Patents by Inventor Thomas Klement

Thomas Klement 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: 9689367
    Abstract: A method for determining the starting capability of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, which can be started by an electric motor powered by a battery, including detecting first battery parameter values during a successful starting sequence of the internal combustion engine at a first time, detecting second battery parameter values at a second time following the first time, determining at the second time the expected battery voltage for a starting sequence of the internal combustion engine taking place at a third time based on the detected first and second battery parameter values, and comparing the battery voltage expected at the third time with a predetermined threshold value in order to derive therefrom the starting capability of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Schramme, Horst Gering, Wolfgang Weigert, Matthias Münch, Thomas Klement, Hans-Michael Graf, Reinhard Tendler, Oliver Friedrichsohn
  • Publication number: 20150345458
    Abstract: A method for determining the starting capability of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, which can be started by an electric motor powered by a battery, including detecting first battery parameter values during a successful starting sequence of the internal combustion engine at a first time, detecting second battery parameter values at a second time following the first time, determining at the second time the expected battery voltage for a starting sequence of the internal combustion engine taking place at a third time based on of the detected first and second battery parameter values, and comparing the battery voltage expected at the third time with a predetermined threshold value in order to derive therefrom the starting capability of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Martin SCHRAMME, Horst GERING, Wolfgang WEIGERT, Matthias MÜNCH, Thomas KLEMENT, Hans-Michael GRAF, Reinhard TENDLER, Oliver FRIEDRICHSOHN
  • Patent number: 8009023
    Abstract: An access arrangement for a vehicle (FZ) has a transmit/receive device on the vehicle side (19) to transmit one or several interrogation signals. In addition, the access arrangement has a mobile identification generator (IDI, IDA) with a transmit/receive device on the identification generator side (SE) to receive interrogation signals from the transmit/receive device on the vehicle side and to evaluate signal characteristics of the interrogation signals at at least two different points in time. The mobile identification generator furthermore has a control device (ST) to output a different control command depending on a change (?FS, ?FR) in the evaluated signal characteristics. In the event of no change or a small change in the signal characteristics, a signal may be output to deactivate the identification generator, while in the event of a marked change a locking signal to lock a door (TFZ) of the vehicle may be output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Nikolas Bergerhoff, Herbert Froitzheim, Thomas Klement, Wolfgang Piesch, Roland Wagner
  • Patent number: 7852199
    Abstract: A security configuration in or for a motor vehicle, which includes a bodywork part, such as a door, and a window pane arranged in the bodywork part. The security configuration includes a touch-sensitive keypad integrated in or mounted to the window pane. The keypad has a plurality of touch sensors, each of which takes the form of resonant oscillating circuits and via which an actuation of a respective touch sensor can be picked up. An electronic evaluation system is configured for the purpose of detecting an actuation of the keypad and attributing said actuation to a respectively actuated touch sensor. There is also provided a motor vehicle which includes such a security configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Tejas Bhupendra Desai, Thomas Klement, Norbert Müller
  • Patent number: 7624834
    Abstract: A single high-frequency transmitter emits radiation in a vehicle (1) comprising several seats (2), said high-frequency radiation being reflected depending on whether a seat is occupied, transmitted to a receiver and evaluated with regard to the radiation intensity. In addition, the reliability of the identification is increased, even when the occupant is out of position, by the provision of at least one reflector (9) per seat in or on an allocated seat-belt (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Klaus Hofbeck, Thomas Klement, Birgit Rösel, Arnd Stielow, Michael Stippler
  • Patent number: 7380818
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device comprising a transceiver (9) which transmits HF signals that are reflected back by means of reflectors (6) located in the seats. Diagnostic reflectors (10) are disposed at the edge of the seats in order to diagnose the reflectors (6). Said diagnostic reflectors (10) are disposed such that the diagnostic reflectors are normally not covered up by a person (1) sitting on a seat (2). The diagnosis is carried out at the same time as the person is identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Klaus Hofbeck, Thomas Klement, Birgit Rösel, Arnd Stielow
  • Publication number: 20080061925
    Abstract: An access arrangement for a vehicle (FZ) has a transmit/receive device on the vehicle side (19) to transmit one or several interrogation signals. In addition, the access arrangement has a mobile identification generator (IDI, IDA) with a transmit/receive device on the identification generator side (SE) to receive interrogation signals from the transmit/receive device on the vehicle side and to evaluate signal characteristics of the interrogation signals at at least two different points in time. The mobile identification generator furthermore has a control device (ST) to output a different control command depending on a change (?FS, ?FR) in the evaluated signal characteristics. In the event of no change or a small change in the signal characteristics, a signal may be output to deactivate the identification generator, while in the event of a marked change a locking signal to lock a door (TFZ) of the vehicle may be output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Nikolas Bergerhoff, Herbert Froitzheim, Thomas Klement, Wolfgang Piesch, Roland Wagner
  • Patent number: 7315002
    Abstract: The position and the weight of a person, in particular a person on a motor vehicle seat, is determined. Reflectors are used to reflect electromagnetic radiation from a transceiver. The attenuation of the sensor reflector radiation enables a report on the seat position of a person in the radiation path. An antenna of each sensor reflector is connected to an electrical load assigned thereto, which is dependent on the weight of the person acting upon it. Depending on this weight, weight information about the person is superimposed by the load onto the reflected sensor reflector signal. The reflected sensor reflector signal is received by the transceiver and fed to the evaluation unit after a signal pre-processing, which enables the weight information of the person to be evaluated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Klaus Hofbeck, Thomas Klement, Birgit Rösel, Arnd Stielow
  • Publication number: 20070276550
    Abstract: A security configuration in or for a motor vehicle, which includes a bodywork part, such as a door, and a window pane arranged in the bodywork part. The security configuration includes a touch-sensitive keypad integrated in or mounted to the window pane. The keypad has a plurality of touch sensors, each of which takes the form of resonant oscillating circuits and via which an actuation of a respective touch sensor can be picked up. An electronic evaluation system is configured for the purpose of detecting an actuation of the keypad and attributing said actuation to a respectively actuated touch sensor. There is also provided a motor vehicle which includes such a security configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Tejas Bhupendra Desai, Thomas Klement, Norbert Muller
  • Publication number: 20060180377
    Abstract: A single high-frequency transmitter emits radiation in a vehicle (1) comprising several seats (2), said high-frequency radiation being reflected depending on whether a seat is occupied, transmitted to a receiver and evaluated with regard to the radiation intensity. In addition, the reliability of the identification is increased, even when the occupant is out of position, by the provision of at least one reflector (9) per seat in or on an allocated seat-belt (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Inventors: Klaus Hofbeck, Thomas Klement, Birgit Rosel, Arnd Stielow, Michael Stippler
  • Patent number: 7071817
    Abstract: Taking as a starting point known security apparatuses and their methods for distance-dependent initiation of functions in or at an object, the reliability of distance measurements is essentially increased by carrying out a series of distance measurements, an associated quality value (G) being calculated by a mathematical function in each case for the measuring results (M1–M5, R1, R2) of said distance measurements. Only those measured values which fall below a certain quality value (Krit) as a threshold value are generally accepted for an analysis in respect of initiating a distance-related function. Developments provide for selecting measured values beforehand with reference to a level measurement, in order to further increase the reliability, or applying methods of statistical analysis subsequently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Mario Haselsteiner, Klaus Hofbeck, Thomas Klement, Birgit Rösel, Arnd Stielow
  • Publication number: 20050280556
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device comprising a transceiver (9) which transmits HF signals that are reflected back by means of reflectors (6) located in the seats. Diagnostic reflectors (10) are disposed at the edge of the seats in order to diagnose the reflectors (6). Said diagnostic reflectors (10) are disposed such that the diagnostic reflectors are normally not covered up by a person (1) sitting on a seat (2). The diagnosis is carried out at the same time as the person is identified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Inventors: Klaus Hofbeck, Thomas Klement, Birgit Rosel, Arnd Stielow
  • Patent number: 6909396
    Abstract: A method for determining the position of at least one second transmitting and receiving device (3) in respect of a first transmitting and receiving device in a passive access control system operating in the GHz range, comprising the steps of using a radar method, wherein signals (f1, f2) are received in the first transmitting and receiving device on the left-hand side and right-hand side of a modulation frequency (fmod), determining the distance of two signals (f1, f2) closest to the left-hand side and right-hand side modulation frequency (fmod) wherein the distance is proportional to the distance between the first transmitting and receiving device and at least one second transmitting and receiving device (3), so that multipath propagations are not taken into consideration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Mario Haselsteiner, Klaus Hofbeck, Thomas Klement, Birgit Rösel, Arnd Stielow
  • Publication number: 20050056467
    Abstract: The position and the weight of a person, in particular a person on a motor vehicle seat, is determined. Reflectors are used to reflect electromagnetic radiation from a transceiver. The attenuation of the sensor reflector radiation enables a report on the seat position of a person in the radiation path. An antenna of each sensor reflector is connected to an electrical load assigned thereto, which is dependent on the weight of the person acting upon it. Depending on this weight, weight information about the person is superimposed by the load onto the reflected sensor reflector signal. The reflected sensor reflector signal is received by the transceiver and fed to the evaluation unit after a signal pre-processing, which enables the weight information of the person to be evaluated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    Inventors: Klaus Hofbeck, Thomas Klement, Birgit Rosel, Arnd Stielow
  • Publication number: 20040178883
    Abstract: Taking as a starting point known security apparatuses and their methods for distance-dependent initiation of functions in or at an object, the reliability of distance measurements is essentially increased by carrying out a series of distance measurements, an associated quality value (G) being calculated by a mathematical function in each case for the measuring results (M1-M5, R1, R2) of said distance measurements. Only those measured values which fall below a certain quality value (Krit) as a threshold value are generally accepted for an analysis in respect of initiating a distance-related function. Developments provide for selecting measured values beforehand with reference to a level measurement, in order to further increase the reliability, or applying methods of statistical analysis subsequently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventors: Mario Haselsteiner, Klaus Hofbeck, Thomas Klement, Birgit Rosel, Arnd Stielow
  • Publication number: 20040125013
    Abstract: A method for determining the position of at least one second transmitting and receiving device (3) in respect of a first transmitting and receiving device in a passive access control system operating in the GHz range, comprising the steps of using a radar method, wherein signals (f1, f2) are received in the first transmitting and receiving device on the left-hand side and right-hand side of a modulation frequency (fmod), determining the distance of two signals (f1, f2) closest to the left-hand side and right-hand side modulation frequency (fmod) wherein the distance is proportional to the distance between the first transmitting and receiving device and at least one second transmitting and receiving device (3), so that multipath propagations are not taken into consideration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Mario Haselsteiner, Klaus Hofbeck, Thomas Klement, Birgit Rosel, Arnd Stielow