Patents by Inventor Wolfgang Mai

Wolfgang Mai 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: 10683048
    Abstract: An electric bicycle has an electric motor and an electric energy store for supplying energy to the electric motor. Accordingly, the bicycle has a first controller coupled to the electric motor and is configured to store a first keycode. The bicycle has a second controller coupled to the energy store and is configured to store a second keycode. The controllers are connected or can be connected to a data transmission system, which is a bus. The first and second controllers are configured such that at least one specified controller of the controllers receives the keycode of the other controller. The specified controller is configured to determine whether its keycode matches the received keycode of the other controller using specified criteria. An immobilizer for an electric bicycle can be formed from these components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Mai, Wolfgang Ludwig, Rainer Hild
  • Publication number: 20180297656
    Abstract: An electric bicycle has an electric motor and an electric energy store for supplying energy to the electric motor. Accordingly, the bicycle has a first controller coupled to the electric motor and is configured to store a first keycode. The bicycle has a second controller coupled to the energy store and is configured to store a second keycode. The controllers are connected or can be connected to a data transmission system, which is a bus. The first and second controllers are configured such that at least one specified controller of the controllers receives the keycode of the other controller. The specified controller is configured to determine whether its keycode matches the received keycode of the other controller using specified criteria. An immobilizer for an electric bicycle can be formed from these components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: WOLFGANG MAI, WOLFGANG LUDWIG, RAINER HILD
  • Patent number: 8807122
    Abstract: A tank venting apparatus for a supercharged internal combustion engine (1) has a fuel tank (18), a fuel vapor reservoir (25) connected to the fuel tank (18) via a connecting line (26) and to an intake pipe (9) of the internal combustion engine (1) via a venting line (27), a tank venting valve (28) which is arranged in the venting line (27), and a safety valve (33) which is arranged in the venting line (27) between the tank venting valve (28) and the intake pipe (9). The safety valve (33) is configured so as to permit a gas flow in a blocking direction (S) from the intake pipe (9) to the tank venting valve (28) with a certain positive pressure in relation to the pressure at the tank venting valve (28) is achieved in the intake pipe (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Mai
  • Patent number: 8695573
    Abstract: During operation of an internal combustion engine system which has at least one sensor for measuring a hydrocarbon content of a gas stream in a line, a temperature is determined at the at least one sensor. If the temperature is greater than a prespecified temperature, the flow of gas through the line is interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Rudolf Bierl, Stephan Heinrich, Wolfgang Mai, Paul Rodatz, Manfred Weigl, Andreas Wildgen
  • Patent number: 8584654
    Abstract: A method for controlling a tank ventilation device (102) for a motor vehicle (100) is proposed in which first of all a tank vent valve (28) of the tank ventilation device (102) is closed. Then, the value of a control signal for the tank vent valve (28) is increased in the sense of an opening of the tank vent valve (28) until a leak detection means (23, 31) associated with the tank ventilation device (102) recognizes a leak in the tank ventilation device (102). The value of the control signal at which the leak in the tank ventilation device (102) is recognized is identified as the opening control value for opening the tank vent valve (28). In this way, the opening control value for the tank vent valve (28) can be determined with a high frequency and precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Stephane Closet, Wolfgang Mai, Jens Pache
  • Patent number: 8394172
    Abstract: A method for rapidly emptying an activated carbon filter while using an HC sensor (concentration change). A device for a tank system, for a motor vehicle having the device for a tank system and to a method for emptying an activated carbon filter for a tank system. The concentration of volatile components which are flushed from the activated carbon filter is detected by a concentration sensor. The concentration sensor is used as an early warning sensor to prevent any disturbances of mixture production of an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Rudolf Bierl, Stephan Heinrich, Wolfgang Mai, Paul Rodatz, Manfred Weigl, Andreas Wildgen
  • Patent number: 8347864
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine (1) has a fuel tank (18) and a fuel vapor reservoir (25). According to the method during the tank vent period—before opening the tank vent valve (28) a reference value is updated if a condition is met, and otherwise the existing reference value is maintained, —before opening the tank vent valve (28) an opening period is determined as a function of at least one variable, —the tank vent valve (28) is controlled such that the flow achieves the target flow value by the end of the opening period that was determined, —the load level of the fuel vapor reservoir (25) is computed based on the reference value, —a fuel amount is computed based on the load level, —and the fuel amount to be metered by the injection valve (22) is corrected based on the computer fuel amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Mai, Jens Pache
  • Patent number: 8312868
    Abstract: A device and a method for operating an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder and a tank ventilation system with a line designed to provide pneumatic communication between the tank ventilation system and the at least one cylinder. The line has at least one sensor for determining a hydrocarbon content of a gas flow. A determination, as a function of a measurement signal from the sensor, of a hydrocarbon content of a gas flow flowing from the tank ventilation system to the at least one cylinder is performed. At least one characteristic variable for a fuel quantity to be metered is determined as a function of the determined hydrocarbon content. A metering of fuel into the cylinder is determined as a function of the at least one determined characteristic variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Rudolf Bierl, Stephan Heinrich, Wolfgang Mai, Paul Rodatz, Manfred Weigl, Andreas Wildgen
  • Publication number: 20120031380
    Abstract: A tank venting apparatus for a supercharged internal combustion engine (1) has a fuel tank (18), a fuel vapour reservoir (25) connected to the fuel tank (18) via a connecting line (26) and to an intake pipe (9) of the internal combustion engine (1) via a venting line (27), a tank venting valve (28) which is arranged in the venting line (27), and a safety valve (33) which is arranged in the venting line (27) between the tank venting valve (28) and the intake pipe (9). The safety valve (33) is configured so as to permit a gas flow in a blocking direction (S) from the intake pipe (9) to the tank venting valve (28) with a certain positive pressure in relation to the pressure at the tank venting valve (28) is achieved in the intake pipe (9).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventor: Wolfgang Mai
  • Patent number: 8108121
    Abstract: In a method for correcting the fuel concentration in a regeneration gas flow of a tank venting device, the fuel concentration is determined, and a defined regeneration gas flow rate is set and supplied to the engine to use the regeneration gas in the combustion process. Then, a reference composition is determined and the flow rate is varied. Then, a first injection amount correction value is determined based on the fuel concentration and the flow rate adjustment amount. A pre-specified quantity of fuel is corrected by the first correction value and the exhaust gas composition is determined again after the corrected fuel quantity has been supplied. A second correction value is determined by which the corrected fuel quantity is further corrected to set the exhaust gas composition to the reference composition. The fuel concentration of the regeneration gas flow is corrected by the first and the second correction values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Mai, Jens Pache
  • Patent number: 8082905
    Abstract: A tank venting device for a motor vehicle has a fuel tank, a fuel vapor accumulator for storing fuel vapors escaping from the fuel tank and a connection line, via which the fuel vapors may flow from the fuel tank into the fuel vapor accumulator. Furthermore, an overpressure line having an overpressure valve is provided, via which the fuel vapors may flow from the fuel tank into the fuel vapor accumulator when the overpressure valve is open. An attachment of the connection line on the fuel vapor accumulator and an attachment of the overpressure line on the fuel vapor accumulator are situated at different points on the fuel vapor accumulator. The operational reliability of a tank venting procedure may thus be increased and the adsorption capacity of the fuel vapor accumulator may be used better.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Mai, Jens Pache
  • Patent number: 8041496
    Abstract: The tank venting device has a fuel vapor reservoir connected to a fuel tank to deliver escaping fuel vapors to the fuel vapor reservoir, and is connected to the internal combustion engine in such a manner that during a tank venting operation the fuel vapors contained in the fuel vapor reservoir are delivered as regeneration gas. To check the operability of the venting device the fuel concentration in the regeneration gas is ascertained at a minimum of two different points in time during the venting operation. The fuel concentration values in the regeneration gas are compared with respective reference values representing the regeneration gas fuel concentration in the situation in which no additional fuel vapors are delivered during the venting operation. The assessment of the venting device operability is carried out by comparison of the values ascertained for the fuel concentration in the regeneration gas with the reference values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Eser, Wolfgang Mai, Jens Pache
  • Publication number: 20110226804
    Abstract: A method for rapidly emptying an activated carbon filter while using an HC sensor (concentration change). A device for a tank system, for a motor vehicle having the device for a tank system and to a method for emptying an activated carbon filter for a tank system. The concentration of volatile components which are flushed from the activated carbon filter is detected by a concentration sensor. The concentration sensor is used as an early warning sensor to prevent any disturbances of mixture production of an engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Rudolf Bierl, Stephan Heinrich, Wolfgang Mai, Paul Rodatz, Manfred Weigl, Andreas Wildgen
  • Publication number: 20110174276
    Abstract: During operation of an internal combustion engine system which has at least one sensor for measuring a hydrocarbon content of a gas stream in a line, a temperature is determined at the at least one sensor. If the temperature is greater than a prespecified temperature, the flow of gas through the line is interrupted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Inventors: Rudolf Bierl, Stephan Heinrich, Wolfgang Mai, Paul Rodatz, Manfred Weigl, Andreas Wildgen
  • Publication number: 20110139261
    Abstract: A method for controlling a tank ventilation device (102) for a motor vehicle (100) is proposed in which first of all a tank vent valve (28) of the tank ventilation device (102) is closed. Then, the value of a control signal for the tank vent valve (28) is increased in the sense of an opening of the tank vent valve (28) until a leak detection means (23, 31) associated with the tank ventilation device (102) recognizes a leak in the tank ventilation device (102). The value of the control signal at which the leak in the tank ventilation device (102) is recognized is identified as the opening control value for opening the tank vent valve (28). In this way, the opening control value for the tank vent valve (28) can be determined with a high frequency and precision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Stephane Closet, Wolfgang Mai, Jens Pache
  • Publication number: 20110137540
    Abstract: During the operation of an internal combustion engine which has at least one sensor for measuring a hydrocarbon content and a mass flow rate of a gas flow through a line, the hydrocarbon content and the mass flow rate of the gas flow are determined. The gas flow through the line is controlled as a function of the determined values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Mai, Paul Rodatz, Rudolf Bierl, Stephan Heinrich, Manfred Weigl, Andreas Wildgen
  • Patent number: 7918213
    Abstract: In a control method for an internal combustion engine (1) which has a fuel tank (18), a fuel vapor storage device (25) for storing the escaping fuel vapors and a controllable valve (28) for adjusting the stream of fuel vapors fed to the intake tract (4) during a period of tank ventilation, the valve (28) is controlled in such a way according to the method that the stream of fuel vapors varies during the tank ventilation period. The regeneration of the fuel vapor storage device is intended to be improved thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Althof, Stefan Fuehling, Wolfgang Mai, Knut Meyer, Jens Pache, Matthias Wiese
  • Publication number: 20110067676
    Abstract: In a method for controlling a tank vent valve (28) of a tank vent device (102) for an internal combustion engine (101) of a motor vehicle (100), the tank vent valve (28) is disposed in a vent line (27) between a fuel vapor reservoir (25) and an intake manifold (4) of the internal combustion engine (101). According to the method, the internal combustion engine (101) is switched off, and the tank vent valve (28) is opened when the internal combustion engine (101) has been switched off, if a signal is sensed according to which a start of the internal combustion engine (101) is expected to be imminent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: Wolfgang Mai, Jens Pache
  • Patent number: 7823569
    Abstract: According to a method for controlling an internal combustion engine by which the tank ventilation operation and an adjustment of the basic mixture can be carried out simultaneously, the engine is operated with an open tank ventilation valve. A first fuel amount correction value is determined for correction of a basic pilot control value for the amount of injected fuel. The regeneration gas volume flow rate is subsequently varied by a predefined change amount. A second fuel amount correction value is determined for correction of the basic pilot control value. Based on the first and second correction values and the flow rate change amount, a third fuel amount correction value is calculated by which the basic pilot control value would have to be corrected to again regulate the exhaust gas composition with a closed tank ventilation valve. Based on the third correction value the basic pilot control value is corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Mai, Jens Pache
  • Publication number: 20100059022
    Abstract: A device and a method for operating an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder and a tank ventilation system with a line designed to provide pneumatic communication between the tank ventilation system and the at least one cylinder. The line has at least one sensor for determining a hydrocarbon content of a gas flow. A determination, as a function of a measurement signal from the sensor, of a hydrocarbon content of a gas flow flowing from the tank ventilation system to the at least one cylinder is performed. At least one characteristic variable for a fuel quantity to be metered is determined as a function of the determined hydrocarbon content. A metering of fuel into the cylinder is determined as a function of the at least one determined characteristic variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Rudolf Bierl, Stephan Heinrich, Wolfgang Mai, Paul Rodatz, Manfred Weigl, Andreas Wildgen