Patents by Inventor Michael MANZ

Michael MANZ 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).

  • Publication number: 20220144084
    Abstract: An entry rail, which can be arranged in an entry region of a vehicle door of a vehicle, includes a display unit for displaying text, images and/or videos is integrated into the entry rail. A display surface of the display unit is visible for a user when the vehicle door is open.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Christian BALLUFF, Markus NEUBERGER, Richard Josef KOWATSCH, Frank ERHARDT, Michael MANZ, Lars TÜRKIS-RENOUF
  • Patent number: 11060473
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for starting an internal combustion engine, the exhaust gas system of which is equipped with an electrically heatable lambda sensor and a catalytic converter with an oxygen reservoir. The combination of method steps according to the invention allows the internal combustion engine to be started with an optimal raw emission reduction directly after a cold start and an optimal pollutant conversion in the warm-up phase. The invention likewise relates to a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine comprising an exhaust gas system having an electrically heatable lambda sensor and a catalytic converter with an oxygen reservoir, and comprising a controller, wherein the controller is designed to carry out the method according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Stefan Paukner, Falk-Christian Baron Von Ceumern-Lindenstjerna, Michael Manz
  • Patent number: 11053827
    Abstract: The invention relates to an exhaust aftertreatment system for an internal combustion engine that, at its outlet, is connected to an exhaust gas system. In the exhaust gas system, a three-way catalytic converter close to the engine, an electrically heatable three-way catalytic converter downstream from the three-way catalytic converter close to the engine, and further downstream, a particulate filter or a four-way catalytic converter are situated in the flow direction of an exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine through an exhaust duct of the exhaust gas system. In addition, the exhaust aftertreatment system includes a secondary air system with a secondary air pump and a secondary air line, which opens into the exhaust duct at an introduction point downstream from the three-way catalytic converter close to the engine and upstream from the electrically heatable three-way catalytic converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Stefan Paukner, Falk-Christian Baron Von Ceumern-Lindenstjerna, Michael Manz
  • Patent number: 10995645
    Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment system for an internal combustion engine has an exhaust system having at least one three-way catalyst near the engine, wherein a particulate filter is arranged downstream from the three-way catalyst, preferably in an underbody installation in a motor vehicle. A heated catalyst, which has at least one heating stage that can be heated by means of an electric heating element, is provided upstream from the at least one three-way catalyst and downstream from the particulate filter. The at least one electrically heatable heating stage is supplied with electric power directly from a generator that is operatively connected to the internal combustion engine, so that heating of the heated catalyst takes place essentially independently of the charge status of the vehicle battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Paukner, Falk-Christian Baron Von Ceumern-Lindenstjerna, Michael Manz
  • Patent number: 10967867
    Abstract: A method is provided for efficiently providing occupancy information on the surroundings of a vehicle, which vehicle has sensors for ascertaining the occupancy of the surroundings. The method includes the following steps: receiving sensor measurements of the surroundings of the vehicle; determining the occupancy of the surroundings by obstacles using the sensor measurements; providing a division of the surroundings into regions; for each region of the surroundings, determining the most certainly identified occupancy in the respective region if multiple occupancies of the surroundings have been detected in the respective region; and determining the next occupancy, namely the respective region occupancy for which the shortest distance has been determined according to a distance determination specified for the respective region; and providing the most certainly identified occupancy and the next occupancy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Benoit Vanholme, Michael Manz
  • Publication number: 20210087990
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for starting an internal combustion engine, the exhaust gas system of which is equipped with an electrically heatable lambda sensor and a catalytic converter with an oxygen reservoir. The combination of method steps according to the invention allows the internal combustion engine to be started with an optimal raw emission reduction directly after a cold start and an optimal pollutant conversion in the warm-up phase. The invention likewise relates to a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine comprising an exhaust gas system having an electrically heatable lambda sensor and a catalytic converter with an oxygen reservoir, and comprising a controller, wherein the controller is designed to carry out the method according to the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Applicant: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Stefan PAUKNER, Falk-Christian BARON VON CEUMERN-LINDENST JERNA, Michael MANZ
  • Patent number: 10941689
    Abstract: A method for the exhaust gas aftertreatment of a combustion engine having an exhaust system in which at least three catalytic converters and at least three lambda probes are disposed. Downstream of a first catalytic converter, an actively heatable catalytic converter is provided, which is actively heated at a start of the combustion engine. The lambda control of the combustion engine is carried out in each case by that lambda probe disposed downstream of the respective last catalytic converter to reach the light-off temperature thereof. Also, an exhaust gas aftertreatment system for implementing such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Stefan Paukner, Falk-Christian Baron Von Ceumern-Lindenstjerna, Michael Manz, Michael Kaack
  • Patent number: 10677127
    Abstract: A method for heating an electrically heatable catalytic converter in an exhaust duct of a motor vehicle having a combustion engine. To heat the catalytic converter prior to a start of the combustion engine, the catalytic converter should already be electrically heated prior to the start of the combustion engine, and the oxygen storage capacity of the electrically heatable catalytic converter should be filled. Thus, an efficient exhaust-gas aftertreatment is made possible already at the start of the combustion engine. A further heating of the catalytic converter by a combined electrical and chemical heating takes place following an electrical preheating phase after the start of the combustion engine by the exothermic reaction of unburned fuel components on a catalytically active surface of the electrically heatable catalytic converter. Also, a motor vehicle having a combustion engine and an exhaust system in which a method according to the present invention is implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Dennis Achenbach, Falk-Christian Baron Von Ceumern-Lindenstjerna, Stefan Paukner, Michael Manz
  • Publication number: 20200049050
    Abstract: A method for the exhaust gas aftertreatment of a combustion engine having an exhaust system in which at least three catalytic converters and at least three lambda probes are disposed. Downstream of a first catalytic converter, an actively heatable catalytic converter is provided, which is actively heated at a start of the combustion engine. The lambda control of the combustion engine is carried out in each case by that lambda probe disposed downstream of the respective last catalytic converter to reach the light-off temperature thereof. Also, an exhaust gas aftertreatment system for implementing such a method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Applicant: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Stefan PAUKNER, Falk-Christian BARON VON CEUMERN-LINDENSTJERNA, Michael MANZ, Michael KAACK
  • Publication number: 20190383188
    Abstract: The invention relates to an exhaust aftertreatment system for an internal combustion engine that, at its outlet, is connected to an exhaust gas system. In the exhaust gas system, a three-way catalytic converter close to the engine, an electrically heatable three-way catalytic converter downstream from the three-way catalytic converter close to the engine, and further downstream, a particulate filter or a four-way catalytic converter are situated in the flow direction of an exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine through an exhaust duct of the exhaust gas system. In addition, the exhaust aftertreatment system includes a secondary air system with a secondary air pump and a secondary air line, which opens into the exhaust duct at an introduction point downstream from the three-way catalytic converter close to the engine and upstream from the electrically heatable three-way catalytic converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Stefan PAUKNER, Falk-Christian Baron Von Ceumern-Lindenstjerna, Michael Manz
  • Publication number: 20190376432
    Abstract: The invention relates to an exhaust aftertreatment system for an internal combustion engine (10). The exhaust aftertreatment system comprises an exhaust system (20) having at least one three-way catalyst (22, 24) near the engine, wherein a particulate filter (28) is arranged downstream from the three-way catalyst, preferably in an underbody installation in a motor vehicle. A heated catalyst (26), which has at least one heating stage (62, 66, 68) that can be heated by means of an electric heating element (72, 74, 76, 78), is provided upstream from the at least one three-way catalyst (22, 24) and downstream from the particulate filter (28). It is provided that the at least one electrically heatable heating stage (62, 66, 68) is supplied with electric power directly from a generator (46) that is operatively connected to the internal combustion engine (10), so that heating of the heated catalyst (26) takes place essentially independently of the charge status of the vehicle battery (44).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Applicant: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Stefan PAUKNER, Falk-Christian Baron Von Ceumern-Lindenstjerna, Michael Manz
  • Publication number: 20180291784
    Abstract: A method for heating an electrically heatable catalytic converter in an exhaust duct of a motor vehicle having a combustion engine. To heat the catalytic converter prior to a start of the combustion engine, the catalytic converter should already be electrically heated prior to the start of the combustion engine, and the oxygen storage capacity of the electrically heatable catalytic converter should be filled. Thus, an efficient exhaust-gas aftertreatment is made possible already at the start of the combustion engine. A further heating of the catalytic converter by a combined electrical and chemical heating takes place following an electrical preheating phase after the start of the combustion engine by the exothermic reaction of unburned fuel components on a catalytically active surface of the electrically heatable catalytic converter. Also, a motor vehicle having a combustion engine and an exhaust system in which a method according to the present invention is implemented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Applicant: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Dennis Achenback, Falk-Christian Baron Von Ceumern-Lindenstjerna, Stefan Paukner, Michael Manz
  • Publication number: 20160137207
    Abstract: A method is provided for efficiently providing occupancy information on the surroundings of a vehicle, which vehicle has sensors for ascertaining the occupancy of the surroundings. The method includes the following steps: receiving sensor measurements of the surroundings of the vehicle; determining the occupancy of the surroundings by obstacles using the sensor measurements; providing a division of the surroundings into regions; for each region of the surroundings, determining the most certainly identified occupancy in the respective region if multiple occupancies of the surroundings have been detected in the respective region; and determining the next occupancy, namely the respective region occupancy for which the shortest distance has been determined according to a distance determination specified for the respective region; and providing the most certainly identified occupancy and the next occupancy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Benoit VANHOLME, Michael MANZ