Patents by Inventor Johannes Brockmann

Johannes Brockmann 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: 10919529
    Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle having a vehicle drive train (1) and a vehicle brake (7) downshifting an automatic transmission (3) in a coasting condition, during which at least one friction-locking shift element is to be disengaged and one form-fit shift element is to be engaged. An output torque present at a driven end (4) is at least partially supported at a drive motor (2) at the point in time of a demand for the coasting downshift. The drive motor (2) is actuated before the implementation of the coasting downshift in order to reduce the portion of the output torque which is supportable at the drive motor (2), and a portion of the output torque is supported in the area of the vehicle brake (7) by an appropriate actuation of the vehicle brake (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Philipp Fehr, Johannes Brockmann, Peter Schiele
  • Publication number: 20200262431
    Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle having a vehicle drive train (1) and a vehicle brake (7) downshifting an automatic transmission (3) in a coasting condition, during which at least one friction-locking shift element is to be disengaged and one form-fit shift element is to be engaged. An output torque present at a driven end (4) is at least partially supported at a drive motor (2) at the point in time of a demand for the coasting downshift. The drive motor (2) is actuated before the implementation of the coasting downshift in order to reduce the portion of the output torque which is supportable at the drive motor (2), and a portion of the output torque is supported in the area of the vehicle brake (7) by an appropriate actuation of the vehicle brake (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Philipp Fehr, Johannes Brockmann, Peter Schiele
  • Patent number: 10539227
    Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle drivetrain (1) includes proceeding, in the presence of the demand for activation of the engine start-stop function of the vehicle drivetrain (1) and a simultaneously shut-down drive machine (2), from an operating state of the vehicle drivetrain (1) during which a sailing operating function of the vehicle drivetrain (1) is active, during which the drive machine (2) is decoupled from the drive output (3), during which the positively engaging shift element (F) is open and during which a rotational speed (n_ab) of the drive output (3) is higher than a defined rotational speed at which a rotational speed difference between shift element halves of the positively engaging shift element (F) lies within a rotational speed range within which the positively engaging shift element (F) is transferrable into the closed operating state, and actuating the positively engaging shift element (F) in a closing direction no later than when the defined rotational speed is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Peter Schiele, Johannes Brockmann
  • Patent number: 10479344
    Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle drivetrain (1) having a drive machine (2), an output (3) and a gearbox (4) with the gearbox (4) arranged in power flow between the drive machine (2) and the output (3) includes opening, in the presence of a demand for activation of a sailing operating function of the vehicle drivetrain (1) and a simultaneously activated engine start-stop function, a positively engaging shift element (F) while the drive machine (2) is left both decoupled from the output (3) and shut down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Peter Schiele, Johannes Brockmann
  • Publication number: 20170334421
    Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle drivetrain (1) having a drive machine (2), an output (3) and a gearbox (4) with the gearbox (4) arranged in power flow between the drive machine (2) and the output (3) includes opening, in the presence of a demand for activation of a sailing operating function of the vehicle drivetrain (1) and a simultaneously activated engine start-stop function, a positively engaging shift element (F) while the drive machine (2) is left both decoupled from the output (3) and shut down.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Peter Schiele, Johannes Brockmann
  • Publication number: 20170335926
    Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle drivetrain (1) includes proceeding, in the presence of the demand for activation of the engine start-stop function of the vehicle drivetrain (1) and a simultaneously shut-down drive machine (2), from an operating state of the vehicle drivetrain (1) during which a sailing operating function of the vehicle drivetrain (1) is active, during which the drive machine (2) is decoupled from the drive output (3), during which the positively engaging shift element (F) is open and during which a rotational speed (n_ab) of the drive output (3) is higher than a defined rotational speed at which a rotational speed difference between shift element halves of the positively engaging shift element (F) lies within a rotational speed range within which the positively engaging shift element (F) is transferrable into the closed operating state, and actuating the positively engaging shift element (F) in a closing direction no later than when the defined rotational speed is reached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Peter Schiele, Johannes Brockmann
  • Patent number: 9169925
    Abstract: A method for terminating a gearshift for an automatic transmission for a motor vehicle is provided, wherein a positive-locking shifting element is involved. After the initiation of the gearshift, there is an evaluation of the continuous signals of at least one control unit of the vehicle, which affect the engine torque and thus the turbine speed gradient. Based on the evaluation of the signals, an upcoming change to the turbine speed gradient that exceeds a first predetermined threshold value or falls short of a second predetermined threshold value is detected, and, upon such detection, the gearshift is terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Jörg Arnold, Andreas Schmidt, Johannes Brockmann
  • Publication number: 20150057900
    Abstract: Within the framework of a method for terminating a gearshift for an automatic transmission for a motor vehicle, at which at least one positive-locking shifting element is involved, after the initiation of the gearshift, there is an evaluation of the continuous signals of at least one control unit of the vehicle, which affect the engine torque and thus the turbine speed gradient, whereas, based on the evaluation of the signals, an upcoming change to the turbine speed gradient that exceeds a first predetermined threshold value or falls short of a second predetermined threshold value is detected, and, upon the detection an upcoming change to the turbine speed gradient that exceeds the first predetermined threshold value or falls short of the second predetermined threshold value, the gearshift is terminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Jörg Arnold, Andreas Schmidt, Johannes Brockmann