Patents by Inventor Andreas Schwarzhaupt

Andreas Schwarzhaupt 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).

  • Publication number: 20070174683
    Abstract: A method for operating a software module on a processor unit in a vehicle optimizes the processor utilization level in networked controllers. The controller on which the software module is operated is selected based on the available computation capacity of the controllers which are currently in operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Applicant: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Ottmar Gehring, Harro Heilmann, Ansgar Maisch, Andreas Schwarzhaupt, Gernot Spiegelberg, Armin Sulzmann
  • Patent number: 7237790
    Abstract: A system for coupling a trailer (2) to a motor vehicle (1), in particular a trailer (2) to a motor tractor (1), is provided with an image sensor (5), which is located in the coupling area. The coupling process involves connecting a trailer coupler (4) of the motor vehicle (1) and a tow bar (3) of the trailer (2), which is detected by an image sensor (5) detecting a movement of a locking element (8) associated with the trailer coupling (4). Thereupon a process of braking of the motor vehicle (1) is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Ottmar Gehring, Harro Heilmann, Frederic Holzmann, Andreas Schwarzhaupt, Gernot Spiegelberg, Armin Sulzmann
  • Patent number: 7225891
    Abstract: In a control system for a train composed of a towing vehicle and a trailer, the towing vehicle is equipped with an electronically actuatable drive train. A trailer steering angle actual value sensor determines a trailer actual steering angle of a wheel axle which steers the trailer. The driver of the vehicle can input a trailer setpoint steering angle via a trailer steering angle setpoint value sensor. A reversing device is provided which determines, from the trailer actual steering angle and the trailer setpoint steering angle, a modified towing vehicle setpoint steering angle of a wheel axle which steers the towing vehicle. In the active state of the reversing device, the modified towing vehicle setpoint steering angle takes the place of the present towing vehicle setpoint steering angle in a modified movement vector; and when the train is moving, it changes the trailer actual steering angle into the trailer setpoint steering angle when the modified movement vector is processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Ottmar Gehring, Harro Heilmann, Andreas Schwarzhaupt, Gernot Spiegelberg, Armin Sulzmann
  • Publication number: 20070090688
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle combination comprises a towing vehicle and a trailer, with an electronically activatable drive train. A manual operator control device, which is fixed on the towing vehicle, can be used by the vehicle driver to input a driving request for manual operation of the vehicle combination, from which request a standardized movement vector is generated. A control device (19), which is fixed on the towing vehicle, outputs control signals for activating the drive train based on an input movement vector. For the transmission of the control signals, the control device is coupled to the drive train, which processes the control signals to implement the driving request. To improve the functionality of the control system, a trailer coordination device, which is mounted on the towing vehicle, can be used to read in at least one trailer-specific actual value and pass on the actual value to the control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Publication date: April 26, 2007
    Applicant: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Carsten Haemmerling, Harro Heilmann, Frank Renner, Andreas Schwarzhaupt, Genot Spiegelberg, Armin Sulzmann
  • Patent number: 7204504
    Abstract: In the case of a method for hitching a trailer (2) to a motor vehicle (1), in particular a semitrailer to a semitrailer towing machine, an image sensor (5) is provided which is arranged in a hitching region (6) in such a manner that image data of the hitching region (6) are recorded. During the approach of the motor vehicle (1) to the trailer (2), stored model data of the hitching region (6) of the trailer (2) are segmented in the image data recorded by the image sensor (5) and are in each case placed in the correct position in the image data. A target zone (9) for the hitching is determined therefrom. The arrangement of the target zone (9) in the image data is used as a measurement for a steering operation of the motor vehicle (1) during hitching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Ottmar Gehring, Harro Heilmann, Frederic Holzmann, Andreas Schwarzhaupt, Gernot Spiegelberg, Armin Sulzmann
  • Patent number: 7189046
    Abstract: A transport (1) or an associated trailer (2) with a loadable swap body (3, 4) having a support frame and support legs (5) attached to the frame and moveable between a resting position and a support position wherein that the swap body (3, 4) can be set on the ground without the transport/trailer. At least one support leg (5) is allocated an element (6, 16) for automatically moving the support leg (5) from the resting position into the support position and/or vice versa. A control device (8, 10, 11) disposed on the transport/trailer (1, 2) transmits a control signal to an actuating element (17, 18, 19, 20), secured to the transport/trailer (1, 2), that cooperates with the support leg (5) to move the leg into the support or resting position, and the control device (8, 10, 11) is connected to at least one further locking actuator for determining whether the swap body (3, 4) is secured to the transport during travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Ottmar Gehring, Harro Heilmann, Andreas Schwarzhaupt, Gernot Spiegelberg, Armin Sulzmann
  • Publication number: 20070027581
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a control system (7) for a vehicle combination composed of a towing vehicle and a trailer for picking up, transporting and setting down a frame which can be positioned on supports and have a payload loaded onto it, wherein a path computer (8) is provided which calculates a path which, in order to pick up the frame (4) calculates a path which leads the trailer backward under the frame. A particularly reliable system is obtained if a first input device (10) is provided, by means of which an actual position and an actual orientation of the frame can be input into the path computer (8), and if a second input device (11) is provided by means of which an actual position and an actual orientation of the trailer can be input into the path computer (8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Applicant: DaimerlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Wolf-Dietrich Bauer, Christian Mayer, Andreas Schwarzhaupt, Gernot Spiegelberg
  • Publication number: 20060284448
    Abstract: A truck has a chassis comprises a frame and axles, and a driver's cab mounted on the vehicle chassis. The cab comprises equipment components, a cab floor and also a cab housing and operating elements connected to associated components of the vehicle chassis and serving to operate them. The driver's cab is detachably fastened to the vehicle chassis, and is designed as a removable unit. An interface arrangement is provided, by which all the operating elements of the driver's cab are connected separably to the associated components of the vehicle chassis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Applicant: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Harro Heilmann, Andreas Schwarzhaupt, Gernot Spiegelberg, Wolfgang Stahl, Armin Sulzmann
  • Publication number: 20060220801
    Abstract: A safety device for, in particular, nonrailborne vehicles, having a monitoring device to monitor a hazardous area and additionally the road area, located on the opposite side of the hazardous area viewed from the vehicle and adjoining the hazardous area. Obstacles in the hazardous area and/or road area are detected. An output signal is brought about if an obstacle which prevents the hazardous area being traveled through completely has been detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Publication date: October 5, 2006
    Applicant: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Wolf-Dietrich Bauer, Christian Mayer, Andreas Schwarzhaupt, Gernot Spiegelberg
  • Patent number: 7117072
    Abstract: In a module for detecting the docking of a vehicle, changes of vehicle engine torque and rotational wheel speed of the vehicle are determined as a function of time. It is checked whether the change of the engine torque is >>0 and the change of the rotational wheel speed is <<0. If both of these conditions are met, docking is detected and the vehicle can be braked. The module may be implemented in the form of software.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Ottmar Gehring, Carsten Haemmerling, Harro Heilmann, Andreas Schwarzhaupt, Gernot Spiegelberg, Armin Sulzmann
  • Patent number: 7104118
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle test stand including a device for fixing a motor vehicle on the test stand. A loading machine is adapted to be coupled to the drive train of the motor vehicle, whereby the loading machine can both drive and brake the drive train. In accordance with the invention, the loading machine is directly or indirectly connectable to a rim of a motor vehicle wheel in force-locking manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Schenck Final Assembly Products GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Tentrup, Jan Schenk, Ottmar Gehring, Harro Heilmann, Andreas Schwarzhaupt, Gernot Spiegelberg, Wolfgang Stahl, Armin Sulzmann
  • Publication number: 20060116803
    Abstract: The invention relates to an array of control devices having a plurality of control devices (1-3, 20-23) which are interconnected via a first data bus (4), in a means of transportation, control devices (1-3; 20-23) which are of redundant configuration with respect to a control function being provided, and in each case a data bus isolating switch (5) being assigned to the control devices (1-3; 20-23) which are of redundant configuration, said data bus isolating switch(s) connecting or disconnecting the data bus (4) as a function of an evaluation signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2003
    Publication date: June 1, 2006
    Applicant: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Michael Armbruster, Harro Heilmann, Ansgar Maisch, Oliver Rooks, Andreas Schwarzhaupt, Gernot Spiegelberg, Armin Sulzmann
  • Publication number: 20060111820
    Abstract: In a control system for a vehicle equipped with an electronically actuable drive train, an operator control device generates a movement vector (from a driver request, and a control device generates control signals for actuating the drive train. A path computer calculates a movement path based on actual position/orientation values, and based on setpoint orientation and position values input via a destination-inputting device. The movement path includes a sequence of movement vectors which move the vehicle from its current actual orientation/position into the setpoint orientation and position when the drive train processes the movement vectors of the movement path. For this purpose, the path computer is coupled to the control device, in addition to the operator control device, via a common drive train interface in order to transmit the movement vectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Publication date: May 25, 2006
    Applicants: DAIMLERCHRYSLER AG, GOETTING KG
    Inventors: Hans Goetting, Prof. Helmut Scherf, Prof. Wlater Schumacher, Dr. Andreas Schwarzhaupt, Dr. Gernot Spiegelberg
  • Patent number: 7039557
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for early detection and prediction of damage to assemblies in machine plants, including mobile machine plants, structure-borne sound of the machine system is sensed by a sensor, output as an acceleration signal and analyzed in a digital signal processor. For this purpose, the acceleration signal is first transformed into the frequency domain by means of a fast-Fourier transformation, and the data obtained in this manner are then transformed back into the time domain by means of cepstrum analysis, so that resonance data relating to individual shock pulses (a cepstrum) is obtained in the time domain. This cepstrum is then compared with a reference cepstrum that is selected in accordance with load signals and rotational speed signals for the present operating state in a new machine plant in a storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Christian-Michael Mayer, Andreas Schwarzhaupt, Gernot Spiegelberg
  • Publication number: 20060074538
    Abstract: A steering system with a steering adjustment unit, based on the “steer by wire” concept, with an additional system for an automatic emergency stopping maneuver is provided. In situations that cannot be controlled by the driver, preset data from a preset or storage arrangement are transmitted to a braking system and a steering adjustment unit, with the vehicle then being braked and steered according to the preset data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2003
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Wolf-Dietrich Bauer, Jochen Horwath, Andreas Schwarzhaupt, Gernot Spiegelberg
  • Publication number: 20060071447
    Abstract: In the case of a method for hitching a trailer (2) to a motor vehicle (1), in particular a semitrailer to a semitrailer towing machine, an image sensor (5) is provided which is arranged in a hitching region (6) in such a manner that image data of the hitching region (6) are recorded. During the approach of the motor vehicle (1) to the trailer (2), stored model data of the hitching region (6) of the trailer (2) are segmented in the image data recorded by the image sensor (5) and are in each case placed in the correct position in the image data. A target zone (9) for the hitching is determined therefrom. The arrangement of the target zone (9) in the image data is used as a measurement for a steering operation of the motor vehicle (1) during hitching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Ottmar Gehring, Harro Heilmann, Frederic Holzmann, Andreas Schwarzhaupt, Gernot Spiegelberg, Armin Sulzmann
  • Publication number: 20060052917
    Abstract: The device according to the invention relates to a device for evaluating and/or influencing a vehicle movement variable and/or the vehicle movement behavior. For this purpose, the device has the following means: operator control means (10) with which the driver can generate predefined values (VG) for influencing at least one vehicle movement variable. Evaluation means (42, 44, 46, 48) with which the behavior of a vehicle movement variable with respect to a predefined value is evaluated, and/or with which the vehicle movement behavior is evaluated with respect to a predefined vehicle movement behavior as a function of vehicle movement variables and/or of variables which represent the surroundings of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Publication date: March 9, 2006
    Inventors: Andreas Schwarzhaupt, Gernot Spiegelberg
  • Publication number: 20060038381
    Abstract: A system for coupling a trailer (2) to a motor vehicle (1), in particular a trailer (2) to a motor tractor (1), is provided with an image sensor (5), which is located in the coupling area. The coupling process involves connecting a trailer coupler (4) of the motor vehicle (1) and a tow bar (3) of the trailer (2), which is detected by an image sensor (5) detecting a movement of a locking element (8) associated with the trailer coupling (4). Thereupon a process of braking of the motor vehicle (1) is initiated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Publication date: February 23, 2006
    Inventors: Ottmar Gehring, Harro Heilmann, Frederic Holzmann, Andreas Schwarzhaupt, Gernot Spiegelberg, Armin Sulzmann
  • Patent number: 6996462
    Abstract: In a method of controlling at least one autonomously driven vehicle, such a vehicle is driven on a restricted traffic surface. For this purpose, the autonomous vehicle has a driving device for implementing driving commands on the basis of fed signals. The driving commands relate to the driving direction as well as to the driving speed. The vehicle detects its actual position by means of a position indicating device, and transmits its position to an operations management center. In the operations management center, a route profile to be driven is determined from position signals by means of definable criteria and is transmitted to the driving device of the vehicle. Driving commands required for driving the route profile are generated in the vehicle by the driving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Harro Heilmann, Rainer Konzmann, Andreas Schwarzhaupt, Gernot Spiegelberg, Armin Sulzmann, Christof M. Weber
  • Publication number: 20050281436
    Abstract: Many day-to-day driving situations require that an operator of a motor vehicle guide the motor vehicle along a specific course and bring the vehicle to a stop at a specific location, for example in a parking bay or at a loading platform. To assist a vehicle operator in such situations, a method and a suitable device for implementing this method, include detecting the potential target objects in the image data of an image sensor and identifying the potential target objects as potential destinations in a multi-stage exclusionary method, whereupon a trajectory describing an optimized travel path is computed at least in relation to the most proximate destination. By using the multi-stage exclusionary method according to the present invention, it is possible to reliably identify potential destinations in complex image scenarios solely on the basis of their geometric form, even when the destinations have not been encoded by specific symbols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Applicant: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Ottmar Gehring, Harro Heilmann, Frederic Holzmann, Andreas Schwarzhaupt, Gernot Spiegelberg, Armin Sulzmann