Patents by Inventor Klaus Meierling

Klaus Meierling 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: 10814782
    Abstract: The invention relates to an operating device for a motor vehicle, comprising an operating element, which can be lowered by application of force; a snap dome arranged below the operating element for applying haptic feedback to the operating element when the snap dome is deformed by means of the operating element lowering; a blocking body made of an electroactive polymer arranged below the operating element and next to the snap dome, the shape of which blocking body can be altered depending on an electrical voltage applied thereto such that lowering of the operating element is blocked or lowering of the operating element for deforming the snap dome is enabled; a detection apparatus for detecting a contact position of a finger on the operating element; a control apparatus which is set up to adjust a voltage at the blocking body depending on the detected contact position of the finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Klaus Meierling
  • Publication number: 20200031275
    Abstract: The invention relates to an operating device for a motor vehicle, comprising an operating element, which can be lowered by application of force; a snap dome arranged below the operating element for applying haptic feedback to the operating element when the snap dome is deformed by means of the operating element lowering; a blocking body made of an electroactive polymer arranged below the operating element and next to the snap dome, the shape of which blocking body can be altered depending on an electrical voltage applied thereto such that lowering of the operating element is blocked or lowering of the operating element for deforming the snap dome is enabled; a detection apparatus for detecting a contact position of a finger on the operating element; a control apparatus which is set up to adjust a voltage at the blocking body depending on the detected contact position of the finger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Applicant: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Klaus Meierling
  • Patent number: 10528142
    Abstract: A method for actuating a control device for a transportation vehicle with a control element. A spring-elastic element is disposed underneath the control element and is indirectly or directly moved and/or deformed by a piezo element to give an operator at least a haptic feedback during the operation of the control element. The spring-elastic element is moved toward the control element when the piezo element is actuated and is brought into working contact with the control element. This enables the spring-elastic element to be transferred from a stable initial position into an unstable deformation position when the control element is operated. When the control element is released, the spring-elastic element automatically passes from the deformation position back to the initial position. A haptic feedback is produced by the spring-elastic element in each case in response to a change from the initial position to the deformation position and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Klaus Meierling, Niels Petter
  • Publication number: 20190163276
    Abstract: A method for actuating a control device for a transportation vehicle with a control element. A spring-elastic element is disposed underneath the control element and is indirectly or directly moved and/or deformed by a piezo element to give an operator at least a haptic feedback during the operation of the control element. The spring-elastic element is moved toward the control element when the piezo element is actuated and is brought into working contact with the control element. This enables the spring-elastic element to be transferred from a stable initial position into an unstable deformation position when the control element is operated. When the control element is released, the spring-elastic element automatically passes from the deformation position back to the initial position. A haptic feedback is produced by the spring-elastic element in each case in response to a change from the initial position to the deformation position and vice versa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Klaus MEIERLING, Niels PETTER
  • Patent number: 10080101
    Abstract: The method simplifies the formation of groups of devices in secure spaces. Such spaces may be passenger compartments of vehicles, and the passenger compartments can additionally be partitioned into zones. Each zone can be allocated a group. For instance, driver and front-seat passenger can be allocated to one group. The travelers in the rear seat-rows can be allocated to another group. This allows data exchange with driver and front-seat passenger that relates to the vehicle route or even relates to vehicle assistance systems. The other group, for instance, children travelling in the vehicle, can share other data, for instance, for entertainment purposes. The acceptance of systems offered in the vehicle can be increased by simple group formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Sebastian Gehrling, Jens Kampermann, Klaus Meierling, Matthias Mohaupt, Gerd Penshorn, Henning Taschke, Wolfgang Theimer, Ernst Zielinski
  • Patent number: 9949107
    Abstract: System and method for detecting an input for an apparatus inside a vehicle, wherein at least one moving user device generates a changing electromagnetic field. A detection unit detects at least one field parameter of the electromagnetic field, wherein the detected field parameter is a function of the geometric arrangement of the user device relative to the detection unit. A radio signature of the user device is determined based on the detected field parameters, and a signature sequence is determined based on a sequence of time-sequentially determined radio signatures of the user device. The determined signature sequence is then assigned to an input gesture, and whereby, based on the input gesture, a signal is generated and output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sebastian Gehrling, Klaus Meierling, Gerd Penshorn, Wolfgang Theimer, Jens Kampermann, Matthias Mohaupt, Henning Taschke, Ernst Zielinski
  • Publication number: 20170280284
    Abstract: The method simplifies the formation of groups of devices in secure spaces. Such spaces may be passenger compartments of vehicles, and the passenger compartments can additionally be partitioned into zones. Each zone can be allocated a group. For instance, driver and front-seat passenger can be allocated to one group. The travelers in the rear seat-rows can be allocated to another group. This allows data exchange with driver and front-seat passenger that relates to the vehicle route or even relates to vehicle assistance systems. The other group, for instance, children travelling in the vehicle, can share other data, for instance, for entertainment purposes. The acceptance of systems offered in the vehicle can be increased by simple group formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Applicant: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Sebastian GEHRLING, Jens KAMPERMANN, Klaus MEIERLING, Matthias MOHAUPT, Gerd PENSHORN, Henning TASCHKE, Wolfgang THEIMER, Ernst ZIELINSKI
  • Publication number: 20170230812
    Abstract: System and method for detecting an input for an apparatus inside a vehicle, wherein at least one moving user device generates a changing electromagnetic field. A detection unit detects at least one field parameter of the electromagnetic field, wherein the detected field parameter is a function of the geometric arrangement of the user device relative to the detection unit. A radio signature of the user device is determined based on the detected field parameters, and a signature sequence is determined based on a sequence of time-sequentially determined radio signatures of the user device. The determined signature sequence is then assigned to an input gesture, and whereby, based on the input gesture, a signal is generated and output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Sebastian Gehrling, Klaus Meierling, Gerd Penshorn, Wolfgang Theimer, Jens Kampermann, Matthias Mohaupt, Henning Taschke, Ernst Zielinski