Patents by Inventor Dirk Waldbauer

Dirk Waldbauer 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: 9896092
    Abstract: In a method and a driver assistance system for representing vehicle surroundings of a vehicle having a sensor system for detecting the environment, a boundary of a traffic lane or driving path on which the vehicle is currently being driven is represented by position points that each have a predefined set of attributes especially including a width attribute indicating a lateral width of an unobstructed area available as a maneuvering space on an opposite side of the respective position point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Dirk Waldbauer, Stefan Fritz, Thomas Berthold, Xiuxun Yin, Andree Hohm, Stefan Lueke
  • Patent number: 9360332
    Abstract: In a method for determining a course of a traffic lane for a vehicle (10), structures that demarcate a trafficable space are detected in image data from an image acquisition unit (2), and these structures are plotted on a surroundings map (20) that subdivides the surroundings of the vehicle into a two-dimensional grid (20a) of cells (21). The position of the vehicle in the grid of the surroundings map is determined and updated by odometric data. The distance and the direction of the vehicle (10) relative to those cells (21b) of the grid (20a) having structures that demarcate the pavement and/or the traffic lane are determined. Brightness transitions in the image data are detected and are plotted on the cells (21) of the grid (20a). The course of the traffic lane (22) is determined from the cells with the detected brightness transitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Matthias Strauss, Matthias Komar, Dirk Waldbauer, Wolfgang Guenther, Stefan Lueke
  • Publication number: 20150149076
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining a course of a traffic lane for a vehicle (10), in which structures that demarcate a space that is fit for traffic are detected by means of at least one image acquisition unit (2) and these structures are plotted on a surroundings map (20) that subdivides the surroundings of the vehicle into a two-dimensional grid structure (20a) of cells (21), wherein the invention provides that the position in the grid structure (21) of the surroundings map (20) is determined and continually updated by means of odometric data of the vehicle (10), the distance and the direction of the vehicle (10) with respect to those cells (21b) of the grid structure (20a) of the surroundings map (20) which feature structures that demarcate the pavement and/or the traffic lane are determined, bright-to-dark and dark-to-bright transitions in the image data generated by the image acquisition unit (2) are detected and are plotted on the cells (21) of the grid structure (20a) of the surroundi
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Continental Teves AG & Co.oHG
    Inventors: Matthias Strauss, Matthias Komar, Dirk Waldbauer, Wolfgang Guenther, Stefan Lueke
  • Publication number: 20150105937
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for representing vehicle surroundings for a vehicle (1) having a sensor system for detecting the environment, wherein a boundary of a traffic lane on which the vehicle is currently being driven is represented by position points (4, 7, 8, 11) that have a predefined set of attributes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Dirk Waldbauer, Stefan Fritz, Thomas Berthold, Xiuxun Yin, Andree Hohm, Stefan Lueke
  • Patent number: 8862327
    Abstract: A method for stabilizing a vehicle including a trailer drawn by the vehicle including the steps of: determining the yaw rate of the vehicle; determining the reference yaw rate in a vehicle model; producing a difference value from the yaw rate and the reference yaw rate; weighting the difference value with a signal describing the steering dynamics; producing a signal to determine the side of intervention and/or the wheel of intervention and/or the steering angle direction of the vehicle from the tendency to change of the weighted difference value, and applying a counteracting moment depending on the amplitude and the tendency to change of the weighted difference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., oHG
    Inventors: Dirk Waldbauer, Thomas Alban, Jürgen Kröber
  • Patent number: 8812193
    Abstract: A method for assisting a vehicle driver, wherein a sensor for covering the surroundings covers a pavement in front of the vehicle in order to determine a virtual vehicle corridor for a road vehicle in a complex traffic situation and the virtual vehicle corridor is determined depending on identified traffic lines and raised pavement boundaries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignees: Conti-Temic Microelectronic GmbH, Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Stefan Lüke, Dirk Waldbauer, Michael Darms, Thomas Berthold, Matthias Komar
  • Publication number: 20130197804
    Abstract: A method for assisting a vehicle driver, wherein a sensor for covering the surroundings covers a pavement in front of the vehicle in order to determine a virtual vehicle corridor for a road vehicle in a complex traffic situation and the virtual vehicle corridor is determined depending on identified traffic lines and raised pavement boundaries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicants: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG, CONTI TEMIC MICROELECTRONIC GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Lüke, Dirk Waldbauer, Michael Darms, Thomas Berthold, Matthias Komar
  • Patent number: 8046147
    Abstract: When swaying motions of a trailer or semi-trailer of a car-trailer combination are encountered, input signals which are taken into consideration to calculate a reference signal frequently include also oscillation components, due to which driving dynamics control for stabilization of the car-trailer combination can become very unreliable. To enhance the reliability of driving dynamics control of this type, a method is disclosed in which an input signal (Y) is sensed that includes signal oscillations which are due to a swaying motion of the trailer or semi-trailer and are superimposed on a base component (YBasis) of the input signal (Y). A reference signal is calculated from the input signal (Y), in which case the calculation is executed in such a way that the reference signal by approximation corresponds to a reference signal which is determined from the base component (YBasis) of the input signal (Y).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Dirk Waldbauer, Urs Bauer, Lothar Rogowski, Tobias Preusser
  • Publication number: 20090228182
    Abstract: When swaying motions of a trailer or semi-trailer of a car-trailer combination are encountered, input signals which are taken into consideration to calculate a reference signal frequently include also oscillation components, due to which driving dynamics control for stabilization of the car-trailer combination can become very unreliable. To enhance the reliability of driving dynamics control of this type, a method is disclosed in which an input signal (Y) is sensed that includes signal oscillations which are due to a swaying motion of the trailer or semi-trailer and are superimposed on a base component (YBasis) of the input signal (Y). A reference signal is calculated from the input signal (Y), in which case the calculation is executed in such a way that the reference signal by approximation corresponds to a reference signal which is determined from the base component (YBasis) of the input signal (Y).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: Dirk Waldbauer, Urs Bauer, Lothar Rogowski, Tobias Preusser
  • Publication number: 20090210112
    Abstract: A method for stabilizing a vehicle including a trailer drawn by the vehicle including the steps of: determining the yaw rate of the vehicle; determining the reference yaw rate in a vehicle model; producing a difference value from the yaw rate and the reference yaw rate; weighting the difference value with a signal describing the steering dynamics; producing a signal to determine the side of intervention and/or the wheel of intervention and/or the steering angle direction of the vehicle from the tendency to change of the weighted difference value, and applying a counteracting moment depending on the amplitude and the tendency to change of the weighted difference value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG
    Inventors: Dirk Waldbauer, Thomas Alban, Jürgen Kröber
  • Publication number: 20060204347
    Abstract: Method and Device for Stabilizing a Car-Trailer Combination A method and device for stabilizing a car-trailer combination, including a towing vehicle and a trailer moved by the towing vehicle, is disclosed. The rolling motions of the towing vehicle are monitored and measures that stabilize driving are preformed upon detection of an actual or expected unstable driving condition of the towing vehicle or the car-trailer combination. In order to insure a proper intervention, the yaw velocity of the towing vehicle or the car-trailer combination is detected and the measures that stabilize driving conditions are controlled dependent upon the detected yaw velocity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Inventors: Dirk Waldbauer, Jurgen Krober
  • Publication number: 20060155457
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for stabilizing a car-trailer combination, including a towing vehicle and a trailer moved by the towing vehicle, wherein the towing vehicle is monitored in terms of rolling motions and measures that stabilize driving are taken upon the detection of an actual or expected unstable driving performance of the towing vehicle or the car-trailer combination. In order to be able to perform, in a timely manner, an intervention on the towing vehicle that stabilizes driving, the invention provides that the measures that stabilize driving are controlled in dependence on the yaw acceleration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Publication date: July 13, 2006
    Inventors: Dirk Waldbauer, Jurgen Krober, Clemens Schmitt
  • Publication number: 20060033308
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for stabilizing a car-trailer combination, including a towing vehicle and a trailer moved by the towing vehicle. The rolling motions of the towing vehicle are monitored to detect an actual or expected unstable driving performance of the towing vehicle or car-trailer combination. Measures are taken to stabilize the driving performance when an unstable driving performance is detected or expected. These measures may include decelerating the towing vehicle dependent upon the amplitudes of the rolling motions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Publication date: February 16, 2006
    Inventors: Dirk Waldbauer, Jurgen Krober
  • Patent number: 6742851
    Abstract: A detection device for detecting braking of a vehicle during cornering on a road surface where the coefficient of friction of the road surface on a wheel on the outside of a curve is lower than on a wheel on the inside of the curve includes a comparison device for comparing the brake force or the brake force reduction of at least one wheel on the outside of a curve with the brake force or the brake force reduction of at least one wheel on the inside of the curve, and a device for generating a detection signal or initiating appropriate measures when the brake force of at least one wheel on the outside of a curve is lower or reduced to a greater degree than the brake force of at least one wheel on the inside of the curve. A device for influencing yaw torques has a so-called detection device and a reduction device which reduces the brake force in a brake of a wheel on the inside of a curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OhG
    Inventors: Jürgen Woywod, Ralph Gronau, Georg Roll, Dirk Waldbauer
  • Patent number: 6435627
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for identifying a critical braking operation of a two-track vehicle during cornering, which features the steps of detecting the running behaviour of a left-hand side wheel and of a right-hand side wheel, of comparing the running behaviour and/or of evaluating the time variation of at least one left-hand side wheel or right-hand side wheel, and of identifying a critical braking operation on the basis of the result of the comparison and/or of the result of the evaluation. As a reaction, there may ensue the reduction of the braking pressure of a wheel on the inside of the corner in response to identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Georg Roll, Jürgen Woywod, Dirk Waldbauer, Wolfgang Kling
  • Patent number: 6273529
    Abstract: A system including a method for improving the driving performance of a vehicle when braking during cornering comprises the following steps: detecting cornering and the direction of cornering, determining the rolling characteristics of individual wheels, if necessary, influencing the braking pressure of the brake on one wheel or on several wheels according to the rolling characteristics of these wheels, checking the driving condition of the vehicle with respect to whether instability prevails, and modifying the braking pressure of at least one brake of a wheel when an instability is detected during a cornering maneuver extending for a time period that reaches a threshold time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Jürgen Woywod, Dirk Waldbauer, Georg Roll