Patents by Inventor Gustav Hofmann

Gustav Hofmann 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: 10261653
    Abstract: A method for making available a user interface, in particular in a vehicle, in which one or more graphic objects are displayed on a display with a touch-sensitive surface, an operator controlled intention which can be assigned to an operator controlled area of the display is determined in a contactless fashion in a space in the viewing direction in front of the display, and an operator controlled action is implemented by touching one of the graphic objects in the operator-controlled area of the display. Three-dimensional graphics data are calculated for a graphic object in the operator-controlled area of the display, and that when the operator-controlled intention has been determined, the graphic object in the operator-controlled area is emphasized visually in that the display of the graphic object which can be perceived over an area in the plane of the display is changed into a display which can be perceived spatially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Heino Wengelnik, Mathias Kuhn, Gustav Hofmann, Andreas Medler, Frank Althoff
  • Patent number: 9836208
    Abstract: In a method for displaying information with the aid of a display mounted in a motor vehicle, a user-interface device generates graphics data that control the display such that a graphical object is displayed in which a display content is shown in a specific scale, and one pixel of the display is selected with the aid of an input device, and a line is drawn on the display starting from this pixel. The scale of the display content is altered as a function of the length of the line. A display device for a motor vehicle can implement the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Rainer Dehmann, Gustav Hofmann, Mathias Kuhn
  • Patent number: 9440553
    Abstract: An energy management method for a vehicle having an energy store and consumers, in which the energy reserve in the energy store is detected and a predicted actual range of the vehicle is calculated, a graphic object which visualizes the predicted actual range is generated and displayed, a user input is detected with which a setpoint range is set in that the graphic object is changed by an input device, after the setting of the setpoint range, on the basis of the difference between the setpoint range and the predicted actual range it is calculated by which changes in state of at least one subset of the consumers the setpoint range can be achieved, and the calculated changes in state are output as a proposal. Also disclosed is an energy management device for carrying out this energy management method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Mathias Kuhn, Tobias Budzynski, Jian Lou, Sönke Petersen, Gustav Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20150258912
    Abstract: An energy management method for a vehicle having an energy store and consumers, in which the energy reserve in the energy store is detected and a predicted actual range of the vehicle is calculated, a graphic object which visualizes the predicted actual range is generated and displayed, a user input is detected with which a setpoint range is set in that the graphic object is changed by an input device, after the setting of the setpoint range, on the basis of the difference between the setpoint range and the predicted actual range it is calculated by which changes in state of at least one subset of the consumers the setpoint range can be achieved, and the calculated changes in state are output as a proposal. Also disclosed is an energy management device for carrying out this energy management method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: Mathias KUHN, Tobias BUDZYNSKI, Jian LOU, Sönke PETERSEN, Gustav HOFMANN
  • Patent number: 9019311
    Abstract: In a method for displaying information in a motor vehicle, at least one two-dimensional object is displayed graphically in a first representation which shows one side of the object, and in a second representation which shows the other side of the object, with the aid of a display mounted in the motor vehicle, different information being shown on the respective sides of the two-dimensional graphical object, and the graphical object extending substantially over the entire size of the display in at least one direction in the first and/or second representation. The representation of the graphical object is altered as a function of a control signal such that the graphical object rotates from one side to the other side in a perspective representation on the display, the two-dimensional graphical object always being fully displayed, at least perspectively, during the rotation. A corresponding display device for a motor vehicle is provided for performing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Rainer Dehmann, Gustav Hofmann, Mathias Kuhn, Frank Hauschild
  • Publication number: 20150103100
    Abstract: In a method for displaying information in a motor vehicle, at least one two-dimensional object is displayed graphically in a first representation which shows one side of the object, and in a second representation which shows the other side of the object, with the aid of a display mounted in the motor vehicle, different information being shown on the respective sides of the two-dimensional graphical object, and the graphical object extending substantially over the entire size of the display in at least one direction in the first and/or second representation. The representation of the graphical object is altered as a function of a control signal such that the graphical object rotates from one side to the other side in a perspective representation on the display, the two-dimensional graphical object always being fully displayed, at least perspectively, during the rotation. A corresponding display device for a motor vehicle is provided for performing the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Rainer Dehmann, Gustav Hofmann, Mathias Kuhn, Frank Hauschild
  • Publication number: 20140215403
    Abstract: A method for making available a user interface, in particular in a vehicle, in which one or more graphic objects are displayed on a display with a touch-sensitive surface, an operator controlled intention which can be assigned to an operator controlled area of the display is determined in a contactless fashion in a space in the viewing direction in front of the display, and an operator controlled action is implemented by touching one of the graphic objects in the operator-controlled area of the display. Three-dimensional graphics data are calculated for a graphic object in the operator-controlled area of the display, and that when the operator-controlled intention has been determined, the graphic object in the operator-controlled area is emphasized visually in that the display of the graphic object which can be perceived over an area in the plane of the display is changed into a display which can be perceived spatially.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Heino Wengelnik, Mathias Kuhn, Gustav Hofmann, Andreas Medler, Frank Althoff
  • Patent number: 8674820
    Abstract: A display device for a vehicle for the display of information relating to the operation of the vehicle includes a display, at least one round instrument which is readable to a viewer in the area of the display, and a control device which controls the reading on the display and of the round instrument. The display device can be controlled by the control device such that the display device has a first display mode in which the at least one round instrument is displayed to the viewer and the display has a display area within the round instrument and a display area outside the round instrument, and the display device has a second display mode in which the at least one round instrument is not displayed to the viewer, the information which can be displayed by the round instrument is represented by a digital reading of the display, and the information displayed by the display in the first display mode within the round instrument is displayed in another display area of the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Robert Hofmann, Gustav Hofmann, Sun Kyoung Han, Mathias Kuhn, Marc Amann, Rainer Dehmann
  • Publication number: 20110273477
    Abstract: In a method for displaying information with the aid of a display mounted in a motor vehicle, a user-interface device generates graphics data that control the display such that a graphical object is displayed in which a display content is shown in a specific scale, and one pixel of the display is selected with the aid of an input device, and a line is drawn on the display starting from this pixel. The scale of the display content is altered as a function of the length of the line. A display device for a motor vehicle can implement the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Rainer Dehmann, Gustav Hofmann, Mathias Kuhn
  • Publication number: 20110187749
    Abstract: In a method for displaying information in a motor vehicle, at least one two-dimensional object is displayed graphically in a first representation which shows one side of the object, and in a second representation which shows the other side of the object, with the aid of a display mounted in the motor vehicle, different information being shown on the respective sides of the two-dimensional graphical object, and the graphical object extending substantially over the entire size of the display in at least one direction in the first and/or second representation. The representation of the graphical object is altered as a function of a control signal such that the graphical object rotates from one side to the other side in a perspective representation on the display, the two-dimensional graphical object always being fully displayed, at least perspectively, during the rotation. A corresponding display device for a motor vehicle is provided for performing the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Rainer Dehmann, Gustav Hofmann, Mathias Kuhn, Frank Hauschild
  • Patent number: 7872569
    Abstract: A built-in instrument cluster for a motor vehicle includes at least one display device, which emits image-forming light and is arranged in the direct field of view of an observer, and at least one illuminated and/or self-illuminating electromechanical indicator device, which is arranged in the observer's field of view, at an angle to the display device, and is moved into the observer's field of view together with the display device via an optical combiner, which is arranged to reflect the image-forming light of the electromechanical indicator device. In order to be able to integrate such an instrument cluster into the tight spatial conditions in the instrument panel in the steering-column region, it is provided that the electromechanical indicator device is at least partially provided by light guides and/or light projectors to save depth at abutting vehicle components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Thomas Kiesewetter, Paolo Vaz, Niclas Meyer, Gustav Hofmann, Helge Neuner, Robert Hofmann, Ralf Wenzel
  • Publication number: 20100321176
    Abstract: A display device for a vehicle for the display of information relating to the operation of the vehicle includes a display, at least one round instrument which is readable to a viewer in the area of the display, and a control device which controls the reading on the display and of the round instrument. The display device can be controlled by the control device such that the display device has a first display mode in which the at least one round instrument is displayed to the viewer and the display has a display area within the round instrument and a display area outside the round instrument, and the display device has a second display mode in which the at least one round instrument is not displayed to the viewer, the information which can be displayed by the round instrument is represented by a digital reading of the display, and the information displayed by the display in the first display mode within the round instrument is displayed in another display area of the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventors: Robert Hofmann, Gustav Hofmann, Sun Kyoung Han, Mathias Kuhn, Marc Amann, Rainer Dehmann
  • Patent number: 7669543
    Abstract: A display device for a motor vehicle, e.g., an instrument cluster, includes at least one first display device emitting image-forming light, and at least one illuminated and/or self-luminous electromechanical second display device. The first display device is arranged in a visual field of an observer. The second electromechanical display device is arranged at an angle to the first display device, and a combination element is provided between the first display device and the electromechanical display device, the combination device being transparent to the image-forming light in the first display device and reflective to the image-forming light of the electromechanical second display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Bernd Soltendieck, Robert Hofmann, Gustav Hofmann, Andreas Medler, Mathias Kuhn, Michael Bauer
  • Publication number: 20090278676
    Abstract: A built-in instrument cluster for a motor vehicle includes at least one display device, which emits image-forming light and is arranged in the direct field of view of an observer, and at least one illuminated and/or self-illuminating electromechanical indicator device, which is arranged in the observer's field of view, at an angle to the display device, and is moved into the observer's field of view together with the display device via an optical combiner, which is arranged to reflect the image-forming light of the electromechanical indicator device. In order to be able to integrate such an instrument cluster into the tight spatial conditions in the instrument panel in the steering-column region, it is provided that the electromechanical indicator device is at least partially provided by light guides and/or light projectors to save depth at abutting vehicle components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas Kiesewetter, Paolo Vaz, Niclas Meyer, Gustav Hofmann, Helge Neuner, Robert Hofmann, Ralf Wenzel
  • Publication number: 20090149098
    Abstract: An instrument panel or an interior trim panel for a motor vehicle or vehicle includes a support and a woven cover positioned over the support, the woven cover including warp threads and weft threads, as well as crossing points of the warp threads and weft threads, and the density of the crossing points being substantially independent of the surface geometry of the support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Odysseus Andronis, Gustav Hofmann, Niels Kleindienst
  • Patent number: D702169
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Tomasz Bachorski, Gustav Hofmann, Luigi J. Trabucco
  • Patent number: D706188
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Tomasz Bachorski, Gustav Hofmann, Luigi Trabucco
  • Patent number: D728438
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Tomasz Bachorski, Jörg Seifert, Luigi Trabucco, Alexander Hahn, Gustav Hofmann
  • Patent number: D754043
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Tomasz Bachorski, Jörg Seifert, Luigi Trabucco, Alexander Hahn, Gustav Hofmann
  • Patent number: D774430
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Tomasz Bachorski, Jörg Seifert, Luigi Trabucco, Alexander Hahn, Gustav Hofmann