Patents by Inventor Michael Weilkes

Michael Weilkes 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: 9211910
    Abstract: A device for keeping a vehicle in its lane, including a reference model, which obtains geometric data regarding the position of the vehicle in the lane as well as data relating to the course of the lane from a lane detection system, and from these calculates a setpoint variable for controlling the vehicle position. In order to allow for corners to be cut, the guiding behavior of the control system is modified in such a way when cornering that, in the event of a deviation of the path of motion of the vehicle from the setpoint path of motion in the direction of the inside of the curve, no or only low steering forces are applied to the steering system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Lutz Buerkle, Michael Weilkes, Michael Scherl, Tobias Rentschler
  • Patent number: 8805604
    Abstract: In a method for adjusting a steering system in a vehicle, a setpoint trajectory is produced to which a tolerance corridor is assigned, a basic steering torque for guiding the vehicle within the tolerance corridor being generated. In the event that the vehicle leaves the tolerance corridor, a steering guidance torque which acts upon the vehicle in the direction of the tolerance corridor is superimposed on the basic steering torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Lutz Buerkle, Michael Weilkes, Tobias Rentschler
  • Patent number: 8310654
    Abstract: A method for the detection of surroundings is performed using a source which emits pulsed signals. Signals backscattered from an object are detected by a sensor. When performing the method, a presence of the object is detected during coarse sampling. To determine a variable related to the detected object, operating parameters of the source are set for fine sampling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Weilkes, Rudolf Merkel, Uwe Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 7840354
    Abstract: A method and a device for automatic triggering of deceleration of a vehicle for preventing a collision, which is accomplished by the fact that a variable, which represents a probability of collision with another vehicle, must exceed a predefinable threshold value, and the threshold value is variable as a function of the driver's response, the current driving situation, or the ambient situation. To determine the change in the threshold value, signals from a steering angle sensor, a brake pedal sensor, an accelerator pedal sensor, a device for determining the speed of the vehicle, a device for determining the uphill or downhill slope of the road, a device for determining the vehicle yaw rate, a device for determining the vehicle float angle or a device for detecting stationary and moving objects in the vicinity of the vehicle, in particular in the area in front of the vehicle, are analyzed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Knoop, Goetz Braeuchle, Hermann Winner, Michael Weilkes, Martin Heinebrodt, Werner Uhler, Joachim Thiele, Martin Staempfle, Fred Oechsle, Ulf Wilhelm
  • Publication number: 20100228438
    Abstract: In a method for adjusting a steering system in a vehicle, a setpoint trajectory is produced to which a tolerance corridor is assigned, a basic steering torque for guiding the vehicle within the tolerance corridor being generated. In the event that the vehicle leaves the tolerance corridor, a steering guidance torque which acts upon the vehicle in the direction of the tolerance corridor is superimposed on the basic steering torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: Lutz Buerkle, Michael Weilkes, Tobias Rentschler
  • Patent number: 7729841
    Abstract: In a method and a device for predicting movement trajectories of a vehicle to prevent or reduce the consequences of an imminent collision, in which for predicting the movement trajectories, only those trajectories are considered for which, because of a combination of steering intervention and braking intervention, the forces occurring at the wheels of the vehicle are within the range corresponding to the maximum force transferable from the wheel to the road. Particularly for systems which provide an automatic braking and/or steering intervention for avoiding a collision or reducing the severity of a crash with another object, an automatic braking and/or steering intervention is carried out as a function of the pre-calculated movement trajectories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Knoop, Goetz Braeuchle, Hermann Winner, Michael Weilkes, Martin Heinebrodt, Werner Uhler, Wolfgang Hermsen, Joachim Thiele, Martin Staempfle, Fred Oechsle, Ulf Wilhelm
  • Patent number: 7706954
    Abstract: A speed controller for motor vehicles having an input device for the input of a desired speed Vset by the driver, and having a plurality of operating modes which are able to be activated in different speed ranges and differ in their functional scope. A change in the operating mode, which results in the loss of a safety-relevant function, is provided or enabled by a command of the driver, characterized by a decision unit, which, in the light of predefined criteria, determines whether a change in the desired speed Vset, which is input by the driver, is to be interpreted as a command for changing the operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Harald Michi, Michael Scherl, Michael Weilkes, Werner Uhler
  • Publication number: 20100004821
    Abstract: A device for keeping a vehicle in its lane, including a reference model, which obtains geometric data regarding the position of the vehicle in the lane as well as data relating to the course of the lane from a lane detection system, and from these calculates a setpoint variable for controlling the vehicle position. In order to allow for corners to be cut, the guiding behavior of the control system is modified in such a way when cornering that, in the event of a deviation of the path of motion of the vehicle from the setpoint path of motion in the direction of the inside of the curve, no or only low steering forces are applied to the steering system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventors: Lutz Buerkle, Michael Weilkes, Michael Scherl, Tobias Rentschler
  • Publication number: 20090303099
    Abstract: A method for the detection of surroundings is performed using a source which emits pulsed signals. Signals backscattered from an object are detected by a sensor. When performing the method, a presence of the object is detected during coarse sampling. To determine a variable related to the detected object, operating parameters of the source are set for fine sampling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Weilkes, Rudolf Merkel, Uwe Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20090278672
    Abstract: A driver assistance system for motor vehicles, having a localization system for localizing objects in the surroundings of the vehicle and having a device for recognizing stationary objects by comparing the difference between the relative motion of the object and the inherent motion of the vehicle with a threshold value, wherein the device is embodied to vary the threshold value as a function of variables that influence the accuracy with which the relative and inherent motions are determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: Michael Weilkes, Juergen Boecker, Peter Petschnigg
  • Publication number: 20090222170
    Abstract: Lane maintenance assistant for motor vehicles, having a sensor device for recognizing the lanes on the roadway, a control device that exerts a force on the steering system of the vehicle via an actuating element in order to hold the vehicle in the lane, and a device for recognizing an intention to change lanes on the part of the driver, wherein the control device is fashioned so as to asymmetrically modify the force exerted on the steering system when a lane change intention is recognized, in order to make the lane change easier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventors: Michael Scherl, Michael Weilkes, Lutz Buerkle, Tobias Rentschler
  • Patent number: 7472018
    Abstract: A method is provided for generating control variables for guiding a motor vehicle as a function of input quantities representing the traffic situation, and as a function of dynamically changeable parameters. The method provides that a single evaluation quantity is formed from a set of a plurality of input quantities, and a plurality of the parameters are determined on the basis of the single evaluation quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Harald Michi, Michael Scherl, Michael Weilkes, Werner Uhler
  • Publication number: 20080309917
    Abstract: In an optical short-range sensor, a plurality of sequentially actuatable transmission elements (21 . . . 27) disposed in a line-like manner in one plane is provided. At least one additional transmission element (1) situated offset in relation to the sequentially actuatable transmission elements and in particular transmitting downward, is provided. In a receiver device (3), the signals reflected by objects are evaluated in particular by propagation time measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Uwe Zimmermann, Michael Weilkes, Achim Pruksch
  • Patent number: 7343996
    Abstract: A vehicle is described, having at least one sensor for detecting the vehicle environment and having a motion-state actuator for acting on the motion state of the vehicle, the motion-state actuator being provided to act on the motion state of the vehicle in the event of activation of the motion-state actuator, the information detected by the sensor being provided for activating the motion-state actuator when it is intended for the vehicle to turn off and traffic is obstructing such a turning-off action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Albrecht Klotz, Michael Weilkes, Werner Uhler
  • Patent number: 7321818
    Abstract: A cruise control system for motor vehicles is described, having a sensor device for measuring the vehicle's operating parameters and for measuring the distance to an object located in front of the vehicle, and having a controller for controlling the vehicle's speed or acceleration as a function of the measured operating parameters and distance data, the controller having a stop-and-go function for automatically controlling driving off, rolling, and stopping as a function of the movements of the object, and being designed for the purpose of continuously checking the sensor device during the stop-and-go operation for one or multiple predefined conditions which contradict a safe stop-and-go operation, and which, in the presence of such a condition, initiates a procedure for the shutdown of the stop-and-go function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Harald Michi, Hermann Winner, Michael Weilkes, Werner Uhler
  • Publication number: 20070185634
    Abstract: In a method and a system for controlling a driver-assistance device, in which measured quantities to be recorded by sensors are evaluated for triggering a reaction, and measuring instants are determined through essentially repeating cycles for acquiring and evaluating the measured quantities, the measuring instants are controlled in such a way that one of the measuring instants follows as immediately as possible an instant at which measured quantities giving rise to a triggering probably exist.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Inventors: Michael Weilkes, Fred Oechsle, Ulf Wilhelm
  • Patent number: 7228220
    Abstract: A device for adaptive distance and speed control in motor vehicles, comprising a sensor device for measuring the distance and relative speed of a target object located in front of the vehicle; a regulating device, which has a distance control function to regulate to a specific distance to the target object and outputs temporally changeable actuating variables (am, ab) to actuating elements of the drive and/or brake system of the vehicle; and a torque dampener for limiting the temporal changes of the actuating variables, characterized by a dynamic device that detects sudden changes in the traffic situation detected by the sensor device and restricts the function of the torque dampener according to the situation while maintaining distance and speed control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Uhler, Michael Weilkes, Michael Scherl, Harald Michi
  • Patent number: 7099766
    Abstract: A cruise control system for motor vehicles is described, having a sensor device for measuring the vehicle's performance characteristics and for measuring the distance to a target object ahead of the vehicle, and a controller which is used to control the vehicle's speed or acceleration as a function of the measured performance characteristics and distance data and has a stop function for automatically braking the vehicle to a standstill as well as at least one standstill state in which the vehicle is held in a stationary position by automatic brake activation, and from which it may only drive off again via an operational command by the driver, the operational command becoming effective only when a confirmation signal is present in addition to the operational command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Harald Michi, Michael Scherl, Michael Weilkes, Carsten Schroeder
  • Patent number: 7096107
    Abstract: A device for the longitudinal guidance of a motor vehicle, having a sensor device for the location of objects in the nearfield of the vehicle, a controller which generates a reference variable for a motion variable of the vehicle for the regulation of the vehicle's speed, as a function of the location data of the sensor device, and an actuator which has an effect on the motion variable as a function of the reference variable, wherein a mathematical model of the actuator is stored in a memory, which describes the dynamic behavior of the actuator, that is, it produces a relationship between an input variable supplied to the actuator and an output variable of the actuator; and a compensating element is provided to convert the reference variable, by way of the model, into the input variable in such a way that the dynamic behavior of the actuator is compensated for.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Harald Michi, Michael Scherl, Michael Weilkes, Werner Uhler
  • Publication number: 20060100775
    Abstract: A method is provided for generating control variables for guiding a motor vehicle as a function of input quantities representing the traffic situation, and as a function of dynamically changeable parameters. The method provides that a single evaluation quantity is formed from a set of a plurality of input quantities, and a plurality of the parameters are determined on the basis of the single evaluation quantity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Publication date: May 11, 2006
    Inventors: Harald Michi, Michael Scherl, Michael Weilkes, Werner Uhler