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).

  • Patent number: 11581882
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Ling Chen, Frank Michel, Micha Heinz
  • Patent number: 10486666
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Michael Kutzner, Micha Heinz, Jan Truoel
  • Publication number: 20180069539
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Ling Chen, Frank Michel, Micha Heinz
  • Publication number: 20170217413
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Michael Kutzner, Micha Heinz, Jan Truoel
  • Patent number: 9362862
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Micha Heinz, Frank Michel
  • Publication number: 20150054430
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Micha Heinz, Frank Michel
  • Patent number: 8704508
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Fey, Micha Heinz, Wolfgang Joeckel, Peter Oehler, Axel Schmitz, Frank Michel
  • Patent number: 8664936
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Peter Oehler, Frank Michel, Micha Heinz, Axel Schmitz
  • Patent number: 8578258
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Fey, Micha Heinz, Adrian Traskov, Frank Michel
  • Patent number: 8493703
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Andreas Kirschbaum, Mario Engelmann, Frank Michel, Luc van Dijk, Wolfgang Fey, Adrian Traskov, Micha Heinz
  • Patent number: 8131439
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Peter Oehler, Axel Schmitz, Micha Heinz, Frank Michel
  • Publication number: 20110057645
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Inventors: Markus Jäger, Peter Oehler, Frank Michel, Micha Heinz, Wolfgang Fey, Axel Schmitz, Wolfgang Joeckel
  • Publication number: 20110057644
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Peter Oehler, Frank Michel, Micha Heinz, Axel Schmitz
  • Publication number: 20100254058
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG
    Inventors: Andreas Kirchbaum, Mario Engelmann, Frank Michel, Luc van Dijk, Wolfgang Fey, Adrian Traskov, Micha Heinz
  • Publication number: 20090299592
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Peter Oehler, Axel Schmitz, Micha Heinz, Frank Michel
  • Publication number: 20070205930
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO., OHG
    Inventors: Woflgang Fey, Micha Heinz, Adrian Traskov, Frank Michel
  • Publication number: 20070158607
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Publication date: July 12, 2007
    Inventors: Wolfgang Fey, Mario Engelmann, Micha Heinz, Wolfgang Joeckel, Axel Schmitz
  • Publication number: 20070030618
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Inventors: Micha Heinz, Wolfgang Joeckel, Claude Steinbach, Axel Schmitz, Andreas Richter, Philipp Dordelmann, Andreas Ketel, Winfried Simon, Mario Engelmann, Wolfgang Fey
  • Publication number: 20070005216
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Inventors: Micha Heinz, Wolfgang Joeckel, Peter Oehler, Axel Schmitz, Wolfgang Fey, Mario Engelmann
  • Publication number: 20060209486
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Publication date: September 21, 2006
    Inventors: Wolfgang Fey, Mario Engelmann, Micha Heinz, Wolfgang Joeckel, Axel Schmitz