Patents by Inventor Michael Reier

Michael Reier 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: 10487400
    Abstract: A method of changing the brightness of light emitted by first and second light emitting diodes (LEDs) operated by respective first and second pulse width modulation (PWM) control signals includes the steps of (a) changing a first PWM control signal that operates a first LED from a first initial PWM value at a first rate of change to achieve a threshold PWM value at a predetermined point in time; (b) changing a second PWM control signal that operates a second LED from a second initial PWM value at a second rate of change to achieve the threshold PWM value at the predetermined point in time; and (c) subsequent to the predetermined time, changing both the first PWM control signal and the second PWM control signal from the threshold PWM value to achieve a final PWM value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Reier, Andreas Töpfer, Stefan Klinger
  • Publication number: 20190194808
    Abstract: A method of changing the brightness of light emitted by first and second light emitting diodes (LEDs) operated by respective first and second pulse width modulation (PWM) control signals includes the steps of (a) changing a first PWM control signal that operates a first LED from a first initial PWM value at a first rate of change to achieve a threshold PWM value at a predetermined point in time; (b) changing a second PWM control signal that operates a second LED from a second initial PWM value at a second rate of change to achieve the threshold PWM value at the predetermined point in time; and (c) subsequent to the predetermined time, changing both the first PWM control signal and the second PWM control signal from the threshold PWM value to achieve a final PWM value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Reier, Andreas Töpfer, Stefan Klinger
  • Patent number: 9386649
    Abstract: The brightness generated by LEDs in an LED strip is adjusted by pulse-width modulation, wherein the LEDs connected in series are driven temporally offset to one another. If there is a shift in the on-time of at least one LED, a controller inserts at least one additional drive pulse to switch on the LEDs if the interval of the on-times of an LED in the time frame before the shift and in the drive frame after the shift is so large that the interval arising therefrom exceeds a first threshold. Alternatively, the controller reduces at least one drive pulse for switching on the LEDs to curtail the on-time of the LEDs if the interval of the on-times of an LED in the time frame before the shift and in the time frame after the shift is so small that the interval arising therefrom drops below a second threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Reier, Klaus-Dieter Grebner
  • Publication number: 20150216010
    Abstract: The brightness generated by LEDs in an LED strip is adjusted by pulse-width modulation, wherein the LEDs connected in series are driven temporally offset to one another. If there is a shift in the on-time of at least one LED, a controller inserts at least one additional drive pulse to switch on the LEDs if the interval of the on-times of an LED in the time frame before the shift and in the drive frame after the shift is so large that the interval arising therefrom exceeds a first threshold. Alternatively, the controller reduces at least one drive pulse for switching on the LEDs to curtail the on-time of the LEDs if the interval of the on-times of an LED in the time frame before the shift and in the time frame after the shift is so small that the interval arising therefrom drops below a second threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Applicant: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Reier
  • Patent number: 8994278
    Abstract: A device serves to control an electrical load of at least two single loads connected in series. Each of the at least two single loads is connected in parallel to a controllable switch, so that each of the at least two single loads can be switched independently of one another. In addition, a driver stage that drives a current into the electrical load is present. The controllable switches can be controlled by the control unit. A dummy load is connected in series to the at least two single loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Lear Corporation GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus-Dieter Grebner, Michael Reier
  • Patent number: 8664869
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electrical load of at least two single loads includes activating and deactivating the single loads in switching cycles of predefined duration sequentially following one another. In one switching cycle, the single loads are activated and deactivated alternately with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Lear Corporation GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus-Dieter Grebner, Michael Reier
  • Publication number: 20120139428
    Abstract: A device serves to control an electrical load of at least two single loads connected in series. Each of the at least two single loads is connected in parallel to a controllable switch, so that each of the at least two single loads can be switched independently of one another. In addition, a driver stage that drives a current into the electrical load is present. The controllable switches can be controlled by the control unit. A dummy load is connected in series to the at least two single loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION GMBH
    Inventors: Klaus-Dieter Grebner, Michael Reier
  • Publication number: 20110221352
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electrical load of at least two single loads includes activating and deactivating the single loads in switching cycles of predefined duration sequentially following one another. In one switching cycle, the single loads are activated and deactivated alternately with respect to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION GMBH
    Inventors: Klaus-Dieter Grebner, Michael Reier