Patents by Inventor Michael Belling
Michael Belling 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: 11872997Abstract: A device for decoupling and/or protecting against compensation currents when at least one electric actuator is used jointly by a plurality of independently voltage-supplied control unit devices in redundant systems for autonomous driving. The electric actuator has, in each case, a common connection, via which the electric actuator can be coupled and switched to a common connection of other electrical actuators, and has at least one dedicated connection via which the at least one electric actuator can be individually supplied with current. A number of switching devices corresponding to the common connection and the number of dedicated connections of all the electric actuators is arranged to apply or not apply a switched current in the at least one electric actuator. Provided is at least one current flow blocking device configured to prevent an unwanted current flow to a non-active electronic control unit of the first and second control unit devices.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2019Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHRZEUGE GMBHInventors: Felix Hoos, Thorsten Beyse, Dieter Winz, Frank Scholl, Kai-Sven Becker, Guenter Herrmann, Christian Kaufmann, Alexander Rammert, Michael Belling
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Patent number: 11791618Abstract: A device for controlling a current of an actuator, including: at least one control unit having a first terminal; a first switch; a second terminal; and a second switch for controlling a flow of current through the actuator via the first terminal and the second terminal independently of one another; a first current measuring apparatus for measuring a first current through the first terminal; and a second current measuring apparatus for measuring a second current through the second terminal; in which the first current measuring apparatus and the second current measuring apparatus are integrated into the at least one control unit so that fault currents can be acquired. Also described are a related electronic control unit, a commercial vehicle, and a method.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2020Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHRZEUGE GMBHInventors: Michael Belling, Christian Kaufmann
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Patent number: 11787427Abstract: A method for controlling at least one actuator of an actuator system, including: outputting a first control signal from a first control device via a line to an actuator, wherein the actuator system has at least the first control device and a second control device, wherein the first control device is configured to control at least the actuator via the line and wherein the second control device is configured to control the actuator via the line; detecting the first control signal on the line by the second control device and suppressing the output of a second control signal to the actuator by the second control device during a time in which the first control device is outputting the first control signal to the line; determining a time by the second control device at which no first control signal is present on the line; and applying to the actuator a second control signal via the line by the second control device if no first control signal is present on the line.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2020Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHRZEUGE GMBHInventors: Michael Belling, Christian Kaufmann
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Patent number: 11754639Abstract: A measuring system for detecting a physical parameter, includes a measuring sensor for detecting the physical parameter, which sensor has a first, second and at least one third terminal. The measuring system also includes a first power supply unit for outputting electrical energy to the measuring sensor with a first voltage with respect to a first ground potential via the first and the second terminal, and a second power supply unit for outputting electrical energy to the measuring sensor with a second voltage with respect to a second ground potential via the third and the second terminal or a fourth terminal. The first ground potential can differ from the second ground potential at least temporarily. The first power supply unit includes an additional voltage source via which the second terminal is electrically connected to the first ground potential.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2022Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHRZEUGE GMBHInventors: Michael Belling-Hoffmann, Christian Kaufmann, Dominikus Drayss, Alexander Rammert
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Publication number: 20230132284Abstract: A valve-device (VD) for a vehicle-braking-system (VBS), and a VBS. A VD for a VBS, having first/second control-units (CU), which are electrically connectable to the VD, which includes a valve-unit (VU) with an actuator for actuating the VU, a valve housing (VH) for the VU, and an error protection module (EPM) outside the VH. The EPM includes first/second supply-ports (SP) for electrical attachment to the first/second CUs, first/second main-ports (MP) for electrical attachment to the first/second CUs, a first connection port (CP) electrically connected to the first/second SPs, for electrical connection to the actuator, a second CP electrically connected to the first/second MPs, for electrical connection to the actuator, first and second electric protective circuits (EPC). The first EPC is electrically connected between the first/second SPs, and the first CP. The second EPC is electrically connected between the second CP and the first/second MPs.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2022Publication date: April 27, 2023Inventors: Michael Belling-Hoffmann, Alexander Matt, Christian Kaufmann, Dominikus Drayss
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Publication number: 20230128573Abstract: A valve device or a vehicle system, the system including first and second control units which are electrically connectable or connected to the valve device, which includes a valve unit with at least one actuator for actuating the valve unit, first/second supply ports for the electrical connection of the actuator to the first/second control units, first/second main ports for the electrical connection of the actuator to the first/second control units, first/second electric protective circuits, and a valve housing for accommodating the valve unit and the protective circuits. The first protective circuit is electrically connected between the first/second supply ports, and the actuator. The second protective circuit is electrically connected between the actuator and the first/second main ports. Each protective circuit includes an electrical fuse device and a diode element that are integrated in series in at least the first/second supply ports or at least the first/second main ports.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2022Publication date: April 27, 2023Inventors: Michael Belling-Hoffmann, Alexander Matt, Christian Kaufmann, Dominikus Drayss
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Publication number: 20230033322Abstract: A method for monitoring an electric steering device of a vehicle while the vehicle is driving, the method including generating a nominal movement direction signal that characterizes a current nominal movement direction of the vehicle and processing the nominal direction movement signal in at least one electronic control device; feeding surroundings data into the at least one electronic control device wherein the surroundings data is generated by a sensor device of the vehicle that scans surroundings of the vehicle touch free, wherein the surroundings data characterizes surroundings of the vehicle and is configured to be processed by a first driver assistance system, wherein the surroundings data facilitates detecting a current actual movement direction of the vehicle; generating an actual movement direction signal by the at least one electronic control device based on the surroundings data wherein the actual movement direction signal characterizes a current actual movement direction of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2022Publication date: February 2, 2023Inventors: Michael BELLING-HOFFMANN, Maximilian POHLMANN
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Publication number: 20220381851Abstract: A measuring system for detecting a physical parameter, includes a measuring sensor for detecting the physical parameter, which sensor has a first, second and at least one third terminal. The measuring system also includes a first power supply unit for outputting electrical energy to the measuring sensor with a first voltage with respect to a first ground potential via the first and the second terminal, and a second power supply unit for outputting electrical energy to the measuring sensor with a second voltage with respect to a second ground potential via the third and the second terminal or a fourth terminal. The first ground potential can differ from the second ground potential at least temporarily. The first power supply unit includes an additional voltage source via which the second terminal is electrically connected to the first ground potential.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2022Publication date: December 1, 2022Inventors: Michael Belling-Hoffmann, Christian Kaufmann, Dominikus Drayss, Alexander Rammert
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Publication number: 20220371565Abstract: A switching device for a vehicle brake system, including: a central-control-unit (CCU) for controlling the brake system, at least one subsystem-control-unit (SCU) which is connected/connectable to the CCU via a data bus to control a subsystem device of the brake system and/or a redundant-control-unit (RDC) which is connected/connectable to the CCU via a further data bus to control a redundant brake system for the brake system; and a monitoring device to read in a first test signal from the CCU to test a function of the CCU and which is configured to read in a second test signal from the SCU to test a function of the SCU and/or to read in a redundant test signal from the RDC to test a function of the RDC. Also described are a related brake system, a method, and a computer readable medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2020Publication date: November 24, 2022Inventors: Michael Belling, Christian Kaufmann
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Publication number: 20220209524Abstract: A device for controlling a current of an actuator, including: at least one control unit having a first terminal; a first switch; a second terminal; and a second switch for controlling a flow of current through the actuator via the first terminal and the second terminal independently of one another; a first current measuring apparatus for measuring a first current through the first terminal; and a second current measuring apparatus for measuring a second current through the second terminal; in which the first current measuring apparatus and the second current measuring apparatus are integrated into the at least one control unit so that fault currents can be acquired. Also described are a related electronic control unit, a commercial vehicle, and a method.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2020Publication date: June 30, 2022Inventors: Michael Belling, Christian Kaufmann
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Publication number: 20220161809Abstract: A method for controlling at least one actuator of an actuator system, including: outputting a first control signal from a first control device via a line to an actuator, wherein the actuator system has at least the first control device and a second control device, wherein the first control device is configured to control at least the actuator via the line and wherein the second control device is configured to control the actuator via the line; detecting the first control signal on the line by the second control device and suppressing the output of a second control signal to the actuator by the second control device during a time in which the first control device is outputting the first control signal to the line; determining a time by the second control device at which no first control signal is present on the line; and applying to the actuator a second control signal via the line by the second control device if no first control signal is present on the line.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2020Publication date: May 26, 2022Inventors: Michael Belling, Christian Kaufmann
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Publication number: 20220089168Abstract: A device for decoupling and/or protecting against compensation currents when at least one electric actuator is used jointly by a plurality of independently voltage-supplied control unit devices in redundant systems for autonomous driving. The electric actuator has, in each case, a common connection, via which the electric actuator can be coupled and switched to a common connection of other electrical actuators, and has at least one dedicated connection via which the at least one electric actuator can be individually supplied with current. A number of switching devices corresponding to the common connection and the number of dedicated connections of all the electric actuators is arranged to apply or not apply a switched current in the at least one electric actuator. Provided is at least one current flow blocking device configured to prevent an unwanted current flow to a non-active electronic control unit of the first and second control unit devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2019Publication date: March 24, 2022Inventors: Felix Hoos, Thorsten Beyse, Dieter Winz, Frank Scholl, Kai-Sven Becker, Guenter Herrmann, Christian Kaufmann, Alexander Rammert, Michael Belling
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Patent number: 10882501Abstract: A switching apparatus for switching a first actuator and a second actuator between a power supply and a ground, including: a first switch for switching a first current path between the first actuator and the ground; a second switch for switching a second current path between the second actuator and the ground; and a third switch for switching a current path between the power supply and the first actuator and a current path between the power supply and the second actuator; in which, as a result of the switching, the third switch simultaneously closes or opens the current path to the first actuator and to the second actuator. Also described are a related brake system and method.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2016Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHRZEUGE GMBHInventors: Frank Scholl, Johannes Appl, Michael Belling
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Publication number: 20180251109Abstract: A switching apparatus for switching a first actuator and a second actuator between a power supply and a ground, including: a first switch for switching a first current path between the first actuator and the ground; a second switch for switching a second current path between the second actuator and the ground; and a third switch for switching a current path between the power supply and the first actuator and a current path between the power supply and the second actuator; in which, as a result of the switching, the third switch simultaneously closes or opens the current path to the first actuator and to the second actuator. Also described are a related brake system and method.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2016Publication date: September 6, 2018Inventors: Frank Scholl, Johannes Appl, Michael Belling