Patents by Inventor Stefan Götz

Stefan Götz 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: 12206340
    Abstract: A method for arranging a generalized multilevel converter switching topology with switched capacitors for converting DC current into AC current, wherein the arrangement can be configured with regard to predetermined output voltage levels. With the same number of semiconductor switches, a higher number of voltage levels can be achieved in comparison to previous methods. Depending on the given problem, a maximum output voltage of the AC current may vary from significantly lower values than the input voltage of the DC current up to a multiple of these values. The generalized circuit topology may be adapted to a desired number of voltage levels by a repeatable arrangement of voltage level units that can be arranged in a row and to a multiphase load by a corresponding selection of a number of sub-modules. Furthermore, a modular multilevel converter configured with the circuit topology is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Götz, Nima Tashakor, Farzad Iraji
  • Patent number: 12132183
    Abstract: A method for producing a mechanical and thermal system for a modular battery. The system has a module, which involves a module housing of the module being connected, on a thermally conductive module side, to a cooling apparatus. The module includes an energy storage unit and a power electronics unit, arranged on a circuit board, which are thermally isolated from each other by a first and a second thermally conductive element, which dissipates heat to the module side thermally connected to the cooling apparatus, and are integrated in the module housing, by virtue of the energy storage unit being connected to the first thermally conductive element, which contacts the module side connected to the cooling apparatus, and by virtue of the circuit board and the energy storage unit having the second thermally conductive element arranged between them, which second thermally conductive element contacts the module side connected to the cooling apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Götz, Malte Jaensch, David Kuhn, Patrick Leidig, Tim Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20230344368
    Abstract: A method for arranging a generalized multilevel converter switching topology with switched capacitors for converting DC current into AC current, wherein the arrangement can be configured with regard to predetermined output voltage levels. With the same number of semiconductor switches, a higher number of voltage levels can be achieved in comparison to previous methods. Depending on the given problem, a maximum output voltage of the AC current may vary from significantly lower values than the input voltage of the DC current up to a multiple of these values. The generalized circuit topology may be adapted to a desired number of voltage levels by a repeatable arrangement of voltage level units that can be arranged in a row and to a multiphase load by a corresponding selection of a number of sub-modules. Furthermore, a modular multilevel converter configured with the circuit topology is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Applicant: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Götz, Nima Tashakor, Farzad Iraji
  • Publication number: 20230318432
    Abstract: A method for controlling a modular multi-level converter including a multiplicity of modules having at least one energy storage unit and a plurality of controllable switches. The modular multi-level converter is controlled by pulse-width-modulated control signals. A respective control signal is generated on the basis of a respective carrier signal having a phase shift relative to the respective module, and on the basis of at least one reference signal. As a result of a comparison, based on a size comparison, of a signal profile of the respective carrier signal with the at least one reference signal, a connection time of the at least one energy storage unit of the respective module to a load current is triggered. The signal profile of the respective carrier signal is modified by at least one change within three degrees of freedom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Götz, Tomas Kacetl, Jan Kacetl, Nima Tashakor
  • Publication number: 20230218333
    Abstract: A monitoring unit which is configured to monitor a patient during an operation of a high-frequency surgery device, wherein the high-frequency surgery device is configured to separate and/or coagulate biological tissue by means of high-frequency electrical energy, wherein the monitoring unit has: measuring electrodes which are disposed in a periphery of the patient, and an evaluation and control unit which is configured to impress a predetermined measuring alternating voltage or a predetermined measuring alternating current on the measuring electrodes, and to monitor an impedance decreasing between the measuring electrodes and to monitor a time curve of the impedance and/or to monitor a temporal change thereof
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventors: Stefan Götz, Pascal Albert Scherz, Robert Ludwig Conle
  • Patent number: 11689039
    Abstract: A method for state-of-charge monitoring of an AC battery, in which the battery includes a central controller having a scheduler, measuring sensors and at least two battery modules. The at least two battery modules each have at least one energy storage element and at least two power semiconductor switches, which connect the respective battery module in series or in parallel or in bypass with another battery module. The battery is controlled by the central controller, and a respective switching state of the at least two battery modules is preset by the scheduler. The state-of-charge monitoring is implemented by a control program within the scheduler. During operation of the battery, a state of each individual energy storage element is monitored by virtue of a respective current flow at a respective energy storage element being determined using continued evaluation of measured values of preset battery parameters which are detected by measuring sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Inventors: Eduard Specht, Jan Kacetl, Tomas Kacetl, Malte Jaensch, Daniel Simon, Stefan Götz
  • Patent number: 11660975
    Abstract: A method for AC-charging an intelligent battery pack, which is connected to a charging column and has at least two battery modules, which each comprise at least one energy storage element and at least two power semiconductor switches, which interconnect the respective battery module in series or in parallel with another battery module. The battery pack is connected for charging with alternating current provided by the charging column by a charging circuit, which includes a filter and a rectifier. According to the method, a state of each individual energy storage element is monitored. In accordance with a continued evaluation of the states of the respective energy storage elements, a terminal voltage of the battery pack is adjusted by way of dynamic actuation of the power semiconductor switches to a voltage provided by the rectifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Inventors: Malte Jaensch, Jan Kacetl, Tomas Kacetl, Stefan Götz
  • Patent number: 11632034
    Abstract: A method for switching control of a multi-level converter. The multi-level converter has a plurality of modules. A total switching state is formed from respective module switching states of the plurality of modules by the switching control. A current state of charge of all energy stores of the multi-level converter is provided continuously to the switching control. The switching control is divided into an offline part and an online part, wherein, in the offline part, a plurality of offline switching tables is calculated by way of optimizers in a continuous sequence and, for calculation of a respective offline switching table of the plurality of offline switching tables, a respective cost function is minimized according to at least one predefined offline optimization criterion for evaluating the total switching state. In the online part, an online switching table is selected from the plurality of offline switching tables in a continuous sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Inventors: Tomas Kacetl, Stefan Götz, Jan Kacetl, Daniel Simon, Malte Jaensch, Eduard Specht, Hermann Helmut Dibos, Axel Weyland
  • Patent number: 11569764
    Abstract: A method for configuring a battery for operation of at least two N-phase electric machines, in which a battery includes a plurality of energy modules, and the energy modules each have at least one energy cell and at least two power switches. A respective N-phase electric machine is assigned a respective group of the plurality of energy modules, and the assignment is carried out in accordance with an estimation of a respective energy consumption of the respective N-phase electric machines on the basis of a respective load of the respective N-phase electric machines which load is to be assumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Inventors: Malte Jaensch, Jan Kacetl, Tomas Kacetl, Hermann Helmut Dibos, Eduard Specht, Christian Korte, Stefan Götz
  • Patent number: 11404860
    Abstract: Method for detecting a protective conductor failure inside a cable including a plurality of conductors, in which at least one conductor has a shield and this shield is respectively connected to a potential at a first end and at a second end of the cable, wherein, in order to drive its potential to a predefined potential value, the shield is actively electrically supplied at at least one end of the cable. In this case, the cable may be a charging cable which is connected, by the first end, to a charging pole and is connected, by the second end, to a battery configured to be installed in an electric vehicle, and the shield is actively supplied at the first end of the cable which is connected to the charging pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Götz, Steve Zander
  • Publication number: 20220140632
    Abstract: A method for state-of-charge monitoring of an AC battery, in which the battery includes a central controller having a scheduler, measuring sensors and at least two battery modules. The at least two battery modules each have at least one energy storage element and at least two power semiconductor switches, which connect the respective battery module in series or in parallel or in bypass with another battery module. The battery is controlled by the central controller, and a respective switching state of the at least two battery modules is preset by the scheduler. The state-of-charge monitoring is implemented by a control program within the scheduler. During operation of the battery, a state of each individual energy storage element is monitored by virtue of a respective current flow at a respective energy storage element being determined using continued evaluation of measured values of preset battery parameters which are detected by measuring sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Eduard Specht, Jan Kacetl, Tomas Kacetl, Malte Jaensch, Daniel Simon, Stefan Götz
  • Patent number: 11251735
    Abstract: A control device for an inverter has a first inverter terminal, a second inverter terminal and a plurality of bridge branches, which bridge branches each comprise a first semiconductor, a winding terminal and a second semiconductor switch. The winding terminals are connected to a winding arrangement. The control device is configured to output a control signal which enables a first bridge branch state and a second bridge branch state in the case of at least two of the bridge branches in a first operating state, wherein, in the first bridge branch state, the second semiconductor switch assigned to the bridge branch is switched on, and wherein, in the second bridge branch state, the second semiconductor switch assigned to the bridge branch is switched off. At least two of the bridge branches are occasionally simultaneously in the first bridge branch state, and a change of said at least two bridge branches into the second bridge branch state is subsequently carried out at different points in time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Götz, Till Lütje
  • Patent number: 11223706
    Abstract: In a communication system for vehicle-to-environment communication, data to be transmitted is transmitted wirelessly as data packets. The system includes a communication unit and an application unit which are in contact with one another via an internal communication link, the communication unit having a high-frequency antenna and a transceiver for physical data transmission, in addition to a data processor for controlling the physical transmission. The application unit has at least one data processor configured to execute application programs, to control the access of the application programs to the vehicle-to-environment communication and to execute data communication security applications. The data processor of the application unit is configured to forward the data packets including the routing between communication users and to segment the data stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Stählin, Marc Menzel, Stefan Götz, Martin Schürmeier, Anselm Keil, Sven Kretschmar, Richard Owen, Klaus Rink
  • Patent number: 11220184
    Abstract: A method for controlling the temperature of a changing cable of a fast charging station for fast charging a battery of a vehicle with an electric drive. The method includes the steps of heating the charging cable in order to form an electrical connection of the charging cable to the vehicle, sensing connection of the charging cable to the vehicle, and ending the heating of the charging cable for fast charging the battery of the vehicle. A fast charging station has a charging cable for fast charging a battery of a vehicle with an electric drive. The fast charging station is designed to carry out the above method for controlling the temperature of a charging cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Inventors: Volker Reber, Stefan Götz, Jari Rönfanz
  • Publication number: 20220006373
    Abstract: A method for switching control of a multi-level converter. The multi-level converter has a plurality of modules. A total switching state is formed from respective module switching states of the plurality of modules by the switching control. A current state of charge of all energy stores of the multi-level converter is provided continuously to the switching control. The switching control is divided into an offline part and an online part, wherein, in the offline part, a plurality of offline switching tables is calculated by way of optimizers in a continuous sequence and, for calculation of a respective offline switching table of the plurality of offline switching tables, a respective cost function is minimized according to at least one predefined offline optimization criterion for evaluating the total switching state. In the online part, an online switching table is selected from the plurality of offline switching tables in a continuous sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicant: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Tomas Kacetl, Stefan Götz, Jan Kacetl, Daniel Simon, Malte Jaensch, Eduard Specht, Hermann Helmut Dibos, Axel Weyland
  • Patent number: 11214155
    Abstract: A device for charging at least one battery has an electronics module and at least one charging pillar with a charging point. The electronics module has at least one power electronics unit having an AC/DC converter and a DC/DC converter, wherein the electronics module and the at least one charging pillar are spatially separate from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Inventors: Camila Zies, David Köhler, Raoul Heyne, Volker Reber, Bekim Basha, Christoph Roggendorf, Karsten Hähre, Stefan Götz, Michael Kiefer, Steve Zander, Christian Metzger
  • Patent number: 11180043
    Abstract: A charging cable for an electric car includes an insulating body, a connecting line, and a plug-type connector with contact pins and contact openings. The plug-type connector detachably connects the insulating body to the connecting line via the contact pins and contact openings. Also described is a corresponding charging station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Inventors: Jari Rönfanz, Volker Reber, Stefan Götz
  • Patent number: 11165329
    Abstract: A control circuit for a converter for use in a vehicle, such as an electrically powered vehicle. The converter has at least one controllable power semiconductor device. The control circuit is designed to control a changeover procedure of the at least one controllable power semiconductor device based on a control signal, and the control circuit is designed to control the at least one controllable power semiconductor device based on the control signal by temporally adjusting the behaviour of the at least one controllable power semiconductor device during the changeover procedure while taking a shaping parameter into account. The shaping parameter is a shaping parameter for electromagnetic emissions of the at least one controllable power semiconductor device. Also described is a converter for use in a vehicle having the at least one control circuit of that type, a vehicle having at least one converter of that type, and a corresponding method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Inventor: Stefan Götz
  • Patent number: 11148534
    Abstract: A cooling unit for a charging column includes a heat exchanger with first connections and second connections and that is set up for cooling a closed secondary coolant circuit of the charging column if the first connections are fluidically connected to a common primary coolant circuit of the electric filling station and the second connections are fluidically connected to the secondary coolant circuit. Also described herein is a corresponding charging column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Inventors: Volker Reber, David Köhler, Stefan Götz
  • Patent number: 11152797
    Abstract: A method for DC-charging an intelligent battery pack, which is connected to a charging column and has at least two battery modules. Each battery module includes at least two power semiconductor switches and at least one energy storage element. The battery pack is connected for charging by way of a connection circuit. A state of each individual energy storage element is monitored, wherein, in accordance with a continued evaluation of the states of the respective energy storage elements, a respective series and/or parallel interconnection of the respective battery modules among one another within the battery pack is configured dynamically by way of actuation of the power semiconductor switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Inventors: Malte Jaensch, Jan Kacetl, Tomas Kacetl, Stefan Götz