Patents by Inventor Thomas Hilger

Thomas Hilger 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: 20250128602
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating an operator control element provided for a display device of a motor vehicle, wherein the display device is configured to display a list with at least one end, and wherein the operator control element is configured to output a control signal to the display device, which control signal is used to scroll through the displayed list, depending on a predetermined actuation of said actuator control element. The method determines whether the at least one end of the list has been reached by way of the predetermined actuation of the operator control element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2024
    Publication date: April 24, 2025
    Inventors: Stefan BREITSCHAFT, Thomas Hilger, Christian Knoll, Stephan Mueller, Hannes Trapp
  • Publication number: 20250130644
    Abstract: A control device for activating an active haptics operator control element for a motor vehicle is configured to determine whether the operator control element is being operated with a short press or a long press. The control device is configured so as, if it has been determined that the operator control element has been operated with a short press, to determine whether the operator control element has an assigned long-press function that is performable after the operator control element has been operated with a long press, and to activate the operator control element to output an active haptic feedback if it has been determined that the operator control element has an assigned long-press function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2024
    Publication date: April 24, 2025
    Inventors: Stefan BREITSCHAFT, Thomas HILGER, Christian KNOLL, Stephan MUELLER, Hannes TRAPP
  • Publication number: 20250121686
    Abstract: A control device actuates an active haptic operating element for a motor vehicle. The control device is designed to determine whether there is an activation of the operating element; to determine whether the operating element is assigned an available function if an activation of the operating element has been determined; and to actuate the operating element to emit an active haptic positive feedback when an activation of the operating element has been determined, and it has been determined that the operating element is assigned an executable function. The control device is designed to actuate the operating element to emit an active haptic negative feedback when an activation of the operating element has been determined, and it has been determined that no executable function is assigned to the operating element. The active haptic positive feedback and the active haptic negative feedback differ from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2024
    Publication date: April 17, 2025
    Inventors: Stefan BREITSCHAFT, Thomas HILGER, Christian KNOLL, Stephan MUELLER, Hannes TRAPP
  • Patent number: 12140789
    Abstract: A display unit includes a layer with a plurality of sub-regions which are arranged adjacently to one another along an illuminated edge of the layer. A corresponding number of symbols are arranged in the sub-regions. The display unit additionally has a plurality of light sources. The said light sources are arranged adjacently to one another along the illuminated edge of the layer. Each light source is configured to emit light into the respective sub-region of the layer via the illuminated edge of the layer. The display unit additionally has a limiting element which is arranged between the illuminated edge of the layer and the light sources and which is configured to limit the light emitted from the light sources for each sub-region such that the symbol in the respective sub-region is illuminated in a selective manner by the light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Hilger, Stephan Mueller, Elisabeth Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20240184375
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are provided for providing an active haptic feedback signal for an operating element upon actuation of the operating element. Whether the operating element is actuated is determined. Whether a function is assigned to the operating element, if actuation of the operating element has been determined, is determined. The active haptic feedback signal is output to the operating element only in those cases in which actuation of the operating element has been determined and that a function is assigned to the operating element has been determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2023
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Inventors: Stefan BREITSCHAFT, Thomas HILGER, Christian KNOLL, Stephan MUELLER, Hannes TRAPP
  • Publication number: 20240182101
    Abstract: An operating unit for arrangement on a steering wheel in a motor vehicle includes a plurality of operating elements of a first functional group and a plurality of operating elements of a second functional group. The operating unit also has a relief-like main body having a central plateau, an upper bevel and a lower bevel, wherein the operating elements of the first functional group are arranged in the central plateau and the operating elements of the second functional group are arranged in the upper bevel and the lower bevel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2023
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Inventors: Stefan BAST, Benjamin BRUECK, Hermann DELL, Thomas HILGER, Christian KNOLL, Stephan MUELLER, Martin SCHIMID, Hannes TRAPP
  • Publication number: 20240182103
    Abstract: A control unit for arrangement on a steering wheel in a motor vehicle includes a main body with a central plateau, an L2 operating element which is designed to activate a driver assistance system having a degree of automation corresponding to the SAE level 2, and an L3 operating element which is designed to activate a driver assistance system having a degree of automation corresponding to the SAE level 3. The control unit is characterized in that the L2 operating element is recessed with respect to the central plateau and in that the L3 operating element is raised in the manner of a relief with respect to the central plateau.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2023
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Inventors: Stefan BAST, Benjamin Brueck, Hermann Dell, Thomas Hilger, Christian Knoll, Stephan Mueller, Martin Schmid, Hannes Trapp
  • Publication number: 20240182051
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses are provided for dynamically matching an operator electronic control unit of a vehicle to a current functional state of vehicle functions of the vehicle. An electronic control unit is configured to ascertain a scope of functions of the vehicle, ascertain operating parameters of the vehicle that can influence an availability of at least one vehicle function that is part of the ascertained scope of functions of the vehicle, ascertain a current functional state of the operator electronic control unit from the ascertained scope of functions and the operating parameters, control the operator electronic control unit in such a way that the ascertained functional state can be output by the operator electronic control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2023
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas HILGER, Boris ISRAEL, Christian KNOLL, Felix LAUBER, Desiree MEYER, Stephan MUELLER, Frederik PLATTEN
  • Publication number: 20240125998
    Abstract: A display unit includes a layer with a plurality of sub-regions which are arranged adjacently to one another along an illuminated edge of the layer. A corresponding number of symbols are arranged in the sub-regions. The display unit additionally has a plurality of light sources. The said light sources are arranged adjacently to one another along the illuminated edge of the layer. Each light source is configured to emit light into the respective sub-region of the layer via the illuminated edge of the layer. The display unit additionally has a limiting element which is arranged between the illuminated edge of the layer and the light sources and which is configured to limit the light emitted from the light sources for each sub-region such that the symbol in the respective sub-region is illuminated in a selective manner by the light sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas HILGER, Stephan MUELLER, Elisabeth SCHMIDT
  • Publication number: 20220404923
    Abstract: A method includes automatically determining a first user input with a first predefined manipulation force acting on the input device and, in response thereto, performing a first function according to the first manipulation force. The method also includes automatically determining a second user input with a second predefined manipulation force acting on the input device, which second manipulation force is higher than the first manipulation force, and, in response thereto, selecting a first display element from a plurality of display elements displayed on a display unit, by switching an input focus to the first display element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas HILGER, Boris ISRAEL, Desiree MEYER, Wolfgang Spiessl
  • Patent number: 9271560
    Abstract: The invention relates to a backpack comprising a frame structure stretching the back wall (2) of backpack (1) to be concavely taut and holding a netting member (4) in front of the backpack back wall (2) in bowstring fashion. The frame structure comprises a resilient frame member (3) having a pair of frame portions (8, 9) intersecting in front of backpack back wall (2), a top frame portion (10) which extends in a transverse direction of backpack (1), interconnects the top ends of frame portions (8, 9) and is held against backpack back wall (2), and a frame portion (18) comprising two frame elements (19, 20) extending approximately in the longitudinal direction of backpack (1) and mutually spaced in a transverse direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Deuter Sport GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stephen Buffinton, Thomas Hilger, Miguel Tiblas
  • Patent number: 9267643
    Abstract: A wheel lubricating device for lubricating at least a portion of a wheel, including: a lubrication applicator, a rotary drive mechanism at least indirectly coupled to said lubrication applicator, a lubrication supply conduit in fluid communication with said lubrication applicator, a transfer pump for transferring a lubricating medium through said lubrication supply conduit to said lubrication applicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Android Industries LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Hilger
  • Publication number: 20140370201
    Abstract: A wheel lubricating device for lubricating at least a portion of a wheel, including: a lubrication applicator, a rotary drive mechanism at least indirectly coupled to said lubrication applicator, a lubrication supply conduit in fluid communication with said lubrication applicator, a transfer pump for transferring a lubricating medium through said lubrication supply conduit to said lubrication applicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventor: Thomas Hilger
  • Publication number: 20110011903
    Abstract: The invention relates to a backpack comprising a frame structure stretching the back wall (2) of backpack (1) to be concavely taut and holding a netting member (4) in front of the backpack back wall (2) in bowstring fashion. The frame structure comprises a resilient frame member (3) having a pair of frame portions (8, 9) intersecting in front of backpack back wall (2), a top frame portion (10) which extends in a transverse direction of backpack (1), interconnects the top ends of frame portions (8, 9) and is held against backpack back wall (2), and a frame portion (18) comprising two frame elements (19, 20) extending approximately in the longitudinal direction of backpack (1) and mutually spaced in a transverse direction thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventors: Stephen Buffinton, Thomas Hilger, Miguel Tiblas