Patents by Inventor Mark Hirche
Mark Hirche 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: 12454196Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for improving the availability of an energy storage system in a vehicle. The energy storage system comprises a plurality of battery packs, and the method comprises: acquiring battery pack performance data comprising at least one of the state-of-power, SoP, and the state-of-energy, SoE, for each one of the battery packs, wherein the acquired SoP and/or SoE for each battery pack comprises an estimated value and associated uncertainty; processing the battery pack performance data with an estimation model adapted to relate the sum of the uncertainties to a maximum expected uncertainty of an overall SoP and/or SoE of the energy storage system; and setting the maximum allowed energy storage system charging/discharging load and/or energy storage system operational windows in response to the overall SoP and/or SoE of the energy storage system and corresponding maximum expected uncertainty.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2023Date of Patent: October 28, 2025Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATIONInventors: Faisal Altaf, Bassem Farag, Mark Hirche
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Patent number: 12399021Abstract: The method comprises providing preview information comprising at least one of a predicted road condition and a predicted road event; processing the preview information with an estimation model adapted to relate a risk level associated with a power unavailability for each one of the energy consumers to the at least one predicted road condition and/or predicted road event; classifying the energy consumers having a risk level higher than a predetermined risk level threshold value as critical energy consumers, and classifying the energy consumers with a risk level lower than the predetermined risk level threshold value as non-critical energy consumers; estimating a required amount of energy and/or power for powering all the energy consumers in the predetermined group of energy consumers for the predicted road condition and/or the predicted road event; estimating the available energy and/or power of the EST system; in response to determining that the required amount of energy for powering all the energy consumersType: GrantFiled: April 5, 2023Date of Patent: August 26, 2025Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATIONInventors: Mark Hirche, Faisal Altaf, Bassem Farag
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Patent number: 12162503Abstract: A method for improving the availability of an energy storage or transformation, EST, system of a vehicle. The method comprises providing an EST system model of coupled EST components of the EST system, identifying a fault or error in an EST condition parameter of the EST system, estimating an output value of the EST condition parameter based on the EST system model, identifying a vehicle situation which, in case of an at least temporary lack of operability of the EST system, belong to a predetermined group of vehicle situations defined as hazardous, and in response to identifying the vehicle situation belonging to the predetermined group of vehicle situations defined as hazardous, operating the EST system despite the fault or error in the EST condition parameter using the estimated output value of the EST condition parameter based on the EST system model.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2022Date of Patent: December 10, 2024Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATIONInventors: Bassem Farag, Mark Hirche, Faisal Altaf
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Patent number: 11932168Abstract: A computer-implemented method performed for alerting the presence of one or more combination vehicles, each comprising a first vehicle unit and one or more second vehicle units and provided with a plurality of alerting units. Each respective first vehicle unit and respective one or more second vehicle units comprises a respective alerting unit out of the plurality of alerting units. The method comprises obtaining movement data indicative of one or both of a current movement or an expected movement of the one or more combination vehicles from at least one data communicating unit comprised in any one of the one or more combination vehicles. The method further comprises determining the current movement and/or the expected movement of the one or more combination vehicles. The method further comprises triggering a sound alert on the plurality of alerting units.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2022Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Volvo Truck CorporationInventors: Mark Hirche, Patrik Blomdahl
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Publication number: 20230324190Abstract: A method for classifying a predetermined group of energy consumers in a vehicle The method comprises providing preview information comprising at least one of a predicted road condition and a predicted road event; processing the preview information with an estimation model adapted to relate a risk level associated with a power unavailability for each one of the energy consumers to the at least one predicted road condition and/or predicted road event; classifying the energy consumers having a risk level higher than a predetermined risk level threshold value as critical energy consumers, and classifying the energy consumers with a risk level lower than the predetermined risk level threshold value as non-critical energy consumers; estimating a required amount of energy and/or power for powering all the energy consumers in the predetermined group of energy consumers for the predicted road condition and/or the predicted road event; estimating the available energy and/or power of the EST system; in response to deterType: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2023Publication date: October 12, 2023Applicant: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATIONInventors: Mark Hirche, Faisal Altaf, Bassem Farag
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Publication number: 20230322122Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for improving the availability of an energy storage system in a vehicle. The energy storage system comprises a plurality of battery packs, and the method comprises: acquiring battery pack performance data comprising at least one of the state-of-power, SoP, and the state-of-energy, SoE, for each one of the battery packs, wherein the acquired SoP and/or SoE for each battery pack comprises an estimated value and associated uncertainty; processing the battery pack performance data with an estimation model adapted to relate the sum of the uncertainties to a maximum expected uncertainty of an overall SoP and/or SoE of the energy storage system; and setting the maximum allowed energy storage system charging/discharging load and/or energy storage system operational windows in response to the overall SoP and/or SoE of the energy storage system and corresponding maximum expected uncertainty.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2023Publication date: October 12, 2023Applicant: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATIONInventors: Faisal ALTAF, Bassem Farag, Mark Hirche
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Publication number: 20230116681Abstract: A computer-implemented method performed for alerting the presence of one or more combination vehicles, each comprising a first vehicle unit and one or more second vehicle units and provided with a plurality of alerting units. Each respective first vehicle unit and respective one or more second vehicle units comprises a respective alerting unit out of the plurality of alerting units. The method comprises obtaining movement data indicative of one or both of a current movement or an expected movement of the one or more combination vehicles from at least one data communicating unit comprised in any one of the one or more combination vehicles. The method further comprises determining the current movement and/or the expected movement of the one or more combination vehicles. The method further comprises triggering a sound alert on the plurality of alerting units.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2022Publication date: April 13, 2023Inventors: Mark Hirche, Patrik Blomdahl
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Publication number: 20220340151Abstract: A method for improving the availability of an energy storage or transformation, EST, system of a vehicle. The method comprises providing an EST system model of coupled EST components of the EST system, identifying a fault or error in an EST condition parameter of the EST system, estimating an output value of the EST condition parameter based on the EST system model, identifying a vehicle situation which, in case of an at least temporary lack of operability of the EST system, belong to a predetermined group of vehicle situations defined as hazardous, and in response to identifying the vehicle situation belonging to the predetermined group of vehicle situations defined as hazardous, operating the EST system despite the fault or error in the EST condition parameter using the estimated output value of the EST condition parameter based on the EST system model.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2022Publication date: October 27, 2022Applicant: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATIONInventors: Bassem FARAG, Mark HIRCHE, Faisal ALTAF
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Publication number: 20220340150Abstract: A method for improving the availability of an energy storage or transformation, EST, system of a vehicle is described. The method comprises transferring the EST condition data from the first electronic unit by means of a second data transfer mode, receiving a fault or error regarding the EST condition data in relation to the first data transfer mode, determining whether or not an EST system criterium is achieved, the EST system criterium comprising at least that the EST condition data transferred by the first electronic unit by means of the second data transfer mode is received by the second electronic unit, in response of achieving the EST system criterium, operating the EST system despite the fault or error and using the EST condition data transferred by means of the second data transfer mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2022Publication date: October 27, 2022Applicant: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATIONInventors: Bassem FARAG, Mark HIRCHE, Faisal ALTAF
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Patent number: 8915163Abstract: A steering column arrangement for a vehicle comprises a first portion rotatably supported by a second portion. The steering column arrangement further comprises a first electrical motor that is adapted to be operably connected to a vehicle control system. The steering column is arranged to be moved laterally and/or axially by the first electric motor. The steering column arrangement further comprises locking means arranged to lock the steering column thereby preventing rotation of the steering column. The locking means comprise a first locking member attached to the steering column and a second locking member arranged to be attached to the vehicle chassis, where the first electric motor is arranged to move the steering column to a locked position in which the first locking member and the second locking member are arranged to engage, thereby preventing rotation of the steering column.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2013Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: Volvo Car CorporationInventors: Mark Hirche, Martin Eliasson, Tomas Magnusson, Jenny Johansson
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Patent number: 7714459Abstract: A locking device for a steering spindle, includes a locking bolt arrangement and a control element coupled thereto, such that the locking bolt arrangement can be displaced in the axial direction between a locking position and a release end position by rotating the control element. An electronic control unit controls a motor drive and a sensor arrangement, coupled to the control unit for detection of at least one axial position of the locking bolt arrangement. The control unit switches off the motor drive when the locking bolt arrangement is displaced in the axial direction from the locking position to the release end position. The sensor arrangement emits an output signal which displays when a switching off position of the locking bolt arrangement has been reached.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2006Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Mark Hirche, Hans-Joachim Limburg, Horst Zillmann, Andreas Van Den Boom
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Publication number: 20090133452Abstract: A locking device for a steering spindle, includes a locking bolt arrangement and a control element coupled thereto, such that the locking bolt arrangement can be displaced in the axial direction between a locking position and a release end position by rotating the control element. An electronic control unit controls a motor drive and a sensor arrangement, coupled to the control unit for detection of at least one axial position of the locking bolt arrangement. The control unit switches off the motor drive when the locking bolt arrangement is displaced in the axial direction from the locking position to the release end position. The sensor arrangement emits an output signal which displays when a switching off position of the locking bolt arrangement has been reached.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2006Publication date: May 28, 2009Inventors: Mark Hirche, Hans-Joachim Limburg, Horst Zillmann, Andreas Van Den Boom