Patents by Inventor Marcus Nils Gunnar Rothoff

Marcus Nils Gunnar Rothoff 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: 10054940
    Abstract: A method is provided for assisting a driver of a vehicle. The method may include performing a lateral control of the vehicle in an autonomous mode, determining information about a surroundings of the vehicle, checking whether a longitudinal control of the vehicle performed by the driver is appropriate considering the determined information about the surroundings, and, if appropriate, continuing an autonomous mode of the lateral control of the vehicle. A driver assist system is also provided for performing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Stefan Solyom, Marcus Nils Gunnar Rothoff
  • Publication number: 20170365170
    Abstract: A method implemented in a parking management system for parking autonomous vehicles in a parking slot free manner, a method implemented in an autonomous vehicle and an autonomous vehicle adapted to perform the method. The method comprises the steps of requesting to park in a parking space. A parking position is determined based on the vehicle length and width and, based on the length and width of the vehicles forming the vehicle cluster at which the vehicle is intended to be parked. The method is a very flexible way of managing parking space for autonomous vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nenad LAZIC, Marcus Nils Gunnar ROTHOFF, Erik COELINGH
  • Patent number: 9594373
    Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for continuously establishing a boundary for autonomous driving availability, in a vehicle having autonomous driving capabilities and comprising at least one remote sensor for acquiring vehicle surrounding information and at least one vehicle dynamics sensor for determining vehicle dynamics parameters. The method and apparatus include at least one of a positioning arrangement that provides map data with associated information, a route planning arrangement that enables route planning, a vehicle driver monitoring arrangement that provides driver monitoring information, and a real time information acquiring arrangement that acquires at least one of traffic information and weather information. The boundary is calculated based on a planned route and at least one of vehicle surrounding information, vehicle dynamics parameters, driver monitoring information, map data, traffic information and weather information, for the planned route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Stefan Solyom, Ake Blom, Marcus Nils Gunnar Rothoff
  • Patent number: 9582004
    Abstract: Provided are a method and an apparatus for prediction of time available for autonomous driving, in a vehicle having autonomous driving capabilities and including at least one remote sensor configured to acquire vehicle surrounding information and at least one vehicle dynamics sensor configured to determine vehicle dynamics parameters. The method and apparatus include at least one of a positioning arrangement that provides map data with associated information, a route planning arrangement that enables route planning, and a real time information acquiring arrangement that acquires at least one of real time traffic information and real time weather information. The time available is calculated based on a planned route and at least one of vehicle surrounding information, vehicle dynamics parameters, map data with associated information, real time traffic information and real time weather information, for the planned route. The calculated time is output to a human machine interface in a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Marcus Nils Gunnar Rothoff, Erik Coelingh, Anders Tylman-Mikiewicz, Douglas Hall Frasher, Per Rodjer, Jesper Andreasson, Jonas Soderqvist
  • Publication number: 20160334805
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling movement of a group of vehicles that includes a lead vehicle and one or more additional vehicles. The lead vehicle includes a first control unit and a first wireless communication device. Each additional vehicle includes a second control unit adapted to in an at least partly automated mode have the movement of the additional vehicle controlled by the first control unit of the lead vehicle. Each additional vehicle also includes a second wireless communication device for communication with the first communication device of the lead vehicle. The vehicles of the group are moveable relative to each other within the group as regards longitudinal position, lateral position, speed and/or acceleration. The group of vehicles are controllable by the first control unit of the lead vehicle so as to move as a body having a variable shape, thereby cooperating with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Marcus Nils Gunnar ROTHOFF, Stefan SOLYOM, Mattias Erik BRANNSTROM, Jonas EKMARK, Erik COELINGH
  • Publication number: 20150253772
    Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for continuously establishing a boundary for autonomous driving availability, in a vehicle having autonomous driving capabilities and comprising at least one remote sensor for acquiring vehicle surrounding information and at least one vehicle dynamics sensor for determining vehicle dynamics parameters. The method and apparatus include at least one of a positioning arrangement that provides map data with associated information, a route planning arrangement that enables route planning, a vehicle driver monitoring arrangement that provides driver monitoring information, and a real time information acquiring arrangement that acquires at least one of traffic information and weather information. The boundary is calculated based on a planned route and at least one of vehicle surrounding information, vehicle dynamics parameters, driver monitoring information, map data, traffic information and weather information, for the planned route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Stefan SOLYOM, Ake BLOM, Marcus Nils Gunnar ROTHOFF
  • Publication number: 20150253778
    Abstract: Provided are a method and an apparatus for prediction of time available for autonomous driving, in a vehicle having autonomous driving capabilities and including at least one remote sensor configured to acquire vehicle surrounding information and at least one vehicle dynamics sensor configured to determine vehicle dynamics parameters. The method and apparatus include at least one of a positioning arrangement that provides map data with associated information, a route planning arrangement that enables route planning, and a real time information acquiring arrangement that acquires at least one of real time traffic information and real time weather information. The time available is calculated based on a planned route and at least one of vehicle surrounding information, vehicle dynamics parameters, map data with associated information, real time traffic information and real time weather information, for the planned route. The calculated time is output to a human machine interface in a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Marcus Nils Gunnar ROTHOFF, Erik COELINGH, Anders TYLMAN-MIKIEWICZ, Douglas Hall FRASHER, Per RODJER, Jesper ANDREASSON, Jonas SODERQVIST
  • Publication number: 20150154871
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling movement of a group of vehicles that includes a lead vehicle and one or more additional vehicles. The lead vehicle includes a first control unit and a first wireless communication device. Each additional vehicle includes a second control unit adapted to in an at least partly automated mode have the movement of the additional vehicle controlled by the first control unit of the lead vehicle. Each additional vehicle also includes a second wireless communication device for communication with the first communication device of the lead vehicle. The vehicles of the group are moveable relative to each other within the group as regards longitudinal position, lateral position, speed and/or acceleration. The group of vehicles are controllable by the first control unit of the lead vehicle so as to move as a body having a variable shape, thereby cooperating with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventors: Marcus Nils Gunnar ROTHOFF, Stefan SOLYOM, Mattias Erik BRANNSTROM, Jonas EKMARK, Erik COELINGH
  • Publication number: 20140172221
    Abstract: A method is provided for assisting a driver of a vehicle. The method may include performing a lateral control of the vehicle in an autonomous mode, determining information about a surroundings of the vehicle, checking whether a longitudinal control of the vehicle performed by the driver is appropriate considering the determined information about the surroundings, and, if appropriate, continuing an autonomous mode of the lateral control of the vehicle. A driver assist system is also provided for performing the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stefan SOLYOM, Marcus Nils Gunnar ROTHOFF
  • Patent number: 6648308
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle spring apparatus comprising housing having fluid sealed therein. The housing comprises a cylinder with a slidably fitted piston and a piston rod connected at one end to said piston. The piston rod extends at the other end outside said cylinder and said cylinder is connected via a passage and a first valve to a first accumulator chamber comprising a springing medium. The cylinder is connected via a passage and a second valve to a second accumulator chamber comprising a springing medium, and said accumulator chambers is also connected with each other via at least one controllable pump. The invention also relates to a vehicle height adjusting system and a vehicle comprising the vehicle spring apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Marcus Nils Gunnar Rothoff
  • Publication number: 20020144872
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle spring apparatus comprising housing having fluid sealed therein. The housing comprises a cylinder with a slidably fitted piston and a piston rod connected at one end to said piston. The piston rod extends at the other end outside said cylinder and said cylinder is connected via a passage and a first valve to a first accumulator chamber comprising a springing medium. The cylinder is connected via a passage and a second valve to a second accumulator chamber comprising a springing medium, and said accumulator chambers is also connected with each other via at least one controllable pump. The invention also relates to a vehicle height adjusting system and a vehicle comprising the vehicle spring apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Marcus Nils Gunnar Rothoff