Patents by Inventor Frank Deprez

Frank Deprez 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: 11635136
    Abstract: A method for operating a power shiftable transmission of a motor vehicle, the transmission including a control unit, an input shaft, an output shaft, a gear set, and multiple shift elements, the method including transmitting, with the control unit, a request for a reduction of a drive torque acting on the input shaft for carrying out an upshift, and determining, with the control unit, whether the reduction is completely possible, partially possible, or impossible based on a signal. When the reduction is completely possible, the method includes controlling, with the control unit, a torque transmission rate of a shift element of the multiple shift elements to be engaged during the upshift according to a first way. When the reduction is partially possible or impossible, the method includes controlling, with the control unit, the torque transmission rate according to a second way, the second way differing from the first way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Felix Bühle, Frank Deprez
  • Patent number: 11345332
    Abstract: A method for operating a hybrid vehicle having a prime mover including an internal combustion engine and an electric machine, the vehicle further having a transmission connected between the prime mover and a driven end and including multiple shift elements, the vehicle further having a separating clutch connected between the internal combustion engine and the electric machine, and a starting component which is provided by a separate launch clutch or by a shift element of the transmission. The method includes monitoring a rotational speed of one of the internal combustion engine, the electric machine, the transmission, or the driven end during travel with the internal combustion engine running and the separating clutch engaged. The method further includes determining an increase in driving resistance, and decoupling the internal combustion engine when the monitored rotational speed falls below or reaches a first limiting value by disengaging the separating clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Frank Deprez, Holger Bacher, Jens Kastens
  • Publication number: 20220153256
    Abstract: A method for operating a hybrid vehicle includes, depending on a presence of a control-side demand to engage a separating clutch (4), implementing an engagement process of the separating clutch (4) during driving under purely electric motor power and, depending on the presence of a control-side demand to implement an upshift in a transmission (5), implementing a gear ratio change from a current gear of the upshift into a target gear of the upshift. In response to the control-side demand to engage the separating clutch (4) and the control-side demand to implement the upshift, the method includes checking whether the upshift is necessary in order to prevent a vehicle-side rotational speed from reaching or exceeding a rotational speed limit value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Johannes Kemler, Frank Deprez
  • Publication number: 20220112948
    Abstract: A method for operating a power shiftable transmission of a motor vehicle, the transmission including a control unit, an input shaft, an output shaft, a gear set, and multiple shift elements, the method including transmitting, with the control unit, a request for a reduction of a drive torque acting on the input shaft for carrying out an upshift, and determining, with the control unit, whether the reduction is completely possible, partially possible, or impossible based on a signal. When the reduction is completely possible, the method includes controlling, with the control unit, a torque transmission rate of a shift element of the multiple shift elements to be engaged during the upshift according to a first way. When the reduction is partially possible or impossible, the method includes controlling, with the control unit, the torque transmission rate according to a second way, the second way differing from the first way.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: Felix Bühle, Frank Deprez
  • Patent number: 11280378
    Abstract: A method for operating a drive train of a motor vehicle with a prime mover (1) including an internal combustion engine (2) and an electric machine (3), a separating clutch (6) connected between the internal combustion engine and the electric machine, and a transmission (5) connected between the prime mover (1) and a driven end (4) is provided. When at least one first operating condition is present, a previously decoupled internal combustion engine (2) is coupled such that the separating clutch (6) is actuated to engage. When at least one second operating condition is present, the coupling of the internal combustion engine is aborted, and an absolute value of a torque currently transmitted or currently transmittable by the separating clutch (6) is determined. The separating clutch (6) is disengaged at different rates depending on the absolute value of the torque currently transmitted or currently transmittable by the separating clutch (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Jens Kastens, Frank Deprez
  • Publication number: 20200370610
    Abstract: A method for operating a drive train of a motor vehicle with a prime mover (1) including an internal combustion engine (2) and an electric machine (3), a separating clutch (6) connected between the internal combustion engine and the electric machine, and a transmission (5) connected between the prime mover (1) and a driven end (4) is provided. When at least one first operating condition is present, a previously decoupled internal combustion engine (2) is coupled such that the separating clutch (6) is actuated to engage. When at least one second operating condition is present, the coupling of the internal combustion engine is aborted, and an absolute value of a torque currently transmitted or currently transmittable by the separating clutch (6) is determined. The separating clutch (6) is disengaged at different rates depending on the absolute value of the torque currently transmitted or currently transmittable by the separating clutch (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Jens Kastens, Frank Deprez
  • Patent number: 10781870
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle includes, when a target differential speed is set for a separating clutch (4), determining a power transmission factor depending on the target differential speed and an internal combustion engine-driven torque to be transmitted by the separating clutch (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Christoph Köhler, Frank Deprez, Pablo Ole Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20200231140
    Abstract: A method for operating a hybrid vehicle includes monitoring, a rotational speed of an internal combustion engine (2) or a rotational speed of an electric machine (3) or a rotational speed of a transmission (4) or a rotational speed of a driven end (5) during travel with the internal combustion engine (2) running and the separating clutch (7) engaged in order to determine an increase in driving resistance. The method also includes, when the monitored rotational speed falls below or reaches a first limiting value, partially disengaging the separating clutch (7) toward a disengagement position in which a torque transmitted by the separating clutch (7) is adjusted such that an idling speed governor of the internal combustion engine (2) accelerates the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine toward the idling speed of the internal combustion engine (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Frank Deprez, Jens Kastens
  • Patent number: 10539230
    Abstract: A method for controlling a hydraulically actuated shift element of a vehicle transmission (G) includes determining a fill level of a pressure compensating cavity (2) associated with a pressure chamber (1) and controlling pressurizing of the pressure chamber (1) with hydraulic fluid based at least in part on the determined fill level of the pressure compensating cavity (2). The pressure chamber (1) is fillable with the hydraulic fluid by an electronically controlled hydraulic system in order to actuate the shift element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Florian Mayer, Frank Deprez
  • Publication number: 20190344781
    Abstract: A method for operating a hybrid vehicle having a prime mover including an internal combustion engine and an electric machine, the vehicle further having a transmission connected between the prime mover and a driven end and including multiple shift elements, the vehicle further having a separating clutch connected between the internal combustion engine and the electric machine, and a starting component which is provided by a separate launch clutch or by a shift element of the transmission. The method includes monitoring a rotational speed of one of the internal combustion engine, the electric machine, the transmission, or the driven end during travel with the internal combustion engine running and the separating clutch engaged. The method further includes determining an increase in driving resistance, and decoupling the internal combustion engine when the monitored rotational speed falls below or reaches a first limiting value by disengaging the separating clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Frank Deprez, Holger Bacher, Jens Kastens
  • Publication number: 20190085916
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle includes, when a target differential speed is set for a separating clutch (4), determining a power transmission factor depending on the target differential speed and an internal combustion engine-driven torque to be transmitted by the separating clutch (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Christoph Köhler, Frank Deprez, Pablo Ole Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20180306316
    Abstract: A method for controlling a hydraulically actuated shift element of a vehicle transmission (G) includes determining a fill level of a pressure compensating cavity (2) associated with a pressure chamber (1) and controlling pressurizing of the pressure chamber (1) with hydraulic fluid based at least in part on the determined fill level of the pressure compensating cavity (2). The pressure chamber (1) is fillable with the hydraulic fluid by an electronically controlled hydraulic system in order to actuate the shift element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Florian Mayer, Frank Deprez
  • Patent number: 9709159
    Abstract: A method for controlling torque transfer of a force-fitting shift element includes controlling a closing pressure at least temporarily upon presence of a closing request for the force-fitting shift element and when a prevailing system pressure of the hydraulic circuit is above a threshold value for the system pressure. The closing pressure is controlled in a manner that is different than upon the presence of the closing request for the force-fitting shift element and when the prevailing system pressure is below the threshold value for the system pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Christoph Köhler, Frank Deprez
  • Publication number: 20160363215
    Abstract: Method for controlling the transfer of torque of a force-fitting shift element (K0), which can be closed by a closing pressure acting on a piston (K), whereas, in order to control the closing pressure, a control valve (V) is configured, depending on a control signal of a control unit (ECU), through the setting of the valve lift (V_s), to transmit the system pressure (p_sys) of a hydraulic circuit (K1) to the piston (K), or to reduce it as needed, whereas, upon the presence of a closing request at the shift element (K0) and a prevailing system pressure (p_sys) of the hydraulic circuit (K1) above a threshold value for the system pressure (p_sys-t), the closing pressure is controlled at least temporarily in a manner different than when it is controlled upon the presence of a closing request at the shift element (K0) and a prevailing system pressure (p_sys) below the threshold value for the system pressure (p_sys-t).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Christoph Köhler, Frank Deprez