Patents by Inventor Franz Heininger

Franz Heininger 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: 11451941
    Abstract: An access system for an object with a transmission unit arranged in the object and a transponder unit arranged in a portable device. The transmission unit emits request signals at regular intervals. The transponder unit, in response to a triggering event, stores a current position of the object and determines its own position at regular intervals. The transponder unit deactivates the transmission unit when the transponder unit detects, based on the determined position, that the transponder unit has left a first zone, wherein the first zone is arranged around the object, and wherein the transmission unit does not emit any request signals while the transmission unit is deactivated. The transponder unit furthermore activates the transmission unit when the transponder unit detects, based on the determined position, that the transponder unit has entered an adjusted first zone, wherein the adjusted first zone is arranged around the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Inventors: Franz Heininger, Ulrich Emmerling, Alexander Heinrich
  • Patent number: 11274644
    Abstract: In response to a triggering event, changing a vehicle remote engine start system from a first state to a second state. In the first state a remote engine start mode, a drive engine of the vehicle and a plurality of vehicle functions are deactivated. In the second state the remote engine start mode, at least one of the plurality of vehicle functions and the drive engine of the vehicle are activated. After activating the remote engine start mode, a timer is incremented or decremented from a predetermined start value. If the timer has not elapsed and the presence of a user is detected, the remote engine start system changes to a third state in which the last timer value and the current state of the remote engine start mode are stored and then the remote engine start mode and the timer are stopped, wherein the drive engine remains switched on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Inventors: Franz Heininger, Tibor Gugger
  • Publication number: 20200245111
    Abstract: An access system for an object with a transmission unit arranged in the object and a transponder unit arranged in a portable device. The transmission unit emits request signals at regular intervals. The transponder unit, in response to a triggering event, stores a current position of the object and determines its own position at regular intervals. The transponder unit deactivates the transmission unit when the transponder unit detects, based on the basis of the determined position, that the transponder unit has left a first zone, wherein the first zone is arranged around the object and wherein the transmission unit does not emit any request signals while the transmission unit is deactivated. The transponder unit furthermore activates the transmission unit when the transponder unit detects, based on the determined position, that the transponder unit has entered an adjusted first zone, wherein the adjusted first zone is arranged around the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Franz Heininger, Ulrich Emmerling, Alexander Heinrich
  • Publication number: 20200109689
    Abstract: In response to a triggering event, changing a vehicle remote engine start system from a first state to a second state. In the first state a remote engine start mode, a drive engine of the vehicle and a plurality of vehicle functions are deactivated. In the second state the remote engine start mode, at least one of the plurality of vehicle functions and the drive engine of the vehicle are activated. After activating the remote engine start mode, a timer is incremented or decremented from a predetermined start value. If the timer has not elapsed and the presence of a user is detected, the remote engine start system changes to a third state in which the last timer value and the current state of the remote engine start mode are stored and then the remote engine start mode and the timer are stopped, wherein the drive engine remains switched on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: Franz Heininger, Tibor Gugger
  • Patent number: 8427287
    Abstract: In a method for operating an access arrangement (ZA) for a vehicle (FZ), access to the vehicle can be obtained by a mobile identification transmitter (IDG). With this method, first an ambient brightness around the vehicle is determined. Furthermore, the presence of an authorized mobile identification transmitter in an approach region (ANB, ANB2) around the vehicle is examined. Finally, an activation signal (LSS) for an illumination source (BL) of the vehicle is issued when the ambient brightness drops below a predetermined brightness value and the presence of an authorized mobile identification transmitter is detected in the approach zone. In this way, efficient activation of the illumination source can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Franz Heininger
  • Publication number: 20110316680
    Abstract: In a method for operating an access arrangement (ZA) for a vehicle (FZ), access to the vehicle can be obtained by a mobile identification transmitter (IDG). With this method, first an ambient brightness around the vehicle is determined. Furthermore, the presence of an authorized mobile identification transmitter in an approach region (ANB, ANB2) around the vehicle is examined. Finally, an activation signal (LSS) for an illumination source (BL) of the vehicle is issued when the ambient brightness drops below a predetermined brightness value and the presence of an authorized mobile identification transmitter is detected in the approach zone. In this way, efficient activation of the illumination source can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventor: Franz Heininger