Patents by Inventor Thomas Rauner

Thomas Rauner 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: 11575273
    Abstract: A method and apparatus (100) are provided for charging a vehicle battery (108). The apparatus (100) includes a controller (102) designed to influence a charging process of the vehicle battery (108). The apparatus (100) further has a switching device (104) to transmit a signal to the controller (102) in response to operation of the switching device (104) by a user. The controller (102) is designed to influence the vehicle battery (108) before the charging process in response to receiving the signal depending on at least one desired state for the charging process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Dr, Ing. h. c. F. Porsche AG
    Inventor: Thomas Rauner
  • Publication number: 20210001743
    Abstract: A method and apparatus (100) are provided for charging a vehicle battery (108). The apparatus (100) includes a controller (102) designed to influence a charging process of the vehicle battery (108). The apparatus (100) further has a switching device (104) to transmit a signal to the controller (102) in response to operation of the switching device (104) by a user. The controller (102) is designed to influence the vehicle battery (108) before the charging process in response to receiving the signal depending on at least one desired state for the charging process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventor: Thomas Rauner
  • Patent number: 10328926
    Abstract: A method for operating a hybrid vehicle, wherein the hybrid vehicle has an electric engine, an electric traction energy accumulator interacting with the electric engine, an internal combustion engine, and a fuel tank interacting with the internal combustion engine, includes starting from a purely electric driving mode in which the internal combustion engine is shut down and in which a shut-off valve of the fuel tank is closed, opening the shut-off valve of the fuel tank and starting up the internal combustion engine depending on defined operating conditions. The defined operating conditions include a current charging state of the traction energy accumulator and a current pressure in the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Thomas Rauner, Thomas Beck, Francesco Piccolo
  • Publication number: 20180093658
    Abstract: A method for operating a hybrid vehicle, wherein the hybrid vehicle has an electric engine, an electric traction energy accumulator interacting with the electric engine, an internal combustion engine, and a fuel tank interacting with the internal combustion engine, includes starting from a purely electric driving mode in which the internal combustion engine is shut down and in which a shut-off valve of the fuel tank is closed, opening the shut-off valve of the fuel tank and starting up the internal combustion engine depending on defined operating conditions. The defined operating conditions include a current charging state of the traction energy accumulator and a current pressure in the fuel tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Rauner, Thomas Beck, Francesco Piccolo
  • Patent number: 9790866
    Abstract: A fuel removal method is for an internal combustion engine that has a closed- and open-loop control system and a lubricant circuit containing a lubricant. The closed- and open-loop control system has characteristic values for operation of the internal combustion engine. The method includes carrying out a load point shift starting from a first operating point of the internal combustion engine to a second operating point of the internal combustion engine with the aid of the closed- and open-loop control system. The load point shift is carried out when a fuel characteristic value, which characterizes a fuel quantity formed in the lubricant, is greater than or equal to a fuel threshold value. The second operating point having a second scavenging gradient which is greater than a first scavenging gradient of the first operating point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Markus Sitzler, Thomas Rauner
  • Publication number: 20160138487
    Abstract: A fuel removal method is for an internal combustion engine that has a closed- and open-loop control system and a lubricant circuit containing a lubricant. The closed- and open-loop control system has characteristic values for operation of the internal combustion engine. The method includes carrying out a load point shift starting from a first operating point of the internal combustion engine to a second operating point of the internal combustion engine with the aid of the closed- and open-loop control system. The load point shift is carried out when a fuel characteristic value, which characterizes a fuel quantity formed in the lubricant, is greater than or equal to a fuel threshold value. The second operating point having a second scavenging gradient which is greater than a first scavenging gradient of the first operating point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Markus Sitzler, Thomas Rauner
  • Patent number: 9174625
    Abstract: To improve the purification action of a catalytic converter that is being heated but has not yet reached a desired operating temperature, the internal combustion engine is driven by an electric machine to convey a flow of heating medium through a catalytic converter for heating purposes before the internal combustion engine is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Daniel Baum, Thomas Rauner
  • Patent number: 9050976
    Abstract: A method for operating a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electric machine, wherein the hybrid vehicle can be driven purely electrically if the internal combustion engine fails because, for example, a fuel tank for supplying the internal combustion engine with fuel is empty. In the event of failure of the internal combustion engine, continued purely electric travel of the hybrid vehicle is made possible only on condition that a restart of the hybrid vehicle is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Krauss, Thomas Rauner, Marcos Remedios Marques
  • Publication number: 20140324317
    Abstract: A display device for presenting vehicle variables for a motor vehicle, wherein the display device has a display unit for displaying the vehicle variables, a first selection module for selecting vehicle variables to be displayed and at least one interface to at least one vehicle device of the motor vehicle, wherein the selected vehicle variables to be displayed can be retrieved from the vehicle device via the interface and can be displayed on the display unit and a corresponding method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Heiko SCHILLING, Thomas Rauner
  • Patent number: 8851217
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle has an internal combustion engine, at least one electric drive motor and a starter. The internal combustion engine optionally can be started by the starter or the electric drive motor. However, the internal combustion engine is started by the starter when the vehicle is already being driven by the electric drive motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. H.C.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Werner Schiek, Thomas Rauner, Immo Stache, Markus Goehring, Leo Spiegel
  • Patent number: 8838307
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has two drive units that can be operated jointly or individually to generate drive torque. The motor vehicle also has a device for predefining a driver's request. The device for predefining the driver's request is embodied so that a force level (K) with an increased restoring force is present within an adjustment range of the device. A control unit processes the driver's request and generates a control signal for actuating the drive units. The control unit operates so that, starting from a driving mode in which only one drive unit for generating a positive drive torque is active, switching over occurs from one drive unit to the other or the other drive unit also is activated when the force level is exceeded. At least one feature that characterizes the force level (K) can be varied based peripheral conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Rauner, Philipp Soell
  • Patent number: 8825245
    Abstract: A method is provided to prevent an undesirable flooding or breaching of an activated charcoal filter during the operation of a hybrid vehicle or of a motor vehicle with automatic start/stop. The method includes monitoring during the operation of the vehicle at least one factor that has an effect on the fuel evaporation and using the monitored factor to prevent an undesirable flooding or breaching of the activated charcoal filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Inventors: Thomas Rauner, Josef Oesterle, Andreas Menke
  • Patent number: 8818594
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a hybrid vehicle (1) having an internal combustion engine (2), an electric machine (4) and having a regenerable filter device that absorbs fuel vapors from a fuel tank of the internal combustion engine. To improve the reproducible operation of a hybrid vehicle with an internal combustion engine and an electric machine, in a purely electric driving mode in which the hybrid vehicle (1) is driven only by the electric machine (4), the regenerable filter device is rinsed by switching on the internal combustion engine (2) with a scavenging strategy that is dependent on the velocity of the hybrid vehicle (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christoph Baumann, Thomas Rauner, Stefan Fischer
  • Patent number: 8781667
    Abstract: A method for noise reduction in a motor vehicle that has a hybrid drive and includes an internal combustion engine and at least two electric machines including a first electric machine on a front axle of the motor vehicle and a second electric machine on a rear axle of the motor vehicle. The method includes automatically cutting in the at least two electric machines as a function of a required drive torque and an expected noise emission associated with the required drive torque, in a case of sole operation of the internal combustion engine, so as to reduce the load of the internal combustion engine. Torque distribution is carried out variably between the front axle and rear axle of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. H.C. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Wimmer, Wolfgang Held, Heiko Mayer, Thomas Rauner
  • Patent number: 8726887
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a hybrid vehicle (1) having an internal combustion engine (2) and an electric machine (4) that can be used individually or jointly to drive at least one axle (9, 10) of the hybrid vehicle (1) by connecting a clutch (15), and having a regeneratable filter device that takes up fuel vapors from a fuel tank of the internal combustion engine (2). To improve the comfort in a purely electric driving mode and/or to improve the reproducible operation of a hybrid vehicle during a special exhaust gas test, in a purely electric driving mode in which the hybrid vehicle (1) is driven only by the electric machine (4), the internal combustion engine (2) is switched on with the clutch (15) open to regenerate the filter device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Dr. Ing h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Thomas Rauner
  • Patent number: 8731755
    Abstract: A drive device for a hybrid vehicle, which has a first driven axle and a second driven axle, including: a first motor/generator unit, which is connected to the first driven axle; an internal combustion engine unit, which is connected in a rotationally fixed fashion to a differential/transmission unit which is connected to the rear axle; a second motor/generator unit, which is connected in a rotationally fixed fashion to the differential/transmission unit, parallel to the internal combustion engine unit; a clutch unit, which is designed to disconnect and connect a force flux between the differential/transmission unit and the second driven axle; and a control unit, which actuates the clutch unit, the internal combustion engine unit, the first motor/generator unit and the second motor/generator unit as a function of predefined operating states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Thomas Rauner
  • Patent number: 8706337
    Abstract: A method for operating a hybrid vehicle having a first driven axle (10) that can be driven exclusively electrically by at least one first electric machine (14) assigned to the first axle (10), and having a second driven axle (12) that can be driven by at least one second electric machine (16) assigned to the second axle (12) and/or by an internal combustion engine (15) assigned to the second axle (12). During each current driving cycle of the hybrid vehicle a kilometer reading/mileage reading, or a variable representing the kilometer reading/mileage reading, of the hybrid vehicle is determined, and an operating strategy is determined for a subsequent new driving cycle of the hybrid vehicle on the basis of the kilometer reading/mileage reading, or the variable representing the kilometer reading/mileage reading, of the previous driving cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Rauner, Sebastian Neu
  • Publication number: 20140074335
    Abstract: A method for operating a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electric machine, wherein the hybrid vehicle can be driven purely electrically if the internal combustion engine fails because, for example, a fuel tank for supplying the internal combustion engine with fuel is empty. In the event of failure of the internal combustion engine, continued purely electric travel of the hybrid vehicle is made possible only on condition that a restart of the hybrid vehicle is initiated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas KRAUSS, Thomas RAUNER, Marcos Remedios MARQUES
  • Patent number: 8528527
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has an internal combustion engine, a fuel tank and a tank ventilation device. The fuel tank is connected via a first and second tank ventilation lines to an intake tract of the internal combustion engine. A hydrocarbon store has first and second chambers separated by a diaphragm. The first chamber is connected in communicating fashion to the first tank ventilation line and the second chamber is connected in communicating fashion to the second tank ventilation line. Valves are arranged in the first tank ventilation line upstream and downstream of the first chamber. A valve is arranged in the second tank ventilation line between the second chamber and the intake tract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.f. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Rauner, Stefan Fischer
  • Publication number: 20120316718
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a hybrid vehicle (1) having an internal combustion engine (2), an electric machine (4) and having a regenerable filter device that absorbs fuel vapors from a fuel tank of the internal combustion engine. To improve the reproducible operation of a hybrid vehicle with an internal combustion engine and an electric machine, in a purely electric driving mode in which the hybrid vehicle (1) is driven only by the electric machine (4), the regenerable filter device is rinsed by switching on the internal combustion engine (2) with a scavenging strategy that is dependent on the velocity of the hybrid vehicle (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Christoph Baumann, Thomas Rauner, Stefan Fischer