Patents Assigned to CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEM, INC.
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Patent number: 11034298Abstract: A method and system identifies an unobservable region using a surround view system of a vehicle. The vehicle has a trailer attached thereto. The surround view system includes cameras to provide a view of an area surrounding the vehicle, an ECU receives image data from the cameras, and a display. A legacy observable image of the area obtained from the cameras as the vehicle passes through the area is stored in the ECU. A model representing a geometry of the trailer is created. Live images of the area, while the vehicle is reversing the trailer in the area, are obtained by the cameras. The trailer defines an obstruction in the area that occludes camera views defining an unobservable region. Based on the legacy observable image, the geometry of the trailer, and the live images, the unobservable region in the area is calculated and displayed on the display.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2019Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: James Hockridge Critchley, Jesse Aaron Hacker, Tony Moussa
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Patent number: 11035701Abstract: An illuminated pointer for a vehicle instrument cluster provides a more uniform light by propagating light from a source, through an elongate, light-transmitting prism formed to have multiple, inclined light-reflecting surfaces. Each surface being at a different angle, reflects light at a slightly different angle producing a corresponding number of refracted light maxima along the length of the prism. A more uniform refracted light is produced.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2018Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Curt Ollila, Vyacheslav Birman
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Patent number: 11035491Abstract: A solenoid assembly of a fuel pump includes a housing; a pole piece disposed within the housing; an armature assembly movably disposed within the housing and including an armature and a plunger; and a coil disposed within the housing. A plurality of metal disks are disposed in a stacked arrangement, coupled to the pole piece and situated so as to be impacted by the armature during a full stroke of the armature assembly. The solenoid assembly further includes at least one fluid path in fluid communication with the region surrounding the metal disks, the at least one fluid path configured such that only a portion of a secondary swept volume of fuel associated with the armature assembly during operation of the fuel pump passes through the region and decelerates the armature assembly when the armature assembly moves towards the pole piece responsive to a current passing through the coil.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2018Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: James Fochtman, John Walters, Tyler Craven
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Patent number: 11034328Abstract: A driver identification seatbelt system including a seatbelt system having at least one first belt with a first coupling member, and a second coupling member. The driver identification seatbelt system further including a fingerprint recognition member.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2018Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Ningsheng Qiao, Manjunath P Venkataramana, Robert Andres, Dean Beckman
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Publication number: 20210170998Abstract: A braking system for a vehicle that has a default performance mode or first performance mode and an alternate performance mode or a second performance mode. The braking system includes a pedal assembly coupled with a master cylinder. The pedal assembly has a feedback force, and the pedal assembly has two or more activated positions and an inactivated position. A pedal feel simulator is coupled with the pedal assembly and the pedal feel simulator configured to apply force feedback to the pedal assembly. The pedal feel simulator is coupled with a simulator valve, and the simulator valve is configured to hold pressure within the pedal feel simulator when the braking system is in the second performance mode. A plurality of wheel brakes is hydraulically coupled with the master cylinder.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2020Publication date: June 10, 2021Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Paul Michael Robinson, Leah Burns, Richard Blust
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Publication number: 20210170924Abstract: An occupant safety system and method includes identifying a potential impact of a vehicle with an external object utilizing an environment sensor. A position of an occupant of the vehicle is sensed by one or more position sensors. An advantageous position of the occupant is determined based on the identified potential impact. The occupant is then repositioned to the advantageous position in response to the identified potential impact.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2019Publication date: June 10, 2021Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Christopher James Palazzolo, Robert M. Andres
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Publication number: 20210170969Abstract: An occupant restraint system including a seat having a head rest where the seat has a seat belt anchor, a seat belt retractor and a seat coupling member each coupled with the seat. The system further includes a seat belt assembly including a first seat belt portion and a second seat belt portion. At least one deployable restraint is stored on or within at least one of the seat belt assembly or the seat, where the at least one deployable restraint has a deployed position and a retracted position that is deployed by a deployment member.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2019Publication date: June 10, 2021Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Christopher James Palazzolo, Robert M. Andres
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Publication number: 20210170958Abstract: An apparatus comprising two or more projection members movable from at least a first position and a second position and from the second position to the first position, in the first position the projection members are recessed below an auxiliary surface having an outer skin, the projection members projected through the auxiliary surface in the second position, in the second position the projection members stretching the outer skin away from the auxiliary surface and creating a pocket, the pocket configured to retain at least one device therein, the at least one device including at least one of a key fob and cell phone.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2019Publication date: June 10, 2021Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Arthur S. Brown, Jason Schwegler
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Publication number: 20210171028Abstract: A vehicle lane positioning system includes a sensor arrangement that is designed to determine lateral boundaries of a vehicle lane. A control unit is designed to calculate a vehicle travel path within the vehicle lane having a predetermined variation from a centered vehicle pathway. An actuator unit is designed to execute the vehicle travel path within the vehicle lane.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2019Publication date: June 10, 2021Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventor: Ulrich Stählin
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Patent number: 11027582Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided that includes measuring a tire pressure for at least one tire with at least one tire pressure sensor. The tire pressure sensor has at least a first resolution for transmitting pressure information and a second resolution for transmitting pressure information that is higher than the first resolution. If a measured tire pressure is determined to be above a predetermined pressure threshold, the apparatus and method identify whether the tire pressure sensor has experienced at least one predetermined vehicle operating characteristic, and/or identify whether the tire pressure sensor has been activated by a command. The tire pressure sensor is only locked into the second resolution if the tire pressure sensor has experienced the at least one predetermined vehicle operating characteristic or if the tire pressure sensor has been activated by the command.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2019Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Matthew D. McIntyre, Brian Farrell, Yasser Gad
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Patent number: 11027683Abstract: An occupant restraint system including a seat having a head rest where the seat has a seat belt anchor, a seat belt retractor and a seat coupling member each coupled with the seat. The system further includes a seat belt assembly including a first seat belt portion and a second seat belt portion. At least one deployable restraint is stored on or within at least one of the seat belt assembly or the seat, where the at least one deployable restraint has a deployed position and a retracted position that is deployed by a deployment member.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2019Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Christopher James Palazzolo, Robert M. Andres
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Publication number: 20210163067Abstract: A trailer reverse assist (TRA) system for a tow vehicle aids in reversing an attached trailer. The TRA system includes a processor circuit; at least one camera to obtain images of the trailer; and vehicle dynamic sensors to obtain vehicle dynamics data from the vehicle. The processor circuit, while the TRA system is in a standby, non-active state and while the vehicle is in Drive and traveling forward at a speed above a threshold speed: learns parameters and/or image features of an attached trailer based on data from the at least one camera and the vehicle dynamic sensors; causes the learned parameters and/or image features of the attached trailer to be stored in a database; and informs the driver via the infotainment system that the TRA system can be activated.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2019Publication date: June 3, 2021Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Diessner, Brandon Herzog
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Patent number: 11024178Abstract: A method and system for controlling a vehicle along a curved roadway, including receiving vehicle sensed data relating to vehicle operation and/or vehicle position and orientation; identifying first and second lane markers from the sensed data; determining a reference path for the vehicle using the lane markers; calculating a feed-forward control output based upon the curvature of the lane markers; calculating a lateral position of the vehicle relative to the reference path, and a lateral position error based upon the lateral position; and calculating a vehicle heading angle based upon the vehicle sensed data, and a heading angle error. A feedback control output is calculated using a nonlinear control function based upon the lateral position error, the heading angle error, and the sensed velocity. A steering control output is generated for steering the vehicle, based upon the feed-forward control output and the feedback control output.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2018Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventor: Javier Alcazar
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Publication number: 20210161021Abstract: An electronics device includes a folded printed circuit board which is folded about at least one fold region which defines a first section and a second section. A housing has a plurality of side portions. The first section of the folded printed circuit board is secured along an outer surface of a first side portion of the plurality of side portions. The housing further includes an interior. At least one first slot is defined within the interior and disposed along or near a second side portion arranged opposite the first side portion. At least one first pin member is disposed partly within the at least one first slot and extends therefrom. A distal end portion of the at least one first pin member engages with the second section of the folded printed circuit board so as to hold the second section in position over the interior of the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2019Publication date: May 27, 2021Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Mitul Patel, Wai-Tak Ho, Donald J. Zito
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Publication number: 20210155238Abstract: A system for locating a coupler of a trailer includes at least one camera positioned on a rear portion of a tow vehicle. A coupler detector module is constructed and arranged 1) to receive images of the coupler from the at least one camera and 2) to determining a two-dimensional (2D) pixel position of the coupler. A camera motion estimator module is constructed and arranged 1) to receive images from the at least one camera and data regarding motion of the tow vehicle and 2) determine a pose of the camera including a three-dimensional (3D) position and heading of the at least one camera. A coupler estimator module is constructed and arranged 1) to receive the pose of the camera and the 2D pixel position of the coupler and based thereon, 2) to determine an estimated 3D position of the coupler in real world coordinates.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2019Publication date: May 27, 2021Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Xin Yu, Matthew Donald Berkemeier, Dhiren Verma Verma
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Patent number: 11014570Abstract: A method includes observing one or more rear tires for a front car, the one or more rear tires include a left rear tire and a right rear tire, determining whether the one or more of the rear tires have an anomaly, observing a chassis of the front car to determine if there is an inclination, and sending an alert if the one or more rear tires have the anomaly.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2018Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Omar Sadrach Reyes Baron, Jose Ramon Casillas Bracamontes
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Publication number: 20210146835Abstract: A method and system identifies an unobservable region using a surround view system of a vehicle. The vehicle has a trailer attached thereto. The surround view system includes cameras to provide a view of an area surrounding the vehicle, an ECU receives image data from the cameras, and a display. A legacy observable image of the area obtained from the cameras as the vehicle passes through the area is stored in the ECU. A model representing a geometry of the trailer is created. Live images of the area, while the vehicle is reversing the trailer in the area, are obtained by the cameras. The trailer defines an obstruction in the area that occludes camera views defining an unobservable region. Based on the legacy observable image, the geometry of the trailer, and the live images, the unobservable region in the area is calculated and displayed on the display.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2019Publication date: May 20, 2021Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: James Hockridge Critchley, Jesse Aaron Hacker, Tony Moussa
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Publication number: 20210146945Abstract: A method of calculating a stopping distance for a vehicle, where the method includes collecting real time data from vehicle onboard sensors, collecting real time data from connected network data, estimating a stopping distance of the vehicle based on the data from vehicle onboard sensors and data from connected network data, and communicating the stopping distance to an operator of the vehicle including visualizing the stopping distance to the operator of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2019Publication date: May 20, 2021Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Arthur Brown, John Brandow, Aron Cruce, Susan Drescher, Harish Patel
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Patent number: 11011135Abstract: A head-up display has an image generator, an optical system, a transmissive screen and a transparency mask. The transparency mask is arranged close to a display of the image generator. A mask pixel map is applied to the processed image to get a masked image.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2018Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Andrei Pasca, Ferenc Markus
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Publication number: 20210140506Abstract: An assembly for an air spring includes an outer gaiter defined in part by an interior portion, an inner gaiter defined in part by an exterior portion, at least one floating ring extending from a first floating ring end to a second floating ring end, the first floating ring end coupled with the inner gaiter and the second floating ring end is coupled with the outer gaiter, where the at least one floating ring allows the outer gaiter to move relative to the inner gaiter.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2020Publication date: May 13, 2021Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Sunny Makkar, Joseph Jerisk, Garrett Mark Pniewski