Patents by Inventor Frank Blaesing

Frank Blaesing 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: 10061063
    Abstract: A camera arrangement for a vehicle includes a camera and a prism. The camera is arranged behind a windshield of the vehicle. The prism is positioned between the windshield and the camera and is coupled to the windshield by a coupling medium. The prism has a light entry surface facing the windshield and a light exit surface facing an optical imaging component of the camera. The light entry surface and/or the light exit surface is non-flat by which the prism at least partially compensates for refraction resulting from curvature of the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Frank Blaesing, Alf Burau, Andreas Pirchner, Thomas Weber, Gregor Boehne, Frank Hagen, Claudia Weber
  • Patent number: 9630499
    Abstract: A screen-based operating system includes a housing having a screen accommodated therein and a rotary ring rotatably mounted to the housing. A first part of the rotary ring is mounted axially into the housing and a remaining second part of the rotary ring extends out of the housing and above the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Frank Blaesing, Ralf Boebel
  • Patent number: 9525808
    Abstract: A camera arrangement includes a camera and a prism. The camera includes a camera sensor having an array of pixels. The prism is arranged between a window pane such as a vehicle windshield and the camera sensor. Optical properties of the camera sensor and the prism are matched to one another such that a maximum broadening of a light beam due to dispersion of the prism lies within one pixel of the camera sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Marcus Eickhoff, Gregor Boehne, Frank Blaesing, Ralf Boebel
  • Publication number: 20160176292
    Abstract: A screen-based operating system includes a housing having a screen accommodated therein and a rotary ring rotatably mounted to the housing. A first part of the rotary ring is mounted axially into the housing and a remaining second part of the rotary ring extends out of the housing and above the screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Frank Blaesing, Ralf Boebel
  • Patent number: 9168928
    Abstract: An operating system for a motor vehicle, having a first operating unit for detecting user gestures, at least one second operating unit for detecting user inputs, and an evaluation unit which assigns the user gestures and user inputs detected by the operating units to operating functions. The evaluation unit checks whether a user gesture and a user input have been detected at the same time within the same time window and within the same spatial area. The evaluation unit modifies or suppresses the operating function assigned to the user gesture in the event of a positive result of the check.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Leopald Kostal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Frank Blaesing
  • Publication number: 20150105939
    Abstract: An operating system for a motor vehicle, having a first operating unit for detecting user gestures, at least one second operating unit for detecting user inputs, and an evaluation unit which assigns the user gestures and user inputs detected by the operating units to operating functions. The evaluation unit checks whether a user gesture and a user input have been detected at the same time within the same time window and within the same spatial area. The evaluation unit modifies or suppresses the operating function assigned to the user gesture in the event of a positive result of the check.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Frank Blaesing
  • Publication number: 20140233118
    Abstract: A camera arrangement for a vehicle includes a camera and a prism. The camera is arranged behind a windshield of the vehicle. The prism is positioned between the windshield and the camera and is coupled to the windshield by a coupling medium. The prism has a light entry surface facing the windshield and a light exit surface facing an optical imaging component of the camera. The light entry surface and/or the light exit surface is non-flat by which the prism at least partially compensates for refraction resulting from curvature of the windshield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Frank Blaesing, Alf Burau, Andreas Pirchner, Thomas Weber, Gregor Boehne, Frank Hagen, Claudia Weber
  • Patent number: 8723954
    Abstract: A camera arrangement for a vehicle includes a camera and an electrical conductor structure. The camera is separated from a pane which divides an outside region from an inside region. The camera is in the inside region and is pointed at a portion of the pane such that the camera has a viewing detection region through the pane. The conductor structure forms a device and is on the portion of the pane within the viewing detection region of the camera whereby the camera and the device use the same portion of the pane for their operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Frank Blaesing, Matthias Richwin, Ralf Boebel, Thomas Weber, Gregor Boehne
  • Patent number: 8192095
    Abstract: A sensor assembly for a vehicle windshield includes a retaining frame, a sensor housing, clamping hooks, a spring, and an actuating lever. The retaining frame is attachable to the windshield. The clamping hooks are connected to the housing. The clamping hooks are attachable to the retaining frame to attach the housing to the retaining frame. The spring is connected to the housing and associated with one of the clamping hooks. The actuating lever is pivotably mounted to the clamping hooks. Pivoting of the actuating lever causes the spring to compress and press the housing against the windshield when both the retaining frame is attached to the windshield and the housing is attached by the clamping hooks to the retaining frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Josef Kortan, Frank Blaesing, Ralf Boebel
  • Publication number: 20110129209
    Abstract: A sensor assembly for a vehicle windshield includes a retaining frame, a sensor housing, clamping hooks, a spring, and an actuating lever. The retaining frame is attachable to the windshield. The clamping hooks are connected to the housing. The clamping hooks are attachable to the retaining frame to attach the housing to the retaining frame. The spring is connected to the housing and associated with one of the clamping hooks. The actuating lever is pivotably mounted to the clamping hooks. Pivoting of the actuating lever causes the spring to compress and press the housing against the windshield when both the retaining frame is attached to the windshield and the housing is attached by the clamping hooks to the retaining frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: LEOPOLD KOSTAL GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Josef Kortan, Frank Blaesing, Ralf Boebel
  • Patent number: 7950690
    Abstract: A steering wheel (13) for a motor vehicle includes a steering wheel module (1) supporting electrical/electronic subassemblies (18). The steering wheel module is inserted from a front side of the steering wheel into a center of the steering wheel in order to be attached to the steering wheel. A lower end of the steering wheel module forms a torsion module (8) of a torque detection device for a steering power-assist system. The torsion module is operable to receive and be attached to a steering spindle (14) of a steering column on the back side of the steering wheel in order to attach the steering wheel to the steering spindle when the steering wheel module is attached to the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Klaus Hirschfeld, Martin Deitmerg, Ralf Böbel, Klaus Nieding, Frank Bläsing, Holger Lettmann, Rüdiger Menz
  • Patent number: 7900532
    Abstract: An electric shifting device for a vehicle includes a shift lever, a gate channel, and a detent device. The detent device has a spring-loaded pin and a detent contour cooperating therewith. The detent contour includes first and second paths and a connection path therebetween. The detent contour is movable relative to the channel between a first position in which the first path is aligned with the channel and a second position in which the second path is aligned with the channel. The lever is connected to the pin such that the lever is movable within the channel along the first path when the detent contour is in the first position and within the channel along the second path when the detent contour is in the second position and such that the lever is movable along the connection path between the paths when the detent contour moves between the positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Abel, Ralf Boebel, Martin Deitmerg, Thomas Luksch, Knut Moldenhauer, Frank Blaesing, Dirk Bunselmeier, Klaus Hirschfeld, Bjorn Mans, Ralf Winkelmann, Michael Bleckmann, Rainer Buehlmann, Martin Kunze, Peter Molkow
  • Patent number: 7855353
    Abstract: A camera arrangement includes a camera, a light source, and a light-guide which are in an inside region separated from an outside region by a window. The camera and the light source are pointed at the window. The light-guide is between the camera and the window and between the light source and the window. The light-guide couples light incident to the window from the outside region towards a portion of the camera. The light-guide couples light from the light source into the window which is reflected at the interface between the window and the outside region and couples the reflected light towards another portion of the camera. The camera records an image indicative of the incident light from the outside region through the light-guide and records an intensity of the reflected light from the light source through the light-guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Frank Blaesing, Matthias Richwin, Ralf Boebel, Thomas Weber, Gregor Boehne
  • Patent number: 7811011
    Abstract: A camera arrangement includes a camera having a lens pointed at a pane and being separated from the pane. A light-guiding element is between the camera lens and the pane. The light-guiding element guides at least light which is incident on the pane in a grazing manner from a direction of incidence to the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Frank Blaesing, Gregor Boehne, Carsten Neumann
  • Patent number: 7728272
    Abstract: A method for operating a sensor array of pixels which each generate a content corresponding to light incident thereon over an exposure period includes the following operations. The pixels are arranged into first and second regions and are reset such that the contents are cleared. The pixels are then exposed to receive light for a first exposure period. The exposure is then interrupted during which the content of each pixel in the first region is read. The pixels are then exposed to receive light for a second exposure period. The exposure is then interrupted during which the content of each pixel in the second region is read. The exposing and interrupting are performed without resetting the pixels such that the read content of each first region pixel depends on the first exposure period and the read content of each second region pixel depends on the first and second exposure periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Frank Blaesing
  • Publication number: 20090320634
    Abstract: An electric shifting device for a vehicle includes a shift lever, a gate channel, and a detent device. The detent device has a spring-loaded pin and a detent contour cooperating therewith. The detent contour includes first and second paths and a connection path therebetween. The detent contour is movable relative to the channel between a first position in which the first path is aligned with the channel and a second position in which the second path is aligned with the channel. The lever is connected to the pin such that the lever is movable within the channel along the first path when the detent contour is in the first position and within the channel along the second path when the detent contour is in the second position and such that the lever is movable along the connection path between the paths when the detent contour moves between the positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: LEOPOLD KOSTAL GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Abel, Ralf Boebel, Martin Deitmerg, Thomas Luksch, Knut Moldenhauer, Frank Blaesing, Dirk Bunselmeier, Klaus Hirschfeld, Bjorn Mans, Ralf Winkelmann, Michael Bleckmann, Rainer Buehlmann, Martin Kunze, Peter Molkow
  • Publication number: 20090230288
    Abstract: A method for operating a sensor array of pixels which each generate a content corresponding to light incident thereon over an exposure period includes the following operations. The pixels are arranged into first and second regions and are reset such that the contents are cleared. The pixels are then exposed to receive light for a first exposure period. The exposure is then interrupted during which the content of each pixel in the first region is read. The pixels are then exposed to receive light for a second exposure period. The exposure is then interrupted during which the content of each pixel in the second region is read. The exposing and interrupting are performed without resetting the pixels such that the read content of each first region pixel depends on the first exposure period and the read content of each second region pixel depends on the first and second exposure periods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Frank Blaesing
  • Publication number: 20080283782
    Abstract: A camera arrangement includes a camera, a light source, and a light-guide which are in an inside region separated from an outside region by a window. The camera and the light source are pointed at the window. The light-guide is between the camera and the window and between the light source and the window. The light-guide couples light incident to the window from the outside region towards a portion of the camera. The light-guide couples light from the light source into the window which is reflected at the interface between the window and the outside region and couples the reflected light towards another portion of the camera. The camera records an image indicative of the incident light from the outside region through the light-guide and records an intensity of the reflected light from the light source through the light-guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicant: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Frank Blaesing, Matthias Richwin, Ralf Boebel, Thomas Weber, Gregor Boehne
  • Publication number: 20080284850
    Abstract: A camera arrangement for a vehicle includes a camera and an electrical conductor structure. The camera is separated from a pane which divides an outside region from an inside region. The camera is in the inside region and is pointed at a portion of the pane such that the camera has a viewing detection region through the pane. The conductor structure forms a device and is on the portion of the pane within the viewing detection region of the camera whereby the camera and the device use the same portion of the pane for their operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicant: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Frank Blaesing, Matthias Richwin, Ralf Boebel, Thomas Weber, Gregor Boehne
  • Publication number: 20080279543
    Abstract: A camera arrangement includes a camera having a lens pointed at a pane and being separated from the pane. A light-guiding element is between the camera lens and the pane. The light-guiding element guides at least light which is incident on the pane in a grazing manner from a direction of incidence to the camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Frank Blaesing, Gregor Boehne, Carsten Neumann