Patents by Inventor Martin Buchner

Martin Buchner 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: 11935262
    Abstract: A method where one or more objects of a three-dimensional scene are determined in accordance with provided raw data of the three-dimensional scene representing a predefined environment inside and/or outside the vehicle. A two-dimensional image is determined in accordance with the provided raw data of the three-dimensional scene such that the two-dimensional image depicts the determined objects of the three-dimensional scene on a curved plane. The two-dimensional image has a quantity of pixels, each representing at least one part or several of the determined objects of the three-dimensional scene. Data is provided which represents at least one determined field of view of the driver. For at least one of the determined objects, the probability with which the at least one object will be located in the field of view of the driver is determined in accordance with the provided data and the two-dimensional image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Florian Bade, Moritz Blume, Martin Buchner, Carsten Isert, Julia Niemann, Michael Wolfram, Joris Wolters
  • Patent number: 11884277
    Abstract: A method provided for producing a model of the surroundings of a vehicle, wherein a lane is determined on the basis of objects, free space boundaries and/or roadway limitations. The lane indicates the zone around the vehicle in which the vehicle can drive freely. The lane includes at least one lane segment, the lane segment comprising at least one lane segment boundary, in particular a front lane segment boundary, a rear lane segment boundary, a left lane segment boundary and a right lane segment boundary. The distance from the vehicle to the lane segment boundary is determined, and the lane is made available to a driver assistance system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Buchner, Tobias Strobel, Klaus Dollinger
  • Patent number: 11697420
    Abstract: A method evaluates a degree of fatigue of a vehicle occupant in a vehicle. A number of first fatigue indicators is provided which are determined according to computation rules from a plurality of first sensor values and each represent a degree of fatigue of the vehicle occupant. The first sensor values represent measured values of the vehicle and/or measured values relating to a current journey. A first metadata record is associated with each of the number of first fatigue indicators, wherein the first metadata records represent information about the characteristics of the sensors. The first sensor values are processed in the respective first fatigue indicators. A number of second fatigue indicators is provided which are determined according to computation rules from one or more second sensor values and each represent a degree of fatigue of the vehicle occupant. The second sensor values represent physiological and/or physical parameters of the vehicle occupants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Florian Bade, Moritz Blume, Martin Buchner, Carsten Isert, Julia Niemann, Michael Wolfram, Joris Wolters
  • Patent number: 11640199
    Abstract: A method for operating an assist system for a vehicle that includes a sensor device for detecting a directional characteristic value that is representative of a viewing direction of a driver of the vehicle. In the method, a calibration characteristic value is provided that is representative of a rest viewing direction of a standard driver. At least one initial direction characteristic value is determined, in dependence of which a rest characteristic value is determined that is representative of a rest viewing direction of the driver. A transformation characteristic value is determined based on the rest characteristic value, which is representative of a transformation between the rest characteristic value and the calibration characteristic value. Based on the transformation characteristic value, subsequently determined directional characteristic values are corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Florian Bade, Moritz Blume, Martin Buchner, Julia Niemann, Michael Wolfram, Joris Wolters
  • Patent number: 11628845
    Abstract: A method and a device for driver state evaluation are provided. In a detection step, in a sensor-aided manner, a driver's viewing direction in a field of view defined relative to the vehicle is detected and a solid angle oriented to the viewing direction is determined depending on at least one parameter that influences the field of view. In an evaluation step, at least one object point of the three-dimensional surroundings of the driver is evaluated on the basis of the latter's position with respect to the solid angle determined and an attentiveness-related driver state is ascertained depending on this evaluation and is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Florian Bade, Martin Buchner, Julia Niemann
  • Patent number: 11551460
    Abstract: A method for operating an assistance system for a vehicle, including an object sensor device for determining an object characteristic value representative of coordinates of an object in the environment of the vehicle and a viewing sensor device for determining a direction characteristic value representative of a viewing direction of a driver of the vehicle and for determining a position characteristic value representative of a head position of the driver. According to the method, a projection characteristic value representative of a vector that connects the head position to the object is determined; a first region characteristic value representative of an estimated primary field of view of the driver is determined; an attention characteristic value representative of the probability that the object is at least partially in the field of view of the driver is determined; and a warning function of the vehicle is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Florian Bade, Moritz Blume, Martin Buchner, Julia Niemann, Michael Wolfram, Joris Wolters
  • Publication number: 20210259604
    Abstract: In a method for determining the attentiveness of the driver of a vehicle, the inclination of the driver's head is detected. On the basis of the inclination of the head it is determined whether the head is directed downwards. If it has been detected that the head is directed downwards, the size of the opening of at least one of the driver's eyes is continuously detected. Depending on the size of the eyelid opening it is determined whether the driver has directed a reference glance at a carriageway. Depending on the determination as to whether the driver has directed a reference glance at the carriageway it is determined whether the driver is attentive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2019
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Florian BADE, Martin BUCHNER, Maurice KOLFF, Joris WOLTERS
  • Publication number: 20200193629
    Abstract: A method where one or more objects of a three-dimensional scene are determined in accordance with provided raw data of the three-dimensional scene representing a predefined environment inside and/or outside the vehicle. A two-dimensional image is determined in accordance with the provided raw data of the three-dimensional scene such that the two-dimensional image depicts the determined objects of the three-dimensional scene on a curved plane. The two-dimensional image has a quantity of pixels, each representing at least one part or several of the determined objects of the three-dimensional scene. Data is provided which represents at least one determined field of view of the driver. For at least one of the determined objects, the probability with which the at least one object will be located in the field of view of the driver is determined in accordance with the provided data and the two-dimensional image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Florian BADE, Moritz BLUME, Martin BUCHNER, Carsten ISERT, Julia NIEMANN, Michael WOLFRAM, Joris WOLTERS
  • Publication number: 20200192476
    Abstract: A method for operating an assist system for a vehicle that includes a sensor device for detecting a directional characteristic value that is representative of a viewing direction of a driver of the vehicle. In the method, a calibration characteristic value is provided that is representative of a rest viewing direction of a standard driver. At least one initial direction characteristic value is determined, in dependence of which a rest characteristic value is determined that is representative of a rest viewing direction of the driver. A transformation characteristic value is determined based on the rest characteristic value, which is representative of a transformation between the rest characteristic value and the calibration characteristic value. Based on the transformation characteristic value, subsequently determined directional characteristic values are corrected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Florian BADE, Moritz BLUME, Martin BUCHNER, Julia NIEMANN, Michael WOLFRAM, Joris WOLTERS
  • Publication number: 20200189602
    Abstract: A method and a device for driver state evaluation are provided. In a detection step, in a sensor-aided manner, a driver's viewing direction in a field of view defined relative to the vehicle is detected and a solid angle oriented to the viewing direction is determined depending on at least one parameter that influences the field of view. In an evaluation step, at least one object point of the three-dimensional surroundings of the driver is evaluated on the basis of the latter's position with respect to the solid angle determined and an attentiveness-related driver state is ascertained depending on this evaluation and is output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Florian BADE, Martin BUCHNER, Julia NIEMANN
  • Publication number: 20200156649
    Abstract: A method evaluates a degree of fatigue of a vehicle occupant in a vehicle. A number of first fatigue indicators is provided which are determined according to computation rules from a plurality of first sensor values and each represent a degree of fatigue of the vehicle occupant. The first sensor values represent measured values of the vehicle and/or measured values relating to a current journey. A first metadata record is associated with each of the number of first fatigue indicators, wherein the first metadata records represent information about the characteristics of the sensors. The first sensor values are processed in the respective first fatigue indicators. A number of second fatigue indicators is provided which are determined according to computation rules from one or more second sensor values and each represent a degree of fatigue of the vehicle occupant. The second sensor values represent physiological and/or physical parameters of the vehicle occupants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Florian BADE, Moritz BLUME, Martin BUCHNER, Carsten ISERT, Julia NIEMANN, Michael WOLFRAM, Joris WOLTERS
  • Publication number: 20200065597
    Abstract: A method for operating an assistance system for a vehicle, including an object sensor device for determining an object characteristic value representative of coordinates of an object in the environment of the vehicle and a viewing sensor device for determining a direction characteristic value representative of a viewing direction of a driver of the vehicle and for determining a position characteristic value representative of a head position of the driver. According to the method, a projection characteristic value representative of a vector that connects the head position to the object is determined; a first region characteristic value representative of an estimated primary field of view of the driver is determined; an attention characteristic value representative of the probability that the object is at least partially in the field of view of the driver is determined; and a warning function of the vehicle is activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Florian BADE, Moritz BLUME, Martin BUCHNER, Julia NIEMANN, Michael WOLFRAM, Joris WOLTERS
  • Publication number: 20170101097
    Abstract: A method provided for producing a model of the surroundings of a vehicle, wherein a lane is determined on the basis of objects, free space boundaries and/or roadway limitations. The lane indicates the zone around the vehicle in which the vehicle can drive freely. The lane includes at least one lane segment, the lane segment comprising at least one lane segment boundary, in particular a front lane segment boundary, a rear lane segment boundary, a left lane segment boundary and a right lane segment boundary. The distance from the vehicle to the lane segment boundary is determined, and the lane is made available to a driver assistance system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: Martin BUCHNER, Tobias STROBEL, Klaus DOLLINGER
  • Patent number: 9457813
    Abstract: An assessment of whether a roadway is directional is provided. The assessment includes stipulating a dimension if not previously calculated, and receiving of an output from an apparatus for environment recognition for a vehicle, which output is based on recognition of an environment of the vehicle at one instant. The assessment also include associating a factor with the output, wherein the factor is based on a speed of the vehicle at the instant associated with the output. The output is mapped into a rating value in accordance with a predefined mapping specification, and the factor is associated with the rating value. The dimension is then calculated based on a sum that is based on the rating value weighted with the associated factor, and on the previously calculated or stipulated dimension, after which the dimension can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Marcus Hoerwick, Loren Schwarz, Martin Buchner
  • Publication number: 20150166070
    Abstract: An assessment of whether a roadway is directional is provided. The assessment includes stipulating a dimension if not previously calculated, and receiving of an output from an apparatus for environment recognition for a vehicle, which output is based on recognition of an environment of the vehicle at one instant. The assessment also include associating a factor with the output, wherein the factor is based on a speed of the vehicle at the instant associated with the output. The output is mapped into a rating value in accordance with a predefined mapping specification, and the factor is associated with the rating value. The dimension is then calculated based on a sum that is based on the rating value weighted with the associated factor, and on the previously calculated or stipulated dimension, after which the dimension can be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Marcus Hoerwick, Loren Schwarz, Martin Buchner