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).

  • Publication number: 20150151669
    Abstract: A method for adapting an upper headlight beam boundary of a light cone of at least one headlight of a vehicle includes reading in at least one configuration position of an illumination unit on another vehicle and/or of a vehicle contour of the other vehicle to provide an identification signal of the other vehicle. In addition, the method includes ascertaining the type of the other vehicle, using the identification signal of the other vehicle, and outputting a control signal for adapting the upper headlight beam boundary, the control signal being output taking the ascertained type of vehicle into account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventors: Robert Meisner, Johannes Foltin, Tobias Ehlgen
  • Publication number: 20150120160
    Abstract: A method for detecting a braking situation of a vehicle located on a traffic route, which has a task of ascertaining a red component of at least one image area of an image which depicts at least one section of the traffic route, and includes a task of determining the braking situation based on the red component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: Johannes Foltin
  • Publication number: 20150073654
    Abstract: A method is provided for determining a roadway irregularity in a roadway section illuminated by at least one headlight of a vehicle. The method has a step of recognizing an instantaneous light distribution of the at least one headlight of the vehicle which is produced in the roadway section. The method also has a step of determining the roadway irregularity based on the instantaneous light distribution and a light distribution characteristic for the at least one headlight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventor: Johannes Foltin
  • Publication number: 20150048736
    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: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Johannes FOLTIN
  • Publication number: 20150051797
    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: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Tobias Ehlgen, Johannes Foltin, Robert Meisner
  • Patent number: 8941303
    Abstract: A method for determining an illumination range of at least one headlight of a vehicle includes a step of detecting at least one road-marking feature, which is illuminated by the at least one headlight, a step of ascertaining a distance between the vehicle and the at least one illuminated road-marking feature, and a step of determining the illumination range of the at least one headlight, using the ascertained distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Johannes Foltin
  • Publication number: 20140379218
    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: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventor: Johannes Foltin
  • Publication number: 20140369058
    Abstract: A method is described for ascertaining a group of at least two adjacently situated illumination units during the travel of a vehicle. The method includes a step of recognizing at least one first illumination unit and at least one second illumination unit in a detection range of a sensor and recognizing a subsequent departure of the first illumination unit from the detection range of the sensor. The method also includes a step of detecting a distance and/or a time which the vehicle travels after a departure of the first illumination unit from the detection range of the sensor up to a departure of the second illumination unit from the detection range of the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2012
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Johannes Foltin, Sebastian Van Staa
  • Publication number: 20140347872
    Abstract: A method for recognizing an illuminated roadway ahead of a vehicle, having a step of recognizing a first light object as a first roadway illumination unit. The method also includes a step of ascertaining a distance covered by the vehicle. The method also includes a step of recognizing a second light object as a second roadway illumination unit. The method also includes a step of providing a signal when the first roadway illumination unit and the second illumination unit have been recognized. The signal is provided using the distance covered, the signal representing a recognition of an illuminated roadway ahead of a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventor: Johannes Foltin
  • Publication number: 20140334168
    Abstract: A method for activating at least one headlight of a vehicle has: a step of ascertaining a traffic density from an item of information about road users in the surroundings of the vehicle; a step of determining a control parameter for controlling an emission characteristic of the headlight using the ascertained traffic density; and a step of providing the control command for controlling an emission characteristic of the headlight using the control parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Tobias Ehlgen, Stefan Nordbruch, Johannes Foltin, Robert Meisner
  • Publication number: 20140333201
    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: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventor: Johannes Foltin
  • Publication number: 20140301094
    Abstract: A method for setting a headlight range of a headlight of a vehicle. The method includes a step of provision a signal which represents a pitch angle of the vehicle and a step of changing the headlight range of the headlight in response to the provided signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Tobias Ehlgen, Johannes Foltin, Thomas Friedrich
  • Publication number: 20140249715
    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: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventors: Petko Faber, Johannes Foltin, Gregor Schwarzenberg
  • Publication number: 20140219506
    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: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventor: Johannes Foltin
  • Publication number: 20140129081
    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: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Inventors: Tobias Ehlgen, Stefan Nordbruch, Johannes Foltin
  • Patent number: 8636392
    Abstract: A method for controlling a light emission of at least one headlight of a vehicle. The method includes receiving a change enabling signal for performing a change of the light emission of the at least one headlight from an input emission characteristic to an output emission characteristic during a debouncing period and/or debouncing distance which begin(s) in response to the change enabling signal. The method also includes changing the light emission of the at least one headlight from the input emission characteristic to an intermediate emission characteristic in response to the change enabling signal. The method also includes changing the light emission of the at least one headlight from the intermediate emission characteristic to the output emission characteristic after the debouncing period and/or the debouncing distance has/have elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Ehlgen, Johannes Foltin, Robert Meisner
  • Publication number: 20140015411
    Abstract: A method for switching on a high-beam headlight of a vehicle includes: a step of receiving high-beam information by way of an interface, the high-beam information indicating a possibility of a glare-free operation of the high-beam headlight; a step of determining a traveled distance of the vehicle in response to receiving the high-beam information, and a step of supplying switch-on information for activating the high-beam headlight if the traveled distance after receiving the high-beam information is greater than a predefined minimum distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Tobias Ehlgen, Johannes Foltin, Robert Meisner
  • Publication number: 20130335984
    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: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventor: Johannes Foltin
  • Publication number: 20130148368
    Abstract: A method for controlling a light emission from at least one headlight of a vehicle combines lane information with respect to a course of a road and position information with regard to at least one other vehicle located in the course of the road, in order to ascertain an envelope area not to be illuminated around the at least one other vehicle. The method also includes setting, based on the envelope area, a safety distance between (i) light able to be emitted by the at least one headlight of the vehicle, and (ii) the at least one other vehicle, in order to control the light emission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventor: Johannes FOLTIN
  • Publication number: 20130049588
    Abstract: A method for determining an illumination range of at least one headlight of a vehicle includes a step of detecting at least one road-marking feature, which is illuminated by the at least one headlight, a step of ascertaining a distance between the vehicle and the at least one illuminated road-marking feature, and a step of determining the illumination range of the at least one headlight, using the ascertained distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventor: Johannes Foltin