Patents by Inventor Gunther Uhl

Gunther Uhl 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: 6875962
    Abstract: An electric heating system for motor vehicles including one or several electric heating elements; a control circuit provided for controlling the power dissipated by the heating elements; the control circuit including one or several power semiconductors arranged on a circuit board; the circuit board is by means of a solid matter connection connected by the side facing away from the power semiconductors to a metal plate intended to be mass potential; the metal plate being electrically insulated from conductor paths located on the underside of the circuit board and intended to carry a voltage in relation to the ground potential; the control circuit being arranged in a housing. One or several heat sinks are provided outside the housing. The metal plate is connected with the heat sinks arranged outside the housing by thermally conductive connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Inventors: Günther Uhl, Steffen Geiger, Thomas Alban, Thomas Giffels, Dirk Wenske, Andreas Hamburger, Mike Riether
  • Patent number: 6872922
    Abstract: A method for operating a multi-stage electrical heater comprised of several heating elements. In conventional multi-stage electrical heaters, the resistance value of the individual heating elements scatters. In order that the individual heating elements emit the same power, specifically the required nominal power, despite the scattered resistance values, the voltage on the individual heating elements is separately regulated down to the required nominal power, proceeding from a maximum electrical resistance of the individual heating elements, at which the entire applied operating voltage yields the nominal power of the individual heating elements required for operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Beru AG
    Inventor: Günther Uhl
  • Publication number: 20040112884
    Abstract: The invention describes an electric heating system for motor vehicles with the following characteristics:
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Gunther Uhl, Steffen Geiger, Thomas Alban, Thomas Giffels, Dirk Wenske, Andreas Hamburger, Mike Riether
  • Patent number: 6736098
    Abstract: A method and device for controlling the heating of the glow plugs in a diesel engine, wherein the engine temperature is determined, independently of initialization of the engine control system and following a signal for starting the engine, by a sensor communicating with the glow control system. A glow command is generated if the engine temperature is below a predetermined value. Commencement of the heating procedure is automatically determined by the glow control system independently of initialization of the engine control system, and heating of the glow plugs can start prior to completion of initialization of the engine control system. The time required for the completion of initialization of the engine control system can be saved during heating of the glow plugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Beru AG
    Inventors: Olaf Toedter, Günther Uhl, Heinz-Georg Schmitz
  • Patent number: 6712032
    Abstract: Method for heating an electrical heating element, for example, a glow plug for an internal combustion engine, from an initial temperature to the operating temperature. In order to prevent the heating element from overheating in cases where the initial temperature is higher than a set temperature that is normally taken as a basis, the actual initial temperature of the heating element is first determined, and an amount of electrical power depending on the level of the determined initial temperature is supplied to the heating element. In this way, the supplied amount of electrical power is reduced at higher initial temperatures, thus preventing the heating element from becoming overheated to a temperature at which damage can occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Beru AG
    Inventors: Günther Uhl, Olaf Toedter, Heinz-Georg Schmitz
  • Publication number: 20040056018
    Abstract: A method for operating a multi-stage electrical heater comprised of several heating elements. In conventional multi-stage electrical heaters, the resistance value of the individual heating elements scatters. In order that the individual heating elements emit the same power, specifically the required nominal power, despite the scattered resistance values, the voltage on the individual heating elements is separately regulated down to the required nominal power, proceeding from a maximum electrical resistance of the individual heating elements, at which the entire applied operating voltage yields the nominal power of the individual heating elements required for operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Applicant: BERU AG
    Inventor: Gunther Uhl
  • Patent number: 6635851
    Abstract: Process and circuit for heating up a glow plug of a given glow plug type in a given arrangement in an internal combustion engine to a predetermined temperature. The power supply voltage is on the glow plug via a measurement resistor (12) and a switch (11). A control and regulation unit (16) taps the voltage drop via the measurement resistor (12) and determines the heat energy supplied to the glow plug therefrom and from the likewise tapped voltage on the glow plug. The signal which occurs on the output (15) of the unit (16) controls the switch (11). After closing the switch (11) the unit (16) supplies the glow plug with heat energy which is added up in the unit (16). As soon as the heat energy which is required for heating up to a predetermined temperature and which is determined beforehand from the known parameters of the glow plug and from the starting temperature is reached, the switch is opened again via the output signal at the output (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Beru AG
    Inventor: Günther Uhl
  • Publication number: 20030127450
    Abstract: Method for heating an electrical heating element, for example, a glow plug for an internal combustion engine, from an initial temperature to the operating temperature. In order to prevent the heating element from overheating in cases where the initial temperature is higher than a set temperature that is normally taken as a basis, the actual initial temperature of the heating element is first determined, and an amount of electrical power depending on the level of the determined initial temperature is supplied to the heating element. In this way, the supplied amount of electrical power is reduced at higher initial temperatures, thus preventing the heating element from becoming overheated to a temperature at which damage can occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Applicant: BERU AG
    Inventors: Gunther Uhl, Olaf Toedter, Heinz-Georg Schmitz
  • Publication number: 20030029405
    Abstract: A method and device for controlling the heating of the glow plugs in a diesel engine, wherein the engine temperature is determined, independently of initialization of the engine control system and following a signal for starting the engine, by a sensor communicating with the glow control system. A glow command is generated if the engine temperature is below a predetermined value. Commencement of the heating procedure is automatically determined by the glow control system independently of initialization of the engine control system, and heating of the glow plugs can start prior to completion of initialization of the engine control system. The time required for the completion of initialization of the engine control system can be saved during heating of the glow plugs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: Olaf Toedter, Gunther Uhl, Heinz-Georg Schmitz
  • Publication number: 20010050275
    Abstract: Process and circuit for heating up a glow plug of a given glow plug type in a given arrangement in an internal combustion engine to a predetermined temperature. The power supply voltage is on the glow plug via a measurement resistor (12) and a switch (11). A control and regulation unit (16) taps the voltage drop via the measurement resistor (12) and determines the heat energy supplied to the glow plug therefrom and from the likewise tapped voltage on the glow plug. The signal which occurs on the output (15) of the unit (16) controls the switch (11). After closing the switch (11) the unit (16) supplies the glow plug with heat energy which is added up in the unit (16). As soon as the heat energy which is required for heating up to a predetermined temperature and which is determined beforehand from the known parameters of the glow plug and from the starting temperature is reached, the switch is opened again via the output signal at the output (15).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Publication date: December 13, 2001
    Inventor: Gunther Uhl
  • Patent number: 5784472
    Abstract: Control signals for electric consumers in vehicle doors and l.f. signals for loudspeakers in vehicle doors are transferred from a control apparatus (1) provided outside of the door over a common data line (42, 43) to a door module (20, 30). For this purpose, in the control apparatus (1) the control signals are modulated in binary-coded form onto a carrier signal and onto the same carrier signal there is also modulated the l.f. audio signal. In the door module 30) the signals are demodulated and separated according to frequency. The l.f. signals are amplified and fed to a loudspeaker (4, 5). The control signals are evaluated by a micro-controller (24, 34) and they control over switching stages (23, 33), setting elements (6, 7) provided in the door. Conversely there is also possible a data transfer from the door module (2, 3) to the control apparatus (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Doduco GmbH + Co. Dr. Dugene Durrwachter
    Inventors: Joachim Ney, Norbert Normann, Gunter Lothar Schulze, Gunther Uhl