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IPGATE AG · IP Portfolio A · A1
| Inventors | Heinz Leiber, Thomas Leiber |
| Priority | April 21, 2005 |
| Portfolio | IP Portfolio A · A1 |
| Innovations | 12 independent inventions |
| Jurisdictions | DE (8 specifications, E87DE through E87DE6 + E87WOEP) — E87DE1 BGH final legal validity; E87DE3 appeal pending |
The E87 patent family (DE 10 2005 018 649, DE 10 2005 063 659, DE 10 2005 063 664, DE 10 2005 063 689, DE 10 2005 063 691, DE 10 2005 063 697, DE 10 2005 063 699, EP 1 907 253; Applicant: IPGATE AG; Inventors: Heinz Leiber, Thomas Leiber; Priority: April 21, 2005) describes the MUX pressure control / PPC (Piston Pressure Control)—the fundamental concept of electrohydraulic pressure control for brake-by-wire systems.
The central innovation of the E87 lies in the introduction of an electrically driven piston-cylinder system in which the brake pressure is generated via a non-hydraulic transmission mechanism (screw or rack-and-pinion drive) and a brushless EC motor. The pressure is controlled by current, whereby a characteristic map assigns a specific piston position to the motor current (current-proportional pressure control). A pressure sensor is used solely for calibrating the characteristic map. For the first time, the system integrates brake force amplification and ABS/MUX pressure modulation into a single unit, thereby forming the basis of modern IBS technology (Integrated Brake System).
With 624 forward citations from 50 different patent applicants, the E87 patent family is one of the most frequently cited patent families in the field of electrohydraulic braking technology.
Patent family E87 (Applicant: IPGATE AG; Inventors: H. Leiber, T. Leiber; 8 patent specifications; 624 forward citations) establishes the basic principle of electrohydraulic pressure control: piston pressure control (PPC method), wherein a brushless EC motor with Id/Iq vector current control moves a plunger forward and backward, adaptive mapping control, and sequential MUX valve control in a closed-loop braking circuit. The eight patent specifications E87DE–E87DE6, E87WOEP cover map control, ABS, tandem HBZ, energy recovery, AEB, and fail-safe brake-by-wire. Referenced in the IBS technical article as [5,6,7,8]. The core innovations are described in detail below.
Next Generation – HDS 1 / Plunger Flow Control (Patent Family E102, Priority 2009): Patent family E102 (inventors: H. Leiber, C. Köglsperger, A. van Zanten; 10 patent specifications, 25 core inventions) overcomes the MUX limitation by introducing a cascaded plunger-flow control system with simultaneous/partially simultaneous operation and wheel-selective PWM valve modulation. The four technological channels—plunger flow (E102EP), valve modulation (E102DE/DE1), pressure profile (E102DE2), and pressure model (E102DE4)—resolve the noise and dynamic issues inherent in the MUX. Referenced as [27] in the IBS technical article.
Further Development – HDS 2 / Hybrid Pressure Control Strategy (Patent Family E141, Priority 2015): Patent family E141 (inventor: Dr. T. Leiber, C. Köglsperger; 4 intellectual property rights, 12 independent claims) combines precise volume control via three types of delivery mechanisms (plunger HDS 2.1, double-acting piston HDS 2.2, rotary pump HDS 2.3) with targeted timing control/PWM control of the outlet valves. Conceptual bridge: Claim E102DE2-A35 (bidirectional volume flow). Core functions: Volume after-feed (TA1), asymmetric AV architecture (TA2), vibration reduction via AV bypass (TA3).
Eight core innovations across eight patent specifications (12 independent claims), covering the foundational IBS architecture and all major functional extensions.
Litigation
Case No. 6 Ni 12/22 · BGH X ZR 111/22 (judgment of February 13, 2025)
Patent DE 10 2005 063 659 was challenged in nullity proceedings (Case No. 6 Ni 12/22). In the first instance before the Federal Patent Court (BPatG), the patent was partially declared invalid by judgment of May 31, 2022 (announced on September 7, 2022) and upheld in a limited version (auxiliary claim 5).
In the second instance before the Federal Court of Justice (BGH, Case No. X ZR 111/22, judgment of February 13, 2025), the patent was upheld in a broader version (auxiliary claim 1B). The BGH supplemented the claim with feature 9, according to which the piston-cylinder system is configured to generate both brake pressure buildup and brake pressure release to implement ABS control.
The Federal Court of Justice (BGH) confirmed the patentability and pointed out in particular that none of the citations disclose a braking system with an electrically driven piston-cylinder system suitable for both pressure build-up and release for both brake force amplification and an anti-lock braking system. The value in dispute was set at 1,000,000 euros.
Ref. 9 W (pat) 3/24 · Appeal pending
Patent DE 10 2005 063 689 was challenged in opposition proceedings. By decision of November 17, 2023, the patent was revoked.
IPGATE AG filed an appeal on February 5, 2024 (Ref. 9 W (pat) 3/24) and submitted its grounds for appeal on July 30, 2024. In the grounds for appeal, the company requests that the decision be set aside and the opposition be dismissed as inadmissible, or alternatively, that the patent be upheld unchanged. The appeal proceedings are pending.
Invention Overview
| Invention | Cat. | Description | Keyword |
|---|---|---|---|
| E87DE A1DE 10 2005 018 649 B4 | Device / Method | Adaptive map-based pressure control: pressure control using a characteristic map adapted during operation based on piston position and motor current. Adjustable pedal characteristics; compensation for temperature, wear, and manufacturing tolerances. | Map-based PPC · Adaptive · Pedal characteristics |
| E87DE1 A1DE 10 2005 063 659 B3 · BGH X ZR 111/22 | Device / Method | Current-proportional pressure control with ABS: piston-cylinder system generates both brake pressure build-up and release for ABS control via current sensor and amplifier characteristic curve. BGH final legal validity confirmed February 13, 2025. | Current-proportional PPC · ABS · BGH confirmed |
| E87DE2 A1DE 10 2005 063 664 | Device | Tandem master cylinder with bleed channel: dual-circuit brake system with tandem piston-cylinder and a bleed channel to the reservoir controlled by piston movement. Shut-off valve enables controlled volume compensation. | Tandem HBZ · Bleed channel · Dual-circuit |
| E87DE3 A1DE 10 2005 063 689 | Method | Regenerative braking with variable pedal characteristics: variable mapping of pressure to pedal force with correction value for regenerative braking effect. Brushless motor with position and current measurement. | Regenerative · Variable pedal · Correction value |
| E87DE4 A1DE 10 2005 063 691 | Method | Regenerative blending with precise piston position control: method for precise pressure control in regenerative braking mode with correction value for regenerative torque. Enables finely tuned pedal force blending. | Regenerative blending · Piston position · Torque correction |
| E87DE5 A1DE 10 2005 063 697 | Method | Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB): extremely rapid pressure build-up via full or partial actuation with valve fully open, regardless of pedal operation. Foundational AEB patent in the IBS architecture. | AEB · Rapid pressure build-up · Valve open |
| E87DE6 A1DE 10 2005 063 699 | Device | Pedal-gap brake system with map control: fail-safe BbW system with defined free travel between pedal and piston. Position-based pressure control via map without pressure sensor. Rack-and-pinion gear for modular design. | Pedal gap · Fail-safe BbW · Map control · Rack-pinion |
| E87WOEP A1EP 1 907 253 | Device / Method | MUX valve control with spindle drive: piston adjustment via rotor and spindle drive as a reduction gear. Valve closes upon reaching brake pressure and opens in ABS mode. European validation of the MUX concept. | MUX · Spindle drive · ABS valve control |
Family Overview
| File No. | Country | Status | Type | Application No. | Filed | Grant No. | Granted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E87DE | DE | Granted | Patent | DE 10 2005 018 649 | Apr. 21, 2005 | DE102005018649B4 | Oct. 31, 2018 |
| E87DE1 | DE | Granted | Patent · BGH X ZR 111/22 | DE 10 2005 063 659 | Apr. 21, 2005 | DE102005063659B3 | Jun. 27, 2019 |
| E87DE2 | DE | Granted | Patent | DE 10 2005 063 664 | Apr. 21, 2005 | — | — |
| E87DE3 | DE | Pending | Patent (appeal) | DE 10 2005 063 689 | Apr. 21, 2005 | — | — |
| E87DE4 | DE | Granted | Patent | DE 10 2005 063 691 | Apr. 21, 2005 | — | — |
| E87DE5 | DE | Granted | Patent | DE 10 2005 063 697 | Apr. 21, 2005 | — | — |
| E87DE6 | DE | Granted | Patent | DE 10 2005 063 699 | Apr. 21, 2005 | — | — |
| E87WOEP | EP | Granted | Patent (uncontested) | EP 1 907 253 | Apr. 21, 2005 | EP1907253B1 | — |
Explore
Three generations of pressure control.
IBS Pressure Control History →