Patents by Inventor Thomas Heger

Thomas Heger 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: 9789816
    Abstract: A method for determining an ego-motion of a vehicle is described, which is carried out in driver assistance systems, particularly in parking assistance systems. The method involves: taking a sequence of images, successive in time of a vehicle surroundings by a vehicle camera; determining, based on the image sequence, at least one motion flow with regard to an object in the vehicle surroundings; and determining the ego-motion of the vehicle based on the at least one motion flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Heger, Stephan Simon, Michael Helmle
  • Patent number: 9348341
    Abstract: A method for setting the fill level when filling a cavity system, in particular a cavity system in vehicle seat that exhibits one or more pressure chambers or bubbles for lumbar adjustments. With the method, a fill level set by the user is measured and a value representative thereof is stored. The value representative for the fill level is determined from a curve line that is characteristic for the respective cavity system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Faurecia Autositze GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Heger, Peter Winterling, El Hassan Sadoune, Jürgen Santl
  • Patent number: 9272676
    Abstract: Methods in a driver assistance system of a vehicle for detecting wetness on a road surface as well as a corresponding driver assistance system having a rearview camera are described. The method may include the following: recording an image of an area located behind the rear end of the vehicle, using the rearview camera; evaluating the recorded image for the presence of a spray trail caused by the vehicle; and selectively outputting, based on the evaluation, a wetness signal for triggering an automatic response by the driver assistance system to the wet road surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Heger, Michael Helmle
  • Patent number: 8870286
    Abstract: An adjusting device (10) is provided for a vehicle subassembly to be adjusted. The adjusting device has an adjusting motor which, via an adjusting mechanism, drives a toothed rocker (12) assigned to the vehicle subassembly to be adjusted. The adjusting mechanism structurally reinforces the vehicle subassembly to be adjusted, and an adjusting worm (20) of the structurally reinforcing adjusting mechanism acts directly on the toothed rocker (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignees: Dr. Ing. H.C.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft, IMS Gear GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Jungert, Tassilo Gilbert, Thomas Heger, Nino Andricevic, Jens Fechler, Matthias Koop, Wilfried Synovzik, Wolfram Hofschulte, Stephan Oberle
  • Publication number: 20130343613
    Abstract: Methods for distance determination, as are used, for example, in parking assistance systems are described. In a vehicle at standstill, the method involves detecting a first predefined event that occurs in connection with a pitching motion of the vehicle, and based on the detection of the first event, activating the camera in order to record a first and a second image of the vehicular environment and include a time reference to the pitching motion. The method also includes processing the first and the second image in order to determine a distance to the object from a displacement of the object in the field of view of the camera that has taken place between the points in time of the recording of the first and second image in response to the pitching motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Thomas Heger, Michael Helmle
  • Publication number: 20130335553
    Abstract: A method for determining an ego-motion of a vehicle is described, which is carried out in driver assistance systems, particularly in parking assistance systems. The method involves: taking a sequence of images, successive in time of a vehicle surroundings by a vehicle camera; determining, based on the image sequence, at least one motion flow with regard to an object in the vehicle surroundings; and determining the ego-motion of the vehicle based on the at least one motion flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Thomas Heger, Stephan Simon, Michael Helmle
  • Patent number: 8612150
    Abstract: A method for determining the position of another road user includes the following steps: determining the position of a road user with the aid of a position detection unit; estimating a distance of the road user to the other road user with the aid of a distance sensor; and determining the position of the other road user on the basis of the determined position of the road user, the estimated distance, and a road map, the other road user being assumed to be located in a road area predefined by the road map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Heger, Kathleen Tischler
  • Publication number: 20130332028
    Abstract: Methods in a driver assistance system of a vehicle for detecting wetness on a road surface as well as a corresponding driver assistance system having a rearview camera are described. The method may include the following: recording an image of an area located behind the rear end of the vehicle, using the rearview camera; evaluating the recorded image for the presence of a spray trail caused by the vehicle; and selectively outputting, based on the evaluation, a wetness signal for triggering an automatic response by the driver assistance system to the wet road surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: Thomas Heger, Michael Helmle
  • Patent number: 8459745
    Abstract: A backrest of a motor vehicle seat (1) has a head restraint (4) that can be adjusted in height with the aid of a guide. To reduce the production costs of the backrest, the guide for the height adjustment of the head restraint (4) is integrated in the head restraint (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. H.C.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christoph Wahlers, Dieter Jungert, Tassilo Gilbert, Thomas Heger
  • Patent number: 8274174
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement for supplying power to control devices in motor vehicles, having a first power supply line, a first ground line, a second power supply line and a second ground line, characterized in that the first ground line and the second ground line can be connected by a controllable switch, and in that a logic circuit closes the switch when the first ground line is faulty or interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Heger, Rainer Bonss
  • Publication number: 20120104817
    Abstract: An adjusting device (10) is provided for a vehicle subassembly to be adjusted. The adjusting device has an adjusting motor which, via an adjusting mechanism, drives a toothed rocker (12) assigned to the vehicle subassembly to be adjusted. The adjusting mechanism structurally reinforces the vehicle subassembly to be adjusted, and an adjusting worm (20) of the structurally reinforcing adjusting mechanism acts directly on the toothed rocker (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicants: IMS GEAR GMBH, DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Dieter Jungert, Tassilo Gilbert, Thomas Heger, Nino Andricevic, Jens Fechler, Matthias Koop, Wilfried Synovzik, Wolfram Hofschulte, Stephan Oberle
  • Publication number: 20120098315
    Abstract: A backrest of a motor vehicle seat (1) has a head restraint (4) that can be adjusted in height with the aid of a guide. To reduce the production costs of the backrest, the guide for the height adjustment of the head restraint (4) is integrated in the head restraint (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Christoph Wahlers, Dieter Jungert, Tassilo Gilbert, Thomas Heger
  • Patent number: 8047596
    Abstract: An adjustable vehicle seat (1) has an inclinable seat part (2). Front and rear bearings (7, 5) have upper ends pivotably connected to front and rear areas of the seat part (2) and having lower ends mounted pivotably in bearings (7, 5) in floor rails (10). The front bearings (7) have an adjustable length for changing an inclination of the seat part (2). First additional links (11) are mounted pivotably about a first axis (G2) in the seat part (2). Second additional links (12) have lower ends mounted pivotably in the rails (10) and upper parts connected pivotably to the first additional link (11) at a second axis (G6) spaced from the first axis (G2). An inclinable backrest (3) is mounted pivotably in the first additional link (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dieter Jungert, Tassilo Gilbert, Thomas Heger
  • Publication number: 20110046882
    Abstract: A method for determining the position of another road user includes the following steps: determining the position of a road user with the aid of a position detection unit; estimating a distance of the road user to the other road user with the aid of a distance sensor; and determining the position of the other road user on the basis of the determined position of the road user, the estimated distance, and a road map, the other road user being assumed to be located in a road area predefined by the road map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas Heger, Kathleen Tischler
  • Publication number: 20100141029
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement for supplying power to control devices in motor vehicles, having a first power supply line, a first ground line, a second power supply line and a second ground line, characterized in that the first ground line and the second ground line can be connected by a controllable switch, and in that a logic circuit closes the switch when the first ground line is faulty or interrupted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas Heger, Rainer Bonss
  • Publication number: 20100102586
    Abstract: An adjustable vehicle seat (1) has an inclinable seat part (2). Front and rear bearings (7, 5) have upper ends pivotably connected to front and rear areas of the seat part (2) and having lower ends mounted pivotably in bearings (7, 5) in floor rails (10). The front bearings (7) have an adjustable length for changing an inclination of the seat part (2). First additional links (11) are mounted pivotably about a first axis (G2) in the seat part (2). Second additional links (12) have lower ends mounted pivotably in the rails (10) and upper parts connected pivotably to the first additional link (11) at a second axis (G6) spaced from the first axis (G2). An inclinable backrest (3) is mounted pivotably in the first additional link (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Dieter Jungert, Tassilo Gilbert, Thomas Heger