Patents by Inventor Johann Kirchhoffer

Johann Kirchhoffer 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: 12047709
    Abstract: A device for monitoring the surroundings of a vehicle may be secured to the vehicle. In one example, the device comprises a fixture and a swivel arm that is movable relative to the fixture and connected thereto. The fixture has a fastening portion for fastening the device to a body part of the vehicle and is shaped to receive at least one camera. The swivel arm is shaped to receive an antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kirchhoff, Alex Hessel
  • Patent number: 11962075
    Abstract: It is aimed to provide a wireless vehicle to vehicle communication system arranged for mounting on a vehicle's front side location, equipped to provide inter vehicle communication. The system comprises a wing assembly arranged for mounting on the vehicles front side location. The wing assembly houses one or more digital communications antennas and has a side portion that houses a first antenna at a first height and/or horizontal position, and a second antenna at a second height and/or horizontal position, different from the first height and/or first horizontal position and sufficiently away from the other metallic and/or electronic components, for the purpose of optimizing reception and/or transmission quality, by e.g. providing good coverage and diversity, and avoiding interference with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christian Guffarth, Johannes Kirchhoff, Alex Hessel, Albertus Clemens Maria Van Der Knaap, Steven Vanderhaeghen, Michiel Van Nesselrooij, Gerardus Henricus Otto Daalderop, Johannes Joseph Albertus Raaijmakers
  • Patent number: 11884221
    Abstract: An on-board electrical network (4) of a motor vehicle (2) has a first voltage circuit (I) and a second voltage circuit (II), wherein the first voltage circuit has a first operating voltage higher than a second operating voltage in the second voltage circuit. The first voltage circuit is connected to the second voltage circuit via a DC voltage converter (8). The first voltage circuit has a battery (10) and the second voltage circuit has a main battery (12) and an auxiliary voltage source (14). By means of a first switching element (16) and a second switching element (18) at least one of transmission control unit (20) and/or integrated hybrid controller (22) are supplied with electrical energy from the main battery (12) and/or the auxiliary voltage source (14). Control unit (20) and/or hybrid controller (22) can be selectably disconnected from either the main battery (12) and/or the auxiliary voltage source (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Johann Kirchhoffer
  • Patent number: 11752953
    Abstract: Camera system (200) arranged for mounting on a vehicle's front side location (110), equipped to provide at least an image of the area in front of the vehicle (100), comprising a wing assembly (120) arranged for mounting on the vehicles front side location (110) and a forward looking camera (130) mounted in the wing assembly (120), the wing assembly (120) having a front portion (123f) shaped around and extending in front of a transparent camera portion (130t) that forms the front side (120f) of the forward looking camera (130), so that the transparent camera portion (130t) forms a smooth and continuous surface with the front portion (123f); wherein the front portion (123f) extends forward beyond the transparent camera portion surface (130T), so that a curved guidance surface is formed by the front portion (123f) that redirects impacting travel wind (F2) from the front portion (123f) to a downward direction along the transparent camera portion (130t) to keep it free from contamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christian Guffarth, Johannes Kirchhoff, Alex Hessel, Albertus Clemens Maria Van der Knaap, Steven Vanderhaeghen, Michiel Van Nesselrooij
  • Patent number: 11738696
    Abstract: A device may be included for sensing the vehicle surroundings of a vehicle. When mounted, the device has an underside facing the carriageway and an upper side facing away from the carriageway. The device comprises a fixture and a swivel arm that is movable relative to the fixture and connected thereto. The fixture has a fastening portion for fastening the device to a body part of the vehicle. The swivel arm comprises a camera for a lane-keeping function and an antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kirchhoff, Alex Hessel
  • Patent number: 11646589
    Abstract: A battery system includes a plurality of battery cell packs arranged in layers selectively connected in series and parallel by a control system controlling a plurality of switches. Each of the battery cell packs includes a plurality of battery cells. A plurality of first switches and a plurality of second switches are controlled by a control system to connect the battery cell packs in response to a desired current output of the battery system and/or a desired voltage output of the battery system irrespective of individual battery cell or battery cell pack voltages or currents associated with state of charge or operational performance. The control system controls the switches to selectively connect the battery cell pack(s) to the output connections in parallel and/or series to provide redundancy and reduce output voltage/current fluctuation otherwise associated with state of charge or underperforming battery cells/packs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Philip Stauss, Johann Kirchhoffer, Sebastian Schneider
  • Patent number: 11623543
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an on-board electrical network (4) of a motor vehicle (2), having a first voltage circuit (I) and a second voltage circuit (II), the first voltage circuit (I) having a first operating voltage which is higher than a second operating voltage in the second voltage circuit (II), wherein the first voltage circuit (I) is connected to the second voltage circuit (II), the first voltage circuit (I) having a battery (10) and the second voltage circuit (II) having at least one main battery (12a) and a second main battery (12b), wherein the first main battery (12a) and the second main battery (12b) have essentially the same capacity, and wherein components of the motor vehicle (2) are supplied with electrical operating energy from the first main battery (12a) and/or the second main battery (12b) by means of a switch assembly (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Johann Kirchhoffer
  • Patent number: 11325500
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an on-board electrical network (4) of a motor vehicle (2), with a first voltage circuit (I) and a second voltage circuit (II), the first voltage circuit (I) having a first operating voltage which is higher than a second operating voltage in the second voltage circuit (II), the first voltage circuit (I) being connected to the second voltage circuit (II) via a DC-DC converter (8), and the first voltage circuit (I) having a battery (10) and the second voltage circuit (II) having a main battery (12), characterized in that the second voltage circuit (II) has an additional third auxiliary battery (14), and wherein by means of a changeover switch assembly (18) components of the motor vehicle (2) are supplied with electrical energy from the main battery (12) and/or the auxiliary battery (14), and in that the main battery (12) is disconnected from the second voltage circuit (II) by means of an isolating switch (66) during a startup mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johann Kirchhoffer, Philip Stauss, Christopher Chumchal, Sebastian Schneider
  • Publication number: 20220048443
    Abstract: Camera system (200) arranged for mounting on a vehicle's front side location (110), equipped to provide at least an image of the area in front of the vehicle (100), comprising a wing assembly (120) arranged for mounting on the vehicles front side location (110) and a forward looking camera (130) mounted in the wing assembly (120), the wing assembly (120) having a front portion (123f) shaped around and extending in front of a transparent camera portion (130t) that forms the front side (120f) of the forward looking camera (130), so that the transparent camera portion (130t) forms a smooth and continuous surface with the front portion (123f); wherein the front portion (123f) extends forward beyond the transparent camera portion surface (130T), so that a curved guidance surface is formed by the front portion (123f) that redirects impacting travel wind (F2) from the front portion (123f) to a downward direction along the transparent camera portion (130t) to keep it free from contamination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christian Guffarth, Johannes Kirchhoff, Alex Hessel, Albertus Clemens Maria Van der Knaap, Steven Vanderhaeghen, Michiel Van Nesselrooij
  • Publication number: 20220009424
    Abstract: A device may be included for sensing the vehicle surroundings of a vehicle. When mounted, the device has an underside facing the carriageway and an upper side facing away from the carriageway. The device comprises a fixture and a swivel arm that is movable relative to the fixture and connected thereto. The fixture has a fastening portion for fastening the device to a body part of the vehicle. The swivel arm comprises a camera for a lane-keeping function and an antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kirchhoff, Alex Hessel
  • Publication number: 20210344874
    Abstract: A device for monitoring the surroundings of a vehicle may be secured to the vehicle. In one example, the device comprises a fixture and a swivel arm that is movable relative to the fixture and connected thereto. The fixture has a fastening portion for fastening the device to a body part of the vehicle and is shaped to receive at least one camera. The swivel arm is shaped to receive an antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kirchhoff, Alex Hessel
  • Publication number: 20210336328
    Abstract: It is aimed to provide a wireless vehicle to vehicle communication system arranged for mounting on a vehicle's front side location, equipped to provide inter vehicle communication. The system comprises a wing assembly arranged for mounting on the vehicles front side location. The wing assembly houses one or more digital communications antennas and has a side portion that houses a first antenna at a first height and/or horizontal position, and a second antenna at a second height and/or horizontal position, different from the first height and/or first horizontal position and sufficiently away from the other metallic and/or electronic components, for the purpose of optimizing reception and/or transmission quality, by e.g. providing good coverage and diversity, and avoiding interference with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christian GUFFARTH, Johannes KIRCHHOFF, Alex HESSEL, Albertus Clemens Maria VAN DER KNAAP, Steven VANDERHAEGHEN, Michiel VAN NESSELROOIJ, Gerardus DAALDEROP, Johannes Joseph Albertus RAAIJMAKERS
  • Patent number: 11150539
    Abstract: The invention relates to a camera module (100) for a vehicle. The camera module (100) has a housing section (105) with a camera lens (110) and is characterized in that the camera module (100) contains a cylindrical front cover receiver (115) surrounding the housing section (105) that extends beyond the camera lens (110). A transparent front cover (120) for the camera lens (110) is received in the front cover receiver (115). The front cover (120) has an outer surface (125) that can be exposed to environmental effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kirchhoff, Alex Hessel
  • Publication number: 20210078516
    Abstract: An on-board electrical network (4) of a motor vehicle (2) has a first voltage circuit (I) and a second voltage circuit (II), wherein the first voltage circuit has a first operating voltage higher than a second operating voltage in the second voltage circuit. The first voltage circuit is connected to the second voltage circuit via a DC voltage converter (8). The first voltage circuit has a battery (10) and the second voltage circuit has a main battery (12) and an auxiliary voltage source (14). By means of a first switching element (16) and a second switching element (18) at least one of transmission control unit (20) and/or integrated hybrid controller (22) are supplied with electrical energy from the main battery (12) and/or the auxiliary voltage source (14). Control unit (20) and/or hybrid controller (22) can be selectably disconnected from either the main battery (12) and/or the auxiliary voltage source (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventor: Johann Kirchhoffer
  • Publication number: 20210078443
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an on-board electrical network (4) of a motor vehicle (2), having a first voltage circuit (I) and a second voltage circuit (II), the first voltage circuit (I) having a first operating voltage which is higher than a second operating voltage in the second voltage circuit (II), wherein the first voltage circuit (I) is connected to the second voltage circuit (II), the first voltage circuit (I) having a battery (10) and the second voltage circuit (II) having at least one main battery (12a) and a second main battery (12b), wherein the first main battery (12a) and the second main battery (12b) have essentially the same capacity, and wherein components of the motor vehicle (2) are supplied with electrical operating energy from the first main battery (12a) and/or the second main battery (12b) by means of a switch assembly (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Johann Kirchhoffer
  • Patent number: 10605335
    Abstract: A dual clutch transmission for motor vehicles has first and second input shafts, two clutches selectively coupling the input shafts the engine, two intermediate shafts arranged parallel to the transmission input shafts, gearwheel pairs configured to transmit power between the input shafts and the intermediate shafts, and output gearwheels arranged on each of the two intermediate shafts. The output gearwheels mesh with the differential wheel and are selectively coupled to the respective intermediate shaft by one of the coupling devices. An additional intermediate gearwheel set is provided, that one gearwheel of the intermediate gearwheel set is seated on the first or second intermediate shaft, that the other gearwheel of the inter-mediate wheel set is arranged on a third intermediate shaft, and that a third output gearwheel, which meshes with one of the output gearwheels of the first or second intermediate shaft, is seated on the third intermediate shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Johann Kirchhoffer
  • Publication number: 20200096838
    Abstract: The invention relates to a camera module (100) for a vehicle. The camera module (100) has a housing section (105) with a camera lens (110) and is characterized in that the camera module (100) contains a cylindrical front cover receiver (115) surrounding the housing section (105) that extends beyond the camera lens (110). A transparent front cover (120) for the camera lens (110) is received in the front cover receiver (115). The front cover (120) has an outer surface (125) that can be exposed to environmental effects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kirchhoff, Alex Hessel
  • Publication number: 20200086762
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an on-board electrical network (4) of a motor vehicle (2), with a first voltage circuit (I) and a second voltage circuit (II), the first voltage circuit (I) having a first operating voltage which is higher than a second operating voltage in the second voltage circuit (II), the first voltage circuit (I) being connected to the second voltage circuit (II) via a DC-DC converter (8), and the first voltage circuit (I) having a battery (10) and the second voltage circuit (II) having a main battery (12), characterized in that the second voltage circuit (II) has an additional third auxiliary battery (14), and wherein by means of a changeover switch assembly (18) components of the motor vehicle (2) are supplied with electrical energy from the main battery (12) and/or the auxiliary battery (14), and in that the main battery (12) is disconnected from the second voltage circuit (II) by means of an isolating switch (66) during a startup mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johann Kirchhoffer, Philip Stauss, Christopher Chumchal, Sebastian Schneider
  • Patent number: 10563730
    Abstract: A dual clutch transmission for motor vehicles has first and second input shafts, two clutches configured to selectively couple the input shafts to an engine, two intermediate shafts arranged parallel to the input shafts, gearwheel pairs of which a fixed gearwheel is arranged on one of the input shafts and a freely rotating gearwheel is arranged on one of the intermediate shafts, freely rotating output gearwheels arranged on each of the two intermediate shafts and meshing with a differential wheel, and coupling devices configured to selectively couple the freely rotating gearwheels to the respective intermediate shaft, of which at least the coupling devices for the output gearwheels are of double acting design. A dual clutch transmission of this kind makes a large number of gears possible without significantly increasing the dimensions of the transmission or the weight thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Johann Kirchhoffer
  • Publication number: 20190385389
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for checking a display unit for a vehicle, wherein the display unit comprises a display matrix that has numerous pixels that can be backlit, and a detector unit for detecting light reflected by pixels when they are backlit. A gear step signal that represents a current gear step of the vehicle is input. The pixels are then actuated using the gear step signal, to display at least one test image on the display unit. The detector unit is read in response to the actuation in order to obtain at least one test signal assigned to the test image. This is then evaluated in order to check the functional operability of the display unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Vitali FRIBUS, Andreas PEUKERT, Joachim SPRATTE, Johannes KIRCHHOFF