofmann, Herbert Vollert, Willi Nagel, Andreas Henke, Bertram Foitzik, Bernd Goetzelmann
  • Publication number: 20080020770
    Abstract: Method of managing mobility in a communication network wherein a mobile station is handed over from a source base station to a target base station, comprising: providing the target base station with a first measurement report on radio link quality, comprising radio link quality measurements by the mobile station prior to said handover; providing the target base station with a second measurement report on radio link quality, said second measurement report comprising radio link quality measurements by the mobile station after said handover; in case of a proposed handover of the mobile station back to the source base station, comparing said first and second measurement reports; during a predefined time interval, allowing the proposed handover only in case of an overload situation at the target base station and/or in case of differences between said first and second measurement reports which are above a predefined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Applicant: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventor: Dirk HOFMANN
  • Publication number: 20080011559
    Abstract: A self-boosting electromechanical friction brake for a motor vehicle in which, with an electromechanical actuator, a friction brake lining can be pressed against a brake disk, and the friction brake lining is braced in the brake caliper via a wedge mechanism, which effects a self boosting. A friction brake lining which is pressed by the actuator has with a lower coefficient of friction, and in particular with less relative fluctuation in the coefficient of friction, than another friction brake lining positioned fixedly in the brake caliper. An operation-dictated fluctuation in the coefficient of friction and thus a change in the self boosting is reduced, and as a result the disk brake, with a low coefficient of friction, can be actuated with less actuation force and less actuation energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventors: Dietmar Baumann, Dirk Hofmann, Herbert Vollert, Willi Nagel, Andreas Henke, Bertram Foitzik, Bernd Goetzelmann
  • Publication number: 20070151815
    Abstract: The invention relates to a self-boosting electromechanical friction brake, having a friction brake lining which is displaceable for actuation in the direction of rotation of a brake disk and is braced on a ramp, via a roller body. When the friction brake is actuated, a rotating brake disk exerts a frictional force on the friction brake lining pressed against it, which urges the friction brake lining in the direction of an increasingly narrower gap between the ramp and the brake disk and as a result exerts a contact pressure in addition to a contact pressure exerted by an actuation device. The self-boosting action is attained as a result. To prevent the roller body from sliding on the ramp, the invention provides a positive controller, for instance with a gear wheel on the roller body that meshes with racks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Inventors: Dietmar Baumann, Dirk Hofmann, Herbert Vollert, Willi Nagel, Andreas Henke, Bernd Goetzelmann, Bertram Foitzik
  • Publication number: 20070137949
    Abstract: A self-boosting electromechanical friction brake, having a friction brake lining which is displaceable for actuation in the direction of rotation of a brake disk and which is braced via roller bodies on ramps of an abutment plate. When the brake is actuated, brake disk exerts a frictional force on the brake lining pressed against it, which urges the lining in the direction of an increasingly narrow gap between the ramps and the brake disk to exert a contact pressure that is in addition to that exerted by an actuation device to attain self-boosting. The roller bodies are supported fixedly and rotatably in bearing block on the brake lining whereby the roller bodies move in slaved fashion with the brake lining and always brace the brake lining at the same points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventors: Dietmar Baumann, Dirk Hofmann, Herbert Vollert, Willi Nagel, Andreas Henke, Bertram Foitzik, Bernd Goetzelmann
  • Patent number: 7172056
    Abstract: A disk brake having a first friction brake lining, which for braking can be pressed against a brake disk by pivoting of a support lever. A brake caliper is embodied as a floating caliper and an adjusting device is provided with which a second friction brake lining is adjustable transversely to the brake disk. In this way, a support angle (?) and thus a magnitude of the self-boosting of the disk brake can be varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Dietmar Baumann, Dirk Hofmann, Herbert Vollert, Willi Nagel, Andreas Henke, Bertram Foitzik, Bernd Goetzelmann
  • Publication number: 20070000738
    Abstract: A vehicle brake system having self-amplifying electromechanical wheel brakes have a self-amplification devices that are effective in only one rotation direction of the vehicle wheels and therefore in only one travel direction. The self-amplification devices of the wheel brakes associated with a front axle are effective in the forward travel direction and the self-amplification devices of the wheel brakes associated with a rear axle are effective, for example, in the reverse travel direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Inventors: Dietmar Baumann, Dirk Hofmann, Herbert Vollert, Willi Nagel, Andreas Henke, Bertram Foitzik, Bernd Goetzelmann
  • Publication number: 20060248409
    Abstract: A method and device for monitoring a distributed system made up of a plurality of users that are connected by one bus system are provided, in which distributed system at least a number of the users are provided as monitoring users. The process data of at least one monitored user are filed in data areas of memory units of the bus system, to which the monitoring users have access, and the process data are evaluated by the monitoring users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2004
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Inventors: Dietmar Baumann, Dirk Hofmann, Herbert Vollert, Willi Nagel, Andreas Henke, Bertram Foitzik, Bernd Goetzelmann
  • Patent number: 7117748
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement for detecting mechanical forces (F) with at least one magnetic-field-dependent sensor element, in which the output signal of the sensor element depends on the deflection of a mechanical component in the magnetic field in response to the exertion of force. The mechanical component here is a spring, which changes its location in the magnetic field in response to the exertion of force and is a component of a brake system for a motor vehicle; the at least one sensor element being located in the force flow of the brake caliper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Dietmar Baumann, Dirk Hofmann, Herbert Vollert, Willi Nagel, Andreas Henke, Bertram Foitzik
  • Publication number: 20060211402
    Abstract: A method for establishing a synchronization or for establishing a connection between a mobile terminal 1 and a base station 2 and/or an access point 3 in a wireless communication system 4, whereby the mobile terminal carries out the steps of measuring the location 5 of the mobile terminal; identifying a base station and/or an access point by comparing said location with data stored in the mobile terminal, said data comprising information on the positions 6, 7 of the base stations and/or access points, and parameters associated with these base stations and/or access points, the parameters being usable by a mobile terminal for establishing a synchronization (for receiving broadcast information and for measuring) or for establishing a connection to at least on of these base stations and/or access points; establishing a synchronization or establishing a connection to the identified base station and/or access point with the help of said parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Publication date: September 21, 2006
    Applicant: ALCATEL
    Inventor: Dirk Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20060211418
    Abstract: A method for carrying out a handover in a communication network, the communication network having at least a first base station and a second base station, the method comprising the steps of measuring the geographical position of the mobile station while the mobile station communicates with a first base station, comparing the geographical position with data comprising information on the location of geographical regions, whereby the signal quality in these regions is known to be worse than a predefined level, carrying out a handover to the second base station when the mobile station is close to such a region of the first base station. A mobile station and the communication network performing this method, and the software within the mobile terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Publication date: September 21, 2006
    Inventor: Dirk Hofmann