Patents by Inventor Tobias Zollner

Tobias Zollner 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: 9840255
    Abstract: A method provides for operating a drive train having several drive assemblies, a transmission and an output A first drive assembly acts on a first transmission shaft of the transmission, and a second drive assembly acts on a second transmission shaft. The transmission includes several shift elements, whereas an output torque depending on a driver's requested torque is provided at the output. For the opening of a shift element the shift element is placed without load. The probability of a gearshift request is determined on the control side by a shifting strategy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Tobias Zöllner, Karl Franz, Anatol Weidenbach
  • Patent number: 9556864
    Abstract: A method of controlling an auxiliary pump for supplying the hydraulic fluid of a hybrid transmission of a vehicle. The auxiliary pump, after the expiration of a predetermined time interval of deactivation, is activated to prevent accumulation of air in the intake area of the auxiliary pump. In addition, a device for the execution of the method, in which a control device is provided which has its signals connected with the electric auxiliary pump for the purpose of controlling the auxiliary pump in order to prevent accumulation of air in the intake area of the auxiliary pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Tobias Zollner, Christoph Ommer, Stefan-Ulrich Prange
  • Patent number: 9533678
    Abstract: A method of controlling a hybrid drive-train of a vehicle having a combustion engine with a driveshaft, a transmission with an input shaft and an output shaft that drives a transfer box. An electric machine has a rotor that is connected to the transmission input shaft. A separator clutch is arranged between the engine driveshaft and the transmission input shaft. For coupling of the engine, the engine is first accelerated, with a rotational speed regulation, toward a target speed until a reference speed is reached or exceeded while the clutch remains disengaged, then, with continuous speed regulation, the engine is adjusted to a corrected target speed while the clutch is engaged until a target torque is obtained, then, with torque control, the engine is adjusted to the target torque while the clutch, with differential rotational speed regulation, is regulated to a target speed difference, and finally the clutch is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Jakob Scholz, Tobias Zollner, Holger Bacher
  • Publication number: 20160214615
    Abstract: A method provides for operating a drive train having several drive assemblies, a transmission and an output A first drive assembly acts on a first transmission shaft of the transmission, and a second drive assembly acts on a second transmission shaft. The transmission includes several shift elements, whereas an output torque depending on a driver's requested torque is provided at the output. For the opening of a shift element the shift element is placed without load. The probability of a gearshift request is determined on the control side by a shifting strategy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Tobias Zöllner, Karl Franz, Anatol Weidenbach
  • Patent number: 9316149
    Abstract: A method of operating a drive-train of a hybrid vehicle which comprises at least a hybrid drive with an internal combustion engine and an electric machine, an automatic or automated change-speed transmission connected between the hybrid drive and a drive output, and a clutch connected between the internal combustion engine and the electric machine. When starting the internal combustion engine from a purely electric driving mode, the clutch is initially disengaged. To start the internal combustion engine, the clutch is at least partially engaged and the internal combustion engine is drag-started by the electric machine, and, in parallel with starting the internal combustion engine, a downshift in the transmission is initiated once a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine reaches or exceeds an applicable threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Tobias Zollner, Bernd Allgaier, Clemens Kuhn, Patrick Peter, Lorenz Fehrenbach, Holger Bacher
  • Patent number: 9227629
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle hybrid drive-train in which, depending on the operating situation, the engine and electric machine either operate individually or together. The engine and the electric machine can be coupled or separated by a clutch. The engine can be started by the electric machine or a separate starting device. To co-ordinate transmission shifts and required engine starts, during a transmission shifting process, if the engine needs to be started, then based on whether the shift is an upshift, a downshift, a traction shift or an overdrive shift and also depending on the type of engine start required, it is first determined whether the shift should be completed, at least partially completed or discontinued before carrying out the start and, based on this determination, measures for continuing, at least partially continuing or discontinuing the shift process are initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Tobias Zollner, Anton Fritzer, Patrick Peter, Thomas Lemp, Alexander Pfau, Stefan Gierer
  • Patent number: 8775016
    Abstract: A method of operating a motor vehicle having a drive aggregate, a transmission and a hydraulic system. The transmission has shift elements and, for each gear, only a portion of the elements are engaged while a remainder are disengaged. The hydraulic system has main pump driven by the drive aggregate and an auxiliary pump. The method tests the functionality of the auxiliary pump. The drive aggregate and the main pump are insufficiently driven such that the shift elements can not engage. The auxiliary pump is driven to provide required pressure such that all but one of the shift elements fully engages. The remaining shift element is then first engaged up to its engagement point and then either engaged beyond its engagement point or another unengaged shift element is engaged beyond its engagement point. The functionality of the auxiliary pump is determined based on changes in the drive aggregate's rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Tobias Zollner
  • Publication number: 20140142796
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle hybrid drive-train in which, depending on the operating situation, the engine and electric machine either operate individually or together. The engine and the electric machine can be coupled or separated by a clutch. The engine can be started by the electric machine or a separate starting device. To co-ordinate transmission shifts and required engine starts, during a transmission shifting process, if the engine needs to be started, then based on whether the shift is an upshift, a downshift, a traction shift or an overdrive shift and also depending on the type of engine start required, it is first determined whether the shift should be completed, at least partially completed or discontinued before carrying out the start and, based on this determination, measures for continuing, at least partially continuing or discontinuing the shift process are initiated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Tobias Zollner, Anton Fritzer, Patrick Peter, Thomas Lemp, Alexander Pfau, Stefan Gierer
  • Publication number: 20140136040
    Abstract: A method of controlling a hybrid drive-train of a vehicle having a combustion engine with a driveshaft, a transmission with an input shaft and an output shaft that drives a transfer box. An electric machine has a rotor that is connected to the transmission input shaft. A separator clutch is arranged between the engine driveshaft and the transmission input shaft. For coupling of the engine, the engine is first accelerated, with a rotational speed regulation, toward a target speed until a reference speed is reached or exceeded while the clutch remains disengaged, then, with continuous speed regulation, the engine is adjusted to a corrected target speed while the clutch is engaged until a target torque is obtained, then, with torque control, the engine is adjusted to the target torque while the clutch, with differential rotational speed regulation, is regulated to a target speed difference, and finally the clutch is engaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Inventors: Jakob Scholz, Tobias Zollner, Holger Bacher
  • Publication number: 20130284125
    Abstract: A method of operating a drive-train of a hybrid vehicle which comprises at least a hybrid drive with an internal combustion engine and an electric machine, an automatic or automated change-speed transmission connected between the hybrid drive and a drive output, and a clutch connected between the internal combustion engine and the electric machine. When starting the internal combustion engine from a purely electric driving mode, the clutch is initially disengaged. To start the internal combustion engine, the clutch is at least partially engaged and the internal combustion engine is drag-started by the electric machine, and, in parallel with starting the internal combustion engine, a downshift in the transmission is initiated once a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine reaches or exceeds an applicable threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Tobias Zollner, Bernd Allgaier, Clemens Kuhn, Patrick Peter, Lorenz Fehrenbach, Holger Bacher
  • Publication number: 20130272900
    Abstract: A method of controlling an auxiliary pump for supplying the hydraulic fluid of a hybrid transmission of a vehicle. The auxiliary pump, after the expiration of a predetermined time interval of deactivation, is activated to prevent accumulation of air in the intake area of the auxiliary pump. In addition, a device for the execution of the method, in which a control device is provided which has its signals connected with the electric auxiliary pump for the purpose of controlling the auxiliary pump in order to prevent accumulation of air in the intake area of the auxiliary pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Tobias ZOLLNER, Christoph OMMER, Stefan-Ulrich PRANGE
  • Patent number: 8467947
    Abstract: A method for operating a hydraulic system of an automatic transmission, in particular in a hybrid drivetrain, in which the hydraulic system comprises a main pump that is powered by an internal combustion engine and/or an electric drive motor, an electric auxiliary pump and a system pressure valve for setting a system pressure, to ensure various operating functions. In addition to the main pump, the electric auxiliary pump also supplies the hydraulic system with a volume flow of an operating medium. The loading of the electric auxiliary pump is determined in an electronic control unit with regard to the value of the system pressure and the loading of the electric auxiliary pump is limited, by the electronic control unit, with regard to the selected operating function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Tobias Zollner, Bernd Allgaier, Christian Schwemer
  • Publication number: 20110144846
    Abstract: A method for operating a hydraulic system of an automatic transmission, in particular in a hybrid drivetrain, in which the hydraulic system comprises a main pump that is powered by an internal combustion engine and/or an electric drive motor, an electric auxiliary pump and a system pressure valve for setting a system pressure, to ensure various operating functions. In addition to the main pump, the electric auxiliary pump also supplies the hydraulic system with a volume flow of an operating medium. The loading of the electric auxiliary pump is determined in an electronic control unit with regard to the value of the system pressure and the loading of the electric auxiliary pump is limited, by the electronic control unit, with regard to the selected operating function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Tobias Zöllner, Bernd ALLGAIER, Christian SCHWEMER