Patents by Inventor Niklas Zimmermann

Niklas Zimmermann 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: 20230121398
    Abstract: A lidar sensor assembly includes a plurality of light sources configured to generate light and a plurality of photodetectors for detecting the light potentially reflected off of objects in a field of view. Each of the photodetectors is associated with and configured to receive the light generated by one of the plurality of light sources. A generally transparent cover is disposed between (a) at least one of plurality of light sources and the plurality of photodetectors and (b) the field of view. The assembly further includes a processor in communication with the plurality of light sources and the plurality of photodetectors. The processor is configured to receive signals from the plurality of photodetectors. The processor is further configured to determine whether a blockage of the generally transparent cover exists based at least partially on the signals from the plurality of photodetectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: Continental Autonomous Mobility US, LLC
    Inventors: Niklas Zimmermann, Jan Michael Masur
  • Publication number: 20210286056
    Abstract: Receiver arrangement for a sensor device for recognizing the environment, comprising an optical element which fixes an illuminated region, an apparatus for detecting light, which is arranged in the illuminated region and captures the light of a light source for recognizing the environment, at least one photodiode for recognizing sensor blockages, which is arranged outside of the illuminated region, and a sensor blockage is recognized in that the photodiode captures light which has been scattered outside of the illuminated region by the sensor blockage, wherein an evaluation circuit is situated downstream of the photodiode, which evaluation circuit comprises a transimpedance amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Applicant: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Niklas Zimmermann, Horst Wagner, Konrad Hirsch