Patents by Inventor Manfred Steiner

Manfred Steiner 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: 6637839
    Abstract: In a method for carrying out an automatic braking operation in a vehicle, a stte variable for describing driver's reactions and/or events outside the vehicle is sensed by means of a sensor, compared with a reference value and, when the reference value is exceeded, a higher braking pressure than the braking pressure corresponding to the brake pedal position is generated. In order to increase reliability, the automatic generation of braking pressure is suspended for a specific holding time if the state variable which is sensed by sensor means lies outside an acceptable tolerance range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Alexander Fuchs, Wolfgang Kiesewetter, Bernd Knoff, Carsten Lauer, Lorenz Maack, Eberhard Pfeifle, Manfred Steiner
  • Patent number: 6591180
    Abstract: In a method for controlling the distance and/or the speed of a following vehicle running behind a leading vehicle, the distance between the following vehicle and leading vehicle is measured, and the speeds of the following vehicle and of the leading vehicle are measured, in the event of undershooting a minimum distance and/or in the event of overshooting a minimum speed difference a desired deceleration is determined for the following vehicle and automatic actuation of the vehicle brake on the following vehicle is initiated. The automatic actuation of the vehicle brake is triggered only for the case in which the absolute value of the desired deceleration overshoots a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventor: Manfred Steiner
  • Patent number: 6470986
    Abstract: A method for determining an initiation threshold value for an automatic braking process, in which an automatic braking process is used and a brake pressure is produced which is greater than the brake pressure which corresponds to the operation of the brake pedal by the driver. Short distances between vehicles increase the risk of accidents. If a driver operates the brakes when there is a short distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle, in the vast majority of cases, the driver of the following vehicle is often required to perform an emergency braking due to the short distance between the vehicles. To improve the safety of vehicles, an emergency braking is performed, as quickly as possible, when the distance between vehicles is short. This emergency braking, within what is physically possible, ensures rapid deceleration of the vehicle and thus helps to avoid rear-impact accidents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Alexander Fuchs, Carsten Lauer, Manfred Steiner, Lorenz Maack, Eberhard Pfeifle, Bernd Knoff, Wolfgang Kiesewetter
  • Publication number: 20020011366
    Abstract: A method for determining an initiation threshold value for an automatic braking process, in which an automatic braking process is used and a brake pressure is produced which is greater than the brake pressure which corresponds to the operation of the brake pedal by the driver. Short distances between vehicles increase the risk of accidents. If a driver operates the brakes when there is a short distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle, in the vast majority of cases, the driver of the following vehicle is often required to perform an emergency braking due to the short distance between the vehicles. To improve the safety of vehicles, an emergency braking is performed, as quickly as possible, when the distance between vehicles is short. This emergency braking, within what is physically possible, ensures rapid deceleration of the vehicle and thus helps to avoid rear-impact accidents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Applicant: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Alexander Fuchs, Carsten Lauer, Manfred Steiner, Lorenz Maack, Eberhard Pfeifle, Bernd Knoff, Wolfgang Kiesewetter
  • Patent number: 6342832
    Abstract: A process and device are disclosed for preventing a vehicle from colliding with an obstacle during parking. The object of the invention is therefore to ensure that a collision can be reliably avoided without any additional intervention of the drive. In a device with at least one sensor for generating signals which represent the distance between the vehicle and an obstacle, the signals are processed in an evaluation unit. When at least one distance-representing signal falls below a limit value, a warning signal is generated. This warning signal drives a control valve which generates a pressure difference between the working chamber and the vacuum chamber in a brake booster when the warning signal is generated. This pressure difference causes the braking pressure to rise in the wheel brake cylinder and therefore slows the vehicle down to a standstill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Alexander Fuchs, Wolfgang Kiesewetter, Bernd Knoff, Carsten Lauer, Lorenz Maack, Eberhard Pfeifle, Manfred Steiner
  • Patent number: 6308796
    Abstract: A method for determining an initiation threshold value for an automatic braking process, in which an automatic braking process is used and a brake pressure is produced which is greater than the brake pressure which corresponds to the operation of the brake pedal by the driver. Short distances between vehicles increase the risk of accidents. If a driver operates the brakes when there is a short distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle, in the vast majority of cases, the driver of the following vehicle is often required to perform an emergency braking due to the short distance between the vehicles. To improve the safety of vehicles, an emergency braking is performed, as quickly as possible, when the distance between vehicles is short. This emergency braking, within what is physically possible, ensures rapid deceleration of the vehicle and thus helps to avoid rear-impact accidents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Alexander Fuchs, Carsten Lauer, Manfred Steiner, Lorenz Maack, Eberhard Pfeifle, Bernd Knoff, Wolfgang Kiesewetter
  • Patent number: 6296326
    Abstract: An automatic braking operation is triggered before the operation of the brake pedal if, as the required criterion, the operating speed exceeds a triggering threshold value when the gas pedal is released. The triggering threshold value is adapted to the driver's actions to achieve a more reliable separation between necessary and unnecessary triggerings of the automatic braking operation. At least one magnitude is detected which represents the driver's actions and, on the basis of this magnitude, the triggering threshold value for the automatic braking operation is determined. It is thus unimportant whether the required criterion for the triggering of the automatic braking operation is sufficient or whether additional criteria are required for this purpose, such as the determination of a transfer of the driver's foot from the gas pedal to the brake pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Manfred Steiner, Bernd Knoff
  • Patent number: 5984429
    Abstract: In traffic-related stationary phases, a drive ratio of the transmission remains engaged with the engine running on a road vehicle equipped with automatic transmission. The service brake automatically remains activated for a short time after the vehicle has come to a halt as a result of a targeted braking operation. Thereby, the driver is allowed to remove his/her foot from the brake pedal, and the vehicle can be held stationary in a reliable manner on a flat or sloping road surface. This holding braking mode of the vehicle service brake system is cancelled when the driver actuates the accelerator pedal whose position is monitored by a switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Joachim Nell, Manfred Steiner
  • Patent number: 5924508
    Abstract: A process carries out an automatic braking operation in which, when the return speed of the accelerator pedal exceeds a threshold value and a transfer of the driver's foot from the accelerator pedal to the brake pedal is determined, an automatic braking operation is triggered. During that operation, a brake pressure is generated in the wheel brakes and is terminated when either a defined time has been exceeded since the triggering of the braking operation or when an operation of the brake pedal takes place by the driver. A support of the driver is ensured when operating the brake pedal in critical driving situations and a brake pressure buildup is carried out even before the operation of the brake pedal by the driver. After the automatic braking operation has been triggered, monitoring occurs to determine whether the time derivation of a quantity representing the operation of the brake pedal exceeds a threshold rise value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Johannes Clauss, Walter Klinkner, Bernd Knoff, Manfred Steiner
  • Patent number: 5887954
    Abstract: A brake-pressure control device is provided for a road vehicle with electrohydraulic multi-circuit brake system. For each wheel brake, a hydraulic servo-cylinder is driven by an electric motor. The servo-cylinders enables certain functions to be implemented, namely spot braking mode, including electronic control of the VA/HA braking force distribution (EBKV); anti-lock braking control (ABS function); traction control (TCS function); and vehicle movement control as a result of automatically controlled increase in brake slip at one or more of the wheels of the vehicle. A desired-value setting unit with a single-circuit master cylinder is provided which, in normal electronically controlled braking mode, serves as a desired-value transmitter and, in the event of failure of the vehicle's electronic system, can be activated as an emergency braking unit for building up brake pressure in the front-wheel brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Mercedes Benz AG
    Inventors: Manfred Steiner, Joachim Nell
  • Patent number: 5836660
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for determining a threshold value for triggering an automatic brake application wherein a braking pressure greater than that corresponding to the position of the brake pedal is developed when the actuating speed of the brake pedal exceeds a triggering threshold value determined from a preset threshold value and a vehicle-specific correction factor. According to the invention, a standard curve is stored representing the relationship between the vehicle deceleration and the pedal travel, said standard curve having a pedal travel value sP0 for a vehicle deceleration aFZG0=0 m/s.sup.2. During a brake application, pairs of values for pedal travel and vehicle deceleration are determined several times, with a pedal travel value sPi0 being determined for a vehicle deceleration of 0 M/s.sup.2 corresponding to each value pair, based on a curve that is the same as the standard curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Franz Brugger, Bernd Knoff, Wolfgang Kiesewetter, Albrecht Eckl, Manfred Steiner
  • Patent number: 5720532
    Abstract: A procedure is provided to end an automatic braking operation such that unwanted ending of the automatic braking operation is prevented. If a switching operation of the switching element takes place within a predetermined time interval after the triggering of the automatic braking operation, the automatic braking operation is not automatically ended. The system monitors whether another switching operation takes place within the time interval. The other switching operation is the reverse of the first switching operation. If another switching operation takes place during the time interval, a second relative motion between the push rod and the component which can be moved within a defined motional play has taken place in this time period. Since the brake pedal is continuing to be actuated, the automatic braking operation is not then ended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Manfred Steiner, Siegfried Rump, Alexander Fuchs
  • Patent number: 5697469
    Abstract: In an automatic braking procedure which can be terminated whenever the brake pedal is moved in the direction of its rest position, a braking pressure which is higher than would correspond to the pedal position of the brake pedal is generated where it is established by a triggering criterion that an emergency braking is in force. The invention ensures that an automatic braking procedure can always be aborted by the driver by the fact that, on the belt lock of the safety belt for the driver, a switching element is actuated when the locking tongue of the safety belt is engaged in the belt lock. It is thereby established whether the driver is belted-up. If the driver is not belted-up, then the execution of the automatic braking procedure is suppressed. An automatic braking procedure can only take place if the driver is belted-up. If high deceleration forces occur, then the driver is held by the safety belt and does not have to brace himself or herself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Martin Klarer, Bernd Knoff, Albrecht Eckl, Franz Brugger, Manfred Steiner
  • Patent number: 5586814
    Abstract: A braking pressure control device for a hydraulic two-circuit brake system with a pneumatic braking force amplifier and an antilock brake system (ABS) that operates on the feedback principle, in which a switching valve is provided for each brake circuit. Each switching valve is switchable from a position connecting the brake circuit with a pressure outlet of the braking device into a position that shuts off this pressure outlet from the brake circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventor: Manfred Steiner
  • Patent number: 5564797
    Abstract: A method is provided for determining the start and the end of an automatic braking process to optimize the triggering of the automatic braking process. When a set value is exceeded, an automatic braking process is triggered. The threshold value is changed as a function of the driving state, in particular, as a function of the speed of the vehicle when the brake pedal is actuated, and independently thereof, as a function of the position of the brake pedal. In addition, various criteria terminate the automatic braking process as a function of the actuation force of the brake pedal, of the speed of the vehicle and of the pedal travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Manfred Steiner, Wolfgang Kiesewetter, Werner Reichelt, Christoph Steffi, Joachim Nell, Siegfried Rump, Brian Douglas
  • Patent number: 5556176
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling vehicle brake pressure as a function of the deviation of the actual slip of wheels relative to a prescribed desired slip. The desired slip is determined from the wheel speeds in such a way that the cornering forces occurring between wheel and roadway given the specific desired slip values and the adhesion conditions occurring, ensure stable handling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Peter Bosch, Karl-Eugen Laubacher, Dieter Ammon, Manfred Steiner
  • Patent number: 5556173
    Abstract: A device and method for terminating an automatic braking process in a motor vehicle ensures that the automatic braking process is reliably switched off. The relative movement between the pressure rod of the brake system and a component which can be moved with respect thereto within a defined movement play is detected by two control switches, namely a make contact and a break contact which are actuated via a common switching cam. A switching process of the control switches takes place whenever the brake pedal is moved in the direction of its rest position. If a switching process which corresponds to this relative movement takes place during an automatic braking process, the braking process is terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Manfred Steiner, Christoph Steffi
  • Patent number: 5549369
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for carrying out an automatic braking process for motor vehicles with an anti-lock brake system. An automatic braking process is triggered when it is detected by the anti-lock brake system that at least one wheel of an axle of the vehicle reaches the locking limit. The brake pressure for the axle of this wheel starts to be controlled by the anti-lock brake system. However, a further increase in brake pressure at the wheels of the other axles of the vehicle is possible since, because of the load distribution of the vehicle and because of the distribution of braking force, the locking limit of the said wheels is not yet reached. According to the invention, a further increase in the brake pressure at the other axles takes place during the automatic braking process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Siegfried Rump, Manfred Steiner, Franz Brugger, Martin Klarer, Bernd Knoff, Albrecht Eckl
  • Patent number: 5535123
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling the triggering sensitivity of an automatic braking process for a motor vehicle based on the driving behavior of an individual driver. A predetermined fixed threshold value of the actuation speed of the brake pedal is multiplied by a driver-dependent factor which is determined after each braking process, as a function of the actuation speed and of the pedal travel of the brake pedal, to generate a driver-dependent threshold for actuation of automatic braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Siegfried Rump, Manfred Steiner, Brian Douglas
  • Patent number: 5513906
    Abstract: A method for determining the triggering sensitivity of an automatic braking process in motor vehicles. By a control element the driver can control within a specific range the threshold value which is effective for triggering. The permissible range is selected so that the effective threshold value can neither be reduced to such an extent that automatic braking is triggered at actuation speeds of the brake pedal which are normal for travel mode, nor increased to such an extend that it is impossible to trigger automatic braking process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventor: Manfred Steiner