Patents by Inventor Stefan Hoffmann

Stefan Hoffmann 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: 11967100
    Abstract: A navigational system and method for guiding a boat onto a trailer, which comprises at least one marker mounted on the trailer; a camera located on the boat to assist the system with determining a longitudinal axis of the boat, and generating images of at least a front area of the boat and the at least one marker; an image processing unit for 1) receiving and processing the images to determine the at least one marker, 2) estimating the longitudinal axis of the trailer, 3) generating a desired boat trajectory for aligning the longitudinal axis of the boat with the longitudinal axis of the trailer; and 4) periodically generating guidance output commands to the user to assist the user with following the desired boat trajectory and facilitate loading of the boat on the trailer; and an image display for sequentially displaying the generated images of the camera to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignees: ZF Friedrichshafen AG, ZF Marine Propulsion Systems Miramar, LLC
    Inventors: Stefan Traub, Gabriela Jager, Lars Hoffmann, Andrew Orvieto
  • Publication number: 20240097648
    Abstract: A package comprising an acoustic device, a polymer frame coupled to the acoustic device, a plurality of frame interconnects located in the polymer frame, where the plurality of frame interconnects are coupled to the acoustic device, a polymer cap layer coupled to the acoustic device though the polymer frame, where the polymer cap layer is configured as a cap for the acoustic device, a plurality of cap interconnects located in the polymer cap layer, where the plurality of cap interconnects are coupled to the plurality of frame interconnects, and a cavity located between the acoustic device and the polymer cap layer. The acoustic device includes a substrate and an acoustic element coupled to the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Sebastian BRUNNER, Changhan Hobie YUN, Stefan Leopold HATZL, Manuel HOFER, Horst DROESCHER, Christian HOFFMANN
  • Publication number: 20240085390
    Abstract: The compact scent delivery system (300) comprises: —a compact scent delivery device (100, 200), —an air flow mixing unit (400) comprising: 5—an inlet (405) for scented air, configured to be connected to an outlet (125) of scented air of the compact scent delivery device, —an outlet (410) for mixed scented air directed at a smelling port (415), —a conduit (420) connecting the inlet for scented air and the outlet for mixed diluted scent air and 0—at least one element of: —an inlet (425) for fresh air, configured to be connected to a fresh air delivery apparatus, said inlet delivering fresh air into the scented air stream between the inlet for scented air and the outlet for mixed scented air and/or 5—an outlet (430) for waste scented air, configured to be connected to an air flow retrieval apparatus and/or a waste air exhaust, said outlet retrieving scented air from the scented air stream between the inlet for scented air and the outlet for mixed scented air to reduce the air flow either for subsequent dilution
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Denis SHCHERBAKOV, Artem KIRSHON, Addi FADEL, Nicholas O'LEARY, Ralf INAUEN, Ronny HOFFMANN, Manuel WEBER, Branislav BALAZ, Alessandro CASILLI, Stefan SIEBER
  • Publication number: 20230289317
    Abstract: A system arrangement and method are provided for allowing the operation of units in a fail safe manner and at low latency. The teachings suggest a specific protocol which allows switching and routing of packages for addressing and controlling light emitting diodes and reading out sensors. The information is distributed according to very specific requirements of the underlying topology and application domain. As light emitting diodes and sensors may affect the reliability of security features in a vehicle specialized approaches have to be provided considering both real-time requirements and reliability. In such a method, a branch device can change its operation mode without an explicit command but, in general, a command may provide an expiry condition of a mode after which the mode returns to its previous mode. Such an expiry condition may be the reception of a predefined number of specific network events.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Roland NEUMANN, Michael RIEDEL, Stefan HOFFMANN, Yanqin LI
  • Patent number: 11594132
    Abstract: A parking facility management server for a parking facility, including a communication interface, which is designed to receive a request via a communication network from a user of the communication network to carry out at least one vehicle-specific service for a vehicle in the parking facility, and a processor, which is designed to process the request, in order to check whether or not the at least one service may be carried out in the parking facility for the vehicle in accordance with the request, the processor being further designed to ascertain a response as a function of the check. The communication interface further being designed to transmit the response via the communication network back to the user, the processor further being designed to plan and to coordinate the carrying out of the service in the event of a positive response that at least one service may be carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Robrt Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Nordbruch, Albrecht Irion, Hans-Joerg Mathony, Holger Mielenz, Rolf Nicodemus, Stefan Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20230003537
    Abstract: A method for regulating traffic emissions across a street network comprises calculating, by an external control entity, a real-time location-dependent immission load across the street network based on at least one of environmental data, traffic data and configuration data of the street network, providing, by motor vehicles using the street network, navigation data characterizing a route of each respective motor vehicle along the street network and emission data characterizing exhaust emission levels of each respective motor vehicle along its route, and calculating an optimized driving route for each motor vehicle along the street network based on the calculated immission load and the exhaust emission levels of the motor vehicles. The optimized driving route is calculated by the external control entity and transmitted to each motor vehicle via a wireless communication network, or wherein the optimized driving route is calculated by an internal control unit of each respective motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Andreas Kapp, Viktor Boschmann, Bastian Unterberger, Ernst Mohs, Christelle Rodier, Mohamed Boughardain, Thilo Tümmers, Stefan Hoffmann, Leonardo Canzio
  • Publication number: 20220340015
    Abstract: A method and system for configuring an electric vehicle in preparation for a planned trip with a trailer are provided. The method includes obtaining, by a control device of the EV, a user request to perform a trip with the EV towing the trailer. The user request includes trailer configuration data specifying characteristics of the trailer and navigation data specifying characteristics of the planned trip. The method includes assessing a battery status of an electric battery of the EV with a battery management system of the EV being in communication with the control device and calculating with the control device operating settings for operating the electric battery on the trip of the EV towing the trailer based on the trailer configuration data and the navigation data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Andreas Kapp, Viktor Boschmann, Bastian Unterberger, Thilo Tummers, Leonardo Canzio, Christelle Rodier, Mohamed Boughardain, Stefan Hoffmann, Ernst Mohs
  • Patent number: 11341273
    Abstract: A method for combining different partial data includes providing a secure connection between a connection unit in a first network and an analysis unit a second network, separating original data into at least two items of partial data comprised of analysis data and personal data as first and second partial data that can be assigned to each other by way of assigning information, pseudonymizing the second partial data, transmitting the first partial data and pseudonymized second partial data and the assigning information to the analysis unit, storing the second partial data on the connection unit, providing third partial data on the analysis unit in the form of analyzed first partial data, transmitting the third partial data and the pseudonymized second partial data with the assigning information to the connection unit via the secure connection, and combining the third partial data and the second partial data using the assigning information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: mediri GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Gregori, Sigurd Randoll, Stefan Hoffmann, Matthias Günther
  • Patent number: 11304278
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method which makes it possible, with low technical outlay, to set a constant wavelength in an LED in such a way that, for a human observer using the naked eye, a constant colour of the LED is set. The present invention further relates to a correspondingly set-up system arrangement and to a computer program product comprising control commands which carry out the method or operate the system arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Inova Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20210368601
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method which makes it possible, with low technical outlay, to set a constant wavelength in an LED in such a way that, for a human observer using the naked eye, a constant colour of the LED is set. The present invention further relates to a correspondingly set-up system arrangement and to a computer program product comprising control commands which carry out the method or operate the system arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventor: Stefan Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 11111041
    Abstract: A tube holder has a housing having an upwardly opening tube receptacle into which a tube can be inserted. A plurality of clamping elements arranged in the tube receptacle can be brought to abut an outer wall of the tube and a clamping force acting radially on the inserted tube cab be applied by at least one spring element. The clamping elements are pivotably mounted in a pivot bearing about a horizontal axis. Further clamping element are below the first group of pivot elements arranged over the tube receptacle and are under the action of the spring element and/or at least one further spring element. The clamping surface of at least some clamping elements and/or at least some further clamping elements at least in sections has a convex contour, curved about a horizontal axis, in the direction of a longitudinal central axis of the tube receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: IWK Verpackungstechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 10950974
    Abstract: An electric vehicle charging cable system is provided. The system includes a charging cable assembly having an electric cable and a connector device coupled thereto. The connector device includes a connector housing and a first electric contact arrangement therein. A cable storage device stores the electric cable, and a retainer device includes a retainer housing having a first receiving opening for receiving the connector device and a socket portion arranged adjacent to the first receiving opening for receiving a DC-charging plug of a charging plug. The first receiving opening defines a cross-section corresponding to an outer contact surface of the connector housing. The connector device is positionable in a stowage position in which the connector housing is received within the first receiving opening, and in a detached position to clear the first receiving opening. The socket portion defines a second receiving opening which accommodates a second electric contact arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Schreiber, Stefan Hoffmann, Frank Wolf, Manfredo Agresti, Johannes Heichel, Humayun Yousofzy, Uwe Meinz, Balaji Sevanan Kari, Marco Favilli, Ingmar Langer, Eduardo Rates Garcia, Dennis Fleischmann
  • Publication number: 20210049301
    Abstract: A method for combining different partial data includes providing a secure connection between a connection unit in a first network and an analysis unit a second network, separating original data into at least two items of partial data comprised of analysis data and personal data as first and second partial data that can be assigned to each other by way of assigning information, pseudonymizing the second partial data, transmitting the first partial data and pseudonymized second partial data and the assigning information to the analysis unit, storing the second partial data on the connection unit, providing third partial data on the analysis unit in the form of analyzed first partial data, transmitting the third partial data and the pseudonymized second partial data with the assigning information to the connection unit via the secure connection, and combining the third partial data and the second partial data using the assigning information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Johannes Gregori, Sigurd Randoll, Stefan Hoffmann, Matthias Günther
  • Publication number: 20210006010
    Abstract: An electric vehicle charging cable system is provided. The system includes a charging cable assembly having an electric cable and a connector device coupled thereto. The connector device includes a connector housing and a first electric contact arrangement therein. A cable storage device stores the electric cable, and a retainer device includes a retainer housing having a first receiving opening for receiving the connector device and a socket portion arranged adjacent to the first receiving opening for receiving a DC-charging plug of a charging plug. The first receiving opening defines a cross-section corresponding to an outer contact surface of the connector housing. The connector device is positionable in a stowage position in which the connector housing is received within the first receiving opening, and in a detached position to clear the first receiving opening. The socket portion defines a second receiving opening which accommodates a second electric contact arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Schreiber, Stefan Hoffmann, Frank Wolf, Manfredo Agresti, Johannes Heichel, Humayun Yousofzy, Uwe Meinz, Balaji Sevanan Kari, Marco Favilli, Ingmar Langer, Eduardo Rates Garcia, Dennis Fleischmann
  • Patent number: 10829154
    Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle, the vehicle receiving a digital map of a parking lot and at least one target position on the parking lot via a communication network, the vehicle navigating autonomously in the parking lot to the target position on the basis of the digital map, and the vehicle autonomously parking at the target position. A device for operating a vehicle, a vehicle, a server and a computer program are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Albrecht Irion, Hans-Joerg Mathony, Rolf Nicodemus, Stefan Hoffmann, Stefan Nordbruch, Holger Mielenz
  • Patent number: 10773034
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an inhaler device for delivering a dose of medicament in dry powder form from a container to a patient in need thereof. The inhaler comprises first and second airflow paths (80, 85) which are arranged such that during inhalation, a capsule (40) having a longitudinal axis and first and second end sections (90, 95) delimiting the capsule on opposing ends located in a capsule chamber (30) performs an oscillating movement in the capsule chamber parallel to its longitudinal axis between first and second sidewall portions (60, 65) of the capsule chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Presspart Manufacturing Ltd.
    Inventors: Julian Hemy, Richard Turner, Hans-Peter Schmelzer, Hans-Jürgen Neugebauer, Dietmar Schmitz, Stefan Hoffmann, Ameet Sule, Sunita Sule, Matthias Seiler, George Alexander Bostock, Aki Hannu Einari Laakso, Michael Worth
  • Patent number: 10759430
    Abstract: A braking system for braking an electric vehicle is provided. The system includes a brake pedal having a regenerative-braking range of pedal displacement from an initial position of the brake pedal to a maximal-recuperation position of the brake pedal, and a mechanical-braking range of pedal displacement starting from the maximal-recuperation position of the brake pedal. A brake controller activates deceleration of the vehicle based on the pedal displacement. The brake controller activates deceleration of the electric vehicle based on regenerative braking within the regenerative-braking range and based on mechanical braking within the mechanical-braking range. The regenerative-braking range is adjusted based on a state of charge of a traction battery of the electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Company
    Inventor: Stefan Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20200239166
    Abstract: A tube holder has a housing having an upwardly opening tube receptacle into which a tube can be inserted. A plurality of clamping elements arranged in the tube receptacle can be brought to abut an outer wall of the tube and a clamping force acting radially on the inserted tube cab be applied by at least one spring element. The clamping elements are each pivotably mounted in a pivot bearing about a horizontal axis. Further clamping element are below the first group of pivot elements arranged over the tube receptacle and are under the action of the spring element and/or at least one further spring element. The clamping surface of at least some clamping elements and/or at least some further clamping elements at least in sections has a convex contour, curved about a horizontal axis, in the direction of a longitudinal central axis of the tube receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventor: Stefan HOFFMANN
  • Patent number: 10640105
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for operating an energy management system for a traction battery of a hybrid electric vehicle. In one implementation, a method may include: determining whether a state of charge of the traction battery is below a predetermined charge level; when the state of charge is below the predetermined charge level, and when the energy management system identifies an intent of a driver to overtake another vehicle based on a first data set and identifies an unsafe overtaking condition based on a second data set, generating a charge request for charging the traction battery to at least the predetermined charge level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, KIA Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Stefan Hoffmann, Carlos Mazzetti
  • Publication number: 20200086875
    Abstract: A braking system for braking an electric vehicle is provided. The system includes a brake pedal having a regenerative-braking range of pedal displacement from an initial position of the brake pedal to a maximal-recuperation position of the brake pedal, and a mechanical-braking range of pedal displacement starting from the maximal-recuperation position of the brake pedal. A brake controller activates deceleration of the vehicle based on the pedal displacement. The brake controller activates deceleration of the electric vehicle based on regenerative braking within the regenerative-braking range and based on mechanical braking within the mechanical-braking range. The regenerative-braking range is adjusted based on a state of charge of a traction battery of the electric vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventor: Stefan Hoffmann