Patents by Inventor Thomas Zein

Thomas Zein 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).

  • Publication number: 20240328334
    Abstract: A method for heating an exhaust system downstream from an internal combustion engine using an electrical heating device. The method includes an ascertainment of a current temperature in the exhaust system, an ascertainment of a current temperature of the electrical heating device and a fluid mass flow flowing through the electrical heating device, an ascertainment of a heating requirement based on the ascertained current temperature and a target temperature, a calculation of a required amount of heat depending on the heating requirement and an amount of energy required to heat up the electrical heating device, taking into account a heat input into the fluid mass flow to be expected at the ascertained current temperature of the electrical heating device, and a control of the electrical heating device to generate the calculated amount of heat. A computing unit and a computer program are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventors: Jonas Ernst, Michael Bachner, Tahir Harman, Thomas Zein
  • Patent number: 12104511
    Abstract: A method for calculating reaction heat in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine by means of a model, comprising a first model component and a second model component, wherein the first model component refers to a calculation of exhaust components flowing from valves of the internal combustion engine, the second model component relates to the entire exhaust system, and total masses from the first model component are divided along the exhaust system onto the individual components of the exhaust system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Elke Baeder, Sascha Giese, Thomas Zein, Michael Stein, Patrick Thierfelder
  • Patent number: 12092001
    Abstract: A method for controlling an internal combustion engine including at least one exhaust-gas aftertreatment component having an electric heating element, the electric heating element heating the exhaust-gas aftertreatment component and the exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust-gas aftertreatment component, the electric heating element briefly or permanently being acted upon by a heating current, a gas, in particular fresh air and/or exhaust gas, flowing downstream through the exhaust-gas path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Zein, Andreas Fritsch, Michael Bachner
  • Publication number: 20240210280
    Abstract: A method for determining a nitrogen oxide emission and an ammonia emission in the combustion exhaust gas of an engine system having an exhaust-gas-guided internal combustion engine using an output-side nitrogen oxide sensor having a cross-sensitivity to ammonia. The method including: detecting a measurement signal of the nitrogen oxide sensor; ascertaining a partial conversion indication for each of multiple catalytic converter segments arranged in series in the combustion exhaust gas depending on local operating conditions with the aid of a provided conversion model that maps a local operating condition on the partial conversion indication; determining a conversion indication from the multiple partial conversion indications; and ascertaining a nitrogen oxide emission and an ammonia emission depending on the measurement signal and the conversion indication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2023
    Publication date: June 27, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas Zein, Yunjie Lian, Frank Meier, Gunther Kegel
  • Publication number: 20240209767
    Abstract: A method for calculating reaction heat in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine by means of a model, comprising a first model component and a second model component, wherein the first model component refers to a calculation of exhaust components flowing from valves of the internal combustion engine, the second model component relates to the entire exhaust system, and total masses from the first model component are divided along the exhaust system onto the individual components of the exhaust system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2023
    Publication date: June 27, 2024
    Inventors: Elke Baeder, Sascha Giese, Thomas Zein, Michael Stein, Patrick Thierfelder
  • Patent number: 11933206
    Abstract: A method for determining a conversion capability of one or multiple exhaust gas catalytic converters, downstream from an internal combustion engine. The method includes ascertaining a respective local temperature at multiple locations within the one or the multiple catalytic converters, ascertaining a local conversion capability for a section or a partial volume of the one or the multiple catalytic converters based on the local temperature, and ascertaining a global conversion capability of the one or the multiple catalytic converters based on the ascertained local conversion capabilities. A processing unit and a computer program product for carrying out such a method are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Zein, Jan Kappa, Markus Thanner
  • Publication number: 20240035408
    Abstract: A method for controlling an internal combustion engine including at least one exhaust-gas aftertreatment component having an electric heating element, the electric heating element heating the exhaust-gas aftertreatment component and the exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust-gas aftertreatment component, the electric heating element briefly or permanently being acted upon by a heating current, a gas, in particular fresh air and/or exhaust gas, flowing downstream through the exhaust-gas path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas Zein, Andreas Fritsch, Michael Bachner
  • Patent number: 11834977
    Abstract: A method (200) for heating an exhaust system (120) downstream of an internal combustion engine (1) by means of an electric heating device (14, 15). In one example, the method includes determining a current temperature (t_EHC, t_EHC{circumflex over (?)}Us, t_Cat) in the exhaust system (120), determining a heating demand (t_EHC{circumflex over (?)}Des) based on the determined current temperature (t_Cat) and a target temperature, calculating a required amount of heat (Pwr{circumflex over (?)}Des) on the basis of the heating demand and an amount of energy required to heat the electric heating device (14, 15), and controlling (Pwr{circumflex over (?)}Req) the electric heating device (14, 15) to generate the calculated amount of heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Bachner, Jonas Ernst, Rolf-Dieter Koch, Tahir Harman, Thomas Zein, Uwe Kossatz
  • Publication number: 20230151752
    Abstract: A method (200) for heating an exhaust system (120) downstream of an internal combustion engine (1) by means of an electric heating device (14, 15). In one example, the method includes determining a current temperature (t_EHC, t_EHC{circumflex over (?)}Us, t_Cat) in the exhaust system (120), determining a heating demand (t_EHC{circumflex over (?)}Des) based on the determined current temperature (t_Cat) and a target temperature, calculating a required amount of heat (Pwr{circumflex over (?)}Des) on the basis of the heating demand and an amount of energy required to heat the electric heating device (14, 15), and controlling (Pwr{circumflex over (?)}Req) the electric heating device (14, 15) to generate the calculated amount of heat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Bachner, Jonas Ernst, Rolf-Dieter Koch, Tahir Harman, Thomas Zein, Uwe Kossatz
  • Publication number: 20230032803
    Abstract: A method for determining a conversion capability of one or multiple exhaust gas catalytic converters, downstream from an internal combustion engine. The method includes ascertaining a respective local temperature at multiple locations within the one or the multiple catalytic converters, ascertaining a local conversion capability for a section or a partial volume of the one or the multiple catalytic converters based on the local temperature, and ascertaining a global conversion capability of the one or the multiple catalytic converters based on the ascertained local conversion capabilities. A processing unit and a computer program product for carrying out such a method are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas Zein, Jan Kappa, Markus Thanner
  • Publication number: 20180313290
    Abstract: A method for ascertaining a gas concentration in a measuring gas with the aid of a gas sensor. In a first operating mode of an internal combustion engine, in which the gas concentration in the measuring gas is known, a plurality of value pairs of a respective gas concentration signal and a pressure signal are detected. Proceeding from these value pairs, a compensation parameter and a scaling factor of the gas sensor are ascertained. Subsequently, in a second operating mode of the internal combustion engine, the ascertainment of a gas concentration to be determined takes place, based on a gas concentration signal measured in the second operating mode of the internal combustion engine, and taking the compensation parameter and the scaling factor of the gas sensor into consideration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas ZEIN, Albrecht SCHMIDT, Martin ELMER
  • Publication number: 20160265413
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a particulate filter in the exhaust duct of an internal combustion engine operated with gasoline, as a device for implementing the method are described. A first exhaust-gas temperature is determined upstream of the particulate filter and a second exhaust-gas temperature is determined downstream from the particulate filter, and a presence and/or a correct functioning of the particulate filter is inferred from a difference between the first and the second exhaust-gas temperature or from a differing time characteristic curve of the first and the second exhaust-gas temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Markus Willimowski, Enno Baars, Torsten Handler, Klaus Winkler, Thomas Zein
  • Patent number: 8833061
    Abstract: A method and device for regenerating an exhaust gas aftertreatment component for filtering soot particles in an engine having a first cylinder group, exhaust gases being guided through an exhaust gas channel and whose fuel/air mixture ratio is set via a fuel metering system, activated via a control unit, by a control loop for setting a lambda value using a signal of a first exhaust gas sensor, in the exhaust gas flow direction upstream from a catalytic converter, having at least another cylinder group, exhaust gases being guided through another exhaust gas channel and whose fuel/air mixture ratio is set via another fuel metering system by another control loop for setting another lambda value based on the signal of another exhaust gas sensor, in the exhaust gas flow direction upstream from a catalytic converter, the separate channels joined together downstream to form a shared channel, having a shared catalytic converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Winkler, Thomas Zein
  • Publication number: 20130092135
    Abstract: In a method for operating an internal combustion engine, a measured NOx actual value is compared to an NOx setpoint value, and an exhaust gas recirculation is controlled as a function of a deviation of the NOx actual value from the NOx setpoint value. Respective portions of internally recirculated exhaust gases and externally recirculated exhaust gases of a total of recirculated exhaust gases are adjusted for controlling the exhaust gas recirculation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventors: Guido Porten, Klaus Winkler, Thomas Zein, Uwe Mueller
  • Publication number: 20120260631
    Abstract: A method and device for regenerating an exhaust gas aftertreatment component for filtering soot particles in an engine having a first cylinder group, exhaust gases being guided through an exhaust gas channel and whose fuel/air mixture ratio is set via a fuel metering system, activated via a control unit, by a control loop for setting a lambda value using a signal of a first exhaust gas sensor, in the exhaust gas flow direction upstream from a catalytic converter, having at least another cylinder group, exhaust gases being guided through another exhaust gas channel and whose fuel/air mixture ratio is set via another fuel metering system by another control loop for setting another lambda value based on the signal of another exhaust gas sensor, in the exhaust gas flow direction upstream from a catalytic converter, the separate channels joined together downstream to form a shared channel, having a shared catalytic converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: Klaus Winkler, Thomas Zein
  • Patent number: 8286618
    Abstract: A device and a method for controlling an internal combustion engine are provided, in which the fuel quantity to be injected is controlled as a function of a Lambda signal. A setpoint value for the Lambda signal is specified on the basis of at least one maximally permitted exhaust-gas temperature value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Michalske, Thomas Zein, Sascha-Juan Moran Auth
  • Patent number: 8095296
    Abstract: The invention concerns a procedure and a device for an adaptation of a dynamic model of an exhaust gas probe, which is a component of an exhaust pipe of a combustion engine and with which a lambda value is determined for regulating an air-fuel composition, whereby a simulated lambda value is calculated parallel to that in a control unit or in a diagnosing unit of the combustion engine and an application function uses the simulated and the measured lambda value. According to the invention it is thereby provided that a jump behavior of the exhaust gas probe is determined during a running vehicle operation by evaluating a signal change at a stimulation of the system and that the dynamic model of the exhaust gas probe is adapted with the aid of these results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Kirstaetter, Andreas Michalske, Thomas Zein
  • Publication number: 20100162999
    Abstract: A device and a method for controlling an internal combustion engine are provided, in which the fuel quantity to be injected is controlled as a function of a Lambda signal. A setpoint value for the Lambda signal is specified on the basis of at least one maximally permitted exhaust-gas temperature value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Andreas Michalske, Thomas Zein, Sascha-Juan Moran Auth
  • Publication number: 20090254264
    Abstract: The invention concerns a procedure and a device for an adaptation of a dynamic model of an exhaust gas probe, which is a component of an exhaust pipe of a combustion engine and with which a lambda value is determined for regulating an air-fuel composition, whereby a simulated lambda value is calculated parallel to that in a control unit or in a diagnosing unit of the combustion engine and an application function uses the simulated and the measured lambda value. According to the invention it is thereby provided that a jump behavior of the exhaust gas probe is determined during a running vehicle operation by evaluating a signal change at a stimulation of the system and that the dynamic model of the exhaust gas probe is adapted with the aid of these results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Kirstaetter, Andreas Michalske, Thomas Zein
  • Patent number: 7320309
    Abstract: A method and device for controlling an internal combustion engine are provided. A first quantity characterizing the actually injected fuel amount and a second quantity characterizing the desired amount of fuel to be injected are determined on the basis of performance characteristics. The first quantity is compared to the second quantity. This comparison is used to define a first correction value for correcting a fuel amount and a second correction value for correcting an air amount. The first correction value is limited to a maximum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Michalske, Thomas Zein