Patents by Inventor Ulrich Hofmann

Ulrich Hofmann 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: 11958477
    Abstract: The invention relates to a driver assistance system (11) for an at least partially automatically driving motor vehicle (10), wherein the driver assistance system (11) comprises at least one environment detection means (13) which is designed to detect at least one area of an environment (U) of the motor vehicle (10), an evaluation device (14) which is designed to determine a target trajectory (T) to be traveled by the motor vehicle (10) according to the detected at least one area of the environment (U), and a control device (18) which is designed to adjust the target trajectory (T) determined by the evaluation device (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Jens Hoedt, Ulrich Hofmann
  • Patent number: 11867916
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus device for projecting an image on the retina of an eye with a laser projection device, a device for determining the orientation of the eye, and with a tracking unit for tracking the laser beam of the laser projection device according to the determined orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Joachim Janes, Ulrich Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20230365401
    Abstract: There is provided a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) device (102, 200, 300, 404) for cancelling noise generated by oscillation of a movable micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) element (104, 204, 304, 406). The micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) device (102, 200, 300, 404) includes the movable micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) element (104, 204, 304, 406), an actuator (106, 208, 306, 408), a controller (108, 410) and a movable noise cancelling element (110, 202, 312, 412). The controller (108, 410) provides electrical signals to drive the actuator (106, 208, 306, 408) and the movable noise cancelling element (110, 202, 312, 412) in a way to cancel the noise generated in the micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) device (102, 200, 300, 404) by oscillation of the movable MEMS element (104, 204, 304, 406).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Ulrich HOFMANN, Thomas Von WANTOCH, Christian JANICKE, Leon POHL, Stephan MARAUSKA, Thomas KNIELING, Frank SENGER, Joerg ALBERS
  • Publication number: 20230359019
    Abstract: A micromechanical resonator wafer assembly includes an actuator wafer supporting an outer actuator layer. The outer actuator layer includes an oscillating part configured to be driven by an electrical drive signal. The micromechanical resonator wafer assembly further includes a device wafer mounted on top of the actuator wafer. The device wafer includes a plurality of inner actuators. Each of the inner actuators include an oscillation body configured to oscillate about one or more axes. The device wafer is physically connected to the actuator wafer such that each of the inner actuators forms with the outer actuator layer a coupled oscillation system for excitation of the oscillation body of the respective inner actuator. The micromechanical resonator wafer assembly provides external actuation of the oscillation body of each of the inner actuators by use of the outer actuator layer and hence, provides improved scan angles with fast start-up time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas Knieling, Ulrich Hofmann, Stephan Marauska, Berkan Zorlubas, Fabian Schwarz, Frank Senger, Yong Cao
  • Publication number: 20230362337
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a Lissajous dual-axial scan component (100) that includes an outer frame (102), a first pair of supports (104A-B), a second pair of supports (106A-B), an inner frame (108), a mirror (110), a sensing arrangement (112), a controller (114) and a memory (116). The memory (116) stores multiple tuples each including a first-axial bias frequency value, a second-axial bias frequency value, and a phase difference between actual driving frequencies (i.e. a first-axial bias frequency and a second-axial bias frequency) of the mirror (110). The controller (114) is coupled to the sensing arrangement (112) to receive signals indicative of current resonant frequencies of the mirror (110) and configured to select one of the tuples from the memory (116) based on the signals received from the sensing arrangement (112) and set the applied bias frequencies, and their phase difference, according to the selected tuple.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Marcel REHER, Thomas Von WANTOCH, Ulrich HOFMANN, Oleg PETRAK, Christian JANICKE, Yong CAO
  • Publication number: 20230359022
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a deflection device (100, 200, 300, 400) for use in a scanner. The deflection device (100, 200, 300, 400) includes a substrate (102, 202), a mirror (106, 206, 304, 404) and actuator means (110). The mirror (106, 206, 304, 404) arranged in a recess (104, 204, 306, 406) in the substrate (102, 202) by connector means (108) in such a way that it can rotate about at least two axes in an oscillatory manner. The actuator means (110) causes the mirror (106, 206, 304, 404) to oscillate. The actuator means (110) are arranged in one or more trenches (112A-D) in the substrate (102, 202) surrounding the recess (104, 204, 306, 406), in such a way that a change of shape of the actuator means (110) will cause a movement in the substrate (102, 202), thereby inducing oscillatory movement of the mirror (106, 206, 304, 404).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Frank Senger, Ulrich Hofmann, Stephan Marauska, Christian Janicke, Thomas Von Wantoch, Joerg Albers, Gunnar Wille, Yong Cao
  • Publication number: 20230359020
    Abstract: A deflection device for Lissajous scanning is provided. The deflection device includes a frame and a mirror. The mirror is movably arranged in a recess in the frame by means of a suspension mount including one or more springs. The mirror may be configured to swing back and forth about each of two or three axes with a respective eigenfrequency for reflecting incoming light at different angles to form a two-dimensional Lissajous pattern. The deflection device may include a driving device configured to excite swing motion of the mirror about each of the two or three axes at or near the respective eigenfrequency. Each of the one or more springs has a shape of a path segment along a circumference of the mirror together covering more than 360 degrees. An arrangement of the one or more springs provides a compact suspension for the mirror and larger tilt angles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Ulrich HOFMANN, Fabian SCHWARZ, Oleg PETRAK, Aloshious Thottappattu JOY, Shanshan GU-STOPPEL, Frank SENGER, Frerk SOERENSEN, Yong CAO
  • Publication number: 20230359023
    Abstract: A micromechanical resonator assembly which includes an internal actuator. The internal actuator further includes an oscillation body configured to oscillate about one or more axes, the oscillation body having one or more eigen frequencies. The micromechanical resonator assembly further includes an external actuator that includes an oscillating part. The micromechanical resonator assembly further includes a mounting base that includes electronic driving part. The external actuator being mounted on the mounting base and being electrically connected to the electronic driving part, for allowing excitation of the oscillation body of the internal actuator by transfer of energy from the oscillating part to the oscillating body. The micromechanical resonator assembly provides external actuation of the oscillation body of the internal actuator by use of the external actuator and hence, provides extremely large scan angles of 180°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Stephan MARAUSKA, Ulrich HOFMANN, Christian JANICKE, Berkan ZORLUBAS, Saskia SCHROEDER, Joerg ALBERS, Felix HEINRICH, Yong CAO
  • Publication number: 20230244076
    Abstract: The invention relates to a glass substrate-based MEMS mirror device for variable deflection of an incident electromagnetic beam, as well as a method for its production. The MEMS mirror device has a disk-shaped first glass substrate structured into a plurality of subregions with a mirror subregion formed at least partially as a MEMS mirror for reflecting electromagnetic radiation and a frame subregion surrounding the mirror subregion at least in sections. The mirror subregion is designed as a subregion of the first glass substrate suspended so as to be capable of oscillating in several dimensions relative to the frame subregion by means of at least one connecting element connecting the mirror subregion and the frame subregion and which can be designed in particular as a connecting web or mechanical spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Stephan MARAUSKA, Ulrich HOFMANN, Thomas VON WANTOCH, Fabian SCHWARZ
  • Patent number: 11531196
    Abstract: The invention relates to a MEMS mirror assembly for detecting a large angular range up to 180°, preferably up to 160°, and to a method for producing a MEMS mirror assembly. The mirror assembly comprises a carrier substrate (1), on which a mirror (2) vibrating about at least one axis is mounted, a transparent cover (4), which is connected in a hermetically sealed manner to the carrier substrate (1) and which comprises an ellipsoidal dome (6) having a substantially round base area, and a compensation optical system (8), which is arranged in a predefined beam path for an incident beam outside the dome (6). The middle of the mirror (2) lies in the centre point of the dome, and the compensation optical system (8) collimates the incident beam in such a way that a divergence or convergence of the beam caused by the boundary surfaces of the dome once said beam has exited from the dome (6) is substantially compensated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Quenzer, Ulrich Hofmann, Vanessa Stenchly
  • Publication number: 20220197042
    Abstract: The invention relates to an image generating device having a radiation source for one or more output beams having Gaussian radiation characteristic, in particular a laser beam source, having a device for generating Bessel-like beams from one or more output beams, having a controllably drivable MEMS scanner, wherein the Bessel-like beams are directed onto the MEMS scanner and are deliberately deflected by the MEMS scanner to generate an image, and having at least one display body at least partially transmissive to the Bessel-like beams, onto which the Bessel-like beams are guided by the MEMS scanner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Ulrich HOFMANN, Joachim JANES
  • Publication number: 20210231963
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus device for projecting an image on the retina of an eye with a laser projection device, a device for determining the orientation of the eye, and with a tracking unit for tracking the laser beam of the laser projection device according to the determined orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Joachim Janes, Ulrich Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20210188256
    Abstract: The invention relates to a driver assistance system (11) for an at least partially automatically driving motor vehicle (10), wherein the driver assistance system (11) comprises at least one environment detection means (13) which is designed to detect at least one area of an environment (U) of the motor vehicle (10), an evaluation device (14) which is designed to determine a target trajectory (T) to be traveled by the motor vehicle (10) according to the detected at least one area of the environment (U), and a control device (18) which is designed to adjust the target trajectory (T) determined by the evaluation device (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicants: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Jens Hoedt, Ulrich Hofmann
  • Patent number: 10665938
    Abstract: The invention relates to an antenna device having at least one antenna element. The antenna element is implemented so as to emit electromagnetic radiation in a beam direction advantageously at frequencies in the GHz range and/or receive same from a beam direction. In addition, the antenna element is arranged on a carrier element which is arranged relative to a holding element. In addition, the carrier element is movable relative to the holding element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Alfred Ebberg, Ulrich Hofmann, Winfried Schernus, Frank Senger
  • Publication number: 20200159006
    Abstract: The invention relates to a MEMS mirror assembly for detecting a large angular range up to 180°, preferably up to 160°, and to a method for producing a MEMS mirror assembly. The mirror assembly comprises a carrier substrate (1), on which a mirror (2) vibrating about at least one axis is mounted, a transparent cover (4), which is connected in a hermetically sealed manner to the carrier substrate (1) and which comprises an ellipsoidal dome (6) having a substantially round base area, and a compensation optical system (8), which is arranged in a predefined beam path for an incident beam outside the dome (6). The middle of the mirror (2) lies in the centre point of the dome, and the compensation optical system (8) collimates the incident beam in such a way that a divergence or convergence of the beam caused by the boundary surfaces of the dome once said beam has exited from the dome (6) is substantially compensated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Quenzer, Ulrich Hofmann, Vanessa Stenchly
  • Patent number: 10647915
    Abstract: A converter assembly for converting a primary light into a secondary light includes at least one element which has a light-converting structure with open pores and which is laterally held by a frame. The surfaces of both the light-converting structure as well as of the inner face of the frame are covered with a transparent layer such that each of the afore-mentioned elements forms a region in which a property of the incident light and preferably of the wavelength thereof is changed. In specific embodiments, the converter assembly can be part of display assemblies or of miniaturized components for example. There is also described a method for producing the converter assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Ulrich Hofmann, Hans-Joachim Quenzer, Thomas Lisec, Thomas Von Wantoch
  • Patent number: 10436880
    Abstract: The invention relates to an appliance for detecting objects in a detection region, with a radiation device for emitting an electromagnetic scanning beam into at least a part of the detection region and with a device for modulating the scanning beam as well as with a detection device for the detection of reflected radiation from at least a part of the detection region and with a device for evaluating the time response of the detected, reflected radiation, in dependence on the modulation of the scanning beam. According to the invention, one can envisage the radiation device comprising a radiation source radiating a diffusion device scattering the radiation at least partly into the detection region, in order to be able to apply an as powerful as possible laser as a t source without endangering the eye safety or the general safety of persons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Ulrich Hofmann, Thomas von Wantoch, Christian Mallas, Frank Senger
  • Publication number: 20190276957
    Abstract: The invention provides a needle for stitch formation on a knitting or warp-knitting machine, the needle comprising a main body, a needle hook, and a transfer member or tongue member which is movable in the longitudinal direction of the main body relative to the main body and the needle hook and is configured to open and close the needle hook by way of a relative movement with respect to the main body. The needle further comprises a connecting element which engages around the transfer member or tongue member at least along a part of the length of the transfer member or tongue member, such that the relative movement of the transfer member or tongue member with respect to the main body is guided by the connecting element, wherein the connecting element is connected to an upper portion of the main body. The invention additionally provides a knitting or warp-knitting machine comprising a plurality of such needles, and a method for producing such a needle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventor: Ulrich HOFMANN
  • Patent number: 10401737
    Abstract: A technique and method for determining a process dose for a beam lithography process includes accessing a data set that enables associating (i) a plurality of measured dimensions of features exposed by beam lithography with (ii) a plurality of different exposure doses, wherein the features were exposed with the different exposure doses, and with (iii) at least one of a plurality of different densities of the exposed features and a plurality of different nominal dimensions of the exposed features. The method also includes providing a model that is parameterized in at least the following parameters (i) measured feature dimension; (ii) exposure dose; (iii) at least one of feature density and nominal feature dimension; (iv) process dose; and (v) at least one process bias. In a further step, the method includes fitting the model with the data set to determine the process dose and the process bias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: GenISys GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Hofmann, Nezih Uenal
  • Publication number: 20180371315
    Abstract: A converter assembly for converting a primary light into a secondary light includes at least one element which has a light-converting structure with open pores and which is laterally held by a frame. The surfaces of both the light-converting structure as well as of the inner face of the frame are covered with a transparent layer such that each of the afore-mentioned elements forms a region in which a property of the incident light and preferably of the wavelength thereof is changed. In specific embodiments, the converter assembly can be part of display assemblies or of miniaturized components for example. There is also described a method for producing the converter assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: ULRICH HOFMANN, HANS-JOACHIM QUENZER, THOMAS LISEC, THOMAS VON WANTOCH