Patents by Inventor Norbert Bierhals

Norbert Bierhals 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: 20230176568
    Abstract: A method for controlling a teleoperated vehicle is provided, in particular for a shared mobility service. The method includes: driving the vehicle via a teleoperator station using a network; and determining a disturbance within said network. The method also includes starting a first braking maneuver for slowing down said vehicle, if a disturbance is determined within said network; and starting a second braking maneuver for stopping said vehicle, if a predetermined condition is met. A corresponding computer program and a teleoperated vehicle using this method are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas von der Ohe, Fabrizio Scelsi, Bogdan Djukic, Martin Scholl, Karsten Gordon, Norbert Bierhals
  • Publication number: 20230173559
    Abstract: A device and method for protecting an optical sensor of a vehicle are disclosed, wherein the sensor is protected from environmental pollutants which may adhere to an optical surface of the sensor if the sensor is exposed to them, and wherein the environmental pollutants are kept away from the sensor by an ultrasonic cleaning of the sensor surface using an ultrasonic field. The ultrasonic field of the ultrasonic cleaning is emitted by a protection device into the air to provide a protection zone around the optical surface of the sensor such that a contact of the optical surface with the environmental pollutants is avoided, wherein the environmental pollutants are moved and/or destroyed in the air away from the sensor if they enter the protection zone), and wherein the protection zone provides a contactless cleaning of the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventor: Norbert Bierhals
  • Patent number: 11596986
    Abstract: A device and method for protecting an optical sensor of a vehicle are disclosed, wherein the sensor is protected from environmental pollutants which may adhere to an optical surface of the sensor if the sensor is exposed to them, and wherein the environmental pollutants are kept away from the sensor by an ultrasonic cleaning of the sensor surface using an ultrasonic field. The ultrasonic field of the ultrasonic cleaning is emitted by a protection device into the air to provide a protection zone around the optical surface of the sensor such that a contact of the optical surface with the environmental pollutants is avoided, wherein the environmental pollutants are moved and/or destroyed in the air away from the sensor if they enter the protection zone), and wherein the protection zone provides a contactless cleaning of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Inventor: Norbert Bierhals
  • Publication number: 20210354177
    Abstract: A device and method for protecting an optical sensor of a vehicle are disclosed, wherein the sensor is protected from environmental pollutants which may adhere to an optical surface of the sensor if the sensor is exposed to them, and wherein the environmental pollutants are kept away from the sensor by an ultrasonic cleaning of the sensor surface using an ultrasonic field. The ultrasonic field of the ultrasonic cleaning is emitted by a protection device into the air to provide a protection zone around the optical surface of the sensor such that a contact of the optical surface with the environmental pollutants is avoided, wherein the environmental pollutants are moved and/or destroyed in the air away from the sensor if they enter the protection zone), and wherein the protection zone provides a contactless cleaning of the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventor: Norbert Bierhals