Patents by Inventor Volker Stegmann

Volker Stegmann 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: 11505066
    Abstract: An operating apparatus for a vehicle component comprises an operating panel (12) as well as an electric motor (34) mechanically coupled thereto with an unbalance mass. A detector (20) can capture the contact of the operating panel (12) by a user. A sensor (46) is provided in order to set exactly the number of revolutions of the electric motor in response to the contact of the operating panel by a user. The number of revolutions of the rotor is determined via this sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: BCS AUTOMOTIVE INTERFACE SOLUTION GMBH
    Inventors: Volker Stegmann, Vladimir Mener, Norbert Staudt, Heinz-Joerg Lefringhausen, Klaus Weigand, Hans-Juergen Bossler
  • Patent number: 11192570
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating a steering wheel and for detecting a steering wheel contact comprises a steering wheel armature (10) made from electrically conductive material and an electric heating conductor (12) arranged outside of the steering wheel armature (10). The apparatus further comprises a control and evaluation device (18) connected to the steering wheel armature (10) and the electric heating conductor (10) by means of which control and evaluation device the electric heating conductor (12) is repeatedly operated temporarily during a heating operation as a heating element for heating the steering wheel and temporarily during a measuring operation as a sensor element for detecting a steering wheel contact. The control and evaluation device (18) is configured so as to maintain the steering wheel armature (10) on a predetermined and especially constant potential at least during each measuring operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Guido Hirzmann, Alexander Lammers, Heinz Lefringhausen, Volker Stegmann
  • Publication number: 20190310099
    Abstract: An operating system for a motor vehicle has an operating surface with at least one operating area that is indicated by a symbol system on the operating surface, a touch sensor system by means of which a touch of the operating area is detectable, a drive for generating a haptic feedback by a movement of the operating surface, a drive frame which connects the drive to the operating surface in a force-transmitting manner, and an operating system carrier relative to which the operating surface is movable for generating the haptic feedback. An elastically pretensioned mounting is provided between the drive frame and the operating system carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: HEINZ-JÖRG LEFRINGHAUSEN, VLADIMIR MENER, NORBERT STAUDT, HANS-JÜRGEN BOSSLER, VOLKER STEGMANN, KLAUS WEIGAND
  • Patent number: 10093275
    Abstract: A method of controlling the motor speed of an electric retractor motor (18) of a belt retractor (10) for reducing a belt slack in the comfort mode comprises the following steps of: a) measuring the motor current (IM) applied to the retractor motor (18) as well as the voltage applied to the retractor motor (18), b) estimating the motor speed taking the time curve of the motor current (IM) applied to the retractor motor (18), the curve of the voltage as well as plural motor parameters (RM, IM, KM) into account, c) adapting the motor current (IM) in response to the estimated motor speed, and d) repeating the steps a) to c) until the estimated motor speed has reached a defined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: TRW Autmotive Safety Systems GmbH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Volker Stegmann, Norbert Staudt
  • Publication number: 20170197581
    Abstract: A method of controlling the motor speed of an electric retractor motor (18) of a belt retractor (10) for reducing a belt slack in the comfort mode comprises the following steps of: a) measuring the motor current (IM) applied to the retractor motor (18) as well as the voltage applied to the retractor motor (18), b) estimating the motor speed taking the time curve of the motor current (IM) applied to the retractor motor (18), the curve of the voltage as well as plural motor parameters (RM, IM, KM) into account, c) adapting the motor current (IM) in response to the estimated motor speed, and d) repeating the steps a) to c) until the estimated motor speed has reached a defined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: Volker Stegmann, Norbert Staudt
  • Patent number: 8095270
    Abstract: In a vehicle safety system with a vehicle steering wheel, which has a steering wheel rim, and with at least one capacitive sensor which detects an alteration to an electric or electromagnetic field, the sensor is arranged in or on the steering wheel rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Bossler, Christian Bollinger, Guido Hirzmann, Heinz-Joerg Lefringhausen, Volker Stegmann
  • Patent number: 8000920
    Abstract: Procedure to diagnose an electrical circuit for the operation of actuators of an internal combustion engine, in which the circuit is checked for electrical errors, and whereby information from a misfire recognition is additionally taken into account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Stegmann, Steffen Baierl
  • Publication number: 20080015806
    Abstract: Procedure to diagnose an electrical circuit for the operation of actuators of an internal combustion engine, in which the circuit is checked for electrical errors, and whereby information from a misfire recognition is additionally taken into account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Stegmann, Steffen Baierl
  • Publication number: 20070132411
    Abstract: A multi-stage contactless switch, in particular for an operating element in a motor vehicle, has a movably arranged magnet and several Hall sensor elements spaced apart from each other. Each Hall sensor element is capable of activating a particular switching state depending on a magnetic field of the magnet as detected by the Hall sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Inventors: Volker Stegmann, Michael Roeder
  • Patent number: 7213341
    Abstract: A device for determining an absolute angle of rotation of a rotational axis has a first measuring device for measuring an angle of rotation in a limited first measuring range and a second measuring device for determining an absolute angle range. The second measuring device transforms a rotation of the rotational axis into a linear shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Staudt, Volker Stegmann, Guido Hirzmann, Klaus Weigand
  • Publication number: 20060174499
    Abstract: A device for determining an absolute angle of rotation of a rotation axis (12) includes a first measurement arrangement for measuring an angle of rotation in a limited first measurement range and a second measurement arrangement for determining an absolute angle range. The second measurement arrangement comprises a deflection element (20) and a rotation element. The deflection element undergoes a deflection dependent on the rotation of the rotation axis (12). The deflection, in turn, is converted into a rotation of the rotation element (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Publication date: August 10, 2006
    Inventors: Norbert Staudt, Volker Stegmann, Guido Hirzmann, Klaus Weigand
  • Publication number: 20060059698
    Abstract: A device for determining an absolute angle of rotation of a rotational axis has a first measuring device for measuring an angle of rotation in a limited first measuring range and a second measuring device for determining an absolute angle range. The second measuring device transforms a rotation of the rotational axis into a linear shift.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Publication date: March 23, 2006
    Inventors: Norbert Staudt, Volker Stegmann, Guido Hirzmann, Klaus Weigand
  • Publication number: 20040267422
    Abstract: In a vehicle safety system with a vehicle steering wheel, which has a steering wheel rim, and with at least one capacitive sensor which detects an alteration to an electric or electromagnetic field, the sensor is arranged in or on the steering wheel rim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Bossler, Christian Bollinger, Guido Hirzmann, Heinz-Joerg Lefringhausen, Volker Stegmann
  • Publication number: 20030015022
    Abstract: In a method and a device for leak testing of a vessel, e.g., a tank venting system of a motor vehicle, a leak-tightness measurement is performed by introducing a positive pressure or partial vacuum and detecting the variation over time of a positive pressure or partial vacuum in the vessel, and a reference measurement is performed using a reference leak. A conclusion is drawn as to the presence of a leak in the vessel by comparing the results of the leak-tightness measurement and the reference measurement. To avoid faulty diagnoses, the positive pressure or partial vacuum during the leak-tightness measurement and the reference measurement is detected by using a single pressure measuring device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Inventors: Volker Stegmann, Thorsten Fritz, Martin Streib, Peter Wiltsch, Armin Hassdenteufel
  • Patent number: 6446615
    Abstract: A tank-venting system includes an active charcoal filter (20), which is connected to a tank (10). An intake manifold (40) of an internal combustion engine is connected to a tank-venting valve (30). The active charcoal filter (20) stores fuel vaporized in the tank (10). When the tank-venting valve (30) is driven open by the control unit (60), air from the ambient is drawn by suction through the active charcoal filter (20) and the fuel stored therein is released to the inducted air. A pump (50) is provided for checking the tightness of the tank-venting system and is connected to the control unit (60). A switchover valve (70) is connected downstream of the pump (50). A reference leak (81) is arranged in parallel to the switchover valve (70). A throughflow sensor (90) and a temperature sensor (91) are connected forward of the pump (50) which detect the scavenging air quantity, which is used to scavenge the active charcoal filter (20), as well as the intake air temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Stegmann, Ralf Klein, Peter Wiltsch
  • Publication number: 20010037799
    Abstract: A tank-venting system includes an active charcoal filter (20), which is connected to a tank (10). An intake manifold (40) of an internal combustion engine is connected to a tank-venting valve (30). The active charcoal filter (20) stores fuel vaporized in the tank (10). When the tank-venting valve (30) is driven open by the control unit (60), air from the ambient is drawn by suction through the active charcoal filter (20) and the fuel stored therein is released to the inducted air. A pump (50) is provided for checking the tightness of the tank-venting system and is connected to the control unit (60). A switchover valve (70) is connected downstream of the pump (50). A reference leak (81) is arranged in parallel to the switchover valve (70). A throughflow sensor (90) and a temperature sensor (91) are connected forward of the pump (50) which detect the scavenging air quantity, which is used to scavenge the active charcoal filter (20), as well as the intake air temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventors: Volker Stegmann, Ralf Klein, Peter Wiltsch