Patents by Inventor Armin Müller

Armin Müller 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: 11568685
    Abstract: The disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for calibrating a handheld device used for controlling a partially autonomous vehicle. An example method to calibrate the handheld device may include entering a remote-control command into the handheld device for controlling a first action performed by the partially autonomous vehicle. A time-delay associated with one or more operations executed in the handheld device in response to entering the remote-control command are then measured. The time-delay is conveyed to a cloud computing device, which evaluates the time-delay and returns a diagnostic result to the handheld device. Evaluation of the time-delay by the cloud computing device may be carried out by comparing the time-delay in the handheld device to time-delay values obtained via crowdsourcing from other handheld devices. The diagnostic result provided by the cloud computing device may be used by the handheld device for calibration purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Armin Mueller-Lerwe, Yuliya Aksyutina, Christoph Hirner, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
  • Publication number: 20220044501
    Abstract: The disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for calibrating a handheld device used for controlling a partially autonomous vehicle. An example method to calibrate the handheld device may include entering a remote-control command into the handheld device for controlling a first action performed by the partially autonomous vehicle. A time-delay associated with one or more operations executed in the handheld device in response to entering the remote-control command are then measured. The time-delay is conveyed to a cloud computing device, which evaluates the time-delay and returns a diagnostic result to the handheld device. Evaluation of the time-delay by the cloud computing device may be carried out by comparing the time-delay in the handheld device to time-delay values obtained via crowdsourcing from other handheld devices. The diagnostic result provided by the cloud computing device may be used by the handheld device for calibration purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Armin Mueller-Lerwe, Yuliya Aksyutina, Christoph Hirner, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
  • Patent number: 11195344
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring of communication for vehicle remote motive control. An example vehicle includes an autonomy unit for remote motive control, a communication module, and a controller. The controller is to send a diagnostic signal to and receive a return signal from a mobile device via the communication module, determine a time period between sending of the diagnostic signal and receipt of the return signal, and prevent the autonomy unit from causing vehicle movement responsive to determining the time period is greater than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Armin Mueller-Lerwe, Gabrielle Jost, Yuliya Aksyutina, Ali Hassani, Erick Michael Lavoie, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Vivekanandh Elangovan, Christoph Hirner, Hamid M. Golgiri
  • Publication number: 20200294325
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring of communication for vehicle remote motive control. An example vehicle includes an autonomy unit for remote motive control, a communication module, and a controller. The controller is to send a diagnostic signal to and receive a return signal from a mobile device via the communication module, determine a time period between sending of the diagnostic signal and receipt of the return signal, and prevent the autonomy unit from causing vehicle movement responsive to determining the time period is greater than a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Armin Mueller-Lerwe, Gabrielle Jost, Yuliya Aksyutina, Ali Hassani, Erick Michael Lavoie, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Vivekanandh Elangovan, Christoph Hirner, Hamid M. Golgiri
  • Publication number: 20200282991
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle having an adaptive cruise control system with a stop-and-go function, having the steps of: bringing the motor vehicle to a stop upon detecting that a vehicle in front has stopped, providing a start signal within a predetermined first time period upon starting of the vehicle in front, reading safety-relevant data after the first time period has ended and if the vehicle in front is still stopped, and suppressing a start signal if the safety-relevant data indicate a hazardous traffic situation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Maus, Andreas Meyer, Guido Weitkus, Goetz-Philipp Wegner, Armin Mueller-Lerwe, Samantha Medenbach
  • Patent number: 10336320
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring of communication for vehicle remote park-assist. An example vehicle includes an autonomy unit for remote parking, a communication module, and a controller. The controller is to send a counter signal to and receive a return signal from a mobile device via the communication module, determine a time period between sending of the counter signal and receipt of the return signal, and prevent the autonomy unit from causing vehicle movement responsive to determining the time period is less than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yuliya Aksyutina, Armin Mueller-Lerwe, Erick Michael Lavoie, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Ahmed Benmimoun
  • Publication number: 20190152472
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring of communication for vehicle remote park-assist. An example vehicle includes an autonomy unit for remote parking, a communication module, and a controller. The controller is to send a counter signal to and receive a return signal from a mobile device via the communication module, determine a time period between sending of the counter signal and receipt of the return signal, and prevent the autonomy unit from causing vehicle movement responsive to determining the time period is less than a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Yuliya Aksyutina, Armin Mueller-Lerwe, Erick Michael Lavoie, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Ahmed Benmimoun
  • Publication number: 20180147514
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle having a water tank (10) with a first inner chamber (23) for separating and conducting away water from a first air flow (15) flowing through the first inner chamber (23). The water tank (10) is designed as a heat exchanger, comprising a heat exchanger element (20) for transferring thermal energy between the first air flow (15) and a second air flow (50). At least one guide structure (8) is provided for guiding the second air flow to the heat exchange element (20) in a targeted manner. In addition, at least one control element (34) is provided, with which the transfer of the thermal energy between the first air flow (15) and the second air flow (50) can be enabled in a first operating state, and can be at least partially inhibited in a second operating state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Applicant: WEIDPLAS GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan HARKE, Armin MÜLLER, Piero DAL VECCHIO
  • Patent number: 9707657
    Abstract: The invention relates to a machine tool as well as to a method for operating the machine tool. The machine tool comprises a workpiece carrier (20) that can be incrementally rotated about an incremental advance axis (22) and has several carrier sides (25). A first workpiece chuck unit (26) for holding a workpiece in a first position (P1) and a second workpiece chuck unit (27) for holding a workpiece in a second position (P2) are arranged on each carrier side (25). In each angular position or incremental advance position of the workpiece carrier (20), one carrier side (25) is in a loading station (30), one carrier side (25) is in an unloading station 31, and the respectively other carrier sides (25) are in respectively one work station (32). A workpiece changing device (34) is provided, said device moving a partially machined workpiece (16a) out of the first position (P1) in the unloading station (31) into the second position (P2) in the loading station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: FFG WERKE GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Lutz, Daniel Scholz, Armin Mueller
  • Publication number: 20160221419
    Abstract: The radiator tank comprises a deflection chamber (2) comprising a top wall (3); a bottom wall (4) having a water outflow hole (9); an air inlet hole (10); and an air outlet hole (11). Inside the deflection chamber (2) a deflection element (12) is arranged, by which air charged with water droplets and flowing in through the air inlet opening (10) is deflected. The air inlet opening (10) is arranged in the top wall (3) and/or in a front wall (5) and the air outlet opening (11) is arranged in the top wall (3) and/or in a rear wall (6). A flow hole (15) is arranged between at least one side wall (7, 8) of the deflection chamber (2) and a side edge (36) of the deflection element (12). Near said flow hole (15) at least one guide structure (53) is provided to guide air flowing through the deflection chamber (2) around the side edge (36) of the deflection element (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Applicant: WEIDPLAS GmbH
    Inventors: Colin CIANELLI, Christian BÖLSTERLI, Piero DAL VECCHIO, Armin MÜLLER
  • Publication number: 20160161050
    Abstract: Stand having a standing area that can be folded in and out, including a handle to lift the stand with one hand, whereby a folding in and/or folding out of the standing area can be activated within a grasping area that is reachable with one hand grasping said handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2013
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Applicant: blue object oHG
    Inventors: Kai Trebesius, Armin Müller
  • Patent number: 9261065
    Abstract: A method for operating an automatic stop/start system in a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine, a manually operated gearbox and a pedal-operated clutch, wherein the internal combustion engine is automatically stopped or restarted under predetermined conditions even with a gear engaged. The conditions under which the internal combustion engine is automatically restarted include two indicators that indicate that an automatic restart of the internal combustion engine is safe and desired, namely an indicator that indicates that a restart is safe and an indicator that indicates that the driver wants a restart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Urs Christen, Rainer Busch, Anthemios P. Petridis, David Hesketh, Armin Mueller-Lerwe
  • Patent number: 9238877
    Abstract: Method for producing a silicon ingot, comprising the following steps: providing a container to receive a silicon melt, providing a temperature control device to control the temperature of the silicon melt in the container, arranging raw material in the container comprising silicon and at least one nucleation agent to assist a heterogeneous nucleation in the silicon melt, and control of the temperature in the container for the directed solidification of the silicon melt, the nucleation agent comprising nanoscale particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: SolarWorld Innovations GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Krause, Bernhard Freudenberg, Gerd Fischer, Josef Stenzenberger, Mark Hollatz, Armin Müller
  • Publication number: 20150328735
    Abstract: The invention relates to a machine tool as well as to a method for operating the machine tool. The machine tool comprises a workpiece carrier (20) that can be incrementally rotated about an incremental advance axis (22) and has several carrier sides (25). A first workpiece chuck unit (26) for holding a workpiece in a first position (P1) and a second workpiece chuck unit (27) for holding a workpiece in a second position (P2) are arranged on each carrier side (25). In each angular position or incremental advance position of the workpiece carrier (20), one carrier side (25) is in a loading station (30), one carrier side (25) is in an unloading station 31, and the respectively other carrier sides (25) are in respectively one work station (32). A workpiece changing device (34) is provided, said device moving a partially machined workpiece (16a) out of the first position (P1) in the unloading station (31) into the second position (P2) in the loading station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: FFG WERKE GMBH
    Inventors: FRANK LUTZ, DANIEL SCHOLZ, ARMIN MUELLER
  • Patent number: 9008929
    Abstract: A method for controlling a powertrain includes the following steps: (a) determining whether a vehicle is coasting to a stop based on an accelerator pedal position; (b) determining whether an automatic transmission is in first gear; (c) shifting an input clutch from an engaged state to a disengaged state in order to operatively disconnect the automatic transmission from an internal combustion engine if the vehicle is coasting to a stop and the automatic transmission is not in first gear; and (d) shifting the automatic transmission to the first gear in order to allow the internal combustion engine to be shut down while the vehicle is coasting to a stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Martin Gentile, Armin Mueller
  • Publication number: 20150088393
    Abstract: A method for controlling a powertrain includes the following steps: (a) determining whether a vehicle is coasting to a stop based on an accelerator pedal position; (b) determining whether an automatic transmission is in first gear; (c) shifting an input clutch from an engaged state to a disengaged state in order to operatively disconnect the automatic transmission from an internal combustion engine if the vehicle is coasting to a stop and the automatic transmission is not in first gear; and (d) shifting the automatic transmission to the first gear in order to allow the internal combustion engine to be shut down while the vehicle is coasting to a stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Martin Gentile, Armin Mueller
  • Publication number: 20140088853
    Abstract: A method for operating an automatic stop/start system in a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine, a manually operated gearbox and a pedal-operated clutch, wherein the internal combustion engine is automatically stopped or restarted under predetermined conditions even with a gear engaged. The conditions under which the internal combustion engine is automatically restarted include two indicators that indicate that an automatic restart of the internal combustion engine is safe and desired, namely an indicator that indicates that a restart is safe and an indicator that indicates that the driver wants a restart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventors: Urs Christen, Rainer Busch, Anthemios P. Petridis, David Hesketh, Armin Mueller-Lerwe
  • Publication number: 20120191317
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle, with a brake line, at least one sensor for measuring the brake line pressure in the brake line, a stop-start device for automatically switching off and starting the internal combustion engine, and an adaptive cruise control device for regulating the vehicle speed as a function of environmental information captured in a sensor-based manner, wherein a brake cylinder acting on the brake line is associated with the adaptive cruise control device and wherein the stop-start device and the adaptive cruise control device are coupled to one another in that the automatic switching-off and starting of the internal combustion engine via the stop-start device is executed directly as a function of the brake line pressure measured by the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventors: Armin Mueller-Lerwe, Urs Christen, Rainer Busch, Thomas Rambow, Uwe Gussen, Markus Kees
  • Publication number: 20120175622
    Abstract: Method for producing a silicon ingot, comprising the following steps: providing a container to receive a silicon melt, providing a temperature control device to control the temperature of the silicon melt in the container, arranging raw material in the container comprising silicon and at least one nucleation agent to assist a heterogeneous nucleation in the silicon melt, and control of the temperature in the container for the directed solidification of the silicon melt , the nucleation agent comprising nanoscale particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventors: Andreas Krause, Bernhard Freudenberg, Gerd Fischer, Josef Stenzenberger, Mark Hollatz, Armin Müller
  • Patent number: 8095291
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control device for a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a stop/start device, and to a method for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine in such a motor vehicle, wherein the stop/start device is designed to switch off the internal combustion automatically when at least one stop condition is met, wherein the switching off of the internal combustion engine when the stop condition is present does not take place until after a switch off delay time has passed. The control device is designed to prevent, in reaction to a first voice command, the automatic switching off of the internal combustion engine for a predefined time period and/or until a predefined vehicle operating state criterion has been fulfilled irrespective of whether or not the stop condition was already met at the time when the voice command was issued.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Urs Christen, Rainer Busch, Uwe Gussen, Thomas Rambow, Markus Kees, Armin Mueller-Lerwe