Patents by Inventor Martin Zimmermann

Martin Zimmermann 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: 7276013
    Abstract: The invention relates to a parallel shift transmission having a drive unit and two partial transmissions, each connectable to the drive unit via a friction clutch and each having a plurality of gear ratio steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Alexander Schweizer, Frank Stengel, Martin Fuss, Matthias Ehrlich, Behzad Nazari, Jens Martin, Joachim Hirt, Martin Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20070209901
    Abstract: In a clutch which is impelled by an actuator into the closed position and which automatically moves into the open position by an opening spring, the movement of the clutch into the open position is monitored and any malfunction is displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Applicant: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Matthias Ehrlich, Frank Stengel, Martin Fuss, Alexander Schweizer, Martin Zimmermann, Jens Martin, Joachim Hirt
  • Patent number: 7248990
    Abstract: In a method for measuring the speed of an electrical machine having a stator, a rotor and a winding, in particular of an electronically commutated motor, a speed-measurement signal ? is sampled, in that a measured speed value ?(k) for the rotor is determined for each of a series of sampling instants. Moreover, a moment of inertia value for the mass moment of inertia of the rotor is determined. In addition, a current signal I is sampled, in that a current value I(k) for the electrical current in the winding is determined for each of the sampling instants. An estimated value ?s(k) for each of the measured speed values ?(k) is determined from a measured speed value ?k(k?1) assigned to an earlier sampling instant, from the current signal I and from the moment of inertia value. A tolerance band containing the estimated value ?s(k) is assigned to this estimated value ?s(k).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Luk Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Holger Stork, Martin Zimmermann, Michael Schuhen
  • Publication number: 20070139834
    Abstract: An actuator for a clutch or gear mechanism in a motor vehicle comprises an electric motor and an incremental encoder. The encoder comprises a position measurement signal output at which a position measurement signal can be output which has a number of different signal states, each of which is assigned to a relative position between a primary part and a secondary part of the electric motor. For the commutation of the electric motor, the position measurement signal output is connected to a position measurement signal input of a control device for a motor winding of the electric motor. The control device comprises a device for checking the plausibility of the position measurement signal and is designed in such a manner that on the occurrence of an implausible signal state the power supply to the electric motor is disconnected and/or the power of the electric motor is limited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Applicant: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Thomas Pfund, Wai-Wal Buchet, Sven-Jostein Kro, Martin Zimmermann, Juergen Gerhart, Martin Fuss
  • Publication number: 20070109496
    Abstract: A method of producing a progressive spectacle glass by defining an ordering value for the average use value in the far reference point of the progressive spectacle glass, calculating the progressive spectacle glass while taking into account a calculation value of the average use value in the far reference point, the calculation value having a negative desired refraction deviation between 0.03 dpt and 0.2 dpt with respect to the ordering value in the far reference point, and producing the calculated progressive spectacle glass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2004
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Applicant: RODENSTOCK GMBH
    Inventors: Helmut Altheimer, Gregor Esser, Andrea Welk, Leonhard Schmid, Martin Zimmermann, Kerstin Schmid, Norbert Awrath, Jochen Brosig, Winfried Nikolaus, Werner Muller, Ilka Schwarz
  • Patent number: 7188541
    Abstract: A transmission system including a shift mechanism for operating and controlling the transmission system. To automatically detect geometric characteristic values of the transmission system or of the shifting device a selector motor and a shift motor actuate a select or finger that is displaceably mounted in a selection-shift-passageway layout. Starting from an initial position whose coordinates within the selection-shift-passageway layout are unknown, the selector finger is displaced in the directions of shifting and in the directions of selection in order to detect paths of movement in the direction of selection or shifting. The selector finger is repeatedly displaced to establish the maximum paths of movement until the predetermined transmission geometric characteristic values are completely detected. Also disclosed are a control device for controlling a transmission system that includes a shift mechanism, and a method for controlling such a transmission system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Martin Zimmermann, Holger Stork, Georg Schneider, Klaus Henneberger, Martin Eckert, Gunter Hirt, Thomas Jäger, Martin Vornehm, Volker Kretz-Busch, Reinhard Berger
  • Publication number: 20060162476
    Abstract: A transmission system including a shift mechanism for operating and controlling the transmission system. To automatically detect geometric characteristic values of the transmission system or of the shifting device a selector motor and a shift motor actuate a select or finger that is displaceably mounted in a selection-shift-passageway layout. Starting from an initial position whose coordinates within the selection-shift-passageway layout are unknown, the selector finger is displaced in the directions of shifting and in the directions of selection in order to detect paths of movement in the direction of selection or shifting. The selector finger is repeatedly displaced to establish the maximum paths of movement until the predetermined transmission geometric characteristic values are completely detected. Also disclosed are a control device for controlling a transmission system that includes a shift mechanism, and a method for controlling such a transmission system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Applicant: Luk Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Martin Zimmermann, Holger Stork, Georg Schneider, Klaus Henneberger, Martin Eckert, Gunter Hirt, Thomas Jager, Martin Vornehm, Volker Kretz-Busch, Reinhard Berger
  • Publication number: 20060154782
    Abstract: A system for ensuring the ability to start an internal combustion engine contained within a drive train of a vehicle includes, in addition to an actuation device, a torque transmission device contained in the drive train between the internal combustion engine and driven vehicle wheels, an enabling device that is operable by a person operating the vehicle and by means of which the operability of the starter is enabled for starting the internal combustion engine when the torque transmission between the internal combustion engine and the driven wheels of the vehicle is interrupted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Publication date: July 13, 2006
    Applicant: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Behzad Nazari, Jens Martin, Matthias Ehrlich, Joachim Hirt, Frank Stengel, Martin Fuss, Alexander Schweizer, Martin Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20060144667
    Abstract: A process and device for controlling a motor vehicle with an initialization device (43) for startup and a clutch actuated by means of a clutch actuator set (45) between a drive unit and a gear with a control device (41) by means of which at least one control of the clutch actuator set (45) and an acquisition of measurement data of a sensor (47) takes place for the purpose of determining the position of the clutch, characterized in that to verify the state “clutch open” upon startup, a positioning of the clutch actuator set (45) that has been set and stored before or during shutdown is compared to a positioning that was acquired during a predetermined movement course of the clutch actuator set (45) after startup by means of a distance measurement, which takes place at least in a segment of that movement course, whereby the state “clutch open” is recognized, in particular, when the magnitude of the comparison is within a predetermined tolerance range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Applicant: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Alexander Schweizer, Frank Stengel, Martin Fuss, Matthias Ehrlich, Behzad Nazari, Jens Martin, Joachim Hirt, Martin Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 7051609
    Abstract: A transmission system including a shift mechanism for operating and controlling the transmission system. To automatically detect geometric characteristic values of the transmission system or of the shifting device a selector motor and a shift motor actuate a selector finger that is displaceably mounted in a selection-shift-passageway layout. Starting from an initial position whose coordinates within the selection-shift-passageway layout are unknown, the selector finger is displaced in the directions of shifting and in the directions of selection in order to detect paths of movement in the direction of selection or shifting. The selector finger is repeatedly displaced to establish the maximum paths of movement until the predetermined transmission geometric characteristic values are completely detected. Also disclosed are a control device for controlling a transmission system that includes a shift mechanism, and a method for controlling such a transmission system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Martin Zimmermann, Holger Stork, Georg Schneider, Klaus Henneberger, Martin Eckert, Gunter Hirt, Thomas Jäger, Martin Vornehm, Volker Kretz-Busch, Reinhard Berger
  • Publication number: 20060096398
    Abstract: To improve the safety of automated gearboxes, it is proposed that terminal positions of internal gearshift members and external actuation members be so defined separately from each other that one can recognize whether the engagement of a speed is accompanied by the attainment of a terminal position of an internal gearshift member or an external actuation member. Error analysis is possible in this way. For dual clutch gears, it is additionally proposed that one can, at least in gearshift operations that are critical in terms of safety, disengage on speed of a subgear in a separate procedure, before a new speed of this subgear can be engaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Publication date: May 11, 2006
    Applicant: LUK LAMELLEN UND KUPPLUNGSBAU BETEILIGUNGS KG
    Inventors: Frank Stengel, Alexander Schweizer, Martin Zimmermann, Behzad Nazari, Joachim Hirt, Martin Fuss, Matthias Ehrlich, Jens Martin
  • Publication number: 20060089231
    Abstract: The invention relates to a parallel shift transmission having a drive unit and two partial transmissions, each connectable to the drive unit via a friction clutch and each having a plurality of gear ratio steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Publication date: April 27, 2006
    Applicant: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Alexander Schweizer, Frank Stengel, Martin Fuss, Matthias Ehrlich, Behzad Nazari, Jens Martin, Joachim Hirt, Martin Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 7008349
    Abstract: A system for controlling a component of a gear in a vehicle, especially a clutch, through a hydraulic transmission link. The system includes a transmission control unit and an engine control unit, whereby a loss in fluid in the transmission link can be detected or a hazardous situation caused by the potential for fluid loss is avoided, whereupon the engine and/or the transmission can be suitably controlled using the transmission control and/or engine control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Luk Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Martin Zimmermann, Klaus Kuepper
  • Publication number: 20060001388
    Abstract: In a method for measuring the speed of an electrical machine having a stator, a rotor and a winding, in particular of an electronically commutated motor, a speed-measurement signal ? is sampled, in that a measured speed value ?(k) for the rotor is determined for each of a series of sampling instants. Moreover, a moment of inertia value for the mass moment of inertia of the rotor is determined. In addition, a current signal I is sampled, in that a current value I(k) for the electrical current in the winding is determined for each of the sampling instants. An estimated value ?s(k) for each of the measured speed values ?(k) is determined from a measured speed value ?k(k?1) assigned to an earlier sampling instant, from the current signal I and from the moment of inertia value. A tolerance band containing the estimated value ?s(k) is assigned to this estimated value ?s(k).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Publication date: January 5, 2006
    Applicant: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Holger Stork, Martin Zimmermann, Michael Schuhen
  • Patent number: 6950734
    Abstract: In a method of operating a motor vehicle with an electronically controlled automatic clutch device, a control device and one or more data-storing devices for values of operating quantities and parameters, the values are stored in at least duplicate form in the data-storing device. The data are stored in prescribed formats and the integrity of the data is checked according to prescribed criteria, to ensure that incorrect data are not used in the operation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Martin Zimmermann, Reinhard Berger, Alfons Wagner
  • Patent number: 6939265
    Abstract: A method of controlling a motor vehicle with an automated clutch is provided and includes the steps of: (a) detecting the vehicle speed, (b) detecting if the brake and/or the gas pedal is actuated, (c) detecting whether or not the engine is running, (d) disengaging the clutch if the engine is found to be running while the vehicle is found to be moving faster than a threshold speed, and if at the same time neither the brake nor the gas pedal is found to be actuated, and (e) subsequently re-engaging the clutch if the brake and/or gas pedal is found to be actuated. Prior to re-engaging the clutch, a transmission input rpm-rate is determined, and an engine rpm-rate is controlled in such a manner that that the respective rpm-rates of the engine and the transmission are brought towards a closer agreement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Carsten Rustige, Klaus Küpper, Martin Zimmermann, Martin Vornehm
  • Publication number: 20050122093
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the moving direction of a motor, especially an electric motor of a transmission actuating system for gear selection and/or shifting, whereby at least one signal of the motor is detected. The inventive method is characterized in that the moving direction of the motor is validated by means of the detected signal, on the basis of the feed direction. The invention also relates to a motor, especially a gear motor or a selector motor of a transmission actuating system, especially for carrying out the method, whereby at least one device is provided for validating the moving direction of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Applicant: LUK LAMELLEN UND KUPPLUNGSBAU BETEILIGUNGS KG
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Renk, Klaus Henneberger, Martin Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 6896112
    Abstract: A clutch-actuating device for a clutch in a motor vehicle power train has an actuator motor driving an actuating member and a transfer mechanism which transmits the movement of the actuating member to a clutch release element that is movable against an opposing force of a clutch spring to displace the clutch from a closed position to an open position. The transfer mechanism has a first movement range in which the movement of the actuating member in the opening direction of the clutch does not displace the clutch from its closed position, and a second movement range in which the movement of the actuating member causes a displacement of the clutch. The transfer mechanism has an interval of loose play, which is used up within the first range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Luk Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Reinhard Berger, Thomas Rammhofer, Martin Zimmermann, Holger Stork, Gunter Hirt, Andreas Pfeiffer, Thomas Jager, Martin Brandt, Andreas Deimel
  • Publication number: 20050071065
    Abstract: A method for controlling a transmission of a vehicle, especially an automated transmission and/or an automated clutch. A starting characteristic curve is used to adjust a nominal torque of the clutch, the characteristic curve is modified in order to adapt to different operating states of the vehicle, in such a way that the desire of the driver is taken into account when the vehicle is brought into motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Inventors: Martin Zimmermann, Johannes Moosheimer, Juergen Eich, Georg Schneider, Alexander Schweizer, Martin Vornehm, Jesus Carl Pereira
  • Publication number: 20050031831
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for shaping a body with elongate structures on its surface, to bodies produced using the process and to apparatuses comprising bodies of this type, in order to enable spacers to be produced with a high degree of lateral positioning accuracy, in large numbers and at low cost with a process of this type. For this purpose, a preform is provided, at the surface (13), with structures (2-11, 2A, 11A, 2B) which are elongate along one direction, the preform which has been provided with the structures is heated at least in one region (14) and the preform is drawn in the heated state until at least part of the preform has adopted a cross section which substantially corresponds to the desired cross-sectional shape or final cross-sectional shape. The preform is heated by means of radiation which has a spectral distribution which is such that at most half of the radiation power is absorbed during a single pass through the material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Inventors: Frank Bullesfeld, Paul Kissl, Sabine Lehnicke, Martin Zimmermann, Christian Kunert, Bernd Hoppe, Volker Plapper