Patents by Inventor Christian Schafer

Christian Schafer 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: 11964570
    Abstract: In a method for operating an electric vehicle, including an electrical drive device for driving the vehicle, a control device for controlling the driving of the vehicle, a first energy storage device for supplying the control device with a first DC voltage, a second energy storage device for supplying the drive device with a second DC voltage, and an energy supply unit providing an output DC voltage, the first energy storage device is connected to the energy supply unit via a converter device, the second energy storage device is connected to the energy supply unit, the converter device converts the output DC voltage into the first DC voltage, a first power flow from the first energy storage device to the second energy storage device is prevented and a second power flow from the second energy storage device to the first energy storage device is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: SEW-EURODRIVE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Jens Schäfer, Jan Becker, Gero Bockelmann, Matthias Hauck, Christian Schumann, Josef Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11964648
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
    Inventors: Martin Bornemann, Lee Henry Bauer, Christian Schäfer
  • Patent number: 11920629
    Abstract: A method is provided for fitting a snap fit arrangement, as well as a fitting arrangement for fitting the snap fit arrangement for joining a first part with a second part. The snap fit arrangement comprises an engagement hook which is arranged at the first part. The snap fit arrangement comprises a latch element which is arranged at the second part. When the snap fit arrangement closes, the engagement hook deforms elastically and engages into the latch element. In the method, an auxiliary tool is provided. The elastic deformation is caused in the engagement hook by means of the auxiliary tool. The first part is joined to the second part and retracting the auxiliary tool. Retracting causes a spring-back of the elastic deformation in the engagement hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Christian Koerdt, Heinrich Schäfer
  • Publication number: 20230386703
    Abstract: A communications cable includes a bundle of strands. The bundle of strands includes an electrically insulative first strand, an electrically conductive second strand disposed adjacent to the first strand, an electrically conductive third strand disposed adjacent to the first strand and opposite the second strand, and one or more additional electrically insulative strands disposed adjacent to the first strand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Guido Woeste, Christian Schäfer, Peter Bäumer
  • Patent number: 11816571
    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: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: LEVERTON HOLDING LLC
    Inventor: Christian Schäfer
  • Publication number: 20230275620
    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: May 3, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Lee Bauer, Martin Bornemann, Christian Schäfer
  • Patent number: 11687719
    Abstract: A method for identifying errors associated with named entity recognition includes recognizing a candidate named entity within a text and extracting a chunk from the text containing the candidate named entity. The method further includes creating a feature vector associated with the chunk and analyzing the feature vector for an indication of an error associated with the candidate named entity. The method also includes correcting the error associated with the candidate named entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: LEVERTON HOLDING LLC
    Inventors: Christian Schäfer, Michael Kieweg, Florian Kuhlmann
  • 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
  • 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: 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
  • 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
  • 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