Patents by Inventor Michael Reichel

Michael Reichel 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: 10088847
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and a device for the automatic stopping of a vehicle in a target area. A method aspect of the disclosure comprises providing map data in which potential target areas for stopping of vehicles are defined by at least one attribute of map elements detecting an event that necessitates an automatic stopping of the vehicle determining a target area on the basis of the current position of the vehicle and the potential target areas defined in the map data, and triggering, on detection of the event, an automatic stopping process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Elektrobit Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Reichel, Stefan Pruisken
  • Publication number: 20170349857
    Abstract: In a process for purifying fatty acid alkyl esters, particularly methyl and ethyl esters, by means of vacuum distillation in a distillation column, water or steam is introduced into the distillation column and, during distillation, brought into contact with the fatty acid alkyl esters in the gas phase. This results in a significant reduction in the sulphur content and in the acid number of the fatty acid alkyl ester.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Reichel, Robert Raudner
  • Patent number: 9721468
    Abstract: A method for operating a navigation system for a motor vehicle with autopilot is disclosed, wherein the autopilot is designed to automatically carry out longitudinal and lateral guidance of the motor vehicle in the activated state during a piloted journey without assistance from a driver. The navigation system determines, for a destination prescribed by the user, a route to the destination on the basis of navigation data. The roads on which the activation of the autopilot is likely to be possible is determined using traffic data and on the basis of a predetermined activation condition for the autopilot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Björn Giesler, Michael Reichel, Sebastian Klaas
  • Publication number: 20170147004
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and a device for the automatic stopping of a vehicle in a target area. A method aspect of the disclosure comprises providing map data in which potential target areas for stopping of vehicles are defined by at least one attribute of map elements detecting an event that necessitates an automatic stopping of the vehicle determining a target area on the basis of the current position of the vehicle and the potential target areas defined in the map data, and triggering, on detection of the event, an automatic stopping process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Michael REICHEL, Stefan PRUISKEN
  • Patent number: 9645640
    Abstract: A menu including at least one menu entry and/or a menu entry from the menu, is selected by using a menu navigation device. The device can control the vehicle by at least one head movement of a driver and includes a camera which is designed to be worn on the head of the driver to capture camera data corresponding to a field of vision of the driver, a processor unit which is configured to generate a compilation of menu entries as a function of at least one predetermined viewing direction which corresponds to the direction of a field of vision of the driver and/or a position of the driver's head, and a display for outputting the menu entries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Andreas Siegel, Michael Reichel, Peter Bargfrede
  • Patent number: 9630616
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle system, which is designed for autonomous operation of a motor vehicle is described, wherein setting information for the vehicle system is determined from location information describing a current position of the motor vehicle and from at least one location-related permission information item relating to the permission of use of the vehicle system, and at least one operating parameter of the vehicle system is selected as a function of the setting information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Michael Reichel, Karl-Heinz Siedersberger
  • Publication number: 20170102707
    Abstract: A method for operating a driver assistance system for the automated guidance of a motor vehicle, comprising the steps: Detecting environmental data relating to the surroundings of the motor vehicle by environmental sensors of the motor vehicle as well as ego data relating to the motor vehicle, Determining several trajectories that respectively describe a possible future movement of the motor vehicle depending on the environmental data and the ego data, Selecting a reference trajectory from the determined trajectories by analyzing several evaluation criteria, wherein at least one of the evaluation criteria is a detection range criterion that analyzes at least one predicted detection range of one of the environmental sensors or of a group of the environmental sensors of the motor vehicle during a predicted movement of the motor vehicle along the respective determined trajectory, Controlling vehicle systems in order to move the motor vehicle along the reference trajectory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Reichel, Christian Rösener
  • Patent number: 9610908
    Abstract: A device sets at least one operating parameter of at least one vehicle system of a motor vehicle. The device has at least one movement detection apparatus for determining the movement of at least one person located inside or in the vicinity of the motor vehicle, which movement detection apparatus is designed to determine at least one person-specific movement information item using at least one person-specific movement signal which is supplied by a person-side movement sensor system and relates to the movement of the person. The device is designed to set the at least one operating parameter of the at least one vehicle system using the person-specific movement information item. The device also has a memory in which certain settings of an operating parameter of a vehicle system are assigned to certain person-specific movement information items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Andreas Siegel, Michael Reichel
  • Publication number: 20160313792
    Abstract: A menu including at least one menu entry and/or a menu entry from the menu, is selected by using a menu navigation device. The device can control the vehicle by at least one head movement of a driver and includes a camera which is designed to be worn on the head of the driver to capture camera data corresponding to a field of vision of the driver, a processor unit which is configured to generate a compilation of menu entries as a function of at least one predetermined viewing direction which corresponds to the direction of a field of vision of the driver and/or a position of the driver's head, and a display for outputting the menu entries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Andreas SIEGEL, Michael REICHEL, Peter BARGFREDE
  • Patent number: 9442489
    Abstract: In a method for coordinating operation of motor vehicles driving fully automated, a trajectory described by a driving intervention is determined for each motor vehicle from status information of the motor vehicle, whereafter it is determined by an on-board vehicle system whether a coordination condition exists that requires coordination. If a coordination condition exists, trajectory data describing the trajectory are exchanged between the motor vehicles via a communication link through an on-board communication device and the trajectory is checked for conflicts caused by spatial and temporal overlap of the trajectories of at least two motor vehicles and/or because at least one of the motor vehicles did not reach its destination. If a conflict exists, the trajectory of a motor vehicle participating in the conflict is adjusted based on an arbitration rule evaluated by an arbitration device, whereafter the driving interventions described by the trajectory are performed by each motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Michael Reichel, Andreas Siegel
  • Patent number: 9346401
    Abstract: Motor vehicle with at least one control device, a thermal imaging camera and an image processing device, wherein the image processing device is designed to recognize objects on a thermal image from the thermal imaging camera, wherein the image processing device is designed to ascertain at least one object property of at least one recognized object, particularly of a recognized vehicle, by evaluating the thermal distribution in the thermal image in a region that includes the recognized object, wherein the control device is designed to use the object property for operation of a vehicle system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Michael Reichel, Mohamed Essayed Bouzouraa
  • Publication number: 20160093211
    Abstract: A method for operating a navigation system for a motor vehicle with autopilot is disclosed, wherein the autopilot is designed to automatically carry out longitudinal and lateral guidance of the motor vehicle in the activated state during a piloted journey without assistance from a driver. The navigation system determines, for a destination prescribed by the user, a route to the destination on the basis of navigation data. The roads on which the activation of the autopilot is likely to be possible is determined using traffic data and on the basis of a predetermined activation condition for the autopilot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: BJÖRN GIESLER, MICHAEL REICHEL, SEBASTIAN KLAAS
  • Publication number: 20150344037
    Abstract: A method for predictive determination of a parameter value of a surface on which a vehicle can drive, includes the steps of detecting a total surface that is provided for the vehicle to drive on, determining a partial region within the total surface, on which the vehicle can actually drive, determining the parameter value only for the partial region, and providing the parameter value to at least one driver assistance system of the vehicle. A control device for performing the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: ANDREAS SIEGEL, MICHAEL REICHEL
  • Patent number: 9156497
    Abstract: A driver assistance system for authorizing an autonomous, piloted parking of a vehicle into and out of a target standing surface includes a sensor system detecting measuring values during at least one drive of the vehicle from a first position in a vicinity and outside of the target standing surface to a second position inside the target standing surface and from the second position back to the first position, an analysis device determining based on the detected measuring values, properties of the vehicle and the capability of control-, regulation- and sensor-devices of the vehicle for an autonomous and piloted parking into and out of a parking space, whether the vehicle is capable of an to autonomous or piloted parking into the target standing surface and out of the target standing surface; and a memory device, wherein the driver assistance system is constructed to store an authorization data set for the autonomous or piloted parking into and out of the target standing surface in the memory device when the a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Michael Reichel, Mohamed Essayed Bouzouraa
  • Publication number: 20150286219
    Abstract: In a method for coordinating operation of motor vehicles driving fully automated, a trajectory described by a driving intervention is determined for each motor vehicle from status information of the motor vehicle, whereafter it is determined by an on-board vehicle system whether a coordination condition exists that requires coordination. If a coordination condition exists, trajectory data describing the trajectory are exchanged between the motor vehicles via a communication link through an on-board communication device and the trajectory is checked for conflicts caused by spatial and temporal overlap of the trajectories of at least two motor vehicles and/or because at least one of the motor vehicles did not reach its destination. If a conflict exists, the trajectory of a motor vehicle participating in the conflict is adjusted based on an arbitration rule evaluated by an arbitration device, whereafter the driving interventions described by the trajectory are performed by each motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Michael Reichel, Andreas Siegel
  • Publication number: 20150217763
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle system, which is designed for autonomous operation of a motor vehicle is described, wherein setting information for the vehicle system is determined from location information describing a current position of the motor vehicle and from at least one location-related permission information item relating to the permission of use of the vehicle system, and at least one operating parameter of the vehicle system is selected as a function of the setting information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Michael Reichel, Karl-Heinz Siedersberger
  • Publication number: 20150210216
    Abstract: Motor vehicle with at least one control device, a thermal imaging camera and an image processing device, wherein the image processing device is designed to recognize objects on a thermal image from the thermal imaging camera, wherein the image processing device is designed to ascertain at least one object property of at least one recognized object, particularly of a recognized vehicle, by evaluating the thermal distribution in the thermal image in a region that includes the recognized object, wherein the control device is designed to use the object property for operation of a vehicle system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Michael Reichel, Mohamed Essayed Bouzouraa
  • Patent number: 8892293
    Abstract: Damage caused by accidents that occur during autonomous driving of a motor vehicle should be reliably detected. For this purpose, a transport facility with a driving area which can be autonomously driven by a motor vehicle, has a detection device for detecting a first state of the motor vehicle in an entrance area outside the driving area and for detecting a second state in an exit area located within the driving area. In addition, transport facility has an evaluation device for determining a possible difference between the second state and the first state relating to damage of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Michael Reichel, Andreas Siegel
  • Publication number: 20140222253
    Abstract: A device sets at least one operating parameter of at least one vehicle system of a motor vehicle. The device has at least one movement detection apparatus for determining the movement of at least one person located inside or in the vicinity of the motor vehicle, which movement detection apparatus is designed to determine at least one person-specific movement information item using at least one person-specific movement signal which is supplied by a person-side movement sensor system and relates to the movement of the person. The device is designed to set the at least one operating parameter of the at least one vehicle system using the person-specific movement information item. The device also has a memory in which certain settings of an operating parameter of a vehicle system are assigned to certain person-specific movement information items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Andreas Siegel, Michael Reichel
  • Publication number: 20140195125
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has a position detection device and a control device. The position detection device detects a piece of position information that describes the position of at least one occupant of the motor vehicle and/or of a mobile terminal, particularly a mobile telephone, that is associable or associated with the occupant within the motor vehicle by taking account of a position of the mobile terminal and/or of a piece of registration information delivered by the mobile terminal. The control device is designed to set at least one operating parameter of a vehicle system by taking account of a piece of control information delivered by the mobile terminal and of the position information and/or to transmit at least one piece of operating information that influences at least one function of the mobile terminal to the mobile terminal on the basis of the position information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Andreas Siegel, Michael Reichel