Patents Assigned to Volkswagen AG
  • Patent number: 10766453
    Abstract: An apparatus, a key partner, methods and computer programs for a key module of a vehicle and a vehicle. The apparatus for the key module includes a communication interface for radio communication with a key partner of the vehicle, a motion sensor, and a control module for controlling an operating state from operating states of the key module based on the information about the motion of the key module. The operating states include at least a first operating state, a pre-shutdown operating state and a shutdown state. The control module activates the first operating state if the motion of the key module is above a motion limit value and activates the pre-shutdown operating state if the motion of the key module is below the motion limit value over a period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Karsten Beyer, Christoph Fricke, Peter Lohmann, Dominique Nemetschek, Andreas Thiele, Julian Verkin
  • Patent number: 10766366
    Abstract: An operating method in a vehicle having a menu of an operating structure displayed on a display surface arranged in the vehicle. The operating structure includes a main menu and additional menus. Inputs can be detected, by which a change of the displayed menu can be caused and by which switching elements of the menus can be actuated. A special switching element is displayed at the edge of the display surface which can be actuated by a swipe gesture and, if the swipe gesture associated with the special switching element has been detected, the main menu is displayed. Also disclosed is an operating device for performing the operating method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventor: Mi-Ran Jun
  • Patent number: 10766334
    Abstract: A method and a device for operating a multi-channel device wherein common control of an adjustment parameter is carried out in different zones in a synchronization mode. In another operating mode, the zones are controlled separately according to the individually adjusted adjustment parameters. There are at least a first parameter adjuster and a second parameter adjuster for setting the parameters for the at least two zones. The individual operating mode, on further actuating the second parameter adjuster so the selected parameter is brought into agreement with the parameter value selected by the first parameter adjuster, the second operating mode is exited and the at least two different zones are again controlled in common in the first operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Oliver Hengstenberg, Jens Baumgarten, Jörn Michaelis
  • Patent number: 10768632
    Abstract: An apparatus for automated, partly automated or assisted maneuvering of a motor vehicle from a start point to a 3D target position including a mono camera and an evaluation and control unit, wherein the evaluation and control unit has at least one structure-from-motion algorithm, wherein the evaluation and control unit calculates a maneuvering trajectory composed of three partial trajectories, wherein a first partial trajectory leads from the start point to a first intermediate point, a second partial trajectory leads from the first to a second intermediate point, and the third partial trajectory leads from the second intermediate point to the target point, wherein at least the first or at least the second partial trajectory is embodied so the mono camera captures the target position from at least two different viewing directions, wherein the viewing directions are selected so the 3D determination of the structure-from-motion is optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventor: Philipp Hüger
  • Patent number: 10768793
    Abstract: A user interface and a method for changing from a first screen view to a second screen view of a user interface. The method includes detecting an input in an approximation region of an input unit, displaying a message at an edge of the first screen view relating to the possibility of changing over to the second screen view, recognizing a predefined gesture of a user, and changing from the first screen view to the second screen view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Holger Wild, Mark Peter Czelnik
  • Patent number: 10766496
    Abstract: A method for detecting and characterizing a driving behavior of a driver or an autopilot in a transportation vehicle which has at least one acceleration sensor used to record data points which indicate a lateral acceleration and a longitudinal acceleration of the transportation vehicle over a time interval, and a control unit used to generate an image space as a GG diagram from the data points of at least one sub-section of the time interval. The image space is transformed by the control unit by a transformation into a parameter space and coordinates of accumulation points in the parameter space are acquired by the control unit. From the coordinates of the accumulation points, by using a classification algorithm, the control unit determines a classification value and/or a classification profile relating to the driving behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventor: Samuel Schacher
  • Patent number: 10768709
    Abstract: A display operator control unit, a propulsion means, and a method for displaying additional instructions relating to display elements displayed on a display unit. The method detects an input in a first input region in front of the display unit and, in response thereto, outputs a first instruction relating to a first display element and a second instruction relating to a second display element. The method also detects an input in a second input region in front of the display unit and, in response thereto, suppresses the second instruction relating to the second display element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Holger Wild, Mark Peter Czelnik
  • Patent number: 10762222
    Abstract: A method for providing an authenticated connection between at least two communication partners including implementing a server application on a first communication partner of the at least two communication partners, implementing a first user application on a second communication partner of the at least two communication partners, and carrying out an application-related pairing between the server application on the first communication partner and the first user application on the second communication partner for producing an application-restricted authenticated connection between the first communication partner and the first user application on the second communication partner. The method enables a coupling of at least two communication partners which is effected at the application level and is independent of the protection of the communication connection between the communication partners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Timo Winkelvos, Alexander Tschache, Martin Wuschke
  • Patent number: 10745025
    Abstract: A method for assisting a transportation vehicle occupant located in a transportation vehicle wherein user information regarding the behavior and/or the state of a transportation vehicle occupant and transportation vehicle parameters of the transportation vehicle are gathered. The gathered user information and transportation vehicle parameters are combined and jointly analyzed and at least one behavior pattern of the transportation vehicle occupant is determined from the jointly analyzed user information and transportation vehicle parameters. The behavior pattern is stored together with the user information. In a subsequent gathering of user information, this user information is compared with the user information behavior pattern previously stored. When there is conformance with the behavior pattern, a transportation vehicle function is automatically carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Esref Köse, Ahmed Ali, Sebastian Gehrling, Jens Kampermann, Sarah Strygulec, Sven Klomp, Jessica Apfel, Sandra Jürgensmeier, Wolfgang Theimer, Ernst Zielinski
  • Patent number: 10744929
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methodologies for transportation vehicle fit-up can include a tuning assembly for tuning the spatial relationship between an accessory and adjacent portions of the transportation vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventor: Davis Maxwell Woody
  • Patent number: 10744834
    Abstract: A pivot bearing for independent wheel suspension of a steerable front wheel of a vehicle having at least one upper bearing with a connection to a spring strut for attachment to the body. To improve the safety of the passenger cell in the event of a frontal collision, the connection has a separating device that brings about separation of the attachment of the pivot bearing to the spring strut and to the body of the vehicle at the upper bearing in the event of a frontal impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Mario Ubaldo, Thomas Paulsen
  • Publication number: 20200256980
    Abstract: A method for classification of ground conditions in the vicinity of a vehicle using a radar sensor, comprising: receiving reflected portions of a radar signal at a receiver unit of a radar system; calculating information derived from the received portions of the radar signal for discrete spatial regions by the radar system or a control unit connected thereto; assigning the information to data structure units associated with a geographical location and the assignment of the information taking into account movement of the vehicle; collecting pieces of information in the respective data structure units, the pieces of information being obtained from reflected portions of radar signals transmitted at different times; evaluating the information contained in the data structure using a classifier to obtain information regarding the ground condition; assigning ground condition types to the data structure units based on evaluation results obtained by the classifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicants: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbH, Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Thorsten Bagdonat, Marc-Michael Meinecke, Andreas Löffler, Thomas Fechner
  • Patent number: 10733877
    Abstract: A traffic flux maximization method and system to control traffic flow by combining classical computing machine learning to predict traffic flux minimization before its occurrence, with quantum annealing to optimize future positions of vehicles. Vehicles are redirected to minimize the travel time for each vehicle, taking into account other vehicles in the road network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Audi AG
    Inventors: Florian Neukart, Gabriele Compostella, Christian Seidel, David Von Dollen
  • Patent number: 10730511
    Abstract: A communication device having a wireless receiver configured to receive first signals from a vehicle and a wireless transmitter wherein the communication device transmits second signals containing information about a state of the vehicle to an external information device on the basis of the first signals via the wireless transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Matthias Breuel, Arndt Böhme
  • Patent number: 10710459
    Abstract: A method for supplying power from at least one power supply unit to transportation vehicles requiring a power supply, in which a position of a transportation vehicle-side power supply interface of a transportation vehicle requiring power is determined for each transportation vehicle and the transportation vehicle-side power supply interface is automatically coupled to a power supply interface of the power supply unit by the power supply interface of the power supply unit being moved by a robot to the transportation vehicle-side power supply interface and coupled thereto. A robot is responsible for coupling transportation vehicles to a suitable power supply interface of the power supply unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, KUKA DEUTSCHLAND
    Inventors: Daniel Schütz, Michael Grote, Jürgen Stieg, Lutz Junge, Sven Horstmann, Thorsten Bagdonat, Sebastian Grysczyk, Andreas Weiser, Norbert Settele
  • Patent number: 10698116
    Abstract: A method for determining a desired trajectory for a first road user for a route section. A process involves at least one trajectory that the at least one second road user has used to cover the route section being ascertained by one or more sensors. Then, a further process involves a piece of information about the at least one trajectory covered being transmitted to a computation unit. A process involves a desired trajectory for the first road user for covering the route section being ascertained, based on the at least one piece of information about the trajectory covered by the at least one second road user with the computation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Christian Jördens, David Perdomo Lopez, Sven Chlosta
  • Patent number: 10693831
    Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer-readable storage medium having instructions for Vehicle-to-Vehicle communication. Messages are exchanged between a first vehicle and a second vehicle. Each of the messages includes a hash pointer to the respective last previous message. After completion of the exchange of messages, a hash pointer to the last message of the exchange of messages is signed individually by each participant and published. In case the resulting negotiated contract has to be changed, a further message is added to the exchange of messages, which includes a hash pointer to the last message of the exchange of messages. Finally a hash pointer to the further message is published.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Roman Alieiev, Thorsten Hehn, Andreas H. Kwoczek, Klaus Schaaf
  • Patent number: 10693157
    Abstract: A humidifier with an integrated water separator for a fuel cell system, including a housing with a first channel for a first gas stream and a second channel for a second gas stream, a humidifier area in which the first channel and the second channel are separated from one another by a water vapor-permeable membrane, and a collection container for collecting the deposited liquid water is provided. It is provided that a water separator for separating liquid water is situated in the humidifier area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Audi AG
    Inventors: Christian Lucas, Rune Staeck
  • Patent number: 10687233
    Abstract: A vehicle device for monitoring data traffic with components of a motor vehicle in a motor vehicle includes one or more interfaces to communicate with at least one transceiver of a first radio system and at least one transceiver of a second radio system. The device includes a monitoring module to receive information about a data transmission via the one or more interfaces and the first radio system and to transmit data via the one or more transceivers and via the second radio system. The network device for a network component for monitoring a data transmission to at least one component of a motor vehicle includes at least one interface to communicate with at least one other network component and a monitoring module to receive information about a request for a data transmission and to transmit information about the request via a radio system to the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventor: Burak Simsek
  • Patent number: 10682912
    Abstract: A method for operating an output apparatus of a motor vehicle performed by the output apparatus and including receiving a first consumption signal that indicates a consumption relating to a first form of energy measured in a first unit of measurement, receiving a second consumption signal that indicates a consumption relating to a second form of energy measured in a second unit of measurement, providing at least one reference element that indicates a respective predetermined standard consumption, displaying the at least one reference element on a display unit, and controlling a position of a consumption display element on the display unit based on the two consumption signals and, as a result, adjusting a relative position of the consumption display element with regard to the at least one reference element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Alexander Weß, Hendrik Schröder