Patents by Inventor Marc Walessa

Marc Walessa 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: 20210342605
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for detecting one or more objects in an environment of a vehicle, the environment being bounded by a perimeter, the method comprising: segmenting the environment into a plurality of segments such that each segment of the plurality of segments is at least partially bounded by the perimeter of the environment; detecting one or more detection points based on the one or more objects in the environment of the vehicle; combining the one or more detection points into one or more clusters based on a spatial proximity of the one or more detection points; and assigning a state to each of the segments of the plurality of segments based on the one or more detected detection points and/or based on the one or more combined clusters. The present disclosure further relates to a system for detecting one or more objects in a vehicle environment and a vehicle comprising the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Marc WALESSA, Andre ROSKOPF, Andreas ZORN-PAULI, Ting LI, Christian RUHHAMMER, Gero GREINER
  • Patent number: 10460603
    Abstract: A method for the preparation of an obstacle map, wherein the obstacle map comprises cells, includes assigning each of the cells to segments of an environment of the vehicle, and assigning to each of the cells information as to whether the corresponding segment of the environment is occupied by an obstacle. The method also includes preparing an environment map that comprises the cells, and determining a threshold value specification, where the threshold value specification specifies different threshold values for the cells of the environment map. The threshold value specification is determined depending on a trajectory of the vehicle. An obstacle map is then determined on the basis of the environment map and the threshold value specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Marc Walessa, Oliver Kormann
  • Patent number: 10386483
    Abstract: An environment map includes cells, each of which is assigned to portions of the environment of a vehicle and each of which is assigned an obstacle probability that represents the probability that the corresponding portion of the environment is occupied by an obstacle. The vehicle has at least two environment sensors, each of which is designed to provide measurement data on the occupancy of a region of the environment by an obstacle, referred to as an obstacle region, in the respective detection region of the sensor. The measurement data describes obstacle regions which extend over multiple portions of the environment, and the detection regions of the environment sensors at most partly overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Marc Walessa
  • Patent number: 10286901
    Abstract: A method makes available a map of obstacles in the surroundings for a vehicle. An initial map of the surroundings which is divided into cells, each of which is assigned an occupation probability and an obstacle altitude. A ground altitude for each cell of the initial map is determined on the basis of the altitudes in the initial map by smoothing the altitudes. A corrected altitude of the obstacles for each cell of the map of obstacles is determined on the basis of the ground altitude determined for the corresponding cell of the initial map and the altitude of the obstacles assigned to the corresponding cell of the initial map. A respective occupation probability is determined on the basis of the occupancy probability assigned to the corresponding cell of the initial map. The map of obstacles in the surroundings is made available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Marc Walessa
  • Patent number: 10136105
    Abstract: A driver information method is provided, wherein an image of the surrounding area is captured by at least one side camera attached to the motor vehicle. The image contains an image capturing area that lies essentially laterally relative to the motor vehicle. A display unit, which is visible to the driver of a motor vehicle, outputs a screen image that contains a reproduction of the image of the surrounding area, the reproduction being graphically processed, if desired, and being preferably in essence photo-realistic. The output of the screen image is only temporary; and an obstructed view situation, in which an obstructed lateral view of the driver is to be assumed, is detected on the basis of distance signals of at least one environment detection system that is not based on a camera. The output of the screen image is automatically started when an obstructed view situation is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Florian Oszwald, Renaud Debon, Thomas Barmeyer, Marc Walessa
  • Publication number: 20180012494
    Abstract: A method for the preparation of an obstacle map, wherein the obstacle map comprises cells, includes assigning each of the cells to segments of an environment of the vehicle, and assigning to each of the cells information as to whether the corresponding segment of the environment is occupied by an obstacle. The method also includes preparing an environment map that comprises the cells, and determining a threshold value specification, where the threshold value specification specifies different threshold values for the cells of the environment map. The threshold value specification is determined depending on a trajectory of the vehicle. An obstacle map is then determined on the basis of the environment map and the threshold value specification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Marc Walessa, Oliver Kormann
  • Publication number: 20170329008
    Abstract: An environment map includes cells, each of which is assigned to portions of the environment of a vehicle and each of which is assigned an obstacle probability that represents the probability that the corresponding portion of the environment is occupied by an obstacle. The vehicle has at least two environment sensors, each of which is designed to provide measurement data on the occupancy of a region of the environment by an obstacle, referred to as an obstacle region, in the respective detection region of the sensor. The measurement data describes obstacle regions which extend over multiple portions of the environment, and the detection regions of the environment sensors at most partly overlap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventor: Marc WALESSA
  • Patent number: 9792819
    Abstract: A method provides an environmental map for a vehicle, wherein the environmental map represents a section of the environment and includes cells which are each assigned to a subsection of the environment of the vehicle. Each cell is assigned occupancy information which is based on the probability of the presence of an object in the subsection assigned to the cell in question. The vehicle has a group of at least two driver assistance systems which are each configured to adopt an active and an inactive state and which, in the active state require occupancy information concerning sections of the environment which at least do not overlap completely. The method determines the driver assistance system(s) which is(are) in the active state; determines the section of the environment that the environmental map is intended to represent, on the basis of the section(s) about which the driver assistance system(s) in the active state require(s) occupancy information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Albrecht Neff, Marc Walessa, Markus Hoerwick, Oliver Kormann
  • Publication number: 20170057495
    Abstract: A method makes available a map of obstacles in the surroundings for a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Marc WALESSA
  • Publication number: 20160049078
    Abstract: A method provides an environmental map for a vehicle, wherein the environmental map represents a section of the environment and includes cells which are each assigned to a subsection of the environment of the vehicle. Each cell is assigned occupancy information which is based on the probability of the presence of an object in the subsection assigned to the cell in question. The vehicle has a group of at least two driver assistance systems which are each configured to adopt an active and an inactive state and which, in the active state require occupancy information concerning sections of the environment which at least do not overlap completely. The method determines the driver assistance system(s) which is(are) in the active state; determines the section of the environment that the environmental map is intended to represent, on the basis of the section(s) about which the driver assistance system(s) in the active state require(s) occupancy information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Albrecht NEFF, Marc WALESSA, Markus HOERWICK, Oliver KORMANN
  • Patent number: 8447073
    Abstract: For the automatic longitudinal guidance of a motor vehicle having a longitudinally guiding driver assistance system with a stop-and-go function, at least starting from a point-in-time wherein the motor vehicle is stopped, the vehicle apron is continuously monitored for possible obstacles by a monitoring device having a camera which supplies a sequence of individual images of the vehicle apron. For the detection of obstacles in the vehicle apron, characteristic image features are extracted from the individual images and are tracked with respect to time within the sequence of individual images, and an appearance and/or disappearance of one or more characteristic image features taking place in the course of the sequence is determined and evaluated. Additionally or alternatively, a change of a spatial distribution of one or more characteristic image features taking place in the course of the sequence in the respective individual image or in a cutout of the latter is determined and evaluated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Torsten Seyffarth, Marc Walessa
  • Publication number: 20120212614
    Abstract: A driver information method is provided, wherein an image of the surrounding area is captured by at least one side camera attached to the motor vehicle. The image contains an image capturing area that lies essentially laterally relative to the motor vehicle. A display unit, which is visible to the driver of a motor vehicle, outputs a screen image that contains a reproduction of the image of the surrounding area, the reproduction being graphically processed, if desired, and being preferably in essence photo-realistic. The output of the screen image is only temporary; and an obstructed view situation, in which an obstructed lateral view of the driver is to be assumed, is detected on the basis of distance signals of at least one environment detection system that is not based on a camera. The output of the screen image is automatically started when an obstructed view situation is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Florian OSZWALD, Renaud DEBON, Thomas BARMEYER, Marc WALESSA
  • Publication number: 20110228986
    Abstract: For the automatic longitudinal guidance of a motor vehicle having a longitudinally guiding driver assistance system with a stop-and-go function, at least starting from a point-in-time wherein the motor vehicle is stopped, the vehicle apron is continuously monitored for possible obstacles by a monitoring device having a camera which supplies a sequence of individual images of the vehicle apron. For the detection of obstacles in the vehicle apron, characteristic image features are extracted from the individual images and are tracked with respect to time within the sequence of individual images, and an appearance and/or disappearance of one or more characteristic image features taking place in the course of the sequence is determined and evaluated. Additionally or alternatively, a change of a spatial distribution of one or more characteristic image features taking place in the course of the sequence in the respective individual image or in a cutout of the latter is determined and evaluated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Torsten SEYFFARTH, Marc Walessa