Patents by Inventor Carsten Wilks

Carsten Wilks 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: 20240131981
    Abstract: A method for operating a light-based driver assistance system of a motor vehicle, wherein via at least one headlight of the motor vehicle, a light distribution is projected onto the roadway in front of the motor vehicle. The light distribution produces a lane marking, the width of which is essentially equal to the vehicle width of the motor vehicle and the course of which corresponds to a predicted lane course when the motor vehicle is driving. The method steps are carried out continuously when driving through a curve: predicting the lane course when driving through the curve, determining the point of intersection of the inner lane boundary with the light field limitation of a light field projectable onto the roadway when driving through the curve, setting a distal boundary of the lane marking, and projecting a light distribution onto the roadway in front of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicant: HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Christian HUESTER, Boris KUBITZA, Jeremias SPIEGEL, Carsten WILKS
  • Publication number: 20240123896
    Abstract: A method for controlling a headlamp of a first motor vehicle traveling on a roadway, the method including: operation of the headlamp with a high beam light distribution, wherein at least a part of the high beam light distribution covers the roadway; sensing of an environment in front of the first motor vehicle with a camera; detection of a curve in the roadway located in front of the first motor vehicle; determination of whether a second vehicle traveling on the curve can be sensed by the camera; and reduction of a width of the high beam light distribution when it has been determined that the second motor vehicle cannot be sensed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Boris KUBITZA, Carsten WILKS
  • Patent number: 11933470
    Abstract: A process is provided for controlling a headlamp of a motor vehicle. The headlamp includes a first light source module and a second light source module. The light source modules each feature several light sources that emit light. The light emitted by the light sources of the light source module represents a first light distribution, and the light emitted by the light sources of the second light source module represents a second light distribution. The first light distribution and the second light distribution partially overlap. The first light distribution and the second light distribution together form an overall light distribution. A subarea of the overall light distribution is formed only by the first light distribution, and the subarea is a vertical edge area of the overall light distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Florian Herold, Christian Hüster, Boris Kubitza, Martin Plümpe, Udo Venker, Carsten Wilks
  • Patent number: 11904756
    Abstract: A method for controlling a headlamp of a motor vehicle, the headlamp comprising a plurality of light sources. A projection symbol to be projected by the headlamp and a position and a size of the projection symbol are determined. A respective first luminous intensity for the light sources for the projection of the projection symbol at the position with the size and a first indicator, which contains an indication of how greatly the individual first luminous intensities differ from one another are determined. The position and/or the size of the projection symbol is changed. A respective second luminous intensity for the light sources for the projection of the projection symbol at the changed position and/or with the changed size and a second indicator, which contains an indication of how greatly the individual second luminous intensities differ from one another are determined. The projection symbol subsequently projected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Christian Huester, Boris Kubitza, Martin Pluempe, Udo Venker, Carsten Wilks
  • Patent number: 11808421
    Abstract: An illuminating device for a motor vehicle, in particular, a high-resolution headlamp for a motor vehicle, comprising an LED light source having a plurality of LED elements, whose light outlet surfaces are used for the targeted generation of pixels of a light distribution generated in the outer region of the motor vehicle during the operation of the illuminating device, the light outlet surfaces being arranged in a matrix-like manner in a first direction and in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the first direction corresponding to the horizontal direction in the light distribution generated in the outer region of the motor vehicle, and the second direction corresponding to the vertical direction in the light distribution generated in the outer region of the motor vehicle, and the light outlet surfaces at least of a plurality of LED elements each being larger in the first direction than in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Michael Kleinkes, Ingo Moellers, Wolfgang Pohlmann, Carsten Wilks
  • Publication number: 20230341103
    Abstract: A headlamp assembly for illuminating surroundings of a vehicle, including at least one headlamp, a temperature sensor, and a control device. The at least one headlamp comprising a multiplicity of light sources, the multiplicity of light sources (being divided into a first group and at least one second group. The temperature sensor being configured to detect a temperature in the at least one headlamp. The light sources of the multiplicity of light sources being thermally coupled. The control device being configured to ascertain a current temperature ascertained by the temperature sensor in the at least one headlamp and, in the case that the current temperature in the at least one headlamp exceeds a predefined temperature threshold value, to select the first group or the at least one second group for a power reduction, depending on an operating situation of the vehicle and to reduce the power of the selected group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Applicant: HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Christian HUESTER, Boris KUBITZA, Martin PLUEMPE, Udo VENKER, Carsten WILKS
  • Patent number: 11723132
    Abstract: A control/regulating system is provided for controlling/regulating an LED field with n LEDs, where n>2, with outputs at which control/regulating signals for controlling/regulating controllable switching elements can be tapped. Activation/deactivation times ( t ein jp j , t aus jp j ) of impulses can be defined by the control/regulating system through the control signals/regulating signals. One and/or several controllable switching elements can be actuated during the determined impulses for closing or opening. A number of k groups can be specified. Each LED is allocated to one of the k groups such that each of the k groups mj contains LEDs, where 1?j?k and ?j=1kmj=n apply, a reference time ?j=?1 . . . ?k can be determined for each group and the activation and deactivation time ( t ein jp j , t aus jp j ) of the impulse for each LED of every group can be determined as a factor of the reference time ?j=?1 . . . ?k, where 1?pj?mj applies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Bernd-Ulrich Hagemeier, Sarah Knoop, Carsten Wilks
  • Patent number: 11713861
    Abstract: An illuminating device for vehicles, including a first light unit, which contains a first light source having a number of first light pixels for generating a first partial light distribution including a second light unit, which contains a second light source having a number of second light pixels for generating a second partial light distribution. The second light pixels are arranged in a boundary region of the second light source and are controllable as a group in such a way that a number of the second light pixels controlled as a group in the boundary region of the second light source per unit of surface area increases from a first end of the boundary region in the direction of a second end of the boundary region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Christian Huester, Boris Kubitza, Martin Pluempe, Udo Venker, Carsten Wilks
  • Publication number: 20220322512
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for controlling two light modules, comprising the following steps: supplying a first light module with a first electric power and a second light module with a second electric power; determining a first temperature of the first light module and a second temperature of the second light module; and adjusting the first and second electric power as a function of the first and second temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Christian HUESTER, Boris KUBITZA, Martin PLUEMPE, Udo VENKER, Carsten WILKS
  • Publication number: 20220290827
    Abstract: An illuminating device for a motor vehicle, in particular, a high-resolution headlamp for a motor vehicle, comprising an LED light source having a plurality of LED elements, whose light outlet surfaces are used for the targeted generation of pixels of a light distribution generated in the outer region of the motor vehicle during the operation of the illuminating device, the light outlet surfaces being arranged in a matrix-like manner in a first direction and in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the first direction corresponding to the horizontal direction in the light distribution generated in the outer region of the motor vehicle, and the second direction corresponding to the vertical direction in the light distribution generated in the outer region of the motor vehicle, and the light outlet surfaces at least of a plurality of LED elements each being larger in the first direction than in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Applicant: HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Michael KLEINKES, Ingo MOELLERS, Wolfgang POHLMANN, Carsten WILKS
  • Publication number: 20220174797
    Abstract: A control/regulating system is provided for controlling/regulating an LED field with n LEDs, where n>2, with outputs at which control/regulating signals for controlling/regulating controllable switching elements can be tapped. Activation/deactivation times ( t ein jp j , t aus jp j ) of impulses can be defined by the control/regulating system through the control signals/regulating signals. One and/or several controllable switching elements can be actuated during the determined impulses for closing or opening. A number of k groups can be specified. Each LED is allocated to one of the k groups such that each of the k groups mj contains LEDs, where 1?j?k and ?j=1kmj=n apply, a reference time ?j=?1 . . . ?k can be determined for each group and the activation and deactivation time ( t ein jp j , t aus jp j ) of the impulse for each LED of every group can be determined as a factor of the reference time ?j=?1 . . . ?k, where 1?pj?mj applies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Bernd-Ulrich Hagemeier, Sarah Knoop, Carsten Wilks
  • Publication number: 20220128210
    Abstract: An illuminating device for vehicles, including a first light unit, which contains a first light source having a number of first light pixels for generating a first partial light distribution including a second light unit, which contains a second light source having a number of second light pixels for generating a second partial light distribution. The second light pixels are arranged in a boundary region of the second light source and are controllable as a group in such a way that a number of the second light pixels controlled as a group in the boundary region of the second light source per unit of surface area increases from a first end of the boundary region in the direction of a second end of the boundary region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Applicant: HELLA GMBH & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Christian HUESTER, Boris KUBITZA, Martin PLUEMPE, Udo VENKER, Carsten Wilks
  • Patent number: 11293618
    Abstract: A method for controlling two lighting modules of a headlight, including the following steps: definition of a non-dazzling region, wherein the non-dazzling region is at least within the second region; reduction of the brightness of the light emitted by the two lighting modules toward the non-dazzling region; determination as to whether an adjacent region exists that directly adjoins the non-dazzling region horizontally and that is a horizontal edge region of the first region; and reduction of the brightness of the light emitted by the first lighting module toward the adjacent region if the adjacent region has been determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Christian Huester, Boris Kubitza, Martin Pluempe, Udo Venker, Carsten Wilks
  • Patent number: 11285865
    Abstract: A method and device for controlling at least one light module of a lamp unit of a vehicle, comprising a light controller and a surroundings detection device, the front surroundings of the vehicle being illuminated with the aid of the light controller and the light module, depending on an object classified as relevant. The lamp unit has a luminance detection device for detecting the luminances of the detected object classified as relevant in the front surroundings of the vehicle and object surroundings of the front surroundings around this object, and the front surroundings of the vehicle are illuminated, depending on the luminance contrast between the object and the object surroundings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Susanne Koehler, Boris Kubitza, Carsten Wilks, Juergen Locher
  • Patent number: 11273753
    Abstract: A procedure is provided for actuating at least one main headlamp of a vehicle. The vehicle includes a detection device, and a light control for the automatic actuation of the main headlamp. The main headlamp illuminates an outer area of the area ahead of the vehicle in a first light intensity, and a core area of the area ahead of the vehicle at least partially enclosed by the outer area with a higher second light intensity. The core area is adjusted by the light control in terms of dimension and/or position. In order to improve the visual perceptibility to a vehicle driver of the area ahead of the vehicle, the core area is adjusted in relation to the outer area, and the outer area is adjusted by the light control in such a way depending on the input signal of the light control in terms of dimension and/or position that the vehicle's road and peripheral surroundings) bordering the road in the area ahead of the vehicle are illuminated by the outer area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Boris Kubitza, Udo Venker, Carsten Wilks
  • Publication number: 20220048426
    Abstract: A method for controlling a headlamp of a motor vehicle, the headlamp comprising a plurality of light sources. A projection symbol to be projected by the headlamp and a position and a size of the projection symbol are determined. A respective first luminous intensity for the light sources for the projection of the projection symbol at the position with the size and a first indicator, which contains an indication of how greatly the individual first luminous intensities differ from one another are determined. The position and/or the size of the projection symbol is changed. A respective second luminous intensity for the light sources for the projection of the projection symbol at the changed position and/or with the changed size and a second indicator, which contains an indication of how greatly the individual second luminous intensities differ from one another are determined. The projection symbol subsequently projected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Applicant: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Christian HUESTER, Boris KUBITZA, Martin PLUEMPE, Udo VENKER, Carsten WILKS
  • Publication number: 20220034471
    Abstract: A process is provided for controlling a headlamp of a motor vehicle. The headlamp includes a first light source module and a second light source module. The light source modules each feature several light sources that emit light. The light emitted by the light sources of the light source module represents a first light distribution, and the light emitted by the light sources of the second light source module represents a second light distribution. The first light distribution and the second light distribution partially overlap. The first light distribution and the second light distribution together form an overall light distribution. A subarea of the overall light distribution is formed only by the first light distribution, and the subarea is a vertical edge area of the overall light distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Florian Herold, Christian Hüster, Boris Kubitza, Martin Plümpe, Udo Venker, Carsten Wilks
  • Publication number: 20210388962
    Abstract: A method for controlling two lighting modules of a headlight, including the following steps: definition of a non-dazzling region, wherein the non-dazzling region is at least within the second region; reduction of the brightness of the light emitted by the two lighting modules toward the non-dazzling region; determination as to whether an adjacent region exists that directly adjoins the non-dazzling region horizontally and that is a horizontal edge region of the first region; and reduction of the brightness of the light emitted by the first lighting module toward the adjacent region if the adjacent region has been determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Applicant: HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Christian HUESTER, Boris KUBITZA, Martin PLUEMPE, Udo VENKER, Carsten WILKS
  • Patent number: 11098871
    Abstract: A headlamp for vehicles comprising at least one light source for generating at least one light beam, a scanning device for one-dimensionally scanning the at least one light beam bidirectionally in a scanning direction, and an array of optical elements arranged side by side in a direction that corresponds to the scanning direction so that the at least one light beam impinges on the optical elements successively. At least some of the optical elements are designed to expand the at least one light beam in a direction perpendicular to the direction, in which the optical elements are arranged side by side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Marcel Bursy, Markus Giehl, Julien Hansen, Marc Kaup, Thomas Rettweiler, Christian Schmidt, Christian Smarslik, Philip Stroop, Carsten Wilks, Benjamin Willeke
  • Patent number: 11046237
    Abstract: A method is provided for calculating illumination setting values for light sources of a headlamp from a light distribution that is to be set. First, the light distribution that is to be set is read in. Then, the illuminance target values for pixels of an illumination area are calculated from the light distribution that is to be set, which are to be achieved by setting the light sources of the headlamp in order to set the read-in light distribution. Finally, the illuminance setting values for the light sources are calculated from the target values. Further, at least one illuminance setting value to which this light source is set is calculated iteratively for each light source of the headlamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Boris Kubitza, Martin Plümpe, Carsten Wilks