Patents by Inventor Eckart Westerholt

Eckart Westerholt 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: 7102304
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control device for a reversible, multi-phased rotating electrical machine which can operate in alternator or motor mode. The inventive device comprises a main battery (4), an electric network (5) and a unit (3) for controlling and commanding an inverter and a rectifier bridge (P) for selection in alternator mode or starter mode. According to the invention, the machine is powered by the inverter which is connected to a start-up control unit which can provide a voltage greater than that provided by the main battery (4) over the network (5). The inverter is connected to the positive terminal of the secondary voltage source via a first switch (K1) in motor mode, while the rectifier bridge (P) is connected to the positive terminal of the main battery via a second switch (K2) in alternator mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur
    Inventors: Dominique Sebille, Eckart Westerholt
  • Publication number: 20060108954
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control device for a reversible, multi-phased rotating electrical machine which can operate in alternator or motor mode. The inventive device comprises a main battery (4), an electric network (5) and a unit (3) for controlling and commanding an inverter and a rectifier bridge (P) for selection in alternator mode or starter mode. According to the invention, the machine is powered by the inverter which is connected to a start-up control unit which can provide a voltage greater than that provided by the main battery (4) over the network (5). The inverter is connected to the positive terminal of the secondary voltage source via a first switch (K1) in motor mode, while the rectifier bridge (P) is connected to the positive terminal of the main battery via a second switch (K2) in alternator mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Publication date: May 25, 2006
    Inventors: Dominique Sebille, Eckart Westerholt
  • Patent number: 6894402
    Abstract: Method for control of a multi-phase, reversible, rotating electrical machine, called alternator/starter, for a motor vehicle with a heat engine capable of operating either as an electrical generator—alternator mode—or as an electric motor, especially in order to start the heat engine, characterised in that, during operation in electric-motor mode, the said machine is driven according to two modes corresponding to different speed/torque characteristic curves, namely a first mode, called starter mode, making it possible to drive the heat engine of the vehicle in order to start it with high torques for low speeds, while the second mode, called auxiliary-motor mode, makes it possible to drive at least one power-consumer unit, such as an accessory, and/or the heat engine, at higher speeds and lower torques than those of the first mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Valeo Equipments Electriques Moteur
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Dubus, Eckart Westerholt
  • Publication number: 20030038482
    Abstract: Method for control of a multi-phase, reversible, rotating electrical machine, called alternator/starter, for a motor vehicle with a heat engine capable of operating either as an electrical generator—alternator mode—or as an electric motor, especially in order to start the heat engine, characterised in that, during operation in electric-motor mode, the said machine is driven according to two modes corresponding to different speed/torque characteristic curves, namely a first mode, called starter mode, making it possible to drive the heat engine of the vehicle in order to start it with high torques for low speeds, while the second mode, called auxiliary-motor mode, makes it possible to drive at least one power-consumer unit, such as an accessory, and/or the heat engine, at higher speeds and lower torques than those of the first mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Dubus, Eckart Westerholt