Patents by Inventor Jochen Zwick

Jochen Zwick 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: 8541959
    Abstract: The system, which provides a control signal, includes an over-current control unit, a time clock that provides a periodic time signal, and a clock generator unit that includes a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal. The first input terminal is coupled to the time clock and the output terminal is coupled to the over-current control unit. The first input terminal of the clock generator unit receives the periodic time signal and the second input terminal of the clock generator unit receives a modification signal. The clock generator unit generates a clock signal based on the periodic time signal and the modification signal. The output terminal of the clock generator unit provides the clock signal to the over-current control unit, and the over-current control unit provides a control signal based on the clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Adams, Uli Joos, Josef Schnell, Jochen Zwick
  • Patent number: 8508259
    Abstract: A method for driving a non-linear load element. On account of the non-linear interrelationship between the voltage and the current at the load element and the related non-linear dependence of the power loss on the quantities “voltage” and “current”, an adjustment of the switching speed only on the basis of the power loss in the switching element cannot be carried out with non-linear load elements without being confronted with undesirable switching losses and related electromagnetic noise fields. Therefore, the load current currently flowing in the load element is picked up in addition to the currently determined power loss in the switching element, and the switching speed of the switching element is controlled in dependence on the determined power loss and on the current picked up. The switching speed can be optimally adjusted when driving the non-linear load elements by means of PWM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbH
    Inventors: Uli Joos, Jochen Zwick, Josef Schnell, Christian Voss
  • Patent number: 8093833
    Abstract: Disclosed is for controlling a light source by pulse width modulation of a supply voltage. The supply voltage, or a parameter dependent thereon, is measured and the pulse width is controlled as function of the measured value. The supply voltage or parameter is measured at least twice during the pulse and may be cyclically measured. The pulse width of the current or a subsequent pulse is matched to the recorded value of the supply voltage or the parameter. A total value is generated from all of the measured values and compared with a given value and the pulse width of subsequent pulses are matched as function of the difference between the total value and the given value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Conit Temic Microelectronic GmbH
    Inventors: Uli Joos, Christian Voss, Josef Schnell, Jochen Zwick
  • Publication number: 20110140636
    Abstract: The system, which provides a control signal, includes an over-current control unit, a time clock that provides a periodic time signal, and a clock generator unit that includes a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal. The first input terminal is coupled to the time clock and the output terminal is coupled to the over-current control unit. The first input terminal of the clock generator unit receives the periodic time signal and the second input terminal of the clock generator unit receives a modification signal. The clock generator unit generates a clock signal based on the periodic time signal and the modification signal. The output terminal of the clock generator unit provides the clock signal to the over-current control unit, and the over-current control unit provides a control signal based on the clock signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Robert Adams, Uli Joos, Josef Schnell, Jochen Zwick
  • Patent number: 7924021
    Abstract: The function of a lamp circuit is tested by measuring the current and voltage. A resistance value is taken into account which is specified as a polynomial of at least the 1st order depending on the effective measured voltage on the lamp circuit. The parameters of the polynomial are determined by a quantity of measurements which correspond to the order of the polynomial, under operating conditions which are known to differ, and the specific resistance value or a value derived from it are compared with a specified value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic, GmbH
    Inventors: Uli Joos, Jochen Zwick, Nicolai Jeutner
  • Patent number: 7888890
    Abstract: A method for controlling electrical light sources, in particular, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) by pulse width modulation of a supply voltage is disclosed, whereby the supply voltage or a parameter dependent thereon, for example the current or the electrical power, is measured and the pulse width is controlled as a function thereof. According to the invention, for the light source a characteristic curve for the brightness is generated as a function of the supply voltage or the parameter dependent thereon and, from the measured supply voltage or the parameter dependent thereon, an actual brightness value is determined with the characteristic curve and is compared with a given brightness value and the pulse width controlled as a function thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH
    Inventors: Uli Joos, Christian Voss, Josef Schnell, Jochen Zwick
  • Publication number: 20100308786
    Abstract: A method for driving a non-linear load element. On account of the non-linear interrelationship between the voltage and the current at the load element and the related non-linear dependence of the power loss on the quantities “voltage” and “current”, an adjustment of the switching speed only on the basis of the power loss in the switching element cannot be carried out with non-linear load elements without being confronted with undesirable switching losses and related electromagnetic noise fields. Therefore, the load current currently flowing in the load element is picked up in addition to the currently determined power loss in the switching element, and the switching speed of the switching element is controlled in dependence on the determined power loss and on the current picked up. The switching speed can be optimally adjusted when driving the non-linear load elements by means of PWM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2008
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH
    Inventors: Uli Joos, Jochen Zwick, Josef Schnell, Christian Voss
  • Publication number: 20080061791
    Abstract: The invention relates to a procedure for testing the function of a lamp circuit, consisting of at least one lamp, by measuring the current and voltage. Here, a resistance value is taken into account which is specified as a polynomial of at least the 1st order, preferably of the 3rd order, depending on the effective measured voltage on the lamp circuit, whereby the parameters of the polynomial are determined by a quantity of measurements which at least corresponds to the order of the polynomial, under operating conditions which are known to differ, and the specific resistance value or a value derived from it are compared with a specified value. It is particularly advantageous that when the parameters are standardised to the nominal power by multiplying the parameters by the nominal power, uniform average values with acceptable deviations are found over wide ranges of lamps with a different nominal power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Uli Joos, Jochen Zwick, Nicolai Jeutner
  • Publication number: 20080048587
    Abstract: A method for controlling electrical light sources, in particular, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) by pulse width modulation of a supply voltage is disclosed, whereby the supply voltage or a parameter dependent thereon, for example the current or the electrical power, is measured and the pulse width is controlled as a function thereof. According to the invention, for the light source a characteristic curve for the brightness is generated as a function of the supply voltage or the parameter dependent thereon and, from the measured supply voltage or the parameter dependent thereon, an actual brightness value is determined with the characteristic curve and is compared with a given brightness value and the pulse width controlled as a function thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: Uli Joos, Josef Schnell, Christian Voss, Jochen Zwick
  • Publication number: 20070262765
    Abstract: Disclosed is for controlling a light source by pulse width modulation of a supply voltage. The supply voltage, or a parameter dependent thereon, is measured and the pulse width is controlled as function of the measured value. The supply voltage or parameter is measured at least twice during the pulse and may be cyclically measured. The pulse width of the current or a subsequent pulse is matched to the recorded value of the supply voltage or the parameter. A total value is generated from all of the measured values and compared with a given value and the pulse width of subsequent pulses are matched as function of the difference between the total value and the given value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Inventors: Uli Joos, Christian Voss, Josef Schnell, Jochen Zwick