Patents by Inventor Stefan Kammann

Stefan Kammann 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: 9310242
    Abstract: A method for determining the load of a motor vehicle includes the following steps: detecting at least one physical measured variable that depends on the load and generating a measured value that represents the detected measured variable; evaluating the generated measured values in order to determine the load by correlating the generated measured values or the load values determined therefrom with each other in order to produce a correction value from the correlation, with the aid of which an actual load value is determined for the load of the motor vehicle. There is also provided a system for detecting the load of a motor vehicle, and a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Kammann, Michael Borsche, Martin Griesser
  • Patent number: 9050865
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining the mileage of a tire, include measuring a first current mileage over a limited period a first time, measuring a second current mileage over a limited period a second time, providing a measurement-free rest period between the first measurement and the second measurement, and estimating the mileage during the rest period on the basis of the first current mileage and/or the second current mileage. In addition, the method is repeated, with the already performed second measurement replacing the first measurement. Since a supply of power is not needed or at least can be significantly reduced during the rest period, the power requirement for mileage determination during the life of the tire can be significantly reduced, which allows simplified supply of power for mileage determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Kammann
  • Patent number: 8645038
    Abstract: A method for determining a maximum coefficient of friction ?max between a tire and an underlying surface entails empirically determining a reference curve ?ref(S) of a coefficient of friction ?ref as a function of a slip S between the tire and an underlying reference surface, determining a first momentary slip S1 for the tire and a first momentary coefficient of friction ?1 between the tire and the underlying surface at a first instant t1, determining a second momentary slip S2 for the tire and a second momentary coefficient of friction ?2 between the tire and the underlying surface at a second instant t2, computing a slope of the curve ?(S) of the coefficient of friction ? as a function of slip S, and computing the maximum coefficient of friction ?max between the tire and the underlying surface by transforming the reference curve ?ref(S) on the basis of the slope of the curve ?(S).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Kammann, Lothar Keller
  • Patent number: 8626413
    Abstract: A tire module for sensing wheel and/or tire state variables is provided. The module includes at least one acceleration switch which determines a wheel state variable and/or a tire state variable. A method for sensing wheel state variables and/or tire state variables is also provided. In the method, a characteristic variable which is a measure of the length of the contact area of the tire or the contact area run-through time is determined by an acceleration switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventor: Stefan Kammann
  • Patent number: 8400289
    Abstract: Disclosed is a tire pressure monitoring system for motor vehicles, including a central unit (2, 7) with at least one trigger module (4), which is integrated into the central unit or connects through control lines (3) to the central unit, and with at least one tire module (6) arranged in a vehicle wheel (5), with the tire module being in communication with the central unit and the trigger module by means of wireless transmission technology, and with the tire pressure monitoring system including fewer trigger modules than tire modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co, OHG
    Inventors: Andreas Heise, Jens Bachon, Stefan Kammann, Ralf Hartmann, Wolfgang Erler, Markus Neumann, Marco Bös, Peter Säger
  • Patent number: 8291754
    Abstract: A tire module for detecting tire condition variables, the module being mounted on an inside of a tire in an area deformed during tread shuffle and including at least one carrier, on which at least one electronic component is disposed, and at least one piezo-sensitive sensor, the piezo-sensitive sensor being disposed such that it is at least partially deformed during deformation of the tire during tread shuffle, and the deformation of the piezo-sensitive sensor being used to determine at least one shuffle variable, and the tire module including at least one battery for at least partially supplying energy to the at least one electronic component, and to use of the tire module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventor: Stefan Kammann
  • Patent number: 8240198
    Abstract: A method used for determining a profile depth or wear on a tread of a tire of a vehicle, and/or a tire characteristic, a magnetic field being detected by a magnetic field sensor disposed in the interior of the tire, particularly in the area of the tread on the tire interior, or at a distance from the tire, particularly in the area of a wheel housing or a wheel well of the vehicle, the magnetic field being transmitted or changed by at least one indicator element disposed in the tread on the tire exterior. The current wear state of the tread and/or the tire characteristic, particularly a tire type and/or permissible top speed, is determined based on output signals of the magnetic field sensor. The invention further relates to tires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Kai Schade, Andreas Heise, Stefan Kammann
  • Patent number: 8074507
    Abstract: Tire module for the detection of tire state quantities which includes a printed circuit board and a piezoelectric transducer with a housing and at least one transducer element, wherein the transducer element is coupled to piezoelectric material or consists of piezoelectric material, and wherein the piezoelectric transducer is executed as a surface-mounted device (SMD) and as such is mounted on the printed circuit board by terminal areas and is electrically connected to the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Sighard Schräbler, Kai Schade, Stefan Kammann, Markus Neumann, Wolfgang Käfer
  • Patent number: 8035502
    Abstract: A tire module for sensing deflection of a tire and a method of sensing deflection of the tire. The tire module includes a piezoelectric converter that is configured for installation on an inside surface of the tire. The piezoelectric converter includes at least one elastically deformable region that is formed from piezoelectric material. A deflection limiting means is configured to delimit deflection of the elastically deformable region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Andreas Heise, Stefan Kammann
  • Publication number: 20110166761
    Abstract: A method for determining a maximum coefficient of friction ?max between a tire and an underlying surface entails empirically determining a reference curve ?ref(S) of a coefficient of friction ?ref as a function of a slip S between the tire and an underlying reference surface, determining a first momentary slip S1 for the tire and a first momentary coefficient of friction ?1 between the tire and the underlying surface at a first instant t1, determining a second momentary slip S2 for the tire and a second momentary coefficient of friction ?2 between the tire and the underlying surface at a second instant t2, computing a slope of the curve ?(S) of the coefficient of friction ? as a function of slip S, and computing the maximum coefficient of friction ?max between the tire and the underlying surface by transforming the reference curve ?ref(S) on the basis of the slope of the curve ?(S).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Kammann, Lothar Keller
  • Publication number: 20110166825
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining the mileage of a tire, include measuring a first current mileage over a limited period a first time, measuring a second current mileage over a limited period a second time, providing a measurement-free rest period between the first measurement and the second measurement, and estimating the mileage during the rest period on the basis of the first current mileage and/or the second current mileage. In addition, the method is repeated, with the already performed second measurement replacing the first measurement. Since a supply of power is not needed or at least can be significantly reduced during the rest period, the power requirement for mileage determination during the life of the tire can be significantly reduced, which allows simplified supply of power for mileage determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: STEFAN KAMMANN
  • Publication number: 20110113876
    Abstract: A tire module for detecting tire condition variables, the module being mounted on an inside of a tire in an area deformed during tread shuffle and including at least one carrier, on which at least one electronic component is disposed, and at least one piezo-sensitive sensor, the piezo-sensitive sensor being disposed such that it is at least partially deformed during deformation of the tire during tread shuffle, and the deformation of the piezo-sensitive sensor being used to determine at least one shuffle variable, and the tire module including at least one battery for at least partially supplying energy to the at least one electronic component, and to use of the tire module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG.
    Inventor: Stefan Kammann
  • Publication number: 20100276044
    Abstract: A method used for determining a profile depth or wear on a tread of a tire of a vehicle, and/or a tire characteristic, a magnetic field being detected by a magnetic field sensor disposed in the interior of the tire, particularly in the area of the tread on the tire interior, or at a distance from the tire, particularly in the area of a wheel housing or a wheel well of the vehicle, the magnetic field being transmitted or changed by at least one indicator element disposed in the tread on the tire exterior. The current wear state of the tread and/or the tire characteristic, particularly a tire type and/or permissible top speed, is determined based on output signals of the magnetic field sensor. The invention further relates to tires.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventors: Andreas Heise, Stefan Kammann, Kai Schade
  • Publication number: 20100170332
    Abstract: Tire module for the detection of tire state quantities which includes a printed circuit board and a piezoelectric transducer with a housing and at least one transducer element, wherein the transducer element is coupled to piezoelectric material or consists of piezoelectric material, and wherein the piezoelectric transducer is executed as a surface-mounted device (SMD) and as such is mounted on the printed circuit board by terminal areas and is electrically connected to the printed circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Inventors: Stefan Kammann, Sighard Schräbler, Kai Schade, Wolfgang Käfer, Markus Neumann
  • Publication number: 20090299570
    Abstract: A tire module for sensing wheel and/or tire state variables is provided. The module includes at least one acceleration switch which determines a wheel state variable and/or a tire state variable. A method for sensing wheel state variables and/or tire state variables is also provided. In the method, a characteristic variable which is a measure of the length of the contact area of the tire or the contact area run-through time is determined by an acceleration switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventor: Stefan Kammann
  • Publication number: 20090243830
    Abstract: A tire module for sensing deflection of a tire and a method of sensing deflection of the tire. The tire module includes a piezoelectric converter that is configured for installation on an inside surface of the tire. The piezoelectric converter includes at least one elastically deformable region that is formed from piezoelectric material. A deflection limiting means is configured to delimit deflection of the elastically deformable region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG
    Inventors: Andreas Heise, Stefan Kammann
  • Publication number: 20090021363
    Abstract: Disclosed is a tire pressure monitoring system for motor vehicles, including a central unit (2, 7) with at least one trigger module (4), which is integrated into the central unit or connects through control lines (3) to the central unit, and with at least one tire module (6) arranged in a vehicle wheel (5), with the tire module being in communication with the central unit and the trigger module by means of wireless transmission technology, and with the tire pressure monitoring system including fewer trigger modules than tire modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Andreas Heise, Jens Bachon, Stefan Kammann, Ralf Hartmann, Wolfgang Erler, Markus Neumann, Marco Bos, Peter Sager