Patents by Inventor Ingo-Gerd Sauter
Ingo-Gerd Sauter 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).
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Patent number: 8392047Abstract: A system for preventing damage to a vehicle, such as a truck, is provided. A sensor may be operable to measure a parameter relating to a component in a vehicle and to provide a parameter signal indicative of the measured parameter. A processor may be in communication with the sensor and operable to receive the parameter signal from the sensor. The processor may be further operable to analyze the parameter signal. The processor may be further operable to initiate a damage prevention process including a reduction of heat generation in the vehicle based on the parameter.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2007Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Loren Christopher Dreier, Ingo-Gerd Sauter
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Patent number: 8380419Abstract: A method and system of accelerating a vehicle from an intermediate speed to a target speed under control of a cruise control or driving speed control unit are disclosed. An acceleration rate of a vehicle is measured while a vehicle speed is below an intermediate speed at which the driving speed control unit is enabled. The intermediate speed is greater than the initial speed and less than the target speed. A derived acceleration rate is calculated using the measured acceleration rate. When the driving speed control unit is enabled, the vehicle is accelerated from the intermediate speed to the final speed at an acceleration rate about equal to the derived acceleration rate. The derived acceleration rate may be the acceleration rate of the vehicle at the intermediate speed, the average acceleration rate between the initial and intermediate speeds, or the average acceleration rate within a threshold of the intermediate speed.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2009Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventor: Ingo-Gerd Sauter
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Patent number: 8301349Abstract: A control method and system for a vehicle transmission that incorporates gradient road resistance in selecting an appropriate gear ratio for an automatic manual transmission or an automatic transmission are disclosed. The traction resistance of a vehicle is calculated in order to determine the traction force required for maintaining, increasing, or decreasing vehicle speed in response to operator input. Traction resistance may be a function of rolling resistance, air resistance, and the component of the gravitational force acting parallel to the road surface. The change in traction resistance is also determined. The calculated traction resistance and change in traction resistance may advantageously be used to calculate an offset to a shift point motor speed in order to delay or advance a transmission upshift when climbing a grade.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2009Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventor: Ingo-Gerd Sauter
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Patent number: 8055418Abstract: A method and system for hybrid automated manual transmission and non-hybrid automated manual transmission shift methodologies for tanker trucks are disclosed. A request is received to change a transmission gear ratio of a vehicle transporting a liquid. The request is rejected if a condition indicative of liquid sloshing is detected, and the gear ratio is changed from a current gear ratio to a target gear ratio if the condition indicative of liquid sloshing is not detected. A trigger may enable the detection of liquid sloshing. A transmission controller selects a current gear ratio of the transmission, detects a condition indicative of sloshing of the liquid transported by the vehicle, disables a selection of a select a target gear ratio of the transmission if the condition indicative of liquid sloshing is detected, and selects a target gear ratio of the transmission if the condition indicative of liquid sloshing is not detected.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2009Date of Patent: November 8, 2011Assignee: ZF FriedrichshafenInventors: Loren Christopher Dreier, Ingo-Gerd Sauter
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Publication number: 20110015808Abstract: A vehicle mass estimation system for use in a vehicle, such as a truck, including a transmission is provided. A processor may be operable to receive a signal relating to a mass of at least a portion of the vehicle. The processor may be further operable to estimate a vehicle mass based, at least in part, on the signal. The processor may be further operable to select a desired gear ratio for engagement in a transmission based, at least in part, on the estimated vehicle mass.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2010Publication date: January 20, 2011Inventors: Loren Christopher Dreier, Ingo-Gerd Sauter
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Publication number: 20110004382Abstract: A vehicle mass estimation system for use in a vehicle, such as a truck, including a transmission is provided. A processor may be operable to receive a signal relating to a mass of at least a portion of the vehicle. The processor may be further operable to estimate a vehicle mass based, at least in part, on the signal. The processor may be further operable to select a desired gear ratio for engagement in a transmission based, at least in part, on the estimated vehicle mass.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2010Publication date: January 6, 2011Inventors: Loren Christopher Dreier, Ingo-Gerd Sauter
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Patent number: 7818140Abstract: A vehicle mass estimation system for use in a vehicle, such as a truck, including a transmission is provided. A processor may be operable to receive a signal relating to a mass of at least a portion of the vehicle. The processor may be further operable to estimate a vehicle mass based, at least in part, on the signal. The processor may be further operable to select a desired gear ratio for engagement in a transmission based, at least in part, on the estimated vehicle mass.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2008Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Loren Christopher Dreier, Ingo-Gerd Sauter
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Publication number: 20100256883Abstract: A control method and system for a vehicle transmission that incorporates gradient road resistance in selecting an appropriate gear ratio for an automatic manual transmission or an automatic transmission are disclosed. The traction resistance of a vehicle is calculated in order to determine the traction force required for maintaining, increasing, or decreasing vehicle speed in response to operator input. Traction resistance may be a function of rolling resistance, air resistance, and the component of the gravitational force acting parallel to the road surface. The change in traction resistance is also determined. The calculated traction resistance and change in traction resistance may advantageously be used to calculate an offset to a shift point motor speed in order to delay or advance a transmission upshift when climbing a grade.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2009Publication date: October 7, 2010Inventor: Ingo-Gerd Sauter
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Publication number: 20100256882Abstract: A method and system for hybrid automated manual transmission and non-hybrid automated manual transmission shift methodologies for tanker trucks are disclosed. A request is received to change a transmission gear ratio of a vehicle transporting a liquid. The request is rejected if a condition indicative of liquid sloshing is detected, and the gear ratio is changed from a current gear ratio to a target gear ratio if the condition indicative of liquid sloshing is not detected. A trigger may enable the detection of liquid sloshing. A transmission controller selects a current gear ratio of the transmission, detects a condition indicative of sloshing of the liquid transported by the vehicle, disables a selection of a select a target gear ratio of the transmission if the condition indicative of liquid sloshing is detected, and selects a target gear ratio of the transmission if the condition indicative of liquid sloshing is not detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2009Publication date: October 7, 2010Inventors: Loren Christopher Dreier, Ingo-Gerd Sauter
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Publication number: 20100250087Abstract: A method and system of accelerating a vehicle from an intermediate speed to a target speed under control of a cruise control or driving speed control unit are disclosed. An acceleration rate of a vehicle is measured while a vehicle speed is below an intermediate speed at which the driving speed control unit is enabled. The intermediate speed is greater than the initial speed and less than the target speed. A derived acceleration rate is calculated using the measured acceleration rate. When the driving speed control unit is enabled, the vehicle is accelerated from the intermediate speed to the final speed at an acceleration rate about equal to the derived acceleration rate. The derived acceleration rate may be the acceleration rate of the vehicle at the intermediate speed, the average acceleration rate between the initial and intermediate speeds, or the average acceleration rate within a threshold of the intermediate speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2009Publication date: September 30, 2010Inventor: Ingo-Gerd Sauter
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Publication number: 20090192760Abstract: A vehicle mass estimation system for use in a vehicle, such as a truck, including a transmission is provided. A processor may be operable to receive a signal relating to a mass of at least a portion of the vehicle. The processor may be further operable to estimate a vehicle mass based, at least in part, on the signal. The processor may be further operable to select a desired gear ratio for engagement in a transmission based, at least in part, on the estimated vehicle mass.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2008Publication date: July 30, 2009Inventors: Loren Christopher Dreier, Ingo-Gerd Sauter
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Publication number: 20080300746Abstract: A system for preventing damage to a vehicle, such as a truck, is provided. A sensor may be operable to measure a parameter relating to a component in a vehicle and to provide a parameter signal indicative of the measured parameter. A processor may be in communication with the sensor and operable to receive the parameter signal from the sensor. The processor may be further operable to analyze the parameter signal. The processor may be further operable to initiate a damage prevention process including a reduction of heat generation in the vehicle based on the parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2007Publication date: December 4, 2008Inventors: Loren Christopher Dreier, Ingo-Gerd Sauter