Patents by Inventor Stefan Ascher

Stefan Ascher 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: 9689908
    Abstract: A method is provided for determining the opening and/or closing time of the nozzle pin in an injection valve in an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders. The nozzle pin is directly driven by a piezo actuator. The piezo voltage and/or the piezo charge at the respective piezo actuator functioning as a sensor is measured for the corresponding injection pulse in a plurality of cylinders of the internal combustion engine, and the median value of the measured voltage and/or charge values of the piezo actuators for the plurality of cylinders for the corresponding injection pulse is calculated. The obtained median value is then used as a replacement value for determining the opening and/or closing time in case of non-detectability or disruption of the needle opening and/or needle closing information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Ascher, Hans-Joerg Wiehoff
  • Publication number: 20160077141
    Abstract: A method is provided for determining the opening and/or closing time of the nozzle pin in an injection valve in an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders. The nozzle pin is directly driven by a piezo actuator. The piezo voltage and/or the piezo charge at the respective piezo actuator functioning as a sensor is measured for the corresponding injection pulse in a plurality of cylinders of the internal combustion engine, and the median value of the measured voltage and/or charge values of the piezo actuators for the plurality of cylinders for the corresponding injection pulse is calculated. The obtained median value is then used as a replacement value for determining the opening and/or closing time in case of non-detectability or disruption of the needle opening and/or needle closing information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Applicant: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Ascher, Hans-Joerg Wiehoff
  • Patent number: 8239115
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for offsetting bounce effects in a piezo-actuated injection system of an internal combustion engine using a control valve actuated by a piezoelectric actuator. The inventive method comprises the following steps: detecting an actual bounce behavior of the control valve, and determining and offsetting a deviation between the actual bounce behavior and a desired bounce behavior of the control valve, thereby generating an actuation information for the control valve which influences a speed characteristic of a needle of the control valve. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the inventive method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Ascher, Reiner Lederle, Hans-Jörg Wiehoff
  • Patent number: 8186204
    Abstract: In a method and a device for dynamically determining a segment for an angular spread, fuel is injected into an internal combustion engine and the useful injection range (IRu) and/or the relative position of the segment comprising the angular spread, in which a fuel injection can be carried out especially during a multiple injection, are variable. A corresponding adaptation of the useful injection range (IRu) can advantageously trigger a subsequent injection impulse, as required, for example, for a regeneration module of a diesel particle filter. The adaptation is carried out according to an operating parameter, for example according to the rotational speed gradient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Ascher, Hans-Jörg Wiehoff
  • Publication number: 20100223985
    Abstract: In a method and a device for dynamically determining a segment for an angular spread, fuel is injected into an internal combustion engine and the useful injection range (IRu) and/or the relative position of the segment comprising the angular spread, in which a fuel injection can be carried out especially during a multiple injection, are variable. A corresponding adaptation of the useful injection range (IRu) can advantageously trigger a subsequent injection impulse, as required, for example, for a regeneration module of a diesel particle filter. The adaptation is carried out according to an operating parameter, for example according to the rotational speed gradient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: Stefan Ascher, Hans-Jörg Wiehoff
  • Publication number: 20100063709
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for offsetting bounce effects in a piezo-actuated injection system of an internal combustion engine using a control valve actuated by a piezoelectric actuator. The inventive method comprises the following steps: detecting an actual bounce behavior of the control valve, and determining and offsetting a deviation between the actual bounce behavior and a desired bounce behavior of the control valve, thereby generating an actuation information for the control valve which influences a speed characteristic of a needle of the control valve. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the inventive method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Ascher, Reiner Lederle, Hans-Jörg Wiehoff