Patents by Inventor Stefan Hain

Stefan Hain 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).

  • Publication number: 20230421149
    Abstract: The invention relates to a topological semiconductor switch for power electronics that has at least two power semiconductors, in particular power transistors, characterized in that the topological semiconductor switch has at least one first power semiconductor containing a first semiconductor material, and at least one second power semiconductor containing a second semiconductor material. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Stefan HAIN, Matthias LOCHNER
  • Publication number: 20230301008
    Abstract: A switch module for an inverter includes a high-side switch and a low-side switch, each of which has at least one semiconductor switch, wherein the semiconductor switches are attached to a flat substrate; a DC input connection with a positive DC input contact and a negative DC input contact; an AC output connection for outputting an AC phase current of a multi-phase AC output, which is generated by activating the high-side switch and low-side switch on the basis of the DC input; a micro-heat sink that has a coolant intake, a coolant outlet, and a connecting cooling channel structure between the coolant intake and the coolant outlet; wherein the micro-heat sink is designed such that numerous micro-heat sinks, each of which are dedicated to one of numerous switch modules in the inverter, can be releasably connected to one another for fluid exchange at their respective coolant intake and/or coolant outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Stefan HAIN, Ake EWALD
  • Patent number: 11746604
    Abstract: A subsea housing assembly has a subsea housing with a first and a second housing portion. The first and second housing portions have first and second electrical connections for data communication. A wall separates the first and second housing portions. The assembly has an inductive coupler with first and second coupling sections disposed in the first and second housing portions. The inductive coupler provides inductive coupling across the wall for data communication between the first and second electrical connections. The inductive coupler has inner and outer coils wherein the outer coil at least partly surrounds the inner coil and at least part of the wall extends between the inner and outer coil. Soft magnetic material is arranged around the outer coil and/or inside the inner coil such that the magnetic flux is collected and guided from the outer to the inner coil and/or from the inner to the outer coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Energy AS
    Inventors: Jürgen Götz, Stefan Hain, Klaus Ludwig
  • Patent number: 11728748
    Abstract: A power module for operating an electric vehicle drive, comprising: numerous power switches, each of which has a power semiconductor; a control electronics for controlling the numerous power switches to generate an output current based on an input current; wherein the control electronics also comprises a temperature unit configured to detect an operating voltage and operating current in the power semiconductor, and determine the temperature of the power semiconductor based on the operating voltage and operating current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Stefan Hain
  • Patent number: 11711027
    Abstract: A power module for operating a vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle and/or a hybrid vehicle, comprising numerous semiconductor components, which form at least one topological switch; an input contact for supplying an input current to the semiconductor components; a control electronics for controlling the semiconductor components, to generate an output current based on the input current; an output contact for outputting the output current; wherein the control electronics is configured to set a gate current for one of the semiconductor components based on one or more status parameters for the semiconductor component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Fabian Hohmann, Stefan Hain
  • Publication number: 20230110879
    Abstract: An inverter has at least one current phase along a first axis and an input-side current connection for each phase, for receiving a DC input current. The phase(s) output AC output current generated from the DC input current, which is generated by a semiconductor bridge circuit. An intermediate circuit connected in parallel to the bridge circuit has at least one capacitor and heat sink between the intermediate circuit and the bridge circuit. The bridge circuit lies on the heat sink. The bridge circuit has at least one half bridge for each phase, formed by a high side switch and an opposing low side switch, connected in parallel, and each of the phases is located between the associated high and low side switches and on the heat sink, and each high and low side switch is electrically connected directly to the respective phase via a first electrical contact connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ake EWALD, Stefan HAIN
  • Patent number: 11532995
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic module for an electric drive in a vehicle, comprising an input-side electrical connection for inputting an input current generated by an energy source; an intermediate circuit with a capacitor; a semiconductor bridge circuit, connected in parallel to the intermediate circuit, wherein the bridge circuit comprises a high-side switch, and a low-side switch connected in series to the high-side switch, wherein the high-side switch is connected to the input-side electrical connection via a first current path, wherein the low-side switch is connected to the input-side electrical connection via a second current path, wherein the first current path and the second current path are the same length; and an output-side electrical connection for outputting an output current generated by the bridge circuit from the input current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Michael Sperber, Stefan Hain
  • Publication number: 20220263429
    Abstract: Method for measuring an operating temperature of a power module (10) that is used for operating an electric vehicle drive, the power module (10) comprising a plurality of semiconductor switching elements (14) and drive electronics (16), wherein the semiconductor switching elements (14) can be switched by the drive electronics (16) in such a way that the semiconductor switching elements (14) allow or interrupt a drain-source current in order to convert the direct current fed into the power module (10) at the input side into an output-side alternating current, wherein the method comprises measurement of a voltage present at a point located on a side of a diode (22) that is connected in series with the semiconductor switching element (14) and that faces away from the semiconductor switching element (14), wherein the method comprises measurement of a drain-source current of the semiconductor switching element (14) that is generated by a current source (18), wherein the method comprises determination of a mathemat
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Michael Meiler, Johannes HAGER, Stefan Hain
  • Patent number: 11413969
    Abstract: A control apparatus for operating an electric drive for a vehicle may include one or more power modules, which have one or more power semiconductors; an intermediate circuit capacitor, which is connected in parallel to the power module(s); a cooler for dissipating heat generated by the power module(s); and an interconnect device for obtaining electrical contact to the power module(s), wherein the cooler extends over at least two main planes forming an angle to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Michael Sperber, Stefan Hain, ChandraGupta Hazarika
  • Publication number: 20220254655
    Abstract: A power module for operating an electric vehicle drive may include one or more of the following: a plurality of semiconductor switching elements; a substrate; and a set of drive electronics. A cooling structure with a plurality of cooling channels may be included to cool certain portions of the device. Each semiconductor switching element of the plurality of semiconductor switching elements may be potted with a potting compound, where the cooling structure is attached to the potting compound via a structure formed with additive manufacturing. A method for forming the power module utilizing such additive manufacturing is also contemplated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ake Ewald, Stefan Hain
  • Publication number: 20220201903
    Abstract: A power module for operating an electric vehicle drive may include one or more of the following: a plurality of semiconductor components; an intermediate circuit capacitor connected in parallel to the semiconductor components; a heatsink for the removal of heat generated by the semiconductor components, where the heatsink is located between the semiconductor components and the intermediate circuit capacitor; and an intermediate circuit line that electrically connects the intermediate circuit capacitor to the semiconductor components. The intermediate circuit line may extend perpendicular to a direction of flow for the coolant in the heatsink on a side of the semiconductor components facing away from the heatsink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ake Ewald, Michael Sperber, Stefan Hain
  • Publication number: 20220029526
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for discharging a DC link capacitor, the device having a discharging unit for discharging the DC link capacitor, the discharging unit being connected or connectable between two connection terminals of the DC link capacitor, discharging of the DC link capacitor being controllable by means of a control voltage applied to a control input of the discharging unit. The device also comprises a control unit, which is designed to apply the control voltage to the control input of the discharging unit, wherein the control unit is further designed to vary the control voltage during a discharging process or at the start of a process for discharging the DC link capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Marco DENK, Stefan HAIN
  • Publication number: 20210408941
    Abstract: A power module for operating a vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle and/or a hybrid vehicle, comprising numerous semiconductor components, which form at least one topological switch; an input contact for supplying an input current to the semiconductor components; a control electronics for controlling the semiconductor components, to generate an output current based on the input current; an output contact for outputting the output current; wherein the control electronics is configured to set a gate current for one of the semiconductor components based on one or more status parameters for the semiconductor component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Fabian HOHMANN, Stefan HAIN
  • Publication number: 20210408939
    Abstract: A power module for operating an electric vehicle drive, comprising: numerous power switches, each of which has a power semiconductor; a control electronics for controlling the numerous power switches to generate an output current based on an input current; wherein the control electronics also comprises a temperature unit configured to detect an operating voltage and operating current in the power semiconductor, and determine the temperature of the power semiconductor based on the operating voltage and operating current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Stefan HAIN
  • Patent number: 11171588
    Abstract: An electrical rotating machine includes a machine housing accommodating a rotor, and a stator. In order to allow the method to be carried out without structural changes to the electrical rotating machine a first physical value of the stator and a second physical value of the rotor are measured outside the machine housing, and a state variable of the electrical rotating machine is determined from the first physical value and the second physical value. The state variable, or alternatively the first and second physical value, are sent to a cloud, in particular wirelessly or by hardwired or optical means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Peter Anders, Stefan Hain
  • Publication number: 20210126546
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic module for an electric drive in a vehicle, comprising an input-side electrical connection for inputting an input current generated by an energy source; an intermediate circuit with a capacitor; a semiconductor bridge circuit, connected in parallel to the intermediate circuit, wherein the bridge circuit comprises a high-side switch, and a low-side switch connected in series to the high-side switch, wherein the high-side switch is connected to the input-side electrical connection via a first current path, wherein the low-side switch is connected to the input-side electrical connection via a second current path, wherein the first current path and the second current path are the same length; and an output-side electrical connection for outputting an output current generated by the bridge circuit from the input current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Michael Sperber, Stefan Hain
  • Publication number: 20210094424
    Abstract: A control apparatus for operating an electric drive for a vehicle may include one or more power modules, which have one or more power semiconductors; an intermediate circuit capacitor, which is connected in parallel to the power module(s); a cooler for dissipating heat generated by the power module(s); and an interconnect device for obtaining electrical contact to the power module(s), wherein the cooler extends over at least two main planes forming an angle to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Michael Sperber, Stefan Hain, ChandraGupta Hazarika
  • Publication number: 20210068310
    Abstract: A control apparatus for operating an electric drive for a vehicle may include one or more of the following: a plurality of power module, which has one or more power semiconductors; an intermediate circuit capacitor, which is connected in parallel to the power module; a cooler for dissipating heat generated by the power module; an interconnect device for obtaining electrical contact to the power module, where the interconnect device has a first section and a second section at an angle to the first section, and where the first section and the second section are each perpendicular to a main plane of the power module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Stefan Hain, Michael Sperber
  • Publication number: 20200400467
    Abstract: A subsea housing assembly has a subsea housing with a first and a second housing portion. The first and second housing portions have first and second electrical connections for data communication. A wall separates the first and second housing portions. The assembly has an inductive coupler with first and second coupling sections disposed in the first and second housing portions. The inductive coupler provides inductive coupling across the wall for data communication between the first and second electrical connections. The inductive coupler has inner and outer coils wherein the outer coil at least partly surrounds the inner coil and at least part of the wall extends between the inner and outer coil. Soft magnetic material is arranged around the outer coil and/or inside the inner coil such that the magnetic flux is collected and guided from the outer to the inner coil and/or from the inner to the outer coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jürgen Götz, Stefan Hain, Klaus Ludwig
  • Publication number: 20190267923
    Abstract: An electrical rotating machine includes a machine housing accommodating a rotor, and a stator. In order to allow the method to be carried out without structural changes to the electrical rotating machine a first physical value of the stator and a second physical value of the rotor are measured outside the machine housing, and a state variable of the electrical rotating machine is determined from the first physical value and the second physical value. The state variable, or alternatively the first and second physical value, are sent to a cloud, in particular wirelessly or by hardwired or optical means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: PETER ANDERS, STEFAN HAIN