Patents by Inventor Ralf Kinder

Ralf Kinder 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: 8521358
    Abstract: A method for releasing an electric parking brake of a motor vehicle comprises detecting a release command and releasing the parking brake if a detected change in at least one signal precedes by maximally a predefined time interval, the change indicating capacity of a driver to act.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Kinder, Matthias Jumpertz, Andreas Mueller
  • Patent number: 8489301
    Abstract: A device for controlling the brake pressure in a hydraulic brake system with the aid of a pressure-limiting valve that limits the brake pressure to a predefined threshold value, and to that end is driven by an electronic device in accordance with a valve characteristic curve. The setting accuracy can be improved considerably if an estimating unit for estimating the brake pressure, a sensor system for measuring the brake pressure, a unit for determining a pressure difference between the measured brake pressure and the estimated brake pressure, as well as a controller unit which drives the pressure-limiting valve as a function of the pressure difference are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Bettina Crepin, Michael Bunk, Roland Galbas, Ralf Kinder, Matthias Schanzenbach, Christoph Betz
  • Publication number: 20130054081
    Abstract: A method for avoiding error messages due to maintenance work on a vehicle, which are generated by a monitoring unit if one or multiple operating parameters of a monitored vehicle system are outside of a predefined, admissible value range. According The general driving operation is monitored with the aid of a vehicle's own sensor system with respect to a maintenance state and, if a maintenance state is established, the admissible value range be automatically extended or at least one operating parameter is ignored during monitoring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Gebhard Wuerth, Michael Kunz, Ralf Kinder, Thilo Stephan
  • Publication number: 20130035835
    Abstract: A method for determining a functional state of a pressure build-up valve of a hydraulic brake booster of a brake system, having the following steps: comparing an activation intensity of an activation of a brake activating element of the brake system to a predefined minimum activation intensity; if the brake activation intensity is less than or equal to the minimum activation intensity, determining the functional state, taking into account a pressure change over time in at least a partial volume of the hydraulic brake booster; if the brake activation intensity is greater than the minimum activation intensity, determining the functional state, taking into account an operating mode which is predefined for a pressure reduction valve of the hydraulic brake booster. A function monitoring device for a pressure build-up valve of a hydraulic brake booster of a brake system is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventors: Juergen Hachtel, Ralf Kinder
  • Publication number: 20110264346
    Abstract: A method for releasing an electric parking brake of a motor vehicle comprises detecting a release command and releasing the parking brake if a detected change in at least one signal precedes by maximally a predefined time interval, the change indicating capacity of a driver to act.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Ralf Kinder, Matthias Jumpertz, Andreas Mueller
  • Publication number: 20110040439
    Abstract: In a method for detecting air in the brake circuit of a motor vehicle having a hydraulic brake system that has a vacuum brake booster, the pressure prevailing in the vacuum chamber of the vacuum brake booster in the operated and the non-operated states of the brake is measured, and a parameter characteristic of the brake performance is determined as a function of the measured pressure, and the characteristic parameter is compared to a reference value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventors: Thilo Stephan, Ralf Kinder, Dirk Mahnkopf
  • Publication number: 20110004386
    Abstract: A technique for controlling an electrically actuable parking brake of a motor vehicle in the event of failure of a first signal indicating a speed of the motor vehicle comprises the steps of continuously closing the parking brake as long as a second signal indicating a driver request to close the parking brake is detected, and opening the parking brake, provided that the parking brake is in a partially open state, as long as an absence of the second signal is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: Ralf Kinder, Andreas Müller
  • Publication number: 20090210127
    Abstract: A device for controlling the brake pressure in a hydraulic brake system with the aid of a pressure-limiting valve that limits the brake pressure to a predefined threshold value, and to that end is driven by an electronic device in accordance with a valve characteristic curve. The setting accuracy can be improved considerably if an estimating unit for estimating the brake pressure, a sensor system for measuring the brake pressure, a unit for determining a pressure difference between the measured brake pressure and the estimated brake pressure, as well as a controller unit which drives the pressure-limiting valve as a function of the pressure difference are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventors: Bettina Crepin, Michael Bunk, Roland Galbas, Ralf Kinder, Matthias Schanzenbach, Christoph Betz
  • Patent number: 7407463
    Abstract: In a method and system for controlling a braking system, equipped with an electric parking brake, for a motor vehicle, the electric parking brake is released in response to an identification of a moving-off operation. A release instant of the electric parking brake is defined in dependence on at least one measured parameter of a clutch engagement operation. In comparison with a method and system in which, for example, the electric parking brake is released in dependence on the actuation of the accelerator by a driver, the method and system permit a more precise coordination of the deactivation of the electric parking brake with the clutch engagement operation, and thus with the moving-off operation of the vehicle, particularly in the case of a vehicle equipped with a manual transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Kinder
  • Patent number: 7401872
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a system for controlling a braking equipment of a motor vehicle in order to activate the braking equipment at a standstill of the motor vehicle such that braking forces are built up which are necessary to keep the motor vehicle in a state of standstill. To this end it is established on the basis of vehicle movements whether the vehicle is at a standstill. If vehicle movements are detected that cannot occur during driving modes of the motor vehicle, the motor vehicle is in a state of standstill. Subsequently, the braking equipment, and in particular a holding brake mechanism included in the braking equipment, are activated. In order to provide braking forces keeping the motor vehicle at a standstill also when it is on a slope, the braking equipment, and in particular the holding brake mechanism, are controlled in response of the vehicle inclination present in the state of standstill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Kinder, Gerhard Klapper, Reza Shokoufandeh, Franz-Josef Endres, Ralf Leiter, Lorenz Maack, Andreas Söns
  • Patent number: 7338137
    Abstract: The present invention provides driveaway assistance for a motor vehicle having braking equipment which, in the standstill condition of the motor vehicle, automatically or under the control of a vehicle driver summons up braking forces needed for the standstill condition. To assist start-up (driveaway) of the motor vehicle through a reduction of the braking forces generated in the standstill condition, a driveaway request or a vehicle driver is determined when defined conditions, which are to be met for driveaway of the motor vehicle, exist in the standstill condition. Once a driveaway request has been recognized, the operating state of the motor vehicle is checked until an operating condition required for driveaway exists. Once such an operating condition is reached, the braking equipment of the motor vehicle is controlled in such a way that its braking forces generated in the standstill condition are reduced to allow driveaway of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Kinder, Gerhard Klapper, Reza Shokoufandeh, Franz-Josef Endres, Ralf Leiter, Lorenz Maack, Andreas Söns, Gregor Poertzgen
  • Patent number: 7227324
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electrically actuable parking brake is described. In this method the cutoff current of the electric motor is varied to compensate for example for changes in the application force associated with aging or wear or for changes in the application force due to changes in the resistance and/or temperature of an electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Erben, Ralf Kinder, Ralf Leiter, Gregor Poertzgen
  • Patent number: 7185745
    Abstract: An electrically driven vehicle brake comprises a brake piston, which acts on at least one friction lining and can be displaced out of an initial position into an actuation position, in which the brake piston abuts the friction lining against a rotating member of the vehicle brake which is to be connected, fixed against rotation, to a wheel of the motor vehicle, and a transmission unit, driven by an electric motor and acting on the brake piston to actuate the brake piston, wherein the electric motor is to be triggered by an electronic control unit, which is also set up to detect performance parameters of the vehicle, the electric motor and/or the vehicle brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Gregor Godlewsky, Thomas Maur, Michael Keller, Ralf Leiter, Ralf Kinder, Gregor Poertzgen
  • Patent number: 7152935
    Abstract: The invention provides a solution, which makes it possible to determine brake surface temperatures for a vehicle brake system in dependence upon decelerations or accelerations acting on a vehicle in an activated state of the vehicle brake system and to control the vehicle braking system in dependence upon the brake surface temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Kinder, Ralf Leiter, Gregor Poertzgen
  • Publication number: 20060261764
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electrically actuable parking brake is described. In this method the cutoff current of the electric motor is varied to compensate for example for changes in the application force associated with aging or wear or for changes in the application force due to changes in the resistance and/or temperature of an electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Publication date: November 23, 2006
    Inventors: Ralf Erben, Ralf Kinder, Ralf Leiter, Gregor Poertzgen
  • Patent number: 7104364
    Abstract: An electrically driven vehicle brake comprises a brake piston, which acts on at least one friction lining and can be displaced out of an initial position into an actuation position, in which the brake piston abuts the friction lining against a rotating member of the vehicle brake which is to be connected, fixed against rotation, to a wheel of the motor vehicle, and a transmission unit, driven by an electric motor and acting on the brake piston to actuate the brake piston, wherein the electric motor is to be triggered by an electronic control unit, which is also set up to detect performance parameters of the vehicle, the electric motor and/or the vehicle brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Gregor Godlewsky, Thomas Maur, Michael Keller, Ralf Leiter, Ralf Kinder, Gregor Poertzgen
  • Publication number: 20060131957
    Abstract: The present invention provides driveaway assistance for a motor vehicle having braking equipment which, in the standstill condition of the motor vehicle, automatically or under the control of a vehicle driver summons up braking forces needed for the standstill condition. To assist start-up (driveaway) of the motor vehicle through a reduction of the braking forces generated in the standstill condition, a driveaway request or a vehicle driver is determined when defined conditions, which are to be met for driveaway of the motor vehicle, exist in the standstill condition. Once a driveaway request has been recognized, the operating state of the motor vehicle is checked until an operating condition required for driveaway exists. Once such an operating condition is reached, the braking equipment of the motor vehicle is controlled in such a way that its braking forces generated in the standstill condition are reduced to allow driveaway of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Publication date: June 22, 2006
    Inventors: Ralf Kinder, Gerhard Klapper, Reza Shokoufandeh, Franz-Josef Endres, Ralf Leiter, Lorenz Maack, Andreas Sons, Gregor Poertzgen
  • Publication number: 20060076204
    Abstract: In a method and system for controlling a braking system, equipped with an electric parking brake, for a motor vehicle, the electric parking brake is released in response to an identification of a moving-off operation. A release instant of the electric parking brake is defined in dependence on at least one measured parameter of a clutch engagement operation. In comparison with a method and system in which, for example, the electric parking brake is released in dependence on the actuation of the accelerator by a driver, the method and system permit a more precise coordination of the deactivation of the electric parking brake with the clutch engagement operation, and thus with the moving-off operation of the vehicle, particularly in the case of a vehicle equipped with a manual transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Publication date: April 13, 2006
    Inventor: Ralf Kinder
  • Patent number: 6994407
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for controlling braking equipment of a motor vehicle. Here, an operating state of a motor vehicle is determined, in which the motor vehicle is to be brought from a state, in which its speed is not zero, into a state, in which the vehicle no longer moves. If such a transition from a traveling state into a state of standstill is determined, braking equipment of the motor vehicle is controlled such that braking forces are produced, which are capable of bringing the motor vehicle into the state of standstill and/or assisting a vehicle driver in doing this. It is also possible to produce braking forces in the state of standstill, which are capable of holding the motor vehicle in the state of standstill. The present invention additionally enables to assist a vehicle driver when starting a motor vehicle. In this case, an operating state of the motor vehicle is detected in which the motor vehicle is to be brought from a state of standstill into a traveling state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Kinder, Gerhard Klapper, Reza Shokoufandeh, Franz-Josef Endres, Ralf Leiter, Lorenz Maack, Andreas Söns
  • Publication number: 20050212355
    Abstract: An electrically driven vehicle brake comprises a brake piston, which acts on at least one friction lining and can be displaced out of an initial position into an actuation position, in which the brake piston abuts the friction lining against a rotating member of the vehicle brake which is to be connected, fixed against rotation, to a wheel of the motor vehicle, and a transmission unit, driven by an electric motor and acting on the brake piston to actuate the brake piston, wherein the electric motor is to be triggered by an electronic control unit, which is also set up to detect performance parameters of the vehicle, the electric motor and/or the vehicle brake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Inventors: Gregor Godlewsky, Thomas Maur, Michael Keller, Ralf Leiter, Ralf Kinder, Gregor Poertzgen