Patents by Inventor Andreas Apel

Andreas Apel 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).

  • Method and device for recognizing the level of awareness of a vehicle driver
    Patent number: 7455146
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting the attention level of a vehicle operator, wherein a steering performance of the vehicle operator is monitored, as well as to a device (30) for detecting the attention level of a vehicle operator, with at least one sensor device detecting the steering performance of the vehicle and with a signal measurement and evaluation unit (32). According to the method of the invention, a phase relationship between a change of a steering angle (?) of at least one steerable wheel (22) of the vehicle and a change of the steering wheel angle (?) is evaluated. With the device of the invention, at least one signal (48) corresponding to the attention level can be generated, with the signal depending on a phase relationship between a steering angle (?) of at least one steerable wheel (22) of the vehicle and a steering wheel angle (?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Inventors: Stefan Brosig, Andreas Apel
  • Method and device for recognizing the level of awareness of a vehicle driver
    Publication number: 20070084661
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting the attention level of a vehicle operator, wherein a steering performance of the vehicle operator is monitored, as well as to a device (30) for detecting the attention level of a vehicle operator, with at least one sensor device detecting the steering performance of the vehicle and with a signal measurement and evaluation unit (32). According to the method of the invention, a phase relationship between a change of a steering angle (?) of at least one steerable wheel (22) of the vehicle and a change of the steering wheel angle (?) is evaluated. With the device of the invention, at least one signal (48) corresponding to the attention level can be generated, with the signal depending on a phase relationship between a steering angle (?) of at least one steerable wheel (22) of the vehicle and a steering wheel angle (?).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Publication date: April 19, 2007
    Applicant: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Brosig, Andreas Apel