Patents by Inventor Nikolaus Kerner

Nikolaus Kerner 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: 11083097
    Abstract: A pressure equalization element for equalizing the pressure of an interior space of a housing, in particular of an electric, motor or gearing housing, of a tank or the like, with respect to an outer side, is specified. The pressure equalization element includes a hole which is formed in a wall of the housing, a diaphragm which is attached on the interior space side in the region of the hole and which closes off the hole with respect to the outer side of the housing in water-tight but air-permeable fashion, and a holding structure which is formed on the housing in the region of the hole and which serves for accommodating an impact guard. The impact guard is connectable, on the outer side of the housing, to the holding structure and protects the diaphragm against mechanical action. A housing having the pressure equalization element is also specified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Nikolaus Kerner, Edward Kotowicz
  • Patent number: 10537045
    Abstract: A device has an electronics housing and a tube cooler with a tube formed in one piece from a single material. The tube has a tube coil and a first tube portion, between which the electronics housing is arranged, and a first connecting portion. The first connecting portion fluidically connects the first tube portion to a first side of the tube coil. The first tube portion is connectable to a coolant supply and arranged laterally offset with respect to the tube coil. The tube coil and the first tube portion extend on a common side of the first connecting portion. The first connecting portion is inclined with respect to the tube coil and to the first tube portion and/or is curved from the tube coil to the first tube portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Nikolaus Kerner
  • Publication number: 20180303010
    Abstract: A device has an electronics housing and a tube cooler with a tube formed in one piece from a single material. The tube has a tube coil and a first tube portion, between which the electronics housing is arranged, and a first connecting portion. The first connecting portion fluidically connects the first tube portion to a first side of the tube coil. The first tube portion is connectable to a coolant supply and arranged laterally offset with respect to the tube coil. The tube coil and the first tube portion extend on a common side of the first connecting portion. The first connecting portion is inclined with respect to the tube coil and to the first tube portion and/or is curved from the tube coil to the first tube portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventor: NIKOLAUS KERNER
  • Publication number: 20180263126
    Abstract: A pressure equalization element for equalizing the pressure of an interior space of a housing, in particular of an electric, motor or gearing housing, of a tank or the like, with respect to an outer side, is specified. The pressure equalization element includes a hole which is formed in a wall of the housing, a diaphragm which is attached on the interior space side in the region of the hole and which closes off the hole with respect to the outer side of the housing in water-tight but air-permeable fashion, and a holding structure which is formed on the housing in the region of the hole and which serves for accommodating an impact guard. The impact guard is connectable, on the outer side of the housing, to the holding structure and protects the diaphragm against mechanical action. A housing having the pressure equalization element is also specified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Nikolaus Kerner, Edward Kotowicz
  • Publication number: 20150366065
    Abstract: A device has a circuit board and an electronic circuit arranged on the circuit board. The electronic circuit includes an electrolytic capacitor. The electrolytic capacitor is brought to the operating temperature in the case of low temperatures by intrinsic heating as a result of its operation in a detuned circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: NIKOLAUS KERNER, THOMAS RIEPL, MICHAEL DECKER
  • Patent number: 8004857
    Abstract: A fixing system for printed circuit boards arranged one above the other in an electronics housing, in particular, for automotive applications. One printed circuit board is fixed to the electronics housing by a rigid fixing means. The other printed circuit boards are fixed to the electronics housing by a resilient fixing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: VDO Automotive AG
    Inventor: Nikolaus Kerner
  • Patent number: 7883373
    Abstract: A plug component for an electrical control unit has a contact section formed with one or more compartments, in which a number of contact pins extend perpendicular to a first reference plane. The plug component can be contacted mechanically and electrically with a plug via the contact section. An attachment section extends along the first reference plane and comprises a number of sealing sections, which are provided for resting against corresponding sealing sections of at least one housing component of the control unit. A first of the sealing sections runs in parallel to the first reference plane. Second sealing sections curve away from opposing free ends of the first sealing section and extend in a second reference plane which is arranged perpendicular to the first reference plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Gregory Drew, Nikolaus Kerner
  • Patent number: 7697300
    Abstract: An electronic unit, in particular a control device for a motor vehicle, has a printed circuit board, populated with electronic components, and a housing enclosing the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board has at least one first section, arranged at a distance from the housing and equipped with electronic components on both sides thereof, and at least one second section which is connected to the housing by way of a heat-conducting adhesive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jens Brandt, Nikolaus Kerner
  • Patent number: 7684195
    Abstract: A cooling system through which liquid flows for carrying away waste heat for electronics housings is particularly suited for the automotive industry. The cooling system is adapted to the dimensions of the housing. The novel device is the first to create an effective cooling system for electronics housings with and for a number of circuit board levels, yet with a space-saving compact design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Nikolaus Kerner, Christian Weinzierl
  • Publication number: 20090191743
    Abstract: A plug component for an electrical control unit has a contact section formed with one or more compartments, in which a number of contact pins extend perpendicular to a first reference plane. The plug component can be contacted mechanically and electrically with a plug via the contact section. An attachment section extends along the first reference plane and comprises a number of sealing sections, which are provided for resting against corresponding sealing sections of at least one housing component of the control unit. A first of the sealing sections runs in parallel to the first reference plane. Second sealing sections curve away from opposing free ends of the first sealing section and extend in a second reference plane which is arranged perpendicular to the first reference plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Gregory Drew, Nikolaus Kerner
  • Publication number: 20080247146
    Abstract: A fixing system for printed circuit boards arranged one above the other in an electronics housing, in particular for automotive applications. One printed circuit board is fixed to the electronics housing by a rigid fixing means and all of the other printed circuit boards are fixed by way of sprung fixing means. The is provided an advantageous fixing system for printed circuit boards arranged one above the other in an electronics housing which makes it possible for the printed circuit boards to be mounted in a stress-free manner, but in the process forms defined thermal transition regions, and which requires little installation space on the printed circuit board. It is particularly suitable for automotive applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: VDO AUTOMOTIVE AG
    Inventor: Nikolaus Kerner
  • Publication number: 20080212281
    Abstract: A cooling system through which liquid flows for carrying away waste heat for electronics housings is particularly suited for the automotive industry. The cooling system is adapted to the dimensions of the housing. The novel device is the first to create an effective cooling system for electronics housings with and for a number of circuit board levels, yet with a space-saving compact design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: SIEMENS VDO AUTOMOTIVE AG
    Inventors: Nikolaus Kerner, Christian Weinzierl
  • Publication number: 20080144290
    Abstract: An electronic unit, in particular a control device for a motor vehicle, has a printed circuit board, populated with electronic components, and a housing enclosing the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board has at least one first section, arranged at a distance from the housing and equipped with electronic components on both sides thereof, and at least one second section which is connected to the housing by way of a heat-conducting adhesive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Jens Brandt, Nikolaus Kerner
  • Publication number: 20040257782
    Abstract: Electronic unit, especially control unit for a motor vehicle, with a plurality of circuit boards arranged above one another and equipped with electronic components, electrical connection means for electrical interconnection of the circuit boards and a housing arrangement to accommodate the circuit boards, characterized in that, the electrical means of connection consist of a spacer arranged between two adjacent circuit boards and providing an electrical connection of these two circuit boards and that a force is exerted by means of a housing arrangement which presses the circuit boards together and clamps the spacer between the two circuit boards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventor: Nikolaus Kerner
  • Patent number: 6631699
    Abstract: A method for controlling valve actuation comprises the steps of communicating at least one dithering signal to preload the valve. An event signal is then communicated. The dithering signal is altered based on the cycle time for the valve. The preferred application is for camless engine valve control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automative Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Lutz, Manzurul Haque, Piero Caporuscio, Phillip G. Iott, Larry Hiltunen, Herbert Lacher, Nikolaus Kerner
  • Publication number: 20030010299
    Abstract: A method for controlling valve actuation comprises the steps of communicating at least one dithering signal to preload the valve. An event signal is then communicated. The dithering signal is altered based on the cycle time for the valve. The preferred application is for camless engine valve control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventors: Michael Lutz, Manzurul Haque, Piero Caporuscio, Phillip G. Iott, Larry Hiltunen, Herbert Lacher, Nikolaus Kerner
  • Patent number: 6028770
    Abstract: In a control device for a motor vehicle having a cooling plate between an upper component of the housing and a lower component of the housing wherein a first printed circuit board which is fitted with an electrical circuit is mounted on the cooling plate. Arranged underneath the cooling plate is a plug component on the lower component of the housing. Plug pins of the plug component are fitted into a second printed circuit board which is also arranged underneath the cooling plate. The plug pins are electrically connected to the first printed circuit board via conductor tracks of the second printed circuit board and connecting elements between the second printed circuit board and the first printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Nikolaus Kerner, Reinhold Ott, Gunter Vogl