Patents by Inventor Ralf Borngräber

Ralf Borngräber 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: 11518265
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for aging-optimized charging of an energy store of a motor vehicle, comprising: detecting a predetermined number of consecutive full charging processes of the energy store; creating a use profile of the energy store on the basis of discharging processes of the energy store between the consecutive full charging processes; determining whether the created use profile requires a full charging process as the next charging process, and, if the created use profile does not require a full charging process as the next charging process, proposing the charging strategy for the aging-optimized charging, wherein the charging strategy specifies a partial charging process of the energy store for at least the next charging process, in which the energy store is charged up to a predetermined partial charging limit of the operating capacity of the energy store that is smaller than the full charging limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Torsten Stichowski, Ralf Borngräber
  • Publication number: 20210362616
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for aging-optimized charging of an energy store of a motor vehicle, comprising: detecting a predetermined number of consecutive full charging processes of the energy store; creating a use profile of the energy store on the basis of discharging processes of the energy store between the consecutive full charging processes; determining whether the created use profile requires a full charging process as the next charging process, and, if the created use profile does not require a full charging process as the next charging process, proposing the charging strategy for the aging-optimized charging, wherein the charging strategy specifies a partial charging process of the energy store for at least the next charging process, in which the energy store is charged up to a predetermined partial charging limit of the operating capacity of the energy store that is smaller than the full charging limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Applicant: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Torsten Stichowski, Ralf Borngräber
  • Patent number: 10386853
    Abstract: A method for accessing an electronic device of a vehicle driver outside the vehicle including providing a vehicle which assists the vehicle driver by at least one driver assistance system while driving the vehicle and providing an electronic device of the vehicle driver outside the vehicle which communicates with the vehicle. The method includes the reproduction inside the vehicle of data contents which are stored on the electronic device of the vehicle driver outside the vehicle while the at least one driver assistance system is active. The disclosure enables a vehicle driver to perform personal tasks via one of his/her personal electronic devices during the assisted driving of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Ralf Borngräber, Ulrich Kleine, Christoph Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20180095477
    Abstract: A method for accessing an electronic device of a vehicle driver outside the vehicle including providing a vehicle which assists the vehicle driver by at least one driver assistance system while driving the vehicle and providing an electronic device of the vehicle driver outside the vehicle which communicates with the vehicle. The method includes the reproduction inside the vehicle of data contents which are stored on the electronic device of the vehicle driver outside the vehicle while the at least one driver assistance system is active. The disclosure enables a vehicle driver to perform personal tasks via one of his/her personal electronic devices during the assisted driving of a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Ralf BORNGRÄBER, Ulrich KLEINE, Christoph HOFFMANN
  • Patent number: 9140047
    Abstract: A method for lowering a window pane includes lowering the window pane from the starting position by a defined distance by a window lifter in a motor vehicle door after a state signal is received. The state signal is triggered by the actuation of a seatbelt buckle. By using the seatbelt buckle for the purposes of emitting the signal, the window pane is lowered by the defined distance only if the motor vehicle operator or one of motor vehicle occupants is expected to exit the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Torsten Zawade, Ralf Borngraeber, Michael Wistrach
  • Publication number: 20130283692
    Abstract: A method is provided for lowering a window pane that is lowered from a starting position by a defined distance by means of a window lifter in a motor vehicle door body after a state signal is received. The state signal is triggered by the actuation of a seatbelt buckle. By using the seatbelt buckle for the purposes of emitting the signal, the window panes are lowered by a defined distance only if the motor vehicle operator or other motor vehicle occupants want to exit the motor vehicle with a high degree of probability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Torsten ZAWADE, Ralf BORNGRAEBER, Michael WISTRACH
  • Patent number: 7932627
    Abstract: An electric steering lock for a drive authorization system in a motor vehicle, including a movable locking element which, according to a first position, can be brought into locking engagement with a latched-in position on the steering shaft in the steering wheel column and, according to a second position, can be brought out of locking engagement with said position. The steering lock also has a drive for moving the locking element between the two positions, and electronics for controlling the drive. The system may have an associated second device in the form of an electronic key, an identification (ID) transmitter, a chip card or the like, with the result that, when the second device is authorized, the drive can be controlled into the respective position by the electronics. The electronics generate those signals which are used to trigger functions which can otherwise be effected by an electric ignition lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignees: Marquardt GmbH, Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Karl Mueller, Gerd Stauss, Ralf Maier, Andreas Titze, Ralf Borngräber, Dietmar Grave, Andreas Thiele, Klaus Revermann
  • Patent number: 7617708
    Abstract: An ignition lock for a motor vehicle includes a carrier element for holding an ignition key that is inserted in the ignition lock. The carrier element is movable along a longitudinal axis of the ignition lock. The carrier element pushes a slide bar from a blocking position to an unblocking position when the carrier element moves along the longitudinal axis. A latch bar, when in its latching position, restricts a movement of the carrier element along the longitudinal axis and, when in its unlatching position, allows the carrier element to move along the longitudinal axis. When the latch bar is in its unlatching position and the slide bar is in its blocking position, the slide bar prevents the latch bar from moving from the unlatching position to the latching position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Marquardt GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Frohne, Ralf Borngräber, Steffen Buhl, Dennis Meβmer, Thomas Schwarz
  • Patent number: 7292916
    Abstract: An engine (9) of a vehicle (1) is started by first inserting an ignition key (3) into an ignition lock (2) of the vehicle (1). The vehicle (1) can be started by merely pressing the inserted ignition key, whereby said ignition key (3) is further inserted into the ignition lock (2) and takes in a nearly flush position with a dashboard (4) within which the ignition lock is disposed when the motor runs such that the ignition key (3) does not constitute a potential hazard in the event of an accident. The engine (9) is stopped by once again pressing the ignition key (3). Once the engine (9) has been stopped, the ignition key (3) is brought into a position in which the same can be simply removed from the ignition lock (2) by the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ralf Borngräber, Hans-Joachim Frohne