Patents by Inventor Michael Rohlfs

Michael Rohlfs 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: 11841244
    Abstract: A method for calibrating at least one position sensor in a vehicle, comprising: saving a map in the vehicle with at least one item of virtual location information from the environment of a predefined calibration route, moving the vehicle on the predefined calibration route, detecting at least one item of actual location information via the at least one position sensor while the vehicle moves on the predefined calibration route, carrying out a comparison between the at least one item of virtual location information and the at least one item of actual location information, calculating a map-based movement of the vehicle within the saved map based on the comparison, calculating an odometry-based movement of the vehicle, and calibrating the at least one position sensor based on a comparison between the map-based movement and the odometry-based movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Stephan Max, Michael Rohlfs
  • Publication number: 20230103020
    Abstract: Technologies and techniques for laterally controlling a motor vehicle on a road, where a roadway marking assigned to a driver's side of the motor vehicle is assigned to a lane type based on sensor data. The lane type characterizes whether the roadway marking is assigned to an ego lane on which the motor vehicle is to be guided, or whether it is assigned to a neighboring lane adjacent to the ego lane. The roadway marking is also assigned to the lane type, based on swarm data, and the lane type assigned to the roadway marking is established as the lane type that is determined as a function of the swarm data when the sensor lane type and the swarm data lane type diverge. The motor vehicle is laterally controlled as a function of the established lane type of the roadway marking assigned to the driver's side of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Rohlfs, Daniel Münning
  • Publication number: 20210172762
    Abstract: A method for calibrating at least one position sensor in a vehicle is provided, comprising: saving a map in the vehicle with at least one item of virtual location information from the environment of a predefined calibration route, moving the vehicle on the predefined calibration route, detecting at least one item of actual location information via the at least one position sensor while the vehicle moves on the predefined calibration route, carrying out a comparison between the at least one item of virtual location information and the at least one item of actual location information, calculating a map-based movement of the vehicle within the saved map based on the comparison, calculating an odometry-based movement of the vehicle, and calibrating the at least one position sensor based on a comparison between the map-based movement and the odometry-based movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stephan Max, Michael Rohlfs
  • Patent number: 10942075
    Abstract: A method for determining a driver's manual torque at a steering wheel of a vehicle which includes sensing a steering angle speed by a steering angle sensor, sensing a steering torque by a steering torque sensor at a steering column connected to the steering wheel, estimating a driver's manual torque applied by a driver at the steering wheel based on the sensed steering angle speed and the sensed steering torque by a Kalman filter by a controller, wherein during the estimation of the driver's manual torque a frictional torque is considered, and the frictional torque is estimated based on the steering torque which is sensed by the steering torque sensor, wherein the estimated frictional torque is taken into account as an interference factor during the estimation of the driver's manual torque in the Kalman filter. Also disclosed is an associated device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Inventors: Hendrik Oschlies, Falko Saust, Michael Rohlfs
  • Publication number: 20170350777
    Abstract: A method for determining a driver's manual torque at a steering wheel of a vehicle which includes sensing a steering angle speed by a steering angle sensor, sensing a steering torque by a steering torque sensor at a steering column connected to the steering wheel, estimating a driver's manual torque applied by a driver at the steering wheel based on the sensed steering angle speed and the sensed steering torque by a Kalman filter by a controller, wherein during the estimation of the driver's manual torque a frictional torque is considered, and the frictional torque is estimated based on the steering torque which is sensed by the steering torque sensor, wherein the estimated frictional torque is taken into account as an interference factor during the estimation of the driver's manual torque in the Kalman filter. Also disclosed is an associated device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Hendrik OSCHLIES, Falko SAUST, Michael ROHLFS
  • Patent number: 9623906
    Abstract: The method relates to an operating method for a semi-automatic park-steer assist system and to a semi-automatic park-steer assist system of a motor vehicle for aiding in an alignment of the motor vehicle in a parking space, including a device for detecting an activation signal; a device for determining a change direction in which an alignment of the motor vehicle is to be changed; a device for detecting a set drive direction; and a control unit which controls at least one actuator in an active state of the park-steer assist system such that steerable wheels of the motor vehicle are turned in the change direction when the set drive direction is forward, and the steerable wheels are maximally turned counter to the change direction when the set drive direction is reverse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Michael Rohlfs, Volkmar Schoening, Frank Schwitters
  • Publication number: 20130031720
    Abstract: A three-position, circularly-shaped, height-adjustable overflow drain is disclosed. A circular back plate includes a bottom half opposite a top half, and is configured to be attachable to an overflow elbow. A first aperture is located in the bottom half of the back plate. A second aperture is located in the top half of the back plate. A rotatable handle comprises an outer cylindrical portion including a center plate. A third aperture is located in the center plate. The first, second and third apertures are aligned along a common radius, wherein the rotatable handle is rotatable to align either the first and third apertures, the second and third apertures, or no apertures. A cover plate is disposed within the rotatable handle and attached to the circular back plate forming an annular gap between the cover plate and the outer cylindrical portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventors: Max Homami, Michael Rohlfs
  • Patent number: 8244457
    Abstract: A device for a motor vehicle includes at least one distance sensor for recording a predominantly lateral clearance between the motor vehicle and objects, and a control device for controlling the distance sensor, the distance sensor emitting measuring signals during an activation time, and receiving measuring signal reflected by at least one object during a measurement receiving time. In the process, the measurement receiving time of the distance sensor is modifiable by the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Milark, Michael Rohlfs, Sven Chlosta
  • Publication number: 20090259365
    Abstract: The method relates to an operating method for a semi-automatic park-steer assist system (30) and to a semi-automatic park-steer assist system (30) of a motor vehicle (1) for aiding in an alignment of the motor vehicle (1) in a parking space (2), including means (42) for detecting an activation signal; means (47) for determining a change direction in which an alignment of the motor vehicle (1) is to be changed; means (50) for detecting a set drive direction; and a control unit (40) which controls at least one actuator (38) in an active state of the park-steer assist system (30) in such a way that steerable wheels (15) of the motor vehicle (1) are turned in the change direction when the set drive direction is forward, and the steerable wheels (15) are maximally turned counter to the change direction when the set drive direction is reverse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventors: Michael Rohlfs, Volkmar Schoening, Frank Schwitters
  • Publication number: 20080033647
    Abstract: A device for a motor vehicle includes at least one distance sensor for recording a predominantly lateral clearance between the motor vehicle and objects, and a control device for controlling the distance sensor, the distance sensor emitting measuring signals during an activation time, and receiving measuring signal reflected by at least one object during a measurement receiving time. In the process, the measurement receiving time of the distance sensor is modifiable by the control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: Andreas Milark, Michael Rohlfs, Sven Chlosta
  • Patent number: D473929
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: I.W. Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerome Warshawsky, Frank Antoniello, Michael Rohlfs
  • Patent number: D473930
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: I.W. Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerome Warshawsky, Ari Warshawsky, Michael Rohlfs