Patents by Inventor Lars Hofmann

Lars Hofmann 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: 7761211
    Abstract: A method for a shift control of a drivetrain of a motor vehicle includes providing the drivetrain of the motor vehicle as a hybrid drivetrain wherein an electric machine is connected to an input shaft of an automated stepped shift transmission and wherein an internal combustion engine is connected to the input shaft of the automated stepped shift transmission via a decoupling clutch. Currently valid shift characteristic curves used for triggering respective shifts of the automated stepped shift transmission are determined respectively in dependence of current driving and operating parameters by performing an interpolation between a first limit shift characteristic curve for a first driving characteristic and a second limit shift characteristic curve for a second driving characteristic wherein the respective limit shift characteristic curves are identical in all operating modes, however a permissible interpolation range in a purely electric operation is limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventor: Lars Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20080059032
    Abstract: A method for a shift control of a drivetrain of a motor vehicle includes providing the drivetrain of the motor vehicle as a hybrid drivetrain wherein an electric machine is connected to an input shaft of an automated stepped shift transmission and wherein an internal combustion engine is connected to the input shaft of the automated stepped shift transmission via a decoupling clutch. Currently valid shift characteristic curves used for triggering respective shifts of the automated stepped shift transmission are determined respectively in dependence of current driving and operating parameters by performing an interpolation between a first limit shift characteristic curve for a first driving characteristic and a second limit shift characteristic curve for a second driving characteristic wherein the respective limit shift characteristic curves are identical in all operating modes, however a permissible interpolation range in a purely electric operation is limited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: Volkswagen AG
    Inventor: Lars Hofmann
  • Patent number: 5961417
    Abstract: A continuously adjustable transmission has two sets of cone pulleys disposed concentrically with respect to each other on a transmission input shaft. Between the two sets of cone pulleys a rigid ring acts as a torque transmitting member for transmitting torque from one set of cone pulleys to the other. This arrangement provides a compact and lightweight transmission producing the best transmission efficiency levels, especially at high and medium gear ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Arthur Schneider, Lars Hofmann