Patents by Inventor Stefan Seyfferth

Stefan Seyfferth 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: 8538623
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a coolant temperature sensor of a motor vehicle is provided, wherein an actual value (TCOist=TCOSt) of a coolant temperature (TCO) is determined by a coolant temperature sensor when an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle is started (t=tSt), and the coolant temperature sensor is diagnosed as a functional coolant temperature sensor if the actual value (TCOist) of the coolant temperature (TCO) drops briefly (tmin0) when the internal combustion engine is started (t=tSt). A controller, e.g., an engine controller, for performing such method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Eser, Stefan Seyfferth
  • Publication number: 20120330496
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a coolant temperature sensor of a motor vehicle is provided, wherein an actual value (TCOist=TCOSt) of a coolant temperature (TCO) is determined by a coolant temperature sensor when an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle is started (t=tSt), and the coolant temperature sensor is diagnosed as a functional coolant temperature sensor if the actual value (TCOist) of the coolant temperature (TCO) drops briefly (tmin0) when the internal combustion engine is started (t=tSt). A controller, e.g., an engine controller, for performing such method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: Gerhard Eser, Stefan Seyfferth
  • Patent number: 8315782
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has an exhaust gas tract with a first and a second exhaust gas catalyst downstream of the first one, a first exhaust gas sensor, which is disposed upstream or in the first catalyst, and a second exhaust gas sensor, which is disposed downstream of the first catalyst and upstream of the second catalyst. During trailing throttle operation, the measurement signal of the second sensor is monitored for a signal characteristic that is typical of a maximum possible saturation state with oxygen that the first catalyst can achieve, upon which a characteristic variable is determined for a saturation state of the second catalyst with oxygen as a function of an engine operating variable. Outside the trailing throttle operation, an enrichment mode is controlled by enriching the air/fuel mixture, specifically as a function of the characteristic variable for the saturation state of the second catalyst with oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Contitnental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Nicole Fuhrmann, Stefan Seyfferth
  • Publication number: 20120245830
    Abstract: In a method for monitoring a coolant temperature sensor and/or a cylinder head temperature sensor of a motor vehicle, during a start (t=tSt) of an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle an actual value (TCOist=TCOSt) of a coolant temperature (TCO) is determined by a coolant temperature sensor, and an actual value (TCYLHist=TCYLHSt) of the cylinder head temperature (TCYLH) is determined by a cylinder head temperature sensor, wherein the coolant temperature sensor and/or the cylinder head temperature sensor are diagnosed as functional sensors when the actual values (TCOist, TCYLHist) of the coolant temperature (TCO) and the cylinder heat temperature (TCYLH) deviate in the same direction upward in relation to an outside temperature (TAM) and/or an intake air temperature (TIA). By a control device, particularly a motor control device, a method can be and is carried out accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Gerhard Eser, Stefan Seyfferth
  • Patent number: 8224517
    Abstract: In order to diagnose a coolant pump (11) which is provided for the purpose of circulating a coolant in a closed cooling circuit of an internal combustion engine (10) and which can be activated and deactivated independently of the operating state of the internal combustion engine (10), both a value representing the coolant temperature (TCO) of the internal combustion engine (10) and a value representing the cylinder head temperature (TZK) of the internal combustion engine (10) are determined at a predefined time instant (t2) after a cold start of the internal combustion engine (10) has been detected and the values are subsequently compared with each other. The coolant pump (11) is rated in terms of its operational integrity as a function of the result of the comparison. This enables a faulty coolant pump to be detected at a very early stage after a cold start of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Eser, Stefan Seyfferth
  • Publication number: 20110098883
    Abstract: In order to diagnose a coolant pump (11) which is provided for the purpose of circulating a coolant in a closed cooling circuit of an internal combustion engine (10) and which can be activated and deactivated independently of the operating state of the internal combustion engine (10), both a value representing the coolant temperature (TCO) of the internal combustion engine (10) and a value representing the cylinder head temperature (TZK) of the internal combustion engine (10) are determined at a predefined time instant (t2) after a cold start of the internal combustion engine (10) has been detected and the values are subsequently compared with each other. The coolant pump (11) is rated in terms of its operational integrity as a function of the result of the comparison. This enables a faulty coolant pump to be detected at a very early stage after a cold start of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Gerhard Eser, Stefan Seyfferth
  • Publication number: 20110083652
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has an exhaust gas tract with a first and a second exhaust gas catalyst downstream of the first one, a first exhaust gas sensor, which is disposed upstream or in the first catalyst, and a second exhaust gas sensor, which is disposed downstream of the first catalyst and upstream of the second catalyst. During trailing throttle operation, the measurement signal of the second sensor is monitored for a signal characteristic that is typical of a maximum possible saturation state with oxygen that the first catalyst can achieve, upon which a characteristic variable is determined for a saturation state of the second catalyst with oxygen as a function of an engine operating variable. Outside the trailing throttle operation, an enrichment mode is controlled by enriching the air/fuel mixture, specifically as a function of the characteristic variable for the saturation state of the second catalyst with oxygen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Inventors: Nicole Fuhrmann, Stefan Seyfferth