Patents by Inventor Thomas Mauz

Thomas Mauz 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: 6487485
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling an automatic transmission wherein several shift programs are provided and allocated to specific values of a driving activity characteristic (FAKG) and in each shift program shifting characteristic lines and shifting rotational speeds are determined by accelerator pedal positions. The shifting rotational speeds are immediately increased to higher rotational speeds when the driver quickly depresses the accelerator pedal causing the accelerator pedal position gradient to exceed a presettable limit value. According to the invention, it is proposed that the shifting rotational speeds be determined according to the actual value of the driving activity characteristic by interpolation between shifting characteristic lines from two respective adjacent shift programs and the driving activity characteristic be immediately increased by a presettable offset amount when the accelerator pedal position gradient exceeds the presettable limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Markus Henneken, Friedemann Jauch, Kai-Uwe Herbster, Franz-Josef Schuler, Thomas Mauz
  • Patent number: 6466854
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a high-temperature operating mode of an automatic transmission wherein at least one value of an actual engine (CMO) or transmission (CGT) temperature is continuously measured. In the electronic control unit several gear shift control programs are stored and are accessed at normal operating temperatures according to an evaluation counter provided with a driving activity characteristic. It is proposed that the evaluation counter be provided with a high-temperature operating value (MAX(UDCHMMO, UDCHMGT)) with which is associated a gear shift program which also has temperature-lowering properties when the actual temperature value (CMO, CGT) is higher than a first limit value (MOMIN, GTMIN).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Markus Henneken, Friedemann Jauch, Kai-Uwe Herbster, Franz-Josef Schuler, Thomas Mauz
  • Patent number: 6285940
    Abstract: When a cold start condition exists, an electronic gear control (4) calculates for an automatic transmission (3) driven by an internal combustion engine (1) the energy throughput of the internal combustion engine (1). The energy throughput is added up and compared with a limit value. The shift points of the automatic transmission (3) are pushed up to higher values as long as the calculated value remains less than the limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Markus Henneken, Friedemann Jauch, Kai-Uwe Herbster, Franz-Josef Schuler, Thomas Mauz
  • Patent number: 6263273
    Abstract: In a process for control of an automatic transmission (3) in a vehicle, it is proposed to set an electronic transmission control (4) for a driving state low friction value when slip is detected on the input gears of the vehicle or an ACS deceleration is detected. In an ACS deceleration a meter is determined, via an ACS evaluation function, from the actual acceleration of the vehicle or a parameter (e.g., gear speed increase) corresponding to the actual acceleration. When slip occurs, a meter is determined, via a slip evaluation function, from the theoretical/actual comparison of the vehicle acceleration or a parameter (e.g., torque reserve) corresponding to said comparison. In both an ACS deceleration or when a slip occurs, a winter operation mode is then activated when the meter count exceeds a limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Markus Henneken, Friedemann Jauch, Kai-Uwe Herbster, Franz-Josef Schuler, Thomas Mauz