Patents Assigned to Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
  • Publication number: 20230249675
    Abstract: A method for determining a replacement trajectory for a vehicle operated in an autonomous driving mode is disclosed. The method involves receiving a predefined trajectory with a first section and a second section that are linked to one another at a travel direction turning point, wherein a travel direction of the first section is different from that of the second section, receiving a sensor signal indicative of surroundings of the vehicle, detecting an obstacle in the surroundings on the basis of the received sensor signal, calculating at least one collision point on the predefined trajectory at which a collision occurs between the vehicle and the obstacle, and ascertaining the replacement trajectory based on the at least one calculated collision point. The replacement trajectory connects a starting point, located before the collision point, to an end point on the predefined trajectory, located after the collision point, while avoiding the collision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Applicant: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Stefanie Prinzhausen, Cedric Langer, Wael Guechai, Fabian Fuchs, Wolfgang Gaim, Sharad Shivajirao Bhadgaonkar, Stefan Ewald
  • Patent number: 11703347
    Abstract: The method of preparing a navigation autonomy map for a vehicle covering a zone including path segments, comprising the following steps: identifying the path segments for which the map needs to be prepared; for each path segment, calculating a primary autonomy index in accordance with at least two distinct functions; and calculating for each path segment a final autonomy index by taking a weighted average of the primary autonomy indices. An autonomy map, an application of the autonomy map, and a vehicle using such an autonomy map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignees: Safran Electronics & Defense, Valeo Schalter UND Sensoren GMBH
    Inventors: Emmanuel Robert, Jacques Yelloz, Philippe Gougeon
  • Patent number: 11671269
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a sensor arrangement (2) in a motor vehicle (1), wherein the sensor arrangement (2) has a central unit (3) and a plurality of sensor units (S1, S2, S3), the central unit (3) and the sensor units (S1, S2, S3) are connected to a bus cable (4) and via the bus cable (4) a communication takes place between the central unit (3) and the sensor units (S1, S2, S3) with the following steps: alternately carrying out a power supply phase (E) and a communication phase (K), supplying the sensor units (S1, S2, S3) with energy in the power supply phase (E), repeatedly carrying out a communication cycle in the communication phase (K), having the following steps: sending a command (F1, F2, F3) from the central unit (3) to at least one sensor unit (S1, S2, S3), receiving a response (A1, A2, A3) of a sensor unit (S1, S2, S3) in the central unit (3), receiving a respective energy status information item (ES1, ES2, ES3) from all sensor units (S1, S2, S3) in the central unit (3) an
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventor: Marek Lewandowski
  • Publication number: 20230166768
    Abstract: A driver-assistance method for a motor vehicle of interest, in which the vehicle of interest detects the third-party vehicles which are present at an initial instant in its environment is disclosed. During a first prediction cycle, an order of priority is assigned to the third-party vehicles which are detected at the initial instant and to the vehicle of interest, corresponding to an order in which the vehicles in the set follow one another in the travel zone starting from a vehicle detected in a position which is furthest ahead of the vehicle of interest. For each selected vehicle in the set, taken in the order of priority, another vehicle in the set is identified which is able to be a primary target vehicle for this selected vehicle. A manoeuvre which is in progress for the selected vehicle is estimated on the basis at least of the identified primary target vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Applicant: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Brouk Wedajo, Thomas Heitzmann
  • Publication number: 20230159020
    Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle by a parking assistance system in a following mode where the vehicle is driven along a trained trajectory or to initiate driving is disclosed. The method involves receiving the trained trajectory in a training mode in which a manually navigated trajectory is recorded as the trained trajectory. The trained trajectory has a strongly curved section, the radius of curvature of which is smaller than a radius that can be achieved with the vehicle with a maximum permissible steering lock predefined in the following mode. The method determines a starting point and an end point of the strongly curved section, ascertaining a substitute trajectory which connects a substitute starting point to a substitute end point. The substitute points are each on the trained trajectory and the strongly curved section is between the substitute points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Applicant: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Sharad Shivajirao Bhadgaonkar, Stefanie Prinzhausen, Cedric Langer, Wolfgang Gaim
  • Publication number: 20230152818
    Abstract: According to a method for object recognition by an active optical sensor system (2), a detector unit (2b) detects light (3b) reflected off an object (4) and generates a sensor signal (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f) on the basis thereof. A computing unit (2c) ascertains a first pulse width (D1) defined by a first limit value (G1) for the amplitude of the sensor signal (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f) as well as a second pulse width (D2) defined by a corresponding second limit value (G2). The computing unit (2c) ascertains at least one property of the object (4) according to the first pulse width (D1) and according to the second pulse width (D2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Sergio Fernandez, Shuyun Guo, Albrecht Muenzenmaier, Andreas Reichert
  • Publication number: 20230152457
    Abstract: According to a method for object recognition by an active optical sensor system (2), a detector unit (2b) detects light (3b) reflected off an object (4) and generates a sensor signal (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f) on the basis thereof. A computing unit (2c) ascertains a first pulse width (D1) defined by a predetermined first limit value (G1) for an amplitude of the sensor signal (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f) as well as a second pulse width (D2) defined by a predetermined second limit value (G2). The signal pulse is assigned to one of at least two categories according to at least one predefined signal pulse parameter, and a scatter plot for object recognition is generated, said scatter plot containing exactly one entry for the signal pulse, said entry corresponding to the first pulse width (D1) or to the second pulse width (D2) according to the category to which the signal pulse belongs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Sergio Fernandez, Christoph Pfrang, Viktor Trusov, Ali Bassiouny
  • Patent number: 11650312
    Abstract: A method for determining at least one object information item of at least one target object (18) which is sensed with a radar system (12), in particular of a vehicle (10), a radar system (12) and a driver assistance system (20) are described. In the method, transmission signals (32a, 32b) are transmitted into a monitoring range (14) of the radar system (12) with at least one transmitter (26a, 26b). Echoes, which are reflected at the at least one target object (18), of the transmission signals (32a, 32b) are received as received signals (34a, 34b) with at least one receiver (30), and if necessary are converted into a form which can be used by an electronic control and/or evaluation device (28). The received signals (34a, 34b) are subjected to at least one multi-dimensional discrete Fourier transformation. At least one target signal is determined from the result of the at least one Fourier transformation. At least one object information item is determined from the at least one target signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Sturm, Hamid Afrasiabi Vayghan, Yoke Leen Sit, Urs Lübbert
  • Publication number: 20230146935
    Abstract: A method for the content capture of an environment of a vehicle is disclosed. The method uses an artificial intelligence neural network, on the basis of a point cloud generated by an environment sensor of the vehicle. The method involves performing reference measurements by the environment sensor to capture reference objects depending on positions in the environment in relation to the environment sensor, generating confidence values depending on positions in the environment in relation to the environment sensor on the basis of the reference measurements by the environment sensor to capture the reference objects, training the artificial intelligence for the content capture of the environment on the basis of training point clouds for the environment sensor, capturing the environment by the environment sensor to generate the point cloud, and processing the point cloud generated by the environment sensor using the trained artificial intelligence for the content capture of the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Applicant: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Simon, Johannes Petzold, Marco Heinen
  • Patent number: 11644541
    Abstract: An emitting device (26) for a scanning optical detection system of a vehicle for monitoring at least one monitoring region (14) for objects is described, having at least one light source (40a, 40b) for generating at least one optical emission signal (32a, 32b) and having at least one diffraction unit (50a, 50b), which has a diffractive effect on the at least one emission signal (32a, 32b), for controlling at least one beam direction (66a, 66b) of the at least one emission signal (32a, 32b). At least one diffraction unit (50a, 50b) which is settable to set the beam directions (66a, 66b) associated with the respective signal paths (41a, 41b), is arranged in at least two different signal paths (41a, 41b) of one emission signal or various emission signals (32a, 32b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Bertschinger, Daniel Stricker-Shaver, Jan Simon, Thomas Schuler
  • Publication number: 20230121106
    Abstract: The invention relates to a computing device (9) for a lidar sensor apparatus (2) for a motor vehicle (1), wherein the computing device (9) has a measurement data interface for receiving measurement data from the lidar sensor device and is configured to ascertain a distance (d) of the object (7) from the lidar sensor apparatus (2) using a time-of-flight measurement for the detected reflected light component (8) or using a phase difference measurement between the scanning light (5) and the detected reflected light component (8), wherein the computing device (9) has a data interface (10) and is configured to automatically utilize the time-of-flight measurement or the phase difference measurement for ascertaining the distance (d) in dependence on at least one driving situation parameter provided via the data interface (10) in order to improve a distance measurement that is to be performed by the lidar sensor apparatus (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Jan Simon, Daniel Stricker-Shaver
  • Publication number: 20230117357
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for confirming a perceived position of a traffic light, by obtaining identifiers and results of a first perception of traffic lights associated with the identifiers, the results of the first perception including a first estimation of an ellipse encompassing each of the traffic lights, receiving results of a second perception of traffic lights associated with the identifiers, the results of the second perception including a second estimation of an ellipse encompassing each of the traffic lights, calculating, based on the first perception and the second perception, association parameters for each possible pair of estimated ellipses, selecting, based on the calculated association parameters for each possible pair of estimated ellipses, matching pairs of estimated ellipses, and fusing each matching pair of estimated ellipses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas HEITZMANN, Romain DEMARETS
  • Patent number: 11628857
    Abstract: A method for correcting a position of a vehicle when parking in a parking space. The method includes determining the position of the vehicle on the basis of odometry information, sensing ultrasonic signals from a linear object, carrying out a method for simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) on the basis of the linear object and the ultrasonic signals, and correcting the position of the vehicle A control device for a driving support system of a vehicle is also disclosed, which is designed to receive odometry information of the vehicle, to receive ultrasonic signals from at least one ultrasonic sensor of the driving support system, and to carry out the aforementioned method. A driving support system for a vehicle with an aforementioned control device and with at least one ultrasonic sensor is disclosed. The invention likewise relates to a vehicle with an aforementioned driving support system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Bariant, Anto Michael
  • Publication number: 20230097950
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for providing an environment image (36) on the basis of a camera image (30) of a vehicle camera (14, 16, 18, 20) of a vehicle (10) for monitoring an environment (28) of the vehicle (10), the camera image (30) comprising a camera image area having a camera resolution, for further processing, in particular by means of a driving assistance system of the vehicle (10), the method comprising the steps of: ascertaining a position of the vehicle camera (14, 16, 18, 20) on the vehicle (10), capturing at least one current motion parameter (44) of the vehicle (10), determining a current focus area (32) within the camera image (30) on the basis of the position of the vehicle camera (14, 16, 18, 20) on the vehicle (10) and on the basis of the at least one current motion parameter (44), and transferring pixels of the camera image (30) into the environment image (36), pixels from the current focus area (32) being transferred, with a first resolution, into a first image area (40) of the envi
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Fabian Burger, Jonathan Horgan, Philippe Lafon
  • Publication number: 20230071717
    Abstract: Described is a camera device (3) for a motor vehicle (1), having: a camera (4) for recording an image, a computing unit (8) for executing a program sequence (12) for providing at least part of a driver assistance function (13, 14, 15) depending on the recorded image, a provisioning unit (11) for providing a temperature of the computing unit (8), and a control unit (10), which is configured to modify the program sequence (12) depending on the provided temperature, the computing unit (8) being configured to execute the modified program sequence (12?).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Applicant: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Thorsten Meyer, Harald Barth
  • Patent number: 11587329
    Abstract: Techniques are described for estimating intentions of pedestrians and other road users in vicinity of a vehicle. In certain embodiments, the techniques comprise obtaining, by a computer system of a vehicle equipped with one or more sensors, a sequence of video frames corresponding to a scene external to the vehicle, detecting one or more vulnerable road users (VRUs) in the sequence of video frames, wherein the detecting comprises estimating pose of each of the detected one or more VRUs. The techniques further include generating a segmentation map of the scene using one or more of the video frames; estimating one or more intention probabilities using estimated pose of the one or more VRUs and the segmentation map, each intention probability corresponding to one of the detected one or more VRUs, and adjusting one or more automated driving actions based on the estimated one or more intention probabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Adithya Ranga, Jagdish Bhanushali
  • Publication number: 20230051791
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining at least one piece of object information about at least one object sensed by means of a radar system and to a radar system. According to the method, transmission signals in the form of chirps are transmitted by at least three transmitters in each case in chirp sequences in a monitoring region of the radar system. Echoes of the transmission signals reflected at the at least one object are received as reception signals by means of at least one receiver and, if necessary, are brought into a form that can be used by an electronic control and/or evaluation device. The reception signals are subjected to at least one two-dimensional discrete Fourier transformation. At least one target signal (ZS1_a, ZS2_a, ZS3_a, ZS4_a, ZS1_b, ZS2_b, ZS3_b, ZS4_b) is determined from the outcome of the at least one two-dimensional discrete Fourier transformation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Sturm, Hamid Afrasiabi Vayghan
  • Publication number: 20230052549
    Abstract: A method for operating a first vehicle (100) with a parking assistance system (110) is proposed, comprising: a) sensing an obstructing parked position (BP) of the first vehicle (100) by means of the parking assistance system (110), wherein the obstructing parked position (BP) is a parked position which adjoins a parking space (PP) occupied by a parked second vehicle (150), b) reception of a sensor signal, acquired by a sensor apparatus (120, 130) of the vehicle (100), by means of the parking assistance system (110), c) detecting a request to exit a parking space of the parked second vehicle (150) in accordance with the received sensor signal by means of the parking assistance system (110), and d) autonomously driving the first vehicle (100) from the obstructing parked position (BP) into a position which is different from the obstructing parked position (BP) in accordance with the detected request to exit a parking space by means of the parking assistance system (110).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventor: Marco Heimberger
  • Patent number: 11579295
    Abstract: The invention relates to the ascertaining of the maximum range of a LIDAR sensor (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Fischer
  • Patent number: 11579255
    Abstract: The invention relates to a emitter device (8) for an optical detection apparatus (3) of a motor vehicle (1), which is designed to scan a surrounding region (4) of the motor vehicle (1) by means of a light beam (10), and which comprises a light source (13) for emitting the light beam (10) and a deflection unit (15), wherein the deflection unit (15) is designed to deflect the light beam (10) emitted onto the deflection unit (15) by the light source (13) at different scanning angles (?), wherein the deflection unit (15) comprises a freeform mirror (19). The freeform mirror (19) comprises at least two surface elements (20a, 20b) having different angles of inclination (21a, 21b) and is designed to reflect the light beam (10) in order to generate a predetermined setpoint field of view (16) of the emitter device (8) at predetermined setpoint values (??3, ??2, ??1, ?0, +?1, +?2, +?3) for the scanning angle (?), said setpoint values corresponding to the angles of inclination (21a, 21b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Lin Lin, Peter Horvath, Thomas Schuler