Patents by Inventor Thomas KNITTL

Thomas KNITTL 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: 20240117488
    Abstract: A component formed of a refractory metal has a surface that is at least partially coated with a layer of titanium diboride. There is also described a method of manufacturing the component and the application of TiB2 as a release agent in high-temperature applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2021
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Robert Schiftner, Katrin Knittl, Thomas Huber, Michael Mark
  • Publication number: 20240117496
    Abstract: A component formed of a refractory metal has a surface that is at least partially coated with a layer of yttria. There is also described a method of manufacturing a coated component, and the application of Y2O3 as a release agent in high temperature applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2021
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Robert Schiftner, Katrin Knittl, Thomas Huber, Michael Mark
  • Patent number: 11422366
    Abstract: At least one display object is displayed by a first display mechanism and a second display mechanism, each having a display surface. At least one of the two display mechanisms is designed such that the display object is produced in a first predetermined sub-region on one of the two display surfaces. The display surfaces are mirror-like, arranged parallel to each other and facing each other such that a mirror shaft is formed between the display surfaces of the first display mechanism and the second display mechanism, such that the display surfaces reflect each other inside the mirror shaft. The motor vehicle display device is designed to reflect the at least one display object produced in the first predetermined sub-region, after a predefinable number of reflections inside the mirror shaft, in a second predetermined sub-region of the first display mechanism outside the mirror shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Thomas Knittl, Peter Zeinar, Jacques Hélot, Alexander Hottinger, Xenia Sichwardt
  • Patent number: 11299045
    Abstract: A method for operating a display arrangement of a motor vehicle, which includes at least two display devices each with a display surface. A visible display content can be shifted here three-dimensionally between two display planes. A detection and evaluation device of an operator control device carries out: acquisition of an operator control action by a touch-sensitive operator control surface, preferably a pulling and/or shifting gesture, and of its extension direction, and, on the basis of the determined extension direction, determination of a data set which describes the display content, as well as determination of a predetermined shift of a virtual image of the display content from one of the display planes to the other of the display planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Thomas Knittl, Xenia Sichwardt, Peter Zeinar, Patrik Müller, Maksymilian Nawka
  • Patent number: 11034242
    Abstract: A first display device with a first display face is arranged in such a way that the first display face can be at least partially seen from a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. A second display device with a second display face is arranged in such a way that the second display face cannot be seen from the passenger compartment. The two display faces are arranged with respect to one another in such way that the second display face is reflected in the first display face, and as a result of this a virtual display plane which can be seen from the passenger compartment is generated behind the first display face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Thomas Knittl, Peter Zeinar, Ulrich Beierlein, Soenke Tanneberger, Edwin Ollefers, Karl-Heinz Rothfuss, Imanuel Merk
  • Publication number: 20210149191
    Abstract: At least one display object is displayed by a first display mechanism and a second display mechanism, each having a display surface. At least one of the two display mechanisms is designed such that the display object is produced in a first predetermined sub-region on one of the two display surfaces. The display surfaces are mirror-like, arranged parallel to each other and facing each other such that a mirror shaft is formed between the display surfaces of the first display mechanism and the second display mechanism, such that the display surfaces reflect each other inside the mirror shaft. The motor vehicle display device is designed to reflect the at least one display object produced in the first predetermined sub-region, after a predefinable number of reflections inside the mirror shaft, in a second predetermined sub-region of the first display mechanism outside the mirror shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Thomas KNITTL, Peter ZEINAR, Jacques HÉLOT, Alexander HOTTINGER, Xenia SICHWARDT
  • Publication number: 20210023948
    Abstract: A first display device with a first display face is arranged in such a way that the first display face can be at least partially seen from a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. A second display device with a second display face is arranged in such a way that the second display face cannot be seen from the passenger compartment. The two display faces are arranged with respect to one another in such way that the second display face is reflected in the first display face, and as a result of this a virtual display plane which can be seen from the passenger compartment is generated behind the first display face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Thomas KNITTL, Peter ZEINAR, Ulrich BEIERLEIN, Soenke TANNEBERGER, Edwin OLLEFERS, Karl-Heinz ROTHFUSS, Imanuel MERK
  • Publication number: 20200079216
    Abstract: A method for operating a display arrangement of a motor vehicle, which includes at least two display devices each with a display surface. A visible display content can be shifted here three-dimensionally between two display planes. A detection and evaluation device of an operator control device carries out: acquisition of an operator control action by a touch-sensitive operator control surface, preferably a pulling and/or shifting gesture, and of its extension direction, and, on the basis of the determined extension direction, determination of a data set which describes the display content, as well as determination of a predetermined shift of a virtual image of the display content from one of the display planes to the other of the display planes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Thomas KNITTL, Xenia SICHWARDT, Peter ZEINAR, Patrik MÜLLER, Maksymilian NAWKA
  • Patent number: 10416879
    Abstract: A method for operating an infotainment system of a motor vehicle in which at least one data set stored on at least one mobile terminal is transmitted wirelessly to the infotainment system and received by the infotainment system as soon as a swipe gesture has been detected on the mobile terminal wherein the at least one data set is stored first in a buffer memory of the infotainment system and only then transmitted to a further memory of the infotainment system and then processed by means of the infotainment system when a predetermined confirmation action has been detected on-board. The invention also relates to an infotainment system for a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Thomas Knittl, Vladimir Macoun, Lorenz Bohrer, Carolin Koeberle
  • Publication number: 20170308286
    Abstract: A method for operating an infotainment system of a motor vehicle in which at least one data set stored on at least one mobile terminal is transmitted wirelessly to the infotainment system and received by the infotainment system as soon as a swipe gesture has been detected on the mobile terminal wherein the at least one data set is stored first in a buffer memory of the infotainment system and only then transmitted to a further memory of the infotainment system and then processed by means of the infotainment system when a predetermined confirmation action has been detected on-board. The invention also relates to an infotainment system for a motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Applicant: Audi AG
    Inventors: Thomas KNITTL, Vladimir MACOUN, Lorenz BOHRER, Carolin KOEBERLE
  • Publication number: 20170262057
    Abstract: At least one display area is predefined in a touch-sensitive and flexible display of a display device. When the display is deformed in such a way that the predefined display area is distorted; an operator control element of a graphical user interface is displayed in the predefined display area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Thomas KNITTL, Jacques HÉLOT