Patents by Inventor Stefan Toepfer
Stefan Toepfer 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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Patent number: 10988075Abstract: A vehicle lighting device includes at least one headlight, a position and/or acceleration sensor, and a control unit for adjusting a light/dark boundary of the headlight. Pitch movements of the vehicle can be detected by the position and/or acceleration sensor, and a change in the light/dark boundary due to the respective pitch movement can be compensated for by the control unit. The position and/or acceleration sensor and the control unit are arranged in the headlight or directly on the headlight.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2018Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: DAIMLER AGInventors: Axel Mueller, Marc Necker, Stephan Finn, Katharina Wagner, Stefan Töpfer, Joerg Moisel, Björn Böke, Marcus Fiege, Ismail Kilic, Carsten Lorenz
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Publication number: 20200198525Abstract: A vehicle lighting device includes at least one headlight, a position and/or acceleration sensor, and a control unit for adjusting a light/dark boundary of the headlight. Pitch movements of the vehicle can be detected by the position and/or acceleration sensor, and a change in the light/dark boundary due to the respective pitch movement can be compensated for by the control unit. The position and/or acceleration sensor and the control unit are arranged in the headlight or directly on the headlight.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2018Publication date: June 25, 2020Inventors: Axel MUELLER, Marc NECKER, Stephan FINN, Katharina WAGNER, Stefan TÖPFER, Joerg MOISEL, Björn BÖKE, Marcus FIEGE, Ismail KILIC, Carsten LORENZ
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Patent number: 9261312Abstract: A propulsion system for an electric vehicle includes a battery pack having at least one battery cell. A cooling system includes a cooling plate abutting the battery cell. A heat sink is in thermal communication with the cooling plate by at least one carbon fiber brush coupled to at least one of the cooling plate and the heat sink.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2014Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Axel Heise, Alastair Gordon Anderson, Stefan Toepfer
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Publication number: 20150104688Abstract: A propulsion system for an electric vehicle includes a battery pack having at least one battery cell. A cooling system includes a cooling plate abutting the battery cell. A heat sink is in thermal communication with the cooling plate by at least one carbon fiber brush coupled to at least one of the cooling plate and the heat sink.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2014Publication date: April 16, 2015Inventors: Axel Heise, Alastair Gordon Anderson, Stefan Toepfer
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Patent number: 8945749Abstract: A cooling system includes a cooling plate configured to abut a battery cell. A heat sink is in thermal communication with the cooling plate by at least one carbon fiber brush, the carbon fiber brush coupled to one of the cooling plate and the heat sink and flexible at a free end.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2011Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Axel Heise, Alastair Gordon Anderson, Stefan Toepfer
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Patent number: 8940425Abstract: Plate assemblies for a heat exchanger suitable for use in a battery assembly are provided. A plate assembly can include a first substantially planar member having a first side, a second side, a first opening, and a second opening. A first conduit extends from the first opening on the first side and a second conduit extends from the second opening on the first side. A first spacer extends from the second side. Some plate assemblies include a second substantially planar member having a third side, a fourth side, a third opening, and a fourth opening. The third side faces the first side, the first conduit connects the first opening on the first side and the third opening on the third side, and the second conduit connects the second opening on the first side and the fourth opening on the third side. A second spacer extends from the fourth side.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2012Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Stefan Toepfer
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Patent number: 8841016Abstract: A battery module is described. The battery module includes a plurality of battery cells; a plurality of cooling fin assemblies, each cooling fin assembly positioned between two battery cells, the cooling fin assemblies comprising at least one cooling fin and a foot on at least one side of the cooling fin assemblies, the foot having a bottom and interlocking profiles on each end, the interlocking profiles on adjacent feet of the cooling fin assemblies interlocking the feet and forming a surface; and a heat sink contacting the surface of the interlocked feet. A method of cooling a battery module is also described.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2011Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Alastair Gordon Anderson, Reiner Essinger, Peter Gross, Axel Heise, Joachim Lauk, Ralf Lerch, Manfred Mohr, Stefan Toepfer
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Patent number: 8592069Abstract: Systems and apparatus for securing a battery within a vehicle, such as a battery for an electric vehicle. In some embodiments, a vehicle battery system may be provided that comprises a battery frame for housing a vehicle battery. A tray may be provided that is configured for receiving the battery frame housing the vehicle battery. One or more securement members may be coupled with the tray and configured to engage an upper surface of a portion, such as a foot section, of the battery. The securement member(s) may be configured to engage the battery so as to at least substantially prevent the battery from moving relative to the tray. The securement member may thereby accommodate batteries of different sizes to allow for decreased tolerance requirements.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2012Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Alastair Gordon Anderson, Ralf Lerch, Stefan Toepfer
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Publication number: 20130189556Abstract: Plate assemblies for a heat exchanger suitable for use in a battery assembly are provided. A plate assembly can include a first substantially planar member having a first side, a second side, a first opening, and a second opening. A first conduit extends from the first opening on the first side and a second conduit extends from the second opening on the first side. A first spacer extends from the second side. Some plate assemblies include a second substantially planar member having a third side, a fourth side, a third opening, and a fourth opening. The third side faces the first side, the first conduit connects the first opening on the first side and the third opening on the third side, and the second conduit connects the second opening on the first side and the fourth opening on the third side. A second spacer extends from the fourth side.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2012Publication date: July 25, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventor: Stefan Toepfer
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Publication number: 20130157100Abstract: A cooling system includes a cooling plate configured to abut a battery cell. A heat sink is in thermal communication with the cooling plate by at least one carbon fiber brush coupled to at least one of the cooling plate and the heat sink. The cooling system may be employed in a battery pack for a propulsion system of an electric vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2011Publication date: June 20, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Axel HEISE, Alastair Gordon ANDERSON, Stefan TOEPFER
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Publication number: 20120107649Abstract: A battery module is described. The battery module includes a plurality of battery cells; a plurality of cooling fin assemblies, each cooling fin assembly positioned between two battery cells, the cooling fin assemblies comprising at least one cooling fin and a foot on at least one side of the cooling fin assemblies, the foot having a bottom and interlocking profiles on each end, the interlocking profiles on adjacent feet of the cooling fin assemblies interlocking the feet and forming a surface; and a heat sink contacting the surface of the interlocked feet. A method of cooling a battery module is also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2011Publication date: May 3, 2012Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Alastair Gordon Anderson, Reiner Essinger, Peter Gross, Axel Heise, Joachim Lauk, Ralf Lerch, Manfred Mohr, Stefan Toepfer
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Patent number: 8146392Abstract: A latch has a housing and a dead bolt shiftable on the housing between extended and retracted positions. A latch nut is rotatable on the housing and connectable to door handles and carries actuating and panic levers. An actuating element is connected between the dead bolt and the actuating lever, and a panic element is connected between the panic lever and a locking pawl and is movable between an unactuated position and an actuated position to shift the locking pawl into an unlocked position. A key cylinder on the housing has a movable actuating lug movable between a locking end positing and a freeing end position. A pivotal locking pawl is shiftable by movement the actuating lug of the key cylinder into a locked position blocking movement of the actuating element and holding the dead bolt in the extended position and an unlocked position freeing the bolt and actuating element.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2007Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Carl Fuhr GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Stefan Töpfer