Patents by Inventor Martin Gotzenberger

Martin Gotzenberger 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: 12296702
    Abstract: A galvanically coupling DC-to-DC converter has a first side and a second side. The first side has a first potential and a second potential. The DC-to-DC converter has a first, a second and a third transistor. The transistors are connected in a series circuit via a first and a second connecting point and are connected between the potentials of the first side. A respective load inductor is connected to the two connecting points. The load inductors are each connected between one of the connecting points and one of two potentials of the second side of the DC-to-DC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Götzenberger, Franz Pfeilschifter
  • Publication number: 20250033508
    Abstract: A monitored DC charging method for charging a vehicle rechargeable traction battery by way of a charging voltage source external to the vehicle is provided. The rechargeable traction battery has a nominal voltage of at least 500 V. In a checking step, the method includes detecting whether the charging voltage source has a surge protector which includes a voltage limiting element that is provided between a charging voltage potential and a ground potential of the charging voltage source and is set up to transition to a conductive state from a voltage below the nominal voltage. DC voltage is transmitted from the charging voltage to the rechargeable traction battery when the charging voltage source does not have the surge protector. At least one DC charging mode for transmitting DC voltage from the charging voltage source to the rechargeable traction battery is suppressed when the charging voltage source has the surge protector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2024
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Applicant: Vitesco Technologies Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Pfeilschifter, Martin Götzenberger
  • Publication number: 20250007271
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a circuit breaker unit having a circuit breaker for connection of at least two electrical networks. The circuit breaker unit has a control unit for monitoring voltages of the networks and/or at least one current through the circuit breaker. In the event of one of the fault scenarios, overvoltage or undervoltage in one of the networks or overcurrent across the circuit breaker, the controller separates the two networks from one another. The circuit breaker includes at least one controllable first resistor, a controllable second resistor, and a controllable third resistor. The control unit is configured, in the event of a fault scenario in one of the networks, to adjust the values of the resistors so that the networks are separated from one another and so that the voltage in the fault-free network remains within predefined limits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2024
    Publication date: January 2, 2025
    Applicant: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Gietl, Martin Götzenberger
  • Patent number: 12122254
    Abstract: A charging and heating circuit is equipped with an AC voltage connection, a DC voltage connection and a rectifier. The rectifier is connected between the AC voltage connection and the DC voltage connection. The charging and heating circuit further includes a heating resistor which is connected to the rectifier and the rectifier is thereby set up to supply the heating resistor with current. Also described is a vehicle electrical system which includes the charging and heating circuit in addition to an accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Franz Pfeilschifter, Martin Götzenberger
  • Publication number: 20240332956
    Abstract: A method for checking the functionality of a high-voltage protective device for an on-board vehicle electrical system is provided. The protective device has a varistor or a different voltage limiting element. The method provides that the capacitive component of the alternating current impedance of the varistor or the voltage limiting element is detected. The capacitive component is further compared to a rated capacitance value, where the rated capacitance value is characteristic of the capacitance of a functioning varistor or voltage limiting element. A defective state of the varistor or the voltage limiting element is determined when the comparison determines that the capacitive component deviates from the rated capacitance value by more than a predetermined magnitude. Furthermore, a high-voltage protection circuit for a vehicle and a high-voltage on-board vehicle electrical system is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Applicant: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Pfeilschifter, Martin Götzenberger
  • Publication number: 20240278663
    Abstract: A DC vehicle charging circuit is equipped with an input, a converter circuit designed as a boost converter, and an output. A first input potential of the input is connected to a first output potential of the output via the converter circuit. The converter circuit is connected to a second output potential of the output via a connection point. A second input potential of the input is connected to the connection point without semiconductor switches, except for one transistor. The transistor has an inverse diode, the forward direction of which corresponds to the direction of a charging current that flows when energy is transferred from the input to the output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Publication date: August 22, 2024
    Inventors: Martin Götzenberger, Manuel Brunner, Franz Pfeilschifter
  • Patent number: 12017551
    Abstract: A vehicle on-board electrical system is equipped with a DC voltage charging connection, a non-configurable accumulator, a galvanically isolating DC-DC voltage converter, and an electrical drive. The accumulator is connected to a first side of the DC-DC voltage converter via a switchable connection circuit to which a DC voltage charging connection is connected. The accumulator is connected to the electrical drive and a second side of the DC-DC voltage converter via a drive switch. The connection circuit has a direct connection switch that connects the accumulator to the first side of the DC-DC voltage converter in a switchable manner. The DC voltage charging connection is connected to the direct connection switch via a charging connection switch of the connection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Götzenberger, Reinhard Weinzierl, Franz Pfeilschifter
  • Patent number: 11993164
    Abstract: A vehicle on-board electrical system having an AC voltage charging connection, a rechargeable traction battery, which is designed as a high-voltage rechargeable battery, and a power factor correction filter. The power factor correction filter connects the AC voltage charging connection directly to the rechargeable traction battery. The operating voltage range of the rechargeable traction battery is within the output voltage range of the power factor correction filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Gabriel Marzahn, Martin Götzenberger, Manuel Brunner, Franz Pfeilschifter
  • Publication number: 20240128855
    Abstract: A charging voltage converter on a vehicle is equipped with an upstream circuit, which includes at least one working inductor. Furthermore, the converter has a switching unit, which is connected downstream of the upstream circuit. The working inductor connects a first input potential of an input of the voltage converter to the switching unit. A second input potential of the input is connected via a reverse current blocking device of the upstream circuit to the switching unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Franz Pfeilschifter, Martin Götzenberger, Manuel Brunner
  • Patent number: 11936289
    Abstract: A vehicle electrical system is equipped with a DC charging connection, a rechargeable battery, a first DC-DC converter and an electrical drive. The first DC-DC converter has a first side. This is connected to a connecting point via a first switch. The first DC-DC converter has a second side to which the electrical drive is connected. The second side is connected to the rechargeable battery via a second switch and via a connecting point or is connected to the rechargeable battery directly. The vehicle electrical system has a second DC-DC converter. This is connected to one side of the first switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Pfeilschifter, Martin Götzenberger, Felix Müller
  • Publication number: 20230382249
    Abstract: A charging circuit is equipped with a storage battery terminal, a direct-current terminal and an alternating-current terminal, which is connected to an alternating-current side of a rectifier of the charging circuit. The direct-current side of the rectifier is connected via a changeover switch to a first side of a DC-to-DC converter, wherein the changeover switch connects the first side of the DC-to-DC converter either to the direct-current terminal or to a first potential of the direct-current side of the rectifier. A second potential of the direct-current side of the rectifier is connected to the direct-current terminal via a diode. The reverse direction of the diode points toward the direct-current terminal. A second side of the DC-to-DC converter is connected to the storage battery terminal, to which the direct-current terminal is connected via an isolating switch. A vehicle electrical system having the charging circuit is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Franz Pfeilschifter, Martin Götzenberger
  • Patent number: 11794597
    Abstract: An on-board vehicle electrical system is provided with a rechargeable battery, an AC voltage connection and a DC voltage connection. The DC voltage connection is connected directly to the rechargeable battery via a connection point. The AC voltage connection is connected to the rechargeable battery via a rectifier and a first switch via the connection point. The rectifier is connected to the rechargeable battery via a DC-isolating DC/DC converter and a second switch. The second switch is connected to the rechargeable battery via the connection point. There is at least one consumer on-board electrical system branch, which includes a Cy capacitance and which is connected to the rechargeable battery via the second switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Pfeilschifter, Martin Götzenberger
  • Patent number: 11760218
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a charging circuit for a vehicle-side electrical energy store comprising: an alternating current terminal; at least two smoothing capacitors; a configuration device; and a rectifier connecting the alternating current terminal to the configuration device. The configuration device connects the rectifier to the smoothing capacitors, and the configuration device is programmed to connect the smoothing capacitors to one another in a first parallel connection and a second series connection. The alternating current terminal comprises a neutral conductor terminal connected to the configuration device via a diode circuit. The configuration device comprises a first switch connecting the smoothing capacitors to one another in parallel when closed. The configuration device comprises a diode connecting the smoothing capacitors to one another in series when closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Franz Pfeilschifter, Martin Götzenberger, Manuel Brunner
  • Patent number: 11731523
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a vehicle-side charging apparatus comprising: an AC voltage connection; a rectifier connected to the AC voltage connection; a first DC/DC converter and a second DC/DC converter; and a DC voltage connection. Each DC/DC converter includes a intermediate circuit capacitor and a switch unit. The rectifier is connected to the DC voltage connection via the DC/DC converters. There is a switch connecting the DC/DC converters in a switchable manner. In a first switching state the respective intermediate circuit capacitors and the respective switch units of the DC/DC converters are connected in parallel with one another and in a second switching state in series with one another. There is a third DC/DC converter connecting the rectifier to the DC voltage connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Franz Pfeilschifter, Martin Götzenberger, Harald Schmauss
  • Patent number: 11667204
    Abstract: A vehicle charging circuit includes an AC voltage connection that has a plurality of potentials, a switch device, a plurality of rectifiers that are each in the form of a bridge rectifier, a plurality of step-up converters, and a plurality of galvanically isolating DC-DC converters. Inputs of the rectifiers are connected to one other. The interconnected inputs of the rectifiers are connected to the AC voltage connection via the switch device. The rectifiers each have an output, downstream of each of which is connected one of the step-up converters. The step-up converters are connected to a rechargeable battery connection of the vehicle charging circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Pfeilschifter, Martin Götzenberger
  • Publication number: 20230096572
    Abstract: A charging and heating circuit is equipped with an AC voltage connection, a DC voltage connection and a rectifier. The rectifier is connected between the AC voltage connection and the DC voltage connection. The charging and heating circuit further includes a heating resistor which is connected to the rectifier and the rectifier is thereby set up to supply the heating resistor with current. Also described is a vehicle electrical system which includes the charging and heating circuit in addition to an accumulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Franz Pfeilschifter, Martin Götzenberger
  • Publication number: 20230017971
    Abstract: A vehicle-based high-voltage charging circuit is provided with an AC voltage terminal, at least two galvanically isolating DC-DC converters designed as step-up converters and a rectifier via which the DC-DC converters are connected to the AC voltage terminal, and a changeover switch. The charging circuit has a first and a second DC voltage terminal selectably connected to the first DC-DC converter via the changeover switch. The charging circuit has a third DC voltage terminal connected to the second DC-DC converter, wherein the charging circuit also has a controller which is set up, in a first mode, to drive the DC-DC converters according to a first target output voltage which is at least 750 V and at most 1000 V, and, in a second mode, to drive the DC-DC converters according to a second target output voltage which is at most 480 V or at most 450 V.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: Vitesco Technologies GMBH
    Inventors: Franz Pfeilschifter, Martin Götzenberger
  • Publication number: 20230001811
    Abstract: A galvanically coupling DC-to-DC converter has a first side and a second side. The first side has a first potential and a second potential. The DC-to-DC converter has a first, a second and a third transistor. The transistors are connected in a series circuit via a first and a second connecting point and are connected between the potentials of the first side. A respective load inductor is connected to the two connecting points. The load inductors are each connected between one of the connecting points and one of two potentials of the second side of the DC-to-DC converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: Vitesco Technologies GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Götzenberger, Franz Pfeilschifter
  • Publication number: 20220393573
    Abstract: A vehicle electrical system is equipped with a DC charging connection, a rechargeable battery, a first DC-DC converter and an electrical drive. The first DC-DC converter has a first side. This is connected to a connecting point via a first switch. The first DC-DC converter has a second side to which the electrical drive is connected. The second side is connected to the rechargeable battery via a second switch and via a connecting point or is connected to the rechargeable battery directly. The vehicle electrical system has a second DC-DC converter. This is connected to one side of the first switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Franz Pfeilschifter, Martin Götzenberger, Felix Müller
  • Publication number: 20220340027
    Abstract: A vehicle charging circuit includes an AC voltage connection that has a plurality of potentials, a switch device, a plurality of rectifiers that are each in the form of a bridge rectifier, a plurality of step-up converters, and a plurality of galvanically isolating DC-DC converters. Inputs of the rectifiers are connected to one other. The interconnected inputs of the rectifiers are connected to the AC voltage connection via the switch device. The rectifiers each have an output, downstream of each of which is connected one of the step-up converters. The step-up converters are connected to a rechargeable battery connection of the vehicle charging circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Franz Pfeilschifter, Martin Götzenberger