Patents by Inventor Thomas Lich

Thomas Lich 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: 20120200704
    Abstract: A device for directing radiation in the direction of an optical element of an image sensing device of a vehicle. The device includes a central area for directing at least one portion of a first incident radiation onto the optical element. The device also includes at least one border area for directing at least one portion of at least one second incident radiation onto the optical element. The at least one second incident radiation runs in the opposite direction or at an obtuse angle with respect to the first incident radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventors: Gian Antonio D'Addetta, Thomas Lich, Thomas Friedrich
  • Patent number: 8185273
    Abstract: In a method for deactivating a safety function in a motor vehicle after being activated, the safety function may be deactivated by the driver only after a dead time has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Lich, Frank Ewerhart, Reiner Marchthaler, Stephan Stabrey, Andreas Georgi
  • Patent number: 8150575
    Abstract: A method for plausibilizing sensor signals of a vehicle system, the sensor signals being monitored with regard to compliance with one plausibility criterion or a plurality of plausibility criteria with the aid of a plausibilization algorithm. The function of the vehicle system is able to be maintained even in critical driving situations, in particular following a collision, if the driving status of the vehicle is monitored with regard to a collision and the plausibilization algorithm is modified if a collision was detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Ewerhart, Reiner Marchthaler, Thomas Lich, Mario Kroeninger, Stephan Stabrey
  • Patent number: 8116949
    Abstract: A method for determining an initial float angle for skid detection in rollover sensing of a rollover of a vehicle having at least one sensor system for vehicle-dynamic signals and a control unit for activating a restraining device, which divides the driving state of the vehicle into chronologically consecutive state phases, having the following method steps carried out continuously in the first state phase: calculating a change in the float angle from the vehicle-dynamic signals; comparing the calculated change in the float angle with a predefinable threshold value; and determining the initial float angle on the basis of the calculated change in the float angle as a function of the threshold value for a first range of small changes in the float angle or for a second range of larger values of changes in the float angle and a device therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Lich, Michael Schmid, Mario Kroeninger
  • Patent number: 8108107
    Abstract: A safety system for vehicle occupants having a device for determining the position of the vehicle occupant. A status monitor to which the output signals of sensors are conveyed is provided for determining the position of the vehicle occupant, the sensors detecting the acceleration of the vehicle and the weight of the vehicle occupant. A method for controlling a safety system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Köhler, Reiner Marchthaler, Thomas Lich, Frank Mack
  • Publication number: 20110282516
    Abstract: A method for detecting a dangerous driving condition of a vehicle located on a roadway is provided, which includes a step of receiving a first damping signal (310) via an interface, the first damping signal being suitable for representing a temporal progression of a vertical movement of a first wheel of the vehicle, a step of evaluating (312) the first damping signal in accordance with an evaluation rule, in order to obtain from the first damping signal a first probability value (314) for a departure of the first wheel from a roadway, and a step of providing an evaluation signal (316), the evaluation signal being designed to indicate a departure of the vehicle from the roadway, as a function of the first probability value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas Lich, Josef Kolatschek
  • Publication number: 20110254330
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes displaceable seat components which produce a lateral bracing as a function of accelerations in the direction of a transverse vehicle axis. The seat components are integrated into the vehicle seat and are at least partly extendable in a necessitating situation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Lich, Marc Zimmermann, Gian Antonio D'Addetta
  • Patent number: 8032275
    Abstract: A method and a device for side impact detection in a vehicle. A first signal is generated by a side impact sensor system. A plausibility sensor system determines the direction and magnitude of a lateral speed of the vehicle and/or a slip angle as a plausibility signal. A processor is provided which detects the side impact as a function of the first signal and the plausibility signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Lich
  • Publication number: 20100292887
    Abstract: In a method and a system for controlling a safety system for a vehicle, a sensor suite is provided to generate at least one yaw-acceleration signal. An evaluation circuit is used to sample the at least one yaw-acceleration signal with a sampling time of less than 10 ms, and to generate a control signal as a function of the at least one sampled yaw-acceleration signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: Jens Becker, Thomas Lich, Alfons Doerr, Josef Kolatschek, Marcus Hiemer
  • Patent number: 7822517
    Abstract: A method for activating additional functions in response to a rollover procedure of a vehicle, using at least one sensor and one control unit, the sensor supplying at least one unidirectional acceleration signal, having the following method steps: analyzing at least one acceleration signal in its characteristics as a function of time; processing analyzed values of the at least one acceleration signal; establishing the plausibility of the processed values using a second signal value; and activating at least one additional function in response to a rollover procedure of the vehicle in the light of the values whose plausibility has been established; as well as a control device using this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Lich, Michael Schmid, Mario Kroeninger
  • Publication number: 20100256869
    Abstract: In a method for automatically correcting a state variable of a vehicle, in the event of the vehicle having departed from the predefined lane a vehicle control system is re-parameterized in such a way that an intervention predefined by the driver is converted in a reduced manner into a change in a vehicle state variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas Lich, Stephan Stabrey, Andreas Georgi
  • Patent number: 7778755
    Abstract: A deployment decision for a vehicle restraint system is reached as a function of vehicle dynamics data, at least one vehicle transverse acceleration and one yaw rate about the longitudinal axis of the vehicle being linked to one another as the vehicle dynamics data to reach the deployment decision. The vehicle transverse acceleration is then additionally subjected to a threshold value decision for reaching the deployment decision, the threshold value being set as a function of the integrated vehicle transverse acceleration and the integrated yaw rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Lich, Robert Lahmann, Michael Schmid, Mario Kroeninger
  • Publication number: 20100198471
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for preparing organic nanoparticles comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a solution comprising an unsaturated polyester and/or a vinyl ester resin, an initiator and a hydrophobic monomer; (b) emulsifying the solution obtained in step (a) in an aqueous phase; and thereafter (c) curing the emulsified solution. The invention further provides organic nanoparticles obtainable by the process according to the invention; various uses of said nanoparticles; and paper, dye compositions and toner compositions comprising said nanoparticles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas Lich, Frank Ewerhart, Reiner Marchthaler, Stephan Stabrey, Andreas Georgi
  • Patent number: 7740098
    Abstract: A method for determining a triggering decision for restraint device of a motor vehicle, in response to a preceding skidding maneuver. A yaw rate, a first driving dynamics parameter set and a context parameter set are made available. The triggering decision being determined using the yaw rate, the first vehicle parameter set and the context parameter set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Lich, Michael Schmid, Mario Kroeninger
  • Publication number: 20100042286
    Abstract: A method and a device for side impact detection in a vehicle. A first signal is generated by a side impact sensor system. A plausibility sensor system determines the direction and magnitude of a lateral speed of the vehicle and/or a slip angle as a plausibility signal. A processor is provided which detects the side impact as a function of the first signal and the plausibility signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventor: Thomas Lich
  • Publication number: 20100042294
    Abstract: In a triggering method for activating a lateral velocity estimating system for occupant protection devices, one or more vehicle-dynamics variables are sensed and evaluated. Based on the sensed vehicle-dynamics variables an oversteer and understeer detection procedure and a road condition detection procedure are performed, which are evaluated for activation of the lateral velocity estimating system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas Lich, Michael Schmid
  • Publication number: 20090216409
    Abstract: A method for determining an initial float angle for skid detection in rollover sensing of a rollover of a vehicle having at least one sensor system for vehicle-dynamic signals and a control unit for activating a restraining device, which divides the driving state of the vehicle into chronologically consecutive state phases, having the following method steps carried out continuously in the first state phase: calculating a change in the float angle from the vehicle-dynamic signals; comparing the calculated change in the float angle with a predefinable threshold value; and determining the initial float angle on the basis of the calculated change in the float angle as a function of the threshold value for a first range of small changes in the float angle or for a second range of larger values of changes in the float angle and a device therefor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Lich, Michael Schmid, Mario Kroeninger
  • Publication number: 20090204296
    Abstract: In a method for deactivating a safety function in a motor vehicle after being activated, the safety function may be deactivated by the driver only after a dead time has elapsed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas Lich, Frank Ewerhart, Reiner Marchthaler, Stephan Stabrey, Andreas Georgi
  • Publication number: 20090138159
    Abstract: A safety system for a vehicle having at least one safety device, which records and/or ascertains and evaluates one or a plurality of variable(s) regarding driving dynamics to activate at least one protection device. In response to user-dependent inputs, a parameterization device specifies settings and/or applications and/or parameters for the safety device in order to influence the trigger behavior of the at least one protection device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Ewerhart, Reiner Marchthaler, Thomas Lich, Stephan Stabrey, Georg Mayer
  • Publication number: 20090132112
    Abstract: A method for plausibilizing sensor signals of a vehicle system, the sensor signals being monitored with regard to compliance with one plausibility criterion or a plurality of plausibility criteria with the aid of a plausibilization algorithm. The function of the vehicle system is able to be maintained even in critical driving situations, in particular following a collision, if the driving status of the vehicle is monitored with regard to a collision and the plausibilization algorithm is modified if a collision was detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Frank Ewerhart, Reiner Marchthaler, Thomas Lich, Mario Kroeninger, Stephan Stabrey