Patents by Inventor Michael Stroebel

Michael Stroebel 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: 20250130064
    Abstract: A driver assistance system is designed to assist a driver of a motor vehicle during a second trip along a trajectory that was recorded during a first trip. The driver assistance system is designed to determine altitude change information regarding an altitude change of the trajectory recorded during the first trip. The driver assistance system is also designed to determine a display trajectory for the second trip using the altitude change information and to cause the display trajectory to be displayed on a display unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Publication date: April 24, 2025
    Inventors: Andreas BOESL, Michael STROEBEL
  • Publication number: 20250121639
    Abstract: A method for assisting a driver of a vehicle during a coupling process with a trailer parked parallel to a road. The method comprises receiving surroundings data from at least one surroundings sensor, and detecting that the trailer is parked parallel to the road. The method further comprises determining at least one coupling position allowing the vehicle to be coupled with the trailer parked parallel to the road, and submitting at least one coupling position suggestion to the driver, based on the at least one coupling position. An open space, describing an area located in front of the trailer in the towing direction, is also determined by the surroundings data. The open space depends on an open space length determined in the towing direction of the trailer. Furthermore, the at least one coupling position is determined depending on the open space length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Publication date: April 17, 2025
    Inventor: Michael STROEBEL
  • Publication number: 20250033427
    Abstract: An apparatus associated with an assistance system of a vehicle includes a device configured to control an adaptive leveling process of the vehicle. The device receives first position data topography data and first leveling process data. The device determines second leveling process data associated with the second position data as a function of the topography data and/or the first leveling process data. The device is also configured to output an electrical control signal as a function of the second leveling process data for the leveling process of the vehicle during the second journey.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Inventor: Michael STROEBEL
  • Patent number: 12187125
    Abstract: A driver assistance system assists a driver of a motor vehicle in driving along a trajectory by displaying the trajectory on a display unit. It is identified that the vehicle is approaching a proximity region of the trajectory starting from an actual position on the basis of the fact that a plurality of different segments of the trajectory intersect, are superimposed and/or approach one another. t least one relevant segment which is relevant for the journey starting from the actual position of the vehicle is determined from the plurality of segments. The relevant segment in the display trajectory is highlighted on the display unit relative to one or more other segments of the plurality of segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Stroebel, Andreas Boesl
  • Publication number: 20240428686
    Abstract: A device for assisting, at the start of travel, a driver of a vehicle towing a trailer. The device receives environment data for the vehicle and trailer. The device determines from the environment data: a coupling angle between the towing vehicle and the trailer, and a pivoting range of the trailer. The device determines, from the environment data, that an object is located at least partly within the pivoting range of the trailer and, because of geometric concealment, is only able to be partly described by the environment data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Inventor: Michael STROEBEL
  • Publication number: 20240336139
    Abstract: A driver assistance system assists a driver of a motor vehicle in driving along a trajectory by displaying the trajectory on a display unit. It is identified that the vehicle is approaching a proximity region of the trajectory starting from an actual position on the basis of the fact that a plurality of different segments of the trajectory intersect, are superimposed and/or approach one another. At least one relevant segment which is relevant for the journey starting from the actual position of the vehicle is determined from the plurality of segments. The relevant segment in the display trajectory is highlighted on the display unit relative to one or more other segments of the plurality of segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Inventors: Michael STROEBEL, Andreas BOESL
  • Patent number: 11851102
    Abstract: A reverse driving assistance system assists a driver in steering a towing vehicle having a trailer. The system has an operating element for specifying a target articulation angle, a sensor device for detecting the current articulation angle of the vehicle-trailer combination, a display unit at least for displaying the specified target articulation angle, and an electronic control unit connected to the aforementioned components. The control unit also has an evaluation unit for recognizing an implausible specification of the target articulation angle and a protection unit for restricting the reverse driving assistance functionality if an implausible target specification is recognized. An implausible specification of the target articulation angle can be recognized at least by detecting the frequency of the change in direction of the operating element within a predetermined time and by comparing the detected value with a defined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Michael Stroebel
  • Patent number: 11299204
    Abstract: A control unit for a reversing assistance system of a vehicle is configured to determine and to store reference data in relation to a first forward travel of the vehicle, wherein the reference data indicate a reference trajectory of the vehicle for the first forward travel from an initial position as far as a first end position. In addition, the control unit is configured to detect that the vehicle begins a new, second forward travel at an intermediate position, which lies between the initial position and the first end position on the reference trajectory. The control unit is further configured to determine reference data in relation to the second forward travel of the vehicle, wherein the reference data indicate the reference trajectory of the vehicle for the second forward travel, starting from the intermediate position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Michael Stroebel
  • Patent number: 11106202
    Abstract: A driver assistance system for at least semi-automatically coupling a two-track motor vehicle to a trailer has an electronic control unit. The system is configured to undertake the transverse guidance and/or the longitudinal guidance of the motor vehicle reversing toward the trailer, in particular by automatically adjusting an appropriate vehicle steering angle and/or by appropriate interventions in the drive and braking system of the motor vehicle, by evaluating signals of a vehicle-internal reversing camera. The control unit has a functional unit, which is configured, in particular by corresponding programming, such that the signals of a vehicle-external camera of a portable electronic mobile radio unit can be detected, and these signals can then be converted into the data form of the signals of a vehicle-internal reversing camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Michael Stroebel
  • Publication number: 20210024129
    Abstract: A reverse driving assistance system assists a driver in steering a towing vehicle having a trailer. The system has an operating element for specifying a target articulation angle, a sensor device for detecting the current articulation angle of the vehicle-trailer combination, a display unit at least for displaying the specified target articulation angle, and an electronic control unit connected to the aforementioned components. The control unit also has an evaluation unit for recognizing an implausible specification of the target articulation angle and a protection unit for restricting the reverse driving assistance functionality if an implausible target specification is recognized. An implausible specification of the target articulation angle can be recognized at least by detecting the frequency of the change in direction of the operating element within a predetermined time and by comparing the detected value with a defined threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventor: Michael STROEBEL
  • Patent number: 10807642
    Abstract: A control unit for a reverse parking assistance system of a vehicle is configured to determine a reverse travel trajectory for a reverse travel from an end position to a start position based on reference data relating to a first forward travel of the vehicle. Furthermore, the control unit is configured to control a steering device of the vehicle during the reverse travel of the vehicle as a function of the reverse travel trajectory. In addition, the control unit is configured to detect that the vehicle leaves the reverse travel trajectory on the reverse travel. Furthermore, the control unit is configured to bring about, as a reaction thereto, that in a second forward travel, the vehicle is guided to a reverse travel position, which makes it possible to guide the vehicle again along at least one section of the reverse travel trajectory to the start position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Adrian Ebner, Michael Stroebel
  • Patent number: 10752289
    Abstract: In a control system for steering a combination with at least one electronic control unit, with a sensor apparatus for capturing the bend angle of the combination and with a display unit, the control unit has a memory region for storing a maximum reversible bend angle, a memory region for storing an upper bend angle change threshold value, and/or a memory region for storing a left hand bend angle range and a right hand bend angle range with reference to the zero line corresponding to a straight combination. A functional unit is designed to output a recommended action for moving forward on the display unit and/or for carrying out an autonomously executed forward movement, when the presence of at least one defined situation in relation to the values related to the bend angle stored in the memory region is ascertained through evaluation of the sensor apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Michael Stroebel
  • Patent number: 10549777
    Abstract: A control system that steers a tractor vehicle with a trailer has at least one electronic control unit which has interfaces to a first sensor device for sensing the current bend angle, a second sensor device for sensing the required driving space of the tractor-trailer combination, and a third sensor device for sensing the driving space which is present. The control unit also has a collision prediction unit for comparing the required driving space with the driving space which is present while taking into account the current bend angle, and a collision prevention unit which determines, through interaction with the collision prediction unit, a bend angle which is the maximum permissible one for preventing a collision. The collision prevention unit indicates a setting of a bend angle which exceeds the maximum permissible bend angle as critical in terms of a collision and prevents the setting or permits it only after a predefined delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Michael Stroebel
  • Publication number: 20190329822
    Abstract: A control unit for a reverse parking assistance system of a vehicle is configured to determine a reverse travel trajectory for a reverse travel from an end position to a start position based on reference data relating to a first forward travel of the vehicle. Furthermore, the control unit is configured to control a steering device of the vehicle during the reverse travel of the vehicle as a function of the reverse travel trajectory. In addition, the control unit is configured to detect that the vehicle leaves the reverse travel trajectory on the reverse travel. Furthermore, the control unit is configured to bring about, as a reaction thereto, that in a second forward travel, the vehicle is guided to a reverse travel position, which makes it possible to guide the vehicle again along at least one section of the reverse travel trajectory to the start position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Adrian EBNER, Michael STROEBEL
  • Publication number: 20190256141
    Abstract: A control unit for a reversing assistance system of a vehicle is configured to determine and to store reference data in relation to a first forward travel of the vehicle, wherein the reference data indicate a reference trajectory of the vehicle for the first forward travel from an initial position as far as a first end position. In addition, the control unit is configured to detect that the vehicle begins a new, second forward travel at an intermediate position, which lies between the initial position and the first end position on the reference trajectory. The control unit is further configured to determine reference data in relation to the second forward travel of the vehicle, wherein the reference data indicate the reference trajectory of the vehicle for the second forward travel, starting from the intermediate position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventor: Michael STROEBEL
  • Publication number: 20190077454
    Abstract: A control system that steers a tractor vehicle with a trailer has at least one electronic control unit which has interfaces to a first sensor device for sensing the current bend angle, a second sensor device for sensing the required driving space of the tractor-trailer combination, and a third sensor device for sensing the driving space which is present. The control unit also has a collision prediction unit for comparing the required driving space with the driving space which is present while taking into account the current bend angle, and a collision prevention unit which determines, through interaction with the collision prediction unit, a bend angle which is the maximum permissible one for preventing a collision. The collision prevention unit indicates a setting of a bend angle which exceeds the maximum permissible bend angle as critical in terms of a collision and prevents said setting or permits it only after a predefined delay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventor: Michael STROEBEL
  • Publication number: 20180354553
    Abstract: In a control system for steering a combination with at least one electronic control unit, with a sensor apparatus for capturing the bend angle of the combination and with a display unit, the control unit has a memory region for storing a maximum reversible bend angle, a memory region for storing an upper bend angle change threshold value, and/or a memory region for storing a left hand bend angle range and a right hand bend angle range with reference to the zero line corresponding to a straight combination. A functional unit is designed to output a recommended action for moving forward on the display unit and/or for carrying out an autonomously executed forward movement, when the presence of at least one defined situation in relation to the values related to the bend angle stored in the memory region is ascertained through evaluation of the sensor apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventor: Michael STROEBEL
  • Publication number: 20180341259
    Abstract: A driver assistance system for at least semi-automatically coupling a two-track motor vehicle to a trailer has an electronic control unit. The system is configured to undertake the transverse guidance and/or the longitudinal guidance of the motor vehicle reversing toward the trailer, in particular by automatically adjusting an appropriate vehicle steering angle and/or by appropriate interventions in the drive and braking system of the motor vehicle, by evaluating signals of a vehicle-internal reversing camera. The control unit has a functional unit, which is configured, in particular by corresponding programming, such that the signals of a vehicle-external camera of a portable electronic mobile radio unit can be detected, and these signals can then be converted into the data form of the signals of a vehicle-internal reversing camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventor: Michael STROEBEL
  • Patent number: 7006990
    Abstract: Methods are provided for selecting a question to be presented to a user of an electronic product catalog system (1) to assist identification of a suitable product from a set of potentially suitable products according to the user's needs. The question is selected from a group of questions stored in the system (1). The methods use product data, which defines features of products in the product set and product scores associated with respective products in the product set, and rule data which defines rules relating answers associated with the questions to product feature constraints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Markus Stolze, Michael Stroebel
  • Publication number: 20030131070
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided to facilitate customization of information presented by web sites for display to an Internet user based on his preferences. In a customization system connectable to web sites via the Internet, a user specification is stored in response to input of the Internet user. The user specification comprises data which indicates, for each of a plurality of predefined preference elements, each of which may have a plurality of predefined values corresponding to respective user preferences, a value corresponding to the user's preference. On establishment of a connection by the Internet user to any one of a plurality of web sites, at least some of the user specification data is supplied to the web site by the customization system. When the user establishes the connection to the web site, at least some of the prestored user specification data is supplied to the web site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Stroebel, Markus Stolze, Dieter Jaepel