Patents by Inventor Nico Steinhardt

Nico Steinhardt 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: 11255676
    Abstract: A sensor system, having sensor elements for sensing at least to some extent different primary measured variables or use different measurement principles. A signal processing device evaluates the sensor signals from the sensor elements at least to some extent collectively and rates the information quality of the sensor signals. The signal processing device further provides a piece of information about the consistency of at least one datum of a physical variable, wherein this datum of the physical variable is calculated, at least to some extent, on the basis of the sensor signals from sensor elements that sense this physical variable directly or from the sensor signals from which it is possible to calculate this physical variable. The information about the consistency of this datum of this physical variable is calculated at least on the basis of the directly or indirectly redundantly present sensor information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OGH
    Inventors: Nico Steinhardt, Hermann Winner
  • Patent number: 10830901
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for selecting a satellite which is designed to send a global navigation satellite system-signal, also known as a GNSS-Signal, to a vehicle, consisting of: measuring measurement position data of the vehicle in relation to the satellite based on the GNSS-Signal; determining redundant reference position data of the vehicle in relation to the measurement position data determined according to the GNSS-Signal; and selecting the satellite when a comparison of the measurement position data and the reference position data meets a predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. AHG
    Inventor: Nico Steinhardt
  • Patent number: 10753748
    Abstract: A system corrects errors of a measurement system. The system comprises base measurement system BS and a correction system. BS sensor data is acquired and provided to an algorithm. The data is stored associated with a time stamp indicating time of sensing. Output values are calculated and stored with time stamps indicating time of the sensor data upon which the output values are calculated. Data having corresponding time stamps are supplied to a filter where correction values and correction increments are calculated. The correction increments reflect the change of error in a base system output value over time due to integration or summing up BS sensor data errors in the processing algorithm. The correction values are applied to the BS data and corrected base navigation output values are calculated. These output values are corrected by the correction increments. Output values of the processing algorithm are further processed in succeeding applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA RESEARCH INSTITUTE EUROPE GMBH
    Inventor: Nico Steinhardt
  • Patent number: 10628707
    Abstract: A sensor system has a plurality of sensor elements and a signal processing device in communication with the plurality of sensor elements. The signal processing device is configured to evaluate more than one of at a substantially similar time and assign time information which includes information on the time of the respective measurement to the measurement data of physical variables, wherein the signal processing device takes into consideration time information at least during the generation of a fusion data set in a fusion filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG
    Inventor: Nico Steinhardt
  • Patent number: 10495483
    Abstract: A method and system for initializing a sensor fusion system is disclosed, wherein the sensor fusion system includes a base system and at least one correction system. Measured values are captured by the base system and by the correction system, and the measured values directly or indirectly describing physical quantities are afflicted with error values. The error values describe deviations of the measured values from the described physical quantities, and at least the physical quantities indirectly described in the measured values of the base system and the error values of the physical quantities cannot be determined during initialization. The measured values are continuously fused into a fusion data set after initialization. For at least one of the physical quantities associated with the measured values of the base system and the error values of the physical quantities, starting values are determined from the measured values of the correction system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Nico Steinhardt
  • Patent number: 10422658
    Abstract: A method, a system, and a use of the system, for fusing sensor signals with different temporal signal output delays into a fusion data set. Each of at least three different sensor signals describe a measured value of at least three different sensor systems. The signal output delays are unique to the sensor. Each sensor signal includes a timestamp describing a detection time of the measured value. Erroneous measured values of a first sensor system are determined by a comparison with the measured values of other sensor systems. The erroneous values are considered constant at least for the duration between two consecutive comparisons. The erroneous values and/or the measured values are available for a specified time. The erroneous values and/or the measured values of the first sensor system constant are corrected by a correction process, and corrections carried out during the time period are considered when applying additional corrections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventor: Nico Steinhardt
  • Patent number: 10378901
    Abstract: A navigation system comprises a base system and at least one correction system, wherein the base system and the correction system each capture measured values. The measured values describe navigation data and are each burdened with error values. The error values describe discrepancies in the measured values from the described navigation data. The error values of the measured values of the base system are recognized by the measured values of the correction system. The recognition is effected by considering a capture uncertainty in the correction system. The consideration represents adaptation of parameters of a stochastic noise model, which prescribes a weighting for measured values of the correction system with respect to measured values of the base system in accordance with the parameters. The adaptation of the parameters is chosen on the basis of the capture uncertainty in accordance with a characteristic curve or a family of characteristic curves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventor: Nico Steinhardt
  • Patent number: 10360476
    Abstract: A sensor system includes a plurality of sensor elements and a signal processing device. The plurality of sensor elements detect at least in part different primary measurement variables and utilize at least in part different measurement principles. The signal processing device is configured to evaluate the sensor signals of the sensor elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG
    Inventors: Nico Steinhardt, Jens Martin
  • Patent number: 10267638
    Abstract: A navigation system comprises a base system and at least one correction system. The base system and the at least one correction system each capture measured values. The measured values describe navigation data, and are each burdened with error values. The error values describe discrepancies in the measured values from the described navigation data. At least the error values of the measured values of the base system are recognized by the measured values of the at least one correction system and wherein the recognition is effected by considering an availability of the at least one correction system. The consideration represents adaptation of parameters of a stochastic system model. The stochastic system model prescribes a weighting for measured values of the at least one correction system with respect to measured values of the base system in accordance with the parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Nico Steinhardt, Daniel Surek
  • Patent number: 10247576
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for verifying measured data from at least one sensor system. The measured data directly or indirectly describe values of physical quantities The values of indirectly described physical quantities are calculated from the measured data and/or from known physical and/or mathematical relationships. At least three values describing an identical quantity are subjected in pairs to a mutual comparison. In addition, at least two of the at least three values describing an identical quantity are determined independently of one another by at least one sensor system. A third value describing an identical quantity is determined by a basic sensor system. The disclosure further relates to a corresponding system and a use of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: ContinentalTevesAG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Dirk Heide, Nico Steinhardt
  • Patent number: 10168158
    Abstract: The invention regards a navigation system and a method for error correction. The navigation system comprises a base navigation system and a correction system. Measurement uncertainties are assigned to each measurement and an error threshold is computed on the basis of these uncertainties. Redundant measurements are determined and residuals for at least a pair of redundant measurements as a discrepancy measure are calculated. In case that the residual exceeds a respective threshold an error count for each measurement involved in the determination of the residual is increased. All residuals for each measurement are summed up for a particular measurement and for carrying out the correction in a fusion filter measurements are selected on the basis of their respective error count and summed up residuals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA RESEARCH INSTITUTE EUROPE GMBH
    Inventor: Nico Steinhardt
  • Publication number: 20180203128
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for selecting a satellite which is designed to send a global navigation satellite system-signal, also known as a GNSS-Signal, to a vehicle, consisting of: measuring measurement position data of the vehicle in relation to the satellite based on the GNSS-Signal; determining redundant reference position data of the vehicle in relation to the measurement position data determined according to the GNSS-Signal; and selecting the satellite when a comparison of the measurement position data and the reference position data meets a predetermined condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventor: Nico Steinhardt
  • Patent number: 9903956
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for selecting a satellite which is designed to send a global navigation satellite system-signal, also known as a GNSS-Signal, to a vehicle, consisting of: measuring measurement position data of the vehicle in relation to the satellite based on the GNSS-Signal; determining redundant reference position data of the vehicle in relation to the measurement position data determined according to the GNSS-Signal; and selecting the satellite when a comparison of the measurement position data and the reference position data meets a predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG
    Inventor: Nico Steinhardt
  • Publication number: 20170307379
    Abstract: A system corrects errors of a measurement system. The system comprises base measurement system BS and a correction system. BS sensor data is acquired and provided to an algorithm. The data is stored associated with a time stamp indicating time of sensing. Output values are calculated and stored with time stamps indicating time of the sensor data upon which the output values are calculated. Data having corresponding time stamps are supplied to a filter where correction values and correction increments are calculated. The correction increments reflect the change of error in a base system output value over time due to integration or summing up BS sensor data errors in the processing algorithm. The correction values are applied to the BS data and corrected base navigation output values are calculated. These output values are corrected by the correction increments. Output values of the processing algorithm are further processed in succeeding applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventor: Nico STEINHARDT
  • Publication number: 20170299393
    Abstract: The invention regards a navigation system and a method for error correction. The navigation system comprises a base navigation system and a correction system. Measurement uncertainties are assigned to each measurement and an error threshold is computed on the basis of these uncertainties. Redundant measurements are determined and residuals for at least a pair of redundant measurements as a discrepancy measure are calculated. In case that the residual exceeds a respective threshold an error count for each measurement involved in the determination of the residual is increased. All residuals for each measurement are summed up for a particular measurement and for carrying out the correction in a fusion filter measurements are selected on the basis of their respective error count and summed up residuals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventor: Nico STEINHARDT
  • Publication number: 20170122770
    Abstract: A method is for providing dynamic error values of dynamic measured values in real time, wherein the measured values are recorded using at least one sensor system, wherein the measured values directly or indirectly describe values of physical variables, wherein the values of indirectly described physical variables are calculated from the measured values and/or from known physical and/or mathematical relationships, wherein the error values of the measured values from the at least one sensor system are determined, and wherein the error values are gradually determined in functional blocks which do not influence one another and are connected to form rows. The invention additionally relates to a corresponding system and to a use for the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Applicant: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventor: Nico Steinhardt
  • Publication number: 20170122743
    Abstract: A navigation system comprises a base system and at least one correction system, wherein the base system and the correction system each capture measured values. The measured values describe navigation data and are each burdened with error values. The error values describe discrepancies in the measured values from the described navigation data. The error values of the measured values of the base system are recognized by the measured values of the correction system. The recognition is effected by considering a capture uncertainty in the correction system. The consideration represents adaptation of parameters of a stochastic noise model, which prescribes a weighting for measured values of the correction system with respect to measured values of the base system in accordance with the parameters. The adaptation of the parameters is chosen on the basis of the capture uncertainty in accordance with a characteristic curve or a family of characteristic curves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Applicant: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventor: Nico Steinhardt
  • Publication number: 20170089722
    Abstract: A method and system for initializing a sensor fusion system is disclosed, wherein the sensor fusion system includes a base system and at least one correction system. Measured values are captured by the base system and by the correction system, and the measured values directly or indirectly describing physical quantities are afflicted with error values. The error values describe deviations of the measured values from the described physical quantities, and at least the physical quantities indirectly described in the measured values of the base system and the error values of the physical quantities cannot be determined during initialization. The measured values are continuously fused into a fusion data set after initialization. For at least one of the physical quantities associated with the measured values of the base system and the error values of the physical quantities, starting values are determined from the measured values of the correction system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Applicant: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventor: Nico Steinhardt
  • Publication number: 20170089723
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for verifying measured data from at least one sensor system. The measured data directly or indirectly describe values of physical quantities The values of indirectly described physical quantities are calculated from the measured data and/or from known physical and/or mathematical relationships. At least three values describing an identical quantity are subjected in pairs to a mutual comparison. In addition, at least two of the at least three values describing an identical quantity are determined independently of one another by at least one sensor system. A third value describing an identical quantity is determined by a basic sensor system. The disclosure further relates to a corresponding system and a use of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Applicant: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Heide, Nico Steinhardt
  • Publication number: 20170089705
    Abstract: A navigation system comprises a base system and at least one correction system. The base system and the at least one correction system each capture measured values. The measured values describe navigation data, and are each burdened with error values. The error values describe discrepancies in the measured values from the described navigation data. At least the error values of the measured values of the base system are recognized by the measured values of the at least one correction system and wherein the recognition is effected by considering an availability of the at least one correction system. The consideration represents adaptation of parameters of a stochastic system model. The stochastic system model prescribes a weighting for measured values of the at least one correction system with respect to measured values of the base system in accordance with the parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Applicant: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Nico Steinhardt, Daniel Surek