Patents by Inventor Johannes Foltin

Johannes Foltin 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: 9505340
    Abstract: A method for adapting a headlight beam boundary of a light cone of at least one headlight of a vehicle includes the following steps: detecting at least one area of a roadway, the area being situated in the travel direction of the vehicle; determining a topography of the at least one area of the roadway; and providing a control signal for adapting the headlight beam boundary as a function of the topography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Johannes Foltin
  • Publication number: 20160320181
    Abstract: A method for determining a headlight range alignment of at least one first headlight of a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle includes at least one optical sensor which is designed for detecting at least one part of a first illuminated area of the first headlight and generating a first image having the part of the first illuminated area. The method includes the following steps: reading in the first image from the optical sensor, selecting at least one first image area in the first image, whereby a cut-off line of the first headlight is intended to be imaged in the first image area, and determining the headlight range alignment as a function of the first image area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Johannes Foltin, Marc Geese, Susanne Stierlin
  • Publication number: 20160288698
    Abstract: In a method for ascertaining a safety angle of a headlight beam of at least one headlight of a vehicle, which safety angle represents a vertical angle by which the headlight beam is lowered to a safety height, which safety height represents a height of the headlight beam at which no blinding of a driver of another vehicle occurs, a speed value is read in in a first step, which speed value is a function of a speed of the vehicle, and the safety angle is ascertained in a second step, using the speed value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventor: Johannes FOLTIN
  • Patent number: 9428103
    Abstract: A method for controlling a light emission of at least one headlight of a vehicle, which has a traffic sign recognition device. The method includes receiving at least one traffic sign recognition signal from an interface to the traffic sign recognition device. In this instance, the at least one traffic sign recognition signal represents a traffic sign recognized in a course of the road currently being traveled by the vehicle. The method also includes setting a debounce time and/or a debounce stretch for a change in the light emission of the at least one headlight between first and second radiation characteristics as a function of the at least one traffic sign recognition signal. Finally, the method includes delaying the change in the light emission of the at least one headlight by the debounce time set and/or the debounce stretch set, to control light emission of the at least one headlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Johannes Foltin
  • Patent number: 9409511
    Abstract: A method for controlling at least one headlight of a vehicle, in which the at least one headlight has first and second emission characteristics for illuminating the surroundings of the vehicle. The reading in of a first brightness signal initially occurs. In this case, the first brightness signal represents a first brightness, which is assigned to the first emission characteristic, of the surroundings of the vehicle. Subsequently, the receiving of a second brightness signal occurs. The second brightness signal represents a second brightness, which is assigned to the second emission characteristic, of the surroundings of the vehicle. In a further task, a brightness deviation is ascertained between the first and the second brightnesses by using the first and the second brightness signals. Finally, the setting of a debouncing time occurs for changing from the first emission characteristic to the second emission characteristic as a function of the brightness deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Johannes Foltin
  • Patent number: 9404630
    Abstract: A method for operating a headlamp for a motor vehicle, which can be operated in at least two illumination states, comprises: detecting at least one influencing variable, which can influence a future change of mode of the headlamp from one of the illumination states to another of the illumination states; detecting a time profile of the influencing variable; detecting a control signal that is intended to cause a change of mode of the headlamp from a current illumination state to another of the illumination states; and controlling the mode of the headlamp depending on the control signal, wherein the change of mode of the headlamp is delayed depending on the time profile of the influencing variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Johannes Foltin
  • Publication number: 20160200239
    Abstract: A method for determining a road quality for a road traveled by a vehicle includes varying a processing specification for determining a road quality for a road traveled by a vehicle as a function of an additional parameter constituting a piece of road condition information, which represents a condition of a road section situated ahead of the vehicle in a driving direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventor: Johannes Foltin
  • Publication number: 20160193956
    Abstract: A method for setting a characteristic of a light emission of at least one headlight of a vehicle, in which the method includes reading in concealment data which represent at least one property of at least one concealment object situated adjacent to a roadway in surroundings of the vehicle. In addition, the method includes ascertaining a distance between the vehicle and a segment of the roadway situated in the forward travel direction of the vehicle, adjacent to the at least one concealment object, using the concealment data. Moreover, the method includes adapting a waiting time period and/or waiting distance for changing the characteristic of the light emission from a first characteristic to a second characteristic as a function of the ascertained distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventor: Johannes FOLTIN
  • Patent number: 9381852
    Abstract: A method for transmitting data on a current vehicle environment to a headlight control unit of a vehicle. In this context, the data were taken using a camera, a plausibility check being able to take place via an additional sensor system. The method includes a step of reading in object data concerning at least two objects; the object data representing information on objects, which have been classified in an image taken by the camera as an object. Furthermore, the method includes a step for forming object group data from the read-in object data of the at least two objects, the forming taking place while using at least two different parameters, which were provided from image data of the image taken by the camera. Finally, the method includes a step of transmitting the object group data as data on a current vehicle environment to the headlight control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Johannes Foltin
  • Patent number: 9376052
    Abstract: A method for estimating a roadway course in a roadway section ahead of a vehicle in the direction of travel is provided. The method includes recognizing at least one reflective or self-luminous object in an image of the roadway section. The method also includes ascertaining a position of the at least one object based on the image of the roadway section. The method also includes estimating the roadway course using the ascertained position of the at least one object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Petko Faber, Johannes Foltin, Gregor Schwarzenberg
  • Publication number: 20160167565
    Abstract: A method for setting at least one parameter of a driver assistance device of a vehicle includes reading in concealment data which represent at least one property of at least one concealment object situated adjacent to a roadway in a surroundings of the vehicle. The method also includes ascertaining a concealment-related visual range from the vehicle in an area of the surroundings situated in the forward travel direction ahead of the vehicle, using the concealment data. Finally, the method includes adapting the at least one parameter as a function of the concealment-related visual range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: Johannes FOLTIN
  • Publication number: 20160167567
    Abstract: A method for setting a characteristic of a light emission of at least one headlight of a vehicle includes reading in topology data which represent a topology of the surroundings of the vehicle. The method also includes ascertaining a visual range difference between a topology-related first visual range which is associated with a first characteristic of the light emission, and a topology-related second visual range which is associated with a second characteristic of the light emission, using the topology data. Finally, the method includes adapting a waiting time period for changing a characteristic of the light emission as a function of the visual range difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: Johannes FOLTIN
  • Publication number: 20160114719
    Abstract: A method for controlling a light emission of at least one headlight of a vehicle, which has a traffic sign recognition device. The method includes receiving at least one traffic sign recognition signal from an interface to the traffic sign recognition device. In this instance, the at least one traffic sign recognition signal represents a traffic sign recognized in a course of the road currently being traveled by the vehicle. The method also includes setting a debounce time and/or a debounce stretch for a change in the light emission of the at least one headlight between first and second radiation characteristics as a function of the at least one traffic sign recognition signal. Finally, the method includes delaying the change in the light emission of the at least one headlight by the debounce time set and/or the debounce stretch set, to control light emission of the at least one headlight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventor: Johannes FOLTIN
  • Patent number: 9260051
    Abstract: A method for adapting an upper headlight beam boundary of a light cone of at least one headlight of a vehicle. The method includes detecting a time curve of a pitch rate of the vehicle or a value that is dependent on the pitch rate and/or of a roll rate of the vehicle or a value that is dependent on the roll rate. The method also includes ascertaining an envelope curve and/or an amplitude of the time curve and/or an average value of the time curve. The method also includes providing a control signal for adapting the upper headlight beam boundary of the headlight beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Tobias Ehlgen, Johannes Foltin, Robert Meisner
  • Patent number: 9250063
    Abstract: A method for ascertaining a position of an object in surroundings of a vehicle. The method includes a step of input of a light signal from an optical sensor, the light signal representing a brightness, a degree of reflection of light emitted by a headlight of the vehicle from an object, and/or a sharpness of a boundary line of the object illuminated by light from a headlight. Furthermore, the method includes determining a distance of the object from the vehicle by using the light signal to determine the position of the object in the surroundings of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Johannes Foltin
  • Publication number: 20160023592
    Abstract: A method for aligning an illuminated area of a headlight of a vehicle as a function of the surroundings of the vehicle, includes classifying at least one other vehicle in the surroundings of the vehicle as a function of a piece of information concerning a position of the other vehicle in relation to the vehicle, determining a target position of the headlight, with disregard of the other vehicle, when the other vehicle is classified as passing the vehicle or as being passed by the vehicle, and providing a signal for moving the headlight into the target position while the vehicle is being passed by the other vehicle or is passing the other vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventor: Johannes FOLTIN
  • Publication number: 20150341610
    Abstract: A sensor is provided for detecting light, including an imager which includes a first imaging element and a second imaging element situated adjacent to the first imaging element, and including an optical element which is designed for directing a first component of light incident in the direction of the first imaging element onto the second imaging element, and for allowing a second component of the light incident in the direction of the first imaging element to strike the first imaging element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: Johannes FOLTIN, Wolfgang SEPP
  • Publication number: 20150239391
    Abstract: A method for adapting a headlight beam boundary of a light cone of at least one headlight of a vehicle includes the following steps: detecting at least one area of a roadway, the area being situated in the travel direction of the vehicle; determining a topography of the at least one area of the roadway; and providing a control signal for adapting the headlight beam boundary as a function of the topography.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventor: Johannes Foltin
  • Patent number: 9114754
    Abstract: A method for beam range regulation of at least one headlamp of a vehicle includes: reading in a camera image of at least one camera of the vehicle, the camera image including at least a part of a representation of a projection surface of a light cone of the headlamp in front of the vehicle; determining at least one coordinate of at least one predefined brightness transition and/or of a predefined brightness inhomogeneity in the camera image; comparing the coordinate with a target coordinate in order to obtain a difference of the coordinate from the target coordinate, the target coordinate representing a coordinate at which the predefined brightness transition or the predefined brightness inhomogeneity is expected; and controlling the headlamp with a beam range modification signal that is a function of the difference, in order to modify the beam range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Tobias Ehlgen, Stefan Nordbruch, Johannes Foltin
  • Patent number: 9108567
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a luminosity of at least one headlight of a vehicle is described. The method includes a step of ascertaining an illumination intensity, the illumination intensity representing light that is incident at the vehicle. Furthermore, the method includes a step of determining a setpoint value for the luminosity while using the illumination intensity, the setpoint value being adjusted if the illumination intensity rises. The method also includes a step of providing a control signal for setting the luminosity of the at least one headlight while using the setpoint value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Johannes Foltin