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).
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Publication number: 20230421149Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2021Publication date: December 28, 2023Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Stefan HAIN, Matthias LOCHNER
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Publication number: 20230301008Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2023Publication date: September 21, 2023Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Stefan HAIN, Ake EWALD
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Patent number: 11746604Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 17, 2018Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: Siemens Energy ASInventors: Jürgen Götz, Stefan Hain, Klaus Ludwig
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Patent number: 11728748Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 29, 2021Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventor: Stefan Hain
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Patent number: 11711027Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 28, 2021Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Fabian Hohmann, Stefan Hain
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Publication number: 20230110879Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2022Publication date: April 13, 2023Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Ake EWALD, Stefan HAIN
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Patent number: 11532995Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 28, 2020Date of Patent: December 20, 2022Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Michael Sperber, Stefan Hain
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Publication number: 20220263429Abstract: 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 mathematType: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2022Publication date: August 18, 2022Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Michael Meiler, Johannes HAGER, Stefan Hain
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Patent number: 11413969Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 24, 2020Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Michael Sperber, Stefan Hain, ChandraGupta Hazarika
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Publication number: 20220254655Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2022Publication date: August 11, 2022Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Ake Ewald, Stefan Hain
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Publication number: 20220201903Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2021Publication date: June 23, 2022Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Ake Ewald, Michael Sperber, Stefan Hain
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Publication number: 20220029526Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2019Publication date: January 27, 2022Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Marco DENK, Stefan HAIN
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Publication number: 20210408941Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2021Publication date: December 30, 2021Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Fabian HOHMANN, Stefan HAIN
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Publication number: 20210408939Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2021Publication date: December 30, 2021Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventor: Stefan HAIN
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Patent number: 11171588Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 18, 2017Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Peter Anders, Stefan Hain
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Publication number: 20210126546Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2020Publication date: April 29, 2021Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Michael Sperber, Stefan Hain
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Publication number: 20210094424Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2020Publication date: April 1, 2021Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Michael Sperber, Stefan Hain, ChandraGupta Hazarika
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Publication number: 20210068310Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2020Publication date: March 4, 2021Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Stefan Hain, Michael Sperber
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Publication number: 20200400467Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2018Publication date: December 24, 2020Applicant: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Jürgen Götz, Stefan Hain, Klaus Ludwig
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Publication number: 20190267923Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2017Publication date: August 29, 2019Applicant: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: PETER ANDERS, STEFAN HAIN