Patents by Inventor Volker Pitzal

Volker Pitzal 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: 9995235
    Abstract: A method for plausibilization of an engine control function for an internal combustion engine includes: provision of injection parameters with which an injection of fuel into cylinders of the internal combustion engine is controlled on the basis of a torque that is to be realized; estimation of an actual torque of the internal combustion engine as a function of the injection parameters; and evaluation of the actual torque as a function of the torque that is to be realized, in order to plausibilize the engine control function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Guenter Kettenacker, Volker Pitzal
  • Patent number: 9358985
    Abstract: A method and a device for controlling a drive unit of a vehicle are provided in which, starting from the comparison of a first acceleration variable, which is calculated at least from the operating state of the drive unit, and a second acceleration variable, an error is detected. The second acceleration variable includes a first component, in the direction of the vehicle longitudinal axis, and a second component, perpendicular to the vehicle longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Volker Pitzal, Oliver Froehlich, Wolfram Gerwing, Martin Grosser, Franz Laermer, Udo Schulz, Thomas Proepper
  • Patent number: 8296043
    Abstract: In a method for monitoring the functional capacity of an engine controller having a plurality of execution units, a comparison operating mode is provided, in which a torque monitoring program is executed on a plurality of execution units of the system, and signals outputted during the execution of the monitoring program by the execution units are compared with one another in order to recognize an error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Mueller, Volker Pitzal, Rainer Gmehlich
  • Patent number: 8205605
    Abstract: In a method for operating an internal combustion engine, in particular of a motor vehicle, the internal combustion engine is controlled by at least one drive variable, and an instantaneous torque output by the internal combustion engine is determined from a performance variable of the internal combustion engine that differs from the drive variable. To determine the instantaneous torque, an exhaust-gas temperature of the internal combustion engine is used as performance quantity that differs from the drive variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Pitzal, Wolfram Gerwing
  • Publication number: 20120055144
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a hydraulic hybrid vehicle (2) having a primary (5) and a hydraulic (6) drive unit, which is operated with a hydraulic medium for creating a positive or negative torque, said medium being delivered in different operational states by means of the hydraulic drive unit (6) from a hydropneumatic low pressure accumulator (12) into a hydropneumatic high pressure accumulator (11) or is discharged from the hydropneumatic high pressure accumulator (11) into the hydropneumatic low pressure accumulator (12) for driving the hydraulic drive unit (6). In order to further increase the safety and/or the driving comfort during the operation of the hydraulic hybrid vehicle having a primary drive unit and a hydraulic drive unit, the pressure and/or the temperature or a change of the pressure and/or the temperature is detected in the hydropneumatic high pressure accumulator (11) in order to monitor the torque generated by the hydraulic drive unit (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Volker Pitzal, Udo Schulz
  • Publication number: 20100004841
    Abstract: In a method for monitoring the functional capacity of an engine controller having a plurality of execution units, a comparison operating mode is provided, in which a torque monitoring program is executed on a plurality of execution units of the system, and signals outputted during the execution of the monitoring program by the execution units are compared with one another in order to recognize an error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventors: Bernd Mueller, Volker Pitzal, Rainer Gmehlich
  • Publication number: 20090320793
    Abstract: In a method for operating an internal combustion engine, in particular of a motor vehicle, the internal combustion engine is controlled by at least one drive variable, and an instantaneous torque output by the internal combustion engine is determined from a performance variable of the internal combustion engine that differs from the drive variable. To determine the instantaneous torque, an exhaust-gas temperature of the internal combustion engine is used as performance quantity that differs from the drive variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Volker Pitzal, Wolfram Gerwing
  • Publication number: 20090187330
    Abstract: A method for plausibilization of an engine control function for an internal combustion engine includes: provision of injection parameters with which an injection of fuel into cylinders of the internal combustion engine is controlled on the basis of a torque that is to be realized; estimation of an actual torque of the internal combustion engine as a function of the injection parameters; and evaluation of the actual torque as a function of the torque that is to be realized, in order to plausibilize the engine control function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: Guenter KETTENACKER, Volker Pitzal
  • Publication number: 20090171524
    Abstract: A method and a device for controlling a drive unit of a vehicle are provided in which, starting from the comparison of a first acceleration variable, which is calculated at least from the operating state of the drive unit, and a second acceleration variable, an error is detected. The second acceleration variable includes a first component, in the direction of the vehicle longitudinal axis, and a second component, perpendicular to the vehicle longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Volker Pitzal, Oliver Froehlich, Wolfram Gerwing, Martin Grosser, Franz Laermer, Udo Schulz, Thomas Proepper
  • Patent number: 7263977
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating an internal combustion engine 10 in overrun condition, which method includes the steps of: release of a monitoring of a control signal for a power actuator of the internal combustion engine when predetermined release conditions have been satisfied, which include the exceeding of a release rotary speed of the internal combustion engine; after the release, comparing a control signal for the power actuator of the internal combustion engine to a threshold value, and triggering an error response if the control signal exceeds the threshold value. The method provides that the release speed is varied as a function of the intervention of an idling speed control in the formation of the control signal. Also provided is a control unit which controls such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Pitzal, Gerit von Schwertfuehrer
  • Patent number: 7194997
    Abstract: A method for monitoring an internal combustion engine is described in which fuel is injected directly into at least one combustion chamber in at least two partial injections via at least one final controlling element, in which an actual torque is determined at least on the basis of one fuel mass that is to be injected and/or has been injected, such actual torque being compared with a permitted torque of the internal combustion engine and an error response being initiated if the actual torque is in a predefined ratio to the permitted torque. A corresponding application of the method for monitoring an internal combustion engine as well as a corresponding device are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Pitzal, Gerit Edler Von Schwertfuehrer
  • Publication number: 20070000477
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating an internal combustion engine 10 in overrun condition, which method includes the steps of: release of a monitoring of a control signal for a power actuator of the internal combustion engine when predetermined release conditions have been satisfied, which include the exceeding of a release rotary speed of the internal combustion engine; after the release, comparing a control signal for the power actuator of the internal combustion engine to a threshold value, and triggering an error response if the control signal exceeds the threshold value. The method provides that the release speed is varied as a function of the intervention of an idling speed control in the formation of the control signal. Also provided is a control unit which controls such a method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Inventors: Volker Pitzal, Gerit Von Schwertfuehrer
  • Publication number: 20050172930
    Abstract: A method for monitoring an internal combustion engine is described in which fuel is injected directly into at least one combustion chamber in at least two partial injections via at least one final controlling element, in which an actual torque is determined at least on the basis of one fuel mass that is to be injected and/or has been injected, such actual torque being compared with a permitted torque of the internal combustion engine and an error response being initiated if the actual torque is in a predefined ratio to the permitted torque. A corresponding application of the method for monitoring an internal combustion engine as well as a corresponding device are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Publication date: August 11, 2005
    Inventors: Volker Pitzal, Gerit Edler Von Schwertfuehrer
  • Patent number: 6826504
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling system parameters, in particular for controlling the voltage applied to piezoelectric elements (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60) within a circuit (A) for charging and discharging piezoelectric elements (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60) are described. The method is characterized by modifying at least one control parameter for the control of a system parameter, in particular a target voltage for the voltage applied to a piezoelectric element (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60), in view of at least one systematic error occurring during a first control procedure of the system parameter to obtain a corrected control parameter for a second and/or a further control of the system parameter. The apparatus is particularly eligible for use with the inventive method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes-Jörg Rueger, Matthias Mrosik, Volker Pitzal, Udo Schulz
  • Patent number: 6820474
    Abstract: A method is proposed for diagnosing the drive voltage for a piezoelectric actuator of an injector, in which the drive voltage is measured for the individual phases of the injection procedure. With respect to each control phase, a corresponding tolerance band is provided, which is set using the setpoint value of the drive voltage. The tolerance ranges are established as a function of operating and/or environmental conditions. If, for the individual drive cycles, the corresponding tolerance ranges are not reached, then, in response to repeated measurement, these erroneous measurements are counted. When a preestablished number for the erroneous measurements is exceeded, then an ongoing error is diagnosed. If, after a certain time, the number is not exceeded, then the counter is reset. In the case of an error, the error storage unit can be reset using a maintenance plug-in device during maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes-Joerg Rueger, Matthias Mrosik, Volker Pitzal, Udo Schulz
  • Patent number: 6755178
    Abstract: In an apparatus and a method for monitoring a drive unit of a vehicle and/or components allocated thereto, a torque variable is determined that characterizes the torque requirement of the drive unit and/or the allocated components. Faults are recognized on the basis of the torque variable and/or a variable on the basis of which the torque variable is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Bauer, Andreas Huber, Volker Pitzal, Udo Schulz
  • Patent number: 6705291
    Abstract: Fuel injection system comprising a piezoelectric element for controlling the amount of injected fuel and further comprising a control unit for determination of a possible fault of the piezoelectric element or of an electric circuitry driving the piezoelectric element based upon a value related to the capacitance of the piezoelectric element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes-Jörg Rueger, Matthias Mrosik, Volker Pitzal, Bertram Sugg, Friedrich Boecking, Udo Schulz
  • Publication number: 20040008032
    Abstract: A method is proposed for diagnosing the drive voltage for a piezoelectric actuator of an injector, in which the drive voltage is measured for the individual phases of the injection procedure. With respect to each control phase, a corresponding tolerance band is provided, which is set using the setpoint value of the drive voltage. The tolerance ranges are established as a function of operating and/or environmental conditions. If, for the individual drive cycles, the corresponding tolerance ranges are not reached, then, in response to repeated measurement, these erroneous measurements are counted. When a preestablished number for the erroneous measurements is exceeded, then an ongoing error is diagnosed. If, after a certain time, the number is not exceeded, then the counter is reset. In the case of an error, the error storage unit can be reset using a maintenance plug-in device during maintenance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventors: Johannes-Joerg Rueger, Matthias Mrosik, Volker Pitzal, Udo Schulz
  • Patent number: 6675078
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and an arrangement for controlling a motor vehicle having an integrated electric machine which generates electric as well as mechanical power. In the context of a hierarchal control structure having several logic components, the electric machine is allocated as a component “electric drive” to the component “drive” with respect to its function for generating mechanical power and as a component “generator” to the component “vehicle electric drive” with respect to its function for generating electric power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Bitzer, Volker Pitzal, Martin-Peter Bolz, Rolf Maier-Landgrebe, Marko Poljansek, Torsten Heidrich, Holger Huelser, Rainer Mayer
  • Patent number: 6619268
    Abstract: The invention describes a method and an apparatus for a fuel injection system with a piezoelectric element for controlling the amount of injected fuel by charging and/or discharging the piezoelectric element, wherein the fuel injection system comprises a current flow controller for charging and/or discharging the piezoelectric element based upon the gradient of a voltage across the piezoelectric element due to a charge the piezoelectric element is carrying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes-Jörg Rueger, Matthias Mrosik, Volker Pitzal, Udo Schulz