Patents by Inventor Ralf Heck
Ralf Heck 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).
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Patent number: 10343604Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle having at least one sound sensor for detecting acoustic signals generated outside the vehicle includes the steps of detecting an acoustic signal by means of the sensor, classifying the detected acoustic signal as a warning signal if the detected signal has defined features, determining the speed of the vehicle, determining the steering angle of the vehicle, defining an action to be carried out by the motor vehicle in response to the detected warning signal, and carrying out the defined action if the speed of the motor vehicle undershoots a defined threshold value and the steering angle of the vehicle exceeds a defined threshold value. The defined action may be a steering and/or braking maneuver by the vehicle, and/or may be alerting a driver of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2018Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Volker Haupts, Ralf Hecke
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Patent number: 8773136Abstract: The charge state of a battery powering a starter of a motor vehicle is evaluated to determine whether the battery voltage is sufficiently high to re-start an internal combustion engine during a stop/start operating mode. The engine is operated to drive a generator so that the generator output voltage is at a level below a setpoint value for a time period. At the end of the time period, the battery voltage is measured and if it exceeds a threshold voltage the battery charge state is determined to be sufficient to re-start the engine. The threshold voltage is approximately equal to the rated battery voltage. If the measured battery voltage is below the threshold voltage value, indicating that the battery will not have sufficient charge to re-start the motor, automatic shut-off of the engine when the vehicle stops is suppressed.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2011Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Birger Fricke, Mark Eifert, Ralf Hecke, Eckhard Karden
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Publication number: 20120081127Abstract: The charge state of a battery powering a starter of a motor vehicle is evaluated to determine whether the battery voltage is sufficiently high to re-start an internal combustion engine during a stop/start operating mode. The engine is operated to drive a generator so that the generator output voltage is at a level below a setpoint value for a time period. At the end of the time period, the battery voltage is measured and if it exceeds a threshold voltage the battery charge state is determined to be sufficient to re-start the engine. The threshold voltage is approximately equal to the rated battery voltage. If the measured battery voltage is below the threshold voltage value, indicating that the battery will not have sufficient charge to re-start the motor, automatic shut-off of the engine when the vehicle stops is suppressed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2011Publication date: April 5, 2012Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Birger Fricke, Mark Eifert, Ralf Hecke, Eckhard Karden
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Publication number: 20100019727Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for detecting the operating state of a vehicle battery. A method according to the invention has the following steps: charging of the battery from a first state of charge (SOC1) to a second state of charge (SOC2), wherein the second state of charge (SOC2) is higher than the first state of charge (SOC1); active discharging of the battery to a third state of charge (SOC3), wherein the third state of charge (SOC3) is lower than the second state of charge (SOC2); and determination of at least one variable, which is characteristic of the operating state of the battery, after the third state of charge (SOC3) has been reached.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2009Publication date: January 28, 2010Inventors: Eckhard Karden, Stephen Robert Pickering, Erik Surewaard, Engbert Spijker, Ralf Hecke
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Patent number: 6793784Abstract: A tube target for cathode sputtering installations, and a process for producing a cylindrical hollow body for such a tube target and its use. The problem of providing a simple and low-cost process for producing a cylindrical hollow body for a tube target and of providing a cylindrical hollow body with a uniform, fine-grained structure is solved by the cylindrical hollow body being produced by centrifugal casting of a melt.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2000Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Assignee: W. C. Heraeus GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Otto Bach, David Lupton, Hans Bohmeier, Ralf Heck
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Patent number: 6756081Abstract: A hollow cylindrical target for a cathode sputtering unit with a hollow cylindrical sputtering material and a target holder is disclosed. The sputtering material has an annular cross section and concentrically surrounds a longitudinal segment of the target holder. The target holder extends out of the sputtering material at least at one end of the target to allow connection to the cathode sputtering unit. The at least one part of the target holder that extends from the sputtering material is a single part that can be detached from the target by at least one screw fitting.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2003Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Assignee: W. C. Heraeus GmbH & Co. KGInventors: David Lupton, Ralf Heck, Bernd Stenger, Oliver Warkentin
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Patent number: 6719034Abstract: A process for producing a tube target for cathode sputtering plants, in which the tube target is formed from a metallic inner tube (target holder) made of a first material with a first melting point of Ts1≧900 K and a metallic outer tube (target) that concentrically surrounds the inner tube and that is made of a second material with a second melting point of Ts2≦800 K. The inside diameter of the outer tube and the outside diameter of the inner tube are proportioned in such a way that the two tubes fit together tightly and are mechanically firmly joined. The outer tube is formed by casting the second material in a molten state in a heated, vertical, cylindrical permanent mold, which has a heated mandrel that constitutes the inner tube.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2001Date of Patent: April 13, 2004Assignee: W. C. Heraeus GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Ralf Heck, Rainer Jüttner, David Lupton, Egon Maier, Peter Mainz, Harald Manhardt, Bernd Stenger, Holger Zingg
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Patent number: 6645358Abstract: A hollow cylindrical target for a cathode sputtering unit with a hollow cylindrical sputtering material and a target holder is disclosed. The sputtering material has an annular cross section and concentrically surrounds a longitudinal segment of the target holder. The target holder extends out of the sputtering material at least at one end of the target to allow connection to the cathode sputtering unit. The at least one part of the target holder that extends from the sputtering material is a single part that can be detached from the target by at least one screw fitting.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2002Date of Patent: November 11, 2003Assignee: W.C. Heraeus GmbH & Co. KGInventors: David Lupton, Ralf Heck, Bernd Stenger, Oliver Warkentin
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Publication number: 20030141183Abstract: A hollow cylindrical target for a cathode sputtering unit with a hollow cylindrical sputtering material and a target holder. The sputtering material has an annular cross section and concentrically surrounds a longitudinal segment of the target holder. The target holder extends out of the sputtering material at least at one end of the target to allow connection to the cathode sputtering unit. The at least one part of the target holder that extends from the sputtering material is a single part that can be detached from the target by at least one screw fitting.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2003Publication date: July 31, 2003Applicant: W. C. Heraeus GmbH & Co. KGInventors: David Lupton, Ralf Heck, Bernd Stenger, Oliver Warkentin
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Publication number: 20030089482Abstract: A process for producing a tube target for cathode sputtering plants, in which the tube target is formed from a metallic inner tube (target holder) made of a first material with a first melting point of Ts1≧900 K and a metallic outer tube (target) that concentrically surrounds the inner tube and that is made of a second material with a second melting point of Ts2≦800 K. The inside diameter of the outer tube and the outside diameter of the inner tube are proportioned in such a way that the two tubes fit together tightly and are mechanically firmly joined. The outer tube is formed by casting the second material in a molten state in a heated, vertical, A cylindrical permanent mold, which has a heated mandrel that constitutes the inner tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2001Publication date: May 15, 2003Applicant: W.C. Heraeus GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Ralf Heck, Rainer Juttner, David Lupton, Egon Maier, Peter Mainz, Harald Manhardt, Bernd Stenger, Holger Zingg
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Publication number: 20020096430Abstract: A hollow cylindrical target for a cathode sputtering unit with a hollow cylindrical sputtering material and a target holder. The sputtering material has an annular cross section and concentrically surrounds a longitudinal segment of the target holder. The target holder extends out of the sputtering material at least at one end of the target to allow connection to the cathode sputtering unit. The at least one part of the target holder that extends from the sputtering material is a single part that can be detached from the target by at least one screw fitting.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2002Publication date: July 25, 2002Applicant: W. C. Heraeus GmbH & Co. KG.Inventors: David Lupton, Ralf Heck, Bernd Stenger, Oliver Warkentin