Patents by Inventor Frank Einig

Frank Einig 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: 12643527
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating a braking system of a vehicle during autonomous parking processes, including a first electronic control unit, a service brake system, and a partial braking system. The first control unit is designed for activating the service brake system and the partial braking system, in which an autonomous parking process is initiated, followed by an activation of the service brake system by the first control unit to generate a braking force. In the event of a failure of the service brake system, the partial braking system is activated by the first control unit to generate a braking force while the autonomous parking process is continued by utilising the partial braking system. The disclosure also relates to a vehicle control system for controlling autonomous parking processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2026
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Marx, Frank Einig, Frank Schmidt, Eugen Lanze
  • Patent number: 12559072
    Abstract: A decentralized control system for a vehicle braking system, comprises: electrically controlled wheel braking devices, each comprising an electronic control device and an actuator which is electrically actuatable by the control device, and by which the individual wheel brakes are actuatable in a mutually independent manner; and wheel speed sensors for detecting a rotational wheel speed. A wheel speed sensor is assigned to each wheel of the motor vehicle, wherein at least one control device of the wheel braking devices is connected to all the wheel speed sensors and is designed to receive wheel speed information from all the wheel speed sensors. The at least one control device of the wheel braking devices is designed to determine a vehicle speed on the basis of wheel speed information thus received, together with a motor vehicle braking system and a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2026
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventor: Frank Einig
  • Patent number: 12420766
    Abstract: An electromechanical brake pressure generator unit (10) of a brake-by-wire brake system can only be activated electronically and comprises a master brake cylinder (20), an electric motor (14) and a multi-stage intermediate transmission (16). A spindle-nut unit (18) comprises a nut (40) having a centring surface (42) by way of which the piston (48) of the master brake cylinder (20) is centred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2025
    Assignees: ZF ACTIVE SAFETY GMBH, ZF ACTIVE SAFETY US INC.
    Inventors: Blaise Ganzel, Frank Einig, Klaus Lemke, Iosu Oloriz del Rosario, Paul Warkentin, Martin Hofmann, Karl-Josef Adams
  • Publication number: 20240300466
    Abstract: An electromechanical brake pressure generator unit (10) of a brake-by-wire brake system can only be activated electronically and comprises a master brake cylinder (20), an electric motor (14) and a multi-stage intermediate transmission (16). A spindle-nut unit (18) comprises a nut (40) having a centring surface (42) by way of which the piston (48) of the master brake cylinder (20) is centred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2023
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Inventors: Blaise Ganzel, Frank Einig, Klaus Lemke, Iosu Oloriz del Rosario, Paul Warkentin, Martin Hofmann, Karl-Josef Adams
  • Patent number: 12024139
    Abstract: A brake system for selectively actuating at least one wheel brake includes a reservoir and a power transmission unit for selectively providing pressurized hydraulic fluid for actuating at least a selected one of the wheel brakes during a braking event. A first electronic control unit at least partially controls at least one of the power transmission unit and a selected one of the pair of rear brake motors. A second electronic control unit at least partially controls at least one of the power transmission unit and an other one of the pair of rear brake motors. The first electronic control unit controls at least one SAP valve, an isolation valve, and a dump valve for a selected two of the wheel brakes, and the second electronic control unit controls at least one SAP valve, an isolation valve, and a dump valve for an other two of the wheel brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety US Inc.
    Inventors: Blaise J. Ganzel, Frank Einig
  • Publication number: 20240116482
    Abstract: A decentralized control system for a vehicle braking system, comprises: electrically controlled wheel braking devices, each comprising an electronic control device and an actuator which is electrically actuatable by the control device, and by which the individual wheel brakes are actuatable in a mutually independent manner; and wheel speed sensors for detecting a rotational wheel speed. A wheel speed sensor is assigned to each wheel of the motor vehicle, wherein at least one control device of the wheel braking devices is connected to all the wheel speed sensors and is designed to receive wheel speed information from all the wheel speed sensors. The at least one control device of the wheel braking devices is designed to determine a vehicle speed on the basis of wheel speed information thus received, together with a motor vehicle braking system and a motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventor: Frank Einig
  • Publication number: 20230303063
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating a braking system of a vehicle during autonomous parking processes, including a first electronic control unit, a service brake system, and a partial braking system. The first control unit is designed for activating the service brake system and the partial braking system, in which an autonomous parking process is initiated, followed by an activation of the service brake system by the first control unit to generate a braking force. In the event of a failure of the service brake system, the partial braking system is activated by the first control unit to generate a braking force while the autonomous parking process is continued by utilising the partial braking system. The disclosure also relates to a vehicle control system for controlling autonomous parking processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Andreas Marx, Frank Einig, Frank Schmidt, Eugen Lanze
  • Publication number: 20230192062
    Abstract: A brake system for a vehicle is provided. The brake system is designed to selectively apply pressure to and release it from at least two pressure connectors for brake actuators, and each of the pressure connectors can be coupled to an associated brake actuator of a wheel of the vehicle. The brake system has a master brake module and an auxiliary brake module, wherein the master brake module and the auxiliary brake module each have at least one sensor for detecting a fluid pressure in the respective brake module, and with a control unit which is configured to monitor and compare a fluid pressure in the master brake module and in the auxiliary brake module by the measured values detected by the sensors, and, based on the pressure and/or pressure curve, to draw a conclusion about the functional capability of the auxiliary brake module. A method is furthermore provided for performing a functional test of the brake system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Andreas Marx, Nicholas Alford, Frank Einig
  • Patent number: 11590945
    Abstract: An electrohydraulic vehicle braking system is provided, comprising an electrically controllable first hydraulic pressure generator and an electrically controllable second hydraulic pressure generator. The braking system further comprises a first valve device for each wheel brake, having at least one first valve, wherein in an electrically uncontrolled state the first valve device separates its associated wheel brake from an output of the first hydraulic pressure generator, and in an electrically controlled state connects it to the output of the first hydraulic pressure generator. In addition, a second valve device for each wheel brake is provided, having a second valve between an output of the second hydraulic pressure generator and its associated wheel brake, as well as a third valve between this wheel brake and a first hydraulic fluid reservoir. The first valve device and the second valve device are arranged in parallel to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Einig, Blaise Ganzel, Nicholas Alford
  • Publication number: 20230001908
    Abstract: A brake system for selectively actuating at least one of a pair of front wheel brakes and a pair of rear wheel brakes includes a reservoir and a power transmission unit configured for selectively providing pressurized hydraulic fluid for actuating at least a selected one of the wheel brakes during a braking event. The power transmission unit includes an electric motor for selectively actuating a fluid pressurization cycle. The electric motor is a dual-wound electric motor having first and second windings. A first electronic control unit is provided for selectively controlling the first windings of the electric motor of the power transmission unit. A second electronic control unit is provided for selectively controlling the second windings of the electric motor of the power transmission unit. An isolation valve and a dump valve are associated with each wheel brake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: FRANK EINIG, BLAISE J. GANZEL, NICHOLAS ALFORD
  • Publication number: 20230001903
    Abstract: A brake system for selectively actuating at least one wheel brake includes a reservoir and a power transmission unit for selectively providing pressurized hydraulic fluid for actuating at least a selected one of the wheel brakes during a braking event. A first electronic control unit at least partially controls at least one of the power transmission unit and a selected one of the pair of rear brake motors. A second electronic control unit at least partially controls at least one of the power transmission unit and an other one of the pair of rear brake motors. The first electronic control unit controls at least one SAP valve, an isolation valve, and a dump valve for a selected two of the wheel brakes, and the second electronic control unit controls at least one SAP valve, an isolation valve, and a dump valve for an other two of the wheel brakes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: ZF Active Safety US Inc
    Inventors: BLAISE J. GANZEL, FRANK EINIG
  • Publication number: 20220371563
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a pressure generation unit for a braking system. The pressure generation unit comprises an electric drive motor and a hydraulic piston which is displaceable by the electric drive motor in order to selectively apply pressure to or relieve pressure from a pressure fluid circuit delimited by the hydraulic piston. For this purpose, the electric drive motor is drivingly coupled to the hydraulic piston via a planetary gear mechanism and a rack-and-pinion gear mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventor: Frank Einig
  • Publication number: 20220363229
    Abstract: A brake system for a vehicle is disclosed herein, which is constructed for selective pressurisation and pressure relief of at least two pressure connections for brake actuators. The brake system comprises an electrofluidic pressure generation unit, a main cylinder unit and an electrofluidic pressure increase unit, which is fluidly coupled at the input side to the electrofluidic pressure generation unit and/or the main cylinder unit in such a manner that exclusively a volume flow of pressure fluid which is pressurised by the electrofluidic pressure generation unit and/or the main cylinder unit can be acted on with a supplementary pressure by the pressure increase unit. At the output side, the pressure increase unit is connected in fluid terms to one of the pressure connections. In addition, a method for operating such a brake system is set out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Frank Schmidt, Fabian Querbach, Frank Einig, Peter Goergen, Thomas Puetz, Frank Heller, Thomas Wald, Joachim Oster, Johanna Mengelkoch
  • Publication number: 20210146900
    Abstract: A hydraulic motor vehicle braking system includes an electrical parking brake actuator for generating a brake force on a vehicle wheel. The braking system also comprises a first functional unit comprising at least one first electrical brake pressure generator, by means of which a brake pressure can be generated on respective wheel brakes, and a first control system designed to control the at least one first electrical brake pressure generator for a brake pressure regulation. A second functional unit of the braking system comprises at least one second electrical brake pressure generator, by means of which a brake pressure can be respectively generated on a subset of the wheel brakes, and a second control system which is designed to control the at least one second electrical brake pressure generator for a brake pressure regulation in the event of a failure of the first functional unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Applicant: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Einig, Nicholas Alford, Andreas Marx
  • Publication number: 20200172067
    Abstract: An electrohydraulic vehicle braking system is provided, comprising an electrically controllable first hydraulic pressure generator and an electrically controllable second hydraulic pressure generator. The braking system further comprises a first valve device for each wheel brake, having at least one first valve, wherein in an electrically uncontrolled state the first valve device separates its associated wheel brake from an output of the first hydraulic pressure generator, and in an electrically controlled state connects it to the output of the first hydraulic pressure generator. In addition, a second valve device for each wheel brake is provided, having a second valve between an output of the second hydraulic pressure generator and its associated wheel brake, as well as a third valve between this wheel brake and a first hydraulic fluid reservoir. The first valve device and the second valve device are arranged in parallel to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Applicant: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Einig, Blaise Ganzel, Nicholas Alford
  • Patent number: 8500220
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle braking system having regulating devices determining the transversely dynamic behavior of the vehicle, in order to maintain or restore stable vehicle behavior, by setting the braking torque on individual vehicle wheels independently of the driver. The performance of the braking system is controlled in this manner to help prevent vehicle rollover (overturning laterally) when negotiating curves. This is accomplished by generating a braking torque on the front wheel on the outside of the curve (or increasing a braking torque that is already set).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Einig, Josef Knechtges
  • Patent number: 7272481
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the presence of excessive yaw rate in a vehicle by calculating an instability index that is a function of the vehicle yaw rate and generating an excessive yaw rate signal when the instability index exceeds a yaw rate threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Company
    Inventors: Frank Einig, Kenneth Doll, Arnold H. Spieker, Josef Knechtges, Ralf Raffauf
  • Publication number: 20060173584
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the presence of excessive yaw rate in a vehicle by calculating an instability index that is a function of the vehicle yaw rate and generating an excessive yaw rate signal when the instability index exceeds a yaw rate threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Publication date: August 3, 2006
    Inventors: Frank Einig, Kenneth Doll, Arnold Spieker, Josef Knechtges, Ralf Raffauf
  • Patent number: 6953230
    Abstract: The performance of a system for controlling vehicle-movement dynamics, which operates the braking system and the drive train of a vehicle in order to prevent lateral breakaway of the vehicle, is improved yet further for the case in which oversteering of the vehicle is to be compensated. To this end it is proposed, according to the invention, that a braking moment be produced on the front wheel on the outside of the bend by the braking system, and an additional drive moment be built up by the drive train on the driven wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Einig, Elmar Hoffmann, Josef Knechtges, Michael Bleser
  • Publication number: 20040217647
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle braking system comprising regulating devices, which determine the transversely dynamic behaviour of the vehicle, in order to maintain or restore stable vehicle behaviour by setting the braking torque, independently of the driver, on individual vehicle wheels. The performance of said braking system is configured to prevent the vehicle from overturning laterally when negotiating curves. To achieve this, according to the invention it is proposed that a braking torque should be generated on the front wheel on the outside of the curve, or a braking torque that has already been set should be increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Frank Einig, Josef Knechtges