Patents Assigned to i f m electronic GmbH
  • Patent number: 7413457
    Abstract: An electrical connector connects to a mating connector by a rotatable union nut that is axially displaceable on a contact carrier with a sealing element therebetween. Damage to the sealing element is prevented by a stop that limits the maximum path by which the union nut can be screwed onto the mating connector, such that when the union nut is screwed on, the elastic sealing element is intentionally compressed, but is not damaged or destroyed. A vibration guard can also be provided in the connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: i f m electronic GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Mehnert, Bernd Froese, Andreas Hartrampf, Thomas Ohlinger
  • Publication number: 20080191717
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor with at least one reference impedance (2) and at least one measuring condenser (3), at least one electrical alternating signal source (4), a current supply network (5) and an analysis unit (6) in which the reference impedance (2) and the measuring condenser (3) are connected via the current supply network (5) to the alternating signal source (4) and the analysis unit (6) in such a way that the charge and discharge currents of the reference impedance (2) and the measuring condenser (3) and/or an analysis signal from the analysis unit (6) that characterizes the charge and discharge currents of the reference impedance (2) and the measuring condenser (3) can be analyzed. As a result, the reference impedance (2) can be tuned. The capacitive sensor avoids—at least partially—drawbacks in the capacitive sensors known from the prior art in that the reference impedance can be tuned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: I F M ELECTRONIC GMBH
    Inventors: Jochen Gundlach, Jaromir Palata
  • Publication number: 20080146055
    Abstract: An attachment device for attachment of an electrical or electronic device to a top-hat rail, including an attachable or integrated carrier plate, and a lockable fastener. The carrier plate has a holding device. The fastener is axially movable relative to the carrier plate and has an elongated base region, metal catch hooks, and a spring tongue punched out of the base region. The carrier plate has a projection protruding in a direction of the fastener, and arranged corresponding to the spring tongue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: I F M ELECTRONIC GMBH
    Inventor: Marco Eckardt
  • Publication number: 20080012581
    Abstract: Circuit arrangement for detecting the capacitance or capacitance change of a capacitive circuit element, has a control unit, a monostable multivibrator triggered by the control unit, and an evaluation unit. The monostable multivibrator has an input connected to the control unit, a second input connected to the sensor capacitor, and an output. When the monostable multivibrator is triggered by the control unit, an output signal appears at the output of the monostable multivibrator having a time duration proportional to the capacitance of the sensor capacitor, and is converted into a signal voltage proportional to signal duration from which a detection value corresponding to the capacitance or change of capacitance is obtained in the evaluation unit. The output of the monostable multivibrator is to a constant current generator that is controlled by its output signal and an integrator that converts the current from the constant current generator into the signal voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: i f m electronic gmbh
    Inventors: Joerg Schulz, Markus Von Ehr, Werner Hoch
  • Publication number: 20070239371
    Abstract: A process for detecting the operating state of a pump of a pump system, involves the steps of: detecting at least one pressure nd/or flow profile P(t) in the pump system, computing of at least one characteristic value Kkal from the pressure and/or flow profile P(t), comparing the computed characteristic value Kkal with at least one defined characteristic value Kvor or with a range bordered by the characteristic value Kvor, the defined characteristic value Kvor or the characteristic value range corresponding to the operating state of the pump of interest, and outputting the operating state determined by the comparison. With the process, the operating states of pumps, pump systems and hydraulic systems is determined by the computed characteristic value Kkal characterizing the pulsation of the pressure and/or flow profile P(t) in a computation time interval ?tB, the pulsation quotient being computed as the computed characteristic value Kkal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Applicant: I F M ELECTRONIC GMBH
    Inventors: Lorenz HALBINGER, Matthias HOFFMANN, Joerg SCHUETZE, Daniel SPINNENHIRN, Alfred WAGNER
  • Publication number: 20070205777
    Abstract: An electronic pressure switch has only two terminals, a resistance measuring bridge pickup, an amplifier unit downstream of the resistance measuring bridge, a comparator connected to the amplifier unit and a switching stage downstream of the comparator achieves a lower residual current in the blocked state and a lower voltage drop in the switched state. The resistance measuring bridge has a high internal resistance and the amplifier unit supplies both an analog measurement signal corresponding to the analog measured value of the resistance measuring bridge and a threshold value to the comparator at low resistance. A high-resistance balancing network is assigned to the resistor network, and an in-phase regulator on the input side limits and controls the supply voltage of the resistance measuring bridge, the amplifier unit, the comparator and the balancing network and the switching stage is made as a shunt controller triggered by the output of the comparator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Applicant: I F M ELECTRONIC GMBH
    Inventor: Heinz WALTER
  • Patent number: 7265289
    Abstract: An electronic module (1) for connection of sensors or actuators to a bus line, with an electronic unit, with several jacks (3) for connection of electrical lines (4), and with one jack (5) and one plug (6) for connection of two bus lines (7). The electronic module (1) is especially well suited for use in the hygiene or foodstuffs fields since there is at least one mounting foot (9) for mounting of the electronic module (1) on a support surface (10) and that the housing (2) is made such that the edge area (14) of the housing bottom (12) is further from the support surface (10) than is the area of the housing by the mounting foot (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: i f m electronic GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Roehm, Michael Strauss, Peter Wienzek
  • Publication number: 20070200700
    Abstract: An inductive proximity switch is described with a housing (1) which consists of a nonmagnetic, high-grade steel, preferably a housing (2) consisting of VA steel, with a transmitting coil (2), with two receiving coils (3, 4) which are connected in series in opposite directions and which are located symmetrically to the transmitting coil (2), and with an evaluation circuit (5) which is connected to the receiving coils (3, 4). It applies to the illustrated inductive proximity switch as claimed in the invention that at a given size it has a relatively large operating distance and that the operating distance is largely stable, especially is largely independent of temperature, essentially in that on the back (7) of the receiving coils (3, 4) which is opposite the influence side (6) there is a predamping element (8) and the predamping properties of the predamping element (8) at least approximately correspond to the predamping properties of the housing (1) on the influence side (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Applicant: i f m electronic gmbh
    Inventors: Reinhard TEICHMANN, Bernd BUCK, Joerg Schutze
  • Patent number: 7240557
    Abstract: A ceramic pressure measurement cell for use in a sensor for static and/or dynamic monitoring of the pressure of a liquid or flowable medium which includes a base body and a membrane connected to the base body such that one side of the membrane is in contact with the medium to be monitored. The pressure measurement cell has high chemical resistance and high temperature resistance for a plurality of chemicals which is achieved by applying at least one plastic film on the side of the membrane in contact with the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: i f m electronic GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Müller, Benno Kathan
  • Publication number: 20070155221
    Abstract: A housing for connection to an electrical line (14), especially a bus line, with at least one first housing part (2a) and one second housing part (2b), with at least one locking system 6 for locking the first housing part (2a) with the second housing part (2b) in a common locking position, whereby a contact device (15) for making electrical contact with the line (14) is assigned to the first housing part (2a) and whereby at least one line bed (16) for guiding the line (14) is formed in the second housing part (2b). The line bed (16) is made—at least partially—in a line bed carrier (17), and the contact device (15) and the line bed carrier (17) can be turned such that the orientation of the line path can be adjusted with respect to the housing (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Applicant: I F M ELECTRONIC GMBH
    Inventors: Hugo KATHAN, Thomas ROEHM, Marcus WILL
  • Publication number: 20070145744
    Abstract: An electrical connector connects to a mating connector by a rotatable union nut that is axially displaceable on a contact carrier with a sealing element therebetween. Damage to the sealing element is prevented by a stop that limits the maximum path by which the union nut can be screwed onto the mating connector, such that when the union nut is screwed on, the elastic sealing element is intentionally compressed, but is not damaged or destroyed. A vibration guard can also be provided in the connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: I F M ELECTRONIC GMBH
    Inventors: Wolfgang MEHNERT, Bernd FROESE, Andreas HARTRAMPF, Thomas OHLINGER
  • Publication number: 20070126570
    Abstract: An electrical connector for connection to a sensor has an integrated microcontroller, with a plug-and-socket connection for connection to an interface of the sensor and with an electronic circuit. With the connector, the data of a sensor, especially the parameter data, can be mirrored outside the sensor in a simple and economical manner so that the data are available at any time and as much as possible on site. The electronic circuit has a memory for storage of data, especially parameter data and characteristic data of the sensor, and a microcontroller, the microcontroller operating the interface of the sensor, and depending on the characteristic data of the sensor, either reading data, especially parameter data, out of the sensor via the interface and storing it in the memory, or reading data stored in the memory, especially parameter data, out of the memory and transmitting them via the interface into the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Applicant: I F M ELECTRONIC GMBH
    Inventors: Benno KATHAN, Alfred WAGNER
  • Publication number: 20070113659
    Abstract: A pressure sensor for static and/or dynamic pressure measurement of a liquid, flowable, or gaseous medium is described, with a housing (2) and with a pressure measuring cell (3), on the side facing the medium an opening (4) being formed through which one side (5) of the pressure measuring cell (3) is directly or indirectly in contact with the medium to be monitored, and the pressure measuring cell (3) converting the pressure to be monitored into a proportional measurement signal by means of an electromechanical converter. The pressure sensor as claimed in the invention can have both a small outside diameter and can also be economically produced by the housing (2) sitting on the pressure measuring cell (3) and the housing (2) and the pressure measuring cell (3) being connected to one another on the face side so that the pressure measuring cell (3) is at least in part a component of the outer surface of the pressure sensor (1) and thus is not surrounded by the housing (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Applicant: i f m electronic gmbh
    Inventor: Hans-Peter MUELLER
  • Patent number: 7205777
    Abstract: A capacitive proximity switch for detecting the change in the capacitance relative to a setpoint capacitance by the approach or retreat of an object in the sensitive area of a proximity switch, especially for use in the door handle of a motor vehicle, provides reliable error detection and error suppression at a fundamentally high sensitivity of the capacitive proximity switch by utilizing an evaluation unit that evaluates a measured value of the change in capacitance over time and depending on the time behavior of the measured value activates changes the operating threshold from a first threshold (which can be caused by a false object coming into or out of the sensitive area of the proximity switch) to a higher second threshold which can be reached only at a relatively greater change in capacitance caused by a target object coming into or out of the sensitive area of the proximity switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignees: i f m electronic GmbH, Huf Huelsbeck & Fuerst GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Joerg Schulz, Gerhard Heilig, Heidrun Richter, Bernd Steegmann, Martin Witte, Gianni Uselli
  • Publication number: 20060285212
    Abstract: A device for measurement and detection of the level of a medium in a container with a sensor element, with a reference element and an electrical circuit which contains at least one AC voltage source and an evaluation unit, the sensor element and the reference element being arranged such that the medium to be measured or detected influences the impedance between them. The capacitive level measurement and detection device has an AC voltage source that supplies a high-frequency voltage or a voltage with high frequency voltage portions. The circuit which has the AC voltage source, the sensor element and the reference element has an impedance which is as low as possible. The electrical circuit can have an amplifier, a timer, a pulse shaper, a first synchronous rectifier, a first I/U converter, a microcontroller, a reference impedance, a second synchronous rectifier and a second I/U converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Applicant: i f m electronic gmbh
    Inventors: Jochen Gundlach, Werner Hoch, Francesco Bernd
  • Patent number: 7102078
    Abstract: A housing for holding electrical and/or electronic components with a housing opening and with an entry fitting which is rotationally located in the housing opening, the entry fitting having a cylindrical holding part in which an annular groove is formed, and being held by a fastener in the housing. In the housing, the entry fitting can be securely attached to the housing with simple means and installation of the entry fitting, with the housing otherwise closed, is possible in that, for axially securing the entry fitting in the housing opening, there is an open plastic snap ring which is provided with a feed bevel which is guided in the annular groove, and which, in the installed state of the entry fitting, is locked at least partially in a groove in the housing opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: i f m electronic GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Weber, Wolfgang Heinrich, Andreas Hornstein, Wolfgang Mehnert, Franz Sauter, Ralf Siegler
  • Patent number: 7062950
    Abstract: A measurement device with a cylindrical housing (2), with a sensor element and with an adjustment element (6) made, for example, as a potentiometer, for setting at least one parameter of the measurement device. The measurement device (1) is especially easily and still accurately and reproducibly settable by there being at least one rotary adjustment ring, the adjustment ring being made as a housing sleeve (7) for setting the parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: i f m electronic GmbH
    Inventor: Benno Kathan
  • Patent number: 7007564
    Abstract: A mounting device for contactlessly-operating proximity switches includes a continuous cylindrical or cuboidal recess for holding the proximity switch which is formed by at least two legs. The mounting device can also include at least one through pocket, connected to the recess, into which an actuating tool can fit. The recess of the mounting device, when in a relieved state, has a smaller diameter than the proximity switch which is to be mounted. Additionally, the recess can be spread into an enlarged state by the actuating tool being positioned into the pocket and turned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: i f m electronic GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Buck, Franz Sauter, Berthold Schocker
  • Patent number: 6995573
    Abstract: A process for determining the position of an influencing element, using an inductive position sensor, several coils, a capacitor, an amplifier element, at least one changeover switch and an evaluation unit, a selected one of the coils and the capacitor forming a tuned circuit and the tuned circuit and the amplifier element forming an oscillator. Each coil is connected in succession to the capacitor and its impedance measured by the evaluation unit as a function of the position of the influencing element relative to the coil and that coil which is able to determine the location of the influencing element is determined. In further operation, only the impedance of the determined coil or of the tuned circuit formed therewith is measured and used to determine the position of the influencing element, and if the impedance of determined coil changes beyond a threshold amount, the impedance of at least one other coil or tuned circuit is measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: i f m electronic GmbH
    Inventors: Raimund Becker, Klaus Unger, Bjöern Ostertag, Jaromir Palata
  • Publication number: 20060012443
    Abstract: An oscillator circuit for a sensor, with a tuned circuit (2) and an operational amplifier (3), the electrical oscillation of the tuned circuit (2) is capable of being tapped between a first terminal (4) and a second terminal (5) of the tuned circuit (2), and the first terminal (4) of the tuned circuit (2) being connected to the noninverting input of the operational amplifier (3) and the output (6) of the operational amplifier (3) is fed back to the noninverting input of the operational amplifier. The oscillator circuit is designed to improve the dynamic behavior of the oscillator circuit by the second terminal (5) of the tuned circuit (2)—at least in terms of AC voltage—being directly connected to the inverting input of the operational amplifier (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Publication date: January 19, 2006
    Applicant: i f m electronic gmbh
    Inventors: Melnrad Sauter, Jean-Luc Lamarche