Patents Assigned to Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
  • Publication number: 20230152457
    Abstract: According to a method for object recognition by an active optical sensor system (2), a detector unit (2b) detects light (3b) reflected off an object (4) and generates a sensor signal (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f) on the basis thereof. A computing unit (2c) ascertains a first pulse width (D1) defined by a predetermined first limit value (G1) for an amplitude of the sensor signal (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f) as well as a second pulse width (D2) defined by a predetermined second limit value (G2). The signal pulse is assigned to one of at least two categories according to at least one predefined signal pulse parameter, and a scatter plot for object recognition is generated, said scatter plot containing exactly one entry for the signal pulse, said entry corresponding to the first pulse width (D1) or to the second pulse width (D2) according to the category to which the signal pulse belongs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Sergio Fernandez, Christoph Pfrang, Viktor Trusov, Ali Bassiouny
  • Patent number: 11650312
    Abstract: A method for determining at least one object information item of at least one target object (18) which is sensed with a radar system (12), in particular of a vehicle (10), a radar system (12) and a driver assistance system (20) are described. In the method, transmission signals (32a, 32b) are transmitted into a monitoring range (14) of the radar system (12) with at least one transmitter (26a, 26b). Echoes, which are reflected at the at least one target object (18), of the transmission signals (32a, 32b) are received as received signals (34a, 34b) with at least one receiver (30), and if necessary are converted into a form which can be used by an electronic control and/or evaluation device (28). The received signals (34a, 34b) are subjected to at least one multi-dimensional discrete Fourier transformation. At least one target signal is determined from the result of the at least one Fourier transformation. At least one object information item is determined from the at least one target signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Sturm, Hamid Afrasiabi Vayghan, Yoke Leen Sit, Urs Lübbert
  • Publication number: 20230146935
    Abstract: A method for the content capture of an environment of a vehicle is disclosed. The method uses an artificial intelligence neural network, on the basis of a point cloud generated by an environment sensor of the vehicle. The method involves performing reference measurements by the environment sensor to capture reference objects depending on positions in the environment in relation to the environment sensor, generating confidence values depending on positions in the environment in relation to the environment sensor on the basis of the reference measurements by the environment sensor to capture the reference objects, training the artificial intelligence for the content capture of the environment on the basis of training point clouds for the environment sensor, capturing the environment by the environment sensor to generate the point cloud, and processing the point cloud generated by the environment sensor using the trained artificial intelligence for the content capture of the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Applicant: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Simon, Johannes Petzold, Marco Heinen
  • Patent number: 11644541
    Abstract: An emitting device (26) for a scanning optical detection system of a vehicle for monitoring at least one monitoring region (14) for objects is described, having at least one light source (40a, 40b) for generating at least one optical emission signal (32a, 32b) and having at least one diffraction unit (50a, 50b), which has a diffractive effect on the at least one emission signal (32a, 32b), for controlling at least one beam direction (66a, 66b) of the at least one emission signal (32a, 32b). At least one diffraction unit (50a, 50b) which is settable to set the beam directions (66a, 66b) associated with the respective signal paths (41a, 41b), is arranged in at least two different signal paths (41a, 41b) of one emission signal or various emission signals (32a, 32b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Bertschinger, Daniel Stricker-Shaver, Jan Simon, Thomas Schuler
  • Publication number: 20230121106
    Abstract: The invention relates to a computing device (9) for a lidar sensor apparatus (2) for a motor vehicle (1), wherein the computing device (9) has a measurement data interface for receiving measurement data from the lidar sensor device and is configured to ascertain a distance (d) of the object (7) from the lidar sensor apparatus (2) using a time-of-flight measurement for the detected reflected light component (8) or using a phase difference measurement between the scanning light (5) and the detected reflected light component (8), wherein the computing device (9) has a data interface (10) and is configured to automatically utilize the time-of-flight measurement or the phase difference measurement for ascertaining the distance (d) in dependence on at least one driving situation parameter provided via the data interface (10) in order to improve a distance measurement that is to be performed by the lidar sensor apparatus (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Jan Simon, Daniel Stricker-Shaver
  • Publication number: 20230117357
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for confirming a perceived position of a traffic light, by obtaining identifiers and results of a first perception of traffic lights associated with the identifiers, the results of the first perception including a first estimation of an ellipse encompassing each of the traffic lights, receiving results of a second perception of traffic lights associated with the identifiers, the results of the second perception including a second estimation of an ellipse encompassing each of the traffic lights, calculating, based on the first perception and the second perception, association parameters for each possible pair of estimated ellipses, selecting, based on the calculated association parameters for each possible pair of estimated ellipses, matching pairs of estimated ellipses, and fusing each matching pair of estimated ellipses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas HEITZMANN, Romain DEMARETS
  • Patent number: 11628857
    Abstract: A method for correcting a position of a vehicle when parking in a parking space. The method includes determining the position of the vehicle on the basis of odometry information, sensing ultrasonic signals from a linear object, carrying out a method for simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) on the basis of the linear object and the ultrasonic signals, and correcting the position of the vehicle A control device for a driving support system of a vehicle is also disclosed, which is designed to receive odometry information of the vehicle, to receive ultrasonic signals from at least one ultrasonic sensor of the driving support system, and to carry out the aforementioned method. A driving support system for a vehicle with an aforementioned control device and with at least one ultrasonic sensor is disclosed. The invention likewise relates to a vehicle with an aforementioned driving support system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Bariant, Anto Michael
  • Publication number: 20230097950
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for providing an environment image (36) on the basis of a camera image (30) of a vehicle camera (14, 16, 18, 20) of a vehicle (10) for monitoring an environment (28) of the vehicle (10), the camera image (30) comprising a camera image area having a camera resolution, for further processing, in particular by means of a driving assistance system of the vehicle (10), the method comprising the steps of: ascertaining a position of the vehicle camera (14, 16, 18, 20) on the vehicle (10), capturing at least one current motion parameter (44) of the vehicle (10), determining a current focus area (32) within the camera image (30) on the basis of the position of the vehicle camera (14, 16, 18, 20) on the vehicle (10) and on the basis of the at least one current motion parameter (44), and transferring pixels of the camera image (30) into the environment image (36), pixels from the current focus area (32) being transferred, with a first resolution, into a first image area (40) of the envi
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Fabian Burger, Jonathan Horgan, Philippe Lafon
  • Publication number: 20230071717
    Abstract: Described is a camera device (3) for a motor vehicle (1), having: a camera (4) for recording an image, a computing unit (8) for executing a program sequence (12) for providing at least part of a driver assistance function (13, 14, 15) depending on the recorded image, a provisioning unit (11) for providing a temperature of the computing unit (8), and a control unit (10), which is configured to modify the program sequence (12) depending on the provided temperature, the computing unit (8) being configured to execute the modified program sequence (12?).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Applicant: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Thorsten Meyer, Harald Barth
  • Patent number: 11587329
    Abstract: Techniques are described for estimating intentions of pedestrians and other road users in vicinity of a vehicle. In certain embodiments, the techniques comprise obtaining, by a computer system of a vehicle equipped with one or more sensors, a sequence of video frames corresponding to a scene external to the vehicle, detecting one or more vulnerable road users (VRUs) in the sequence of video frames, wherein the detecting comprises estimating pose of each of the detected one or more VRUs. The techniques further include generating a segmentation map of the scene using one or more of the video frames; estimating one or more intention probabilities using estimated pose of the one or more VRUs and the segmentation map, each intention probability corresponding to one of the detected one or more VRUs, and adjusting one or more automated driving actions based on the estimated one or more intention probabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Adithya Ranga, Jagdish Bhanushali
  • Publication number: 20230051791
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining at least one piece of object information about at least one object sensed by means of a radar system and to a radar system. According to the method, transmission signals in the form of chirps are transmitted by at least three transmitters in each case in chirp sequences in a monitoring region of the radar system. Echoes of the transmission signals reflected at the at least one object are received as reception signals by means of at least one receiver and, if necessary, are brought into a form that can be used by an electronic control and/or evaluation device. The reception signals are subjected to at least one two-dimensional discrete Fourier transformation. At least one target signal (ZS1_a, ZS2_a, ZS3_a, ZS4_a, ZS1_b, ZS2_b, ZS3_b, ZS4_b) is determined from the outcome of the at least one two-dimensional discrete Fourier transformation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Sturm, Hamid Afrasiabi Vayghan
  • Publication number: 20230052549
    Abstract: A method for operating a first vehicle (100) with a parking assistance system (110) is proposed, comprising: a) sensing an obstructing parked position (BP) of the first vehicle (100) by means of the parking assistance system (110), wherein the obstructing parked position (BP) is a parked position which adjoins a parking space (PP) occupied by a parked second vehicle (150), b) reception of a sensor signal, acquired by a sensor apparatus (120, 130) of the vehicle (100), by means of the parking assistance system (110), c) detecting a request to exit a parking space of the parked second vehicle (150) in accordance with the received sensor signal by means of the parking assistance system (110), and d) autonomously driving the first vehicle (100) from the obstructing parked position (BP) into a position which is different from the obstructing parked position (BP) in accordance with the detected request to exit a parking space by means of the parking assistance system (110).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventor: Marco Heimberger
  • Patent number: 11579295
    Abstract: The invention relates to the ascertaining of the maximum range of a LIDAR sensor (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Fischer
  • Patent number: 11579255
    Abstract: The invention relates to a emitter device (8) for an optical detection apparatus (3) of a motor vehicle (1), which is designed to scan a surrounding region (4) of the motor vehicle (1) by means of a light beam (10), and which comprises a light source (13) for emitting the light beam (10) and a deflection unit (15), wherein the deflection unit (15) is designed to deflect the light beam (10) emitted onto the deflection unit (15) by the light source (13) at different scanning angles (?), wherein the deflection unit (15) comprises a freeform mirror (19). The freeform mirror (19) comprises at least two surface elements (20a, 20b) having different angles of inclination (21a, 21b) and is designed to reflect the light beam (10) in order to generate a predetermined setpoint field of view (16) of the emitter device (8) at predetermined setpoint values (??3, ??2, ??1, ?0, +?1, +?2, +?3) for the scanning angle (?), said setpoint values corresponding to the angles of inclination (21a, 21b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Lin Lin, Peter Horvath, Thomas Schuler
  • Publication number: 20230041499
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the current angle of lateral inclination (a) of a roadway by means of a vehicle, at least comprising the steps of: a) determining the current radius of curvature (K) of the roadway; b) measuring the current velocities v(1,2) of at least two different wheels of the vehicle, one of the wheels with the velocity v(1) lying closer to the current curve center point of the roadway; c) calculating the current radius of lateral inclination (Q) of the roadway using the current wheel velocity v(1), the wheel distance (d) and the difference between the wheel velocities measured in method step b); d) calculating the current angle of inclination (a) of the vehicle on the roadway using the quotient of the radius of curvature (K) determined in method step a) and the current radius of lateral inclination (Q) calculated in method step c).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventor: Eser Uestuenel
  • Patent number: 11573292
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transmitting device (6) for an optical sensing device (5) of a motor vehicle (1), with at least one light source unit (32), with an optical device (17) that influences the beam shape of the light emitted by the at least one light source unit (32), wherein the light is transmitted into the surroundings (4) of the motor vehicle (1) by means of the transmitting device (6), wherein the transmitting device (6) comprises a housing (15) in which the light source unit (32) and the optical device (17) are arranged and as a result a pre-assembly module (16) is formed for installation on a printed circuit board (36) of the transmitting device (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Ho Hoai Duc Nguyen, Peter Horvath
  • Patent number: 11573307
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical acquisition device (3) for a motor vehicle (1), having a housing (8) of the optical acquisition device (3), in which a light source unit (10) of the optical acquisition device (3) is arranged, wherein light beams (6) can be emitted by means of the light source unit (10) through a housing part (9) of the housing (8) into surroundings (4) of the motor vehicle (1), wherein the optical acquisition device (3) comprises a checking unit (16), by means of which a functional state of the housing (8) is checkable, and if an actual functional state of the housing (8) deviating from a reference functional state of the housing (8) is detected, a control signal can be generated. The invention furthermore relates to a motor vehicle (1) and a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Gunnar Busse, Andreas Reichert
  • Patent number: 11573319
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an ultrasonic sensor (4) of a vehicle (1), in which a sound transducer element (11) of the ultrasonic sensor (4) is excited with a predetermined excitation signal, wherein the excitation signal has a predetermined current amplitude, an electrical test voltage (U) at the sound transducer element (11) resulting from the excitation signal is measured, and a diagnosis of the ultrasonic sensor (4) is carried out on the basis of the test voltage (U), wherein the ultrasonic sensor (4) is excited with the excitation signal in a measuring mode for the transmission of an ultrasonic signal, the electrical test voltage (U) is measured during the transmission, on the basis of the electrical test voltage (U) a reduced diagnosis is carried out, wherein the ultrasonic sensor (4) either continues to be operated in the measuring mode or is operated in a diagnostic mode for a complete diagnosis, depending on a result of the reduced diagnosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Fabian Haag, Michael Hallek
  • Patent number: 11572064
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring a surrounding area (6) of a motor vehicle (1), wherein measurement points of surfaces of objects (7) in the surrounding area (6) detected by at least two sensor devices (4, 5) of the motor vehicle (1) are received, and wherein first measurement points of a first surface area (13) detected by a first sensor device (4) are received and second measurement points of a second surface area (14) with no overlap with the first surface area (13) detected by a second sensor device (5) are received, the first and second measurement points are used to determine a relative position of the surface areas (13, 14) with respect to each other, it is determined whether the surface areas (13, 14) are to be assigned to a single object (7) based on the relative position and, if so, the surface areas (13, 14) are combined into a total surface area (12) of the object (7). The invention also concerns a sensor control unit (9), a driver assistance system (2) and a motor vehicle (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventor: Thorsten Beuth
  • Publication number: 20230035920
    Abstract: A method for safe at least semi-autonomous driving operation of an ego vehicle in case of sun glare is disclosed. The method involves checking, by a computing system, whether one or more vehicle sensors of the ego vehicle are dazzled by sun glare, and if yes, detecting environmental information by a detection system of the ego vehicle. The method further involves subsequently checking, by a computing system, the environmental information for a presence of at least one dynamic object for intercepting the sun glare during driving operation of the ego vehicle, and if yes, checking, by a computing system, whether the ego vehicle can execute a driving manoeuvre in such a way that the at least one dynamic object intercepts the sun glare during driving operation of the ego vehicle. If yes, then the driving manoeuvre is executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Applicant: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventor: Frederic Wilhelm