Patents by Inventor Robert Hoffmann

Robert Hoffmann 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: 10511158
    Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a plurality of arresters as a composite structure. A ceramic carrier having a plurality of holes and two electrode bodies are provided. The ceramic carrier and the two electrode bodies are assembled into a base under gas atmosphere. The ceramic carrier is located between the electrode bodies. The electrode bodies are soldered to the ceramic carrier. The base body is separated into a plurality of gas-filled arresters is carried out. In addition, a gas-filled arrester is provided which has a height of maximal 2 mm and electrode surfaces of maximal 1.2×1.2 mm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: EPCOS AG
    Inventors: Robert Hoffmann, Frank Werner
  • Publication number: 20190244732
    Abstract: A component for protecting against overvoltages is disclosed. In an embodiment a component for protecting against overvoltages includes a surge arrester, a first varistor, a second varistor, wherein the surge arrester, the first varistor and the second varistor are combined in a single component, a first connecting element electrically conductively connected to the first varistor and a second connecting element electrically conductively connected to the second varistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventor: Robert Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20190206633
    Abstract: A contact device for an electrical switch, and an electrical switch are disclosed. In an embodiment the contact device includes a first connection element, a second connection element, a movable contact bridge, at least two magnets configured to quench arcs which arise during a switching of the electrical switch, wherein the magnets are configured to generate a magnetic field in a first region which comprises at least one first contact region and one second contact region, in which, when the electrical switch is in a closed switching position, the first connection element and the second connection element are in contact with the contact bridge and at least one deflection element configured to distort the magnetic field such that a first arc when formed between the first connection element and the contact bridge, and a second arc when formed between the second connection element and the contact bridge, are forced into different directions, pointing away from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Robert Hoffmann, Thomas Westebbe
  • Publication number: 20190199067
    Abstract: A gas arrester is disclosed. In an embodiment a gas arrester for data line systems includes a discharge electrode, a plurality of individual electrodes for connection to data lines and a common gas discharge region formed between the individual electrodes and the discharge electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventor: Robert Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20190170824
    Abstract: A device for measuring a condition of an electric switch, an electric switch and a method for measuring a condition of an electric switch are disclosed. In an embodiment an apparatus for measuring a state of an electrical switch is configured to tap a voltage at main contacts of the electrical switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventor: Robert Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20190103730
    Abstract: An arrester and a method for producing an arrester are disclosed. In an embodiment the method includes providing at least three green layers, wherein each layer includes at least one green sheet, introducing at least one hole into a first layer and applying an electrically conductive material for forming inner electrodes to a second layer and a third layer. The method further includes laminating the layers to form a green stack, wherein the first layer is arranged between the second layer and the third layer, separating the green stack into individual components and compacting the individual components, wherein laminating the layers and compacting the individual components are effected in a single temperature process by co-firing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Bernhard Döllgast, Georg Kügerl, Markus Puff, Robert Hoffmann, Frank Werner
  • Publication number: 20180364313
    Abstract: A power contactor and a method for checking a functioning of a power contactor are disclosed. In an embodiment a power contactor includes a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact, a switching element configured to assume an open position and a closed position, wherein, in the closed position, the switching element connects the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact to one another, and wherein, in the open position, the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are insulated from one another and a current sensor integrated into the power contactor, wherein the current sensor is configured to detect a current intensity of a current flowing through the power contactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Robert HOFFMANN, Wolfgang SCHREIBER-PRILLWITZ, Carsten DEHOFF, Wolfgang DÄUMER
  • Patent number: 10140397
    Abstract: A computer-implementable method for simulating the electrical behavior of a surge arrester comprises providing a model of the surge arrester with a switchable current path between an anode and a cathode of the surge arrester, wherein the current path comprises a controllable voltage source. The current path is switched into the conducting or blocked state depending on a determined value of a voltage rise of an input voltage present between the anode and the cathode and a determined level of a response voltage. A level of the voltage of the controllable voltage source is set depending on a level of a current flowing in the current path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: EPCOS AG
    Inventor: Robert Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20180171920
    Abstract: A piezo-driven fuel injector is modeled by measuring the actuation current and the actuation voltage of the piezo injector, transforming the actuation current and the actuation voltage into the frequency domain, forming a complex conductance from the actuation current transformed into the frequency domain and the actuation voltage transformed into the frequency domain, and determining one or more parameters of the piezo injector from the complex conductance. Once the complex conductance is determined it is used to detect a fault in the piezo injector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Tany Gargiso, Michael Kausche, Peter Matthias Ruße, Robert Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20180156154
    Abstract: A method for identifying faulty components of a fuel injection system is disclosed, wherein a secondary injection is performed individually by each injector during a test routine, after the secondary injection several predefined parameters of the fuel injection system are determined, and a combined assessment of the determined parameters is used to draw conclusions about whether or not components of the fuel injection system are faulty.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Robert Hoffmann, Peter Matthias Ruße, Tany Gargiso, Michael Kausche
  • Patent number: 9627855
    Abstract: A surge arrester includes a gas-tight discharge chamber that is formed by at least one insulating body and two electrodes. The electrodes extend into the discharge chamber and include an electrode spacing with respect to one another and a wall spacing with respect to the insulating body inner wall. The electrode spacing is equal to twice the wall spacing or is less than twice the wall spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: EPCOS AG
    Inventors: Frank Werner, Robert Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 9590394
    Abstract: A surge arrester includes a gas-tight discharge chamber that is formed by at least one insulating body and two electrodes. The electrodes extend into the discharge chamber and include an electrode spacing with respect to one another and a wall spacing with respect to the insulating body inner wall. The electrode spacing is equal to twice the wall spacing or is less than twice the wall spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: EPCOS AG
    Inventors: Frank Werner, Robert Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 9587610
    Abstract: A method for monitoring the condition of a piezoinjector of a fuel injection system is disclosed. The fuel injection is carried out in injection cycles, each of which comprises a filling phase, a holding phase, and an emptying phase. The discharge resistance is ascertained during the holding phase of the piezoinjector. Conclusions about the working order of the piezoinjector are drawn using the ascertained discharge resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Robert Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20160300002
    Abstract: A computer-implementable method for simulating the electrical behavior of a surge arrester comprises providing a model of the surge arrester with a switchable current path between an anode and a cathode of the surge arrester, wherein the current path comprises a controllable voltage source. The current path is switched into the conducting or blocked state depending on a determined value of a voltage rise of an input voltage present between the anode and the cathode and a determined level of a response voltage. A level of the voltage of the controllable voltage source is set depending on a level of a current flowing in the current path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventor: Robert Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 9453473
    Abstract: A method for actuating a piezoelectric actuator and a piezo injector of a fuel injection system having a nozzle needle which can be moved between the closed position and an open position by the piezoelectric actuator are disclosed. Current is applied to the piezoelectric actuator from a source for the duration of a charging time as a function of a required quantity of fuel, in order to move the nozzle needle into its opened position for a time period which is dependent on the required quantity of fuel. The charging time is selected according to the following relationships: tcharge(p)=tnom,charge (p) for TI>tEP,p and tcharge (p, TI)?Ti for TI?tEP,p.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Steffen Lehner, Robert Hoffmann, Hans-Jörg Wiehoff
  • Publication number: 20160190771
    Abstract: A surge arrester includes a gas-tight discharge chamber that is formed by at least one insulating body and two electrodes. The electrodes extend into the discharge chamber and include an electrode spacing with respect to one another and a wall spacing with respect to the insulating body inner wall. The electrode spacing is equal to twice the wall spacing or is less than twice the wall spacing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Frank Werner, Robert Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20160141858
    Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a plurality of arresters as a composite structure. A ceramic carrier having a plurality of holes and two electrode bodies are provided. The ceramic carrier and the two electrode bodies are assembled into a base under gas atmosphere. The ceramic carrier is located between the electrode bodies. The electrode bodies are soldered to the ceramic carrier. The base body is separated into a plurality of gas-filled arresters is carried out. In addition, a gas-filled arrester is provided which has a height of maximal 2 mm and electrode surfaces of maximal 1.2×1.2 mm2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Robert HOFFMANN, Frank WERNER
  • Patent number: 9127632
    Abstract: A method for detecting error-containing components of a piezo-injector in an internal combustion engine fuel-injection system is disclosed. The piezo-injector has a piezoelectric actuator and an injection needle driven thereby, and is configured for operation in a partial-stroke mode and a full-stroke mode. First, the internal combustion engine is brought to a defined operational point. Then, the time for the injector needle to strike its stop when said injector needle is opened, as well as the time for the injector needle to strike its needle seat again when said injector needle is closed, are measured. The measured times are compared to normal values determined at the test stand. Parameter(s) for the fuel-injection system are calculated, using different calculation models, and the results are stored. Finally, the calculated parameters of the different calculation models are compared to norm values determined at the test stand, and compared to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMATIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Robert Hoffmann, Steffen Lehner, Anselm Schwarte, Simon Ruscheinski
  • Patent number: 9121378
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining the force acting on the nozzle needle of a directly driven piezo injector, in which an electrical voltage is built on the piezo actuator which drives the nozzle needle by means of a charging process. After the charging process has ended, the voltage at the piezo actuator is measured again. A voltage gradient is determined from consecutive voltage values. Conclusions of the force acting on the nozzle needle are drawn from the voltage gradients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Katzenberger, Robert Hoffmann, Simon Ruscheinski
  • Publication number: 20140326218
    Abstract: A method for determining a position of a lock element of an injection valve for an internal combustion engine includes moving the lock element in the direction of a locked position in a closing movement in order to lock the injection valve, subsequently measuring a closure time at which the lock element arrives in the locked position, determining a time difference between the closure time and a preceding starting time of the closing movement, and determining, based on the time difference, a position which the lock element has assumed at the starting time of the closing movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Peter Matthias Ruße, Robert Hoffmann