Patents by Inventor Ingo Sauter

Ingo 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).

  • Publication number: 20120046841
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle in a freewheel mode or a rolling mode, in which the vehicle has a drive train comprising a controllable drive engine, an automatic or automated transmission, and a controllable shifter for interrupting a flow of power in the drive train. To enable fuel-efficient and low-emission, as well as safe and comfortable driving, it is intended that the freewheel mode or the rolling mode is prognostically activated, deactivated or retained by performing a plausibility check of a currently active, automatic driving speed control function or a driving speed and a distance control function and/or other current driving operation or driving state data. The method includes coordinating and adapting relevant marginal conditions of the active driving speed control function or the driving speed and the distance control function, and of the freewheel mode or the rolling mode, according to the driving situation, and initiating control measures by a transmission control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Maik Wurthner, Johannes Kemler, Joachim Staudinger, Ingo Sauter
  • Publication number: 20120029776
    Abstract: A transmission control device (6) for an automatic or automated transmission (2). A shifting strategy of the transmission control device (6) controls and/or regulates the operation of the transmission (2) based on driving condition data such as vehicle mass, driving resistance, vehicle inclination, vehicle velocity, vehicle acceleration, engine rotational speed and/or engine torque, and based on data about the driver's wishes. The transmission control device (6) continuously calculates the driving condition data of the vehicle mass, driving resistance and/or vehicle inclination based on topographic data of a current position of the motor vehicle, and/or the shifting strategy determines a gear change from an actual gear into a target gear based on topographic data of a defined distance ahead of a motor vehicle. The defined distance ahead of the motor vehicle depends on the currently velocity of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Joachim Staudinger, Ingo Sauter, Maik Wurthner, Johannes Kemler
  • Patent number: 8068964
    Abstract: A method for determining the driving resistance of a motor vehicle simultaneously with a shift of an automated shift transmission from a load gear to a target gear such that if a difference between a first driving resistance value F_fw_1 and a second driving resistance value F_fw_2 is large, the shift operation can be corrected. The second driving resistance value F_fw_2 is determined during the shift operation. a time interval ?t which contains the traction-force-free phase of the shift, a plurality of acceleration values a_i of the motor vehicle are measured to obtain the minimum acceleration a_min if the shift operation is a traction shift or the maximum acceleration a_max if it is thrust shift. With the mass m of the vehicle, the second driving resistance value F_fw_2 is calculated with one of the formula F_fw_2=?m*a_min or F_fw_2=?m*a_max.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Werner Wolfgang, Maik Würthner, Ingo Sauter
  • Patent number: 8047091
    Abstract: A method of controlling an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle having clutches controlled by an electronic control unit. A transmission rotational speed in an initial transmission stage is determined. If a first transmission shifting rotational speed is reached, the transmission is shifted from the initial transmission stage to a target transmission stage. A target transmission rotational speed of the target transmission stage is then ascertained. A difference is next ascertained between the target transmission rotational speed and a second shifting transmission rotational speed. An initial counter value, of a counter, is determined, which depends on the transmission rotational speed difference. The counter is next caused to carry out counting, from the initial counter value, as time progresses. If and when the counter value reaches zero, the transmission is shifted from the target transmission stage toward the initial transmission stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Werner Wolfgang, Maik Würthner, Ingo Sauter, Achim Tegen
  • Patent number: 7979191
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a starting process of a motor vehicle, having a drive train including a driving motor, a torque transfer system and a transmission, a controller and an actuator, which is controlled by the controller for actuating the torque transfer system. Upon initiation of the starting process, if it is observed that the motor vehicle does not start, despite a clear starting request, appropriate measures for starting the motor vehicle are initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Rupert Kramer, Peter Herter, Ingo Sauter
  • Patent number: 7979185
    Abstract: A method for determining a motor vehicle mass which is implemented in conjunction with shifting an automated shift transmission from a current gear to a desired gear. In determining the mass, a value force and movement parameters are determined partly before or after the shift operation and partly during it. For the more rapid and accurate determination of mass, the drive-wheel-related traction force of the drive engine before and after the shift F_zug_vor, F_zug_nach, the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle before and after the shift, a_zug_vor, a_zug_nach, and the acceleration a_roll determined in the traction-force-free phase during the shift are determined, and from these and in accordance with the equation m=F_zug/(a_zug?a_roll), a first mass value m_vor=F_zug_vor/(a_zug_vor?a_roll) is calculated for the beginning of the shift and a second mass value m_nach=F_zug_nach/(a_zug_nach?a_roll) is calculated for the end of the shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Werner Wolfgang, Maik Würthner, Ingo Sauter
  • Publication number: 20100324790
    Abstract: A method for controlling a drive train of a motor vehicle comprising a drive engine, an automated transmission, and an automated clutch arranged in the force flow between the drive engine and the transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Maik Wurthner, Werner Wolfgang, Ingo Sauter
  • Publication number: 20100185370
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for controlling an automated multi-step change-speed transmission of a motor vehicle, which is connected on the input side via at least one controllable friction clutch to a drive motor in the form of an internal combustion engine, and on the output side via an axle drive to the drive wheels of a driven axle, and which comprises a plurality of starting gears (GAnf, G1-G5), such that at the beginning of a starting process one of the starting gears (GAnf, G1-G5) is selected as a function of the vehicle's mass (mFzg) and of the road gradient (?Fb) as the optimum starting gear (GAnf—opt) and is then engaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Maik Wurthner, Werner Wolfgang, Ingo Sauter
  • Publication number: 20100185367
    Abstract: A method of controlling an automated multi-step change-speed transmission of a vehicle having an electronic control unit connected to sensors for detecting operating parameters and to gear and/or clutch control elements for carrying out shift operations. The control comprises a data memory such that the multi-step change-speed transmission can be operated automatically to initiate gearshifts in an automatic mode, manually initiated by a driver in a manual mode to provide gearshifts, and manually actuated in a learning mode in which gearshifts and operating parameters can be recorded automatically. When necessary to assist technicians in the application of the transmission, a configuration-learning mode that can be activated in which, during a test drive with manual gearshift initiation, operating parameters are automatically detected in an event-dependent manner, processed to produce control data for the transmission, and the control data stored in the data memory for the future control of the transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Werner Wolfgang, Maik Wuerthner, Ingo Sauter
  • Publication number: 20100108406
    Abstract: A method and device for provisionally determining the mass of a vehicle when it is initialized. After initialization of the vehicle, the method determines a vehicle mass value by a static mass determination method and then checks whether this value is within a predetermined tolerance band around the dynamically last-determined vehicle mass value, which has been stored for that purpose. If this is so, and there has in the meantime been no significant change of the vehicle's mass, the previously stored dynamic vehicle mass value is probably more accurate and is used in the determination. Otherwise it can be assumed that the vehicle mass value has changed substantially, and the statically determined vehicle mass value is therefore used until a device for the dynamic determination of a vehicle mass can supply a more accurate vehicle mass value after a short time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Maik Wuerthner, Werner Wolfgang, Ingo Sauter
  • Publication number: 20100100290
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for controlling a motor vehicle drivetrain which comprises a drive motor, a multi-step, automated change-speed transmission and an automated separating clutch arranged between the drive motor and the transmission, and a shifting device with a selector lever which can be moved at least from a particular position in an upshift direction (“+” direction) for manually initiating an upshift and in a downshift direction (“?”) for manually initiating a downshift, and in which the transmission and the separating clutch can be controlled by a transmission control unit which is connected at least to a speed sensor, a brake pedal actuation sensor and a selector lever actuation sensor, such that when the motor vehicle is rolling with its drivetrain open the closing of the drivetrain is initiated by actuating the selector lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Ingo SAUTER, Melchor MORO-OLIVEROS, Michael BURKHART
  • Publication number: 20100042300
    Abstract: A process of controlling and/or regulating an automatic transmission in which a predetermined shifting speed of the gear shift is carried out and adjusted during a shift program, and in which the detection of a constant-speed driving of the vehicle is carried out at least during the shift program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Werner Wolfgang, Maik Wurthner, Ingo Sauter
  • Publication number: 20090312928
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring a starting process of a motor vehicle, having a drive train, with a driving motor, a torque transfer system, and a transmission, a controller, and an actuator controlled by the controller for actuating the torque transfer system. If a starting observer detects that, despite a clear starting request, no starting occurs, appropriate measures supporting the starting of the motor vehicle are thereupon initiated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen
    Inventors: Rupert Kramer, Peter Herter, Ingo Sauter
  • Publication number: 20090265067
    Abstract: A method for controlling gear shifts in an automated stepped gear transmission of a motor vehicle in which operating parameters of the motor vehicle are continuously determined and evaluated for initiating and carrying out a shift from a currently engaged gear to a target gear such that, before a shift, the shift speed for initiating the shift and the target gear are determined. For better adaptation of the shift, in particular the determination of the shift speed and the target gear, to the current driving and operating conditions of the motor vehicle, the shift types “shift-speed-orientated shift” and “target-speed-orientated shift” are provided and, immediately before a shift operation, it is decided, as a function of at least one of the operating parameters in which, of the two shift types, the shift is to be carried out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventors: Werner Wolfgang, Maik Wurthner, Ingo Sauter
  • Publication number: 20090198404
    Abstract: A method for determining the driving resistance of a motor vehicle simultaneously with a shift of an automated shift transmission from a load gear to a target gear such that if a difference between a first driving resistance value F_fw_1 and a second driving resistance value F_fw_2 is large, the shift operation can be corrected. The second driving resistance value F_fw_2 is determined during the shift operation. a time interval ?t which contains the traction-force-free phase of the shift, a plurality of acceleration values a_i of the motor vehicle are measured to obtain the minimum acceleration a_min if the shift operation is a traction shift or the maximum acceleration a_max if it is thrust shift. With the mass m of the vehicle, the second driving resistance value F_fw_2 is calculated with one of the formula F_fw_2=?m*a_min or F_fw_2=?m*a_max.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Werner Wolfgang, Maik Würthner, Ingo Sauter
  • Publication number: 20090192664
    Abstract: A method for determining a motor vehicle mass which is implemented in conjunction with shifting an automated shift transmission from a current gear to a desired gear. In determining the mass, a value force and movement parameters are determined partly before or after the shift operation and partly during it. For the more rapid and accurate determination of mass, the drive-wheel-related traction force of the drive engine before and after the shift F_zug_vor, F_zug_nach, the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle before and after the shift, a_zug_vor, a_zug_nach, and the acceleration a_roll determined in the traction-force-free phase during the shift are determined, and from these and in accordance with the equation m=F_zug/(a_zug?a_roll), a first mass value m_vor=F_zug_vor/(a_zug_vor?a_roll) is calculated for the beginning of the shift and a second mass value m_nach=F_zug_nach/(a_zug_nach?a_roll) is calculated for the end of the shift.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Werner Wolfgang, Maik Würthner, Ingo Sauter
  • Publication number: 20080274857
    Abstract: A method of controlling an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle having clutches controlled by an electronic control unit. A transmission rotational speed in an initial transmission stage is determined. If a first transmission shifting rotational speed is reached, the transmission is shifted from the initial transmission stage to a target transmission stage. A target transmission rotational speed of the target transmission stage is then ascertained. A difference is next ascertained between the target transmission rotational speed and a second shifting transmission rotational speed. An initial counter value, of a counter, is determined, which depends on the transmission rotational speed difference. The counter is next caused to carry out counting, from the initial counter value, as time progresses. If and when the counter value reaches zero, the transmission is shifted from the target transmission stage toward the initial transmission stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Werner Wolfgang, Maik Wurthner, Ingo Sauter, Achim Tegen