Patents by Inventor Stefan Blattner
Stefan Blattner 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: 12654537Abstract: A motor vehicle transmission (2) has a first drive input shaft (9), a second drive input shaft (10), a drive output shaft (11), and a first planetary gearset (P1) and a second planetary gearset (P2). The drive input shafts (9, 10) are designed to be coupled in each case to a respective drive machine. In addition, a first shifting device (26) and a second shifting device (27) are provided. The motor vehicle transmission can be part of a drive unit (1), a motor vehicle drive axle, or a hybrid or electric vehicle. A method is provided for operating a motor vehicle transmission and a drive unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2024Date of Patent: June 16, 2026Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Thomas Martin, Fabian Kutter, Johannes Glückler, Kai Bornträger, Stefan Blattner, Christian Mittelberger, Stefan Renner
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Publication number: 20260097688Abstract: A method is provided for heating components of a vehicle having a first electric drive unit, a second electric drive unit, and an inverter system for supplying the electric drive units with alternating current. The first electric drive unit produces a first torque and the second electric drive unit produces a second torque, where a sum of the first and second torques is a driving torque. For producing a desired driving torque the first electric drive unit is operated as a generator and the second electric drive unit is operated as a motor so that a total current flow is produced in the inverter system that is greater than a total current flow that would be produced in the inverter system when both electric drive units are operated as motors to produce the desired driving torque.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2025Publication date: April 9, 2026Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Thorsten LEIM, Stefan BLATTNER, Stefan BEMETZ, Dennis WOHLFAHRT, Christian MITTELBERGER, Jochen BREUER, Mario STEINBORN, Fabian LEY, Hannes WERNER, Stefan SPÜHLER, Benjamin BERGER
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Publication number: 20260043470Abstract: A method for ensuring a desired shifting state in a shiftable electric drivetrain (16) of a vehicle (15) is characterized in that the method includes an ascertaining process during which it is ensured that the desired shifting state corresponds to an actual shifting state.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2025Publication date: February 12, 2026Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Hannes WERNER, Stefan BEMETZ, Alexey RYABININ, Christian MITTELBERGER, Stefan BLATTNER, Xianghui SHEN, Mario STEINBORN, Matthias MÜLLER, Benjamin BERGER, Franz BITZER, Anton FRITZER
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Patent number: 12409839Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle (1) having at least one driven axle (3) with a locking differential (10a), where when the motor vehicle (1) is driving and the locking differential (10a) concerned is engaged on at least one driven axle (3), it is checked whether the motor vehicle is driving round a curve. If it is found that the motor vehicle is driving round a curve, the engaged locking differential (10a) is actuated to disengage it and it is checked whether the locking differential (10a) concerned has in fact been disengaged. If it is found that the locking differential (10a) concerned has not been disengaged, the wheel of the driven axle (3) concerned on the outside of the curve is braked.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2024Date of Patent: September 9, 2025Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Stefan Spühler, Stefan Blattner, Stefan Bemetz, Dennis Wohlfahrt, Thorsten Leim, Jochen Breuer, Mario Steinborn, Fabian Ley, Hannes Werner, Benjamin Berger, Christian Mittelberger
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Publication number: 20250198485Abstract: A motor vehicle transmission (2) has a first drive input shaft (9), a second drive input shaft (10), a drive output shaft (11), and a first planetary gearset (P1) and a second planetary gearset (P2), where the drive input shafts (9, 10) are each provided for coupling to a respective drive machine. Furthermore, a first shifting device (26) and a second shifting device (27) are provided. In addition, the invention relates to a drive unit (1), a motor vehicle drive axle, a hybrid or electric vehicle and methods for operating a motor vehicle transmission and a drive unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2024Publication date: June 19, 2025Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Thomas Martin, Fabian Kutter, Johannes Glückler, Kai Bornträger, Stefan Renner, Stefan Blattner, Christian Mittelberger
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Publication number: 20250196611Abstract: A motor vehicle transmission (2) has a first drive input shaft (9), a second drive input shaft (10), a drive output shaft (11), and a first planetary gearset (P1) and a second planetary gearset (P2). The drive input shafts (9, 10) are designed to be coupled in each case to a respective drive machine. In addition, a first shifting device (26) and a second shifting device (27) are provided. The motor vehicle transmission can be part of a drive unit (1), a motor vehicle drive axle, or a hybrid or electric vehicle. A method for operating a motor vehicle transmission and a drive unit is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2024Publication date: June 19, 2025Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Thomas Martin, Fabian Kutter, Johannes Glückler, Kai Bornträger, Stefan Blattner, Christian Mittelberger, Stefan Renner
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Publication number: 20240383476Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle (1) having at least one driven axle (3) with a locking differential (10a), where when the motor vehicle (1) is driving and the locking differential (10a) concerned is engaged on at least one driven axle (3), it is checked whether the motor vehicle is driving round a curve. If it is found that the motor vehicle is driving round a curve, the engaged locking differential (10a) is actuated to disengage it and it is checked whether the locking differential (10a) concerned has in fact been disengaged. If it is found that the locking differential (10a) concerned has not been disengaged, the wheel of the driven axle (3) concerned on the outside of the curve is braked.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2024Publication date: November 21, 2024Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Stefan Spühler, Stefan Blattner, Stefan Bemetz, Dennis Wohlfahrt, Thorsten Leim, Jochen Breuer, Mario Steinborn, Fabian Ley, Hannes Werner, Benjamin Berger, Christian Mittelberger
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Patent number: 11732780Abstract: Disclosed is an electric vehicle transmission (6?) comprising a drive input shaft (11), a drive output shaft (13), a first planetary gearset (15), and a second planetary gearset (16). The drive input shaft (11) is provided for connection to an electric machine (7), where each of the first planetary gearset (15) and the second planetary gearset (16) includes a first element (17, 18), a second element (19, 20) and a third element (21, 22), respectively. A first shifting element (A) and a second shifting element (B?) are provided, by the selective actuation of which the drive input shaft (11) can be connected to the drive output shaft (13) by means of the planetary gearsets (15, 16) by engaging a gear. Also disclosed is a drive module (2?) with such an electric vehicle transmission (6?) and a method for operating an electric vehicle transmission (6?).Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2022Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Christian Mittelberger, Stefan Blattner, Dennis Wohlfahrt, Thorsten Leim, Kai Bornträger
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Publication number: 20220307573Abstract: Disclosed is an electric vehicle transmission (6?) comprising a drive input shaft (11), a drive output shaft (13), a first planetary gearset (15), and a second planetary gearset (16). The drive input shaft (11) is provided for connection to an electric machine (7), where each of the first planetary gearset (15) and the second planetary gearset (16) includes a first element (17, 18), a second element (19, 20) and a third element (21, 22), respectively. A first shifting element (A) and a second shifting element (B?) are provided, by the selective actuation of which the drive input shaft (11) can be connected to the drive output shaft (13) by means of the planetary gearsets (15, 16) by engaging a gear. Also disclosed is a drive module (2?) with such an electric vehicle transmission (6?) and a method for operating an electric vehicle transmission (6?).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2022Publication date: September 29, 2022Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Christian Mittelberger, Stefan Blattner, Dennis Wohlfahrt, Thorsten Leim, Kai Bornträger
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Patent number: 10968994Abstract: A drive-train for a vehicle having at least one electric drive unit (EM) which is, or can be, coupled by way of a driveshaft (AW) to at least a first transmission stage (i1), a second transmission stage (i2) and a third transmission stage (i3). At least one shifting device having at least two interlocking shifting elements (S1, S2) is provided for engaging the first and second transmission stages (i1, i2), and a frictional shifting element (S3) is provided for traction a force support of the first and the second transmission stages. The frictional shifting element (S3) is also provided for engaging the third transmission stage (i3).Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2018Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Christian Mittelberger, Stefan Blattner
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Patent number: 10724617Abstract: A dual clutch transmission including two sub-transmissions, each having an input shaft arranged on an input axis, an intermediate shaft and an output shaft which is the drive output of both sub-transmissions. The intermediate shaft can be connected to the input and output shafts. The transmission also has wheel planes, shifting elements, two clutches and countershafts. A first countershaft can be connected to transmission elements of all the wheel planes on the countershaft axis and a second countershaft is connected to transmission elements of at least two wheel planes. The shifting elements include at least one single shifting element, but most of the shifting elements are double shifting elements. Two shifting elements are arranged on the input axis between two wheel planes, whose transmission elements are connected to the second countershaft. Opposite sides of the intermediate shaft are respectively connected to a range group and the output shaft.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2016Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFN AGInventors: Stefan Blattner, Christian Mittelberger, Eckhardt Lübke
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Patent number: 10654464Abstract: A method for compensation of a support torque at a combustion engine and transmission which provide an overlay of combustion engine and electric machine. The combustion engine, the electric machine, and a transmission gearset are connected with each other via a planetary gearset, which is positioned in front of a downstream transmission gearset. The invention concerns a transmission gearset of a three-shaft transmission, each with a transmission input shaft for the electric machine, and for the combustion engine, and an output shaft. For the connection or disconnection of the transmission input shaft of the electric machine while driving, the electric machine is used for the synchronization of the input shaft of the electric machine, and the created support torque at the combustion engine is determined, based on this support torque, to match a combustion engine torque and thus to compensate the support torque.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2018Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Johannes Glückler, Christian Mittelberger, Kai Bornträger, Andreas Heinzler, Jochen Breuer, Stefan Blattner, Thorsten Leim, Rick Hauschwitz
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Publication number: 20200116244Abstract: A drive-train for a vehicle having at least one electric drive unit (EM) which is, or can be, coupled by way of a driveshaft (AW) to at least a first transmission stage (i1), a second transmission stage (i2) and a third transmission stage (i3). At least one shifting device having at least two interlocking shifting elements (S1, S2) is provided for engaging the first and second transmission stages (i1, i2), and a frictional shifting element (S3) is provided for traction a force support of the first and the second transmission stages. The frictional shifting element (S3) is also provided for engaging the third transmission stage (i3).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2018Publication date: April 16, 2020Inventors: Christian MITTELBERGER, Stefan BLATTNER
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Publication number: 20190367035Abstract: A method for operating a drive-train having two drives, a drive output, a manual transmission having a planetary gearset and two independent load paths. From the first and second drives, torque can pass to the output via respective first and second paths. The two drives can be coupled to respective elements of the planetary gearset, and the transmission is coupled to a web gear. To start, when torque passes to the output first via a second path gear and thereafter via a first path gear whose ratio is different from that of the second path gear, then before changing from the second path to the first path, the torque passed at the web gear is changed such that if torque desired by the driver is unchanged, despite the change from the second to the first path, the torque acting at the output remains constant.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2019Publication date: December 5, 2019Inventors: Christian MITTELBERGER, Stefan BLATTNER, Kai BORNTRÄGER, Johannes GLÜCKLER, Markus EISELE
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Patent number: 10486518Abstract: A hybrid vehicle transmission (1) having internal combustion engine (8) and electric machine (5). The transmission (1) comprises main transmission (HG) with two parallel partial transmissions; output shaft (4); first (R1), second (R2), third (R3), fourth (R4) and output constant (R5) gear planes each comprising a fixed gear on countershaft (VW) and respective meshing loose gear; first (A), second (B), third (C), fourth (D), fifth (E), sixth (F), seventh (G) and eighth (H) shift elements. Whenever eighth shift element (H) is engaged, the loose gear of fifth gear plane (R5) is engaged with the output shaft (4) of the main transmission (HG), whenever the seventh shift element (G) is engaged, loose gear of fourth gear plane (R4) is engaged with the output shaft (4), and whenever the sixth shift element (F) is engaged, loose gear of fourth gear plane (R4) is engaged with the first transmission input shaft (2).Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2016Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Christian Mittelberger, Stefan Renner, Stefan Blattner
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Publication number: 20190031016Abstract: A method for compensation of a support torque at a combustion engine and transmission which provide an overlay of combustion engine and electric machine. The combustion engine, the electric machine, and a transmission gearset are connected with each other via a planetary gearset, which is positioned in front of a downstream transmission gearset. The invention concerns a transmission gearset of a three-shaft transmission, each with a transmission input shaft for the electric machine, and for the combustion engine, and an output shaft. For the connection or disconnection of the transmission input shaft of the electric machine while driving, the electric machine is used for the synchronization of the input shaft of the electric machine, and the created support torque at the combustion engine is determined, based on this support torque, to match a combustion engine torque and thus to compensate the support torque.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2018Publication date: January 31, 2019Inventors: Johannes GLÜCKLER, Christian MITTELBERGER, Kai BORNTRÄGER, Andreas HEINZLER, Jochen BREUER, Stefan BLATTNER, Thorsten LEIM, Rick HAUSCHWITZ
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Publication number: 20190011017Abstract: A transmission having two clutches which engage to drive respective input shafts coaxially arranged along an input axis on an input side of the transmission. An output shaft outputs drive from both input shafts. The transmission has a plurality of wheel planes and shifting elements. A first countershaft extends along a countershaft axis over all the wheel planes and a coaxial, hollow second countershaft has transmission elements of two wheel planes. A shifting element couples the countershafts. At least six forward gears can be engaged including overdrive and direct gears. An additional gear, having a gear ratio greater than one, can be obtained by actuating only one shifting element. The direct gear can be obtained by actuating one shifting element and the overdrive gear can be engaged by actuating two shifting elements axially arranged on a side of the shifting element that actuates the additional gear facing the input side.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2016Publication date: January 10, 2019Inventors: Stefan BLATTNER, Christian MITTELBERGER
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Publication number: 20180319267Abstract: A hybrid vehicle transmission (1) having internal combustion engine (8) and electric machine (5). The transmission (1) comprises main transmission (HG) with two parallel partial transmissions; output shaft (4); first (R1), second (R2), third (R3), fourth (R4) and output constant (R5) gear planes each comprising a fixed gear on countershaft (VW) and respective meshing loose gear; first (A), second (B), third (C), fourth (D), fifth (E), sixth (F), seventh (G) and eighth (H) shift elements. Whenever eighth shift element (H) is engaged, the loose gear of fifth gear plane (R5) is engaged with the output shaft (4) of the main transmission (HG), whenever the seventh shift element (G) is engaged, loose gear of fourth gear plane (R4) is engaged with the output shaft (4), and whenever the sixth shift element (F) is engaged, loose gear of fourth gear plane (R4) is engaged with the first transmission input shaft (2).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2016Publication date: November 8, 2018Inventors: Johannes KALTENBACH, Christian MITTELBERGER, Stefan RENNER, Stefan BLATTNER
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Publication number: 20180238427Abstract: A double clutch transmission having a first and a second input shaft; a countershaft; a drive output shaft; a first sub-transmission having two gearsets, of which one gearset can be selectively connected to transmit torque between the first input shaft and the countershaft; a second sub-transmission having two gearsets, of which one gearset can be selectively connected to transmit torque between the second input shaft and the countershaft; and a third sub-transmission having one gearset which can be connected to transmit torque between the countershaft and the drive output shaft. In this case, one of the gearsets of the first sub-transmission coincides with one of the gearsets of the second sub-transmission.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2016Publication date: August 23, 2018Inventors: Christian MITTELBERGER, Stefan BLATTNER
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Publication number: 20180058547Abstract: A dual-clutch transmission including first and second sub-transmissions, each having a respective input shaft. The input shafts can be coupled to a drive input shaft via a respective clutch. A transmission output shaft is common to both sub-transmissions. The input shafts are coaxial such that one shaft passing through the other which is hollow. An output shaft extends behind and is coaxial with the input shafts. To provide at least seven fully powershiftable forward gears, the two sub-transmissions together have a total of six wheel planes arranged axially, one behind another, and gearwheels which are associated with the first and second input shafts as well as the output shaft and a countershaft that extends parallel to those shafts. Depending on the shift position of seven interlocking shifting elements of the two sub-transmissions, the gearwheels of the six wheel planes transmit torque from the drive input shaft to the output shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2016Publication date: March 1, 2018Inventors: Stefan BLATTNER, Christian MITTELBERGER