Patents by Inventor Eckart Donner

Eckart Donner 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: 9838529
    Abstract: A position of a mobile terminal in the interior of a motor vehicle is sensed by a sensor device. The sensed position is taken as a basis for a control device of the motor vehicle to ascertain whether the mobile terminal adopts a position within a predetermined safety area to be kept clear between a predetermined interior equipment component of the motor vehicle, for example an airbag, and a user of the motor vehicle. When such a position within the safety area is adopted or exists, prevention of use of the mobile terminal within the safety area is brought about by a safety check device. In this case, a restraining device can return or restrain the mobile terminal from the safety area, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Heribert Bräutigam, Eckart Donner
  • Publication number: 20170171379
    Abstract: A position of a mobile terminal in the interior of a motor vehicle is sensed by a sensor device. The sensed position is taken as a basis for a control device of the motor vehicle to ascertain whether the mobile terminal adopts a position within a predetermined safety area to be kept clear between a predetermined interior equipment component of the motor vehicle, for example an airbag, and a user of the motor vehicle. When such a position within the safety area is adopted or exists, prevention of use of the mobile terminal within the safety area is brought about by a safety check device. In this case, a restraining device can return or restrain the mobile terminal from the safety area, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Heribert BRĂ„UTIGAM, Eckart DONNER
  • Patent number: 9463799
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a highly automatic or fully automatic driving function of a motor vehicle that is traveling. The method and apparatus determines the position, speed and direction of travel of the motor vehicle; receives driving data from further vehicles surrounding the motor vehicle; evaluates the received driving data from the further vehicles with respect to position and direction of travel to ascertain vehicles that are traveling ahead; compares the vehicle speeds of the ascertained vehicles that are traveling ahead with a prescribed speed range based on the speed of the motor vehicle; approves or prevents activation of the highly automatic or fully automatic driving function based on the speeds of the vehicles that are traveling ahead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Audi AG
    Inventors: Arne Bartels, Eckart Donner
  • Patent number: 8884740
    Abstract: A method for activating a function of a vehicle, which is associated with a key which wirelessly interchanges data with the vehicle, is carried out with the aid of a telecommunications device which is different from the key. However, the telecommunications device attempts to communicate with the key in order to make the method safe. During communication with the key, an item of information is obtained and is compared with an item of comparative information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Heiko Kuebler, Eckart Donner
  • Publication number: 20140055236
    Abstract: A method for activating a function of a vehicle, which is associated with a key which wirelessly interchanges data with the vehicle, is carried out with the aid of a telecommunications device which is different from the key. However, the telecommunications device attempts to communicate with the key in order to make the method safe. During communication with the key, an item of information is obtained and is compared with an item of comparative information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Heiko Kuebler, Eckart Donner