Patents by Inventor Alfred Eckert

Alfred Eckert 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: 10065613
    Abstract: A brake system for vehicles, in particular motor vehicles, including a master brake cylinder, in particular a tandem master brake cylinder, a brake booster which is connected upstream of the master brake cylinder, in particular at least four hydraulically actuatable wheel brakes, and a first electrohydraulic brake control device which includes a first pressure regulating valve arrangement for adjusting wheel-specific brake pressures, in particular an electrically actuatable pressure source, and a wheel-specific outlet pressure connection for each wheel brake, wherein the brake booster is designed to be electrically actuatable, and a second electrohydraulic brake control device is provided which includes a second pressure regulating valve arrangement, in particular for adjusting wheel-specific brake pressures, and which is connected in series between the first brake control device and the wheel brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Paul Linhoff, Alfred Eckert
  • Publication number: 20180178769
    Abstract: A method and device for driver assistance in the event of aquaplaning on a road surface on which a vehicle is traveling, wherein a check as regards whether aquaplaning is presently occurring is performed on the basis of at least one driving dynamics variable, and, in the event of aquaplaning being identified, an intervention for a change in direction is performed at a rear-wheel brake, wherein the brake pressure is set in a manner dependent on a driver steering demand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Thomas Raste, Peter Lauer, Alfred Eckert
  • Publication number: 20180001891
    Abstract: A device for stabilizing a vehicle after a collision against a lateral carriageway boundary, includes a lane recognition system, with which information relating to the course of the lane is determined or detected. A collision detection unit identifies a collision of the vehicle against the lateral lane carriageway boundary on the basis of signals from at least one sensor or on the basis of a driving state variable. The device also includes a steering actuator for steering a steering system and a brake actuator for controlling one or more wheel brakes. A target path determination unit determines a target path for the vehicle on the basis of the course of the lane determined or detected before or at the time of the collision. A controller guides the vehicle onto the target path and/or stabilizes the vehicle via a steering intervention and/or individual wheel brake interventions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Applicant: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Peter Lauer, Thomas Raste, Alfred Eckert
  • Patent number: 9733085
    Abstract: A system and method for updating a digital map for a driver assistance system in a vehicle. The digital map contains map data having coordinates and attributes for characterizing subregions of an overall region of the digital map. The system includes a base station and a plurality of vehicles, each equipped with a driver assistance system. The base station has at least one transmission unit for sending updated map data having updated attributes to the driver assistance systems. The driver assistance system has a memory unit for storing map data from at least a portion of the digital map, a receiver unit for receiving the updated map data sent by the base station and a control unit for updating the stored map data using the received updated map data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Stählin, Alfred Eckert
  • Patent number: 9511723
    Abstract: A method and a device for an assistance system, e.g. a parking assistance system, perform an autonomous or semi-autonomous driving maneuver of a vehicle. A camera system generates image data from the surroundings of the vehicle. A processor arrangement processes the image data to produce control information that is used by the assistance system to perform the driving maneuver. If the image data show that a restriction or impediment is present, then the assistance system is put in a safe state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Alfred Eckert, Ronald Bayer, Stefan Lueke, Bernd Piller, Georg Halasy-Wimmer
  • Patent number: 9493145
    Abstract: A method of automatically preventing or reducing aquaplaning during the driving operation of a motor vehicle on a route provides that: a) a camera-based road sign recognition of a road sign on a section of the route determines whether the road sign indicates a risk of aquaplaning on the section of the route, b) at least one sensor device detects whether there is a wet road condition on the section of the route, and c) a driving assistance function for preventing or reducing aquaplaning is carried out if the road sign recognition determines that the road sign indicates the risk of aquaplaning and the sensor device detects the wet road condition on the section of the route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignees: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbH, Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Wilfried Mehr, Matthias Strauss, Alfred Eckert
  • Publication number: 20160325719
    Abstract: A brake system for vehicles, in particular motor vehicles, including a master brake cylinder, in particular a tandem master brake cylinder, a brake booster which is connected upstream of the master brake cylinder, in particular at least four hydraulically actuatable wheel brakes, and a first electrohydraulic brake control device which includes a first pressure regulating valve arrangement for adjusting wheel-specific brake pressures, in particular an electrically actuatable pressure source, and a wheel-specific outlet pressure connection for each wheel brake, wherein the brake booster is designed to be electrically actuatable, and a second electrohydraulic brake control device is provided which includes a second pressure regulating valve arrangement, in particular for adjusting wheel-specific brake pressures, and which is connected in series between the first brake control device and the wheel brakes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Paul LINHOFF, Alfred ECKERT
  • Patent number: 9399450
    Abstract: A method and system for promoting a uniform driving style. A longitudinal speed of a motor vehicle and a route section curvature radius lying ahead of the vehicle are determined when the vehicle approaches the route section. An expected lateral acceleration is determined from the curvature radius and longitudinal speed as the route section is driven through. The lateral acceleration is compared with a permanently predefined lateral acceleration limiting value which can be predefined by the driver. In the event the expected lateral acceleration is greater than at least one of the lateral acceleration limiting values, the longitudinal speed is lowered by an optical, acoustic and/or haptic request to the driver and/or by autonomous braking intervention. If the expected lateral acceleration is smaller than or equal to the lower of the two lateral acceleration limiting values the lowering of the longitudinal speed is reduced by decreasing the engine drag torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Thomas Raste, Peter Lauer, Alfred Eckert
  • Patent number: 9237599
    Abstract: The invention describes a controller for data processing in bidirectional adhoc-network radio communication with a computation unit for data processing and ports for data input and data output. The computation unit is set up to process the data according to the ITS standard, wherein the data processing is limited to processing steps of the ITS Facility layer, which performs content-oriented evaluation and/or conditioning of the data which are received or need to be sent by means of the bidirectional adhoc-network radio communication, and a first wideband communication port is provided at least for receiving the data from an ITS communication unit for the purpose of bidirectional adhoc-network radio communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignees: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG, Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Stählin, Alfred Eckert, Jürgen Diebold, Stefan Lüke, Helmut Windl
  • Publication number: 20150360625
    Abstract: A device and a method for determining a position of one or more structural elements of a vehicle the position of which can be changed and a change in the position of which alters external dimensions of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Applicants: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbH, Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Martin Randler, Ralph Grewe, Marc Fischer, Dirk Ulbricht, Alfred Eckert, Ronald Bayer, Stefan Lüke, Bernd Piller, Georg Halasy-Wimmer
  • Patent number: 9174641
    Abstract: In a device and a method for increasing the safety of a motor vehicle, a first sensor unit (2) detects the environment, in particular free spaces and objects (0) and the position and motion thereof, a second sensor unit (20) detects the environment state, a third sensor unit (30) detects the vehicle state, and a fourth sensor unit (40) detects the driver inputs. The respective data from the several sensor units are combined. In consideration of the data, a driving safety coordinator (6) calculates the risk of collision on the basis of a risk evaluation, and determines pre-collision phases (P1, P2, P3, P4a, P4b) of the motor vehicle (1) with regard to the object (0).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Stefan Fritz, Bernd Hartmann, Alfred Eckert, Peter Rieth
  • Patent number: 9108600
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for performing open-loop or closed-loop control of the driving stability of a vehicle and for avoiding collisions with an object located in the traffic lane. The invention also relates to a closed-loop driving stability controller. The method according to aspects of the invention comprises: determining based on environmental signals whether a critical situation in terms of driving dynamics, in particular an imminent collision, exists, calculating an avoidance path if a critical situation in terms of driving dynamics exists, determining based on a plurality of input variables pressures for individual brakes of the vehicle, and activating preparatory measures of the driving dynamics regulator, in particular dynamic switching over of closed-loop control parameters if the critical situation in terms of driving dynamics exists. The device and the closed-loop driving stability controller are suitable for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Bernd Hartmann, Alfred Eckert, Georg Roll, Stefan Fritz
  • Publication number: 20150197225
    Abstract: A method and system for promoting a uniform driving style. A longitudinal speed of a motor vehicle and a route section curvature radius lying ahead of the vehicle are determined when the vehicle approaches the route section. An expected lateral acceleration is determined from the curvature radius and longitudinal speed as the route section is driven through. The lateral acceleration is compared with a permanently predefined lateral acceleration limiting value which can be predefined by the driver. In the event the expected lateral acceleration is greater than at least one of the lateral acceleration limiting values, the longitudinal speed is lowered by an optical, acoustic and/or haptic request to the driver and/or by autonomous braking intervention. If the expected lateral acceleration is smaller than or equal to the lower of the two lateral acceleration limiting values the lowering of the longitudinal speed is reduced by decreasing the engine drag torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Raste, Peter Lauer, Alfred Eckert
  • Patent number: 8928496
    Abstract: A road safety communication device for protecting pedestrians in road traffic, which includes a transponder which is integrated into a shoe, wherein the supply of electrical power to the device is activated only in selected situations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Ulrich Stählin, Sighard Schräbler, Alfred Eckert, Peter Rieth
  • Publication number: 20140379197
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for an assistance system that serves to perform an autonomous or semi-autonomous driving maneuver of a vehicle, e.g., a parking assistance system in a vehicle, wherein by means of a camera system, image data are generated from the surroundings of a vehicle and processed in order to perform the driving maneuver. The assistance system is put in a safe state if the image data show that a restriction is present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG
    Inventors: Alfred Eckert, Ronald Bayer, Stefan Lueke, Bernd Piller, Georg Halasy-Wimmer
  • Publication number: 20140214260
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for an assistance system that serves to perform an autonomous or semi-autonomous driving maneuver of a vehicle, e.g., a parking assistance system in a vehicle, wherein by means of a camera system, image data are acquired from the surroundings of a vehicle and processed in order to perform the driving maneuver. At least one direction in which the vehicle moves when performing the driving maneuver is indicated by means of at least one light signal device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Alfred Eckert, Ronald Bayer, Stefan Lueke, Bernd Piller, Georg Halasy-Wimmer
  • Publication number: 20140144732
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pedal travel simulator for the hydraulic connection to a pressure chamber of a master brake cylinder of a hydraulic brake system, in particular for motor vehicles, having a housing and a simulator piston that is diplaceably mounted in the housing, wherein the simulator piston delimits a first hydraulic simulator chamber together with the housing, which simulator chamber can accommodate pressurizing media. Wherein an elastic restoring means acts on the simulator piston, wherein the pedal travel simulator includes a second hydraulic simulator chamber for accommodating pressurizing media, the simulator chamber being delimited by an elastically deformable membrane. The invention further relates to an actuating unit for a hydraulic motor vehicle brake system of the brake-by-wire type, and to a hydraulic motor vehicle brake system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Ronald Bayer, Johann Jungerbecker, Stefan A. Drumm, Johannes Görlach, Marco Besier, Lothar Schiel, Alfred Eckert
  • Publication number: 20140025292
    Abstract: A system and method for updating a digital map for a driver assistance system in a vehicle. The digital map contains map data having coordinates and attributes for characterizing subregions of an overall region of the digital map. The system includes a base station and a plurality of vehicles, each equipped with a driver assistance system. The base station has at least one transmission unit for sending updated map data having updated attributes to the driver assistance systems. The driver assistance system has a memory unit for storing map data from at least a portion of the digital map, a receiver unit for receiving the updated map data sent by the base station and a control unit for updating the stored map data using the received updated map data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: Ulrich STÄHLIN, Alfred ECKERT
  • Publication number: 20130338878
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for increasing the safety of a motor vehicle. A first sensor unit (2) detects the environment, in particular free spaces and objects (0) and the position and motion of said objects. A second sensor unit (20) detects the environment state, a third sensor unit (30) detects the vehicle state, and a fourth sensor unit (40) detects the driver specifications. The data are amalgamated. According to the invention, a driving safety coordinator (6) is provided, which calculates the risk of collision on the basis of a risk evaluation, and the driving safety coordinator (6) determines pre-collision phases (P1, P2, P3, P4a, P4b) of the motor vehicle (1) with regard to the object (0).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG
    Inventors: Stefan Fritz, Bernd Hartmann, Alfred Eckert, Peter Rieth
  • Publication number: 20130201036
    Abstract: A road safety communication device for protecting pedestrians in road traffic, which includes a transponder which is integrated into a shoe, wherein the supply of electrical power to the device is activated only in selected situations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Ulrich Stählin, Sighard Schräbler, Alfred Eckert, Peter Rieth