Patents by Inventor Marco Thömmes

Marco Thömmes 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: 10391956
    Abstract: In a method for securing a high voltage on-board electric grid of a motor vehicle for repair and/or maintenance of the motor vehicle, the energy inflow of an energy supply unit into the onboard electric grid is blocked during or after a voltage disconnection of the high-voltage on-board electric grid, in which an energy inflow of the energy supply unit to the high-voltage on-board electric grid is interrupted. Additionally or alternatively, the energy inflow of at least one other energy supply device is blocked, wherein the at least one other energy inflow is designed in order to supply energy from a further energy source to the high-voltage on-board electric grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Marco Thömmes, Margot Höhne, Felix Engelhard, Thomas Bittner, Heinz Neugebauer
  • Patent number: 10059207
    Abstract: In a method for detecting whether a motor vehicle in a parked state, in particular in the switched-off state, has been hit or moved, at least one sensor signal is transmitted as a function of a position of the motor vehicle relative to at least one vehicle-external reference object from a sensor device to a control device. The control device compares the at least one sensor signal with at least one predetermined signal pattern or with at least one predetermined value interval or with at least one predetermined signal template, and transmits at least one control command for initiating a safety measure to at least one unit of the motor vehicle, when the comparison reveals a difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventor: Marco Thoemmes
  • Patent number: 9440551
    Abstract: In a method for controlling a connection of a high-voltage source of a motor vehicle to a high-voltage network of the motor vehicle, first at least one test value for an electrical operating variable of the high-voltage network is determined by means of a control device of the motor vehicle after a connection command is received. The electrical operating variable depends on a capacitance actually effective at a connection of the high-voltage source to the high-voltage network. Only when the at least one test value meets a predefined safety condition, is a precharge current of the high-voltage source conducted via a first precharge resistor, which limits the precharge current, to the connection and into the high-voltage network to charge up a capacitor of the high-voltage network. Otherwise the precharge current is blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Marco Thömmes
  • Publication number: 20160257203
    Abstract: In a method for detecting whether a motor vehicle in a parked state, in particular in the switched-off state, has been hit or moved, at least one sensor signal is transmitted as a function of a position of the motor vehicle relative to at least one vehicle-external reference object from a sensor device to a control device. The control device compares the at least one sensor signal with at least one predetermined signal pattern or with at least one predetermined value interval or with at least one predetermined signal template, and transmits at least one control command for initiating a safety measure to at least one unit of the motor vehicle, when the comparison reveals a difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventor: MARCO THOEMMES
  • Publication number: 20160089998
    Abstract: In a method for controlling a connection of a high-voltage source of a motor vehicle to a high-voltage network of the motor vehicle, first at least one test value for an electrical operating variable of the high-voltage network is determined by means of a control device of the motor vehicle after a connection command is received. The electrical operating variable depends on a capacitance actually effective at a connection of the high-voltage source to the high-voltage network. Only when the at least one test value meets a predefined safety condition, is a precharge current of the high-voltage source conducted via a first precharge resistor, which limits the precharge current, to the connection and into the high-voltage network to charge up a capacitor of the high-voltage network. Otherwise the precharge current is blocked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventor: MARCO THÖMMES
  • Patent number: 9278619
    Abstract: A vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle, has a first device, which has at least one element, which can have an electric voltage which is hazardous to a human being in the event of such a human being coming into touching contact therewith. The first device is electrically connected to a conductor, which has a low voltage. An accident sensor system outputs a sensor signal in the event of an accident. On output of the sensor signal, the element of the first device can automatically be switched to zero potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Michael Stadler, Juergen Hladik, Marco Thoemmes
  • Publication number: 20160059806
    Abstract: In a method for securing a high voltage on-board electric grid of a motor vehicle for repair and/or maintenance of the motor vehicle, the energy inflow of an energy supply unit into the onboard electric grid is blocked during or after a voltage disconnection of the high-voltage on-board electric grid, in which an energy inflow of the energy supply unit to the high-voltage on-board electric grid is interrupted. Additionally or alternatively, the energy inflow of at least one other energy supply device is blocked, wherein the at least one other energy inflow is designed in order to supply energy from a further energy source to the high-voltage on-board electric grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Marco THÖMMES, MARGOT HÖHNE, FELIX ENGELHARD, THOMAS BITTNER, HEINZ NEUGEBAUER
  • Patent number: 9057750
    Abstract: A method for testing a testing device for determining a voltage state of an on-board high-voltage electrical system of a motor vehicle includes establishing a predetermined voltage state in the on-board high-voltage electrical system by supplying a test voltage to the on-board high-voltage electrical system and determining the voltage state with the testing device and comparing the determined voltage state with the predetermined voltage state This ensures that, before maintenance work on the on-board high-voltage electrical system is performed, a voltage-free state of the on-board high-voltage electrical system determined by the testing device is actually present, thereby eliminating risk to maintenance personnel due to an accidentally applied voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Marco Thömmes
  • Patent number: 8970169
    Abstract: A charging device for a high-voltage battery of a motor vehicle, in particular a charging device installed in a motor vehicle, can be connected to an alternating current network via a connection device, which includes a residual current circuit breaker that does not detect a residual current of at least one residual current type, in particular a DC residual current. The charging device further includes a controllable component and a residual current detector for detecting a residual current of the residual current type, wherein the residual current detector controls the component to change the characteristic of the residual current in such a way that the residual current can be detected with the residual current circuit breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Marco Thömmes, Thomas Felkel
  • Publication number: 20150057865
    Abstract: A vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle, has a first device, which has at least one element, which can have an electric voltage which is hazardous to a human being in the event of such a human being coming into touching contact therewith. The first device is electrically connected to a conductor, which has a low voltage. An accident sensor system outputs a sensor signal in the event of an accident. On output of the sensor signal, the element of the first device can automatically be switched to zero potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Michael Stadler, Juergen Hladik, Marco Thoemmes
  • Patent number: 8890477
    Abstract: A charging device installed in a motor vehicle is connected via a connection device to an AC mains. The connection device includes a residual current circuit breaker incapable of detecting at least one residual current type, in particular a DC residual current. A communication signal is transmitted between a control unit on the side of the charging device and a control unit on the side of the connection device. A residual current detector in the charging device detects a residual current of the undetected residual current type and transmits a residual current signal indicating the residual current to the charging-device-side control unit, which then modifies and/or interrupts the communication signal based the residual current signal so as to cause the charging device to be disconnected from the AC mains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Marco Thömmes, Thomas Felkel, Reiner Abl
  • Publication number: 20140091763
    Abstract: A charging device installed in a motor vehicle is connected via a connection device to an AC mains. The connection device includes a residual current circuit breaker incapable of detecting at least one residual current type, in particular a DC residual current. A communication signal is transmitted between a control unit on the side of the charging device and a control unit on the side of the connection device. A residual current detector in the charging device detects a residual current of the undetected residual current type and transmits a residual current signal indicating the residual current to the charging-device-side control unit, which then modifies and/or interrupts the communication signal based the residual current signal so as to cause the charging device to be disconnected from the AC mains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicants: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Marco Thömmes, Thomas Felkel, Reiner Abl
  • Publication number: 20140021921
    Abstract: A charging device for a high-voltage battery of a motor vehicle, in particular a charging device installed in a motor vehicle, can be connected to an alternating current network via a connection device, which includes a residual current circuit breaker that does not detect a residual current of at least one residual current type, in particular a DC residual current. The charging device further includes a controllable component and a residual current detector for detecting a residual current of the residual current type, wherein the residual current detector controls the component to change the characteristic of the residual current in such a way that the residual current can be detected with the residual current circuit breaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Marco Thömmes, Thomas Felkel
  • Publication number: 20130293237
    Abstract: A method for testing a testing device for determining a voltage state of an on-board high-voltage electrical system of a motor vehicle includes establishing a predetermined voltage state in the on-board high-voltage electrical system by supplying a test voltage to the on-board high-voltage electrical system and determining the voltage state with the testing device and comparing the determined voltage state with the predetermined voltage state This ensures that, before maintenance work on the on-board high-voltage electrical system is performed, a voltage-free state of the on-board high-voltage electrical system determined by the testing device is actually present, thereby eliminating risk to maintenance personnel due to an accidentally applied voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: Audi AG
    Inventor: Marco Thömmes