Patents by Inventor Christian Schäfer

Christian Schäfer 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: 11683072
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for a partitioned wireless communication system for a vehicle with redundant data links and power lines. In an embodiment, a system comprises: a communication gateway unit (CGU) located at a first location of the vehicle includes a communication processor, a first power supply, and a first data interface. A remote wireless transceiver unit (RWTU) located at a second location of the vehicle includes a second data interface coupled to the first data interface using redundant data links, a power interface coupled the first power supply to the RWTU using redundant power lines, and wireless transceiver(s) coupled to antenna(s) on the vehicle. The communication processor detects a loss of a first data link or a first power line, and in response to the detecting, selecting a second data link or second power line to transfer data or power, respectively, between the CGU and the RWTU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Lee Bauer, Martin Bornemann, Christian Schäfer
  • Publication number: 20230178265
    Abstract: Described are cables for connecting components of computing systems. The cables improve automation and resulting performance of high frequency and/or high speed signal transmissions by providing reliable transmission paths between hardware components. An example cable includes parallel conductors and a dielectric core that secures the parallel conductors along the length using parallel channels in opposite sides of the dielectric core. An alignment structure is also formed in the dielectric core, which has a shape along the length of the cable. A cable jacket surrounds the parallel conductors and the dielectric core. The cable jacket is contoured to follow the shape of the alignment structure. The dielectric core can be formed to maintain consistent separation between the parallel channels along the length of the cable to match impedance of the parallel conductors along the length of the cable, whether the cable lays flat or bends around corners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2022
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Christian Schäfer, Martin Bornemann
  • Patent number: 11639143
    Abstract: Electrified vehicle electrical systems and formatting methods include arranging a first layer including one or more first electrical transmission lines each configured to carry electrical power at a first voltage to one or more electrical powertrain components of the electrified vehicle, arranging a second layer above at least a portion of the first electrical connection layer, wherein the second layer includes one or more second electrical transmission lines each configured to carry electrical power at a second voltage to one or more electrical power distribution components of the electrified vehicle, and arranging a third layer above at least a portion of the first and second layers, wherein the third layer includes one or more third electrical transmission lines each configured to carry electrical power at a third voltage to one or more input/output device components of the electrified vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: David R. Peterson, Joseph Sudik, Jr., Jared Bilas, Kurt P. Seifert, David G. Siegfried, Lee Bauer, Christian Schaefer, Magnus Svensson, Martin Bornemann
  • Publication number: 20230087909
    Abstract: A self-aligning mechanical mount and electrical connection system for an electronic module comprises a mechanical mount assembly configured to be integrated into or attached to a base frame and defining a mount connection position assurance (CPA) feature for self-aligning and securing of the electronic module therein, and an electrical connection assembly configured to be integrated into or attached to the mechanical mount assembly and comprising a modular electrical connector (i) being electrically connected to an electrical backbone wire cable and (ii) defining a connector CPA feature for self-aligning the modular electrical connector with a corresponding electrical connector integrated into or attached to the electronic module when the electronic module is secured in the mechanical mount assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: David R. Peterson, Jared Bilas, Kurt P. Seifert, Jeffrey S. Campbell, Wesley W. Weber, JR., Christian Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20230021040
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting tables within documents are provided. The methods and systems may include receiving a text of the document that includes a plurality of words depicted in the document image. Feature sets may be calculated for the words and may contain one or more features of a corresponding word of the text. Candidate table words may then be identified based on the features vectors, and may then be used to identify a table location within the document image. In some cases, the candidate table words may be identified using a machine learning model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: LEVERTON HOLDING LLC
    Inventors: Christian Schäfer, Michael Kieweg
  • Publication number: 20230001869
    Abstract: A vehicle power supply circuit including a power source input for receiving an input current having an input voltage is disclosed. A first branch and a second branch are each connected to the power source input. Each branch includes a converter for converting the input current to an output current. A first distribution unit is connected to each converter for receiving the output current and includes a plurality of first outputs for supplying power to a plurality of loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Frank Gronau, Peter Ebbinghaus, Markus Heinrich, Hendrik Poth, Christian Schaefer
  • Patent number: 11523530
    Abstract: A self-aligning mechanical mount and electrical connection system for an electronic module comprises a mechanical mount assembly configured to be integrated into or attached to a base frame and defining a mount connection position assurance (CPA) feature for self-aligning and securing of the electronic module therein, and an electrical connection assembly configured to be integrated into or attached to the mechanical mount assembly and comprising a modular electrical connector (i) being electrically connected to an electrical backbone wire cable and (ii) defining a connector CPA feature for self-aligning the modular electrical connector with a corresponding electrical connector integrated into or attached to the electronic module when the electronic module is secured in the mechanical mount assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: David R. Peterson, Jared Bilas, Kurt P. Seifert, Jeffrey S. Campbell, Wesley W. Weber, Jr., Christian Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20220379857
    Abstract: In some implementations, the system may include a plurality of wheel speed sensors, each of the plurality of wheel speed sensors being configured to monitor the speed of a respective wheel of a vehicle. In addition, the system may include a central electronic control unit. The system may include a plurality of controlling devices, each of the plurality of controlling devices being communicatively coupled to at least one wheel speed sensor of the plurality of wheel speed sensors. Moreover, the system may include a central electronic control unit communicatively coupled to each of the plurality of controlling devices via a network connection and configured to process data received from each of the controlling devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Martin Bornemann, Lee Henry Bauer, Christian Schäfer
  • Patent number: 11450125
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting tables within documents are provided. The methods and systems may include receiving a text of the document that includes a plurality of words depicted in the document image. Feature sets may be calculated for the words and may contain one or more features of a corresponding word of the text. Candidate table words may then be identified based on the features vectors, and may then be used to identify a table location within the document image. In some cases, the candidate table words may be identified using a machine learning model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: LEVERTON HOLDING LLC
    Inventors: Christian Schäfer, Michael Kieweg
  • Patent number: 11443872
    Abstract: An automotive communications cable includes a cable jacket, a pair of twisted conductors disposed within the cable jacket, and two or more insulating strands disposed within the cable jacket. The two or more insulating strands include a central insulating strand disposed between a first conductor in the pair of twisted conductors and a second conductor in the pair of twisted conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Inventors: Guido Woeste, Christian Schäfer
  • Publication number: 20220284711
    Abstract: A power and data center (PDC) can serve as a combined data concentrator and power distributor that delivers scalable and affordable network/power redundancy into an automotive electrical/electronic architecture (E/EA) that supports partially or fully autonomous vehicles. In some embodiments, a vehicle that includes the smart E/EA is divided into zones, where each zone includes one or more PDCs and one or more sensors, actuators, controllers, loudspeakers or other devices that are coupled to and powered by their zone PDC(s). Each PDC collects and processes (or passes through) raw or pre-processed sensor data from the one or more sensors in its zone. The sensors provide their data to the PDC by way of cost efficient, short-range data links. In some embodiments, one or more actuators in each zone are coupled to their respective zone PDC, and receive their control data from the PDC over a high-speed data bus or data link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Lee Bauer, Martin Bornemann, Christian Schäfer
  • Patent number: 11380107
    Abstract: A power and data center (PDC) can serve as a combined data concentrator and power distributor that delivers scalable and affordable network/power redundancy into an automotive electrical/electronic architecture (E/EA) that supports partially or fully autonomous vehicles. In some embodiments, a vehicle that includes the smart E/EA is divided into zones, where each zone includes one or more PDCs and one or more sensors, actuators, controllers, loudspeakers or other devices that are coupled to and powered by their zone PDC(s). Each PDC collects and processes (or passes through) raw or pre-processed sensor data from the one or more sensors in its zone. The sensors provide their data to the PDC by way of cost efficient, short-range data links. In some embodiments, one or more actuators in each zone are coupled to their respective zone PDC, and receive their control data from the PDC over a high-speed data bus or data link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Lee Bauer, Martin Bornemann, Christian Schäfer
  • Patent number: 11358575
    Abstract: A control device and a method for operating an electromechanical brake booster of a brake system configured to execute anti-lock control actions, including the steps: determining a setpoint variable regarding a setpoint brake pressure to be produced by the electromechanical brake booster, in view of at least a differential travel; and controlling the electromechanical brake booster in view of the determined setpoint variable; at least during an anti-lock control action carried out in the brake system, it being ascertained if the differential travel lies outside of a specified normal value range, and in some instances, the additional steps being executed: determining a correction variable for the setpoint variable in view of at least a difference between the determined setpoint variable and an actual variable regarding an actual pressure present in at least part of the volume of the brake system, and controlling the electromechanical brake booster in additional view of the determined correction variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Gerdes, Patrick Christian Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20220100994
    Abstract: Methods and systems for recognizing named entities within the text of a document are provided. The methods and systems may include receiving a document image and recognized text of the document image. A feature map of the document image may be created, a tagged map may be created, and locations of tags within the tagged map may be estimated using a machine learning model. Named entities with the recognized text may be recognized based on the one or more locations of the tags. In some embodiments, the machine learning model is a convolutional neural network. In further embodiments, creating the feature map may include determining, for a subset of the cells of the feature map, one or more features of the recognized text contained in a corresponding portion of the document image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: Leverton Holding LLC
    Inventor: Christian Schäfer
  • Publication number: 20220093291
    Abstract: An example communications cable includes a core carrier disposed within a cable jacket. A pair of twisted conductors are partially disposed within the core carrier. A portion of the core carrier separates a first conductor in the pair of twisted conductors from a second conductor in the pair of twisted conductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Lee Bauer, Martin Bornemann, Christian Schäfer
  • Patent number: 11276971
    Abstract: A cable connector includes a first portion, a second portion, a first electrical prong, and a second electrical prong. The first portion defines a cavity. The second portion is adjacent to the first portion. The second portion includes a mounting structure defining a first cross-sectional void region within the cable connector and a second-cross-sectional void region within the cable connector opposite the first cross-sectional void region. The first electrical prong is disposed, in part, in the first cross-sectional void region and extends from the second portion. The second electrical prong is disposed, in part, in the second cross-sectional void region and extends from the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Guido Woeste, Christian Schäfer, Ulrich Rudack
  • Publication number: 20220071237
    Abstract: Beverages are provided which include a beverage liquid and granules mixed with the beverage liquid The granules include: (i) a milled carotenoid consisting of lutein and/or zeaxanthin, wherein the milled carotenoid has the following particle size distribution: D [3,2] in the range of from 0.6 to 1.5 ?m, and D [v, 0.5] in the range of from 1.1 to 3.5 ?m, (ii) a matrix material which encapsulates the milled carotenoid and comprises at least one modified food starch, a glucose syrup and sucrose, and (iii) a water-soluble antioxidant, wherein the granules have the following particle size distribution: D [3,2] in the range of from 200 to 300 ?m, and D [v, 0.5] in the range of from 220 to 320 ?m, and wherein all D values are as measured by laser diffraction according to the Fraunhofer scattering model, and wherein the granules do not include an oil or a gelatin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Markus BECK, Antonio ESTRELLA, Elger FUNDA, Andrea HITZFELD, Christian SCHAEFER, Bernd SCHLEGEL, Kai URBAN
  • Patent number: 11207799
    Abstract: Polymer pellets are formed using laminar gas flow within a downstream gas conduit, as may be implemented consistent with one or more embodiments herein. A gas channel directs gas to an outlet of a polymer extrusion mandrel via which a polymer melt is extruded. A downstream gas conduit extends away from the outlet of the polymer extrusion mandrel, and provides laminar gas flow along the polymer melt extending from the extrusion mandrel, and within the downstream gas conduit. Using this approach, laminar flow can be maintained along an initial portion of the polymer melt, and used to control the subsequent formation of pellets therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Christian Schäfer, Tim Andreas Osswald
  • Publication number: 20210336654
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for a partitioned wireless communication system for a vehicle with redundant data links and power lines. In an embodiment, a system comprises: a communication gateway unit (CGU) located at a first location of the vehicle includes a communication processor, a first power supply, and a first data interface. A remote wireless transceiver unit (RWTU) located at a second location of the vehicle includes a second data interface coupled to the first data interface using redundant data links, a power interface coupled the first power supply to the RWTU using redundant power lines, and wireless transceiver(s) coupled to antenna(s) on the vehicle. The communication processor detects a loss of a first data link or a first power line, and in response to the detecting, selecting a second data link or second power line to transfer data or power, respectively, between the CGU and the RWTU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Lee Bauer, Martin Bornemann, Christian Schäfer
  • Patent number: 11138425
    Abstract: Methods and systems for recognizing named entities within the text of a document are provided. The methods and systems may include receiving a document image and recognized text of the document image. A feature map of the document image may be created, a tagged map may be created, and locations of tags within the tagged map may be estimated using a machine learning model. Named entities with the recognized text may be recognized based on the one or more locations of the tags. In some embodiments, the machine learning model is a convolutional neural network. In further embodiments, creating the feature map may include determining, for a subset of the cells of the feature map, one or more features of the recognized text contained in a corresponding portion of the document image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: LEVERTON HOLDING LLC
    Inventor: Christian Schäfer