Patents by Inventor Markus FROMMANN

Markus FROMMANN 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: 10533352
    Abstract: A push to release fuel filler door assembly for a motor vehicle includes a door on the exterior of the vehicle having a latch that cooperates with a spring biased plunger which rotates and translates axially. The plunger includes radially extending pins which are received in complementary helical tracks on the inner surface of an inner housing. The tracks define a closed path having a first segment, in which the pins travel while the fuel door is being closed, a second segment in which they travel while the fuel door is opening and a latching recess between the first and second segments in which the pins reside when the door is closed. The inner housing typically includes three segments or sections and is, in turn, received and retained within an outer housing which mounts on a fuel door inlet assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Heiko Betzen, Dirk Rainer Lungershausen, Markus Frommann
  • Patent number: 10434906
    Abstract: A method and a system are provided to control an actuator for exerting forces upon a loading area, particularly a vehicle seat, in an adjusting direction, especially a longitudinal vehicle direction extending from a front end of the vehicle to a tail end of the vehicle. The loading area is mounted on a body of a motor vehicle, particularly a passenger car, such that it can be adjusted in the adjusting direction. An imminent collision of the motor vehicle is detected, and an actuator is driven in order to accelerate the loading area in the adjusting direction prior to the imminent collision in the event an imminent collision is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Markus Frommann, Oleg Mazur
  • Patent number: 10336183
    Abstract: A fuel door arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a filler neck compartment, a fuel door and a pivot arm carrying the fuel door. The pivot arm is coupled to the filler neck compartment and can be pivoted between a closed position and an open position about a pivoting axis. The fuel door can be radially displaced on the pivot arm relative to the pivoting axis. The fuel door at least sectionally closes the filler neck compartment in a closed position. The filler neck compartment is sufficiently revealed for refueling the motor vehicle when the fuel door is in an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Heiko Betzen, Markus Frommann, Klaus Gerst, Philipp Huse
  • Publication number: 20190119960
    Abstract: A push to release fuel filler door assembly for a motor vehicle includes a door on the exterior of the vehicle having a latch that cooperates with a spring biased plunger which rotates and translates axially. The plunger includes radially extending pins which are received in complementary helical tracks on the inner surface of an inner housing. The tracks define a closed path having a first segment, in which the pins travel while the fuel door is being closed, a second segment in which they travel while the fuel door is opening and a latching recess between the first and second segments in which the pins reside when the door is closed. The inner housing typically includes three segments or sections and is, in turn, received and retained within an outer housing which mounts on a fuel door inlet assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Heiko Betzen, Dirk Rainer Lungershausen, Markus Frommann
  • Patent number: 10112511
    Abstract: A method and a system are configured to control an actuator for imposing forces in an adjusting direction, in particular a vehicle longitudinal direction from a vehicle front towards a vehicle rear, onto a loading surface, such as a vehicle seat, which is adjustably mounted on a body of a motor vehicle. A collision-based event is anticipate or detected. An actuator is activated in response to detection of the collision-based event in order to activate an actuator-driven movement of the loading surface relative to the body in adjusting direction for influencing, and in particular decelerate a collision-based movement of the loading surface relative to the body against the adjusting direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Markus Frommann, Oleg Mazur
  • Publication number: 20180272877
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a thermal management system, an electric drive, a traction battery electrically coupled to the electric drive and a thermal energy source thermally coupled to the traction battery. Thermally coupling the thermal energy source and traction battery makes it possible to keep the area surrounding the traction battery and the traction battery itself at a temperature level where the traction battery can be efficiently operated. The waste heat of the thermal energy source may be used directly for heating up the vehicle interior and/or for controlling the temperature of the traction battery. Making direct use of provided waste heat that might arise in the motor vehicle anyway proves to be particularly energy efficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ilia Alexander Sakowski, Markus Frommann
  • Publication number: 20180154768
    Abstract: A fuel door arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a filler neck compartment, a fuel door and a pivot arm carrying the fuel door. The pivot arm is coupled to the filler neck compartment and can be pivoted between a closed position and an open position about a pivoting axis. The fuel door can be radially displaced on the pivot arm relative to the pivoting axis. The fuel door at least sectionally closes the filler neck compartment in a closed position. The filler neck compartment is sufficiently revealed for refueling the motor vehicle when the fuel door is in an open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Heiko Betzen, Markus Frommann, Klaus Gerst, Philipp Huse
  • Publication number: 20180070178
    Abstract: A loudspeaker arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a sound generator arranged on a housing, and a mounting arrangement for fixing the loudspeaker arrangement in the motor vehicle. The mounting arrangement is configured to be fixed on an IsoFix mounting of the motor vehicle. The present disclosure furthermore pertains to a corresponding motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Christian TABBERT, Markus FROMMANN
  • Patent number: 9802540
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for representing vehicle surroundings information of a motor vehicle, wherein the process comprises the following steps: recording a front surrounding environment of a vehicle by at least two cameras provided on a vehicle front end of the motor vehicle; detecting objects within the recorded front surrounding environment; if at least one object is detected within the front surrounding environment, determining a field of view of a driver of the motor vehicle and making a comparison to determine whether the object detrimentally affects the field of view of the driver of the motor vehicle; if the field of view of the driver is detrimentally affected by the detected object, acquiring information from the recorded front surrounding environment that is not within the field of view of the driver of the motor vehicle; and providing a perspective representation of the acquired information in the determined field of view of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Markus Frommann, Oleg Mazur
  • Publication number: 20170297427
    Abstract: A flap for a motor vehicle is disclosed which has a side with an actuating region for manually unlocking the flap. An indicator is provided for optically indicating the actuating region on the flap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Markus FROMMANN, Heiko BETZEN
  • Patent number: 9776504
    Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a sealing unit such a fuel tank cap for a tank unit of a motor vehicle. The sealing unit includes a cover element that can be arranged on or at least partially in an opening of a tank component of the motor vehicle such that it seals the opening of the tank component in an at least fluid-tight fashion. An actuator is arranged on an outer side of the cover element that faces away from the opening. In a non-actuated, normal position rests, flat against the outer side of the cover element. The actuator can be transferred into a gripping position, in which it at least partially extends oblique or transverse to the outer side of the cover element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Heiko Betzen, Markus Frommann
  • Patent number: 9682619
    Abstract: A flap arrangement for a motor vehicle is disclosed which includes a flap, and more specifically a tank flap, a plunger on which the flap is rotatably mounted, and a base, and more particularly a tank trough on which the plunger is shiftably mounted in a projection direction (A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Heiko Betzen, Markus Frommann, Klaus Gerst, Marco Haupt
  • Patent number: 9662973
    Abstract: A motor vehicle filler inlet compartment lid arrangement is disclosed. A filler inlet compartment lid is mounted so that it can swivel around a lid axis relative to a vehicle body. A filler module with at least one filler passage for filling up the motor vehicle is joined with the filler inlet compartment lid so that it can swivel relative to the vehicle body between a use and non-use position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Heiko Betzen, Markus Frommann
  • Patent number: 9656544
    Abstract: A flap arrangement is provided for a motor vehicle with a moveably mounted flap that is in particular a preloaded tank flap, a holder for fixing the flap, an actuator for actuating the holder, and a switch for selectively operating the actuator. The actuator is equipped in order to actuate the holder for fixing and for releasing the flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Markus Frommann, Heiko Betzen
  • Patent number: 9643521
    Abstract: A motor vehicle, encompassing a body, a drive motor, in particular an internal combustion engine and/or an electric motor, a crash detection device, a computing unit, at least one front seat with a seat part and a back part, at least one rear seat with a seat part and a back part, at least one rearward displacement device for the at least partial rearward displacement of the at least one front seat during a pre-crash phase acquired by the crash detection device, wherein the seat part of the at least one rear seat has built into it a first means for lifting up the legs of an individual on the at least one rear seat during the pre-crash phase, and the back part of the at least one front seat has built into it a second means for the rearward movement of the legs of the individual on the at least one rear seat during the pre-crash phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Markus Frommann, Oleg Mazur
  • Patent number: 9623819
    Abstract: A method for controlling a lighting brightness of a lit motor vehicle instrument is described in which a viewing direction of a driver is ascertained. From the viewing direction of the driver, a direct field of vision and a peripheral field of vision are ascertained. The lighting brightness of the motor vehicle instrument is increased, if it lies in the direct field of vision of the driver. The method may be implemented in a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Markus Frommann, Michael Schreiber
  • Publication number: 20160243964
    Abstract: A method and a system are provided to control an actuator for exerting forces upon a loading area, particularly a vehicle seat, in an adjusting direction, especially a longitudinal vehicle direction extending from a front end of the vehicle to a tail end of the vehicle. The loading area is mounted on a body of a motor vehicle, particularly a passenger car, such that it can be adjusted in the adjusting direction. An imminent collision of the motor vehicle is detected, and an actuator is driven in order to accelerate the loading area in the adjusting direction prior to the imminent collision in the event an imminent collision is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Markus FROMMANN, Oleg MAZUR
  • Publication number: 20160243963
    Abstract: A method and a system are configured to control an actuator for imposing forces in an adjusting direction, in particular a vehicle longitudinal direction from a vehicle front towards a vehicle rear, onto a loading surface, such as a vehicle seat, which is adjustably mounted on a body of a motor vehicle. A collision-based event is anticipate or detected, An actuator is activated in response to detection of the collision-based event in order to activate an actuator-driven movement of the loading surface relative to the body in adjusting direction for influencing, and in particular decelerate a collision-based movement of the loading surface relative to the body against the adjusting direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Markus FROMMANN, Oleg MAZUR
  • Publication number: 20160176322
    Abstract: A motor vehicle, encompassing a body, a drive motor, in particular an internal combustion engine and/or an electric motor, a crash detection device, a computing unit, at least one front seat with a seat part and a back part, at least one rear seat with a seat part and a back part, at least one rearward displacement device for the at least partial rearward displacement of the at least one front seat during a pre-crash phase acquired by the crash detection device, wherein the seat part of the at least one rear seat has built into it a first means for lifting up the legs of an individual on the at least one rear seat during the pre-crash phase, and the back part of the at least one front seat has built into it a second means for the rearward movement of the legs of the individual on the at least one rear seat during the pre-crash phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Markus FROMMANN, Oleg MAZUR
  • Patent number: 9359796
    Abstract: A locking arrangement for a pivotable lid of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The locking arrangement includes an axially displaceable guided bolt which releasably engages with the lid. A rotatably mounted rocker is coupled to the bolt. A slotted link guide is arranged on a circumferential side of the rocker about its axis of rotation. The slotted link guide has a channel and a sliding element which is guided therein. The channel has an engagement position and counteracts movement of the sliding element out of the engagement position against a predetermined passage direction. The locking arrangement can be alternately brought into and out of engagement with the lid through successive axial displacements in order to lock or unlock the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Heiko Betzen, Markus Frommann