Patents by Inventor Manfred Hiebl

Manfred Hiebl 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: 20210342576
    Abstract: An object identification unit contains an artificial neural network and is designed to identify human faces. For this purpose, a face is divided into a number of triangles. The relative component of the area of each triangle in the total of the areas of all triangles is ascertained to ascertain a rotational angle of the face. The relative component of the area of each triangle in the total of the area of all triangles is then scaled to a rotation-invariant dimension of the face. The scaled area of the triangles is supplied to the artificial neural network in order to identify a person.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Hiebl
  • Patent number: 10319246
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle with lift and propulsion system and a flight control system and method. The flight control system has a flight control unit, a navigation system, a communication system and an actuator system. The flight control unit can calculate, based on data from the navigation system and/or data of a ground control station, control commands which can be fed to the actuator system for actuating the lift and propulsion system. The ground control station is configured to control and/or monitor the aerial vehicle. The aerial vehicle has a monitoring unit to monitor the communication system to determine whether all the communication links are interrupted. The monitoring unit can cause the flight control unit to land the aerial vehicle safely at a suitable landing site based on stored data relating to current flight conditions and nearby landing sites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Hiebl
  • Patent number: 9837859
    Abstract: A transmitter unit for wireless transmission of power by way of a bundled laser beam is described. The transmitter unit has a laser fiber bundle having a plurality of laser fibers, wherein each laser fiber is designed to emit a laser beam; positioning optics for adjusting an emission direction of the bundled laser beam; a field lens and a primary lens. The plurality of laser fibers is designed to emit a laser beam from each, passing through the positioning optics, the collimator lens and the primary lens, in this order, so that the laser beam emitted by the transmitter unit is emitted in bundled form. A particularly efficient device with an unlimited flight time and a large radius of use is achieved by the hybrid drive with solar power and laser power from the ground and temporary storage of the power in batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Hiebl, Hans Wolfgang Pongratz
  • Publication number: 20170092137
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle with lift and propulsion system and a flight control system and method. The flight control system has a flight control unit, a navigation system, a communication system and an actuator system. The flight control unit can calculate, based on data from the navigation system and/or data of a ground control station, control commands which can be fed to the actuator system for actuating the lift and propulsion system. The ground control station is configured to control and/or monitor the aerial vehicle. The aerial vehicle has a monitoring unit to monitor the communication system to determine whether all the communication links are interrupted. The monitoring unit can cause the flight control unit to land the aerial vehicle safely at a suitable landing site based on stored data relating to current flight conditions and nearby landing sites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventor: Manfred HIEBL
  • Patent number: 9542464
    Abstract: In a method for identifying and classifying an object, an object is detected by at least one physical detector tuned for it, the object is evaluated from the output signal of the detector and by an evaluation unit, and the object is identified and/or classified on the basis of predefinable properties from the output signal. A number of different physical features of the object are derived from the output signal, and the object is assigned to one of N predetermined basic classes on the basis of the derived physical features. The N basic classes are arranged in a predetermined order to form an N-dimensional vector V, which is assigned to the object, such that the elements v1, . . . , vN of the vector V indicate that the object belongs to the respective basic class. The object is then assigned to a derived class, which is taken from a reference data base, as a function of the vector V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Hiebl
  • Patent number: 9443437
    Abstract: A procedure and system are provided for automatically landing an aircraft, particularly an unmanned aircraft on a moving, particularly floating landing platform, for example, on an aircraft carrier, the aircraft being equipped with an automatic navigation device and an automatic landing control device. The procedure includes detecting the position of an intended landing spot, detecting motion data of the landing platform, determining at least one imminent point in time at which the landing spot takes up a reference position, transmitting the point in time and the reference position of the landing spot to the landing control device of the aircraft, and controlling the aircraft such that it reaches the landing spot at the point in time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Hiebl
  • Patent number: 9300866
    Abstract: A method for image processing involves collecting image data of a scene as electromagnetic radiation and processing the image data to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the image data. The image processing involves dividing a raw image that contains the image data into lines and columns, to create a raster image, superimposing a central raster filter element of a raster filter having an odd number of lines and an odd number of columns onto a raster image element, determining the brightness values of each of the raster image elements covered by the raster filter, wherein except for the central raster filter element, every other raster filter element has an individual light-reducing property, and adding up the brightness values to produce a total brightness value, and assigning this total brightness value to the raster image element covered by the central raster filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Wolfgang Pongratz, Manfred Hiebl
  • Patent number: 9193458
    Abstract: An air-to-surface surveillance and/or weapons system includes a base aircraft and an unmanned slave aircraft that can be uncoupled from a base aircraft and coupled back to it again. The base aircraft and slave aircraft are equipped with coupling equipment designed to work together. The base aircraft is equipped with surveillance and monitoring equipment. The slave aircraft is equipped with monitoring equipment and/or weapons. The slave aircraft can be connected to a control station via a data link for data exchange and can be controlled from this control station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Wolfgang Pongratz, Manfred Hiebl
  • Publication number: 20150311755
    Abstract: A transmitter unit for wireless transmission of power by way of a bundled laser beam is described. The transmitter unit has a laser fiber bundle having a plurality of laser fibers, wherein each laser fiber is designed to emit a laser beam; positioning optics for adjusting an emission direction of the bundled laser beam; a field lens and a primary lens. The plurality of laser fibers is designed to emit a laser beam from each, passing through the positioning optics, the collimator lens and the primary lens, in this order, so that the laser beam emitted by the transmitter unit is emitted in bundled form. A particularly efficient device with an unlimited flight time and a large radius of use is achieved by the hybrid drive with solar power and laser power from the ground and temporary storage of the power in batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventors: Manfred HIEBL, Hans Wolfgang PONGRATZ
  • Publication number: 20150281572
    Abstract: A method for image processing involves collecting image data of a scene as electromagnetic radiation and processing the image data to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the image data. The image processing involves dividing a raw image that contains the image data into lines and columns, to create a raster image, superimposing a central raster filter element of a raster filter having an odd number of lines and an odd number of columns onto a raster image element, determining the brightness values of each of the raster image elements covered by the raster filter, wherein except for the central raster filter element, every other raster filter element has an individual light-reducing property, and adding up the brightness values to produce a total brightness value, and assigning this total brightness value to the raster image element covered by the central raster filter element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Hans Wolfgang Pongratz, Manfred Hiebl
  • Patent number: 8975585
    Abstract: A method for tracking a moving target object, in particular a vehicle. The method involves identification the target object, marking the target object with a marking invisible in the visible spectrum but retro-reflective in a selected wavelength range of the invisible spectrum of light, tracking the marked moving target object with an image capture device provided on a moving platform, which image capture device is sensitive in the selected wavelength range of the invisible spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Hiebl
  • Patent number: 8958648
    Abstract: A method for recognition of a predetermined pattern in an image data set recorded by a device for recording of at least two electromagnetic frequency spectra is provided. A first difference value is formed for the image points of the selected area as a function of a difference between a data vector of a corresponding image point and a first reference data vector. A second difference value is formed for an image point of a selected area as a function of a difference between the data vector of this image point and a second reference data vector. A predetermined pattern is recognized when it is determined at least one pattern correlation quantity is below a predetermined threshold value and a local minimum is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Wolfgang Pongratz, Manfred Hiebl
  • Patent number: 8912748
    Abstract: An electrical power supply apparatus supplied with radiant energy is equipped with at least one electrical generator converting radiant energy into electrical power. The electrical power generator can be a photovoltaic solar generator that converts the impinging radiant energy into electrical power. A hydrogen generator produces hydrogen from water and a water reservoir is connected through a first water line to the hydrogen generator. A hydrogen reservoir is connected through a first hydrogen line to the hydrogen generator. A fuel cell or a hydrogen combustion engine is connected to a second electrical power generator, which fuel cell or engine is connected through a second hydrogen line to the hydrogen reservoir and is connected through a second water line to the water reservoir. A control unit is electrically connected to the electrical power generator, hydrogen generator, and fuel cell or hydrogen combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Hiebl, Hans-Wolfgang Pongratz
  • Publication number: 20140252156
    Abstract: A high-altitude unmanned stratosphere aerial vehicle includes a fuselage, wings, control surfaces, and a propulsion system including an engine and a propeller. Each wing has a plurality of hoses and wing spars extending in a direction perpendicularly to the longitudinal fuselage axis and are surrounded by a skin forming a wing covering that determines the cross-sectional contour of the wing, the cross-sectional contour forming a laminar flow airfoil that generates high lift when there is low flow resistance. At the free end facing away from the fuselage, each wing has a winglet extending transversely to the longitudinal wing axis. The winglet has a movable control surface, which allows an aerodynamic side force to be generated so as to bring the aerial vehicle to a banked position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2012
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Hiebl, Hans Wolfgang Pongratz
  • Patent number: 8682067
    Abstract: In a method for determining object edge curves in a recorded image of a multispectral camera, the image recorded is converted into a false color image, hue value from the HSV color space is assigned to each pixel in the false color image such that the hue value corresponds to a hue angle on a predetermined color circle, and the pixels are classified as object pixels and background pixels, such that those pixels with hue values that are within a predetermined value range are defined as the object pixels. An entropy profile is then determined by way of a displaceable evaluation window, such that the entropy of mixing S is calculated for each pixel from the object pixels and background pixels according to the equation: S = - k ? ( n A ? ln ? n A n A + n B + n B ? ln ? n B n A + n B ) where nA denotes the number of object pixels within the evaluation window, nB denotes the number of background pixels within the evaluation window and k is a proportionality factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Hiebl
  • Patent number: 8639448
    Abstract: A method for recognizing an object that has a plurality of expressions of abstract object characteristics, and is associated with an object characteristic class of a hierarchical system of object characteristic classes stored in a first memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Hiebl
  • Publication number: 20140022388
    Abstract: An airspace surveillance system for the detection of missiles launched within a space being monitored, having at least two surveillance platforms positioned outside or on the edge of the space being monitored in such a manner that the space or a part of the space is situated between the monitoring platforms. Each of the monitoring platforms is equipped with at least one camera system in such a manner that the lines of sight of the camera systems of the two monitoring platforms being positioned opposite to and facing each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Hiebl, Hans-Wolfgang Pongratz
  • Publication number: 20140009611
    Abstract: A camera system and a method for the observation of objects at a large distance at night or through mist, dust, or rain, at an observation distance of 30 to 40 km, includes a pivotable target tracking mirror, a concave primary mirror with a long range, and a convex secondary mirror, which together form a reflecting telescope. The camera system also includes a Barlow lens system, an IR-sensitive image sensor arranged in the image plane of the reflecting telescope, a controllable high-speed shutter system for the image sensor, controllable IR illuminator to illuminate the object being observed by IR illumination pulses of multiple different colors, and a control device that coordinates control of the IR illuminator and of the high-speed shutter system in order to detect multispectral images captured by means of the image sensor according to a gated viewing technique.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Hiebl, Hans-Wolfgang Pongratz
  • Publication number: 20130329055
    Abstract: A camera system for detecting and tracking moving objects located at a great distance includes a camera having a camera lens system, and a position stabilizing device. The camera includes a first image sensor and a second image sensor. The camera lens system includes optical elements for focusing incident radiation onto a radiation sensitive surface of the first image sensor and/or the second image sensor with a reflecting telescope arrangement and a target tracking mirror arrangement, and a drive device for a movable element of the target tracking mirror arrangement and with a control system for the drive device. The optical elements includes a first subassembly of optical elements having a first focal length and associated with the first image sensor, and a second subassembly of optical elements having a second focal length that is shorter than the first focal length and associated with the second image sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Hiebl, Hans-Wolfgang Pongratz
  • Patent number: 8594438
    Abstract: A method for the identification of objects in a predetermined target area involves recording a first and a second height profile of the target area, wherein the two height profiles are recorded at a predeterminable time interval. A height difference profile is determined from the first and the second height profile. The height difference profile is subdivided in equidistant horizontal height sections. The positions of the centroids of the surface areas enclosed by the respective contour lines of the horizontal height sections are calculated and the determined height difference profile and the calculated centroids of the surface areas are supplied to a system for classifying objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Hiebl