Patents by Inventor Michael Ruffer

Michael Ruffer 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: 20230256843
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method (100) for charging an intermediate circuit capacitor (210) in a high-voltage network (205). The high-voltage network can be connected to a power source (220) by means of at least one switch (230) and is coupled to a low-voltage network (295) by means of a DC voltage converter (250). The method comprises the steps: determining (110) a first voltage (U1) across the power source (220); determining (120) a second voltage (U2) across the intermediate circuit capacitor (210); determining (130) a first difference (D1) between the first voltage (U1) and the second voltage (U2); switching (140) the DC voltage converter (250) to the boost converter operating mode to charge the intermediate circuit capacitor (210) according to the determined first difference (D1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Gholamabas Esteghlal, Markus Michels, Michael Ruffer, Thomas Daub
  • Patent number: 9983603
    Abstract: In a boost converter operation, a first voltage that is independent of an input voltage of the boost converter is preset in the boost converter, having an increased voltage level compared to the input voltage, as the setpoint output voltage, as long as the input voltage is below a first voltage threshold value, which is lower than the first voltage. As soon as the input voltage exceeds the first voltage threshold value, a second voltage that is a function of the input voltage is preset, having a lower voltage level compared to the input voltage, as the setpoint output voltage. As soon as the input voltage drops below a second voltage threshold value, which is lower than the first voltage, the first voltage is again preset as the setpoint output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Knorpp, Michael Ruffer, Stephan Binhack, Wolfgang Mollenkopf
  • Patent number: 9487093
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical drive system of a hybrid vehicle, comprising: a traction battery (1), a high-voltage intermediate circuit (2), a pulse-controlled inverter (3) which is coupled to the high voltage intermediate circuit (2), an electrical machine (5) which is coupled to the pulse-controlled inverter (3); a DC-to-DC converter (6) which is coupled to the pulse-controlled inverter (3) and the high-voltage intermediate circuit (2) and is designed to convert a high voltage (UE) from the high-voltage intermediate circuit (2) into a low voltage (UA) for a vehicle electrical system; a low-voltage battery (8) which is coupled to the DC-to-DC converter (6); a plurality of selectively-connectable electrical consumers (9a, 9b) of the vehicle electrical system, which are coupled to the low-voltage battery (8) and the DC-to-DC converter (6); and a control device (7) which, in the event of a traction battery failure, is designed to operate the DC-to-DC converter (6) in a current-controlled manner using t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Raichle, Thomas Knorpp, Michael Ruffer, Markus Michels
  • Patent number: 9287704
    Abstract: A device and a method for detecting a polarity reversal on a low voltage side of a DC voltage transformer in a dual-voltage vehicle electrical system, particularly in a motor vehicle. A current flow is enabled, in this instance, in a connecting line on the low voltage side of the DC voltage transformer by a controllable switching element, a current is detected in a connecting line on the low voltage side of the DC voltage transformer, with the aid of a current sensor system, the direction of the detected current is evaluated by an evaluation unit and a polarity reversal is detected if the direction of the detected current differs from an expected current direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Beqir Pushkolli, Thomas Knorpp, Michael Ruffer, Alexander Scheidle
  • Publication number: 20140217817
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical drive system of a hybrid vehicle, comprising: a traction battery (1), a high-voltage intermediate circuit (2), a pulse-controlled inverter (3) which is coupled to the high voltage intermediate circuit (2), an electrical machine (5) which is coupled to the pulse-controlled inverter (3); a DC-to-DC converter (6) which is coupled to the pulse-controlled inverter (3) and the high-voltage intermediate circuit (2) and is designed to convert a high voltage (UE) from the high-voltage intermediate circuit (2) into a low voltage (UA) for a vehicle electrical system; a low-voltage battery (8) which is coupled to the DC-to-DC converter (6); a plurality of selectively-connectable electrical consumers (9a, 9b) of the vehicle electrical system, which are coupled to the low-voltage battery (8) and the DC-to-DC converter (6); and a control device (7) which, in the event of a traction battery failure, is designed to operate the DC-to-DC converter (6) in a current-controlled manner using t
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Raichle, Thomas Knorpp, Michael Ruffer, Markus Michels
  • Publication number: 20130234683
    Abstract: In a boost converter operation, a first voltage that is independent of an input voltage of the boost converter is preset in the boost converter, having an increased voltage level compared to the input voltage, as the setpoint output voltage, as long as the input voltage is below a first voltage threshold value, which is lower than the first voltage. As soon as the input voltage exceeds the first voltage threshold value, a second voltage that is a function of the input voltage is preset, having a lower voltage level compared to the input voltage, as the setpoint output voltage. As soon as the input voltage drops below a second voltage threshold value, which is lower than the first voltage, the first voltage is again preset as the setpoint output voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Thomas Knorpp, Michael Ruffer, Stephan Binhack, Wolfgang Mollenkopf
  • Publication number: 20130021019
    Abstract: A device and a method for detecting a polarity reversal on a low voltage side of a DC voltage transformer in a dual-voltage vehicle electrical system, particularly in a motor vehicle. A current flow is enabled, in this instance, in a connecting line on the low voltage side of the DC voltage transformer by a controllable switching element, a current is detected in a connecting line on the low voltage side of the DC voltage transformer, with the aid of a current sensor system, the direction of the detected current is evaluated by an evaluation unit and a polarity reversal is detected if the direction of the detected current differs from an expected current direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventors: Beqir Pushkolli, Thomas Knorpp, Michael Ruffer, Alexander Scheidle