Patents by Inventor Fridtjof Stein

Fridtjof Stein 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: 20240142627
    Abstract: A method for operating a gated camera having an illumination device and an optical sensor. A control of the illumination device and the optical sensor is coordinated. At least one first coordinated control is associated with a first visible distance range and a first image is obtained by the at least one first coordinated control. The first image is used to search for objects. A first object distance is estimated between a found object and the optical sensor. A second coordinated control of the illumination device and the optical sensor is determined such that the first object distance is within a second visible distance range associated with the second coordinated control. A second image of the second visible distance range is recorded with the optical sensor by using the second coordinated control upon illumination by the illumination device. A second object distance is determined by using the second image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventor: Fridtjof STEIN
  • Publication number: 20240094363
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a gated camera that has a lighting device and an optical sensor by a distance sensor system. A control of the lighting device and the optical sensor are temporally coordinated with each other where the coordinated control is associated with a visible distance range. An object is searched for on at least one boundary of the visible distance range. When the object is found on the at least one boundary, an object distance is defined as a distance of the object found relative to the gated camera by the distance sensor system. A target distance of the at least one boundary to the gated camera is compared with the object distance. The coordinated control is evaluated and/or changed on a basis of the comparison between the target distance and the object distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventor: Fridtjof STEIN
  • Publication number: 20240012144
    Abstract: A method for detecting an object by a lighting device and an optical sensor. A controlling of the lighting device and of the optical sensor are temporally coordinated where the controlling is associated with a visible distance range. Comparing at least one image-side boundary of the visible distance range with a predetermined standard representation of the at least one boundary of the visible distance range. Searching for the object on the at least one boundary based on the comparing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventor: Fridtjof STEIN
  • Publication number: 20230400586
    Abstract: A method for operating a first illumination device, a second illumination device, and an optical sensor includes controlling the first illumination device, the second illumination device, and the optical sensor in a temporally coordinated manner and assigning a visible distance range to the coordinated control. During an illumination by the first illumination device, the optical sensor captures a first image by the coordinated control. During an illumination by the second illumination device, the optical sensor captures a second image by the coordinated control. During a time of an absence of an illumination by the first illumination device and the second illumination device, the optical sensor captures a third image. A difference captured image is formed from the first captured image, the second captured image, and the third captured image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventor: Fridtjof STEIN
  • Publication number: 20230350036
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a lighting device and an optical sensor includes a control of the lighting device and the optical sensor are chronologically coordinated with each other. A visible distance region is assigned to the coordinated control. A series of recordings in chronological sequence are recorded with the optical sensor via the coordinated control when lit by the lighting device. In a recording that is chronologically first in the series, in which a calibration marker that has a pre-determined dimension is recognized, an actual distance of the calibration marker is determined using the pre-determined dimension. The coordinated control and/or the visible distance region are evaluated and/or changed on a basis of a far border of the visible distance region and the actual distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Fridtjof STEIN, Sebastian KLEINSCHMIDT
  • Publication number: 20230339471
    Abstract: A method for operating an automated vehicle involves determining that the vehicle is nearing a bend, a neighboring free lane is present on a side of the vehicle on the outside of the bend, a visual range of at least one detection unit, aligned in the driving direction of the vehicle, of an environment sensor is restricted due to the bend ahead, and, in the bend, due to the road condition, a braking distance is increased compared with a predetermined setpoint, or a road grip of the vehicle or other vehicles is decreased. Based on this determination, the vehicle automatically carries out a lane change to the neighboring free lane on the outside of the bend or a current driving speed of the vehicle is automatically reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Sebastian KLEINSCHMIDT, Fridtjof STEIN
  • Patent number: 11787443
    Abstract: A method for operating an automated utility vehicle includes, after a change in the load state of the automated utility vehicle, determining a current weight and/or a current load distribution of the automated utility vehicle. The method further includes making available the determined current weight and/or the determined current load distribution in the form of current load information. The current load information is used for situation-dependent adaptation of planning and/or control of a trajectory of the automated utility vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Fridtjof Stein, Holger Mielenz
  • Publication number: 20230302987
    Abstract: A method for tracking an object. A first coordinated control of a lighting device and an optical sensor is assigned to a first visible distance range. A first recording of the first visible distance range while illuminated by the lighting device is recorded with the optical sensor. If the object is detected in the first recording within the first visible distance range, a distance between the detected object and the optical sensor is determined. A second coordinated control of the lighting device and the optical sensor and an assigned, second visible distance range are determined such that the object detected in the first recording is located in a center of the second visible distance range. A second recording of the second visible distance range while illuminated by the lighting device is recorded with the optical sensor by the second coordinated control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventor: Fridtjof STEIN
  • Publication number: 20230264764
    Abstract: A lifting system for a semitrailer of an articulated lorry includes a lifting device where the semitrailer is adjustable by the lifting device in relation to a surface of a base element on which the semitrailer is positioned between a coupling position, in which a coupling element of the semitrailer is arranged at a coupling height above the surface of the base element, and a decoupling position, in which the coupling element is arranged at a decoupling height above the surface of the base element. The lifting device is associated with a surface segment of the base element where the surface segment is height-adjustable by the lifting device such that the semitrailer is adjustable between the coupling position and the decoupling position by an adjustment of the surface segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Kristina VAN CAPPELLE, Wolfgang KOB, Ulrich VOEGELE, Ralf OBERFELL, Sebastian BECKMANN, Fridtjof STEIN, Tobias SCHWALB
  • Publication number: 20230242119
    Abstract: A method for autonomously driving a vehicle. When a bend is detected ahead of the vehicle, it is determined whether the visibility of a detection unit is below a threshold value. If so, the vehicle is automatically maneuvered to change lanes to an outside lane of the bend.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Fridtjof STEIN, Sebastian KLEINSCHMIDT, Stefan HEYER
  • Publication number: 20230221411
    Abstract: A method for detecting lost image information via a lighting device and an optical sensor. The lighting device and the optical sensor are controlled so as to be chronologically aligned with each other. A visible spacing region in an observation region of the optical sensor is determined from the chronological alignment of the control of the lighting device and the optical sensor. A recording of the observation region with the optical sensor is generated via the aligned control. Image information is identified in the recording in regions outside of the spacing region visible in the image, so as to make the identified image information accessible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventor: Fridtjof STEIN
  • Publication number: 20230222640
    Abstract: A method for recognizing image artifacts in a chronological sequence of recordings recorded by means of a lighting device and an optical sensor is disclosed. A difference movement field is obtained by removing from a movement field all movement field vectors to be expected due to inherent movement of a lighting device and an optical sensor. The movement field vectors in the difference movement field are combined into one or more objects according to at least one grouping criterion. The objects in the image are classified as plausible or as implausible pursuant to a movement plausibility test. An object classified as implausible is recognized as an image artifact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventor: Fridtjof STEIN
  • Publication number: 20230194719
    Abstract: A method for measuring a distance between an object and an optical sensor by an illumination device and the optical sensor. A spatial position of a visible distance region in an observation region of the optical sensor is specified. A captured image of the visible distance region is captured by the optical sensor. A start image line and an end image line of the visible distance region are determined in the captured image. A base point image line is ascertained in the captured image as an image line with a shortest distance to the start image line in which the object can be detected. A distance from the object is ascertained by evaluating an image position of the base point image line relative to the start image line and the end image line while taking account of the spatial position of the visible distance region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventor: Fridtjof STEIN
  • Patent number: 11618464
    Abstract: A method for adapting a driving behavior of a vehicle or of a vehicle combination based on vehicle parameters, in particular by a control unit. In the method, static vehicle parameters are received, preferably prior to starting the drive, measuring data being collected and received during at least one initiated driving maneuver, the measuring data received during the at least one initiated driving maneuver being evaluated for ascertaining at least one dynamic vehicle parameter, and the static vehicle parameters and/or ascertained dynamic vehicle parameters being transmitted to a vehicle control unit for the vehicle-specific adaptation of a driving behavior. A control unit, a computer program, and a machine-readable memory medium are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Fridtjof Stein, Holger Mielenz
  • Publication number: 20220204034
    Abstract: A method for carrying out an automated or autonomous driving operation of a vehicle on a route involves generating a target trajectory and guiding the vehicle a function of the generated target trajectory. The target trajectory is generated as a function of the detected uneven surface when an uneven surface is detected on the route. When detecting an uneven surface running across the route transversely to the route and designed as a transverse uneven surface, in particular as a speed bump, the target trajectory is generated in such a way that the transverse uneven surface is driven over with a time delay for wheels of each individual axle of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventor: Fridtjof STEIN
  • Publication number: 20220137622
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle includes a communication module, which establishes a transmission and receiving connection to a server external to the vehicle, and a control module connected to this for driving functions, which receives data of at least one sensor and controls at least one actuator for at least partially autonomously controlling at least one of the driving functions in the vehicle. A disconnector physically separates at least the receiving connection and a read-only memory, in which a piece of software for overwriting the software in the communication module and the control module in case of interference, is stored. Control of the control device is assumed when the control device has presumably been tampered with in the vehicle and uses this to separate at least the receiving connection, to bring the vehicle into a safe traffic state as needed, and to overwrite software in the control module and the communication module with software from the read-only memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventor: Fridtjof STEIN
  • Patent number: 11305688
    Abstract: A method for visualizing a crossing over a road for a road user wanting to cross the road. At least one vehicle driving on the road stops and projects an image pattern onto the road for the road user crossing the road. The vehicle projecting the image pattern communicates with another vehicle driving on the road. The first vehicle projecting the image pattern on a first lane informs the other vehicle in at least one further lane at least indirectly about the road user wanting to cross the road and the image pattern which is projected or still to be projected, and it requests the other vehicle to stop and for its part to project an image pattern onto its lane in addition to the image pattern of the first vehicle or at least indirectly reports back to the first vehicle that it should also take over the projection on its lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: DAIMLER AG
    Inventor: Fridtjof Stein
  • Publication number: 20210370823
    Abstract: A method for visualizing a crossing over a road for a road user wanting to cross the road. At least one vehicle driving on the road stops and projects an image pattern onto the road for the road user crossing the road. The vehicle projecting the image pattern communicates with another vehicle driving on the road. The first vehicle projecting the image pattern on a first lane informs the other vehicle in at least one further lane at least indirectly about the road user wanting to cross the road and the image pattern which is projected or still to be projected, and it requests the other vehicle to stop and for its part to project an image pattern onto its lane in addition to the image pattern of the first vehicle or at least indirectly reports back to the first vehicle that it should also take over the projection on its lane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventor: Fridtjof STEIN
  • Publication number: 20200406912
    Abstract: A method for adapting a driving behavior of a vehicle or of a vehicle combination based on vehicle parameters, in particular by a control unit. In the method, static vehicle parameters are received, preferably prior to starting the drive, measuring data being collected and received during at least one initiated driving maneuver, the measuring data received during the at least one initiated driving maneuver being evaluated for ascertaining at least one dynamic vehicle parameter, and the static vehicle parameters and/or ascertained dynamic vehicle parameters being transmitted to a vehicle control unit for the vehicle-specific adaptation of a driving behavior. A control unit, a computer program, and a machine-readable memory medium are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Fridtjof Stein, Holger Mielenz
  • Publication number: 20200361492
    Abstract: A method for operating an automated utility vehicle includes, after a change in the load state of the automated utility vehicle, determining a current weight and/or a current load distribution of the automated utility vehicle. The method further includes making available the determined current weight and/or the determined current load distribution in the form of current load information. The current load information is used for situation-dependent adaptation of planning and/or control of a trajectory of the automated utility vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Fridtjof Stein, Holger Mielenz