Patents by Inventor Rainer Marstaller

Rainer Marstaller 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: 8396627
    Abstract: In a method for operating a vehicle with wheel suspensions which each have a characteristic curve, the characteristic curve generates a relation between the weight of the vehicle, applied to each wheel suspension, and the respective height of the vehicle at the wheel suspension point. At least two height sensors detect the height at the wheel suspensions, a reference height is associated with the height sensors and represents a pre-defined loading state of the vehicle. The method provides: detecting the height, determining the forces applied to the vehicle, determining the acceleration of the vehicle on the basis of the forces applied to the vehicle, determining an estimated value for the mass of the vehicle from the forces and the acceleration of the vehicle, and determining values representing the reference heights from at least the estimated value for the mass of the vehicle, the characteristic curves of the wheel suspensions, and the detected heights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Jung, Rainer Marstaller, Andreas Mayer
  • Patent number: 8392102
    Abstract: In a method for estimating the height of the center of gravity of a vehicle, a lateral acceleration is determined. Predefined first and second driving situation are detected at a first time as a function of a determined roll rate or of a determined roll angle and at a second time as a function of the roll rate or of the roll angle. In a time period delimited by the first and second times, a differential angle by which a vehicle body tilts during the time period is determined. Also determined are an angular speed: formula and an angular acceleration: formula of the vehicle tilting movement in the time period. A height of the center of gravity of the vehicle is estimated on the basis of an equation of motion as a function of the lateral acceleration, of the differential angle, of the angular speed: formula and of the angular acceleration: formula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Fiedler, Rainer Marstaller, Andreas Mayer
  • Publication number: 20100036597
    Abstract: In a method for estimating the height of the center of gravity of a vehicle, a lateral acceleration is determined. Predefined first and second driving situation are detected at a first time as a function of a determined roll rate or of a determined roll angle and at a second time as a function of the roll rate or of the roll angle. In a time period delimited by the first and second times, a differential angle by which a vehicle body tilts during the time period is determined. Also determined are an angular speed: formula and an angular acceleration: formula of the vehicle tilting movement in the time period. A height of the center of gravity of the vehicle is estimated on the basis of an equation of motion as a function of the lateral acceleration, of the differential angle, of the angular speed: formula and of the angular acceleration: formula.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventors: Jens Fiedler, Rainer Marstaller, Andreas Mayer
  • Publication number: 20100036561
    Abstract: In a method for operating a vehicle with wheel suspensions which each have a characteristic curve, the characteristic curve generates a relation between the weight of the vehicle, applied to each wheel suspension, and the respective height of the vehicle at the wheel suspension point. At least two height sensors detect the height at the wheel suspensions, a reference height is associated with the height sensors and represents a pre-defined loading state of the vehicle. The method provides: detecting the height, determining the forces applied to the vehicle, determining the acceleration of the vehicle on the basis of the forces applied to the vehicle, determining an estimated value for the mass of the vehicle from the forces and the acceleration of the vehicle, and determining values representing the reference heights from at least the estimated value for the mass of the vehicle, the characteristic curves of the wheel suspension, and the detected heights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventors: Andreas Jung, Rainer Marstaller, Andreas Mayer