Patents by Inventor Elmar Hoffmann

Elmar Hoffmann 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: 20220340116
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating a hydraulic braking system in a motor vehicle having a regenerative braking function. The method comprises steps that, with respect to at least two wheel brakes, a hydraulic free travel release is carried out such that, with respect to one of the at least two wheel brakes, a hydraulic passage to an accumulator is released in order to store therein at least a volume fraction of the hydraulic fluid in the event of a displacement of a hydraulic fluid. The other of the at least two wheel brakes is hydraulically isolated. The disclosure also relates to a hydraulic braking system for a motor vehicle having a regenerative braking function and a method for controlling said braking system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Elmar Hoffmann, Jonas Lahnstein, Boris Koeth, Frank Schmidt, Harald Thelen
  • Patent number: 11124187
    Abstract: This invention relates to a vehicle speed control system, configured with off-road performance features, that will allow the driver to travel at a set speed in a smooth, controlled manner on various unmaintained surfaces without requiring the driver to press the brake or accelerator pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignees: ZF Active Safety US Inc., ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventors: Sean Simmons, Shawn Hawley, Charles Anthony Bartlett, Elmar Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20180257649
    Abstract: This invention relates to a vehicle speed control system, configured with off-road performance features, that will allow the driver to travel at a set speed in a smooth, controlled manner on various unmaintained surfaces without requiring the driver to press the brake or accelerator pedal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicants: Kelsey-Hayes Company, Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Sean Simmons, Shawn Hawley, Charles Anthony Bartlett, Elmar Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 9914454
    Abstract: This invention relates to a vehicle speed control system, configured with off-road performance features, that will allow the driver to travel at a set speed in a smooth, controlled manner on various unmaintained surfaces without requiring the driver to press the brake or accelerator pedal. The vehicle speed control system uses a brake controller to control the wheel brakes, and an engine controller to control the engine/drivetrain torque, separate or in combination, to maintain a target speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignees: Kelsey-Hayes Company, Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Sean Simmons, Shawn Hawley, Charles Anthony Bartlett, Elmar Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20150321671
    Abstract: This invention relates to a vehicle speed control system, configured with off-road performance features, that will allow the driver to travel at a set speed in a smooth, controlled manner on various unmaintained surfaces without requiring the driver to press the brake or accelerator pedal. The vehicle speed control system uses a brake controller to control the wheel brakes, and an engine controller to control the engine/drivetrain torque, separate or in combination, to maintain a target speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicants: Kelsey-Hayes Company, Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Sean Simmons, Shawn Hawley, Charels Bartlett, Elmar Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 9139172
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling the speed of a motor vehicle in particular during a hill ascent are described. In a PID controller acting upon the brake system of the motor vehicle the change of the vehicle inclination is fed into the I branch of the controller, thereby providing an adaptive speed control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Bach, Michael Bleser, Elmar Hoffmann, Stefan Wöll, Harald Thelen
  • Patent number: 8634999
    Abstract: A method for starting a motor vehicle on a downhill route from an idle state includes the steps of maintaining a sufficient brake force to hold the motor vehicle in the idle state, even if brake actuation by the driver is withdrawn; detecting a wish by the driver to drive off; reducing, independently of the driver, the brake force which is maintained independently of the driver, in such a way that the resulting movement of the motor vehicle follows a preset course.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Bach, Michael Bleser, Harald Thelen, Elmar Hoffmann, Bernd Schmitt
  • Patent number: 8332119
    Abstract: A system for a hill descent control in the braking equipment of a motor vehicle comprising an electrically controllable service brake system, which is designed both for an anti-locking control function and for a braking function irrespective of actuation by the driver, a brake actuator which permits an individual adjustment of the braking pressures or braking moments generated for the individual wheels of a motor vehicle, which are the respective manipulated variables controlled by the hill descent control, an electronic control unit being provided for the electronic control and/or regulation which directly or indirectly detects variables related to operating conditions of the motor vehicle and adjusts additional braking moments when driving on steeply inclined roads, irrespective of whether a brake pedal is actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Bach, Michael Bleser, Elmar Hoffmann, Stefan Wöll, Harald Thelen
  • Patent number: 8255138
    Abstract: A method for starting a motor vehicle, which is held at a standstill on an inclined route by a brake force which is maintained independently of the driver, after a predetermined holding time has elapsed gradually reduces the brake force which is generated independently of the driver, to put the motor vehicle into motion, and then controls the movement of the motor vehicle, corresponding to a preset course.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Bach, Michael Bleser, Harald Thelen, Elmar Hoffmann, Bernd Schmitt
  • Publication number: 20110010065
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling the speed of a motor vehicle in particular during a hill ascent are described. In a PID controller acting upon the brake system of the motor vehicle the change of the vehicle inclination is fed into the I branch of the controller, thereby providing an adaptive speed control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas Bach, Michael Bleser, Elmar Hoffmann, Stefan Wöll, Harald Thelen
  • Publication number: 20100292902
    Abstract: A method for starting a motor vehicle on a downhill route from an idle state includes the steps of maintaining a sufficient brake force to hold the motor vehicle in the idle state, even if brake actuation by the driver is withdrawn; detecting a wish by the driver to drive off; reducing, independently of the driver, the brake force which is maintained independently of the driver, in such a way that the resulting movement of the motor vehicle follows a preset course.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas Bach, Michael Bleser, Harald Thelen, Elmar Hoffmann, Bernd Schmitt
  • Publication number: 20100228458
    Abstract: A method for starting a motor vehicle, which is held at a standstill on an inclined route by a brake force which is maintained independently of the driver, after a predetermined holding time has elapsed gradually reduces the brake force which is generated independently of the driver, to put the motor vehicle into motion, and then controls the movement of the motor vehicle, corresponding to a preset course.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas Bach, Michael Bleser, Harald Thelen, Elmar Hoffmann, Bernd Schmitt
  • Publication number: 20100217469
    Abstract: A system for a hill descent control in the braking equipment of a motor vehicle comprising an electrically controllable service brake system, which is designed both for an anti-locking control function and for a braking function irrespective of actuation by the driver, a brake actuator which permits an individual adjustment of the braking pressures or braking moments generated for the individual wheels of a motor vehicle, which are the respective manipulated variables controlled by the hill descent control, an electronic control unit being provided for the electronic control and/or regulation which directly or indirectly detects variables related to operating conditions of the motor vehicle and adjusts additional braking moments when driving on steeply inclined roads, irrespective of whether a brake pedal is actuated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas Bach, Michael Bleser, Elmar Hoffmann, Stefan Wöll, Harald Thelen
  • Publication number: 20090287388
    Abstract: A system for a hill descent control in the braking equipment of a motor vehicle comprising an electrically controllable service brake system, which is designed both for an anti-locking control function and for a braking function irrespective of actuation by the driver, a brake actuator which permits an individual adjustment of the braking pressures or braking moments generated for the individual wheels of a motor vehicle, which are the respective manipulated variables controlled by the hill descent control, an electronic control unit being provided for the electronic control and/or regulation which directly or indirectly detects variables related to operating conditions of the motor vehicle and adjusts additional braking moments when driving on steeply inclined roads, irrespective of whether a brake pedal is actuated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas Bach, Michael Bleser, Elmar Hoffmann, Harald Thelen
  • Patent number: 6953230
    Abstract: The performance of a system for controlling vehicle-movement dynamics, which operates the braking system and the drive train of a vehicle in order to prevent lateral breakaway of the vehicle, is improved yet further for the case in which oversteering of the vehicle is to be compensated. To this end it is proposed, according to the invention, that a braking moment be produced on the front wheel on the outside of the bend by the braking system, and an additional drive moment be built up by the drive train on the driven wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Einig, Elmar Hoffmann, Josef Knechtges, Michael Bleser
  • Publication number: 20040160121
    Abstract: The performance of a system for controlling vehicle-movement dynamics, which operates by means of the braking system and the drive train of a vehicle in order to prevent lateral breakaway of the vehicle, is improved yet further for the case in which oversteering of the vehicle is to be compensated. To this end it is proposed, according to the invention, that a braking moment be produced, by means of the braking system, on the front wheel on the outside of the bend, and an additional drive moment be built up, by means of the drive train, on the driven wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventors: Frank Einig, Elmar Hoffmann, Josef Knechtges, Michael Bleser
  • Patent number: 4405175
    Abstract: A resilient sealing frame having two continuous slots, one for accommodating the periphery of a vehicle window and the other for accommodating a web projecting from the vehicle body into the vehicle opening which accommodates the window. One wall of each slot has a continuous groove, and a pair of closely spaced-apart holes extend from each groove to the exterior surface of the sealing frame. Each groove is flanked by prominent sealing lips which seal against a surface of its respective window or web. The short length of each groove between the pair of holes is plugged, such as with a resilient cord. Fluid cement is injected into one of the holes of each pair; the cement flows through the long length of each groove and when it reaches the other hole of the pair, further injection of cement is terminated, since the groove has been completely filled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1983
    Assignee: M.A.N. Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nurnberg GmbH
    Inventor: Elmar Hoffmann