Patents by Inventor Ulrich Vollmer

Ulrich Vollmer 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: 11728755
    Abstract: A method determines a rotor position of an electric rotating machine which is fed by a PWM-controlled inverter. Specific injection voltages, which are composed of predefined voltages and high-frequency voltages, are converted into corresponding PWM duty factors by a controller and the inverter is correspondingly actuated with these PWM duty factors. Current profiles of phase currents are then determined by measuring at least one first phase current and at least one second phase current. The measurement is carried out within a PWM period, in each case in the chronologically last third of a passive switched state. The rotor position is then determined in accordance with the ascertained current profiles and the fed-in high-frequency voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Vollmer, Marco Roetzer
  • Publication number: 20230166809
    Abstract: A method for operating an electric bicycle. The method includes: detecting a mechanical load of a component of the bicycle in a load parameter set caused by a drive of the electric bicycle, ascertaining a resultant mechanical load, which results from the mechanical load of the component caused by the drive since a start of the detection of the mechanical load, based on the load parameter set, and limiting a torque provided by the drive when the resultant mechanical load exceeds a limiting value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Daniel Baumgaertner, Ulrich Vollmer
  • Publication number: 20220321044
    Abstract: A method determines a rotor position of an electric rotating machine which is fed by a PWM-controlled inverter. Specific injection voltages, which are composed of predefined voltages and high-frequency voltages, are converted into corresponding PWM duty factors by a controller and the inverter is correspondingly actuated with these PWM duty factors. Current profiles of phase currents are then determined by measuring at least one first phase current and at least one second phase current. The measurement is carried out within a PWM period, in each case in the chronologically last third of a passive switched state. The rotor position is then determined in accordance with the ascertained current profiles and the fed-in high-frequency voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Ulrich Vollmer, Marco Roetzer
  • Patent number: 11404990
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an electric synchronous machine, having the steps of: —generating centered pulse-width-modulated switching signals for switching elements (T1 . . . T6) of half-bridges, wherein two switching elements (T1 . . . T6) are connected to a respective half-bridge in each case; second switching elements (T4 . . . T6) of each half-bridge are actuated in a complementary manner to the first switching elements (T1 . . . T3) of each half-bridge if a sufficient minimum measurement duration (TM) is thereby provided during which the switching signals of switching elements (T1 . . . T6) of two half-bridges lie at different potentials; —otherwise: —generating pulse-width-modulated switching signals for the switching elements (T1 . . . T6) of the half-bridges, said switching signals deviating from the center at least to such a degree that a sufficient minimum measurement duration (TM) is provided, wherein —the switching signals of the switching elements (T1 . . .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Jerger, Markus Becker, Ulrich Vollmer
  • Patent number: 11296636
    Abstract: A method for operating an electrically commutated machine. In at least one method step, in particular in at least one method step of overmodulation operation of the electrically commutated machine, a precommutation angle of the electrically commutated machine is set depending on an efficiency of the electrically commutated machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Jerger, David Fricker, Dominik Denz, Johannes Rehagen, Michael Soellner, Tankred Mueller, Thomas Malich, Ulrich Vollmer
  • Patent number: 11283378
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for determining phase currents of a rotating multiphase electrical machine fed by means of a PWM-controlled inverter. In this case, injection voltages applied in at least one stipulated PWM period are determined. An evaluation direction for a phase current vector is also determined and a division of current measurements for the individual phase currents is determined on the basis of the evaluation direction. The phase currents are then determined on the basis of the previously determined division of the current measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Marco Roetzer, Ulrich Vollmer, Michael Bendel
  • Patent number: 11223314
    Abstract: An electric machine, in particular an electric motor and/or generator, has a stator and a rotor which is designed to be permanently magnetic or to be energized in particular. The machine has at least two sub-machines. Each of the sub-machines has the same number of phases. The machine has a power output stage for each sub-machine, and the machine also has at least one control unit which is connected to the power output stages. The control unit is designed to generate a pulse width-modulated signal for actuating the power output stages. The control unit is designed to generate the PWM signal for the sub-machines such that an ascending or descending side of a PWM pulse for one sub-machine, said side representing a switching time in each case, and a pulse center of a PWM pulse for another sub-machine of the sub-machines are delayed relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen Kurfiss, Ulrich Vollmer
  • Patent number: 11223306
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for determining a rotor position of an electric rotating machine. The electric machine comprises at least one first, multi-phase subsystem and one second multi-phase subsystem, which each comprise a PWM-controlled inverter for feeding respective winding groups. The winding groups of the at least first and second subsystems are arranged substantially electrically offset from one another by 360°. In the method, voltages predefined by a controller are altered by feeding high-frequency voltages in order to attain high-frequency current changes. The current changes are then detected in that a current curve of phase currents is ascertained for each subsystem by measuring at least one first phase current and one second phase current. The rotor position is then determined depending on the ascertained current curves and the fed high-frequency voltages. The disclosure additionally relates to an electric machine which is designed for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Marco Roetzer, Ulrich Vollmer
  • Publication number: 20210408948
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for determining phase currents of a rotating multiphase electrical machine fed by means of a PWM-controlled inverter. In this case, injection voltages applied in at least one stipulated PWM period are determined. An evaluation direction for a phase current vector is also determined and a division of current measurements for the individual phase currents is determined on the basis of the evaluation direction. The phase currents are then determined on the basis of the previously determined division of the current measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Marco Roetzer, Ulrich Vollmer, Michael Bendel
  • Patent number: 11196376
    Abstract: An electric machine has at least two sub-machines, each having the same number of phases and being designed to generate a magnetic rotary field independently of one another to rotate the rotor. The machine has a power output stage for each sub-machine, each being designed to energize the sub-machines independently of one another. The machine also has at least one or only one control unit which is connected to the power output stages and is designed to generate a PWM signal in order to actuate the power output stages. The control unit is designed to generate the PWM signal for the sub-machines such that each of the PWM pulses for a sub-machine begins at a starting time of a PWM period and/or to generate the PWM pulses for another sub-machine such that each of the PWM pulses ends at an end time of the PWM period for the other sub-machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen Kurfiss, Ulrich Vollmer
  • Publication number: 20210075358
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an electric synchronous machine, having the steps of:—generating centered pulse-width-modulated switching signals for switching elements (T1 . . . T6) of half-bridges, wherein two switching elements (T1 . . . T6) are connected to a respective half-bridge in each case; second switching elements (T4 . . . T6) of each half-bridge are actuated in a complementary manner to the first switching elements (T1 . . . T3) of each half-bridge if a sufficient minimum measurement duration (TM) is thereby provided during which the switching signals of switching elements (T1 . . . T6) of two half-bridges lie at different potentials;—otherwise:—generating pulse-width-modulated switching signals for the switching elements (T1 . . . T6) of the half-bridges, said switching signals deviating from the center at least to such a degree that a sufficient minimum measurement duration (TM) is provided, wherein—the switching signals of the switching elements (T1 . . .
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Armin Jerger, Markus Becker, Ulrich Vollmer
  • Publication number: 20210021222
    Abstract: A method for operating an electrically commutated machine. In at least one method step, in particular in at least one method step of overmodulation operation of the electrically commutated machine, a precommutation angle of the electrically commutated machine is set depending on an efficiency of the electrically commutated machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Armin Jerger, David Fricker, Dominik Denz, Johannes Rehagen, Michael Soellner, Tankred Mueller, Thomas Malich, Ulrich Vollmer
  • Patent number: 10693398
    Abstract: A method for adjusting an amplitude of a voltage injection of a rotating, multi-phase electric machine that is fed using a PWM-controlled inverter includes determining, at a first time, a predetermined current vector that would be present at the machine at a second time using a voltage equation of the machine based on a voltage predetermined in a controller for actuating the machine, a current vector determined from phase currents measured at the first time, and a speed of the machine. The method further includes determining a real current vector present at the machine at the second time based on phase currents of the machine measured at the second time and calculating a current vector difference between the predetermined current vector and the real current vector at the second time. The method further includes adjusting the amplitude of the voltage injection based on the calculated current vector difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Marco Roetzer, Ulrich Vollmer
  • Publication number: 20200195175
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for determining a rotor position of an electric rotating machine. The electric machine comprises at least one first, multi-phase subsystem and one second multi-phase subsystem, which each comprise a PWM-controlled inverter for feeding respective winding groups. The winding groups of the at least first and second subsystems are arranged substantially electrically offset from one another by 360°. In the method, voltages predefined by a controller are altered by feeding high-frequency voltages in order to attain high-frequency current changes. The current changes are then detected in that a current curve of phase currents is ascertained for each subsystem by measuring at least one first phase current and one second phase current. The rotor position is then determined depending on the ascertained current curves and the fed high-frequency voltages. The disclosure additionally relates to an electric machine which is designed for carrying out the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Marco Roetzer, Ulrich Vollmer
  • Publication number: 20200136548
    Abstract: An electric machine, in particular an electric motor and/or generator, has a stator and a rotor which is designed to be permanently magnetic or to be energized in particular. The machine has at least two sub-machines. Each of the sub-machines has the same number of phases. The machine has a power output stage for each sub-machine, and the machine also has at least one control unit which is connected to the power output stages. The control unit is designed to generate a pulse width-modulated signal for actuating the power output stages. The control unit is designed to generate the PWM signal for the sub-machines such that an ascending or descending side of a PWM pulse for one sub-machine, said side representing a switching time in each case, and a pulse center of a PWM pulse for another sub-machine of the sub-machines are delayed relative to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Jochen Kurfiss, Ulrich Vollmer
  • Publication number: 20200136547
    Abstract: An electric machine has at least two sub-machines, each having the same number of phases and being designed to generate a magnetic rotary field independently of one another to rotate the rotor. The machine has a power output stage for each sub-machine, each being designed to energize the sub-machines independently of one another. The machine also has at least one or only one control unit which is connected to the power output stages and is designed to generate a PWM signal in order to actuate the power output stages. The control unit is designed to generate the PWM signal for the sub-machines such that each of the PWM pulses for a sub-machine begins at a starting time of a PWM period and/or to generate the PWM pulses for another sub-machine such that each of the PWM pulses ends at an end time of the PWM period for the other sub-machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Jochen Kurfiss, Ulrich Vollmer
  • Publication number: 20190312535
    Abstract: A method for adjusting an amplitude of a voltage injection of a rotating, multi-phase electric machine that is fed using a PWM-controlled inverter includes determining, at a first time, a predetermined current vector that would be present at the machine at a second time using a voltage equation of the machine based on a voltage predetermined in a controller for actuating the machine, a current vector determined from phase currents measured at the first time, and a speed of the machine. The method further includes determining a real current vector present at the machine at the second time based on phase currents of the machine measured at the second time and calculating a current vector difference between the predetermined current vector and the real current vector at the second time. The method further includes adjusting the amplitude of the voltage injection based on the calculated current vector difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Marco Roetzer, Ulrich Vollmer
  • Patent number: 9876457
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electric motor (1), in particular a fan motor, comprising a device (5) for generating a sequence (3) of signals that comprises a plurality of especially blocks (22) of signals. The blocks (22) of signals comprise a plurality of signals (19) having a specific signal duration (20). According to the invention, the signal duration (20) of the individual signals (19) varies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Becker, Ulrich Vollmer
  • Patent number: 9716450
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronically commutated electric motor with a stator and a rotor, which is designed as a permanent magnet rotor in particular. The electric motor also has a control unit which is connected to the stator. The control unit is designed to generate control signals for energizing the stator coils of the stator in order to generate a rotational magnetic field. The electric motor is designed to at least partly compensate for a torque ripple of a torque generated by the rotor. According to the invention, the electric motor has a rotor position sensor and a current sensor. The current sensor is designed to detect currents flowing in the stator coils and to generate a current signal which represents the currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Vollmer, Yanhui Xu
  • Patent number: 9667183
    Abstract: Presented is an electronically commutated electric motor having a power output stage connected to a stator of the electric motor, and a processing unit connected to the power output stage. The processing unit drives the power output stage to produce at least one stator current. The electric motor has a current sensor which is designed to record the stator current produced by the power output stage and to generate a current signal representing the stator current. The processing unit is designed to use the current sensor to record at least one current value of the current at a recording time within an interval of time and to determine a current profile of the current in the interval of time at least on the basis of the current value and to drive the power output stage to energize the stator on the basis of the current profile determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Mattias Hallor, Ulrich Vollmer