Patents by Inventor Ludger Rake

Ludger Rake 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: 8410788
    Abstract: A method of diagnosing an electronic display device (1) having a screen (3) and a graphics memory (2) in which image data (14), of an image displayed or to be displayed on the screen (3), are one of stored or changed. A measured value (15) characterizes a current consumption or the change in current consumption of the screen (3) or display device (1) while a reference value (16) characterizes the current consumption or the change in current consumption of the screen (3) or display device (1) on the basis of the image data (14) or the change in image data (14). The method compares the reference value (16) to the measured value (15) to determine any malfunction or error in the electronic display device (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ralf Hartrampf, Ludger Rake, Andreas Giefer
  • Patent number: 8336418
    Abstract: An actuating device for selecting shift positions of a shift-by-wire gearshift transmission. The actuating device comprises a selector lever that is movable between stable lever positions from at least one drive mode position to a parking lock position, a detent device with a spring-loaded detent element, a detent guide-plate and a separating device with an actuator-operated thrust wedge. The detent element and the detent guide-plate can be moved by the thrust wedge from a first position, in which the detent element engages in a shift track of the detent guide-plate, to another second position in which the detent element is disengaged from the shift track of the guide-plate. The actuating device enables automatic return of the selector lever to the parking lock position and thus provides the driver with correct visual and tactile feedback about the actual shift status of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Jorg Meyer, Ludger Rake
  • Patent number: 8327732
    Abstract: An actuating device for selecting shift positions of a shift-by-wire gear shifting transmission. The actuating device comprises a selector lever that may be moved between at least a drive position and a parking lock position, the lever having stable selector lever settings, and a locking device for locking the selector lever in the parking lock position. The locking device comprises an actuator device such that the selector lever may be moved from the drive position into the park position by way of the locking and actuator devices. The actuating device makes it possible that the position of the selector lever of the actuating device matches the actual shifting state of the transmission at all times, and thereby offers reliable optical and tactile feedback for the driver of the actual shifting state of the transmission and may also serve as a mechanical emergency actuator for the parking lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Jorg Meyer, Ludger Rake
  • Patent number: 8316734
    Abstract: An operating device for selecting gear ratios of a transmission. The operating device comprises a selector lever that is movable between at least three gear selection positions and a locking device for limiting the range of motion of the selector lever. The locking device has a cantilever assembly with a plurality of locking contours that are connected to the selector lever. Each locking contour is assigned to a selector lever position and can be engaged with locking element to form a motion stop for the selector lever. It is thus possible to implement even complex locking tasks in a structurally simple manner such that jams, that occur during actuation, or undefined operating states in the locking device can be prevented. The range of motion of the selector lever is largely freely controlled using an actuator control, and the device is relatively silent and has short shifting times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Ludger Rake, Sascha Rosentreter
  • Patent number: 8250943
    Abstract: An actuating device for motor vehicle transmissions, especially for automatic transmissions has a selector lever (1), a transmission structure for sensing and transmitting the shift commands from the actuating device to the motor vehicle transmission, as well as a hinge structure with a four-bar mechanism (2) in which the selector lever (1) is mounted in such a way that it can perform shifting motions. The actuating device presents a small space requirements for installation with good ergonomic properties, good force-displacement curve at the selector lever qualities, as good sensing and signal transmission aspects. Visual shift gates and gear shifting gates can also be embodied at actuating devices of very compact design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Ludger Rake, Jörg Meyer
  • Publication number: 20120111134
    Abstract: The structure and the installation of the mechanical transmission linkage to the parking lock is simplified in that the mechanical transmission linkage allows a smooth operation and serves also as an actuating devices having more than one shift gate without requiring complex modifications. An actuating device for selecting gear steps of a shift-by-wire gearshift transmission with a base housing, a selection lever, mechanical transmission for actuating a parking lock, and with a coupling system with a coupling element between the selection lever and the transmission. The transmission is selectively actuated by the coupling element only during selection and/or deselection of the parking lock position on the selection lever. The actuating device has includes the coupling element with a first end which is linearly guided in a slot and a second end which is in certain sections pivotally guided in a slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Ludger Rake
  • Patent number: 8161837
    Abstract: An emergency release device for manual actuation of the parking lock of a shift-by-wire transmission. The emergency release device comprises a mechanical transfer device located between an emergency release actuator and the transmission and engages a pivoting lever mechanism arranged on a transmission shifting shaft. A characterizing feature of the emergency release device is that the pivoting lever mechanism comprises a primary pivoting lever connected to the transfer device, a secondary pivoting lever connected to the transmission and a unidirectional coupling element located between the primary and the secondary pivoting levers. The advantage of this device relates to reduced susceptibility to corrosion, wear and noise emission and easier correct adjustment of the transfer device during assembly, while a separate prestressing mechanism for the cable of the emergency parking lock release can be omitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Ludger Rake
  • Publication number: 20120010485
    Abstract: A device for detecting at least one vital parameter of a person in a vehicle is described, having: an optoelectronic sensor arrangement for detecting the at least one vital parameter by means of light remission, wherein the optoelectronic sensor arrangement has at least one light source and a light-sensitive element, and wherein the first light source and the light-sensitive element are arranged in a finger bed of an operating element of the vehicle, and wherein the finger bed is implemented to integrate a fingertip of the person flush in a sensor area of the finger bed in which the first light source and the light sensitive element are arranged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventors: Robert Couronne, Hans-Joachim Moersdorf, Andreas Tobola, Sergey Ershov, Hans-Josef Gassmann, Rainer Haevescher, Ludger Rake, Joerg Meyer
  • Publication number: 20110219901
    Abstract: An actuating device for selection on shift steps of a gear changing transmission. The actuating device comprises a flexible gear selection device (1) with at least two drive step positions, a park lock position and an additional park lock-actuating device (4) for activation of the park lock. When the gear selector device (1) moves out of the park lock position, the gear selector device (1) becomes disengaged while movement of the gear selector device (1) from one of the drive step positions into the park lock position, or beyond the previous park lock position, does not engage the park lock. Engagement of the park lock is only achieved by actuating the additional park lock-actuating device (4). This improves the safety and provides intuitive shifting between the different drive step positions without the need to view the gear selector device. The unintended engagement of the park lock is precluded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Jorg Meyer, Ludger Rake
  • Publication number: 20110162475
    Abstract: An operating device for shift-by-wire transmission comprises a selector lever which has a detent mechanism. The detent mechanism comprises bevel and notched contours that can be displaced for automatically returning the selector lever back to the first lock position or shift gate. The notched contour is spring-biased toward the selector lever detent element and overlaps the bevel contour in its first position, and an actuating block is provided for locking the notched contour in its first position near the detent element. The spring-loading of the notched contour is weaker than the spring-loading of the detent element, and the shape of the first detent position of the notched contour matches that of the first detent position of the bevel contour when the notched contour is located in the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Ludger Rake, Andreas Giefer, Sascha Rosentreter
  • Publication number: 20110067515
    Abstract: An operating device for selecting shift positions of a gear-changing transmission, for example an automatic transmission. The operating device comprises a shift operating device and a console arrangement with an operating lever and a shift position indicator device with illuminatable shift position designations. The shift position indicator device includes an electronics unit and a light-emitting device. The electronics unit and the light-emitting device are integrated into the shift operating unit. An ordered fiber-optic bundle for the selective illumination of shift position designations is disposed between the light-emitting device and shift position indicator device. The operating device enables cost savings in production and assembly by eliminating, for example, the electronic module in the region of the shift gate. Flexible, selective illumination of the illuminated symbols or shift position designations in the region of the shift gate becomes possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ludger Rake, Andreas Giefer
  • Publication number: 20110056318
    Abstract: An operating device for a gear-changing transmission operated by shift-by-wire is disclosed. The operating device includes an operating element, rotatably or pivotally supported in a bearing position having a position sensor device, and a device for producing force-feedback. The force-feedback device includes an adjustable counterforce element acting on the operating element, wherein the counterforce element comprises a fluid having controllably variable viscosity. The operating device including the counterforce element is produced by a bearing gap of the bearing position of the operating element, with the bearing gap being filled with the fluid. A space-saving integration of the counterforce element of a force-feedback device is enabled into the joint of an operating lever. Thus, the cost, structural complexity, and installation space required for an operating device having force-feedback is significantly reduced. The haptics of a mechanical operating lever can be realistically emulated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ludger Rake, Andreas Giefer
  • Publication number: 20110005890
    Abstract: A parking lock for an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle is provided, wherein the automatic transmission has an actuator which can disengage a locking element in the automatic transmission, the locking element is held in a locked position by spring force, and a locking assembly (1) is provided which is connected via an actuating element (2) to the locking element and which has a knee lever (3) which can fix the actuating element (2) so as to prevent engagement of the locking element in the automatic transmission. The invention is characterized in that the knee lever (3) fixes the actuating element (2) in an overextended position, wherein a fixed counter support (4) is attached at the overextended side of the knee lever (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicants: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG, BAYERISCHE MOTORENWERKE AG
    Inventors: Michael Völz, Ludger Rake, Andreas Giefer, Sascha Rosentreter, Roland König
  • Publication number: 20100326787
    Abstract: The invention relates to an operating device for a vehicle having an automatic transmission and an electrically actuated parking brake system, comprising at least one mechanical actuation element for inputting operating commands of the vehicle user and a control unit for converting the operating commands into control signals to the transmission and the parking brake system, wherein according to the invention the actuation element (1) has at least two successive indexed positions (B, C) and a neutral position (A) and a return position (D), wherein an operating command to the parking brake system (4) for actuating the parking brake device is generated in the first indexed position, and an operating command to the transmission for actuating the parking lock device is generated in the second indexed position (C).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Jorg Meyer, Ludger Rake
  • Publication number: 20100307276
    Abstract: An actuating device for a gear shifting transmission. The actuating device includes a selector lever which has stable selector lever positions, and a detent mechanism with a detent element and notched gate, the detent element is connected to the selector lever. The notched gate is disposed on a gate shaft that rotates when actuated. The gate shaft includes at least one helical return groove for the detent element. Due to rotation of the gate shaft, the detent element can be transferred from a start position, along the return groove, into a target position. The selector lever position always reflects the actual gear stage of the transmission, even with shift-by-wire-controlled gear shifting transmissions. The driver is provided with reliable visual and tactile feedback about the gear state of the transmission. The actuating device is structurally reliable, has low energy consumption, produces minimal noise, and requires minimal construction space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Ludger Rake
  • Publication number: 20100301876
    Abstract: A method of diagnosing an electronic display device (1) having a screen (3) and a graphics memory (2) in which image data (14), of an image displayed or to be displayed on the screen (3), are one of stored or changed. A measured value (15) characterizes a current consumption or the change in current consumption of the screen (3) or display device (1) while a reference value (16) characterizes the current consumption or the change in current consumption of the screen (3) or display device (1) on the basis of the image data (14) or the change in image data (14). The method compares the reference value (16) to the measured value (15) to determine any malfunction or error in the electronic display device (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Ralf Hartrampf, Ludger Rake, Andreas Giefer
  • Publication number: 20100300234
    Abstract: An actuating device for selecting gear steps in a gearshift transmission. The actuating device comprises a selector lever that can be moved between at least two drive-setting positions and a locking mechanism for restricting the movement range of the lever and locking certain positions or for locking the selector lever. The locking mechanism comprises a locking recess connected to the selector lever and a blocking cam that can be rotated by an actuator. The cam engages in the locking recess. Complex locking tasks are possible with the simplified actuating device. In addition, the range of movement of the selector lever can be freely positioned largely variably and its width can be changed. Furthermore, the selector lever of the actuating device is movable by the actuator or locked in a desired position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Ludger Rake, Sascha Rosentreter, Daniel Heitmann
  • Publication number: 20100288598
    Abstract: An emergency release device for manual actuation of the parking lock of a shift-by-wire transmission. The emergency release device comprises a mechanical transfer device located between an emergency release actuator and the transmission and engages a pivoting lever mechanism arranged on a transmission shifting shaft. A characterizing feature of the emergency release device is that the pivoting lever mechanism comprises a primary pivoting lever connected to the transfer device, a secondary pivoting lever connected to the transmission and a unidirectional coupling element located between the primary and the secondary pivoting levers. The advantage of this device relates to reduced susceptibility to corrosion, wear and noise emission and easier correct adjustment of the transfer device during assembly, while a separate prestressing mechanism for the cable of the emergency parking lock release can be omitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Ludger Rake
  • Publication number: 20100263475
    Abstract: An actuating device for selecting fixed gear ratios of a gear shifting transmission. The actuating device comprises a shift lever movable between at least three gear positions, and a lockout mechanism for limiting the range of motion of the shift lever. The lockout mechanism comprises a locking assembly including at least one locking chamber disposed in at least one locking roller, and the shift lever includes at least one locking cam. The locking cam can be inserted into the locking chamber to limit the range of motion of the shift lever. It is thus possible to implement actuating and locking tasks in the field of shift-by-wire transmissions, in a simple way and with minimal construction space requirements. The actuating device produces minimal noise and has short shifting times, and makes it shift-by-wire-controlled H shift patterns possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Ludger Rake, Sascha Rosentreter
  • Publication number: 20100257970
    Abstract: An operating device for selecting gear ratios of a transmission. The operating device comprises a selector lever that is movable between at least three gear selection positions and a locking device for limiting the range of motion of the selector lever. The locking device has a cantilever assembly with a plurality of locking contours that are connected to the selector lever. Each locking contour is assigned to a selector lever position and can be engaged with locking element to form a motion stop for the selector lever. It is thus possible to implement even complex locking tasks in a structurally simple manner such that jams, that occur during actuation, or undefined operating states in the locking device can be prevented. The range of motion of the selector lever is largely freely controlled using an actuator control, and the device is relatively silent and has short shifting times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Ludger Rake, Sascha Rosentreter