Patents by Inventor Ralf RATHMACHER

Ralf RATHMACHER 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: 9085240
    Abstract: The invention relates to a high voltage module for motor vehicles. The high voltage module includes a manually operated circuit breaker in a module housing which is disposed in a socket of the module housing. By removing the circuit breaker from the socket, at least one high voltage cable within the module housing is interrupted. A manually operated tool with a plug-type housing adapted to the socket includes a pivotable cover. The pivotable cover can assume an opened and a closed position. The tool includes at least one measuring lead which is connected to the at least one high voltage cable and a measuring terminal in the plug-type housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Ralf Rathmacher
  • Patent number: 8717197
    Abstract: A method is provided for assessing the attentiveness of the driver of motor vehicle traveling in a lane including, but not limited to detecting the position of the motor vehicle on the lane transverse to the direction of travel, determining the extent of fluctuations of the position, and assessing the attentiveness as insufficient if within an observation period at least one first significant period is detected in which the extent of fluctuations of the position falls below a first low limiting value and a second significant period is detected in which the extent of the fluctuations exceeds a second high limiting value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ralf Rathmacher, Thomas Schramm, Oliver Schepp
  • Publication number: 20130337308
    Abstract: A housing is provided for holding a battery cell, in particular for holding a vehicle battery, with a battery holding space in the form of the battery cell to be received therein, with a contact area, which is arranged on the housing at a location at which, as intended, for a battery cell arranged in the battery holding space, contact connections for this battery cell are arranged, and which is configured such that when the contacting area is actuated with a contacting device, an electric contact through the housing can be established between at least two of the contact connections of the at least one battery cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventor: Ralf RATHMACHER
  • Publication number: 20130258607
    Abstract: The invention relates to a high voltage module for motor vehicles. The high voltage module includes the a manually operated circuit breaker in a module housing which is disposed in a socket of the module housing. By removing the circuit breaker from the socket, at least one high voltage cable within the module housing is interrupted. A manually operated tool with a plug-type housing adapted to the socket includes a pivotable cover. The pivotable cover can assume an opened and a closed position. The tool includes at least one measuring lead which is connected to the at least one high voltage cable and a measuring terminal in the plug-type housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Ralf Rathmacher
  • Publication number: 20130066547
    Abstract: A method is provided for determining at least one travelling route of a vehicle. The method includes, but is not limited to a predetermining of at least two criteria for a travelling route of the vehicle from a starting point to a target point takes place. The at least two criteria in this case are selected from the group consisting of a travelling duration, a travelling distance and an energy consumption. In addition, a defining of a weighting factor for each of the at least two predetermined criteria takes place. Furthermore, a determining of at least one travelling route from the starting point to the target point from a quantity of possible travelling routes based on the at least two predetermined criteria and as a function of the defined weighting factors of the at least two predetermined criteria takes place.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Thomas SCHRAMM, Ralf RATHMACHER
  • Publication number: 20120098678
    Abstract: A method is provided for assessing the attentiveness of the driver of motor vehicle traveling in a lane including, but not limited to detecting the position of the motor vehicle on the lane transverse to the direction of travel, determining the extent of fluctuations of the position, and assessing the attentiveness as insufficient if within an observation period at least one first significant period is detected in which the extent of fluctuations of the position falls below a first low limiting value and a second significant period is detected in which the extent of the fluctuations exceeds a second high limiting value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ralf RATHMACHER, Thomas SCHRAMM, Oliver SCHEPP
  • Publication number: 20120101712
    Abstract: The attentiveness of the driver of motor vehicle traveling in a lane provided with boundaries on both sides is assessed by measuring the distance of the vehicle from one of the boundaries, determining the objective lateral freedom of movement of the vehicle in the lane, specifying a desired range of the distance of the vehicle from one boundary by means of the objective lateral freedom of movement, and adapting a parameter representative of the assessed attentiveness of the driver when the distance of the vehicle from one boundary leaves the desired range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Schramm, Ralf Rathmacher, Michael Schiebahn
  • Publication number: 20120096980
    Abstract: A steering wheel is provided for a vehicle with a middle section. The middle section exhibits a front side facing the driver and a rear side facing away from the driver. An input device with at least one scroll wheel is arranged in the region of the middle section. At least one first region of the scroll wheel on the front side of the middle section and a second region of the scroll wheel on the rear side of the middle section are exposed for activation purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Schramm, Ralf Rathmacher, Michael Schiebahn
  • Publication number: 20110251734
    Abstract: A method is provided for the adaption of a driving behavior of a vehicle with a change of driver. For this, driver-specific driving parameters, which characterize a driving style of a driver, of several vehicle drivers are stored as virtual driver profiles in the vehicle or in a drivers' control center. In addition, various methods are stored driver-specifically in the vehicle or in a drivers' control center, which respectively modify a reaction of the vehicle to driving parameters of a driver to the effect that a manner of driving, taking into account the limits of the vehicle, is ensured in traffic. During the driving of the vehicle, a first of the methods is then used and a comparison of stored virtual driver profiles with actually detected driver-specific driving parameters is carried out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Oliver SCHEPP, Ali KHANAFER, Ingobert LASSRICH, Oliver WAGNER, Ralf RATHMACHER, Thomas SCHRAMM