Patents by Inventor Klaus Plähn
Klaus Plähn 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).
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Patent number: 11926305Abstract: A method for automatic electronic control of a brake system in a vehicle includes reading a brake signal for the automatic electronic control of brakes in the vehicle, wherein requests to be implemented by the brakes are transmitted via the brake signal to bring about automatically requested target vehicle longitudinal dynamics. The method further includes determining a brake pressure distribution indicating a ratio of a front axle brake pressure of a front axle to a rear axle brake pressure of a rear axle, and providing at least a first brake pressure signal of the first electronic control unit to at least a first electropneumatic control device, taking into account the braking request signal and the brake pressure distribution for controlling the front axle brake pressure and the rear axle brake pressure, and receiving the brake pressure distribution at a second electronic control unit and storing the detected brake pressure distribution.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2019Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: ZF CV SYSTEMS EUROPE BVInventors: Klaus Plaehn, Julian Van Thiel
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Patent number: 11919498Abstract: A method for determining unstable behavior of a trailer of a vehicle combination, the vehicle combination having N members, one of the members being a tractor vehicle and at least one further member being the trailer, the unstable behavior of the trailer being determined depending on a driving-dynamics actual characteristic variable of the tractor vehicle, includes: determining at least one driving-dynamics actual characteristic variable of the trailer, the at least one driving-dynamics actual characteristic variable characterizing a current driving-dynamics state of the trailer and following from a measurement by at least one sensor in the trailer; and determining at least one driving-dynamics target characteristic variable of the trailer, the at least one driving-dynamics target characteristic variable following from the at least one driving-dynamics actual characteristic variable of the tractor vehicle by using a kinematic model depending on geometric characteristic variables of the vehicle combination.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2021Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: ZF CV SYSTEMS EUROPE BVInventors: Klaus Plaehn, Benjamin Bieber
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Publication number: 20230322207Abstract: A method for automated guidance of a vehicle along a specified setpoint trajectory at an actual speed, wherein the setpoint trajectory includes geometric trajectory variables, the method including ascertaining an actual deviation of the vehicle from the setpoint trajectory and outputting the ascertained actual deviation and generating manipulated variables such that the vehicle, in the case of automated control of a drive system and/or a braking system and/or a steering system of the vehicle, moves closer to the setpoint trajectory. The method also includes ascertaining whether an undesirable driving state is present when the vehicle moves closer to the setpoint trajectory, wherein the undesirable driving state is ascertained from the specified setpoint trajectory based on the geometric trajectory variable, and, if the presence of the undesirable driving state is identified, automatically controlling the vehicle based on generated stability variables and/or adapting the setpoint trajectory.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2021Publication date: October 12, 2023Inventors: Klaus PLAEHN, Oliver WULF, Jonas BOETTCHER
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Patent number: 11407408Abstract: A method for performing an evasive maneuver with a commercial vehicle-trailer combination includes ascertaining that a collision between the commercial vehicle-trailer combination and a collision object is impending. The method further includes determining an evasion trajectory by which the commercial vehicle-trailer combination can evade the collision object without coming into contact with the collision object, determining a desired steering angle based on the evasion trajectory and activating an active steering system of the commercial vehicle-trailer combination in dependence on the determined desired steering angle such that the commercial vehicle-trailer combination moves along the evasion trajectory from a starting traffic lane to a target traffic lane so as to perform the evasive maneuver.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2017Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: ZF CV SYSTEMS EUROPE BVInventors: Christoph Barth, Thomas Dieckmann, Stephan Kallenbach, Ralph-Carsten Luelfing, Klaus Plaehn
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Publication number: 20220144230Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling a vehicle in the event of unexpected braking with braking forces acting differently on respective sides on a steerable vehicle axle. The method includes determining whether there is unintentional braking with the braking forces causing the vehicle to yaw at a braking yaw rate in a yaw direction because of the braking forces. The yaw direction is determined in which the vehicle will yaw as a result of the braking forces. A steering angle requirement is specified and set immediately upon detection of unintentional braking with the different braking forces acting on the respective sides on the steerable vehicle axle with the steering angle requirement being specified in dependence upon the yaw direction so as to cause the braking yaw rate to be compensated on the steerable vehicle axle after setting the steering angle requirement.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2022Publication date: May 12, 2022Inventors: Klaus Plähn, Ralph-Carsten Lülfing
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Patent number: 11285938Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle when driving on a bend, includes determining bend information, wherein the bend information characterizes a further course of the bend in a direction of travel after a current position of the vehicle, determining predicted lateral acceleration values based on the bend information, wherein each of the predicted lateral acceleration values indicates a lateral acceleration predicted to act on the vehicle at a respective one of a plurality of future positions over the further course of the bend, and determining the probability of overturning at the future positions based on the predicted lateral acceleration values by comparing the predicted lateral acceleration values with a lateral acceleration limit value. A roll stability control system outputs a reduced deceleration request if the predicted lateral acceleration values undershoot the lateral acceleration limit value at least in certain regions.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2018Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: ZF CV SYSTEMS EUROPE BVInventors: Michael Heise, Tobias Munko, Klaus Plaehn
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Publication number: 20210331664Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle when driving on a bend, includes determining bend information, wherein the bend information characterizes a further course of the bend in a direction of travel after a current position of the vehicle, determining predicted lateral acceleration values based on the bend information, wherein each of the predicted lateral acceleration values indicates a lateral acceleration predicted to act on the vehicle at a respective one of a plurality of future positions over the further course of the bend, and determining the probability of overturning at the future positions based on the predicted lateral acceleration values by comparing the predicted lateral acceleration values with a lateral acceleration limit value. A roll stability control system outputs a reduced deceleration request if the predicted lateral acceleration values undershoot the lateral acceleration limit value at least in certain regions.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2018Publication date: October 28, 2021Inventors: Michael Heise, Tobias Munko, Klaus Plaehn
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Patent number: 11142174Abstract: A method for determining, by a utility vehicle having a trailer coupling, an articulation angle between the utility vehicle and a coupled vehicle trailer includes determining, with a model, a modelled value of the articulation angle or an articulation angle change. The method further includes determining, with a sensor unit, a measured value of an articulation angle or of an articulation angle change, and deriving, from the measured value, a correction value. The method additionally includes correcting the modelled value as a function of the correction value, and outputting the corrected modelled value as an output value of an articulation angle.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2019Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: ZF CV SYSTEMS EUROPE BVInventors: Klaus Plaehn, Oliver Wulf
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Publication number: 20210291798Abstract: A method for automatic electronic control of a brake system in a vehicle includes reading a brake signal for the automatic electronic control of brakes in the vehicle, wherein requests to be implemented by the brakes are transmitted via the brake signal to bring about automatically requested target vehicle longitudinal dynamics. The method further includes determining a brake pressure distribution indicating a ratio of a front axle brake pressure of a front axle to a rear axle brake pressure of a rear axle, and providing at least a first brake pressure signal of the first electronic control unit to at least a first electropneumatic control device, taking into account the braking request signal and the brake pressure distribution for controlling the front axle brake pressure and the rear axle brake pressure, and receiving the brake pressure distribution at a second electronic control unit and storing the detected brake pressure distribution.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2019Publication date: September 23, 2021Inventors: Klaus Plaehn, Julian Van Thiel
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Publication number: 20210291818Abstract: A method for performing an evasive maneuver with a commercial vehicle-trailer combination includes ascertaining that a collision between the commercial vehicle-trailer combination and a collision object is impending. The method further includes determining an evasion trajectory by which the commercial vehicle-trailer combination can evade the collision object without coming into contact with the collision object, determining a desired steering angle based on the evasion trajectory and activating an active steering system of the commercial vehicle-trailer combination in dependence on the determined desired steering angle such that the commercial vehicle-trailer combination moves along the evasion trajectory from a starting traffic lane to a target traffic lane so as to perform the evasive maneuver.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2017Publication date: September 23, 2021Inventors: Christoph Barth, Thomas Dieckmann, Stephan Kallenbach, Ralph-Carsten Luelfing, Klaus Plaehn
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Publication number: 20210261104Abstract: A method for determining, by a utility vehicle having a trailer coupling, an articulation angle between the utility vehicle and a coupled vehicle trailer includes determining, with a model, a modelled value of the articulation angle or an articulation angle change. The method further includes determining, with a sensor unit, a measured value of an articulation angle or of an articulation angle change, and deriving, from the measured value, a correction value. The method additionally includes correcting the modelled value as a function of the correction value, and outputting the corrected modelled value as an output value of an articulation angle.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2019Publication date: August 26, 2021Inventors: Klaus Plaehn, Oliver Wulf
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Publication number: 20210188229Abstract: A method for determining unstable behavior of a trailer of a vehicle combination, the vehicle combination having N members, one of the members being a tractor vehicle and at least one further member being the trailer, the unstable behavior of the trailer being determined depending on a driving-dynamics actual characteristic variable of the tractor vehicle, includes: determining at least one driving-dynamics actual characteristic variable of the trailer, the at least one driving-dynamics actual characteristic variable characterizing a current driving-dynamics state of the trailer and following from a measurement by at least one sensor in the trailer; and determining at least one driving-dynamics target characteristic variable of the trailer, the at least one driving-dynamics target characteristic variable following from the at least one driving-dynamics actual characteristic variable of the tractor vehicle by using a kinematic model depending on geometric characteristic variables of the vehicle combination.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2021Publication date: June 24, 2021Inventors: Klaus Plaehn, Benjamin Bieber
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Publication number: 20210171100Abstract: A sensor system, for determining an angular change between a utility vehicle and a coupled vehicle trailer, includes a sensor unit having a wheel mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis, and a rotary encoder connected to the wheel and configured to detect a change in position of the wheel. The sensor system further includes a mount having at least one first fixed part configured to connect the sensor system to the utility vehicle or a part thereof, and at least one movable part connected to the sensor unit and mounted so as to be movable on the fixed part. In addition, the sensor system includes a positioning mechanism configured to provide sprung bearing of the movable part in an operating position such that the wheel of the sensor unit can be moved into contact with a vehicle trailer or a part of the vehicle trailer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2019Publication date: June 10, 2021Inventors: Oliver Wulf, Klaus Plaehn
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Patent number: 11027712Abstract: A method for determining a coefficient-of-friction, the method including braking a first wheel of a vehicle such that a slip between the first wheel and a roadway is less than a slip between a second wheel of the vehicle and the roadway, and determining a coefficient-of-friction between the first wheel and the roadway based on the behavior of the first wheel during the braking. The method optionally including hazard braking the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2017Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignees: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG, WABCO EUROPE BVBA, TRW AUTOMOTIVE U.S. LLCInventors: Friedrich Tenbrock, Sven Gohl, Christoph Schall, Dan Williams, Stephan Kallenbach, Klaus Plähn, Thomas Dieckmann, Ralph-Carsten Lülfing
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Publication number: 20190193697Abstract: A method for determining a coefficient-of-friction, the method including braking a first wheel of a vehicle such that a slip between the first wheel and a roadway is less than a slip between a second wheel of the vehicle and the roadway, and determining a coefficient-of-friction between the first wheel and the roadway based on the behavior of the first wheel during the braking. The method optionally including hazard braking the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2017Publication date: June 27, 2019Applicants: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG, WAB-CO EUROPE BVBA, TRW AUTOMOTIVE U.S. LLCInventors: Friedrich Tenbrock, Sven Gohl, Christoph Schall, Dan Williams, Stephan Kallenbach, Klaus Plähn, Thomas Dieckmann, Ralph-Carsten Lülfing
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Patent number: 7104614Abstract: A method and system for preventing rollover of a vehicle train comprising a tractor vehicle and a trailer vehicle. A control system is provided in the tractor vehicle which automatically initiates actuation of the braking system of the tractor vehicle and/or of the trailer vehicle if a danger of rollover of the vehicle train is recognized. A data signal from which it is possible to deduce the speed of at least one wheel of the trailer vehicle at the inside of a curve is transmitted from the trailer vehicle to the control system. The control system uses the data signal to recognize the danger of rollover of the vehicle train.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2004Date of Patent: September 12, 2006Assignee: WABCO GmbH & Co. OHGInventors: Bernd Heuer, Klaus Plähn