Patents by Inventor Christoph Arndt

Christoph Arndt 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: 20170225566
    Abstract: The physical and/or mental condition of a vehicle occupant can be recognized on the basis of a BCG (ballistocardiograph) signal, which is obtained by means of a BCG sensor. The BCG sensor is an MEM sensor; a cross-correlation of the BCG signal with heartbeat parameters is carried out in an optimum filter, which heartbeat parameters are varied within predefined limits to find a maximum of the cross-correlation function; and probable peaks are located in a cross-correlation function found in this manner and the heart rate is calculated therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Uwe Gussen, Christoph Arndt Dr habil, Frederic Stefan
  • Publication number: 20170205823
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and a device for operating a motor vehicle. The vehicle exhibits a first driving mode in which an at least partial automation of the control of the vehicle is obtained. The vehicle also exhibits a second driving mode in which the automation has been at least partly canceled and replaced by a manual control of the vehicle on the part of a driver. The method for operating the motor vehicle comprises the following steps: ascertaining at least one parameter that is characteristic of a current status of the driver, and adapting a transition strategy for the transition between the first driving mode and the second driving mode in a manner depending on the parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Christoph ARNDT, Frederic STEFAN, Uwe GUSSEN
  • Publication number: 20170204651
    Abstract: The disclosure concerns a method for the remote-controlled operation of a tailgate of a motor vehicle. A sensor arrangement of the motor vehicle detects environmental data of the motor vehicle. A control apparatus of the motor vehicle triggers the opening of the tailgate on receiving a wireless opening signal from an operator and triggers the closing of the tailgate on receiving a wireless closing signal from an operator. The control apparatus checks for the presence of at least one closure condition of the tailgate that is independent of the wireless closing signal based on the environmental data detected by the sensor arrangement during opening of the tailgate, and if the closure condition is present, the control apparatus triggers the closing of the tailgate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Uwe GUSSEN, Christoph ARNDT, Frederic STEFAN
  • Publication number: 20170186423
    Abstract: The disclosure concerns a method for recognizing driving noise in a sound signal that is acquired by a microphone disposed in a vehicle. The sound signal originates from the surface structure of the road. According to the disclosure, a segment of the road lying ahead of the vehicle in the direction of travel is observed with a sensor installed in or on the vehicle. Using the observation data obtained, the start and duration of driving noise originating from the surface structure of the road are predicted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Christoph ARNDT, Mohsen LAKEHAL-AYAT
  • Publication number: 20170174212
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating a first motor vehicle, in which rear sensor values are captured from a second motor vehicle following the first motor vehicle. A brake pedal of the first motor vehicle is monitored for actuation. A risk value for a rear end collision is determined in response to detected actuation by evaluating the captured sensor values. The risk value determined is compared with a threshold value, and an alarm signal is generated in response to the threshold value being exceeded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Uwe GUSSEN, Frederic STEFAN, Christoph ARNDT
  • Publication number: 20170129538
    Abstract: A maneuvering process of a motor vehicle is assisted in at least partially automated fashion from a present position into a target position. A multiplicity of possible trajectories from the present position into the target position are determined. One of said trajectories is defined as the trajectory to be followed by the vehicle during the maneuvering process on the basis of a predefined criterion. The definition is performed repeatedly during the execution of the maneuvering process, with the trajectory to be followed being updated in each case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Frederic STEFAN, Christoph ARNDT, Uwe GUSSEN
  • Publication number: 20170120925
    Abstract: Parameters that characterize a current driving situation of the motor vehicle are acquired. On the basis of the acquired parameters a current level of monotony is determined as a characterization of a monotony of the current driving situation. Whether the calculated current level of monotony exceeds a predetermined threshold is checked, and an exercise for the driver to increase concentration on driving the motor vehicle is performed when the threshold is exceeded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Frederic STEFAN, Uwe GUSSEN, Christoph ARNDT
  • Patent number: 9631940
    Abstract: Various embodiments relate to determining a route for efficient energy consumption. Data defining one or more routes and one or more consumption influencing parameters which influence a consumption of an energy source of the vehicle along the one or more routes may be received at a vehicle computer. Based on the route data and the consumption influencing parameters, at least one route which minimizes the consumption of the energy source for the vehicle may be determined. For the at least one route, one or more braking strategies may be determined for implementation by a vehicle operator in the vehicle in accordance with reducing the consumption of the vehicle energy source. The one or more braking strategies may be output in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nicole Leonarda Wilhelmina Eikelenberg, Ulf Kirchner, Christoph Arndt, Servé Ploumen
  • Patent number: 9582998
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for autonomous movement of a parked motor vehicle out of a parking space in which it is blocking an entranceway to a facility such as private driveway. A method has the following steps: is parked in a blocking position blocking relative to an entranceway, detecting that a second vehicle requires passage through the entranceway, and operating a parking assistance system to autonomously remove the vehicle from the blocking position to permit passage of the second vehicle. The parking assistance system returns the vehicle to the original parking position after passage of the second vehicle through the entranceway is complete. The requirement for a second vehicle to pass through the entranceway may be detected using wireless vehicle-to-vehicle communication, or using a remote sensing system on-board the vehicle to detect the second vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frederic Stefan, Uwe Gussen, Erik Alpman, Christoph Arndt
  • Patent number: 9584776
    Abstract: With a method according to the invention for monitoring a parking permit of a motor vehicle, it is determined whether the motor vehicle is in a parking situation in which a parking authorization pass is necessary for a parking permit, and on the occurrence of such a parking situation the presence of a parking authorization pass is checked for and a first information signal is output to a driver of the motor vehicle in the absence of the parking authorization pass. The invention also relates to a device for monitoring a parking permit of a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frederic Stefan, Uwe Gussen, Christoph Arndt Dr habil
  • Publication number: 20170032590
    Abstract: A method for updating a driving assistance system of a motor vehicle includes operating a central communications platform to receive data transmitted wirelessly from the vehicle, the data logged onboard the vehicle during operation of the driving assistance system and relating to driving conditions existing when a driver of the vehicle makes a control input that is counter to vehicle control directed by the driving assistance system. The method may include determining a modified configuration for the driving assistance system based on the data, and transmitting the modified configuration from the central communications platform to the driving assistance system, the modified configuration being used to update decision logic of the driving assistance system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Frederic STEFAN, Uwe GUSSEN, Thomas RAMBOW, Christoph ARNDT
  • Publication number: 20170008518
    Abstract: A method for operating a driver assistance system (DAS) to avoid a collision of a vehicle with an object At least one object in the vehicle environment is detected by vehicle-mounted environmental sensors, and is evaluated in terms of risk of collision with the vehicle, an an automatic intervention into the vehicle movement is carried out depending on this evaluation. During the automatic intervention, the following steps are performed: 1) Carrying out an automatic braking of the vehicle depending on the evaluation of collision risk, and 2) permitting a steering intervention by the driver to perform an evasive steering maneuver, in reaction to which the automatic braking is terminated. The driver-initiated steering intervention must occur before a point-in-time at which the DAS has determined the collision cannot be avoided by steering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Christoph ARNDT, Sabine NOTELAERS, Helmuth BOSCH, Peter W.A. ZEGELAAR, Aaron L. MILLS, Steven Yellin SCHONDORF
  • Publication number: 20170006276
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a digital camera having a sensor (such as a charge coupled device), a first lens directing a first image onto a first region of the sensor, a second lens directing a second image onto a second region of the sensor, and a third lens directing a third image onto a third region of the sensor. A display screen displays to a driver of the vehicle the first image, and a processing unit performs stereoscopic image analysis on data originating from the second and third regions. A fourth lens may be used to direct a fourth image onto a fourth region of the sensor, and the processing unit performs calculations on data from the fourth region for the detection of movement of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Christoph ARNDT, Urs Christen, Heike Kleinschmidt
  • Publication number: 20160379491
    Abstract: A central routing unit receives traffic-related data from vehicles that are involved in the road traffic, and transmits routing information to at least one vehicle on based on the traffic-related data that is received by the central routing unit. The central routing unit may transmit the routing information by displaying a dynamically-generated Quick Response (QR) code on at least one digital traffic sign.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventor: Christoph ARNDT
  • Publication number: 20160371982
    Abstract: A device and method for assisting a driver when parking his vehicle in a parking installation and removing his vehicle therefrom is provided. The vehicle is equipped with a driving assistance system which permits remote-controlled movement and steering. The device has a parking management and monitoring apparatus which is configured to determine, at the start of a parking phase, a first route for a vehicle, which has been left behind by the driver in an entry region of the parking installation, to a currently available free parking space within the parking installation, and transmit corresponding movement instructions to the driving assistance system of the vehicle, and determine, at the end of the parking phase, a second route for the vehicle from this parking space to an exit region of the parking installation, and transmit corresponding movement instructions to the driving assistance system of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Christoph ARNDT, Uwe GUSSEN, Frederic STEFAN
  • Patent number: 9514646
    Abstract: A method of operating a parking assistance system involves operating a first sensor onboard a parking vehicle to obtain a first distance measurement to a parked vehicle, and transmitting a first wireless signal which activates a second sensor onboard the parked vehicle. The second sensor obtains a second distance measurement to the parking vehicle and transmits the result via a second wireless signal. The second wireless signal is received by the parking vehicle which then determines an inter-vehicle distance based on the first and second distance measurements, and uses the inter-vehicle distance to perform a parking maneuver. The transmission of the second distance measurement by the parked vehicle may be contingent upon existence of a condition (such as a sufficient state-or-charge of a vehicle battery or prior consent of an operator) of the parked vehicle when the parked vehicle receives the first wireless signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frederic Stefan, Christoph Arndt, Uwe Gussen
  • Publication number: 20160339840
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus for assisting a maneuvering procedure of a vehicle. In the course of a method for assisting a maneuvering procedure of a vehicle, image data relating to the environment of the vehicle are registered by using at least one vehicle-specific sensor provided on the vehicle, and on the basis of these image data a visual representation of the environment of the vehicle is transmitted to the driver, said method having the following steps: receiving further image data relating to the environment of the vehicle that were registered by at least one external sensor, linking the image data received from this external sensor with the image data registered by the at least one vehicle-specific sensor, and transmitting a visual representation of the environment of the vehicle to the driver on the basis of the linked image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Frederic STEFAN, Uwe GUSSEN, Christoph ARNDT
  • Publication number: 20160339757
    Abstract: The present subject matter relates to a method for estimating extent of wear of a suspension system in a vehicle using a computing device. The baseline operational parameters of the suspension system are received, and motion parameters of vehicle are detected. Actual operational parameters of the suspension system are estimated based on the detected motion parameters. An alert to indicate the extent of wear of the suspension system is generated based on determining a deviation of the actual operational parameters from the actual operational parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Uwe GUSSEN, Christoph ARNDT, Frederic STEFAN
  • Patent number: 9483882
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for modifying the configuration of a driving assistance system of a motor vehicle includes, during operation in an autopilot mode, detecting that a vehicle driver makes a control input counter to vehicle control directed by the driving assistance system. Data relating to driving conditions existing when the driver made the control input is logged onboard the vehicle and transmitted to an off-board central communications platform. The central communications platform creates a modified configuration for the driving assistance system based on the data and re-transmits it back to the vehicle where it is loaded into the driving assistance system. The modified configuration causes the driving assistance system to automatically control the vehicle in a manner consistent with the control input if the driving conditions reoccur. The modified configuration may also be transmitted to a driving assistance system of one or more other motor vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frederic Stefan, Uwe Gussen, Thomas Rambow, Christoph Arndt
  • Patent number: 9469249
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a digital camera having a sensor (such as a charge coupled device), a first lens directing a first image onto a first region of the sensor, a second lens directing a second image onto a second region of the sensor, and a third lens directing a third image onto a third region of the sensor. A display screen displays to a driver of the vehicle the first image, and a processing unit performs stereoscopic image analysis on data originating from the second and third regions. A fourth lens may be used to direct a fourth image onto a fourth region of the sensor, and the processing unit performs calculations on data from the fourth region for the detection of movement of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christoph Arndt, Urs Christen, Heike Kleinschmidt