Patents by Inventor Thomas Proger

Thomas Proger 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: 9209726
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method wherein the speed of the rotor of an electronically commutated synchronous machine is determined or controlled by means of one or more rotor position sensors, in particular, three rotor position sensors that are fixed to the stator, and a time measuring device, wherein the angle traveled by the rotor and the time lapsed during the travel are measured, wherein the measured angle traveled by the rotor is corrected by means of one or more first correction constants, in particular a differential for correcting for the influence of non-uniform positioning or expansion of the position marking of the rotor, and a circuit configuration for actuating an electronically commutated synchronous machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG
    Inventors: Tom Kaufmann, Thomas Pröger, Jochen Leideck, Jan Statzner, Christian Bitsch, Peter Stauder
  • Publication number: 20130300324
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method wherein the speed of the rotor of an electronically commutated synchronous machine is determined or controlled by means of one or more rotor position sensors, in particular, three rotor position sensors that are fixed to the stator, and a time measuring device, wherein the angle traveled by the rotor and the time lapsed during the travel are measured, wherein the measured angle traveled by the rotor is corrected by means of one or more first correction constants, in particular a differential for correcting for the influence of non-uniform positioning or expansion of the position marking of the rotor, and a circuit configuration for actuating an electronically commutated synchronous machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: Continental Teve AG & Co, oHG
    Inventors: Tom Kaufmann, Thomas Pröger, Jochen Leideck, Jan Statzner, Christian Bitsch, Peter Stauder
  • Publication number: 20100137457
    Abstract: A method for converting carbon dioxide in a gaseous environment, including air into useful materials by use of renewable energy sources which comprises: (1) extracting carbon dioxide from a gaseous source using a sorbent such as sodium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, or potassium hydroxide; (2) utilizing wind power, solar power, or other renewable energy sources to regenerate said sorbent by membrane cell electrolysis or other similar method, simultaneously producing hydrogen (H2) gas; (3) releasing carbon dioxide from said sorbent; and (4) utilizing the Fischer Tropsch process, Mobil process, ICI process, or related or similar processes to convert carbon oxides to a hydrocarbon concomittantly with or after effecting the reverse water-gas shift reaction to convert said CO2 and H2 gas into carbon monoxide for reaction in said Fischer Tropsch process, Mobil process or ICI process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventor: Thomas Proger KAPLAN
  • Publication number: 20060232126
    Abstract: In a method for actuating an electrically actuatable parking brake system, the brake torque on the braked wheels is reduced in order to prevent the wheels braked by the parking brake from locking when the vehicle is traveling at a vehicle speed exceeding a predetermined minimum speed and the wheel slip exceeds a defined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Publication date: October 19, 2006
    Inventors: Bernhard Giers, Thomas Pröger, Rainer Klusemann
  • Patent number: 6510372
    Abstract: A method of electronic brake force distribution in a two-axle four-wheel vehicle 1 effects a compensation of the speed differences between left and right vehicle side during cornering. To this end, a compensation speed is calculated for the curve-inward rear wheel 6 and added to the individual wheel speed of the rear wheel 6 to be compared with a vehicle reference speed. The individual wheel reference speed of this wheel, which is this way increased in relation to the individual wheel speed of the curve-inward rear wheel 6, prevents a premature activation of electronic brake force distribution because the produced individual wheel reference speed is closer to the vehicle reference speed than the individual wheel speed. This permits better utilizing brake force during cornering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Markus Zenzen, Thomas Pröger
  • Patent number: 6474149
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of detecting a defective condition on a pressure switch arrangement which at least assumes a defective condition on the said pressure switch assembly whenever a signal arrives at an input of an electronic computing unit which cannot be associated either to the opened or to the closed condition of the pressure switch. Moreover, a defective condition on the pressure switch arrangement mounted in the brake system of a vehicle is assumed, once the pressure switch signal refers to an actuated brake although the vehicle is significantly accelerated. Conversely, a defective condition is also assumed if the vehicle significantly decelerates although the pressure switch signal refers to a lack of brake pressure. Also, an appropriate pressure switch arrangement is provided which, with the pressure switch closed, generates a rectangular signal and, with the pressure switch opened, generates a high level on the input II of an electronic computing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Norbert Ehmer, Thomas Proger, Markus Zenzen
  • Patent number: 6367892
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a brake system with electronic brake force distribution which includes additional criteria of deactivation of the electronic brake force distribution. Deactivation of the electronic brake force distribution is intended to occur, on the one hand, if a pressure increase phase lasts longer than a defined time (50). On the other hand, another criterion of deactivation (60) is deceleration-responsive, and an additional check is made whether or not braking is pedal operated (62).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Thomas Proger, Markus Zenzen
  • Patent number: 6203122
    Abstract: A method of electronic brake force distribution is applied to contribute to vehicle stability even in the event of failure of the system that detects failure of the front-axle brake circuit (13) in a vehicle (1). The method involves initiating a pressure maintenance or pressure reduction phase only after the standards with respect to a minimum vehicle deceleration upon brake circuit failure are met. This way, it is ensured that the standards are observed, on the one hand, and locking of the rear wheels (6,7) before the front wheels (4,5) is prevented with great likelihood, on the other hand. Thus, electronic brake force distribution (EBD) is switched over to less sensitive criteria. This makes allowance for both possibilities in the event of a failure of a pressure switch (15), i.e., that the front-axle brake circuit (13) is intact or that it is defective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Norbert Ehmer, Thomas Pröger, Markus Zenzen
  • Patent number: 6119062
    Abstract: In a brake system with electronic brake force distribution, the electronic brake force distribution is deactivated as soon as the maximum vehicle deceleration achieved during electronic control falls below by a given factor between 0 and 1, for example, two thirds. The purpose is that an early exit from the electronic brake force distribution is effected even if the brake light switch is defective, with the result that unnecessary valve actuations and the risk of underbraking are prevented. The present invention is applicable to brake systems where the criteria for the activation of the electronic brake force distribution are independent of a brake light switch signal, and to other brake systems if there is a defect in the brake light switch. The present invention makes it possible to sense in good time that the driver has taken his/her foot off the brake pedal or no longer desires heavy deceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Thomas Proger, Markus Zenzen
  • Patent number: 6009366
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a brake system which is equipped with anti-lock control (ABS) and a system for electronic control of brake force distribution (EBV). The system includes two brake circuits in a black/white brake circuit split-up, the EBV function or control is principally released only when the vehicle deceleration exceeds a predetermined limit value (GWN). To identify a front-axle brake circuit failure, acceleration criteria, i.e., criteria responsive to the acceleration behavior of the vehicle wheels, are predetermined and monitored. Further, slip range monitoring in conjunction with acceleration range monitoring is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises Inc.
    Inventors: Dieter Burkhard, Norbert Ehmer, Thomas Proger, Alexander Volz, Gerhard Kunz, Helmut Fennel
  • Patent number: 5795039
    Abstract: A circuit for a brake system with pressure fluid distribution, anti-lock control, and traction slip control. The circuit includes circuits to monitor the brake system and to change over or disconnect the control in response to defects and/or the respective control situation or driving situation. Upon failure of any one of the sensors which sense wheel rotation behavior or one sensor per axle or in the presence of an incorrect sensor signal, the vehicle reference speed is produced on basis of the intact sensors, and an electronic brake force distribution control function is still possible, however, an anti-lock control or a traction slip control is prevented. When the defective sensor is a rear-wheel sensor, both rear wheels are controlled synchronously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: ITT Automotive Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Fennel, Norbert Ehmer, Alexander Kolbe, Robert Schmidt, Thomas Proger