Patents by Inventor Kai Bretzigheimer

Kai Bretzigheimer 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).

  • Publication number: 20240043018
    Abstract: A method and a corresponding electronic control system for ascertaining a distance traveled by a vehicle predicts with a Kalman filter a distance traveled by the vehicle using a change in angle of rotation of at least one right wheel and/or at least one left wheel of the vehicle for a specific period of time while the vehicle is traveling and an ascertained radius of the right wheel and/or ascertained circumference of the right wheel of the vehicle and/or an ascertained radius of the left wheel and/or ascertained circumference of the left wheel of the vehicle; and corrects the predicted traveled distance by a Kalman filter correction to ascertain the distance traveled by the vehicle using the predicted traveled distance and a local distance between at least two absolute positions of the vehicle recorded within the specific period of time with a time interval while the vehicle is traveling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Mohanad Youssef, Kai Bretzigheimer
  • Publication number: 20230356725
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a yaw rate sensor of a vehicle, comprises detecting a yaw rate of the vehicle from measurement data from the yaw rate sensor. A change in yaw angle is ascertained from sensor data from at least one optical surroundings sensor unit, wherein an offset of the yaw rate sensor is ascertained, the offset being ascertained by fusion of the detected yaw rate and the ascertained change in yaw angle. The yaw rate sensor is calibrated according to the ascertained offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Mohanad Youssef, Kai Bretzigheimer
  • Patent number: 11782070
    Abstract: A method for determining the direction of travel of a vehicle comprises providing a first sensor for measuring a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle and at least one second sensor for establishing the rotational movement of a wheel of the vehicle, An acceleration signal containing acceleration information from the first sensor is received by the system. The acceleration signal is filtered resulting in a modified acceleration signal. The direction of travel of the vehicle is determined based on the modified acceleration signal and based on the output signal of the second sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Kai Bretzigheimer, Mohanad Youssef
  • Publication number: 20210190812
    Abstract: A method for determining the direction of travel of a vehicle comprises providing a first sensor for measuring a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle and at least one second sensor for establishing the rotational movement of a wheel of the vehicle, An acceleration signal containing acceleration information from the first sensor is received by the system. The acceleration signal is filtered resulting in a modified acceleration signal. The direction of travel of the vehicle is determined based on the modified acceleration signal and based on the output signal of the second sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Kai Bretzigheimer, Mohanad Youssef
  • Publication number: 20180201242
    Abstract: A method for performing closed-loop control of a motor vehicle having a brake system with a stability control system comprises comparing an actual yaw rate with a setpoint yaw rate which is calculated using a model. A yaw moment of a closed-loop or open-loop assistance control of an assistance system for lane guidance or transverse guidance is taken into account during the calculation of the setpoint yaw rate. An electronic brake control unit which is suitable for carrying out the method and is connected to at least one vehicle sensor, in particular a steering angle sensor, yaw rate sensor and/or wheel rotational speed sensors. The brake control unit can bring about, through actuation of actuators, a driver-independent increase in and a modulation of the braking forces at the individual wheels of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Applicant: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Kai Bretzigheimer, Stefan Feick
  • Patent number: 9840242
    Abstract: A method in which the driving behavior of a vehicle is influenced depending on surroundings data in order to support an evasive maneuver as soon as a risk of collision is detected using the data from surroundings sensors and vehicle sensors. The vehicle has an electronically regulated braking system which allows a driver-independent build-up and a modulation of the braking forces on the individual wheels of the vehicle, and a steering input by the drive is supported in the event of a detected risk of collision by a driver-independent braking intervention. A brake slip of at least one wheel of the vehicle is limited to a first slip threshold in a first phase of the evasive maneuver and to a second slip threshold in a second phase of the evasive maneuver, wherein the first slip threshold is smaller than the second slip threshold. The invention further relates to an electronic controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Kai Bretzigheimer, Frank Seurer
  • Patent number: 9691282
    Abstract: A method for a driver assistance system for a vehicle is specified, wherein objects in the surroundings of a vehicle are detected on the basis of data of a system that covers the surroundings, and a potential free zone in which only no objects and/or objects which the vehicle can drive over have been reliably detected is determined. The potential free zone is verified by further vehicle and/or surroundings information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Andreas Hartmann, Ning Bian, Kai Bretzigheimer, Thorsten Staab, Daniel Förster
  • Publication number: 20160311416
    Abstract: A method in which the driving behavior of a vehicle is influenced depending on surroundings data in order to support an evasive maneuver as soon as a risk of collision is detected using the data from surroundings sensors and vehicle sensors. The vehicle has an electronically regulated braking system which allows a driver-independent build-up and a modulation of the braking forces on the individual wheels of the vehicle, and a steering input by the drive is supported in the event of a detected risk of collision by a driver-independent braking intervention. A brake slip of at least one wheel of the vehicle is limited to a first slip threshold in a first phase of the evasive maneuver and to a second slip threshold in a second phase of the evasive maneuver, wherein the first slip threshold is smaller than the second slip threshold. The invention further relates to an electronic controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Kai Bretzigheimer, Frank Seurer
  • Patent number: 9081387
    Abstract: A method and a device are for prediction and adaptation of movement trajectories of a vehicle for assisting the driver and/or for preventing or reducing the severity of a collision. Situatively required movement trajectories for assisting the driver or collision avoidance are determined using an environment sensor system. Physically possible movement trajectories are determined from characteristic properties of the driving dynamics of the vehicle and from the coefficient of friction between the tires and the road up to a maximum coefficient of friction. An intersection between the above two sets of trajectories is determined, and only trajectories that are included in this intersection are taken into account for the prediction and adaptation of movement trajectories for the driving assistance or collision avoidance function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Kai Bretzigheimer, Daniel Foerster, Andreas Hartmann, Bernd Hartmann, Thorsten Staab, Ulrich Staehlin
  • Patent number: 9014921
    Abstract: A method in which the driving behavior of a vehicle is influenced as a function of data on the surroundings in order to assist an avoidance maneuver, as soon as a risk of a collision is detected on the basis of the data from one or more environment sensors, in particular radar sensors and/or cameras, and the data from one or more vehicle sensors, in particular a steering angle sensor and/or yaw rate sensor and/or wheel speed sensors, and the vehicle has an electronically controlled brake system which permits a driver-independent buildup and modulation of the braking forces at the individual wheels of the vehicle, wherein when a risk of a collision is detected, in a first phase a turning-in operation by the driver is assisted and/or in a second phase a steering operation by the driver is damped. Furthermore, an electronic control unit for a brake system is defined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Kai Bretzigheimer, Daniel Förster, Ning Bian, Andreas Hartmann, Thorsten Staab
  • Publication number: 20140303845
    Abstract: A method for a driver assistance system for a vehicle is specified, wherein objects in the surroundings of a vehicle are detected on the basis of data of a system that covers the surroundings, and a potential free zone in which only no objects and/or objects which the vehicle can drive over have been reliably detected is determined. The potential free zone is verified by further vehicle and/or surroundings information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG
    Inventors: Andreas Hartmann, Ning Bian, Kai Bretzigheimer, Thorsten Staab, Daniel Förster
  • Publication number: 20140288785
    Abstract: A method in which the driving behavior of a vehicle is influenced as a function of data on the surroundings in order to assist an avoidance maneuver, as soon as a risk of a collision is detected on the basis of the data from one or more environment sensors, in particular radar sensors and/or cameras, and the data from one or more vehicle sensors, in particular a steering angle sensor and/or yaw rate sensor and/or wheel speed sensors, and the vehicle has an electronically controlled brake system which permits a driver-independent buildup and modulation of the braking forces at the individual wheels of the vehicle, wherein when a risk of a collision is detected, in a first phase a turning-in operation by the driver is assisted and/or in a second phase a steering operation by the driver is damped. Furthermore, an electronic control unit for a brake system is defined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG
    Inventors: Kai Bretzigheimer, Daniel Förster, Ning Bian, Andreas Hartmann, Thorsten Staab
  • Publication number: 20140074388
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the prediction and adaptation of movement trajectories of a motor vehicle for assisting the driver in his task of driving and/or for preventing a collision or reducing the consequences of an accident. The present invention further relates to a device for carrying out the method. According to the present invention and in order to carry out a prediction and adaptation of movement trajectories of a motor vehicle, an intersection of situatively required movement trajectories, which are determined using an environment sensor system, and physically possible movement trajectories, which result from properties which are characteristic of the driving dynamics of the motor vehicle and from the coefficient of friction obtained between tyres and road up to a maximum possible threshold coefficient of friction, is formed. According to the invention, only movement trajectories are taken into account which lie within this intersection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventors: Kai Bretzigheimer, Daniel Foerster, Andreas Hartmann, Bernd Hartmann, Thorsten Staab, Ulrich Staehlin