Patents by Inventor Volker Berkefeld

Volker Berkefeld 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: 5379218
    Abstract: This invention provides an arrangement which compensates for the dynamic effects of cross winds on the steering of a vehicle. A single differential pressure sensor is connected with pressure measuring points arranged symmetrically on the forward portion of the vehicle body. The differential pressure detected by the pressure sensor is used to determine the yaw angle velocity and acceleration caused by the force of the cross wind on the vehicle body, which information is provided to a steering control element that adjusts the steering angle of the vehicle to reduce the yaw angle to approach zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG
    Inventors: Stefan Jacobi, Volker Berkefeld
  • Patent number: 5315868
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement for detecting the influence of cross wind on the handling of a motor vehicle comprising pressure measuring points situated on opposite sides of the vehicle for the measuring of the air pressure existing in the area of the outer skin of the vehicle body. The pressure measuring points are constructed as bores in the outer skin of the vehicle body. A differential pressure sensor, which detects the differential pressure (Dp) between two vehicle sides, is arranged centrally between two pressure measuring points, and is connected with the two bores by way of hoses or lines which, if possible, should have the same length. For detecting the vehicle's entry into and emergence from a cross wind gust, the sensor filters the detected values of the wind cross force by means of a low pass filter and compares them with the filtered values that were detected immediately before.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Ing. H.C.F. Porsche AG
    Inventors: Stefan Jacobi, Volker Berkefeld
  • Patent number: 5208751
    Abstract: An active four-wheel steering system for motor vehicles has steering devices for the front wheels and the rear wheels. These devices operate as a function of driving condition quantities fed to an electronic control unit. A variable wheel steering angle relationship with respect to the front wheels is adjusted, in which case the input signal concerning the steering wheel angle from a steering wheel angle sensor and the additional signal concerning the vehicle speed from a speed sensor is fed to a first function calculation task apparatus of the control unit. This function calculation task apparatus generates a first output signal for the lateral acceleration which, as an input signal, together with the additional input signal of the vehicle speed, is fed to a second function calculation task apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG
    Inventor: Volker Berkefeld