Patents by Inventor Andreas Köbe

Andreas Köbe 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: 9643617
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for estimating a friction coefficient in a moving vehicle analyze image data from a forward-looking vehicle camera to produce a camera friction coefficient ?k, and analyze tire slip and tire vibration based on a wheel speed signal to produce a wheel friction coefficient ?w. The camera and wheel friction coefficients are both considered to produce a proactive estimated friction coefficient that is primarily based on the camera friction coefficient ?k, whereas the wheel friction coefficient ?w is taken into account to check plausibility of the camera friction coefficient ?k.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Daniel Fischer, Stefan Stoelzl, Andreas Koebe
  • Publication number: 20150251659
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method and an apparatus, respectively, for estimating a friction coefficient in a moving vehicle. For this purpose, image data from a forward-looking vehicle camera is analyzed in the vehicle so as to allow conclusions with respect to the road surface. The camera image data is used to perform a friction coefficient classification which provides a camera friction coefficient ?k. A tire slip and a tire vibration are analyzed based on a wheel speed signal and are used to perform a classification of the friction coefficient which provides a wheel friction coefficient ?w. Proactive estimation of the friction coefficient is performed as a merger of the camera and wheel friction coefficients, wherein the proactive friction coefficient estimation is primarily based on the camera friction coefficient ?k but the wheel friction coefficient ?w is continuously taken into account to check the camera friction coefficient ?k for plausibility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Daniel Fischer, Stefan Stoelzl, Andreas Koebe
  • Patent number: 8634983
    Abstract: A method for indirectly monitoring tire pressure or for detecting damage to a wheel suspension, wherein a pressure loss detection variable (DVE) is determined using an analysis of a vibratory behavior of a wheel of a motor vehicle, and a pressure loss in the tire of the wheel or damage to the wheel suspension is detected by comparing a momentarily determined pressure loss detection variable (DVEakt) to a learned pressure loss detection variable (DVEsoll), wherein at least two dimensional variables are determined from a wheel speed signal (w) of the wheel, each representing a dimension for the extent of a frequency or a frequency range in the vibratory behavior of the wheel, and that the pressure loss detection variable (DVE) is derived from the two dimensional variables (e1, e2, e3), particularly from a ratio of the two dimensional variables (e2/e3), and a tire pressure monitoring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Markus Irth, Daniel Fischer, Andreas Köbe, Christian Suβmann
  • Patent number: 8397559
    Abstract: A system and method for indirect tire pressure monitoring. A pressure loss variable (X, f, c) is determined based on an analysis of an oscillation behavior of a tire of a motor vehicle for the detection of a pressure loss in the tire of a wheel. A variable (?, ?/v) representing an increase (?) of a wheel torque slip curve, or depending on an increase (?) of a wheel torque slip curve (?/v), is determined from the oscillation behavior of the tire, and the variable (?, ?/v) and the pressure loss variable (X, f, c) are used for detecting the pressure loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Daniel Fischer, Markus Irth, Andreas Köbe, Christian Suβmann
  • Patent number: 8370024
    Abstract: A method for detecting the direction of travel or for detecting a change in the direction of travel of a motor vehicle which has at least two wheel speed sensor arrangements which each comprise an encoder with an incremental scale and a plurality of scale graduations and a wheel speed sensor (SEa, SEb, SEc, SEd) and are connected to an electronic control unit, wherein, when a scale graduation is sensed the wheel speed sensors each transmit a speed signal to the electronic control unit, wherein the direction of travel or a change in the direction of travel is identified at least from the order in which the speed signals occur with respect to the individual wheel speed sensor arrangements. A computer program product for carrying out all the steps of the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Markus Irth, Martin Grieβer, Andreas Köbe, Frank Schreiner, Christian Suβmann, Daniel Fischer
  • Patent number: 8326480
    Abstract: Method for monitoring the state of a tire, in which at least one analysis value (UR i), from which the state of a tire is determined, is formed from wheel speed signals (?rot i) of the vehicle wheels, wherein the analysis value (UR i) is an absolute rolling circumference of a tire or a variable which represents the absolute rolling circumference of a tire, in particular a dynamic tire radius which is determined by evaluating wheel speed signals (?rot i) and signals from at least one sensor in order to measure the speed of the vehicle over an underlying surface, and the analysis value (UR i) is used to determine a loss of pressure and/or working loads of the tire, as well as a device for monitoring the state of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Andreas Köbe, Frank Schreiner, Daniel Fischer
  • Patent number: 8180523
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detection of a pressure loss in motor vehicle tires, which detects pressure loss on at least one vehicle tire based on several parameters, which are calculated from the rolling circumference of the tires. To this end, currently calculated parameters are compared with learnt values of the parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Frank Edling, Lennert Gootjes, Andreas Köbe, Martin Griesser, Vladimir Koukes, Jörg Cunz, Markus Irth, Maik Hofmann, Franko Blank, Alfred Duchow, Frank Schreiner
  • Patent number: 8180525
    Abstract: A method for assisting a driver when parking or maneuvering a motor vehicle having at least one driver assistance system and a vehicle safety system is provided. The method includes the steps of detecting the surroundings and calculating a desired path in a calculation model, in which the differences in traveling distance between the individual wheels are monitored and determined by means of the vehicle safety system. The desired path is predicted in a calculation model by means of the differences in traveling distance, and detection of the surroundings is carried out by means of the driver assistance system. Furthermore, a system which is suitable to implement the method is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Stefan Lüke, Andreas Köbe, Martin Griesser, Markus Irth, Daniel Fischer, Frank Schreiner, Christian Sussmann
  • Patent number: 7991523
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of indirect tire pressure monitoring. The method includes: learning test variables (DIAG, SIDE, AXLE), which describe the rotational movements of the wheels; determining rolling circumference differences (?DIAG, ?SIDE, ?AXLE) from actually determined test variables and the learnt test variables; learning at least one torsion natural frequency fp for at least one tire from the oscillation behavior of the individual tires; determining at least one shift of the torsion natural frequency ?fp from at least one actually determined torsion natural frequency and from the at least one learnt torsion natural frequency; and combining the rolling circumference differences (?DIAG, ?SIDE, ?AXLE) with the at least one shift of the torsion natural frequency fp in a joint warning strategy for detecting and warning of tire inflation pressure loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Martin Grieβer, Andreas Köbe, Frank Edling, Vladimir Koukes, Jörg Cunz, Lennert Gootjes, Joachim Kohn, Ines Runge, Maik Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20110060500
    Abstract: A method for indirectly monitoring tire pressure or for detecting damage to a wheel suspension, wherein a pressure loss detection variable (DVE) is determined using an analysis of a vibratory behavior of a wheel of a motor vehicle, and a pressure loss in the tire of the wheel or damage to the wheel suspension is detected by comparing a momentarily determined pressure loss detection variable (DVEakt) to a learned pressure loss detection variable (DVEsoil), wherein at least two dimensional variables are determined from a wheel speed signal (w) of the wheel, each representing a dimension for the extent of a frequency or a frequency range in the vibratory behavior of the wheel, and that the pressure loss detection variable (DVE) is derived from the two dimensional variables (e1, e2, e3), particularly from a ratio of the two dimensional variables (e2/e3), and a tire pressure monitoring system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2008
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG &CO. OHG
    Inventors: Markus Irth, Daniel Fisher, Andreas Köbe, Christian Sussmann
  • Publication number: 20100211250
    Abstract: A system and method for indirect tire pressure monitoring. A pressure loss variable (X, f, c) is determined based on an analysis of an oscillation behavior of a tire of a motor vehicle for the detection of a pressure loss in the tire of a wheel. A variable (?, ?/v) representing an increase (?) of a wheel torque slip curve, or depending on an increase (?) of a wheel torque slip curve (?/v), is determined from the oscillation behavior of the tire, and the variable (?, ?/v) and the pressure loss variable (X, f, c) are used for detecting the pressure loss.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2008
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: CONTINANTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG
    Inventors: Daniel Fischer, Markus Irth, Andreas Köbe, Christian Sussmann
  • Publication number: 20100185361
    Abstract: A method for detecting the direction of travel or for detecting a change in the direction of travel of a motor vehicle which has at least two wheel speed sensor arrangements which each comprise an encoder with an incremental scale and a plurality of scale graduations and a wheel speed sensor (SEa, SEb, SEc, SEd) and are connected to an electronic control unit, wherein, when a scale graduation is sensed the wheel speed sensors each transmit a speed signal to the electronic control unit, wherein the direction of travel or a change in the direction of travel is identified at least from the order in which the speed signals occur with respect to the individual wheel speed sensor arrangements. A computer program product for carrying out all the steps of the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: Continental Teves AG & Co., oHG
    Inventors: Markus Irth, Martin Grießer, Andreas Köbe, Frank Schreiner, Christian Sußmann, Daniel Fischer
  • Patent number: 7503210
    Abstract: An allocation method combines two tire pressure monitoring systems in motor vehicles being equipped with pressure measuring modules. Each pressure measuring module records a value responsive to the tire inflation pressure and sends the latter to a receiving unit connected to an evaluating device together with an individual identification code (IDx) allocated to the respective pressure measuring module. Signals about the rotational speed of each one wheel being sensed by wheel rotational speed sensors are transmitted to the evaluating device, and since the installation positions y of the wheels at the vehicle are known to the evaluating device, the wheels at the vehicle are known, and the allocation method is performed by taking into consideration established probability values W_IDx_y, with the probability values W_IDx_y describing a frequency distribution which indicates how often pressure measuring modules with the identification codes IDx are detected as pertaining to the installation positions y.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co oHG
    Inventors: Peter Lauer, Stefan Stölzl, Andreas Köbe, Vladimir Koukes
  • Patent number: 7331220
    Abstract: Disclosed is a tire pressure monitoring device for a motor vehicle. A tire pressure monitoring system with direct measurement includes a transmission device for transmitting tire pressure values determined by pressure sensors, and a tire pressure monitoring system with indirect measurement that operates on the basis of wheel speed sensors. The tire pressure monitoring system with direct measurement includes a tire pressure measuring device for measuring a tire pressure value only on each wheel of a driven vehicle axle and on at most one wheel of a non-driven axle. The tire pressure monitoring system with indirect measurement includes wheel speed sensors on the non-driven vehicle axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Peter Lauer, Stefan Stölzl, Martin Griesser, Andreas Köbe, Peter Säger, Vladimir Koukes
  • Patent number: 7289928
    Abstract: The present device relates to a method of improving a indirect measurement tire pressure detection system. Such systems include a system that detects pressure loss based on wheel speed data. The present method determines reference values dependent upon driving parameters and produces a two-dimensional or multi-dimensional closed range of driving parameters. The closed range of driving parameters uses reference values that are determined to be currently valid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Continental Teves A.G. & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Martin Griesser, Andreas Köbe, Frank Edling, Michael Holtz, Karl Perras
  • Patent number: 7289930
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of monitoring tire pressure monitoring systems in a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle has a tire pressure monitoring system with indirect measurement which detects tire inflation pressure loss on the basis of wheel speed data, and a tire pressure monitoring system with direct measurement (TPMS) which detects tire inflation pressure loss from tire inflation pressure values measured directly by pressure modules on the vehicle tire. According to the method a warning relating to tire inflation pressure loss emitted by a pressure module of the tire pressure monitoring system with direct measurement (TPMS) is not transmitted to the driver until this tire inflation pressure loss is confirmed by the tire pressure monitoring system with indirect measurement or by all pressure modules that are still working in fail-free manner. Also disclosed is a computer program product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Stefan Stölzl, Martin Griesser, Andreas Köbe, Peter Lauer, Vladimir Koukes
  • Patent number: 7283924
    Abstract: The present device relates to a method for automatically determining the installation positions of wheels in a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle has a direct measure tire pressure monitoring system includes individual wheel tire pressure measuring devices and transmitting devices for the transfer of TPMS data containing tire air pressure values and identification numbers of the individual wheels to a receiving and evaluating device installed in or on the vehicle. The motor vehicle also includes an indirect measuring tire pressure monitoring system determining DDS data containing air pressure changes and installation positions from the rotational behavior of the individual wheels. The method includes determining correlation coefficients from the TPMS data and the DDS data by using a correlation function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Peter Lauer, Stefan Stölzl, Martin Griesser, Andreas Köbe, Frank Edling, Peter Säger, Vladimir Koukes
  • Patent number: 7263878
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of detecting growth of the dynamic tire circumference (circumferential growth or tire growth), wherein at least one reference value Ref is produced on the basis of wheel speed information, said reference value representing in particular a sidewise and/or crosswise relation of the motor vehicle wheels, and wherein the time variation of the reference value(s) is examined and, further, tire growth is detected on the basis of said variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Martin Griesser, Andreas Köbe, Frank Edling, Michael Holtz, Karl Perras
  • Patent number: 7203612
    Abstract: Disclosed are different processes for the determination of the internal pressure, particularly of the minimum pressure of the tire of a motor vehicle during driving operation, through an analysis of the characteristic vibration behavior of the wheel, whereby the standardized amplitude is determined from the vibration spectrum determined and the resonance frequency is observed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Andreas Köbe, Holger Behrends, Lennert Gootjes, Joachim Kohn, Ines Runge, Stefan Kluge, Alfred Duchow
  • Patent number: 7200514
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of detecting straight-ahead driving according to a first straight-ahead driving detection method based on information on the rotational speed of a wheel by way of memorizing a curve parameter in a learning phase, in particular in selected driving situations, and the curve parameter is formed from the wheel speed information of one or more axles, and the reciprocal value of the curve radius is calculated from the wheel speed information to determine the curve parameter. The invention also relates to a computer program product comprising an algorithm defined by the above method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Martin Grieβer, Andreas Köbe, Frank Edling, Vladimir Koukes