Patents by Inventor Frank LANGKABEL

Frank LANGKABEL 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: 10442341
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp system with at least one headlamp, wherein the headlamp is designed to emit a variable light distribution, at least one driver monitoring device for detecting the viewing direction of a driver, an environmental monitoring device for monitoring the environment of the motor vehicle and detecting at least one object in the environment of the motor vehicle, a memory connected with the environmental monitoring device for storing information about the objects, and a controller that is connected with the memory and driver monitoring device, which is set up to compare the location of the object with the viewing direction of the driver, wherein the controller is set up to alter the light distribution of the at least one headlamp so as to illuminate the object when the viewing direction of the driver is turned toward the object. Also described are a motor vehicle, a method for operating a motor vehicle headlamp system, as well as a computer program product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Philipp Roeckl, Frank Langkabel, Rouven Haberkorn, Ingolf Schneider
  • Patent number: 10293740
    Abstract: A motor vehicle headlight and method for operating the headlight is disclosed, wherein the headlight is operated in a main beam mode or in a partial main beam node. A light distribution of the main beam of the headlight is adapted as a function of a course of a road which is being traveled along by the motor vehicle. In addition, a motor vehicle headlight is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Frank Langkabel, Rouven Haberkorn, Philipp Roeckl, Thomas Feid, Justus Illium, Michael Rabe, Ingolf Schneider, Isabell Woelfelschneider
  • Patent number: 10285232
    Abstract: A headlight for a motor vehicle includes at least two light sources and a driver, which is arranged to vary the light intensities of the light sources with a phase shift to one another periodically between a minimum and a maximum and in the course of a period to set intermediate values between the maximum and the minimum. In a phase of the period, in which the first light source reaches the maximum of its light intensity, the light intensity of the second light source is situated at an intermediate value and increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Frank Langkabel, Rouven Haberkorn, Philipp Roeckl, Michael Bach, Ralph Schneider, Ingolf Schneider
  • Patent number: 9707885
    Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a headlamp configured to project an adjustable light beam; a plurality of cameras positioned at different locations in the motor vehicle and oriented to capture a head of a driver; a controller in data communication with the cameras to determine at least one region of attention of the driver from data captured by the cameras, and adaptively control the light beam of the headlamp based on the region of attention of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Frank Langkabel, Philipp Roeckl, Ingolf Schneider
  • Patent number: 9663024
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling a headlight in a motor vehicle. The method includes providing a headlight configured to emit a light distribution in a selectively controlled manner, and controlling the headlight to generate a dynamic wave effect in at least one sub-region in front of the vehicle within the illuminated light distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Philipp Roeckl, Thomas Feid, Frank Langkabel, Ingolf Schneider
  • Patent number: 9623793
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a headlight system of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The headlight system can be actuated in at least two control modes, each having an associated, predetermined maximum main beam width. First, a current driving situation of the motor vehicle is captured on the basis of at least one operating, parameter of the motor vehicle. A current control mode is ascertained based on which control mode from at least two control modes matches a control mode assigned to the captured driving situation on the basis of the captured current driving situation and at least one-time or temporal parameter. The controller is shifted into the assigned control mode when the current control mode does not match the assigned control mode, wherein a maximum main beam width is set for the current driving situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Frank Langkabel, Carsten Neitzke, Justus Illium, Michael Rabe, Ingolf Schneider, Phillipp Roeckl, Rouven Haberkorn
  • Patent number: 9616804
    Abstract: A method for adjusting the lighting range of a headlamp in a motor vehicle, is performed with the following steps. A first coordinateis acquired that corresponds to a position of the motor vehicle. At least one image of a camera connected with the motor vehicle is evaluated so as to acquire a second coordinate that corresponds to the position of an object on a roadway in the zone ahead of the motor vehicle. A reference angle is calculated for the motor vehicle from the first coordinate, the second coordinate and a height of the camera over the roadway. The lighting range of the headlamp is adjusted based on the reference angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Philipp Roeckl, Frank Langkabel, Ingolf Schneider, Thomas Feid
  • Publication number: 20170088036
    Abstract: A headlamp device for a vehicle is provided to generate a light beam having a directed spotlight having an illumination direction and a spotlight distribution, and an orientation light having a broader orientation light distribution than the spotlight. The illumination direction of the spotlight is adjustable horizontally and vertically and the spotlight distribution may be at least partly suppressed to avoid dazzling other road users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Philipp ROECKL, Ingolf SCHNEIDER, Rouven HABERKORN, Frank LANGKABEL
  • Patent number: 9566898
    Abstract: A lighting device of a vehicle is provided. The lighting device comprises a light fitting, which comprises a first and a second light source with different color locations. Furthermore, the lighting device has a first sensing module, which senses the actual value of the color location of the light fitting. In addition, the lighting device comprises a set value generator module which presets a set value for the color location of the light fitting, and a control module which reduces the difference between set value and actual value by means of an actuator module. Here, the set value of the color location of the light fitting is dependent on a driving situation of the vehicle or a personalized driving setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Frank Langkabel, Philipp Roeckl, Ingolf Schneider
  • Patent number: 9514372
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lane-tracking assistance system for a motor vehicle including a surroundings detection device for determining at least one roadway marking and at least one vehicle headlight which, depending on the detected roadway marking and a position of the motor vehicle that is able to be detected from the roadway marking, is designed to generate light of a differing spectral composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Feid, Ingolf Schneider, Philipp Roeckl, Frank Langkabel
  • Publication number: 20160243979
    Abstract: A headlight for a motor vehicle includes at least two light sources and a driver, which is arranged to vary the light intensities of the light sources with a phase shift to one another periodically between a minimum and a maximum and in the course of a period to set intermediate values between the maximum and the minimum. In a phase of the period, in which the first light source reaches the maximum of its light intensity, the light intensity of the second light source is situated at an intermediate value and increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Frank LANGKABEL, Rouven HABERKORN, Philipp ROECKL, Michael BACH, Ralph SCHNEIDER, Ingolf SCHNEIDER
  • Publication number: 20160236611
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a headlight system of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The headlight system can be actuated in at least two control modes, each having an associated, predetermined maximum main beam width. First, a current driving situation of the motor vehicle is captured on the basis of at least one operating, parameter of the motor vehicle. A current control mode is ascertained based on which control mode from at least two control modes matches a control mode assigned to the captured driving situation on the basis of the captured current driving situation and at least one-time or temporal parameter. The controller is shifted into the assigned control mode when the current control mode does not match the assigned control mode, wherein a maximum main beam width is set for the current driving situation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Frank LANGKABEL, Carsten NEITZKE, Justus ILLIUM, Michael RABE, Ingolf SCHNEIDER, Phillipp ROECKL, Rouven HABERKORN
  • Publication number: 20160176332
    Abstract: Motor vehicle headlamps are disclosed with at least one illuminant for a low-beam light, a high-beam light and an ambient light, which are designed for emitting light upwards relative to a road plane, wherein the ambient light is emittable combined with low-beam light and/or high-beam light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Philipp ROECKL, Ingolf SCHNEIDER, Frank LANGKABEL, Rouven HABERKORN
  • Publication number: 20160176333
    Abstract: A motor vehicle headlight and method for operating the headlight is disclosed, wherein the headlight is operated in a main beam mode or in a partial main beam node. A light distribution of the main beam of the headlight is adapted as a function of a course of a road which is being travelled along by the motor vehicle. In addition, a motor vehicle headlight is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Frank LANGKABEL, Rouven HABERKORN, Philipp ROECKL, Thomas FEID, Justus ILLIUM, Michael RABE, Ingolf SCHNEIDER, Isabell WOELFELSCHNEIDER
  • Publication number: 20160176334
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp system with at least one headlamp, wherein the headlamp is designed to emit a variable light distribution, at least one driver monitoring device for detecting the viewing direction of a driver, an environmental monitoring device for monitoring the environment of the motor vehicle and detecting at least one object in the environment of the motor vehicle, a memory connected with the environmental monitoring device for storing information about the objects, and a controller that is connected with the memory and driver monitoring device, which is set up to compare the location of the object with the viewing direction of the driver, wherein the controller is set up to alter the light distribution of the at least one headlamp so as to illuminate the object when the viewing direction of the driver is turned toward the object. Also described are a motor vehicle, a method for operating a motor vehicle headlamp system, as well as a computer program product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Philipp ROECKL, Frank LANGKABEL, Rouven HABERKORN, Ingolf SCHNEIDER
  • Publication number: 20160144772
    Abstract: A headlight for a motor vehicle with a light-emitting surface, which when viewed from the direction of a main beam is divided into a main area that emits the main beam and two elongated edge areas. A first edge area serves as a turn signal and is spaced apart from the main area by the second edge area. The second edge area serves as the daytime running light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Frank LANGKABEL, Ingolf SCHNEIDER, Heiko ECKERT, Serkan PROEPPER, Ralph SCHNEIDER, Gregor KRIEG, Michael BACH, Thorsten BOG
  • Publication number: 20160068097
    Abstract: A motor vehicle is disclosed which includes a headlamp directed in travelling direction towards the front having an adaptable light beam. A controller is provided to adaptively control the light beam. A camera is arranged in the motor vehicle and oriented so that it captures a head of a driver. The camera is in data communication with the controller, which is configured to determine at least one region of attention of the driver from data transmitted by the camera. The controller is further configured to adapt the light beam of the headlamp, as a function of the region of attention by emphasizing the region of attention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Frank LANGKABEL, Philipp ROECKL, Ingolf SCHNEIDER
  • Patent number: 9243765
    Abstract: A light is provided and a method is provided for manufacturing a light, with a carrier element, an illuminating device disposed on the carrier element with a circuit board and an illuminant mounted on the circuit board, and an optic. The one of the optics and the carrier element comprises at least one positioning element, which passes through an opening in the circuit board and engages in a recess in the other of the optics and the carrier element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Philipp Roeckl, Frank Langkabel, Serkan Proepper, Rouven Haberkorn, Ingolf Schneider, Heiko Eckert
  • Publication number: 20150103546
    Abstract: A headlamp for a vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle, is disclosed which includes a laser and a converter having a first conversion unit and a second conversion unit. The first conversion unit emits light of a first color temperature after its excitation by means of the laser. The second conversion unit emits light of a second color temperature after its excitation by means of the laser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Frank Langkabel, Ingolf Schneider
  • Publication number: 20150092431
    Abstract: A headlamp for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle is disclosed. The headlamp includes a first light source designed to illuminate a central area with a first light spectrum, and a second light source designed to illuminate an edge area with a second light spectrum. The light spectrum of the first light source differs from the light spectrum of the second light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Ingolf Schneider, Frank Langkabel, Tran Quoc Khanh