Patents by Inventor Matthias Kretschmann

Matthias Kretschmann 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: 20230406045
    Abstract: A method for determining a validity of a tire parameter of a tire of a vehicle including: detecting the tire parameter, detecting a value of a validity parameter, the validity parameter being a measure of the validity of the tire parameter, and determining that the detected tire parameter is valid if the detected value of the validity parameter is changed compared to a previous value of the validity parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Technologies GmbH
    Inventor: Matthias Kretschmann
  • Patent number: 11618458
    Abstract: A method and a device for determining loads on vehicle's wheels, each with a tire, is disclosed. A deformation measured value and a pressure measured value for each tire, and at least one acceleration measured value for the vehicle are detected. For the respective wheels, dynamic wheel loads are calculated according to a first model and static wheel loads are calculated according to a second model. The second model comprises at least one model parameter calculated by statistical analysis of the calculated dynamic wheel loads, the calculated static wheel loads, and the detected at least one acceleration measured value. The at least one acceleration measured value is redetected and the dynamic wheel loads are recalculated from the previously calculated static wheel loads and the at least one detected acceleration measured value according to the second model using the previously calculated at least one model parameter of the second model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Kretschmann, Parthiv Dharamshi
  • Patent number: 11472430
    Abstract: A method for determining a wet road condition includes receiving a value of a received signal strength index of an RF signal received from a sensor associated with a wheel of a vehicle, comparing the value to a predetermined threshold value, and if the value is less than the predetermined threshold value, determining that a wet road condition is met and outputting a pre-aquaplaning warning signal. A system for determining a wet road condition and a non-transitory computer program product are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Kretschmann, Andrei-Stefan Cimponeriu
  • Patent number: 11472236
    Abstract: A method for determining a tread depth of a tread of a tire during operation of a vehicle having the tire, a control device for a vehicle for determining a tread depth of a tread of a tire of the vehicle, and a system for a vehicle having such a control device and at least one electronic wheel unit, are provided. Provision is made to determine the tread depth based on a determined instantaneous dynamic wheel radius of a wheel, having the tire, of the vehicle and a determined instantaneous dynamic inside radius of the tire. In addition, at least one further first operating parameter of the tire, selected from the group including an instantaneous roadway gradient, an instantaneous vehicle drive mode and an instantaneous tire material expansion, is determined and taken into consideration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Kretschmann, Shichao You
  • Patent number: 11458782
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for monitoring behavior of a tire of a vehicle in a rolling condition of the tire, comprising the steps of: acquiring a signal representative of an acceleration of a specified point of the tire, deriving from the signal a curve which represents a profile of the acceleration of the point during a revolution of the tire, determining a leading portion and a trailing portion of the curve, corresponding to an entry of the point into a footprint region of the tire and corresponding to an exit of the point from the footprint region of the tire, respectively, determining a first measure of a volatility of the signal in the leading portion and a second measure of a volatility of the signal in the trailing portion, and determining an indication of the behavior of the tire based on the first measure and the second measure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Inventors: Matthias Kretschmann, Nicolas Guinart, Nikita Trushkin
  • Patent number: 11358419
    Abstract: A method for detecting wheel units mounted at wheels of a vehicle and for detecting wheel mounting positions belonging to each of the wheel units is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: positioning a mobile communication device at a predetermined start position with respect to the vehicle, moving the mobile communication device from the start position along a path around the vehicle, receiving RF signals from the wheel units and measuring the RF signal strengths thereof by the mobile communication device when moving along the path around the vehicle, performing an analysis of variations of the measured RF signal strengths of the received RF signals depending on the position of the mobile communication device along the path, identifying the wheel units and identifying the wheel mounting positions based on a result of the analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Kretschmann, Parthiv Dharamshi, Michael Löffler, Jean-Philippe Boisset
  • Patent number: 11230146
    Abstract: A method for determining a tread depth of a tread of a tire during operation of a vehicle comprising the tire, a controller for a vehicle for determining a tread depth of a tread of a tire of the vehicle, and a system for a vehicle, comprising such a controller and at least one electronic wheel unit, wherein there is provision to determine the tread depth based on a determined instantaneous dynamic wheel radius of a wheel, comprising the tire, of the vehicle and a determined instantaneous dynamic inside radius of the tire are disclosed. To improve the accuracy of determination of the tread depth a correction variable predetermined for the type of tire is taken into consideration, which correction variable characterizes the relationship between a change in the tread depth, and a change resulting therefrom in the difference between the dynamic wheel radius and the dynamic inside radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Inventors: Alexander Kuerzl, Matthias Kretschmann, Michael Löffler
  • Patent number: 11199402
    Abstract: A method for determining the thickness of a tire of a motor vehicle being equipped with at least a tire pressure monitoring sensor placed in contact with the internal wall of the tire facing the tread, including the following steps: at least two successive reference times are determined; at least one instant of passage of a half-deflection angle is determined; the half-deflection angle is determined; then the value of a mean external radius, which radius is estimated in a range of angular positions, is determined; a value of a mean internal radius, which radius is estimated in a range of angular positions, is determined; then the thickness of the tire being the difference between the mean external radius and the mean internal radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Boisset, Sébastien Plancke, Matthias Kretschmann
  • Patent number: 11124026
    Abstract: Thread depth ascertainment for vehicle tires involves a plurality of vehicles transmitting respective adaptation data to a central data processor. The data processing device forming optimization data on the basis thereof and transmitting the optimization data to the vehicles. The adaptation data are formed by the vehicles based on tire type, mileage and rotation speed of the tire and a velocity of the vehicle and at least one operating parameter of the tire, and the optimization data are used by each of the vehicles for ascertaining the tread depth of a relevant tire based on model of the ascertained tire type, wherein the model supplies the tread depth based on the rotation speed of the tire, the velocity of the vehicle and at least one operating parameter of the tire using at least one model parameter, which is determined based on the optimization data received from the central data processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Matthias Kretschmann, Shichao You
  • Publication number: 20210268849
    Abstract: A method for detecting wheel units mounted at wheels of a vehicle and for detecting wheel mounting positions belonging to each of the wheel units is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: positioning a mobile communication device at a predetermined start position with respect to the vehicle moving the mobile communication device from the start position along a path around the vehicle receiving RF signals from the wheel units and measuring the RF signal strengths thereof by the mobile communication device when moving along the path around the vehicle performing an analysis of variations of the measured RF signal strengths of the received RF signals depending on the position of the mobile communication device along the path identifying the wheel units and identifying the wheel mounting positions based on a result of the analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Matthias Kretschmann, Parthiv Dharamshi, Michael Löffler, Jean-Philippe Boisset
  • Publication number: 20210268851
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and a system for detecting a faulty arrangement of a sensor module in a sensor module holder in a tire of a vehicle equipped with a tire monitoring system. The detection of a faulty arrangement of a sensor module may be performed by ascertaining on the basis of a comparison of the operating parameters determined by the sensor modules of the tire monitoring system that there is for this sensor module a discrepancy, dependent on a speed of the vehicle, between the operating parameter and an operating parameter to be expected for this sensor module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Parthiv Dharamshi, Matthias Kretschmann, Shichao You, Michael Löffler
  • Patent number: 11008015
    Abstract: A method for determining a wheel load acting on a vehicle wheel having a rim, a tire mounted on the rim and a sensor unit mounted at the wheel, includes determining a tire pressure of the tire using the sensor unit, determining a tire footprint of the tire using the sensor unit when the vehicle is driving, determining the wheel load based on a predetermined relationship between the wheel load, the tire pressure and the tire footprint, analyzing temporal variations of the tire pressure during a standstill of the vehicle for determining one or more parameters indicating temporal variations of the tire pressure. A change of the wheel load during the standstill is estimated based on the determined parameters. A device for determining a wheel load and a method and a device for determining a weight of a vehicle are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Parthiv Dharamshi, Matthias Kretschmann
  • Publication number: 20210086786
    Abstract: A method for determining a wet road condition includes receiving a value of a received signal strength index of an RF signal received from a sensor associated with a wheel of a vehicle, comparing the value to a predetermined threshold value, and if the value is less than the predetermined threshold value, determining that a wet road condition is met and outputting a pre-aquaplaning warning signal. A system for determining a wet road condition and a non-transitory computer program product are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: MATTHIAS KRETSCHMANN, ANDREI-STEFAN CIMPONERIU
  • Publication number: 20210086569
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for monitoring behavior of a tire of a vehicle in a rolling condition of the tire, comprising the steps of: acquiring a signal representative of an acceleration of a specified point of the tire, deriving from the signal a curve which represents a profile of the acceleration of the point during a revolution of the tire, determining a leading portion and a trailing portion of the curve, corresponding to an entry of the point into a footprint region of the tire and corresponding to an exit of the point from the footprint region of the tire, respectively, determining a first measure of a volatility of the signal in the leading portion and a second measure of a volatility of the signal in the trailing portion, and determining an indication of the behavior of the tire based on the first measure and the second measure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Matthias KRETSCHMANN, Nicolas GUINART, Nikita TRUSHKIN
  • Publication number: 20210008933
    Abstract: A method for determining a tread depth of a tread of a tire during operation of a vehicle having the tire, a control device for a vehicle for determining a tread depth of a tread of a tire of the vehicle, and a system for a vehicle having such a control device and at least one electronic wheel unit, are provided. Provision is made to determine the tread depth based on a determined instantaneous dynamic wheel radius of a wheel, having the tire, of the vehicle and a determined instantaneous dynamic inside radius of the tire. In addition, at least one further first operating parameter of the tire, selected from the group including an instantaneous roadway gradient, an instantaneous vehicle drive mode and an instantaneous tire material expansion, is determined and taken into consideration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: MATTHIAS KRETSCHMANN, SHICHAO YOU
  • Publication number: 20200393243
    Abstract: A method for determining the thickness of a tire of a motor vehicle being equipped with at least a tire pressure monitoring sensor placed in contact with the internal wall of the tire facing the tread, including the following steps: at least two successive reference times are determined; at least one instant of passage of a half-deflection angle is determined; the half-deflection angle is determined; then the value of a mean external radius, which radius is estimated in a range of angular positions, is determined; a value of a mean internal radius, which radius is estimated in a range of angular positions, is determined; then the thickness of the tire being the difference between the mean external radius and the mean internal radius.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Boisset, Sébastien Plancke, Matthias Kretschmann
  • Patent number: 10710418
    Abstract: An aspect of the invention relates to a method for the radio-oriented optimization of wheel monitoring in a vehicle equipped with vehicle wheels, wherein the monitoring of at least one of the vehicle wheels is prompted by an electronic wheel unit arranged on the relevant vehicle wheel capturing at least one wheel operating parameter of the vehicle wheel, and radio signals containing information about the at least one captured wheel operating parameter being transmitted for a respective wheel rotational position of the vehicle wheel, stipulated by the electronic wheel unit, wherein the radio signals are received and evaluated by a control device of the vehicle and wherein the radio-oriented optimization of the wheel monitoring is prompted by the electronic wheel unit being used to transmit multiple radio signals for different wheel rotational positions, wherein the radio signals are received by means of the control device and rated in respect of their respective radio signal strength, wherein the control devic
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Fischer, Thomas Haas, Matthias Kretschmann
  • Publication number: 20200189328
    Abstract: Thread depth ascertainment for vehicle tires involves a plurality of vehicles transmitting respective adaptation data to a central data processor. The data processing device forming optimization data on the basis thereof and transmitting the optimization data to the vehicles. The adaptation data are formed by the vehicles based on tire type, mileage and rotation speed of the tire and a velocity of the vehicle and at least one operating parameter of the tire, and the optimization data are used by each of the vehicles for ascertaining the tread depth of a relevant tire based on model of the ascertained tire type, wherein the model supplies the tread depth based on the rotation speed of the tire, the velocity of the vehicle and at least one operating parameter of the tire using at least one model parameter, which is determined based on the optimization data received from the central data processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Matthias Kretschmann, Shichao You
  • Publication number: 20200156650
    Abstract: A method and a device for determining loads on vehicle's wheels, each with a tire, is disclosed. A deformation measured value and a pressure measured value for each tire, and at least one acceleration measured value for the vehicle are detected. For the respective wheels, dynamic wheel loads are calculated according to a first model and static wheel loads are calculated according to a second model. The second model comprises at least one model parameter calculated by statistical analysis of the calculated dynamic wheel loads, the calculated static wheel loads, and the detected at least one acceleration measured value. The at least one acceleration measured value is redetected and the dynamic wheel loads are recalculated from the previously calculated static wheel loads and the at least one detected acceleration measured value according to the second model using the previously calculated at least one model parameter of the second model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Matthias KRETSCHMANN, Parthiv DHARAMSHI
  • Publication number: 20200070589
    Abstract: A method for determining a tread depth of a tread of a tire during operation of a vehicle comprising the tire, a controller for a vehicle for determining a tread depth of a tread of a tire of the vehicle, and a system for a vehicle, comprising such a controller and at least one electronic wheel unit, wherein there is provision to determine the tread depth based on a determined instantaneous dynamic wheel radius of a wheel, comprising the tire, of the vehicle and a determined instantaneous dynamic inside radius of the tire are disclosed. To improve the accuracy of determination of the tread depth a correction variable predetermined for the type of tire is taken into consideration, which correction variable characterizes the relationship between a change in the tread depth, and a change resulting therefrom in the difference between the dynamic wheel radius and the dynamic inside radius.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Alexander Kuerzl, Matthias Kretschmann, Michael Löffler