Patents by Inventor Walter Kohl

Walter Kohl 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).

  • Publication number: 20120105019
    Abstract: A regulating device for regulating the output voltage of a generator; in particular a vehicle generator is described. To improve protection of the voltage regulation from failure, for normal operation it is proposed to perform the regulation using a main regulator which is implemented as software in a control unit, and in the event of a malfunction of the main regulator, to perform the regulation using an auxiliary regulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Helmut SUELZLE, Walter Kohl, Kai-Oliver Homeyer, Ralf Herbig
  • Publication number: 20040263131
    Abstract: A regulating device for regulating the output voltage of a generator; in particular a vehicle generator is described. To improve protection of the voltage regulation from failure, for normal operation it is proposed to perform the regulation using a main regulator which is implemented as software in a control unit, and in the event of a malfunction of the main regulator, to perform the regulation using an auxiliary regulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Helmut Suelzle, Walter Kohl, Kai-Oliver Homeyer, Ralf Herbig
  • Patent number: 6567476
    Abstract: The method of transmitting data as a sequence of high bits and low bits over a transmission line from a transmitting device to a receiving device includes transmitting synchronization signals over the transmission line and transmitting one and only one high bit or one and only one low bit over the transmission line at an end of each synchronization signal. When the predetermined voltage levels for the high bit, low bit and synchronization signals are different from each other, the method is implemented in an especially simple manner. The interfaces for the receiving and transmitting devices for performing the method are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Kohl, Richard Schleupen, Thomas Koss, Lothar Jakobi, Guenter Nasswetter, Helmut Suelzle
  • Patent number: 6555930
    Abstract: According to the invention, an apparatus for automatically detecting a motor vehicle's generator type is proposed, in which the characteristic voltage course is measured at a terminal (DF) of the generator (1) and compared with values stored in memory. Via an interface (3), a control unit (5) is connected to the controller (2) or generator (1) and evaluates the voltage change (&dgr;DF) upon a load change. To that end, the voltage at the terminal (DF) is measured and evaluated before the electrical load (8) is turned on, after it is turned, and after it is turned off. By means of this apparatus, advantageously not only the generator type (A, B) but also incorrect installations can be ascertained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Kohl, Burkhard Hiller, Klaus Ries-Mueller, Helmut Suelzle
  • Patent number: 6333581
    Abstract: The electrical machine, in particular a three-phase generator, has a stator (21) secured in a housing (10) and a claw pole rotor (23) which is secured on a shaft (13) and has an exciter winding (28). Between the claw pole rotor and a bearing plate (17) that closes off the housing, there is an electrical repeater (29) for exciting the exciter winding (28). The primary winding (30) is disposed along with the core (36, 41, 47) on the bearing plate (17). The primary and secondary windings (30, 31) of the repeater (29) are disposed between the bearing plate (17) and the claw pole rotor system (23); the primary winding (30) is disposed in a stationary core (36, 41, 47), and the secondary winding (31) is disposed in a rotating core (35, 42, 48), and the windings are coupled via an air gap (38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Kohl, Istvan Ragaly, Alexander Shendi, Hans-Peter Groeter
  • Publication number: 20010031026
    Abstract: Especially simple interfaces for outputting or receiving data are proposed, which can be operated by an especially simple method. It is provided that three different levels can be realized on the bus. One of these levels (V0) is used to generate a synchronization signal for the successive transmission of a high bit or a low bit. The individual bits are realized by means of the other two voltage levels (V2, V1). In a modification, via interfaces or connecting lines, items of information that are represented with the aid of two different levels are exchanged. In the process, by means of different pulse lengths, both synchronization pulses and two different information pulses are generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 1998
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Inventors: WALTER KOHL, RICHARD SCHLEUPEN, THOMAS KOSS, LOTHAR JAKOBI, GUENTER NASSWETTER, HELMUT SUELZLE
  • Patent number: 6218814
    Abstract: A device for voltage regulation for a generator driven by an internal combustion engine is described in which the voltage regulator is equipped with a load response travel function (LRF), which prevents a rapid rise in the exciting current when a powerful electric consumer is turned on. By means of a suitable trigger circuit which evaluates the engine rpm and thus the generator rpm, the load response travel function is blocked during travel when rpm values are falling, so that in this case, the voltage incursions that occur during an active load-response function are maximally averted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Kohl, Rainer Mittag, Guenter Nasswetter, Helmut Suelzle
  • Patent number: 6163138
    Abstract: A device for controlling the output voltage of a rotary current generator is disclosed, in which a generator without exciter diodes is used, and the exciter current is furnished by the rectifier bridge of the generator. The exciter current is regulated with the aid of a first integrated circuit. In addition, a smart power high-side switch, which is regulated by an integrated circuit (IS2), is located in the exciter current circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Kohl, Wolfgang Jacob
  • Patent number: 5602470
    Abstract: In a circuit arrangement for measuring a starting of rotation of a generator having an exciting winding and three-phase windings, a voltage regulator regulates an output voltage of the generator by influencing an exciting current, the three-phase windings are connected to one another at a point, one of the phase windings is connected to ground via a first resistor, another of the phase windings is connected to ground via a second resistor, a voltage across the first resistor is evaluated as a rotational-speed-dependent alternating voltage, this voltage is compared with a threshold voltage, and the starting of the rotation of the generator is detected when the measured voltage exceeds the threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Kohl, Rainer Mittag, Matthias Hoeber
  • Patent number: 5594321
    Abstract: The battery charging apparatus includes a generator, main voltage regulator, an auxiliary voltage regulator, at least one consuming device and a protective circuit having circuit portions for recognizing and signalling faults via a charge control lamp. The generator output voltage is rectified with rectifier bridges containing Zener diodes. Voltage comparison to threshold values and logic circuitry for processing the comparison results are used to determine the presence of faults in the operation of the battery charging apparatus. The fault detection device detects conduction defects in the main voltage regulator and/or interruption in the generator excitation circuit. The logic circuitry determines whether simultaneously both a supplied voltage exceeds a threshold value and the main voltage regulator is turned on longer than a predetermined time interval to indicate its continuous operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Kohl, Rainer Mittag, Matthias Hoeber
  • Patent number: 5548202
    Abstract: In a device and a method for regulating an alternator increased alternator output is achieved either in that the exciter current can have a value above the nominal exciter current or in that the alternator control parameters are fixed in such a way that overheating could occur under unfavorable circumstances. In order to prevent this overheating even under unfavorable circumstances, the temperature is measured preferably in the regulator and the temperature at critical locations is determined from this temperature while taking into account typical parameters. This can be effected in that the temperature or temperatures which would occur in stationary operation are first determined. When an impermissible temperature is detected, the exciter current is reduced by suitable steps until the allowable maximum temperature is not exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Gunter Schramm, Walter Kohl, Friedhelm Meyer, Rainer Mittag, Helmut Suelzle
  • Patent number: 5523672
    Abstract: The description concerns a voltage regulator (12) for regulating the output voltage (UB+) of an alternator (10) which is driven by an internal combustion engine. The voltage regulator (12) has an additional circuit (24) which evaluates the exciter current duty cycle (T) and supplies a signal (S1) at its output which is high when the exciter current duty cycle is high and low when the exciter current duty cycle is low. The circuit (24) is integrated in the voltage regulator (12) and the output signal (S1) supplied by it is transmitted via an additional regulator terminal (DA) and can be fed to the control device (25) of the internal combustion engine, where it is used, for instance, to increase the idling speed of the engine and accordingly also to increase the alternator speed and thus the power delivered by the alternator (10). It is also possible to switch off unnecessary consumers with this signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Guenter Schramm, Walter Kohl, Friedhelm Meyer, Rainer Mittag
  • Patent number: 5374886
    Abstract: In a voltage regulator for an alternator which charges a battery via a charging cable and supplies a vehicle mains with voltage, the output voltage is regulated as a function of the temperature of the battery. The voltage regulator has a power part and a control part, which includes a simulation device for storing data and for determining the temperature of the battery, and hence the optimum charging voltage, by simulation from the stored data. Further, the voltage drop between the alternator and battery can be calculated from the alternator current and the resistance of the charging cable while taking into account correction factors which take into account the different connections of the consuming devices between the alternator and the battery so that the calculated voltage drop and the optimum charging voltage for the battery can be used by the voltage regulator to set the voltage delivered to the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Kohl, Friedhelm Meyer, Rainer Mittag
  • Patent number: 5352929
    Abstract: The apparatus for controlling an output voltage of a generator of an internal combustion engine having a starter device, includes a charge control signaling device, an excitation coil for the generator and a voltage regulator controlling an excitation current in the excitation coil and an excitation current limiting device for limiting the excitation current during a predetermined starting phase (.DELTA.t1 ) connected to the voltage regulator. The excitation current limiting device detects whether the engine is in a starting phase. If the engine is in a starting phase, the excitation current limiting device reduces the excitation current so that a voltage is produce at generator terminal D+ which permits no load current and simultaneously guarantees that the charge control signalling device is shut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Kohl, Friedhelm Meyer, Rainer Mittag, Helmut Suelzle
  • Patent number: 5280232
    Abstract: The method of regulating a voltage produced by a generator with a voltage regulator according to a battery charge state includes providing a controller containing a clock and a memory able to store battery and power supply reference data, battery voltage and generator rotation speed; maintaining a regulated voltage produced by the generator at a normal value (U.sub.R) during a first time interval (t1); measuring a battery voltage (U.sub.B) and decreasing the regulated voltage (U.sub.R) during a second time interval (t2); determining the battery charge state from the measured battery voltage (U.sub.B) according to the stored battery- and power supply-reference data; and, when the battery charge state is determined to be unsatisfactory, determining an additional time interval (t4) with the controller and an amount of increase of the regulated voltage (U.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Kohl, Rainer Mittag
  • Patent number: 5233229
    Abstract: A device for supplying voltage to at least one consuming device in a motor vehicle including two parallel generators, two voltage regulators associated with each of the generators, two batteries each connected with one of the voltage regulators, a starter switch connected with at least one of the batteries and the voltage regulators, a charge control lamp for signalling connected with the starter switch and the voltage regulators, switching device for electrically connecting and disconnecting the consuming device or devices, and devices for controlling the voltage regulators so that during starting the charge control lamp indicates starting and the switching device disconnects the consuming devices and if a defect occurs in either generator-voltage regulator system, the charge control light lights and the consuming device or devices is (or are) supplied with current, even if, for example, one of the generators fails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Kohl, Rainer Mittag, Wenzel Novak, Kai-Uwe Strasser
  • Patent number: 5198744
    Abstract: A generator having an exciting winding and a standard load associated with a standard exciting current in the exciting winding can be controlled by a voltage regulator which adjusts an exciting current in the exciting winding and a temperature measurement device in a predetermined location in the generator and/or a voltage regulator associated with the generator, which is connected to the voltage regulator, advantageously via a microprocessor device or a pulse duration modulation circuit connected to the final regulating stage of the voltage regulator for gating the exciting current. So that the generator can be dimensioned to operate above its maximum rated temperature and can be operated in a superexcited state, the method of controlling the generator includes the steps of increasing the exciting current in the exciting winding beyond the standard exciting current to operate the generator at a higher load than the standard load; measuring a temperature T.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Kohl, Friedhelm Meyer, Rainer Mittag, Guenter Schramm
  • Patent number: 5175412
    Abstract: An electrical control system for an electrically heated window in a motor vehicle has a voltage source including a generator, a voltage regulator for regulating a generator output voltage, a transformer switched between the generator and a heating window, the generator output voltage being increased before supplying to the heatable window, and a unit for measuring a temperature of the transformer and interrupting a communication between the transformer and the voltage source in the event of exceeding an adjustable limiting temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Kohl, Guenter Schramm, Rolf Wenniger
  • Patent number: 5160881
    Abstract: Fresh air from an area located outside of the engine compartment is supplied to an alternator in a motor vehicle by ventilator. The ventilator is supplied with voltage from the alternator power supply system, and since a failure of the ventilator could lead to destruction of the alternator due to heat, the functioning of the ventilator is monitored by a device or circuit for monitoring and/or controlling the ventilator. This circuit also has a device for self-checking and controls the additional ventilator as a function of the alternator temperature by a device for measuring alternator temperature electrically connected to it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Guenter Schramm, Walter Kohl, Friedhelm Meyer
  • Patent number: 5144219
    Abstract: A voltage regulator (4) for a generator (1), particularly for use in motor vehicles, is provided which produces an average field current in the exciting winding (2) of the generator (1) by switching on and off the field current by a controlled semiconductor switch in cooperation with a recovery diode in such a way that the generator voltage remains approximately constant independently of the load and the speed. The voltage regulator (4) contains an integrally acting component for compensating for load-dependent and speed-dependent errors, which component is produced by a nonlinearly working integrator for the relative turn-on period of the current through the exciting winding (2) and is fed back into the regulating circuit of the voltage regulator (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Conzelmann, Walter Kohl, Karl Nagel