Patents by Inventor Harald Hofmann

Harald Hofmann 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: 11821503
    Abstract: A harmonic drive, more particularly in an electromechanical camshaft phaser, comprises a drive element (2), a flexible transmission element (26) connected to the drive element (2) and having external teeth (29), and an output element (4) that is designed as a ring gear and has internal teeth (30) that partially mesh with the external teeth (29). The flexible transmission element (26) is pot-shaped, and is coupled in a torque-transmitting manner to the drive element (2) radially inside the outer teeth (29).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Resat Aras, Richard Baier, Harald Hofmann, Rainer Ottersbach
  • Publication number: 20230015579
    Abstract: An electrical device for a converter has at least one capacitor having a first connection and a second connection, a first busbar and a second busbar is disclosed. A respective busbar has a greater extension along a transverse direction than along a longitudinal direction, and has a greater extension along the longitudinal direction than along a vertical direction. The respective busbar has a first surface and a second surface which are opposite one other with respect to the vertical direction. The device also has a first contact-connection device electrically conductively contact-connected to the first connection and via which the first connection is electrically conductively connected to the first busbar, and a second contact-connection device electrically conductively contact-connected to the second connection via which the second connection is electrically conductively connected to the second busbar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: Valeo Siemens eAutomotive Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Arnoud Smit, Alexander Bucher, Harald Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20230019218
    Abstract: A control device (8) for an inverter (2) that feeds an electric machine (3), wherein the control device (8) is configured to provide pulse-width modulated switching signals (15) for driving switching elements (12) of the inverter (2), wherein the control device (8) is configured to determine a modulation type by means of which the pulse-width modulated switching signals (15) are generated depending on operating point information that describes an operating point defined by at least one operating parameter, and to use a first modulation type in at least one first operating region (21, 28, 30, 31) and a second modulation type in another operating region (32, 32a, 32b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: Valeo Siemens eAutomotive Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Panagiotis Mantzanas, Daniel Kübrich, Thomas Dürbaum, Alexander Bucher, Alexander Pawellek, Christian Hasenohr, Harald Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20220337175
    Abstract: A control device (8) for an inverter (2) that feeds an electric machine (3), wherein the control device (8) is configured to provide pulse-width modulated switching signals (15) with a carrier frequency to drive switching elements (12) of the inverter (2), wherein the control device (8) is configured to determine the carrier frequency depending on operating point information that describes an operating point defined by a rotation speed and a torque of the electric machine (3) and, as the rotation speed increases and the magnitude of the torque falls, to increase the carrier frequency within an operating region (22) that extends within a rotation speed interval with a lower rotation speed limit (23) differing from zero and with an upper rotation speed limit (24) lying in a power-limiting operating region (21) or field-weakening operating region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Applicant: Valeo Siemens eAutomotive Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Panagiotis Mantzanas, Daniel Kübrich, Thomas Dürbaum, Alexander Bucher, Alexander Pawellek, Christian Hasenohr, Harald Hofmann
  • Patent number: 11417470
    Abstract: The invention relates to a DC link capacitor module (1, 1?), in which a coil (4, 5) is electrically conductively attached to two mutually opposite electrode plates (2a, 2b), wherein a plurality of first connecting means (6) are provided on each electrode plate (2a, 2b) to produce a detachable or non-detachable plug-in connection to second connecting means (9a, 9b), which correspond thereto and are attached to a bus bar (7a, 7b) of a power electronics module (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: VALEO SIEMENS EAUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Arnoud Smit, Daniel Zitzmann, Harald Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20220255488
    Abstract: A control device (8) for an inverter (2) that feeds an electric machine (3), wherein the control device (8) is configured to provide pulse-width-modulated switching signals (15) at a carrier frequency to drive switching elements (12) of the inverter (2), wherein the control device (8) is configured to ascertain the carrier frequency within at least one operating range (22, 23) depending on a piece of operating point information that describes an operating point defined by a rotation speed and a torque of the electric machine (3) in such a way that the carrier frequency is reduced within the at least one operating range (22, 23) compared to a maximum carrier frequency operating point at which a maximum carrier frequency is specified in the operating range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Applicant: Valeo Siemens eAutomotive Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Panagiotis Mantzanas, Daniel Kübrich, Thomas Dürbaum, Alexander Bucher, Alexander Pawellek, Christian Hasenohr, Harald Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20220065340
    Abstract: A harmonic drive, more particularly in an electromechanical camshaft phaser, comprises a drive element (2), a flexible transmission element (26) connected to the drive element (2) and having external teeth (29), and an output element (4) that is designed as a ring gear and has internal teeth (30) that partially mesh with the external teeth (29). The flexible transmission element (26) is pot-shaped, and is coupled in a torque-transmitting manner to the drive element (2) radially inside the outer teeth (29).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Resat Aras, Richard Baier, Harald Hofmann, Rainer Ottersbach
  • Publication number: 20210110978
    Abstract: The invention relates to a DC link capacitor module (1, 1?), in which a coil (4, 5) is electrically conductively attached to two mutually opposite electrode plates (2a, 2b), wherein a plurality of first connecting means (6) are provided on each electrode plate (2a, 2b) to produce a detachable or non-detachable plug-in connection to second connecting means (9a, 9b), which correspond thereto and are attached to a bus bar (7a, 7b) of a power electronics module (8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Arnoud SMIT, Daniel ZITZMANN, Harald HOFMANN
  • Publication number: 20210087662
    Abstract: A metal sheet component including (in % by weight) C: up to 0.5%, Si: 0.05-1%, Mn: 4-12%, Cr: 0.1-4%, Al: up to 3.5%, N: up to 0.05%, P: up to 0.5%, S: up to 0.01%, Cu, Ni: in total up to 2%, Ti, Nb, V: in total up to 0.5%, rare earth metals: up to 0.1%, and as a remainder, Fe and unavoidable impurities, wherein the content % C of C and the content % Cr of Cr meet the following condition: (10×% C)+% Cr<5.5%. In order to manufacture a metal sheet component, a flat steel product is heated to a heating temperature, which is at least 200° C. and at most 800° C., and then formed into the component by hot forming the flat steel product heated to the heating temperature, with the structure of the hot-formed metal sheet component having 5-50% by volume austenite and, as the remainder, martensite, tempered martensite and/or ferrite, wherein the ferrite proportion can also be 0, and the average grain diameter of the structure is less than 5 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Brigitte Hammer, Harald Hofmann, Thomas Heller, Sebastian Stille, Georg Parma, Janko Banik, Jonas Schwabe
  • Patent number: 10730105
    Abstract: A method is provided for producing a 0.8-4.5 mm thick steel strip with an amorphous, partially amorphous or fine-crystalline microstructure with grain sizes in the range of 10-10000 nm and also a flat steel product made therefrom. A molten steel is cast into a cast strip in a casting device and cooled down at an accelerated rate. Along with Fe and impurities that are unavoidable for production-related reasons, the molten material contains at least two elements belonging to the group “Si, B, C and P”. In this case, the following applies for the contents of these elements (in % by weight) Si: 1.2-7.0%, B: 0.4-4.0%, C: 0.5-4.0%, P: 1.5-8.0%. With a corresponding composition and a microstructure with corresponding characteristics, a flat steel product according to the invention has a HV0.5 hardness of 760-900.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP STEEL EUROPE AG
    Inventors: Dorothée Dorner, Christian Höckling, Harald Hofmann, Matthias Schirmer, Markus Daamen
  • Patent number: 10513762
    Abstract: A cold-rolled flat steel product for deep drawing applications including in addition to Fe and unavoidable impurities (in % by weight) C: 0.008%-0.1%, Al: 6.5%-12%, Nb: 0.1%-0.2%, Ti: 0.15-0.5%, P: <0.1%, S: <0.03%, N: <0.1% and optionally one or more elements from the group of Mn, Si, REM, Mo, Cr, Zr, V, W, Co, Ni, B, Cu, Ca, N, where 2.5?% Ti/% Nb?1.5. Also a method of producing such a flat steel product including casting a pre-product, which is then hot-rolled into a hot strip with a hot rolling end temperature of 820-1000° C. and wound at a winding temperature of up to 750° C. After winding, the hot strip is annealed at an annealing temperature of >650-1200° C. for 1-50 h, then cold-rolled in one or more stages with a total cold rolling level of ?65% and finally annealed at 650-850° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP STEEL EUROPE AG
    Inventors: Evgeny Balichev, Harald Hofmann, Jose Jimenez
  • Publication number: 20190084273
    Abstract: A semifinished product for production of a vehicle component may include a first steel material and a second steel material. The steel materials may be bonded to one another in a form-fitting, force-fitting and/or cohesive manner. The first steel material may have a lower mass density and the second steel material may have a higher mass density. In particular, a ratio of the lower mass density of the first steel material to the higher mass density of the second steel material is at most 0.95. The lower mass density of the first steel material may be less than 7.5 g/cm3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicants: THYSSENKRUPP STEEL EUROPE AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventors: David PIERONEK, Harald HOFMANN
  • Publication number: 20190032161
    Abstract: The invention provides a reliably manufacturable flat steel product based on a Fe3Al alloy and a method that allows the production of such flat steel products. For this purpose, the flat steel product is made of a steel which comprises (in % by weight) Al: 12-20%, Ti: 0.2-2%, B: 0.1-0.6%, in each case at least one element from the group “Cr, C, Mn, Si, Nb, Ta, W, Zr, V, Mo, Ni, Cu, Ca, rare earth metals, and Co” unavoidable impurities. The method according to the invention specifies that a molten steel with the stated composition is cast as a precursor in the form of a slab, thin slab or a cast strip, the precursor is then hot rolled into a hot strip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicants: ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG, thyssenkrupp AG, Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH
    Inventors: Harald HOFMANN, Hans FERKEL, Michael GÖVERT, Matthias SCHIRMER, Martin PALM, Dirk PONGE, Andreas LEITNER
  • Patent number: 10155256
    Abstract: The invention relates to a metal strip which is produced from steel by hot rolling and by cold rolling of the metal strip. The invention also relates to a blank produced from the metal strip, the use of the metal strip, and to a method of producing it. The object of providing metal strip from which components of minimum weight which are adapted to specific loads can be produced with little cost or complication is achieved by metal strip of the generic kind which, after the cold rolling, is of constant thickness and has, section by section, regions whose mechanical properties vary. What “after the cold rolling” means, for the purposes of the present invention, is that, immediately on completion of the cold rolling, i.e. without any further treatment such as heat treatment, regions whose mechanical properties vary are present in the metal strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG
    Inventors: Jens-Ulrik Becker, Harald Hofmann
  • Patent number: 10131976
    Abstract: A cold-rolled flat steel product for deep drawing applications is disclosed, composed of a steel which, in addition to Fe and unavoidable impurities (in % by weight) contains C: <0.1%, Al: 6.5-11%, REM: 0.02-0.2%, P: <0.1%, S: <0.03%, N: <0.1% and optionally one or more elements from the group of “Mn, Si, Nb, Ti, Mo, Cr, Zr, V, W, Co, Ni, B, Cu, Ca, N”, provided that Mn: <6%, Si: <1%, Nb: <0.3%, Ti: <0.3%, Zr: <1%, V: <1%, V: <1%, Mo: <1%, Cr: <3%, Co: <1%, Ni: <2%, B: <0.1%, Cu: <3%, Ca: <0.015%. For production of such a flat steel product, a steel of appropriate composition is cast to give a pre-product, which is then hot-rolled to hot strip at a hot rolling end temperature of 820-1000° C. The latter is subsequently wound at a winding temperature of up to 850° C., after winding annealed at an annealing temperature of >650-1200° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG
    Inventors: Dorothée Dorner, Christian Höckling, Harald Hofmann, Magnus Miller, Matthias Schirmer, Jonas Schwabe, Alexander Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 9748888
    Abstract: A method for operating power semiconductors arranged in converters, includes measuring with a temperature sensor a temperature of at least one of the power semiconductors, performing a comparison of the temperature of the at least one power semiconductor with a reference temperature and providing a result of the comparison; activating a pre-heating phase for preheating the power semiconductors as a function of the result; during the pre-heating phase, defining a pre-heating current; and impressing the pre-heating current into an electrical load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Gunnar Dietz, Holger Hoffmann, Harald Hofmann, Michael Leipenat, Stefan Völkel
  • Publication number: 20160094178
    Abstract: A method for operating power semiconductors arranged in converters, includes measuring with a temperature sensor a temperature of at least one of the power semiconductors, performing a comparison of the temperature of the at least one power semiconductor with a reference temperature and providing a result of the comparison; activating a pre-heating phase for preheating the power semiconductors as a function of the result; during the pre-heating phase, defining a pre-heating current; and impressing the pre-heating current into an electrical load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Gunnar Dietz, HOLGER HOFFMANN, HARALD HOFMANN, MICHAEL LEIPENAT, STEFAN VÖLKEL
  • Publication number: 20160017467
    Abstract: A cold-rolled flat steel product for deep drawing applications is disclosed, composed of a steel which, in addition to Fe and unavoidable impurities (in % by weight) contains C: 0.008%-0.1%, Al: 6.5%-12%, Nb: 0.1%-0.2%, Ti: 0.15-0.5%, P: <0.1%, S: <0.03%, N: <0.1% and optionally one or more elements from the group of “Mn, Si, REM, Mo, Cr, Zr, V, W, Co, Ni, B, Cu, Ca, N”, provided that Mn: <1%, REM: <0.2%, Si: <2%, Zr: <1%, V: <1%, W: <1%, Mo: <1%, Cr: <3%, Co: <1%, Ni: <2%, B: <0.1%, Cu: <3%, Ca: <0.015%. The ratio is 2.5 ?% Ti/% Nb ?1.5, %Ti=Ti content and % Nb=Nb content. For production of such a flat steel product, a steel of appropriate composition is cast to give a pre-product, which is then hot-rolled to hot strip at a hot rolling end temperature of 820-1000° C. The latter is subsequently wound at a winding temperature of up to 750° C., after winding annealed at an annealing temperature of >650-1200° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Evgeny Balichev, Harald Hofmann, Jose Jimenez
  • Publication number: 20150376751
    Abstract: A cold-rolled flat steel product for deep drawing applications is disclosed, composed of a steel which, in addition to Fe and unavoidable impurities (in % by weight) contains C: <0.1%, Al: 6.5-11%, REM: 0.02-0.2%, P: <0.1%, S: <0.03%, N: <0.1% and optionally one or more elements from the group of “Mn, Si, Nb, Ti, Mo, Cr, Zr, V, W, Co, Ni, B, Cu, Ca, N”, provided that Mn: <6%, Si: <1%, Nb: <0.3%, Ti: <0.3%, Zr: <1%, V: <1%, V: <1%, Mo: <1%, Cr: <3%, Co: <1%, Ni: <2%, B: <0.1%, Cu: <3%, Ca: <0.015%. For production of such a flat steel product, a steel of appropriate composition is cast to give a pre-product, which is then hot-rolled to hot strip at a hot rolling end temperature of 820-1000° C. The latter is subsequently wound at a winding temperature of up to 850° C., after winding annealed at an annealing temperature of >650-1200° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Dorothée Dorner, Christian Höckling, Harald Hofmann, Magnus Miller, Matthias Schirmer, Jonas Schwabe, Alexander Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20150360285
    Abstract: A method is provided for producing a 0.8-4.5 mm thick steel strip with an amorphous, partially amorphous or fine-crystalline microstructure with grain sizes in the range of 10-10000 nm and also a flat steel product made therefrom. A molten steel is cast into a cast strip in a casting device and cooled down at an accelerated rate. Along with Fe and impurities that are unavoidable for production-related reasons, the molten material contains at least two elements belonging to the group “Si, B, C and P”. In this case, the following applies for the contents of these elements (in % by weight) Si: 1.2-7.0%, B: 0.4-4.0%, C: 0.5-4.0%, P: 1.5-8.0%. With a corresponding composition and a microstructure with corresponding characteristics, a flat steel product according to the invention has a HV0.5 hardness of 760-900.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Dorothée DORNER, Christian HOCKLING, Harald HOFMANN, Matthias SCHIRMER, Markus DAAMEN