Patents by Inventor Christoph Waeller

Christoph Waeller 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: 10759256
    Abstract: A method for setting a thermal comfort state of at least one user of a vehicle, wherein, at a starting time, at least one actual state variable of the user is detected by at least one device for detecting the at least one state variable and a starting comfort state of the user is determined depending on the at least one actual state variable, wherein a target comfort state is determined, wherein at least one target state variable is determined depending on the target comfort state, wherein at least one vehicle-end device for changing the state variable is controlled so that a deviation in the actual state variable from the target state variable is minimized when the target comfort state deviates from the starting comfort state, wherein the at least one state variable is detected by a device carried by the user for detecting the at least one state variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Viktor Bader, Christoph Wäller
  • Patent number: 10664139
    Abstract: A display and operator control apparatus in a motor vehicle, which display and control apparatus can be used at least to display information from various driver assistance systems and to select functions which are associated with these driver assistance systems. At least one mode of operation in which a digital map display with specific display parameters is displayed and, in the process, at least one function can be selected. A changeover in respect of the possibility to select at least one other function can be activated and this changeover is not made from a fundamental basic display to the user even when a changeover is made between selectable functions, which may be separately displayed via buttons. Only one or more display parameters are changed, and therefore the display to the user can be adapted in an optimum manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Julia Kleeberger, Christoph Waeller, Mike Salzer
  • Patent number: 10503747
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a user interface is provided, in which a first user input is detected, and a confidence analysis is carried out. Different kinds of system responses are generated depending on the result of the confidence analysis, wherein a first kind of system response comprises a system output which requires a second user input, and a second kind of system response comprises the automatic selection of a database entry. A third kind of system response comprises the first and second features, wherein the third kind of system response automatically changes into the first or second kind of system response after the expiry of a period of time. In this case, one of the two first kinds can be set as a standard or “default,” into which the automatic change then takes place after expiry of the period of time without further user interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Peter Oel, Moritz Neugebauer, Michael Mischke, Christoph Waeller, Lorenz Bohrer, Jens Ehrke, Gordon Seitz, Stefan Schulz, Imke Gaus, Oliver Meyer
  • Patent number: 10330488
    Abstract: A display system includes a display for the graphic representation of changeable information, an operating unit for the control of the displayed information by a user, a proximity sensor which is arranged to detect an approach of the user to the operating unit, and a control unit. The control unit is coupled to the display, the operating unit and the proximity sensor. The control unit is arranged such that, as a function of an approach of the user to the operating unit, it alters the representation of the changeable information, such that a time rate of display change of the graphic representation of the changeable information is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Christoph Waeller, Matthias Heimermann
  • Patent number: 10144285
    Abstract: In a method for operating vehicle devices in which different information is shown for different viewing angles on a display of a display device, seating positions of users are assigned to the viewing angles, the position of an object in a switching zone is detected and a switching signal assigned to the switching zone is generated, the seating position of a user assigned to the object is identified, and a control signal for the vehicle devices and/or the display device is generated as a function of the switching signal and of the seating position of the user who triggered the switching signal. Furthermore, an operating device for vehicle devices includes an input unit and a display unit having a display with which different information is able to be displayed for different viewing angles, seating positions of users being assigned to the respective viewing angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Christoph Waeller, Katharina Bachfischer, Joerg Lilienthal
  • Patent number: 9898083
    Abstract: In a method for operating a motor vehicle having a display for displaying variable information, and a touch screen, situated above the display, for inputting commands by touching the touch screen, an operating element for operating a function of the motor vehicle is shown by the display, by touching the touch screen in the region of the operating element, and the function of the motor vehicle is executed based on a gesture of a hand executed in the vicinity of the touch screen, without touching the touch screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Christoph Waeller, Katharina Bachfischer
  • Patent number: 9817480
    Abstract: Methods for the operator control of electronic appliances and appropriately set-up electronic appliances in which an input of at least one letter is captured independently of an input request, and a volume of data is displayed on a screen of the electronic appliance on the basis of the captured letter. The input may be made by handwriting or by voice input, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Christoph Wäller, Mark Peter Czelnik, Linn Hackenberg, Lennart Bendewald, Manuel Joachim, Markus Ablassmeier, Michael Mischke
  • Publication number: 20170282685
    Abstract: A method for setting a thermal comfort state of at least one user of a vehicle, wherein, at a starting time, at least one actual state variable of the user is detected by at least one device for detecting the at least one state variable and a starting comfort state of the user is determined depending on the at least one actual state variable, wherein a target comfort state is determined, wherein at least one target state variable is determined depending on the target comfort state, wherein at least one vehicle-end device for changing the state variable is controlled so that a deviation in the actual state variable from the target state variable is minimized when the target comfort state deviates from the starting comfort state, wherein the at least one state variable is detected by a device carried by the user for detecting the at least one state variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2015
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Viktor BADER, Christoph WÄLLER
  • Patent number: 9703393
    Abstract: A method for inputting and identifying a character string, in which several successively inputted user inputs for forming the character string are identified and a confidence analysis is carried out, in which each user input is compared to a number of characters and each of the compared characters is allocated a value of a confidence measure which evaluates the correlation of the user input to the characters. Character combinations are formed from the characters associated with the user inputs. Global confidence measures are determined for the character combinations from the confidence measures associated with the characters. Finally, a partial amount of the character combinations is emitted in accordance with the global confidence measures. Also disclosed is a device for carrying out the method and a vehicle having the disclosed device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Mark Peter Czelnik, Lennart Bendewald, Christoph Wäller
  • Patent number: 9671867
    Abstract: An interactive control device includes a display device, and a method is for operating the interactive control device. The method includes: displaying graphical information on the display device; receiving sensor information; activating a control action if on the basis of the sensor information it is ascertained that a body part of a user is located within an activation region that is spatially defined relative to a display region of a control element on the display device with which the control action is associated; the received sensor information including user information that is evaluated prior to an activation of the control action in order to ascertain a control intention for the at least one control element; and the information represented on the display device being adapted as a function of the ascertained control intention such that the at least one control element is represented in a manner optimized for the activation of the control action associated with the control element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Katharina Bachfischer, Christoph Waeller, Volkmar Wagner, Rainer Dehmann
  • Patent number: 9589392
    Abstract: A method and system for providing a user interface in a vehicle, wherein a wireless data link is formed between the vehicle and a mobile playback device which is releasably connected in the vehicle or is held freely by a user. Operating parameters relevant for the operation of the vehicle are detected on the vehicle and information relating to detected operating parameters is displayed by a display and control unit installed in the vehicle and which can be read from the driver's seat position. A wireless data link is formed between the vehicle and a mobile playback device which is releasably connected in the vehicle or is held freely by a user. Data for generating display content are transmitted via the wireless data link from the vehicle to the playback device, and on the basis of the transmitted data display content is generated on the playback device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignees: AUDI AG, VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Christoph Wäller, Maria Esther Mejia Gonzalez, Lennart Bendewald, Stefan Henze
  • Publication number: 20170017702
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a user interface is provided, in which a first user input is detected, and a confidence analysis is carried out. Different kinds of system responses are generated depending on the result of the confidence analysis, wherein a first kind of system response comprises a system output which requires a second user input, and a second kind of system response comprises the automatic selection of a database entry. A third kind of system response comprises the first and second features, wherein the third kind of system response automatically changes into the first or second kind of system response after the expiry of a period of time. In this case, one of the two first kinds can be set as a standard or “default,” into which the automatic change then takes place after expiry of the period of time without further user interaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Applicant: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter OEL, Moritz NEUGEBAUER, Michael MISCHKE, Christoph WAELLER, Lorenz BOHRER, Jens EHRKE, Gordon SEITZ, Stefan SCHULZ, Imke GAUS, Oliver MEYER
  • Patent number: 9499173
    Abstract: Vehicle with a comfort system having: a vehicle controller device, via which different vehicle systems and/or vehicle functions can be controlled; at least one vehicle communication device for exchanging data via wireless communication; a plurality of identification modules arranged in the vehicle that comprise an identification code readable in the vicinity of the identification modules, each identification code being assigned to an installation location of the identification module. The vehicle controller device is designed to set up a communication connection to a mobile device via the vehicle communication device to receive, via the communication connection, an identification code read out by the mobile device and, via the mobile device and the mobile communication connection, to allow or prohibit control or usage of individual or all vehicle functions and/or systems selectively on the basis of the received identification code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Christoph Waeller
  • Patent number: 9487138
    Abstract: A method for outputting alert messages of a driver assistance system in a vehicle in which data for moving the vehicle and data regarding accident risks in the surroundings of the vehicle are detected, the detected data is evaluated and attributed to a specific accident risk category and an alert message is output subject to the attributed accident risk category. The method according to the invention is characterized in that from the captured movement of the vehicle a planned movement of the vehicle is derived and it is tested whether without modification of the planned movement of the vehicle a collision of the vehicle with another object will occur, and the manner of outputting the alert message is carried out in dependence on the result of said collision testing. The invention further relates to an associated driver assistance system and to a vehicle having such a driver assistance system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christoph Waeller, Johannes Rhede, Ina Petermann-Stock, Carsten Semmler, Andro Kleen, Markus Neumann
  • Patent number: 9489435
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a user interface is provided, in which a first user input is detected, and a confidence analysis is carried out. Different kinds of system responses are generated depending on the result of the confidence analysis, wherein a first kind of system response comprises a system output which requires a second user input, and a second kind of system response comprises the automatic selection of a database entry. A third kind of system response comprises the first and second features, wherein the third kind of system response automatically changes into the first or second kind of system response after the expiry of a period of time. In this case, one of the two first kinds can be set as a standard or “default,” into which the automatic change then takes place after expiry of the period of time without further user interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Peter Oel, Moritz Neugebauer, Michael Mischke, Christoph Waeller, Lorenz Bohrer, Jens Ehrke, Gordon Seitz, Stefan Schulz, Imke Gaus, Oliver Meyer
  • Patent number: 9459116
    Abstract: A display system includes a display for the graphic representation of changeable information, an operating unit for the control of the displayed information by a user, a proximity sensor which is arranged to detect an approach of the user to the operating unit, and a control unit. The control unit is coupled to the display, the operating unit and the proximity sensor. The control unit is arranged such that, as a function of an approach of the user to the operating unit, it alters the representation of the changeable information, such that a time rate of display change of the graphic representation of the changeable information is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Christoph Waeller, Matthias Heimermann
  • Publication number: 20160266762
    Abstract: A display system includes a display for the graphic representation of changeable information, an operating unit for the control of the displayed information by a user, a proximity sensor which is arranged to detect an approach of the user to the operating unit, and a control unit. The control unit is coupled to the display, the operating unit and the proximity sensor. The control unit is arranged such that, as a function of an approach of the user to the operating unit, it alters the representation of the changeable information, such that a time rate of display change of the graphic representation of the changeable information is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Christoph WAELLER, Matthias HEIMERMANN
  • Patent number: 9415689
    Abstract: In a device and a method to produce a user recognition signal upon an actuation by a user in a vehicle using a control unit linked with a transmitter and receiver which are disposed relative to one another to set up a user-specific high frequency transmission path therebetween upon actuation by the the user, at least one HF signal is provided and transferred through the body of the user, the HF transfer is evaluated to determine the user-specific transmission path to identify the user, and a user recognition signal is produced that identifies the user, wherein using at least one detection unit an action of the user is detected or an action presence is monitored, and in the detection of the action an action signal is produced, and the transmitter only provides the one HF transmission signal after or upon the existence of an action signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Christoph Wäller, Lennart Bendewald, Katharina Bachfischer, Lorenz Bohrer
  • Patent number: 9395915
    Abstract: In an operating method for a display device in a vehicle, the display device includes a touch-sensitive surface. A first output is displayed in an area of the display device. A first movement and a second movement by an operator relative to the touch-sensitive surface are detected simultaneously. The area is divided automatically along a first direction into a first subarea and a second subarea, if the first movement and the second movement proceed substantially in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and away from each other. The first output is displayed in the first subarea and a second output is displayed in the second subarea.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventor: Christoph Waeller
  • Patent number: 9327581
    Abstract: A method and device for regulating a stationary climate control system for a vehicle that includes at least one first energy source is provided. A first actual value of a climate parameter is determined from the interior of the parked vehicle, and a difference value is generated from the actual value and a reference value. In addition, a projected usage time is determined for the vehicle, wherein a time interval is determined from the current time and the determined projected usage time. A quantity of energy that is required to set to a desired value for the climate parameter is determined here based on the length of the time interval and the difference value, and the actual value for the climate parameter within the time interval is set to the desired value based on the required quantity of energy and the quantity of energy available from the first energy source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Lukas Enke, Sathyamoorthy Naresh, Christoph Waeller, Viktor Bader