Patents by Inventor Steffen Muller

Steffen Muller 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: 20240136900
    Abstract: Various teachings of the present disclosure include a slot insulation system of an electrical rotating machine. For example, the system may include: a main insulation for a coil of the rotating machine or for an individual bar for the coil; a resin formulation serving as a slot adhesive forming a solid film. At room temperature and under standard conditions, the solid film is in the A-state. Heating the electrical rotating machine to a curing temperature for the resin formulation, the solid film firstly melts and flows within an occupied slot, then cures and solidifies to form a thermoset material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicant: Siemens Mobility GmbH
    Inventors: Florian Schemmel, Steffen Lang, Marek Maleika, Niels Müller
  • Publication number: 20240124006
    Abstract: A method of a transportation vehicle for context-dependent processing of a potential error of a vehicle component. The method includes determining a current context of the transportation vehicle and of at least one vehicle component of the transportation vehicle that is heterogeneous in the current context. In response to at least one heterogeneous vehicle component being determined, a heterogeneous verification of the potential error is performed taking into account the at least one heterogeneous vehicle component. In response to no heterogeneous vehicle component being determined, a context-dependent relevance of the vehicle component is determined. Based on the determined context-dependent relevance, then either the potential error of the vehicle component is handled or an emergency operating mode of the transportation vehicle is initiated. Also disclosed is a transportation vehicle having a control unit to perform the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Maximilian WESCHE, Tobias KAIN, Julian-Steffen MÜLLER, Marcel AGUIRRE MEHLHORN
  • Patent number: 11951974
    Abstract: A drive unit and a drive assembly and a motor vehicle. The drive unit includes a first electric machine and a second electric machine and an output shaft, wherein a rotor of the second electric machine is connected to the output shaft for conjoint rotation. The drive unit further includes a disconnect clutch by which a rotor of the first electric machine can be connected to the output shaft. The drive unit further includes power electronics for controlling at least one of the two electric machines and a flow system for implementing a flow of a coolant, and the drive unit, being a component in the flow system, further includes a heat exchanger by which the coolant can be cooled. The drive unit and the drive assembly constitute equipment that allows control of individual assemblies in an efficient manner and with a low space requirement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Steffen Lehmann, Andreas Trinkenschuh, Nicolai Gramann, Christian Silvery, Andreas Bexel, Gregor Muller
  • Publication number: 20240083527
    Abstract: An alignment system for approaching a vehicle to a target object spatially spaced therefrom, including an object detection device attached to the vehicle and a coupling element, which in an end position detachably holds the target object, the object detection device being aligned in the direction of the target object and the data from the object detection device being used to generate an image in which the target object together with a guide marker can be seen during the approach of the vehicle. The guide marker is applied to at least one component of the vehicle arranged in an entry area of the coupling element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Mark MÜLLER, Benjamin KAUFHOLD, Steffen HABER, Stephan GITZEN, Yurtsever ENDER, Daniel JACOBS
  • Publication number: 20240067280
    Abstract: A coupling device for a towing vehicle with an object detection device attached to the coupling device, wherein the coupling device has a coupling body in form of a fifth wheel plate and a locking mechanism, with which a coupling device in form of a kingpin is releasably held on the coupling body in its end position (E), wherein the coupling body includes an available space which is limited by a coupling device guiding contour and extends along a longitudinal axis (x), wherein the coupling device is at least partially immersed during coupling into the available space until reaching an end position (E).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Mark MÜLLER, Benjamin KAUFHOLD, Steffen HABER, Stephan GITZEN, Anton SCHLEMM
  • Publication number: 20230384789
    Abstract: Technologies and techniques for the at least the partially automated driving of a motor vehicle. A first application and at least one redundant second application provide output data depending on motor vehicle operating data and/or environmental data. Vehicle driving data for the at least partially automated driving of the motor vehicle are determined depending on the output data. Vehicle operating data from another vehicle are received, and, depending on the vehicle operating data, the at least one redundant second application switches from an active state to a standby state in which a computer instance of a computer unit used by the at least one redundant second application is at least executed at a lower frequency than in the active state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Yael Abelardo Martinez Flores, Hendrik Decke, Julian-Steffen Müller, Marcel Aguirre Mehlhorn, Tobias Kain
  • Publication number: 20230380088
    Abstract: An explosion-proof housing for a power electronics unit includes a housing pan and a cover that closes the housing pan via a seal, wherein the cover and the housing pan are pressed against each other at two opposing sides formed by edge regions of the cover and the housing pan via a plurality of fasteners that are configured to be released by rotation and that engage in latching structures. The plurality of fasteners are arranged in a central third of the respective sides. The explosion-proof housing can be used, for example, for a photovoltaic inverter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventor: Steffen Müller
  • Patent number: 11754356
    Abstract: Example apparatus are disclosed for a magazine for a self-loading firearm, the magazine comprising a magazine housing, and a magazine floor plate movably mounted to the magazine housing. The magazine floor plate is slidable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the magazine floor plate is pivotable relative to the magazine housing when in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Heckler & Koch GmbH
    Inventor: Steffen Müller
  • Patent number: 11745748
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a method for operating an automatically driving vehicle, wherein application instances are executed over several computational nodes, wherein recognized faults are reacted to by switching to redundant application instances and then reconfiguring the configuration to restore specified redundancy conditions and/or segregation conditions, wherein the vehicle is transitioned to a safe state using at least one failover apparatus when at least one specified redundancy condition and/or at least one segregation condition cannot be met by the reconfiguration, and/or a specified time for reconfiguration is exceeded, and/or an unrecoverable malfunction has been recognized, wherein the at least one failover apparatus plans an emergency trajectory using a trajectory planner, wherein sensor data are detected via separate signal lines and supplied to the at least one failover apparatus, and wherein control signals are generated and transmitted via separate control lines to an actuator system of the v
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Tobias Kain, Julian-Steffen Müller, Maximilian Wesche, Hendrik Decke, Fabian Plinke, Andreas Braasch, Johannes Heinrich, Timo Horeis
  • Patent number: 11740627
    Abstract: Technologies and techniques for the at least the partially automated driving of a motor vehicle. A first application and at least one redundant second application provide output data depending on motor vehicle operating data and/or environmental data. Vehicle driving data for the at least partially automated driving of the motor vehicle are determined depending on the output data. Vehicle operating data from another vehicle are received, and, depending on the vehicle operating data, the at least one redundant second application switches from an active state to a standby state in which a computer instance of a computer unit used by the at least one redundant second application is at least executed at a lower frequency than in the active state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Yael Abelardo Martinez Flores, Hendrik Decke, Julian-Steffen Müller, Marcel Aguirre Mehlhorn, Tobias Kain
  • Publication number: 20230171912
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a housing for a power electronics device, including a tray for receiving power electronics components and a cover for placing on the tray so that a closed housing is formed. The cover is fixed on the tray by a plurality of fixing screws. At least one opening element is provided that is made of one of the fixing screws, each of which is guided through a sleeve with deformation structures. The sleeve is arranged between the screw head of the fixing screw and the housing such that a pressing force is exerted by the screw head between the cover and the tray via the sleeve. The deformation structures are designed such that under the effect of the force of an explosion that exceeds the pressing force, the sleeve is compressed in a manner defined by the deformation structures such that a gap with a specified width is formed between the cover and the tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Steffen Müller, Waissi Tello
  • Publication number: 20230159667
    Abstract: A composition comprising hydroxyalkyl starch having an amylose content of at least 30 wt% and the weight average molar mass in the range of about 105 - 108 g/mol, a salt which is selected from the group consisting of an alkaline metal salt and/or alkaline earth metal salt, and water. The preferably viscous formulation is especially suitable in the field of agriculture, horticulture and forestry to increase plant production efficiency by forming a film which reduces the wash-off of plant protection products, stimulants and fertilizers, or reduces erosion by soil bonding and dust formation in seed coating and animal husbandry. Furthermore, the formulation is applicable as replacer of synthetic polymers in cosmetics and personal care products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Bernhard SACK, Steffen MÜLLER, Sebastian KÖHLING
  • Publication number: 20230054109
    Abstract: Technologies and techniques for reconfiguring an autonomous vehicle in the event of a fault, wherein application entities are executed in a distributed manner across a plurality of computing nodes in accordance with a predefined configuration. A fault in an application entity and/or in an operating system and/or in a piece of hardware is detected via the at least one monitor device, wherein the detected fault is isolated via a switching device by switching to application entities which are redundant with respect to the affected application entities, and wherein predefined redundancy conditions and/or segregation conditions are restored for the application entities by the reconfiguration, by an application placement device of the configuration, wherein the reconfiguration is carried out such that the number of times application entities are switched to other computing nodes to establish the predefined redundancy conditions and/or segregation conditions will be or is minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Tobias Kain, Maximilian Wesche, Julian-Steffen Müller, Hendrik Decke
  • Patent number: 11572081
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a self-propelled motor vehicle having a plurality of control units and a plurality of program codes for controlling the function of autonomous driving and possibly other functions of the self-propelled vehicle, wherein a plurality of program codes used for an autonomous driving mode are redundantly applied to at least two different control units. In doing so, the self-propelled motor vehicle is operated in an at least partially autonomous driving mode. In this mode, the functions directly needed to satisfy the passenger's wishes are ascertained and weighted corresponding to their relevance for satisfying the passenger's wishes. In so doing, the functions, or the scope of functions, are released depending on the achievement of a target achievement level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Tobias Kain, Maximilian Wesche, Hendrik Decke, Julian-Steffen Müller, Fabian Plinke, Andreas Braasch, Johannes Heinrich, Timo Horeis
  • Patent number: 11511775
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the dynamic, context-based distribution of program codes in a control system of a vehicle. The control system has a plurality of control apparatuses for executing the program codes. The program codes are assigned to the corresponding control apparatuses of the control system by a global placement graph. In doing so, the global placement graph is calculated in a computing unit that is located outside of the control system. The data of the global placement graph are transmitted to the control system. It is provided for the global placement graph to be calculated based on the current configuration as well as known reconfigurations, wherein the selection of the next node of the global placement graph to be calculated is calculated using the probability of occurrence of an error as well as the effect of the error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Tobias Kain, Maximilian Wesche, Hendrik Decke, Julian-Steffen Müller
  • Patent number: 11472423
    Abstract: A self-driving motor vehicle including numerous control units and numerous program codes for controlling the functions of the autonomous driving and other functions of the self-driving vehicle. Numerous program codes used for an autonomous driving mode are applied redundantly to at least two different control units. The self-driving motor vehicle may then be operated in an at least a partially autonomous driving mode. In this mode, the functions directly needed for satisfying a passenger's desire are determined, and weighted with regard to their importance in fulfilling the passenger's desires. At least one function of a lower order is then shut off, if the available resources in functioning control units and/or the power level in the self-driving motor vehicle are insufficient to execute program code for executing this function of the lower order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Julian-Steffen Müller, Fabian Plinke, Andreas Braasch, Johannes Heinrich, Timo Horeis, Tobias Kain, Maximilian Wesche, Hendrik Decke
  • Patent number: 11472424
    Abstract: Technologies and techniques for dynamic, context-based distribution of program codes in a control system in a vehicle. The control system includes numerous control units. The allocation of the program codes to the corresponding control units in the control system takes place using a global placement chart. The global placement chart is calculated on a computer, which may be located outside the control system. The data from the global placement chart are sent to the control system. Other aspects include an at least partially autonomous motor vehicle that has a control system for executing dynamic, context-based distribution of program codes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Tobias Kain, Maximilian Wesche, Hendrik Decke, Julian-Steffen Müller
  • Patent number: 11470020
    Abstract: Embodiments of a method and device are disclosed. In an embodiment, an in-vehicle network interface device includes a data port to send and receive data packets, a plurality of packet processing pipelines coupled to the data port, each to inspect a single data packet to determine an action to perform on the single data packet, and a safety module to receive the determined action from each packet processing pipeline and to select one of the determined actions to perform on the single data packet and to cause a selected one of the packet processing pipelines to perform the selected action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Rajeev Roy, Lucas Pieter Lodewijk Van Dijk, Steffen Müller
  • Publication number: 20220308579
    Abstract: Technologies and techniques for the at least the partially automated driving of a motor vehicle. A first application and at least one redundant second application provide output data depending on motor vehicle operating data and/or environmental data. Vehicle driving data for the at least partially automated driving of the motor vehicle are determined depending on the output data. Vehicle operating data from another vehicle are received, and, depending on the vehicle operating data, the at least one redundant second application switches from an active state to a standby state in which a computer instance of a computer unit used by the at least one redundant second application is at least executed at a lower frequency than in the active state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Yael Abelardo Martinez Flores, Hendrik Decke, Julian-Steffen Müller, Marcel Aguirre Mehlhorn, Tobias Kain
  • Publication number: 20220038393
    Abstract: Embodiments of a method and device are disclosed. In an embodiment, an in-vehicle network interface device includes a data port to send and receive data packets, a plurality of packet processing pipelines coupled to the data port, each to inspect a single data packet to determine an action to perform on the single data packet, and a safety module to receive the determined action from each packet processing pipeline and to select one of the determined actions to perform on the single data packet and to cause a selected one of the packet processing pipelines to perform the selected action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Rajeev ROY, Lucas Pieter Lodewijk VAN DIJK, Steffen MÜLLER