Patents by Inventor Lutz Buerkle

Lutz Buerkle 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: 10369990
    Abstract: A method is described for avoiding or mitigating a collision of a vehicle with an obstacle in a traffic lane of the vehicle, if the obstacle is at least partially blocking a planned travel envelope of the vehicle, the method including a step of detecting and a step of adapting. In the step of detecting, a position and/or trajectory of the obstacle is detected. In the step of adapting, the travel envelope is adapted with the aid of the position and/or the trajectory, in order to avoid or mitigate the collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Gussner, Thomas Schlender, Lutz Buerkle
  • Patent number: 10165246
    Abstract: A method is described for processing sensor data of a stereo sensor system for stereoscopic sensing of an environment of the stereo sensor system. A disparity map is constituted based on the sensor data, wherein a change in disparity between two disparity points of the disparity map that are constituted with a spacing from one another is identified, at least one of the two disparity points being classified to correspond to an object as a function of the change in disparity. Also described is a corresponding apparatus, to a corresponding object recognition system, and to a corresponding computer program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Lutz Buerkle, Oliver Pink
  • Patent number: 10089419
    Abstract: A method is described for segmenting an occupancy grid for a surroundings model of a driver assistance system for a vehicle. The method encompasses a step of reading in an occupancy grid having a plurality of grid cells, each grid cell of the plurality of grid cells having assigned to it a grid cell information item that encompasses an information item about a degree of occupancy and at least one additional information item about the grid cell; and a step of assigning at least one object and/or a plurality of objects to the plurality of grid cells using the grid cell information item, in order to segment the occupancy grid for a surroundings model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Michalke, Claudius Glaeser, Lutz Buerkle
  • Patent number: 9937921
    Abstract: A method for providing swerve assistance for a motor vehicle, in which a threatening or imminent collision of the motor vehicle is detected, the driver is notified to steer the vehicle onto a collision-avoiding swerve trajectory, it is detected whether the driver heeds the warning and initiates a swerve maneuver, and if the driver initiates a swerve maneuver, a driver-independent implementation of a steering or braking intervention assisting in the steering onto the swerve trajectory takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Haeussler, Thomas Maurer, Christian Braeuchle, Lutz Buerkle, Martin Kieren
  • Patent number: 9875416
    Abstract: A method for situation analysis for a driver assistance system on board a motor vehicle includes steps of providing a representation of the surroundings of the motor vehicle, the representation including a system of cells that are reversibly unambiguously associated with predetermined sections of the surroundings, scanning the surroundings of the motor vehicle with the aid of at least one sensor in order to detect an obstacle, and marking cells, based on the scan, in such a way that a cell that is associated with an obstacle-free section of the surroundings carries a first marker, and a cell that is associated with a section of the surroundings in which an obstacle has been detected carries a second marker. A morphological filter is subsequently used on the representation in order to provide cells, which are not accessible by the motor vehicle, with the second marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Lutz Buerkle, Claudius Glaeser, Thomas Michalke
  • Patent number: 9734390
    Abstract: A method for classifying a behavior, of a pedestrian when crossing a roadway of a vehicle, includes reading in a sensor signal to detect the pedestrian and at least one piece of surroundings information regarding surroundings of the pedestrian. The sensor signal represents here a signal of at least one sensor of the vehicle. The method further includes ascertaining at least one physical variable of a correlation between the pedestrian and the at least one piece of surroundings information. Finally, the method includes classifying the behavior of the pedestrian using the at least one physical variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Maurer, Thomas Gussner, Lutz Buerkle, Dariu M Gavrila
  • Patent number: 9527529
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a driver assistance system, and a driver assistance system. The method includes the steps: determination of a current position of an object in an environment surrounding the vehicle; determination of a first current state of motion of the object; determination of a second current state of motion of the vehicle; calculation of a sojourn probability distribution of the object, the sojourn probability distribution being a function of time and of space and being based on an object motion model in connection with the determined current position of the object and the determined current state of motion of the object; calculation of a trajectory, based on the calculated sojourn probability distribution of the object and on the second current state of motion of the vehicle, having a minimum collision probability for the vehicle and the object; and operation of the driver assistance system of the vehicle based on the calculated trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Maurer, Lutz Buerkle
  • Publication number: 20160288798
    Abstract: In a method for evaluating the behavior of the driver in a vehicle, sensor data are ascertained and the driver behavior is evaluated on the basis of the sensor data. A distinction is made among various behavior categories and the sensor data are allocated to each behavior category with a probability. The behavior category is detected as applicable if the probability exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas Michalke, Claudius Glaeser, Lutz Buerkle
  • Publication number: 20160253567
    Abstract: A method for situation analysis for a driver assistance system on board a motor vehicle includes steps of providing a representation of the surroundings of the motor vehicle, the representation including a system of cells that are reversibly unambiguously associated with predetermined sections of the surroundings, scanning the surroundings of the motor vehicle with the aid of at least one sensor in order to detect an obstacle, and marking cells, based on the scan, in such a way that a cell that is associated with an obstacle-free section of the surroundings carries a first marker, and a cell that is associated with a section of the surroundings in which an obstacle has been detected carries a second marker. A morphological filter is subsequently used on the representation in order to provide cells, which are not accessible by the motor vehicle, with the second marker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Lutz Buerkle, Claudius Glaeser, Thomas Michalke
  • Publication number: 20160152269
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a driver assistance system, and a driver assistance system. The method includes the steps: determination of a current position of an object in an environment surrounding the vehicle; determination of a first current state of motion of the object; determination of a second current state of motion of the vehicle; calculation of a sojourn probability distribution of the object, the sojourn probability distribution being a function of time and of space and being based on an object motion model in connection with the determined current position of the object and the determined current state of motion of the object; calculation of a trajectory, based on the calculated sojourn probability distribution of the object and on the second current state of motion of the vehicle, having a minimum collision probability for the vehicle and the object; and operation of the driver assistance system of the vehicle based on the calculated trajectory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas MAURER, Lutz BUERKLE
  • Patent number: 9308916
    Abstract: A method for operating a driver-assistance system for a vehicle traveling on a road is described, which includes the steps: detecting a bottleneck lying ahead of the vehicle as well as at least one vehicle that approaches the vehicle from the opposite direction, determining the distance and the width of the bottleneck as well as the distance, the width, and the current driving speed of the oncoming vehicle, predicting the expected trajectories of the vehicle and the oncoming vehicle, and determining an expected meeting point of the two vehicles, analyzing the predicted traffic situation, and activating a safety function if the expected meeting point of the two vehicles lies in the region of the bottleneck (500), the activation instant of the safety device (150) being determined as a function of the current traffic situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Lutz Buerkle, Ruediger Jordan
  • Patent number: 9283987
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a driver assistance system, and a driver assistance system. The method includes the steps: determination of a current position of a pedestrian in an environment surrounding the vehicle; determination of a first current state of motion of the pedestrian; determination of a second current state of motion of the vehicle; calculation of a sojourn probability distribution of the pedestrian, the sojourn probability distribution being a function of time and of space and being based on a pedestrian motion model in connection with the determined current position of the pedestrian and the determined current state of motion of the pedestrian; calculation of a trajectory, based on the calculated sojourn probability distribution of the pedestrian and on the second current state of motion of the vehicle, having a minimum collision probability for the vehicle and the pedestrian; and operation of the driver assistance system of the vehicle based on the calculated trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Maurer, Lutz Buerkle
  • Patent number: 9278712
    Abstract: A method for determining a cutting trajectory that enables a curve section of a lane to be cut by a vehicle. In the method, information about the curve section is received, and the curve section is divided into at least one curve segment having a segment length and a start curvature, the curve segment being a straight-line segment or a circular arc segment or a curve segment whose curvature is a function of an arc length of the curve segment. This is followed by determination of a cutting trajectory from the at least one curve segment, so that, at a specific point of the curve section, the cutting trajectory has a predetermined offset relative to a center of the lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Lutz Buerkle, Michael Fischer, Thomas Maurer
  • Publication number: 20150367847
    Abstract: A method for providing swerve assistance for a motor vehicle, in which a threatening or imminent collision of the motor vehicle is detected, the driver is notified to steer the vehicle onto a collision-avoiding swerve trajectory, it is detected whether the driver heeds the warning and initiates a swerve maneuver, and if the driver initiates a swerve maneuver, a driver-independent implementation of a steering or braking intervention assisting in the steering onto the swerve trajectory takes place.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas HAEUSSLER, Thomas MAURER, Christian BRAEUCHLE, Lutz BUERKLE, Martin KIEREN
  • Patent number: 9211910
    Abstract: A device for keeping a vehicle in its lane, including a reference model, which obtains geometric data regarding the position of the vehicle in the lane as well as data relating to the course of the lane from a lane detection system, and from these calculates a setpoint variable for controlling the vehicle position. In order to allow for corners to be cut, the guiding behavior of the control system is modified in such a way when cornering that, in the event of a deviation of the path of motion of the vehicle from the setpoint path of motion in the direction of the inside of the curve, no or only low steering forces are applied to the steering system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Lutz Buerkle, Michael Weilkes, Michael Scherl, Tobias Rentschler
  • Publication number: 20150224988
    Abstract: A method for operating a driver-assistance system for a vehicle traveling on a road is described, which includes the steps: detecting a bottleneck lying ahead of the vehicle as well as at least one vehicle that approaches the vehicle from the opposite direction, determining the distance and the width of the bottleneck as well as the distance, the width, and the current driving speed of the oncoming vehicle, predicting the expected trajectories of the vehicle and the oncoming vehicle, and determining an expected meeting point of the two vehicles, analyzing the predicted traffic situation, and activating a safety function if the expected meeting point of the two vehicles lies in the region of the bottleneck (500), the activation instant of the safety device (150) being determined as a function of the current traffic situation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Lutz Buerkle, Ruediger Jordan
  • Publication number: 20150210311
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a driver assistance system, and a driver assistance system. The method includes the steps: determination of a current position of a pedestrian in an environment surrounding the vehicle; determination of a first current state of motion of the pedestrian; determination of a second current state of motion of the vehicle; calculation of a sojourn probability distribution of the pedestrian, the sojourn probability distribution being a function of time and of space and being based on a pedestrian motion model in connection with the determined current position of the pedestrian and the determined current state of motion of the pedestrian; calculation of a trajectory, based on the calculated sojourn probability distribution of the pedestrian and on the second current state of motion of the vehicle, having a minimum collision probability for the vehicle and the pedestrian; and operation of the driver assistance system of the vehicle based on the calculated trajectory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas MAURER, Lutz BUERKLE
  • Patent number: 9090279
    Abstract: A method for determining a transversal controller parameterization for transversal control of a vehicle on a route segment to be instantaneously traveled on by the vehicle, having a step for determining the parameter based on a piece of information about a curvature of the route segment to be instantaneously traveled on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Lutz Buerkle, Thomas App, Thomas Glaser
  • Publication number: 20150206001
    Abstract: A method for classifying a behavior, of a pedestrian when crossing a roadway of a vehicle, includes reading in a sensor signal to detect the pedestrian and at least one piece of surroundings information regarding surroundings of the pedestrian. The sensor signal represents here a signal of at least one sensor of the vehicle. The method further includes ascertaining at least one physical variable of a correlation between the pedestrian and the at least one piece of surroundings information. Finally, the method includes classifying the behavior of the pedestrian using the at least one physical variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas MAURER, Thomas GUSSNER, Lutz BUERKLE
  • Publication number: 20150175159
    Abstract: A method is described for avoiding or mitigating a collision of a vehicle with an obstacle in a traffic lane of the vehicle, if the obstacle is at least partially blocking a planned travel envelope of the vehicle, the method including a step of detecting and a step of adapting. In the step of detecting, a position and/or trajectory of the obstacle is detected. In the step of adapting, the travel envelope is adapted with the aid of the position and/or the trajectory, in order to avoid or mitigate the collision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Gussner, Thomas Schlender, Lutz Buerkle