Patents Assigned to Continental Automotive GmbH
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Patent number: 12242174Abstract: A device for securing an optical device on a windshield of a vehicle is described. The device comprises a box-shaped bracket in which a holder for the optical device is mounted so as to be pivotable and fixable. It is thereby possible to set various angular positions of the holder relative to the bracket, taking into account different curvatures of the respective windshield. In this way, it is possible to use a single type of securing device to attach optical devices to windshields having different curvatures.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2020Date of Patent: March 4, 2025Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventors: Oliver Granzow, Oliver Griese
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Patent number: 12236661Abstract: A method of complementing a map of a scene with 3D reference points including four steps. In a first step, data is collected and recorded based on samples of at least one of an optical sensor, a GNSS, and an IMU. A second step includes initial pose generation by processing of the collected sensor data to provide a track of vehicle poses. A pose is based on a specific data set, on at least one data set recoded before that dataset and on at least one data set recorded after that data set. A third step includes SLAM processing of the initial poses and collected optical sensor data to generate keyframes with feature points. In a fourth step 3D reference points are generated by fusion and optimization of the feature points by using future and past feature points together with a feature point at a point of processing. This second and fourth steps provides significantly better results than SLAM or VIO methods known from prior art, as the second and the fourth steps are based on recorded data.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2022Date of Patent: February 25, 2025Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventors: Bingtao Gao, Tongheng Chen, Dehao Liu, James Herbst, Bo Hu, Han Zhang, Cheng Luo, Hans Christian Thiel
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Patent number: 12223332Abstract: A method for starting-up a device with an embedded multimedia card (eMMC) is provided. The method comprises providing power to the device, putting the eMMC in a Fast-Boot modus, reading a bootloader from the eMMC into a RAM of the device, starting the bootloader in a CPU of the device, terminating the Fast-Boot modus, resetting the eMMC, putting the eMMC in the Fast-Boot modus initializing hardware by the bootloader, while reading an operating system into the RAM using DMA, and starting the operating system from the RAM by the bootloader is provided. A device comprising an embedded eMMC is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2020Date of Patent: February 11, 2025Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventors: Alexander Streit, Klaus Toscher, Andreas Weiss
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Patent number: 12221116Abstract: A method for identifying the contour of a vehicle based on measurement data from an environment sensor system is disclosed. The measurement data includes a set of spatial points of an object detected by the environment sensor system. The method includes: producing an envelope in the form of a polygonal chain around the object based on the set of spatial points; reducing the set of spatial points; removing spatial points from the polygonal chain that are irrelevant to identifying the contour of the vehicle and determining spatial points of the polygonal chain that are relevant to identifying the contour of the vehicle; classifying one or more edges as belonging to a front and a side of the vehicle on the basis of the reduced set of spatial points.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2020Date of Patent: February 11, 2025Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventors: Michael Feser, Kilian Schneider, Thomas Brandmeier, Alexander Kamann, Robert Lugner, Daniel Weichselberger, Robert Naumann
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Patent number: 12220960Abstract: A method for adapting a transfer function of an active suspension of a vehicle comprises the vehicle driving along a section of road for which a surface profile is stored in a control unit of the vehicle. The active suspension is activated according to a predetermined transfer function for adaptation to the surface profile by means of adjustment values in order to compensate for unevenness of the surface profile. A shock absorber sensor system and/or a tire sensor system of the vehicle is used to record vertical accelerations while driving along the section of road and transfer them to the control unit. The invention provides that the adjustment values and the vertical accelerations are transferred by the vehicle to an external central computer.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2019Date of Patent: February 11, 2025Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventor: Thomas Smits
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Patent number: 12204382Abstract: A frame for electro-optical displays comprising rigid elements in a longitudinal direction, wherein the longitudinal direction is parallel to a surface of the electro-optical display is provided. Elastic elements in the longitudinal direction are arranged between the rigid elements in the longitudinal direction. An electro-optical display having a frame is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2020Date of Patent: January 21, 2025Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventors: Gökay Albayrak, Florian Haas
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Patent number: 12202445Abstract: An optical or optoelectronic device with at least one transparent cover and with a cleaning device for cleaning the surface of the cover with a fluid cleaning agent. In order to effectively clean such a device, in particular a LiDAR device, without the external appearance being disturbed by visible components of a cleaning device, it is proposed that the jet of cleaning agent is directed against a reflector, which is at least temporarily or permanently arranged and aligned at a distance from the outlet opening and the surface, so that the jet of cleaning agent is reflected by the reflector and is deflected onto the surface as at least one spray jet.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2019Date of Patent: January 21, 2025Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventor: Torsten Hahn
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Patent number: 12196240Abstract: The present invention relates to a plastics housing device for indirect screw connection for a motor vehicle, wherein the plastics housing device comprises: at least one positioning element; a clamping element; and a screw element; wherein the at least one positioning element is configured to hold the clamping element in position in form-fitting fashion; wherein the screw element is configured to be pressed against the clamping element by the at least one positioning element and thereby cause a rotation of the clamping element; wherein the clamping element is configured to clamp the plastics housing device to a metal panel by way of the rotation.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2020Date of Patent: January 14, 2025Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventors: Johann Frisch, Rudolf Hildebrand
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Patent number: 12196560Abstract: A localization device for visually determining the location of a vehicle includes a camera unit for capturing image data and a control unit. The control unit is configured to recognize at least one landmark in the captured image data and to determine a quality value for each landmark. The determination of the quality value involves multiple recognitions of the particular landmark. In addition, multiple quality values for one landmark can be determined for different observation positions or observation directions. The control unit is further configured to adjust the quality value of a landmark already contained in a map, based on a new recognition by the localization device. The control unit is configured to determine the position of the localization device based on the recognized landmarks in conjunction with the map. The control unit is further configured to determine the position of landmarks in relation to a global coordinate system.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2021Date of Patent: January 14, 2025Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventors: Stefan Luthardt, Volker Willert, Benedikt Lattke
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Patent number: 12196961Abstract: A method for exactly aligning at least two holograms arranged in optical waveguides with respect to one another includes writing a first hologram and a first mark in a first optical waveguide. The method also includes writing a second hologram and a second mark in a second optical waveguide. The method further includes positioning the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide with respect to one another. The method also includes illuminating the first mark and the second mark. A pattern occurring during the illumination after passing the first mark and the second mark is detected. The method further includes changing the position of one of the optical waveguides until the detected pattern matches a specified pattern.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2020Date of Patent: January 14, 2025Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventors: Ulrich Kolloch, Willi Scheffler-Juschtschenko, Felicitas Wille, Ferenc Markus
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Patent number: 12189233Abstract: A display system comprises a display, configured for displaying data, wherein the display comprises an inactive display edge not configured for displaying, and an active display inner surface configured for displaying. The display system further comprises a backlighting module having luminous units, wherein the backlighting module is arranged directly or indirectly at a rear side of the display, such that the light emitted by the luminous units forms a backlight for the display. The backlighting module comprises a backlighting edge corresponding to the display edge and comprises a backlighting inner surface corresponding to the display inner surface. The display system further comprises and a control system for driving the luminous units. A vehicle comprising a display system and a method for operating a display system is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2020Date of Patent: January 7, 2025Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventors: Torsten Lahr, Ulrich Kabatek, Markus Weber, Steffen Wildner
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Patent number: 12192807Abstract: A method for predicting a value representative of a quality of connection of a vehicle to a cellular network from a target location on a road network including: training a prediction model on the basis of a determined characteristic of propagation between an access point and the position of a training vehicle and on the basis of a value representative of a quality of the connection of the vehicle to said access point; and predicting a second value representative of a quality of connection to a cellular network at the target location on a road network on the basis of a second characteristic of propagation of a radio signal between the target location and an identified target access point by applying the trained model.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2020Date of Patent: January 7, 2025Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventors: Simon Piriou, Grégory Vial
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Publication number: 20250006057Abstract: Provided is a vehicle-exit assist apparatus including: a target information acquisition device (12) configured to acquire target information on a target existing on a rear side of an own vehicle; and a control unit (10) configured to execute vehicle-exit assist control. The control unit is configured to: determine, based on the target information, whether an interference target which is liable to interfere with the safe exit of the occupant from the own vehicle during a vehicle stop is detected; determine, when a vehicle-exit assist condition which is satisfied at least when the interference target is detected is satisfied, whether a specific condition is satisfied, the specific condition being satisfied when at least a part of the interference target exists in a rear-side vehicle width region; execute the vehicle-exit assist control when the specific condition is not satisfied; and avoid executing the vehicle-exit assist control when the specific condition is satisfied.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2022Publication date: January 2, 2025Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBHInventors: Koji TAKEUCHI, Masanori TOKUDA, Masaho ISHIDA, Junya FUKUTA, Ryuichi SOYA, Ovidiu Marius CHICEA
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Patent number: 12179771Abstract: A method for managing location of a user device in a passenger compartment of a vehicle is disclosed. The method includes calculating the distance of the user device in relation to each of the transceivers from the received response signals; calculating, for each transceiver, the difference between the calculated distance between the transceiver and the user device and the distance between the transceiver and the user device that was previously used to determine the position of the user device in the passenger compartment. When one of the differences calculated in relation to one of the transceivers is erroneous by being higher than a predetermined “inconsistency threshold”, the method then calculates the positional variation of the user device from the received response signals by excluding the response signal received for the transceiver.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2022Date of Patent: December 31, 2024Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventors: Alain Brillon, Isabelle Bacaer, Stéphane Charbonnier
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Patent number: 12183182Abstract: A method for scanning for presence inside a vehicle, using a scanning device including at least one internal and one external ultra-wideband transceiver module for locating portable “hands-free” access equipment carried by a user. The device has an Ultra High Frequency communicator for communicating with the equipment. The method includes: a) detecting locking of the vehicle; b) for a predetermined duration: i) scanning for presence inside the vehicle with the internal module; ii) simultaneously transmitting a request to the equipment for detecting a U-turn by the user; iii) if a U-turn signal is received, stopping scanning and determining the position of the user with the two modules; iv) if presence is detected inside the vehicle, stopping scanning and transmitting a warning; c) when the duration has elapsed, if no U-turn signal is received and if no presence is detected, the position of the user is determined with the two modules.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2023Date of Patent: December 31, 2024Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventors: Mohamed Cheikh, Alexis Morin
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Patent number: 12179751Abstract: A collision detection device on a motor vehicle for tracking a remote target vehicle for the detection of an imminent collision by fusing radar sensor data from a first environment sensor designed as a radar sensor with sensor data from a second environment sensor. First wheel acquisition data based on the radar sensor data from the first environment sensor and second wheel acquisition data based on sensor data from the second environment sensor are merged and a parameter of the target vehicle is established.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2020Date of Patent: December 31, 2024Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventors: Alexander Kamann, Robert Naumann, Dagmar Steinhauser, Thomas Brandmeier, Andreas Forster, Holger Faisst, Frank Gruson
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Patent number: 12168484Abstract: A railborne driver assistance device for supporting or automating the lateral control of a vehicle includes a first processing unit configured to control a steering torque intervention by establishing a steering angle with a stationary control accuracy of an electrically supported steering system. A second processing unit is configured to adjust the stationary control accuracy of the steering angle via the output of an accuracy request signal to the first processing unit in such a way that there is a scaling of the control accuracy between a lower and an upper threshold value. The second processing unit includes a control unit having an integrator with an input and an output, wherein the output of the integrator is connected to the input in a closed-loop manner with a weighting dependent on the accuracy request signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2020Date of Patent: December 17, 2024Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventors: Stefan Feick, Philipp Keßler, Michael Simon
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Patent number: 12168294Abstract: A modular robot with a drive platform including: a first lateral drive module having at least two wheels and at least one motor for driving at least one of the wheels, a second lateral drive module having at least one wheel and at least one motor for driving the at least one wheel, a front crossmember module connecting first ends of the first and the second lateral drive module, and a rear crossmember module connecting first ends of the first and the second lateral drive module. One of the two lateral drive modules has a control unit for controlling the motors of the two lateral drive modules. The two drive modules have first connecting devices at their respective ends and the two crossmember modules have second connecting devices in the region of their respective ends. The first and the second connecting devices have mechanical connections.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2020Date of Patent: December 17, 2024Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventors: Thiemo Buchner, Andreas Mandl, Antonio Weber
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Patent number: 12165277Abstract: A method for capturing and processing a digital panoramic image is disclosed. The method involves projecting a panorama onto an image sensor with a panoramic objective lens to obtain a raw image. Then, a set of N output images is created based on the raw image, where N is greater than or equal to two and each output image represents a gnomonic projection of the panorama with a given focal length. The output images have a common predetermined resolution, the focal length of the first output image has a predetermined focal length value, and the focal length of each other output image is shorter than that of the previous output image. A digital panoramic camera system comprising a panoramic objective lens, an image sensor and image processing electronics are also disclosed. The image processing electronics are adapted to perform the method according to the above description.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2021Date of Patent: December 10, 2024Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventors: Steffen Görmer, Aless Lasaruk, Sumukha Manjunatha
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Patent number: 12157491Abstract: A method for operating a driver assistance system in a vehicle including operating the vehicle at an at least partially automated autonomy level by the driver assistance system, providing at least one acoustic transducer, wherein the at least one acoustic transducer is arranged in an interior of the vehicle, registering, by an evaluation unit, whether a vehicle occupant is present, transmitting an acoustic signal through the acoustic transducer, wherein the acoustic signal has a sound power, wherein the sound power is adjusted by the acoustic transducer, wherein the adjustment of the sound power by the acoustic transducer takes place depending on the presence of a vehicle occupant.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2019Date of Patent: December 3, 2024Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBHInventors: Guido Meier-Arendt, Heidi Von Bychowski, Katrin Wenzel