Patents by Inventor Ilka Rötzer

Ilka Rötzer 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: 11760263
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating a rear view image display for a motor vehicle. A rear view system includes an optical sensor disposed at the motor vehicle and configured to capture image data, a computational unit coupled to the optical sensor by a cable connection and configured to execute program instructions stored on a computer-readable medium to modify the image data for presentation, and a display device coupled to the computational unit and configured to receive the modified image data from the computational unit and display the modified image data to a driver of the motor vehicle. The computational unit is further configured to receive software calibration to optimize modification of the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.à.r.L.
    Inventors: Andreas Herrmann, Martin Schwalb, Frank Linsenmaier, Oliver Eder, Ilka Rötzer, Thomas Jochmann, Firas Mualla
  • Patent number: 11731558
    Abstract: A method for displaying and processing an image captured by an optical system used to simulate a rear-view system of a vehicle, includes capturing the image, identifying primary edges of a first image of the plurality of images, locating a first border within the first image that extends to part of a first edge of the first image, identifying secondary edges of a second image of the plurality of images, selecting a second edge from the secondary edges closest in position and orientation to the part of the first edge of the first image, locating a second border within the second image that extends to the second edge, and adjusting the second image such that a second part of the second border of the second image aligns with the first border of the first image, wherein the optical system simultaneously simulates both a plane mirror and a spotter mirror in form of a spherical mirror in the single image to provide a plurality of optical subsystems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.À.R.L.
    Inventors: Andreas Herrmann, Martin Schwalb, Frank Linsenmaier, Oliver Eder, Ilka Rötzer, Thomas Jochmann, Firas Mualla, Maximilian Kauffmann, Thorsten Steder
  • Publication number: 20230204184
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a blinker module for a rearview device of a motor vehicle includes the steps of providing at least one lighting element comprising at least one light guide and at least one light disk or lens and providing of at least one illuminant unit comprising at least one illuminant, wherein the illuminant unit is designed to couple light emitted by the illuminant into the lighting element. A blinker module, rearview device and motor vehicle, including the blinker module manufactured according to the method, are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Volker Erhart, Eugen Meier, Oliver Schmidt, Ilka Rötzer, Andrew Thompson, James Dickson
  • Patent number: 11667240
    Abstract: A module system for a motor vehicle includes at least one camera pod adapted to be mounted to the motor vehicle at least temporarily extending to the outside and/or from an exterior surface, with said camera pod including at least one camera and at least one port for fitting at least one modular peripheral device and/or adapter of a peripheral device; and at least one interface module adapted to be mounted to the motor vehicle at least temporarily extending into the inside and/or being accessible from the inside, with the interface module being electrically connected to the at least one camera pod. A rear view device and a motor vehicle include the at least one module system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Motherson Innovations Company Limited
    Inventors: Andrea König, Alexandru Dobrete, Peter Hein, Ilka Rötzer
  • Patent number: 11624489
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a blinker module for a rearview device of a motor vehicle includes the steps of providing at least one lighting element comprising at least one light guide and at least one light disk or lens and providing of at least one illuminant unit comprising at least one illuminant, wherein the illuminant unit is designed to couple light emitted by the illuminant into the lighting element. A blinker module, rearview device and motor vehicle, including the blinker module manufactured according to the method, are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Motherson Innovations Company Limited
    Inventors: Volker Erhart, Eugen Meier, Oliver Schmidt, Ilka Rötzer, Andrew Thompson, James Dickson
  • Publication number: 20230067003
    Abstract: A light emitting system includes a light pipe, a light source disposed at least partially within an interior of the light emitting system, and configured to emit light when receiving electrical power from an electrical power source, wherein the light source is arranged adjacent to and directed towards the light pipe, a lens substantially enclosing the interior of the light emitting system, the light pipe and the light source, the lens having an inner surface and an outer surface disposed opposite the inner surface, and a mask comprising a coating that is applied on the lens and laser etched to form a desired pattern, wherein light emitted from the light source passes through the light pipe and lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: James Nicholson, Shane Randell Koehne, Scott Edwards, Simon Belcher, Jacob Heath Messenger, Matthew Chapman-Winter, Gary Dekievit, Simon David Field, Shahad Algurabi, Sam Thoday, Dean Caruso, Bill Frank, Sascha Björn Heib, Andreas Herrmann, Ilka Rötzer, Matthias Koller
  • Patent number: 11572009
    Abstract: A covering device for arrangement on at least one outer or one inner region of a motor vehicle includes at least one form element which is produced and/or can be produced by means of injection moulding and has an inner side oriented towards the motor vehicle and an outer side oriented away from the motor vehicle, one or more lighting devices for emitting light. The covering device also includes at least one covering element which, for covering the form element at least in regions, is arranged at least in regions on the outer side of the form element, at least part of the light emitted by the lighting device being able to pass through the form element and/or the covering element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Motherson Innovations Company Limited
    Inventors: James Nicholson, Shane Randell Koehne, Scott Edwards, Simon Belcher, Jacob Heath Messenger, Matthew Chapman-Winter, Abdon Edward Saenz de Viteri, Sam Thoday, Ilka Rötzer, Matthias Koller, Andreas Herrmann, Gary Dekievit, Simon David Field, Dean Caruso, Bill Frank, Marla Johnston
  • Patent number: 11512830
    Abstract: A light emitting system includes at least one light pipe, at least one light source disposed at least partially within an interior of the system, at least one mask, and a lens substantially enclosing the interior of the system, the at least one light pipe, and the at least one light source, the lens having an inner surface, an outer surface disposed opposite the inner surface and at least one of a continuous transparent or translucent coating on the outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Motherson Innovations Company Limited
    Inventors: James Nicholson, Shane Randell Koehne, Scott Edwards, Simon Belcher, Jacob Heath Messenger, Matthew Chapman-Winter, Gary Dekievit, Simon David Field, Shahad Algurabi, Sam Thoday, Dean Caruso, Bill Frank, Sascha Björn Heib, Andreas Herrmann, Ilka Rötzer, Matthias Koller
  • Patent number: 11472345
    Abstract: A rearview device for a motor vehicle includes a camera arrangement for capturing a rearward traffic situation and a motor vehicle includes such a rearview device and a method for operating such a rearview device with an output unit which is partially reflective at least in regions, in particular a screen on which the rearward traffic situation captured by the camera arrangement is displayed as a camera image or this is visibly displayed by means of a conventional mirror image in the absence of a camera image and having a control unit for determining a degree of impairment of the camera image, the control unit, when a predetermined degree of impairment of the camera image is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Motherson Innovations Company Limited
    Inventors: Ilka Rötzer, Peter Hein
  • Patent number: 11458981
    Abstract: A vehicle includes one or more sensors arranged on at least one of a dashboard, a roof, and a center console of the vehicle, or one or more image capturing devices for capturing one or more images from a left side and a right side of the vehicle, an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to communicate with the one or more sensors or the one or more image capturing devices, and at least one of a morphing surface, a windshield display, and one or more displays configured to be controlled by the ECU, where the one or more sensors are arranged under a black panel surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Motherson Innovations Company Limited
    Inventors: Romeo Wieczorek, Reinhold Langbein, Matthias Koller, Yijun Zhao, Thomas Agung Nugraha, Gianluca Caretta, David-Kenneth Jaeger, Ilka Rötzer, Andreas Herrmann, Mukesh Patel, Jan Dormanns, Torsten Weingärtner, Yann Buchet, Alf Liesener, Stefanie Göttlicher
  • Patent number: 11358470
    Abstract: A method for operating a display device for a motor vehicle, in particular for an autonomously or partially autonomously operable motor vehicle, which includes a plurality of display areas, wherein a display area is selected from the plurality of display areas on the basis of a configuration of the motor vehicle that is adjustable by a driver of the motor vehicle. A motor vehicle includes a control device for implementing such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.à.r.l.
    Inventors: Romeo Wieczorek, Stefanie Göttlicher, Ilka Rötzer
  • Patent number: 11346523
    Abstract: A light emitting system includes at least one light pipe, at least one light source disposed at least partially within an interior of the system, at least one mask, and a lens substantially enclosing the interior of the system, the at least one light pipe, and the at least one light source, the lens having an inner surface, an outer surface disposed opposite the inner surface and at least one of a continuous transparent or translucent coating on the outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Motherson Innovations Company Limited
    Inventors: James Nicholson, Shane Randell Koehne, Scott Edwards, Simon Belcher, Jacob Heath Messenger, Mathew Chapman-Winter, Gary Dekievit, Simon David Field, Shahad Algurabi, Sam Thoday, Dean Caruso, Bill Frank, Sascha Björn Heib, Andreas Herrmann, Ilka Rötzer, Matthias Koller
  • Publication number: 20220148317
    Abstract: A method for displaying and processing an image captured by an optical system used to simulate a rear-view system of a vehicle, includes capturing the image, identifying primary edges of a first image of the plurality of images, locating a first border within the first image that extends to part of a first edge of the first image, identifying secondary edges of a second image of the plurality of images, selecting a second edge from the secondary edges closest in position and orientation to the part of the first edge of the first image, locating a second border within the second image that extends to the second edge, and adjusting the second image such that a second part of the second border of the second image aligns with the first border of the first image, wherein the optical system simultaneously simulates both a plane mirror and a spotter mirror in form of a spherical mirror in the single image to provide a plurality of optical subsystems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Andreas Herrmann, Martin Schwalb, Frank Linsenmaier, Oliver Eder, Ilka Rötzer, Thomas Jochmann, Firas Mualla, Maximilian Kauffmann, Thorsten Steder
  • Publication number: 20220128215
    Abstract: A light emitting system includes at least one light pipe, at least one light source disposed at least partially within an interior of the system, at least one mask, and a lens substantially enclosing the interior of the system, the at least one light pipe, and the at least one light source, the lens having an inner surface, an outer surface disposed opposite the inner surface and at least one of a continuous transparent or translucent coating on the outer surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: James Nicholson, Shane Randell Koehne, Scott Edwards, Simon Belcher, Jacob Heath Messenger, Mathew Chapman-Winter, Gary Dekievit, Simon David Field, Shahad Algurabi, Sam Thoday, Dean Caruso, Bill Frank, Sascha Björn Heib, Andreas Herrmann, Ilka Rötzer, Matthias Koller
  • Patent number: 11312304
    Abstract: An interior rear view mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror housing rotatably attached to a housing holder which is adapted to be attached to an interior of the vehicle, the mirror housing including a first rear view side to which a reflective mirror element is attached, and a second rear view side to which a display device with a display screen is attached to, where a camera is connected to the display device establishing a display system to provide an image to the display screen; and an actuator unit configured to automatically rotate the mirror housing to the first or second rear view side. A vehicle and a method may be used to operate the interior rear view mirror assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.á.r.1.
    Inventors: Alexander Slama, Ilka Rötzer
  • Patent number: 11305733
    Abstract: A wiping device for an optical device with a lens includes a surface, such as a curved or calotte-shaped surface, where the wiping device has a wiping element for wiping the surface of the lens free from water and dirt particles with at least one passage channel and at least one outlet channel which branches off from the passage channel in order to guide cleaning fluid onto the surface of the lens. In addition, a rear view device for a motor vehicle with an optical device includes such a wiping device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.à.r.l.
    Inventors: Andreas Herrmann, Ilka Rötzer
  • Publication number: 20220097597
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a covering device 3 for arrangement on at least one outer or one inner region of a motor vehicle 1, comprising at least one form element 5 which is produced and/or can be produced by means of injection moulding and has an inner side 5i oriented towards the motor vehicle and an outer side 5a oriented away from the motor vehicle 1, one or more lighting devices 21, 24, 27 for emitting light and at least one covering element 7 which, for covering the form element 5 at least in regions, is arranged at least in regions on the outer side 5a of the form element 5, at least part of the light emitted by the lighting device 21, 24, 27 being able to pass through the form element 5 and/or the covering element 7 in at least one first region 13 of the covering device 3, the form element 5 and the covering element 7 being at least translucent at least in the first region 13.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: James NICHOLSON, Shane Randell KOEHNE, Scott EDWARDS, Simon BELCHER, Jacob Heath MESSENGER, Mathew CHAPMAN-WINTER, Abdon Edward SAENZ DE VITERI, Sam THODAY, Ilka RÖTZER, Matthias KOLLER, Andreas HERRMANN, Gary DEKIEVIT, Simon David FIELD, Dean CARUSO, Bill FRANK, Marla JOHNSTON
  • Patent number: 11256931
    Abstract: A method for displaying and processing an image captured by an optical system used to simulate a rear-view system of a vehicle, includes capturing the image, calculating a region of interest (ROI) on the captured image, calculating a blur factor for blurring the ROI using one or more inputs, manipulating an image gradient pixel by pixel using the blur factor to reduce at least one of a brightness or a contrast of one or more pixels of the ROI, and displaying the processed image on a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: SMR Patent S.à.r.l
    Inventors: Andreas Herrmann, Martin Schwalb, Frank Linsenmaier, Oliver Eder, Ilka Rötzer, Thomas Jochmann, Firas Mualla, Maximilian Kauffmann, Thorsten Steder
  • Publication number: 20220017016
    Abstract: An interior rear view mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror housing rotatably attached to a housing holder which is adapted to be attached to an interior of the vehicle, the mirror housing including a first rear view side to which a reflective mirror element is attached, and a second rear view side to which a display device with a display screen is attached to, where a camera is connected to the display device establishing a display system to provide an image to the display screen; and an actuator unit configured to automatically rotate the mirror housing to the first or second rear view side. A vehicle and a method may be used to operate the interior rear view mirror assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Alexander Slama, Ilka Rötzer
  • Patent number: 11180088
    Abstract: A mounting assembly for an attachment device of a vehicle includes receiving or holding means on a rearview device of the vehicle, the receiving or holding means being adapted so that the attachment device can be fixed by means of at least one fixing means of the attachment device in operative connection with at least one complementary fixing means of the receiving or holding means, where at least one of the at least one fixing means of the attachment device or the receiving or holding means is configured to be in operative connection, where after fixation, the attachment device cannot be released from the fixing means without destruction, and at least one of the at least one fixing means of the attachment device or the complementary fixing means of the receiving or holding means includes at least one of a clip, an undercut and a latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.à.r.l.
    Inventors: Andreas Herrmann, Ilka Rötzer