Patents by Inventor Frieder Norrenberg

Frieder Norrenberg 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: 12128903
    Abstract: A method for operating a drive train of a motor vehicle, where the drive train includes a drive aggregate, a group transmission connected between the drive aggregate and a drive output, and a separating cutch connected between the drive aggregate and the group transmission. If a speed is lower than a limit value, the separating clutch is opened and for transmission preselection one or all the other sub-transmission(s) is/are changed to a friction-force-locking condition. The separating clutch is then at least partially closed and the drive aggregate is brought to a defined rotation speed. When a friction-force-locking group transmission is required, it is checked whether a starting gearshift or a driver-desired shift for the group transmission is called for and the target rotation speed of the drive aggregate is checked. Depending on the results, the sub-transmission can be synchronized by a transmission brake or by the drive aggregate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Mario Steinborn, Maik Würthner, Thea Schlueter, Frieder Norrenberg, Martin Fajfr
  • Publication number: 20240328508
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle drive train having a drive aggregate, an automated group transmission connected between the drive aggregate and a drive output, and a disconnect clutch connected between the drive aggregate and the group transmission. The group transmission has a plurality of sub-transmissions, including a main transmission, a splitter group upstream from the main transmission, and a range group downstream from the main transmission. When the disconnect clutch cannot be shifted to carry out a shifting operation in the group transmission, an emergency shifting program is activated. Shifting from a current gear to a target gear is carried out automatically, as a function of input rotation speed of the group transmission or as a function of rotation speed of the drive aggregate, while the disconnect clutch is closed and where the main transmission and/or the range group participate exclusively, but not the splitter group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Mario Steinborn, Thea Schlueter, Frieder Norrenberg, Richard Malínský, Otakar Šprdlík, Martin Fajfr, Karel Veisheipl
  • Publication number: 20240300497
    Abstract: A method for operating a drive train of a motor vehicle, where the drive train includes a drive aggregate, a group transmission connected between the drive aggregate and a drive output, and a separating cutch connected between the drive aggregate and the group transmission. If a speed is lower than a limit value, the separating clutch is opened and for transmission preselection one or all the other sub-transmission(s) is/are changed to a friction-force-locking condition. The separating clutch is then at least partially closed and the drive aggregate is brought to a defined rotation speed. When a friction-force-locking group transmission is required, it is checked whether a starting gearshift or a driver-desired shift for the group transmission is called for and the target rotation speed of the drive aggregate is checked. Depending on the results, the sub-transmission can be synchronized by a transmission brake or by the drive aggregate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Mario Steinborn, Maik Würthner, Thea Schlueter, Frieder Norrenberg, Martin Fajfr