Patents by Inventor Werner THOMAS

Werner THOMAS 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: 12491815
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car, wherein the motor vehicle has a communication apparatus for receiving traffic light information transmitted from a traffic light and relating to the traffic light control of the traffic light, and a vehicle light arrangement having at least one vehicle light and assigned to the rear or the front or the sides of the vehicle. Each vehicle light is used to implement an operating light function relating to the operation of the motor vehicle. The at least one piece of the traffic light information and/or derived information that is derived therefrom and is independent of the motor vehicle is displayed to another road user by means of the vehicle light arrangement. The at least an activation and/or deactivation of the display of the at least one piece of information only takes place together with a change with respect to at least one of the at least one operating light function and/or when the motor vehicle is stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2025
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Johannes Reschke, Werner Thomas
  • Patent number: 12358418
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for operating a lighting device for a motor vehicle, wherein the lighting device has at least an exterior lamp and a control device. The exterior lamp has an illuminating area having at least two independently controllable segments each comprising at least one light source, wherein, in at least one dynamic operating mode of the control device, for at least one dynamic group of the segments comprising at least two segments a pseudo-randomized or randomized, temporally variable lighting operation of the segments of the dynamic group takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Werner Thomas, Marc Maier, Christoph Häussinger, Michael Horn, Daniel Ehrlichauf, Stephan Heider, Alexander Becker
  • Publication number: 20250222860
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car, wherein the motor vehicle has a communication apparatus for receiving traffic light information transmitted from a traffic light and relating to the traffic light control of the traffic light, and a vehicle light arrangement having at least one vehicle light and assigned to the rear or the front or the sides of the vehicle. Each vehicle light is used to implement an operating light function relating to the operation of the motor vehicle. The at least one piece of the traffic light information and/or derived information that is derived therefrom and is independent of the motor vehicle is displayed to another road user by means of the vehicle light arrangement. The at least an activation and/or deactivation of the display of the at least one piece of information only takes place together with a change with respect to at least one of the at least one operating light function and/or when the motor vehicle is stationary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Publication date: July 10, 2025
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Johannes RESCHKE, Werner THOMAS
  • Patent number: 12330550
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a lighting device for a motor vehicle having at least one exterior light and a control device. The exterior light has an illuminated area having at least two independently controllable segments, each comprising at least one light source, wherein the control device is designed to operate the exterior light in at least two operating modes, with each of which a geometric manifestation of the exterior light, defined by the light sources operated in the operating mode, is associated such that the total luminous intensity of the exterior light is within a range limited by a minimum value and a maximum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2025
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Werner Thomas, Ernst Reiter, Ashley Gleave, Christoph Häussinger
  • Patent number: 12109936
    Abstract: The application relates to a lighting device for a motor vehicle for creating a light animation. The lighting device comprises a light emission device, the light emission device is subdivided into a plurality of segments. The lighting device further has a control unit, which is designed to separately control each of the plurality of segments of the light emission device. The control unit is also configured to control the plurality of segments in a way that a photometric parameter of the lighting device averaged across all segments for the light animation is within a predefined interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Werner Thomas, Reiner Lendle
  • Publication number: 20240017664
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for operating a lighting device for a motor vehicle, wherein the lighting device has at least an exterior lamp and a control device. The exterior lamp has an illuminating area having at least two independently controllable segments each comprising at least one light source, wherein, in at least one dynamic operating mode of the control device, for at least one dynamic group of the segments comprising at least two segments a pseudo-randomized or randomized, temporally variable lighting operation of the segments of the dynamic group takes place.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Werner THOMAS, Marc MAIER, Christoph HÄUSSINGER, Michael HORN, Daniel EHRLICHAUF, Stephan HEIDER, Alexander BECKER
  • Publication number: 20230294594
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a lighting device for a motor vehicle having at least one exterior light and a control device. The exterior light has an illuminated area having at least two independently controllable segments, each comprising at least one light source, wherein the control device is designed to operate the exterior light in at least two operating modes, with each of which a geometric manifestation of the exterior light, defined by the light sources operated in the operating mode, is associated such that the total luminous intensity of the exterior light is within a range limited by a minimum value and a maximum value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Werner THOMAS, Ernst REITER, Ashley GLEAVE, Christoph HÄUSSINGER
  • Publication number: 20220194293
    Abstract: The application relates to a lighting device for a motor vehicle for creating a light animation. The lighting device comprises a light emission device, the light emission device is subdivided into a plurality of segments. The lighting device further has a control unit, which is designed to separately control each of the plurality of segments of the light emission device. The control unit is also configured to control the plurality of segments in a way that a photometric parameter of the lighting device averaged across all segments for the light animation is within a predefined interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: Audi AG
    Inventors: Werner THOMAS, Reiner LENDLE
  • Patent number: 9953732
    Abstract: The invention concerns a radiation protection curtain including at least two layers arranged parallel to each other, for use with a means of transporting objects to be scanned on a production line in a direction through the radiation protection curtain. At least one first layer is configured as a radiation protection layer. This at least one first radiation protection layer is preceded in the transport direction outwards by at least one additional separate stand-alone layer. This at least one additional layer is configured as a mechanical protection layer for the purpose of protecting the radiation protection layer behind it from mechanical effects, and the at least one additional mechanical protection layer includes at least one segment that is located on an already-installed radiation protection layer at predefined positions in such a way that it can be replaced individually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Wipotec Wiege- und Positioniersysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Thomas, Manuel Allmann
  • Publication number: 20170301424
    Abstract: The invention concerns a radiation protection curtain including at least two layers arranged parallel to each other, for use with a means of transporting objects to be scanned on a production line in a direction through the radiation protection curtain. At least one first layer is configured as a radiation protection layer. This at least one first radiation protection layer is preceded in the transport direction outwards by at least one additional separate stand-alone layer. This at least one additional layer is configured as a mechanical protection layer for the purpose of protecting the radiation protection layer behind it from mechanical effects, and the at least one additional mechanical protection layer includes at least one segment that is located on an already-installed radiation protection layer at predefined positions in such a way that it can be replaced individually.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Werner Thomas, Manuel Allmann
  • Patent number: 9746578
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for x-ray examination of moving products, including a conveyor device with a conveying means on which a product to be irradiated rests in a movement plane. The product is transported in at least one of the following manners: along a predetermined movement trajectory at a predetermined speed; in accordance with a predetermined time-dependent course of speed or position; is rotated about a rotary axis that is substantially perpendicular to the movement plane, or any combination thereof. A radiation generating device, configured to generate an x-ray beam, is positioned on one side of the conveying means, and has a detector device, positioned on the opposite side of the conveying means. The radiation generating device is configured to generate an x-ray beam widening in fanlike fashion beginning at an x-radiation source of the radiation generating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Wipotec Wiege- und Positioniersysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Torben Schuff, Werner Thomas
  • Publication number: 20160146968
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for x-ray examination of moving products, including a conveyor device with a conveying means on which a product to be irradiated rests in a movement plane. The product is transported in at least one of the following manners: along a predetermined movement trajectory at a predetermined speed; in accordance with a predetermined time-dependent course of speed or position; is rotated about a rotary axis that is substantially perpendicular to the movement plane, or any combination thereof. A radiation generating device, configured to generate an x-ray beam, is positioned on one side of the conveying means, and has a detector device, positioned on the opposite side of the conveying means. The radiation generating device is configured to generate an x-ray beam widening in fanlike fashion beginning at an x-radiation source of the radiation generating device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Torben Schuff, Werner Thomas
  • Patent number: 9004547
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fixing device for a vertically movable closing element (1) for the at least partial closing of an opening (2) of a room. According to the invention, the fixing device for fixing of the closing element (1) in a closed state comprises at least one first fixing unit (6), arranged on the closing element (1), and an engaging unit (7), corresponding to the first fixing unit (6), in an opening bottom (2.1) and at least one second fixing unit (11), which is arranged on a guide (3), arranged to the side of the opening (2), for the closing element (1) and has a tensioning hook (11.1), which in the closed state of the closing element (1) can be latched in the closing element (1) in the area of an upper side of the closing element (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Inventor: Werner Thomas
  • Patent number: 8671622
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for the at least partial closing of an opening (2) of a room comprising a closing element (3) which is placeable sealingly on an opening bottom (1) and is guided vertically movable in guides (4), which are arranged vertically on both sides of the opening (2), between an open position in a upper area of the opening (2) and a closed position on the opening bottom (2) and which is connected to at least one counterweight (5), by means of which the closing element (3) is held motionless in its particular position without an additional force acting on the closing element (3). According to the invention, the closing element (3) is coupled to at least one pneumatic, hydraulic, and/or motor drive unit (8) for moving the closing element (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Inventor: Werner Thomas
  • Publication number: 20120153640
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fixing device for a vertically movable closing element (1) for the at least partial closing of an opening (2) of a room. According to the invention, the fixing device for fixing of the closing element (1) in a closed state comprises at least one first fixing unit (6), arranged on the closing element (1), and an engaging unit (7), corresponding to the first fixing unit (6), in an opening bottom (2.1) and at least one second fixing unit (11), which is arranged on a guide (3), arranged to the side of the opening (2), for the closing element (1) and has a tensioning hook (11.1), which in the closed state of the closing element (1) can be latched in the closing element (1) in the area of an upper side of the closing element (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventor: Werner THOMAS
  • Publication number: 20120137584
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for the at least partial closing of an opening (2) of a room comprising a closing element (3) which is placeable sealingly on an opening bottom (1) and is guided vertically movable in guides (4), which are arranged vertically on both sides of the opening (2), between an open position in a upper area of the opening (2) and a closed position on the opening bottom (2) and which is connected to at least one counterweight (5), by means of which the closing element (3) is held motionless in its particular position without an additional force acting on the closing element (3). According to the invention, the closing element (3) is coupled to at least one pneumatic, hydraulic, and/or motor drive unit (8) for moving the closing element (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventor: Werner THOMAS