Patents by Inventor Eckehard Knoefler

Eckehard Knoefler 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: 10845332
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring a NOx sensor (10) having an oxygen-ion-conducting solid electrolyte and having at least one cavity (12), wherein at least one cavity (12) of the NOx sensor is flooded with a defined oxygen concentration during a self-diagnosis of the NOx sensor. The gradient of a pump current resulting therefrom is evaluated and, in the case of a deviation in comparison with reference values, possibly impaired dynamics of the NOx sensor are inferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Eckehard Knoefler, Torsten Handler
  • Patent number: 10627382
    Abstract: A method is presented for checking the functional capability of a nitrogen oxide sensor (10) which has a first chamber (12) and a second chamber (14), wherein the first chamber has a first oxygen pump cell (20) and the second chamber has a second pump cell (34), in a normal operating mode of the nitrogen oxide sensor (10), an oxygen concentration level in the first chamber is reduced to a predetermined first value with the first pump cell, and an oxygen concentration level in the second chamber is reduced to a second value with the second pump cell, said second value being lower than the first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Eckehard Knoefler, Torsten Handler
  • Publication number: 20190195828
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring a NOx sensor (10) having an oxygen-ion-conducting solid electrolyte and having at least one cavity (12), wherein at least one cavity (12) of the NOx sensor is flooded with a defined oxygen concentration during a self-diagnosis of the NOx sensor. The gradient of a pump current resulting therefrom is evaluated and, in the case of a deviation in comparison with reference values, possibly impaired dynamics of the NOx sensor are inferred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Eckehard Knoefler, Torsten Handler
  • Publication number: 20180202986
    Abstract: A method is presented for checking the functional capability of a nitrogen oxide sensor (10) which has a first chamber (12) and a second chamber (14), wherein the first chamber has a first oxygen pump cell (20) and the second chamber has a second pump cell (34), in a normal operating mode of the nitrogen oxide sensor (10), an oxygen concentration level in the first chamber is reduced to a predetermined first value with the first pump cell, and an oxygen concentration level in the second chamber is reduced to a second value with the second pump cell, said second value being lower than the first value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Eckehard Knoefler, Torsten Handler
  • Patent number: 7725230
    Abstract: A method and a computer system for operating at least two interconnected control units. The control units access sensor data and each execute at least one computer program for controlling operational sequences, in particular in a vehicle. The control units exchange synchronization information with one another. In order to design and refine a computer system in a way that will enable even especially complex operational sequences, as required in a modern motor vehicle, for example, to be controlled and/or regulated simply and cost-effectively with the aid of the computer system, using conventional control units, the control units execute the same computer program time-synchronously using a settable time lag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Eckehard Knoefler, Tobias Lang, Peter Fink, Martin Lunt, Bernd Illg, Arno Hafner
  • Publication number: 20060235594
    Abstract: A method and a computer system for operating at least two interconnected control units. The control units access sensor data and each execute at least one computer program for controlling operational sequences, in particular in a vehicle. The control units exchange synchronization information with one another. In order to design and refine a computer system in a way that will enable even especially complex operational sequences, as required in a modern motor vehicle, for example, to be controlled and/or regulated simply and cost-effectively with the aid of the computer system, using conventional control units, the control units execute the same computer program time-synchronously using a settable time lag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Publication date: October 19, 2006
    Inventors: Eckehard Knoefler, Tobias Lang, Peter Fink, Martin Lunt, Bernd Illg, Arno Hafner