Patents by Inventor Frank Gensler

Frank Gensler 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: 9517775
    Abstract: In order to operate a motor vehicle, a position sensor and a radiation source as well as at least one vital sensor having a detector are provided. The position sensor delivers a measurement signal having information regarding a predetermined area of the vehicle interior of the motor vehicle. The radiation source emits a predetermined radiation after activation. The vital sensor detects a reflected portion of the radiation that is emitted by the radiation source. The measurement signal of the vital sensor is representative of at least one vital parameter of a given vehicle occupant. As a function of the measurement signal of the position sensor, a position is determined of at least one predetermined reference body part of the vehicle occupant in question. The orientation of the radiation source is controlled as a function of the detected position of the predetermined reference body part of the vehicle occupant in question.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frank Gensler, Ulrich Langenkamp
  • Publication number: 20150203122
    Abstract: In order to operate a motor vehicle, a position sensor and a radiation source as well as at least one vital sensor having a detector are provided. The position sensor delivers a measurement signal having information regarding a predetermined area of the vehicle interior of the motor vehicle. The radiation source emits a predetermined radiation after activation. The vital sensor detects a reflected portion of the radiation that is emitted by the radiation source. The measurement signal of the vital sensor is representative of at least one vital parameter of a given vehicle occupant. As a function of the measurement signal of the position sensor, a position is determined of at least one predetermined reference body part of the vehicle occupant in question. The orientation of the radiation source is controlled as a function of the detected position of the predetermined reference body part of the vehicle occupant in question.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: Frank GENSLER, Ulrich LANGENKAMP
  • Patent number: 7813844
    Abstract: In the case of a system for automatically bringing a motor vehicle into a target position, having a sensor system and an analyzing unit for determining the position of the motor vehicle relative to the target position as well as devices for planning a collision-free drive from the current position to the target position, and devices for implementing the planned drive, a first part of the sensor system is arranged at or in the motor vehicle, and a second part of the sensor system is arranged in a stationary manner in a defined position close to the target position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frank Gensler, Dirk Ehmanns
  • Publication number: 20080033603
    Abstract: In the case of a system for automatically bringing a motor vehicle into a target position, having a sensor system and an analyzing unit for determining the position of the motor vehicle relative to the target position as well as devices for planning a collision-free drive from the current position to the target position, and devices for implementing the planned drive, a first part of the sensor system is arranged at or in the motor vehicle, and a second part of the sensor system is arranged in a stationary manner in a defined position close to the target position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frank Gensler, Dirk Ehmanns
  • Patent number: 7054729
    Abstract: Method for determining geometric data for parking processes of vehicles, wherein the lateral distance between the vehicle and a curb is measured several times successively by means of a distance sensor attached to the vehicle as the vehicle is driven by the parking space. The angle of the longitudinal axis of a vehicle and the curb is ascertained by determining a sideways movement angle between the present longitudinal direction of the vehicle and a preset longitudinal direction, which angle results from the sideways movement of the vehicle as it is driven along, by determining a curb angle between the preset longitudinal direction and the curb, which angle results from the course of the curb contour, and by determining the angle between the present longitudinal axis of the vehicle and the curb by adding the angle of sideways movement and the curb angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dietmar Maier, Frank Gensler, Helmut Spannheimer, Harald Graef, Alfred Pruckner, Karl-Heinz Meitinger
  • Publication number: 20050203686
    Abstract: Method for determining geometric data for parking processes of vehicles, wherein the lateral distance between the vehicle and a curb is measured several times successively by means of a distance sensor attached to the vehicle as the vehicle is driven by the parking space. The angle of the longitudinal axis of a vehicle and the curb is ascertained by determining a sideways movement angle between the present longitudinal direction of the vehicle and a preset longitudinal direction, which angle results from the sideways movement of the vehicle as it is driven along, by determining a curb angle between the preset longitudinal direction and the curb, which angle results from the course of the curb contour, and by determining the angle between the present longitudinal axis of the vehicle and the curb by adding the angle of sideways movement and the curb angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke
    Inventors: Dietmar Maier, Frank Gensler, Helmut Spannheimer, Harald Graef, Alfred Pruckner, Karl-Heinz Meitinger
  • Patent number: 6819284
    Abstract: A system is provided for assisting with parking of motor vehicles in parking spaces, having at least one transmitter, arranged on the exterior side of the vehicle for transmitting a signal emitted at least approximately perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and limited to a small emission angle range, and an assigned receiver for the reflected signal. The transmitted signal is formed of two partial beams having approximately flat surface area emission characteristics, the two areas being situated at least approximately perpendicular with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dietmar Maier, Frank Gensler
  • Publication number: 20030058132
    Abstract: A system is provided for assisting with parking of motor vehicles in parking spaces, having at least one transmitter, arranged on the exterior side of the vehicle for transmitting a signal emitted at least approximately perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and limited to a small emission angle range, and an assigned receiver for the reflected signal. The transmitted signal is formed of two partial beams having approximately flat surface area emission characteristics, the two areas being situated at least approximately perpendicular with respect to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Dietmar Maier, Frank Gensler