Patents by Inventor Kai LEINGRUBER

Kai LEINGRUBER 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: 20230418778
    Abstract: Method for secure on-board communication between components (2, 4) of a vehicle by way of a communication bus (6) of the vehicle. The method includes (Si) sending a message from a component (2; 4) to the communication bus (6), (S2) storing information of the message sent in the component (2; 4), (S3) reading all the messages on the communication bus (6) by the component (2; 4), (S4) comparing information in the messages read with the information in the message sent by the component (2; 4), and (S5) initiating a countermeasure in reaction to a deviation based on the comparison of information in the read messages with the information in the sent message. Also disclosed is a control unit, a system and a vehicle which are designed to carry out such a method for secure on-board communication between components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Kai Leingruber, Christoph Stritt, Matthias Stauber, Georg Willmann
  • Patent number: 11621553
    Abstract: An electrical assembly (100) having a first ground connection (145), a second ground connection (155), and a supply connection (135). The electrical assembly is designed for connecting with an electrical voltage between the supply connection (135) and at least one of the ground connections (145, 155). The assembly (100) includes a first electrical consumer (110) which is connected to the supply connection (135) and the first ground connection (145). A component (120) connects the second ground connection (155) to the first consumer (110). The component (120) is designed to produce a predetermined voltage drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Schmidt, Kai Leingruber, Georg Willmann, Christian Aigner, Paul Bange, Philipp Schmachtenberger
  • Patent number: 11378142
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle drivetrain for rocking the vehicle free. The drivetrain has a transmission with an input and an output that can be coupled by a clutch. The input and output are connected to a drive aggregate and a drive output, respectively. The clutch is actuated based on driver actuation of an accelerator and a rotational speed of the drive output such that following accelerator actuation, when its actuation decreases, the clutch disengages with a first opening gradient. Then, based on a calculated point in time at which drive aggregate torque upon the clutch corresponds to torque on the clutch from the drive output, the clutch disengages with a second, smaller opening gradient. And depending on a rotational speed of the drive output relative to a limit value, the clutch either initiates or terminates engagement with a first closing gradient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Kai Leingruber
  • Publication number: 20220010849
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle drivetrain for rocking the vehicle free. The drivetrain has a transmission with an input and an output that can be coupled by a clutch. The input and output are connected to a drive aggregate and a drive output, respectively. The clutch is actuated based on driver actuation of an accelerator and a rotational speed of the drive output such that following accelerator actuation, when its actuation decreases, the clutch disengages with a first opening gradient. Then, based on a calculated point in time at which drive aggregate torque upon the clutch corresponds to torque on the clutch from the drive output, the clutch disengages with a second, smaller opening gradient. And depending on a rotational speed of the drive output relative to a limit value, the clutch either initiates or terminates engagement with a first closing gradient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventor: Kai LEINGRUBER
  • Publication number: 20210351585
    Abstract: An electrical assembly (100) having a first ground connection (145), a second ground connection (155), and a supply connection (135). The electrical assembly is designed for connecting with an electrical voltage between the supply connection (135) and at least one of the ground connections (145, 155). The assembly (100) includes a first electrical consumer (110) which is connected to the supply connection (135) and the first ground connection (145). A component (120) connects the second ground connection (155) to the first consumer (110). The component (120) is designed to produce a predetermined voltage drop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Ulrich SCHMIDT, Kai LEINGRUBER, Georg WILLMANN, Christian AIGNER, Paul BANGE, Philipp SCHMACHTENBERGER
  • Patent number: 10267415
    Abstract: A method for operating an automatic transmission with resistance change in a control system of the automatic transmission includes detecting an electrical resistance increase in a control loop for a shift element actuator of the automatic transmission, adjusting an electrical current to the shift element actuator in response to the electrical resistance increase, and shifting the automatic transmission to a gear in which the shift element is in the open operating state. A related control device for an automatic transmission is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Kai Leingruber, Gerd Muellerschoen, Matthias Dietlmeier
  • Publication number: 20190107194
    Abstract: A method for operating an automatic transmission with resistance change in a control system of the automatic transmission includes detecting an electrical resistance increase in a control loop for a shift element actuator of the automatic transmission, adjusting an electrical current to the shift element actuator in response to the electrical resistance increase, and shifting the automatic transmission to a gear in which the shift element is in the open operating state. A related control device for an automatic transmission is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Kai Leingruber, Gerd Muellerschoen, Matthias Dietlmeier
  • Patent number: 9701313
    Abstract: A method of regulating a vehicle drive-train in which actuation of an automatic starting element is regulated when starting the vehicle, and, during this regulation, monitoring a predetermined travel direction, reception of a brake release command and reception of a drive command. Furthermore, after receipt of the release command, the vehicle is held stationary, by a holding operation of the vehicle, until the drive command is received. If movement of the vehicle in a direction opposite to the predetermined travel direction is detected, actuation of the starting element is increased to a firmer engagement level. Once the driver releases the brake and until the drive command is received, if further movement of the vehicle, in the predetermined travel direction, is detected, then actuation of the starting element is decreased toward a lesser engagement level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Roland Mair, Kai Leingruber
  • Publication number: 20160107651
    Abstract: A method of regulating a vehicle drive-train in which actuation of an automatic starting element is regulated when starting the vehicle, and, during this regulation, monitoring a predetermined travel direction, reception of a brake release command and reception of a drive command. Furthermore, after receipt of the release command, the vehicle is held stationary, by a holding operation of the vehicle, until the drive command is received. If movement of the vehicle in a direction opposite to the predetermined travel direction is detected, actuation of the starting element is increased to a firmer engagement level. Once the driver releases the brake and until the drive command is received, if further movement of the vehicle, in the predetermined travel direction, is detected, then actuation of the starting element is decreased toward a lesser engagement level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Roland MAIR, Kai LEINGRUBER