Patents by Inventor Thorsten Bagdonat

Thorsten Bagdonat 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: 11935250
    Abstract: A method, a device and a computer-readable storage medium with instructions for processing sensor data. In a first step, camera images are taken by a camera. Additionally, 3D-checkpoints are detected by at least one 3D-sensor. Optionally, at least one of the camera images can be segmented. The camera images are then merged with the 3D-checkpoints by a data fusion circuit to form data of a virtual sensor. The resulting data are finally output for further processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Simon Steinmeyer, Marek Musial, Carsten Deeg, Thorsten Bagdonat, Thorsten Graf
  • Patent number: 11904898
    Abstract: A method, a computer program, and an apparatus for controlling operation of a transportation vehicle equipped with an automated driving function and a transportation vehicle equipped with an automated driving function which uses the method or apparatus. A first signal state of a traffic light is determined from data of at least one vehicle sensor, the determined first signal state of the traffic light is then validated based on information available in the transportation vehicle, and an operation mode of the transportation vehicle is set as a function of a validation result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Sandra Kleinau, Bernd Rech, Thorsten Bagdonat
  • Patent number: 11874370
    Abstract: A method for acquiring information in the spatial environment of a vehicle, comprising: providing at least two radar sensors arranged at different positions at the vehicle; transmitting radar signals by the radar sensors, the radar signals being assigned to the radar sensors; receiving reflected components of the radar signals assigned to the radar sensors at the respective radar sensors and further processing these reflected components of the radar signals as reception information; assigning time information to the reception information obtained from the respective radar sensors, the time information forming a time reference for the reception information; assigning location information to the reception information obtained from the respective radar sensors, the location information forming a location reference for the reception information; and processing the reception information obtained from the at least two radar sensors into common environment information by taking into account the time information and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTONOMOUS MOBILITY GERMANY GMBH, VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Andreas Löffler, Fabian Harrer, Thomas Gisder, Marc-Michael Meinecke, Thorsten Bagdonat
  • Patent number: 11500087
    Abstract: A method for classification of ground conditions in the vicinity of a vehicle using a radar sensor, comprising: receiving reflected portions of a radar signal at a receiver unit of a radar system; calculating information derived from the received portions of the radar signal for discrete spatial regions by the radar system or a control unit connected thereto; assigning the information to data structure units associated with a geographical location and the assignment of the information taking into account movement of the vehicle; collecting pieces of information in the respective data structure units, the pieces of information being obtained from reflected portions of radar signals transmitted at different times; evaluating the information contained in the data structure using a classifier to obtain information regarding the ground condition; assigning ground condition types to the data structure units based on evaluation results obtained by the classifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignees: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbH, Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Thorsten Bagdonat, Marc-Michael Meinecke, Andreas Löffler, Thomas Fechner
  • Publication number: 20220231406
    Abstract: The invention relates to a radar antenna arrangement (1) for a vehicle (2), comprising at least one vehicle component (3), wherein the radar antenna arrangement (1) comprises a plurality of radar devices (4) which are configured to transmit and/or receive a radar beam (12). The radar devices (4) are arranged on a component surface (5) of the vehicle component (3). The invention provides for the radar antenna arrangement (1) to comprise at least one antenna row (6) for determining an azimuthal angle (10) of the radar beam (12), said antenna row comprising a plurality of the radar devices (4). Directly adjacent radar devices (4) have respective horizontal distances (8) from one another. The radar antenna arrangement (1) comprises at least one antenna column (7) for determining an elevation angle (11) of the radar beam (12), said antenna column comprising a plurality of the radar devices (4). Directly adjacent radar devices (4) have respective vertical distances (9) from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Applicants: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, AUDI AG, Sicoya GmbH
    Inventors: Heiko KURZ, Thorsten BAGDONAT, Michael SCHWENKERT, Christoph SCHEYTT, Hanjo RHEE, Thomas SCHNEIDER, Joerg SCHOEBEL, Fabian SCHWARTAU, Stefan PREUSSLER
  • Publication number: 20220081011
    Abstract: A method, a computer program, and an apparatus for controlling operation of a transportation vehicle equipped with an automated driving function and a transportation vehicle equipped with an automated driving function which uses the method or apparatus. A first signal state of a traffic light is determined from data of at least one vehicle sensor, the determined first signal state of the traffic light is then validated based on information available in the transportation vehicle, and an operation mode of the transportation vehicle is set as a function of a validation result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Sandra KLEINAU, Bernd RECH, Thorsten BAGDONAT
  • Publication number: 20210396870
    Abstract: A method for acquiring information in the spatial environment of a vehicle, comprising: providing at least two radar sensors arranged at different positions at the vehicle; transmitting radar signals by the radar sensors, the radar signals being assigned to the radar sensors; receiving reflected components of the radar signals assigned to the radar sensors at the respective radar sensors and further processing these reflected components of the radar signals as reception information; assigning time information to the reception information obtained from the respective radar sensors, the time information forming a time reference for the reception information; assigning location information to the reception information obtained from the respective radar sensors, the location information forming a location reference for the reception information; and processing the reception information obtained from the at least two radar sensors into common environment information by taking into account the time information and
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicants: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbH, Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Löffler, Fabian Harrer, Thomas Gisder, Marc-Michael Meinecke, Thorsten Bagdonat
  • Patent number: 11041942
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lidar sensor (1) comprising at least one transmitting unit (S1-S4) and at least one receiving unit (E1-E4), wherein the transmitting unit (S1-S4) is designed to pivot a light signal in a horizontal direction, wherein the light signal is tilted at an angle ? relative to a ground surface (5), wherein the transmitting unit (S1-S4) and the receiving unit (E1-E4) are designed as an assembly (2) and the lidar sensor (1) has an adjusting device (2) that is designed so that the assembly (2) can be tilted by at least one angle ? in a vertical direction, and a method for optically scanning an environment by means of a lidar sensor (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Thomas Ruchatz, Thorsten Bagdonat
  • Publication number: 20210158544
    Abstract: A method, a device and a computer-readable storage medium with instructions for processing sensor data. In a first step, camera images are taken by a camera. Additionally, 3D-checkpoints are detected by at least one 3D-sensor. Optionally, at least one of the camera images can be segmented. The camera images are then merged with the 3D-checkpoints by a data fusion circuit to form data of a virtual sensor. The resulting data are finally output for further processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Applicant: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Simon Steinmeyer, Marek Musial, Carsten Deeg, Thorsten Bagdonat, Thorsten Graf
  • Patent number: 10942253
    Abstract: A radar system having at least one radar transmission unit, at least one radar reception unit, a central unit, and a glass fiber for connecting these units, wherein the central unit has a central optical transmission unit to provide an optical radar driver signal, and wherein the at least one radar transmission unit has an optical reception unit and a radar transmitter, wherein the optical reception unit receives the optical radar driver signal and converts the optical radar driver signal into an electrical radar driver signal and provides the electrical radar driver signal for driving the radar transmitter, wherein the at least one radar reception unit includes a radar receiver, a mixer and an optical modulation unit. Also disclosed is an associated method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas Schneider, Jörg Schöbel, Fabian Schwartau, Stefan Preußler, Hanjo Rhee, Christoph Scheytt, Michael Schwenkert, Thorsten Bagdonat, Heiko Kurz
  • Publication number: 20200256980
    Abstract: A method for classification of ground conditions in the vicinity of a vehicle using a radar sensor, comprising: receiving reflected portions of a radar signal at a receiver unit of a radar system; calculating information derived from the received portions of the radar signal for discrete spatial regions by the radar system or a control unit connected thereto; assigning the information to data structure units associated with a geographical location and the assignment of the information taking into account movement of the vehicle; collecting pieces of information in the respective data structure units, the pieces of information being obtained from reflected portions of radar signals transmitted at different times; evaluating the information contained in the data structure using a classifier to obtain information regarding the ground condition; assigning ground condition types to the data structure units based on evaluation results obtained by the classifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicants: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbH, Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Thorsten Bagdonat, Marc-Michael Meinecke, Andreas Löffler, Thomas Fechner
  • Patent number: 10710459
    Abstract: A method for supplying power from at least one power supply unit to transportation vehicles requiring a power supply, in which a position of a transportation vehicle-side power supply interface of a transportation vehicle requiring power is determined for each transportation vehicle and the transportation vehicle-side power supply interface is automatically coupled to a power supply interface of the power supply unit by the power supply interface of the power supply unit being moved by a robot to the transportation vehicle-side power supply interface and coupled thereto. A robot is responsible for coupling transportation vehicles to a suitable power supply interface of the power supply unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, KUKA DEUTSCHLAND
    Inventors: Daniel Schütz, Michael Grote, Jürgen Stieg, Lutz Junge, Sven Horstmann, Thorsten Bagdonat, Sebastian Grysczyk, Andreas Weiser, Norbert Settele
  • Publication number: 20190162819
    Abstract: A radar system having at least one radar transmission unit, at least one radar reception unit, a central unit, and a glass fiber for connecting these units, wherein the central unit has a central optical transmission unit to provide an optical radar driver signal, and wherein the at least one radar transmission unit has an optical reception unit and a radar transmitter, wherein the optical reception unit receives the optical radar driver signal and converts the optical radar driver signal into an electrical radar driver signal and provides the electrical radar driver signal for driving the radar transmitter, wherein the at least one radar reception unit includes a radar receiver, a mixer and an optical modulation unit. Also disclosed is an associated method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas SCHNEIDER, Jörg SCHÖBEL, Fabian SCHWARTAU, Stefan PREUSSLER, Hanjo RHEE, Christoph SCHEYTT, Michael SCHWENKERT, Thorsten BAGDONAT, Heiko KURZ
  • Publication number: 20190001831
    Abstract: A method for supplying power from at least one power supply unit to transportation vehicles requiring a power supply, in which a position of a transportation vehicle-side power supply interface of a transportation vehicle requiring power is determined for each vehicle and the transportation vehicle-side power supply interface is automatically coupled to a power supply interface of the power supply unit by the power supply interface of the power supply unit being moved by a robot to the transportation vehicle-side power supply interface and coupled thereto. A robot is responsible for coupling transportation vehicles to a suitable power supply interface of the power supply unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel SCHÜTZ, Michael GROTE, Jürgen STIEG, Lutz JUNGE, Sven HORSTMANN, Thorsten BAGDONAT, Sebastian GRYSCZYK, Andreas WEISER, Norbert SETTELE
  • Publication number: 20190001832
    Abstract: A method for supplying power from at least one power supply unit to transportation vehicles requiring a power supply, in which a position of a transportation vehicle-side power supply interface of a transportation vehicle requiring power is determined for each transportation vehicle and the transportation vehicle-side power supply interface is automatically coupled to a power supply interface of the power supply unit by the power supply interface of the power supply unit being moved by a robot to the transportation vehicle-side power supply interface and coupled thereto. A robot is responsible for coupling transportation vehicles to a suitable power supply interface of the power supply unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel SCHÜTZ, Michael GROTE, Jürgen STIEG, Lutz JUNGE, Sven HORSTMANN, Thorsten BAGDONAT, Sebastian GRYSCZYK, Andreas WEISER, Norbert SETTELE
  • Publication number: 20180113202
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lidar sensor (1) comprising at least one transmitting unit (S1-S4) and at least one receiving unit (E1-E4), wherein the transmitting unit (S1-S4) is designed to pivot a light signal in a horizontal direction, wherein the light signal is tilted at an angle ? relative to a ground surface (5), wherein the transmitting unit (S1-S4) and the receiving unit (E1-E4) are designed as an assembly (2) and the lidar sensor (1) has an adjusting device (2) that is designed so that the assembly (2) can be tilted by at least one angle ? in a vertical direction, and a method for optically scanning an environment by means of a lidar sensor (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Ruchatz, Thorsten Bagdonat