Patents by Inventor Micha Heinz
Micha Heinz 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: 11581882Abstract: Method and electronic device for the pulse-modulated actuation of a load in a vehicle, a period duration (TPM) of a frequency (fPM) of the pulse modulation being able to be divided into an integer number (N) of sections (TSTEP), the duration of each of which corresponds to a multiple of a period duration (TOSC) of a clock signal, and the method having the steps of: calculating a frequency (fPM+1, fPM) or period duration (TPM+1, TPM) of a period of the pulse modulation on the basis of underlying frequency modulation, and determining the duration of a respective section (TSTEP) of a period duration (TPM) of the pulse modulation using the calculated frequency (fPM+1, fPM) or period duration (TPM+1, TPM) of a period of the pulse modulation.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2017Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHGInventors: Ling Chen, Frank Michel, Micha Heinz
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Patent number: 10486666Abstract: A method for determining a position of a hydraulic pump includes determining the position and/or change of position of the hydraulic pump based on a current and/or voltage measurement signal as well as a frequency of the measurement signal. The method also includes utilizing the determined position and/or changing of position of the hydraulic pump for actuating the electrical machine.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2017Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHGInventors: Michael Kutzner, Micha Heinz, Jan Truoel
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Publication number: 20180069539Abstract: Method and electronic device for the pulse-modulated actuation of a load in a vehicle, a period duration (TPM) of a frequency (fPM) of the pulse modulation being able to be divided into an integer number (N) of sections (TSTEP), the duration of each of which corresponds to a multiple of a period duration (TOSC) of a clock signal, and the method having the steps of: calculating a frequency (fPM+1, fPM) or period duration (TPM+1, TPM) of a period of the pulse modulation on the basis of underlying frequency modulation, and determining the duration of a respective section (TSTEP) of a period duration (TPM) of the pulse modulation using the calculated frequency (fPM+1, fPM) or period duration (TPM+1, TPM) of a period of the pulse modulation.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2017Publication date: March 8, 2018Applicant: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHGInventors: Ling Chen, Frank Michel, Micha Heinz
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Publication number: 20170217413Abstract: A method for determining a position of a hydraulic pump includes determining the position and/or change of position of the hydraulic pump based on a current and/or voltage measurement signal as well as a frequency of the measurement signal. The method also includes utilizing the determined position and/or changing of position of the hydrualic pump for actuating the electrical machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2017Publication date: August 3, 2017Applicant: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHGInventors: Michael Kutzner, Micha Heinz, Jan Truoel
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Patent number: 9362862Abstract: A method for limiting peak currents, particularly depending on a charge quantity provided by a voltage source, and the maximum pitch of the current flanks of an electric motor for an electrohydraulic motor vehicle brake system, particularly a pump motor, controlled by pulse width modulation, wherein a change to an actual duty cycle of the PWM is made by a first duty cycle of the PWM on a second duty cycle at runtime, wherein the change takes place according to a positive or negative pitch value calculated and/or changeable at runtime. The invention further describes an electronic circuit arrangement for the implementation of a method for limiting peak currents and the maximum pitch of current flanks.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2013Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHGInventors: Micha Heinz, Frank Michel
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Publication number: 20150054430Abstract: A method for limiting peak currents, particularly depending on a charge quantity provided by a voltage source, and the maximum pitch of the current flanks of an electric motor for an electrohydraulic motor vehicle brake system, particularly a pump motor, controlled by pulse width modulation, wherein a change to an actual duty cycle of the PWM is made by a first duty cycle of the PWM on a second duty cycle at runtime, wherein the change takes place according to a positive or negative pitch value calculated and/or changeable at runtime. The invention further describes an electronic circuit arrangement for the implementation of a method for limiting peak currents and the maximum pitch of current flanks.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2013Publication date: February 26, 2015Inventors: Micha Heinz, Frank Michel
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Patent number: 8704508Abstract: Method in which the current is measured inside an integrated PWM control circuit using at least one A/D converter which is likewise integrated in the circuit is described. The PWM controller is provided for the purpose of driving inductive loads and is arranged, in particular, in an electronic circuit of an electronic controller for a motor vehicle braking system. Before determining the actual current of the PWM controller, which is determined using the at least one A/D converter, the current is smoothed using a low-pass filter. A circuit arrangement for carrying out the above method and its use in electronic motor vehicle control systems is also described herein.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2007Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHGInventors: Wolfgang Fey, Micha Heinz, Wolfgang Joeckel, Peter Oehler, Axel Schmitz, Frank Michel
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Patent number: 8664936Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic motor vehicle control system having at least one valve actuating circuit which controls a load current by means of pulse width modulation. The actuating circuit has at least one electronic current measuring circuit which has at least one measurement path with at least one analog/digital converter. The analog/digital converts an analog measurement signal of the load current into a digital measurement signal of the load current and is actuated or designed in such a way as to carry out a plurality of current measurements per PWM period. The at least one measurement path of the current measurement circuit has a signal conservation circuit which provides the analog measurement signal of the load current substantially unchanged, and independent of the actual load current, for at least a defined hold time (toff->on, ton->off).Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2009Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHGInventors: Peter Oehler, Frank Michel, Micha Heinz, Axel Schmitz
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Patent number: 8578258Abstract: Disclosed is a method of improving the immunity to interference of an integrated circuit (16) having error signals transferred between a microprocessor chip or multiple processor ?C (1) and an additional component (2). For the transfer, a minimum pulse length that is independent of the clock frequency of the microprocessor or the microprocessors is defined, starting from which a signal on an error line having a defined pulse length is interpreted as an error. Also disclosed is an integrated circuit, which is designed so that the above method is implemented. The circuit has a microprocessor chip or multiple processor microcontroller (1) or microprocessor module and an additional component (2) having separately arranged power elements. The circuit also has pulse extending devices and/or signal delaying devices for the output of error pulses (6, 6?) one after the other through at least one error line (3, 4).Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2005Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHGInventors: Wolfgang Fey, Micha Heinz, Adrian Traskov, Frank Michel
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Patent number: 8493703Abstract: An integrated circuit arrangement on a common chip or chip support, for safety critical applications, in particular for use in control and regulation units for a motor vehicle braking system, including at least one microprocessor system module, which has at least one core processor, provided with at least one ROM and at least one RAM, at least one power module for controlling external users and at least one monitoring module for monitoring at least parts and/or part systems of the circuit arrangement, the circuit arrangement including at least one temperature sensor for recording a chip temperature.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2008Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHGInventors: Andreas Kirschbaum, Mario Engelmann, Frank Michel, Luc van Dijk, Wolfgang Fey, Adrian Traskov, Micha Heinz
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Patent number: 8131439Abstract: An electronic controller for motor vehicle control systems having at least one valve actuation circuit is described herein. The electronic controller uses pulse width modulation to control the load current (iL) flowing through an essentially inductive load (L), and has at least one electronic current measuring circuit which has at least one analog/digital converter which converts an analog measurement signal for the load current (iL) into a digital measurement signal for the load current (iL). The at least one analog/digital converter is a sigma-delta modulator. A method for measuring current using sigma-delta modulation and to the use of the electronic controller in a motor vehicle brake system is also described herein.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2007Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHGInventors: Peter Oehler, Axel Schmitz, Micha Heinz, Frank Michel
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Publication number: 20110057645Abstract: Method in which the current is measured inside an integrated PWM control circuit using at least one A/D converter which is likewise integrated in the circuit is described. The PWM controller is provided for the purpose of driving inductive loads and is arranged, in particular, in an electronic circuit of an electronic controller for a motor vehicle braking system. Before determining the actual current of the PWM controller, which is determined using the at least one A/D converter, the current is smoothed using a low-pass filter. A circuit arrangement for carrying out the above method and its use in electronic motor vehicle control systems is also described herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2007Publication date: March 10, 2011Inventors: Markus Jäger, Peter Oehler, Frank Michel, Micha Heinz, Wolfgang Fey, Axel Schmitz, Wolfgang Joeckel
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Publication number: 20110057644Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic motor vehicle control system having at least one valve actuating circuit which controls a load current by means of pulse width modulation. The actuating circuit has at least one electronic current measuring circuit which has at least one measurement path with at least one analog/digital converter. The analog/digital converts an analog measurement signal of the load current into a digital measurement signal of the load current and is actuated or designed in such a way as to carry out a plurality of current measurements per PWM period. The at least one measurement path of the current measurement circuit has a signal conservation circuit which provides the analog measurement signal of the load current substantially unchanged, and independent of the actual load current, for at least a defined hold time (toff->on, ton->off).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2009Publication date: March 10, 2011Applicant: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHGInventors: Peter Oehler, Frank Michel, Micha Heinz, Axel Schmitz
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Publication number: 20100254058Abstract: An integrated circuit arrangement on a common chip or chip support, for safety critical applications, in particular for use in control and regulation units for a motor vehicle braking system, including at least one microprocessor system module, which has at least one core processor, provided with at least one ROM and at least one RAM, at least one power module for controlling external users and at least one monitoring module for monitoring at least parts and/or part systems of the circuit arrangement, the circuit arrangement including at least one temperature sensor for recording a chip temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2008Publication date: October 7, 2010Applicant: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHGInventors: Andreas Kirchbaum, Mario Engelmann, Frank Michel, Luc van Dijk, Wolfgang Fey, Adrian Traskov, Micha Heinz
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Publication number: 20090299592Abstract: An electronic controller for motor vehicle control systems having at least one valve actuation circuit is described herein. The electronic controller uses pulse width modulation to control the load current (iL) flowing through an essentially inductive load (L), and has at least one electronic current measuring circuit which has at least one analog/digital converter which converts an analog measurement signal for the load current (iL) into a digital measurement signal for the load current (iL). The at least one analog/digital converter is a sigma-delta modulator. A method for measuring current using sigma-delta modulation and to the use of the electronic controller in a motor vehicle brake system is also described herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2007Publication date: December 3, 2009Applicant: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHGInventors: Peter Oehler, Axel Schmitz, Micha Heinz, Frank Michel
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Publication number: 20070205930Abstract: Disclosed is a method of improving the immunity to interference of an integrated circuit (16) having error signals transferred between a microprocessor chip or multiple processor ?C (1) and an additional component (2). For the transfer, a minimum pulse length that is independent of the clock frequency of the microprocessor or the microprocessors is defined, starting from which a signal on an error line having a defined pulse length is interpreted as an error. Also disclosed is an integrated circuit, which is designed so that the above method is implemented. The circuit has a microprocessor chip or multiple processor microcontroller (1) or microprocessor module and an additional component (2) having separately arranged power elements. The circuit also has pulse extending devices and/or signal delaying devices for the output of error pulses (6, 6?) one after the other through at least one error line (3, 4).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2005Publication date: September 6, 2007Applicant: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO., OHGInventors: Woflgang Fey, Micha Heinz, Adrian Traskov, Frank Michel
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Publication number: 20070158607Abstract: Disclosed is a method for calibrating, mechanically adjusting, or calculating a drive current of an electromagnetically operable actuator. The actuator controls the flow of a fluid responsive to the differential pressure. The indicator of the influencing of the pressure caused by the actuator can be determined in advance by the intensity of the electric actuation of the actuator even without the use of pressure sensors, with one or more actuator-related characteristic curves, characteristic fields, or parameters KGind for the actuator being taken into account so that via these parameters a nominal flow G can be adjusted in a defined fashion in dependence on the current intensity I, and the actuator-related parameters are established automatically without using pressurizations of the actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2004Publication date: July 12, 2007Inventors: Wolfgang Fey, Mario Engelmann, Micha Heinz, Wolfgang Joeckel, Axel Schmitz
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Publication number: 20070030618Abstract: In a method for producing and/or adjusting an electromagnetically controllable actuator which is appropriate to control the flow of a fluid, at least one electromagnetic property of the actuator is measured, and the measured electromagnetic property itself or a quantity derived therefrom is used as an actual value for a control of a correcting variable. This correcting variable is taken into account directly to produce or adjust the actuator. A suitable device for this calibration comprises a control circuit and a mounting location, where the actuator can be mounted into the device, and is designed to adjust at least one mechanical property of the actuator by way of the correcting variable.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2004Publication date: February 8, 2007Inventors: Micha Heinz, Wolfgang Joeckel, Claude Steinbach, Axel Schmitz, Andreas Richter, Philipp Dordelmann, Andreas Ketel, Winfried Simon, Mario Engelmann, Wolfgang Fey
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Publication number: 20070005216Abstract: A method and device for determining the pressure of a fluid or the differential pressure prevailing at an actuator use an electromagnetically drivable actuator (4) for pressure measurement. For example, an electric control circuit is used to control the position of a valve actuating device or the force which acts on a valve actuating element.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2004Publication date: January 4, 2007Inventors: Micha Heinz, Wolfgang Joeckel, Peter Oehler, Axel Schmitz, Wolfgang Fey, Mario Engelmann
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Publication number: 20060209486Abstract: Disclosed are a method and circuit arrangement for determining the magnetic flux in at least one inductive component (1) which is electrically drivable by way of an electronic actuation or driver stage (3) by means of a drive signal (6), by evaluation and adjustment of a measuring signal induced by the magnetic flux of the inductive component using an electronic measuring device (4), and the magnetic-flux-responsive measuring signal (5) measured at the inductive component is actively maintained at a substantially constant value by means of the measuring device or the electronic actuation or the driver stage (3), and the time (t1, tc) is determined during which the drive signal is triggered, which acts on the inductive component with production of the measuring signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2004Publication date: September 21, 2006Inventors: Wolfgang Fey, Mario Engelmann, Micha Heinz, Wolfgang Joeckel, Axel Schmitz