Patents by Inventor Thomas Zipfel

Thomas Zipfel 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).

  • Brake architecture for automated driving
    Patent number: 10611348
    Abstract: A braking system operable independent of driver input, where the braking system includes a primary brake system, a secondary brake system, a primary controller controlling fluid pressure in the primary brake system, and a secondary controller controlling fluid pressure in the secondary brake system independently of the primary controller. There is also an actuator which is part of the primary brake system, where the actuator is controlled by the primary controller. A reservoir is in fluid communication with both the primary brake system and the secondary brake system, to supply fluid to both the primary brake system and the secondary brake system. The primary controller selectively actuates the actuator to control the fluid pressure in the primary brake system independently of driver input, to provide braking capability to a fully autonomous driving vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Zipfel, Yuji Nakayasu, James Rizzo
  • BRAKE ARCHITECTURE FOR AUTOMATED DRIVING
    Publication number: 20170341630
    Abstract: A braking system operable independent of driver input, where the braking system includes a primary brake system, a secondary brake system, a primary controller controlling fluid pressure in the primary brake system, and a secondary controller controlling fluid pressure in the secondary brake system independently of the primary controller. There is also an actuator which is part of the primary brake system, where the actuator is controlled by the primary controller. A reservoir is in fluid communication with both the primary brake system and the secondary brake system, to supply fluid to both the primary brake system and the secondary brake system. The primary controller selectively actuates the actuator to control the fluid pressure in the primary brake system independently of driver input, to provide braking capability to a fully autonomous driving vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas Zipfel, Yuji Nakayasu, James Rizzo