Patents by Inventor Peter SPOERL
Peter SPOERL 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: 10752248Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle including a prime mover (1), a transmission (2), and a driven end (3), wherein the transmission (2) is an automatic or automated transmission and is connected between the prime mover (1) and the driven end (3). The method includes activating a sailing mode of the motor vehicle depending on at least one operating condition of the motor vehicle; performing a gear select interlock in the transmission (2), while maintaining the sailing mode, when the sailing mode is active; and deactivating the sailing mode is subsequently depending on at least one operating condition of the motor vehicle. The gear select interlock is implemented in the transmission (2) depending on a rotational speed of the prime mover (1) and depending on synchronous speeds of the gears of the transmission (2).Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2016Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Peter Spoerl, Johannes Kemler, Franz-Josef Schuler
-
Patent number: 10502313Abstract: A selector lever for a transmission of a vehicle may include a monostable control element. Actuation of the monostable control element, without moving the selector lever, may triggers engagement of a parked position of the transmission when the transmission is not in the parked position and the drive motor is running. Further, actuation of the monostable control element may trigger a start process of the drive motor when the drive motor is off. Further, actuation of the monostable control element may trigger a shutdown process of the drive motor when the transmission is in the parked position and the drive motor is in on.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2014Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Peter Spoerl, Walter Hecht, Franz-Josef Schuler
-
Publication number: 20180354516Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle including a prime mover (1), a transmission (2), and a driven end (3), wherein the transmission (2) is an automatic or automated transmission and is connected between the prime mover (1) and the driven end (3). The method includes activating a sailing mode of the motor vehicle depending on at least one operating condition of the motor vehicle; performing a gear select interlock in the transmission (2), while maintaining the sailing mode, when the sailing mode is active; and deactivating the sailing mode is subsequently depending on at least one operating condition of the motor vehicle. The gear select interlock is implemented in the transmission (2) depending on a rotational speed of the prime mover (1) and depending on synchronous speeds of the gears of the transmission (2).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2016Publication date: December 13, 2018Inventors: Peter Spoerl, Johannes Kemler, Franz-Josef Schuler
-
Publication number: 20160280226Abstract: The current embodiments provide a selector lever for an automatic or automated manual transmission that is connected to a drive motor of a motor vehicle. The selector lever may be moveable between different positions for engaging positions of the transmission. The selector lever may have at least one monostable control element configured such that actuation of the monostable control element without moving the selector lever triggers engagement of a parked position of the transmission and/or triggers a start process or a shutdown process of the drive motor depending on the engaged position of the transmission and the state of the drive motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2014Publication date: September 29, 2016Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Peter Spoerl, Walter Hecht, Franz-Josef Schuler
-
Patent number: 9388899Abstract: A method for operating an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, whereas the automatic transmission features several interlockable shifting elements, involves determining, from the data made available from the driving operation of the motor vehicle, a change to consumption of the motor vehicle expected to be caused by an activated interlocking of the shifting elements and a change to the shifting dynamics of the motor vehicle expected to be caused by an activated interlocking of the shifting elements. The changes are evaluated such that, depending on the change to consumption and depending on the change to shifting dynamics, an interlocking of the shifting elements is permitted or not permitted.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2015Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Peter Schiele, Bernd Allgaier, Peter Spoerl, Franz-Josef Schuler
-
Publication number: 20150219211Abstract: A method for operating an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, whereas the automatic transmission features several interlockable shifting elements, involves determining, from the data made available from the driving operation of the motor vehicle, a change to consumption of the motor vehicle expected to be caused by an activated interlocking of the shifting elements and a change to the shifting dynamics of the motor vehicle expected to be caused by an activated interlocking of the shifting elements. The changes are evaluated such that, depending on the change to consumption and depending on the change to shifting dynamics, an interlocking of the shifting elements is permitted or not permitted.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2015Publication date: August 6, 2015Inventors: Peter Schiele, Bernd Allgaier, Peter Spoerl, Franz-Josef Schuler
-
Patent number: 8777809Abstract: A method for operating a transmission of a vehicle drivetrain. A transmission ratio can be automatically changed during an operating state depending on a comparison of current operating state parameters with operating parameters stored in a control unit, and can be manually changed depending on a driver's request. Accordingly when the driver requests a change of the transmission ratio, the transmission ratio changes, and a timer starts. If the driver continues the ratio change from an actual transmission ratio value toward a larger or smaller transmission ratio value, the current operating parameters are compared with the stored operating parameters. Upon this comparison, the transmission shifts to higher ratios in comparison to the operating parameters stored in a control device at higher vehicle speeds, and/or a delay between sequential, cyclical transmission ratio changes varies depending on a vehicle deceleration and/or braking pressure in the region of a vehicle brake.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2013Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Detlef Plath, Peter Spoerl, Franz-Josef Schuler
-
Patent number: 8682543Abstract: A method of operating a transmission having a plurality of gears which can operate in an automatic shifting mode, during which a gear is selected automatically depending on the current driving situation, and also in a manual shifting mode during which a gear is selected depending on a driver's command. When the driver commands a shift, a change takes place from the automatic shifting mode to the manual shifting mode. A specific threshold value of the transmission output speed or an equivalent rotational speed value is associated with each gear and, when the driver commands a downshift, a target gear is determined as a function of the current transmission output speed or the equivalent rotational speed value. The gear selected as the target gear is the gear whose specific threshold value is higher than or equal to the current transmission output speed or the equivalent rotational speed value.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2011Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Detlef Plath, Friedemann Jauch, Franz-Josef Schuler, Peter Spoerl
-
Publication number: 20110320094Abstract: A method of operating a transmission device with a plurality of gears which can operate in an automatic shifting mode, during which a gear is selected automatically depending on the current driving situation, and also in a manual shifting mode during which a gear is selected depending on a driver's command. When the driver commands a shift, a change takes place from the automatic shifting mode to the manual shifting mode. A specific threshold value of the transmission output speed or an equivalent rotational speed value is associated with each gear and, when the driver commands a downshift, a target gear is determined as a function of the current transmission output speed or the equivalent rotational speed value. The gear selected as the target gear is the gear whose specific threshold value is higher than or equal to the current transmission output speed or the equivalent rotational speed value.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2011Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Detlef PLATH, Friedemann JAUCH, Franz-Josef SCHULER, Peter SPOERL
-
Patent number: 7831365Abstract: A method for adjusting a ratio of a continuously variable automatic transmission where a nominal ratio is determined according to an accelerator pedal signal value. The nominal ratio is determined according to a modified accelerator pedal signal. When the periodic curve of the accelerator pedal signal has a relative extreme value to the modified accelerator pedal signal, a starting value is assigned which is equal to this extreme value. Until the value of the modified accelerator pedal signal is again equal to the value of the unmodified accelerator pedal signal, the value of the modified accelerator pedal signal is determined by a transfer function.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2007Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Kai-Uwe Herbster, Peter Spörl, Oliver Iden
-
Patent number: 7324884Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle with a manual transmission, a multi-ratio automatic transmission or a continuously variable transmission, on a road with a low friction coefficient, the engine torque is reduced or, as the case may be, decreased, which leads to a reduction of the wheel drive torque without changing the starting gear ratio.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2005Date of Patent: January 29, 2008Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Peter Spörl, Oliver Iden
-
Patent number: 7270622Abstract: An acceleration mode recommended for a vehicle with a continuously variable transmission, within the scope of which, after the shift takes place, the engine speed progress will continue as a function of the speed with a calibrated rotational speed gradient (H), the rotational speed gradient is greater in the acceleration mode than the rotational speed gradient within the scope of a standard driving strategy.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2005Date of Patent: September 18, 2007Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Peter Spörl, Oliver Iden
-
Patent number: 7130732Abstract: Within the framework of the method for the prevention of a decreasing rotary speed of a motor by the closing of a converter clutch during a constant gas pedal positioning in a continuously automatic transmission with a variator and a hydrodynamic converter, a decreasing motor speed of rotation is avoided by an increase of the speed of rotation of the primary disk of the variator (turbine).Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2004Date of Patent: October 31, 2006Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Peter Spörl, Tim Sargent, Oliver Iden