Patents by Inventor Steffen Linkenbach

Steffen Linkenbach 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: 10827356
    Abstract: An electronic device, having a communication module for wireless data communication with a further electronic device, which is distinguished in that the electronic device is configured to use at least one quantitative value in order to characterize a spatial reference of the electronic device to the further electronic device in order to secure the wireless data communication, with the further electronic device. Furthermore, an aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle system having at least one electronic device according to an aspect of the invention as well as a corresponding method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignees: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG, Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Stählin, Klaus Rink, Marc Menzel, Steffen Linkenbach
  • Publication number: 20200077263
    Abstract: An electronic device, having a communication module for wireless data communication with a further electronic device, which is distinguished in that the electronic device is configured to use at least one quantitative value in order to characterize a spatial reference of the electronic device to the further electronic device in order to secure the wireless data communication, with the further electronic device. Furthermore, an aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle system having at least one electronic device according to an aspect of the invention as well as a corresponding method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Ulrich Stählin, Klaus Rink, Marc Menzel, Steffen Linkenbach
  • Patent number: 10196089
    Abstract: A method of controlling a backing system for a vehicle and trailer assembly comprises initiating a backing system mode with an electronic control unit (ECU) for the backing system when a start system input is received from a control device. At least one input is received by the ECU from the control device which includes information about a desired vehicle action. The ECU interprets from the at least one input the desired vehicle action and calculates a required vehicle response to achieve the desired vehicle action. The ECU then sends a request to at least one vehicle system to perform the calculated vehicle response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon Herzog, Andre Payant, Jeremy J. McClain, Ibro Muharemovic, Graham Fletcher, Jeffrey Weber, Dominik Froehlich, Steffen Linkenbach, David Agnew
  • Patent number: 9637102
    Abstract: A brake system includes a brake pedal for actuating a master cylinder having two pistons and corresponding pressure chambers, where the system can be operated in a brake-by-wire mode and also a fallback mode. The system also includes a first electrically controllable pressure source and a second electrically controllable pressure source. The first and second electrically controllable pressure sources each have corresponding output flows that are connected together. The second electrically controllable pressure source can therefore provide output volume flow in the event the first electrically controllable pressure source fails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Stefan A. Drumm, Steffen Linkenbach
  • Patent number: 9415758
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for providing haptic information to the driver of a motor vehicle, equipped with a brake-by-wire brake system, about the operating state of the brake system, in which method the brake pedal characteristic is generated by a pedal travel simulator, in the form of a functional relationship between the brake pedal opposing force and the brake pedal travel, and is modified as a function of an operating state. In order to provide the driver with the haptic information channel via which electronically controlled information can be communicated to the driver during braking, without the impression of a defect arising, the invention proposes that a basic brake pedal characteristic is generated by a passive simulator spring which assigns pedal travel, on which pedal return travel transporting the haptic information is superimposed, to a given pedal force in an unchanging, constant relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Stefan Drumm, Steffen Linkenbach, Marco Besier, Jürgen Böhm, Georg Roll
  • Patent number: 9315180
    Abstract: A brake system for motor vehicles, which brake system can be actuated both by the vehicle driver and also independently of the vehicle driver in a “brake by wire” operating mode, is preferentially operated in the “brake by wire” operating mode, and can be operated in at least one fall-back operating mode in which only operation by the vehicle driver is possible. The brake system has inter alia an electrohydraulic pressure generating device (5) which outputs a brake system pressure, and a pressure modulation unit which has one inlet valve (6a-6d) and one outlet valve (7a-7d) per wheel brake (8, 9, 10, 11) for setting wheel-specific brake pressures derived from the brake system pressure, wherein the inlet and outlet valves (6a-6d, 7a-7d) output or transmit the brake system pressure when in the non-actuated state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG
    Inventors: Johann Jungbecker, Steffen Linkenbach, Stefan A. Drumm, Lothar Schiel, Ronald Bayer, Marco Besier
  • Patent number: 9308905
    Abstract: A motor vehicle brake system actuated in brake-by-wire and fallback operating modes, having a brake master cylinder, brake circuits, a pressure medium storage vessel, a brake pedal, a separating valve for separating the brake circuit into a first section connected to the separating valve the master cylinder, and a second section connected to the separating valve and the wheel brakes. A first pressure provision device has a piston actuated by an actuator, a simulation device connected by a simulator release valve to the master cylinder for a pleasant brake pedal feel in the brake-by-wire operating mode. A first electronic control and regulating unit actuates the first pressure provision device, the separating valves and the simulator release valve. A second pressure provision device has a suction connector and a pressure connector per brake circuit being connected to the inlet of the separating valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG
    Inventors: Harald Biller, Stefan A. Drumm, Marco Besier, Steffen Linkenbach, Christopher Scharf
  • Publication number: 20160096549
    Abstract: A method of controlling a backing system for a vehicle and trailer assembly comprises initiating a backing system mode with an electronic control unit (ECU) for the backing system when a start system input is received from a control device. At least one input is received by the ECU from the control device which includes information about a desired vehicle action. The ECU interprets from the at least one input the desired vehicle action and calculates a required vehicle response to achieve the desired vehicle action. The ECU then sends a request to at least one vehicle system to perform the calculated vehicle response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Brandon Herzog, Andre Payant, Jeremy J. McClain, Ibro Muharemovic, Graham Fletcher, Jeffrey Weber, Dominik Froehlich, Steffen Linkenbach, David Agnew
  • Patent number: 9145121
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a brake system for motor vehicles. The system can be actuated both by a vehicle driver and independently of the vehicle driver in what is known as a brake-by-wire mode. The hydraulic actuation device can be actuated by means of a brake pedal and has a main brake cylinder to which wheel brakes are connected, at least two brake circuits, a simulation device, which comprises at least one elastic element and gives the vehicle driver a comfortable pedal feeling, an electrically controllable pressure-providing device, which is formed by a cylinder/piston assembly, the piston of which can be actuated by an electromagnetic actuator, wherein the first measurement variable (PDBE) characterizing a position of the piston is detected. The detected measurement value of the first and second measurement variable (SDBE, PDBE) are compared to a predetermined characteristic map of the first and second measurement variables in order to monitor a functional status of the brake system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG
    Inventors: Johann Jungbecker, Steffen Linkenbach, Stefan A. Drumm, Marco Besier, Josko Kurbasa, Jochen Führer
  • Patent number: 9145119
    Abstract: A brake system includes a hydraulic actuating unit, which can be actuated by way of a brake pedal, a travel simulator interacting with the hydraulic actuating unit, a pressure medium reservoir under atmospheric pressure assigned to the hydraulic actuating unit, a first electrically controllable pressure supply device, a second electrically controllable pressure supply device, an electronic control unit and an electronically controllable pressure modulation device for setting wheel-specific brake pressures. The brake system preferably operates in a “brake-by-wire” mode but can also operate in a fallback mode. The second electrically controllable pressure supply device can provide boost volume during braking in a fallback mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG
    Inventors: Harald Biller, Hans-Jörg Feigel, Stefan A. Drumm, Steffen Linkenbach, Marco Besier
  • Patent number: 9108604
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a brake system for motor vehicles, includes a master brake cylinder actuated by a brake pedal and separably connected to at least one hydraulically acutuatable wheel brake by at least one brake circuit, a hydraulically operable pedal travel simulator is connectable to the master brake cylinder, an electrically controllable pressure provision apparatus is separably connected to the brake circuit, and an electronic open-loop and closed-loop control unit. Upon brake pedal actuation, a pressure of the pressure provision apparatus is applied to the brake circuit in a first operating mode and the pressure of the master brake cylinder is applied to the brake circuit in a second operating mode. In the event of transition from the second operating mode to the first operating mode while the brake pedal is actuated, the actuation travel of the brake pedal is adjusted by electronic open-loop or closed-loop control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Jürgen Böhm, Johann Jungbecker, Stefan Drumm, Marco Besier, Harald Biller, Zlatko Penzar, Jochen Führer, Steffen Linkenbach
  • Patent number: 9096206
    Abstract: A brake system for motor vehicles comprising a brake master cylinder which can be activated by means of a brake pedal and to which wheel brakes are connected. The brake system also comprises an electrically controllable pressure-generating device, a pressure-regulating valve arrangement to regulate a wheel brake pressure set at a wheel brake, a first electronic control and regulating unit which controls at least one of the pressure-generating device, the pressure-regulating valve arrangement, and an electrically controllable auxiliary pressure-generating device by means of which the brake master cylinder can be activated by means of which a pressure in an intermediate chamber of the brake master cylinder can be controlled or regulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG
    Inventors: Steffen Linkenbach, Stefan Drumm
  • Publication number: 20150061854
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for providing haptic information to the driver of a motor vehicle, equipped with a brake-by-wire brake system, about the operating state of the brake system, in which method the brake pedal characteristic is generated by a pedal travel simulator, in the form of a functional relationship between the brake pedal opposing force and the brake pedal travel, and is modified as a function of an operating state. In order to provide the driver with the haptic information channel via which electronically controlled information can be communicated to the driver during braking, without the impression of a defect arising, the invention proposes that a basic brake pedal characteristic is generated by a passive simulator spring which assigns pedal travel, on which pedal return travel transporting the haptic information is superimposed, to a given pedal force in an unchanging, constant relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Stefan Drumm, Steffen Linkenbach, Marco Besier, Jürgen Böhm, Georg Roll
  • Publication number: 20140368027
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a brake system for motor vehicles, includes a master brake cylinder actuated by a brake pedal and separably connected to at least one hydraulically acutuatable wheel brake by at least one brake circuit, a hydraulically operable pedal travel simulator is connectable to the master brake cylinder, an electrically controllable pressure provision apparatus is separably connected to the brake circuit, and an electronic open-loop and closed-loop control unit. Upon brake pedal actuation, a pressure of the pressure provision apparatus is applied to the brake circuit in a first operating mode and the pressure of the master brake cylinder is applied to the brake circuit in a second operating mode. In the event of transition from the second operating mode to the first operating mode while the brake pedal is actuated, the actuation travel of the brake pedal is adjusted by electronic open-loop or closed-loop control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Jürgen Böhm, Johann Jungbecker, Stefan Drumm, Marco Besier, Harald Biller, Zlatko Penzar, Jochen Führer, Steffen Linkenbach
  • Publication number: 20140225425
    Abstract: A brake system includes a brake pedal for actuating a master cylinder having two pistons and corresponding pressure chambers, where the system can be operated in a brake-by-wire mode and also a fallback mode. The system also includes a first electrically controllable pressure source and a second electrically controllable pressure source. The first and second electrically controllable pressure sources each have corresponding output flows that are connected together. The second electrically controllable pressure source can therefore provide output volume flow in the event the first electrically controllable pressure source fails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Stefan A. Drumm, Steffen Linkenbach
  • Publication number: 20140203626
    Abstract: A brake system includes a hydraulic actuating unit, which can be actuated by way of a brake pedal, a travel simulator interacting with the hydraulic actuating unit, a pressure medium reservoir under atmospheric pressure assigned to the hydraulic actuating unit, a first electrically controllable pressure supply device, a second electrically controllable pressure supply device, an electronic control unit and an electronically controllable pressure modulation device for setting wheel-specific brake pressures. The brake system preferably operates in a “brake-by-wire” mode but can also operate in a fallback mode. The second electrically controllable pressure supply device can provide boost volume during braking in a fallback mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Inventors: Harald Biller, Hans-Jörg Feigel, Stefan A. Drumm, Steffen Linkenbach, Marco Besuer
  • Patent number: 8607920
    Abstract: A steering device for adjusting a wheel turning angle of a wheel of a motor vehicle, in particular of a rear wheel, includes a wheel guide member via which a wheel carrier of the wheel is connected to a vehicle body, the wheel carrier being swivellable about an axis of rotation disposed parallel to the wheel plane and the wheel guide member being articulated to the wheel carrier at a distance from the axis of rotation and being adjustable in length by an electromechanical drive unit, the electromechanical drive unit being connected, on the one hand, via a push rod to a joint at the wheel carrier end in order to form a swivel bearing to establish a connection to the wheel carrier, and, on the other hand, to a joint at the vehicle body end to form a further swivel bearing to establish a connection to the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Johann Jungbecker, Marco Besier, Steffen Linkenbach, Roland Dutoya, Pierre-Philippe Thomy, Frederice Laure
  • Publication number: 20130218407
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a brake system for motor vehicles. The system can be actuated both by a vehicle driver and independently of the vehicle driver in what is known as a brake-by-wire mode. The hydraulic actuation device can be actuated by means of a brake pedal and has a main brake cylinder to which wheel brakes are connected, at least two brake circuits, a simulation device, which comprises at least one elastic element and gives the vehicle driver a comfortable pedal feeling, an electrically controllable pressure-providing device, which is formed by a cylinder/piston assembly, the piston of which can be actuated by an electromagnetic actuator, wherein the first measurement variable (PDBE) characterizing a position of the piston is detected. The detected measurement value of the first and second measurement variable (SDBE, PDBE) are compared to a predetermined characteristic map of the first and second measurement variables in order to monitor a functional status of the brake system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL TEVE AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Johann Jungbecker, Steffen Linkenbach, Stefan A. Drumm, Marco Besier, Josko Kurbasa, Jochen Führer
  • Patent number: 8494718
    Abstract: A steering device for adjusting a wheel steering angle of a wheel of a motor vehicle is disclosed, which steering device has a wheel guide member and a steering control unit. The steering control unit includes a basic steering function and an actuator travel control system for adjusting travel of the wheel guide member on the basis of a steering angle setpoint value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Norman Muth, Steffen Linkenbach, Jürgen Böhm, Tom Kaufmann
  • Patent number: 8308174
    Abstract: A steering device for adjusting a wheel steering angle of a wheel of a motor vehicle is disclosed, which steering device has just one central wheel guide member for changing the wheel steering angle of the wheel and not a plurality of wheel guide members. The length of the wheel guide member can be adjusted, wherein a change in length of the central wheel guide member brings about a change in the wheel steering angle of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & oHG
    Inventors: Norman Muth, Steffen Linkenbach, Johann Jungbecker