Patents by Inventor Heiko KURZ

Heiko KURZ 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: 12212049
    Abstract: The invention relates to a radar antenna arrangement (1) for a vehicle (2), comprising at least one vehicle component (3), wherein the radar antenna arrangement (1) comprises a plurality of radar devices (4) which are configured to transmit and/or receive a radar beam (12). The radar devices (4) are arranged on a component surface (5) of the vehicle component (3). The invention provides for the radar antenna arrangement (1) to comprise at least one antenna row (6) for determining an azimuthal angle (10) of the radar beam (12), said antenna row comprising a plurality of the radar devices (4). Directly adjacent radar devices (4) have respective horizontal distances (8) from one another. The radar antenna arrangement (1) comprises at least one antenna column (7) for determining an elevation angle (11) of the radar beam (12), said antenna column comprising a plurality of the radar devices (4). Directly adjacent radar devices (4) have respective vertical distances (9) from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, AUDI AG, SICOYA GMBH
    Inventors: Heiko Kurz, Thorsten Bagdonat, Michael Schwenkert, Christoph Scheytt, Hanjo Rhee, Thomas Schneider, Joerg Schoebel, Fabian Schwartau, Stefan Preussler
  • Publication number: 20240385281
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a radar sensor device comprising a transmission path and a reception path, an optical input, which is formed for receiving an optical transfer signal, an optical output, which is formed for providing an optical output signal, an antenna, which is configured to transmit an electrical transmission signal and to receive an electrical reception signal, a digital interface unit, which is configured to switch between the transmission path and the reception path, wherein the radar sensor device is formed as a system on a chip, and the transmission path, the reception path, the optical input, the optical output, the antenna and the digital interface unit are arranged on the system on a chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Applicants: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Heiko KURZ, Rachid KHLIFI
  • Patent number: 12015188
    Abstract: A radar antenna assembly for a vehicle, including a composite window pane and at least one radar device designed to transmit and/or receive radar beam. The at least one radar device has an antenna unit and an amplifier unit. The amplifier unit is designed to provide an electrical driver signal for the antenna unit, and/or to receive an electrical echo signal from the antenna unit. The antenna unit may be arranged in the composite window pane of the vehicle, the amplifier unit may be arranged on a surface of the composite window pane, and the antenna unit and the amplifier unit are spatially separate from one another and are electrically interconnected via a connecting element arranged in the composite window pane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignees: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, Fujikura Technology Europe Gmbh
    Inventors: Heiko Kurz, Hanjo Rhee, Stephan Kremers, Peter Stratmann
  • Publication number: 20220291381
    Abstract: A method for distance measurement by means of an active optical sensor system is disclosed, comprising: an initial pulse sequence with an initial frequency spectrum, which corresponds to a frequency comb, is generated using a laser source. Based thereon, a first pulse sequence and a first reference pulse sequence with a first frequency spectrum, which corresponds to a first part of the frequency comb, as well as a second pulse sequence and a second reference pulse sequence with a second frequency spectrum, which corresponds to a second part of the frequency comb, are generated. A first distance of the object is determined using a first heterodyne measurement based on the first reference pulse sequence and reflected portions of the first pulse sequence and a second distance is determined using a second heterodyne measurement based on the second reference pulse sequence and reflected portions of the second pulse sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Applicants: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Heiko KURZ, Marc-Michael MEINECKE, Christoph KOTTKE, Patrick RUNGE, Pascal RUSTIGE, Ronald FREUND, Michael SCHWENKERT
  • Publication number: 20220231406
    Abstract: The invention relates to a radar antenna arrangement (1) for a vehicle (2), comprising at least one vehicle component (3), wherein the radar antenna arrangement (1) comprises a plurality of radar devices (4) which are configured to transmit and/or receive a radar beam (12). The radar devices (4) are arranged on a component surface (5) of the vehicle component (3). The invention provides for the radar antenna arrangement (1) to comprise at least one antenna row (6) for determining an azimuthal angle (10) of the radar beam (12), said antenna row comprising a plurality of the radar devices (4). Directly adjacent radar devices (4) have respective horizontal distances (8) from one another. The radar antenna arrangement (1) comprises at least one antenna column (7) for determining an elevation angle (11) of the radar beam (12), said antenna column comprising a plurality of the radar devices (4). Directly adjacent radar devices (4) have respective vertical distances (9) from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Applicants: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, AUDI AG, Sicoya GmbH
    Inventors: Heiko KURZ, Thorsten BAGDONAT, Michael SCHWENKERT, Christoph SCHEYTT, Hanjo RHEE, Thomas SCHNEIDER, Joerg SCHOEBEL, Fabian SCHWARTAU, Stefan PREUSSLER
  • Publication number: 20220231402
    Abstract: A radar antenna assembly for a vehicle, including a composite window pane and at least one radar device designed to transmit and/or receive radar beam. The at least one radar device has an antenna unit and an amplifier unit. The amplifier unit is designed to provide an electrical driver signal for the antenna unit, and/or to receive an electrical echo signal from the antenna unit. The antenna unit may be arranged in the composite window pane of the vehicle, the amplifier unit may be arranged on a surface of the composite window pane, and the antenna unit and the amplifier unit are spatially separate from one another and are electrically interconnected via a connecting element arranged in the composite window pane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Heiko Kurz, Hanjo Rhee, Stephan Kremers, Peter Stratmann
  • Patent number: 10942253
    Abstract: A radar system having at least one radar transmission unit, at least one radar reception unit, a central unit, and a glass fiber for connecting these units, wherein the central unit has a central optical transmission unit to provide an optical radar driver signal, and wherein the at least one radar transmission unit has an optical reception unit and a radar transmitter, wherein the optical reception unit receives the optical radar driver signal and converts the optical radar driver signal into an electrical radar driver signal and provides the electrical radar driver signal for driving the radar transmitter, wherein the at least one radar reception unit includes a radar receiver, a mixer and an optical modulation unit. Also disclosed is an associated method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas Schneider, Jörg Schöbel, Fabian Schwartau, Stefan Preußler, Hanjo Rhee, Christoph Scheytt, Michael Schwenkert, Thorsten Bagdonat, Heiko Kurz
  • Publication number: 20190162819
    Abstract: A radar system having at least one radar transmission unit, at least one radar reception unit, a central unit, and a glass fiber for connecting these units, wherein the central unit has a central optical transmission unit to provide an optical radar driver signal, and wherein the at least one radar transmission unit has an optical reception unit and a radar transmitter, wherein the optical reception unit receives the optical radar driver signal and converts the optical radar driver signal into an electrical radar driver signal and provides the electrical radar driver signal for driving the radar transmitter, wherein the at least one radar reception unit includes a radar receiver, a mixer and an optical modulation unit. Also disclosed is an associated method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas SCHNEIDER, Jörg SCHÖBEL, Fabian SCHWARTAU, Stefan PREUSSLER, Hanjo RHEE, Christoph SCHEYTT, Michael SCHWENKERT, Thorsten BAGDONAT, Heiko KURZ