Patents Assigned to Preh GmbH
  • Patent number: 11970061
    Abstract: The invention relates to an input assembly, comprising a carrier, an input part, which is mounted on the carrier in a manner capable of vibrating along at least one direction of movement) by means of mounting means, with an input surface intended to be touched by an operator and with a touch-detection device for detecting a touch upon the input surface by the operator, an electromagnetic actuator for exciting a movement of the input part along the direction of movement by means of an electric control signal in order to generate a haptic feedback for the operator in the case of a touch by the operator, wherein the actuator has a resiliently mounted additional mass and the actuator is attached to the input part via a vibration isolator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: PREH GMBH
    Inventors: Tobias Bodenstein, Andreas Kramlich
  • Publication number: 20240118750
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an operating member including a carrier; an actuation part; and an actuation portion surrounded by a flexible insulation portion, wherein the actuation portion can vibrate relative to the carrier; detection means detecting a touch on the actuation surface and/or an actuation of the actuation part; an actuator fixed on the actuation portion of the actuation part, wherein an electrical excitation signal is applied by the detection means during a positive detection of an actuation or touch; wherein a dynamic rigidity of the actuation part determined along a measurement section with a maximum length of 1 cm, located on the visible surface, varies such that a first transfer function determined at a beginning of the measurement section, for a continuous frequency range between 30 and 1,000 Hz, differs from a second transfer function determined at an end of the measurement section for the same frequency range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Preh GmbH
    Inventor: Tobias BODENSTEIN
  • Patent number: 11941218
    Abstract: The invention relates to an input device comprising: a touch-sensitive input surface facing towards an operator (B); a detection device for the spatially resolved detection of an approach towards and touch on the touch-sensitive input surface having a sensor array for capacitive and/or inductive detection, which extends parallel to the input surface; an input part, which is disposed on the input surface and mounted so as to be movable from a rest position (X0) into an actuation position (XE) along an actuating direction (B1) extending perpendicularly to the input surface, for enabling a performance of an operating input by the operator (B) through a manual displacement of the input part along the actuating direction (B1); a position indicator for contactless position detection, which is attached to the input part and cooperates with the detection device; restoring means for generating a restoring force (F) with snap haptics counteracting the manual shifting from the rest position (X0); wherein the detection d
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: PREH GMBH
    Inventors: Norbert Bauer, Thomas Kleffel
  • Publication number: 20240092218
    Abstract: A circuit assembly for precharging a high-voltage DC voltage intermediate circuit for a motor vehicle is provided. The circuit assembly includes a high-voltage battery with battery terminals to which the intermediate circuit is electrically coupled. Intermediate circuit terminals of the intermediate circuit are electrically coupled to corresponding station terminals of a high-voltage charging station for providing a charging current, wherein the intermediate circuit terminals are each selectively, electrically coupled to corresponding feeding points of the intermediate circuit via charging current-connecting switching elements by opening and closing. The switching elements are opened prior to coupling the intermediate circuit terminals to the station terminals. Electric potentials of the feeding points are equalized to each other by a first precharging current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: Preh GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias SCHERNICH, Maximilian SCHNEIDER, Darrell PARKER
  • Patent number: 11921313
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a function display for selectively displaying symbols representing switching states for a motor vehicle including a light guide stack of at least two transparent or translucent, planar light guides arranged in an overlaid manner in a stacking direction, which are spaced apart by a transparent or translucent layer including a material that is optically thinner compared to the adjacent light guides so that the light guides have a main surface facing towards an observer and a main surface facing away from the observer that faces towards a light guide which is most closely adjacent in stacking direction; at least one light source per light guide arranged to couple light into the respective light guide via an end face; wherein one light-refractive and/or light-scattering microstructured portion per light guide, which is provided in or on the light guide, is provided for generating a symbol display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: PREH GMBH
    Inventors: Dennis Loeppen, Björn Morber, Kilian Memmel
  • Patent number: 11919445
    Abstract: A vehicle steering wheel system is provided. The system includes a steering wheel body with a hub region for attachment to a steering shaft of a vehicle steering system, a steering wheel rim and at least one spoke for attaching the steering wheel rim to the hub region; an electromechanical triggering device for triggering an acoustic output by means of an acoustic warning device of the vehicle, wherein the triggering device has an impact absorber cover and at least one force transducer wherein a force value threshold is predefined for each force transducer, and a wake-up signal is transmitted via the data connection to the evaluation unit if the force value threshold is exceeded by at least one force value, so that the latter changes from the energy-saving mode into the operating mode in which an actuating force value is determined by force value measured by the at least one force transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: PREH GMBH
    Inventors: Oliver Katzenberger, Stefan Wahl, Dirk Ruetzel, Martin Schäfer, Sebastian Schrenk
  • Patent number: 11919252
    Abstract: A method for joining a first component with a second component includes providing a first component with a thermoplastic rivet; providing a second component having a rivet hole, wherein the rivet hole forms a rivet hole inlet in a first surface of the second component and a rivet hole outlet in a second surface of the second component, and wherein the second component forms in the second surface a structured rivet head accommodating portion disposed in a region of the rivet hole outlet; inserting a free end of the rivet via the rivet hole inlet into the rivet hole until a unilaterally abutting, inserted position of the rivet reaching through the rivet hole is reached; and heat staking the free end of the rivet in the inserted position while forming a rivet head, so that the rivet head is at least partially accommodated in the rivet head accommodating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: PREH GMBH
    Inventor: Dirk Erdlopff
  • Publication number: 20240034387
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an arrangement for a motor vehicle including a steering wheel, having an electrode, and evaluation electronics, which are to be protected against an electrical overvoltage and which are electrically conductively connected to the electrode for capacitive detection of a touch on the steering wheel, wherein the steering wheel has a steering wheel rim and an steering wheel core for fixing to a steering wheel shaft, wherein the steering wheel core is electrically conductively connected to a first ground connection via a first ohmic resistor, wherein the evaluation electronics are configured to apply an electrical measuring potential to the electrode to detect a touch on the steering wheel rim from; wherein the evaluation electronics are electrically conductively connected to a second ground connection; an electrically conductive connection provided between the electrode and the steering wheel core, which connection has an overvoltage discharge element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: Preh GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred SCHNEIDER, Mario SCHMITT
  • Publication number: 20240014808
    Abstract: A circuit assembly and a method for controlling operation states The circuit can be shifted by idle signals from the active operation state into the idle state and can be shifted by wake-up signals in an edge-triggered manner from the idle state into the active operation state if the wake-up signal executes a change in potential from a non-activation potential to an activation potential. The wake-up signals are supplied to a wake-up signal input of the circuit with the interposition of a masking circuit, which passes through the wake-up signals to the wake-up signal input in the idle state of the circuit and, in the active operation state of the circuit, applies to the wake-up signal input a predetermined electric masking potential, from which a change in potential towards the activation potential of the wake-up signal shifts the circuit from the idle state into the active operation state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: Preh GmbH
    Inventors: Mirco ALBERT, Andre RESS, Tim SCHOLZ
  • Patent number: 11869731
    Abstract: An operating member includes: a support; an actuating part, which defines an actuating surface is mounted on the support by a mount to be movable relative to the support, by manual actuation against a resetting force, while carrying out an actuating movement from a rest position into a depressed position; a detector having at least one force sensor, wherein the detector is adapted to detect at least one position of the actuating part; wherein the mount includes a guidance mechanism having at least one pair of coupled levers, wherein the levers are each pivotably mounted on the support by a first pivot joint and on the actuating part—by a second pivot joint to cause a pivoting movement of the at least one pair of coupled levers by the actuating movement, wherein the guidance mechanism further includes at least one coupling rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: PREH GMBH
    Inventors: Arthur Klossek, Thomas Ofenhitzer, Thilo Schultheis, Andreas Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20240004473
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an input device including an operating part with an input surface; a carrier; a mount that is adapted to mount the operating part on the carrier in a restoring manner, which are configured to mount the operating part to deflect from a rest position in a deflection direction substantially parallel to the input surface and to elastically restore to the rest position; and an actuator for an excitation of movement of the operating part in the deflection direction to generate a haptic feedback for an operator; wherein the mount comprises two spring members, which extend substantially parallel to one another and substantially parallel to the input surface, and which respectively have one leaf spring strip having a spring steel and three fastening members in which the leaf spring strip is positively accommodated, wherein the fastening members are arranged in a uniformly spaced-apart manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: Preh GmbH
    Inventors: Michael MILLER, Thilo SCHULTHEIS, Tobias BODENSTEIN, Michael SCHWAB
  • Publication number: 20240004502
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an input assembly, including: a cover having a touch-sensitive operating surface facing an operator and a rear surface facing away from the operator, wherein the operating surface contains a luminous surface; a support arranged on the side of the cover facing away from the operator; a light source arranged on the support to couple light into the cover via an entry surface, in order to backlight the luminous surface, wherein the cover is transparent in the region between the entry surface and the luminous surface; a transparent film layer structure arranged between the cover and the light source, with a conductive coating for forming an electrode for a capacitive touch sensor system; wherein the entry surface is formed by a recess in the rear surface of the cover, and wherein a ventilated hollow volume is formed between the film layer structure and the entry surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: Preh GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander MARSCHALL, Marc SAUER
  • Patent number: 11861083
    Abstract: The invention relates to an input device comprising capacitive detection device having detection surface including first array of array electrodes; electronic evaluation unit electrically connected to array electrodes to form associated electric measuring field array for spatially resolving detection of capacitive influence on detection surface; handling means disposed on detection surface to be movable along an adjustment path parallel to detection surface, in order to perform an operating input; position indicator; and coupling device with a first surface on which a second array of coupling electrodes is formed, and with a second surface on which a third array including spaced-apart contact surfaces is formed. Based on the position of the handling means, contact surfaces are touch-contacted by the position indicator. The coupling device includes several electrically conductive connections to capacitively influence the measuring field array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Preh GmbH
    Inventors: Benedikt Schmidt, Manuel Wittwer, Markus Klein, Thomas Rauch, Elmar Greulich, Stefan Menninger, Thomas Kleffel
  • Patent number: 11816276
    Abstract: An input device includes a capacitive detection device, which has a detection surface while forming a first array of array electrodes associated with the detection surface, that are arranged so as to cross one another several times while being electrically insulated to form one junction point at the locations where they cross one another; an electronic evaluation unit, which is electrically connected to the array electrodes to form an associated electric measuring field array for the spatially resolving detection of a capacitive influence on the detection surface; a handling means mounted on the detection surface movable along an adjustment path parallel to the detection surface to perform an operating input by a manually effected movement along the adjustment path; and at least one position indicator moved along with the handling means to capacitively influence at least one measuring field of the measuring field array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: PREH GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Kleffel, Norbert Bauer
  • Publication number: 20230352948
    Abstract: A method for a treatment of fault currents in a high-voltage battery connected to a charging station via a charging circuit in a motor vehicle is presented. An electric protective-conductor connection is established between a protective conductor on the charging station side and a protective conductor on the battery side, which is electrically insulated to the first high-voltage potential on the battery side and the second high-voltage potential on the battery side to connect the protective conductor on the battery side via the protective conductor on the charging station side to a ground potential on the charging station side for the high-voltage battery. Upon a fault condition, a fault current circuit forms via the charging station and the protective-conductor connection with a fault current supplied from the high-voltage battery. The fault current is reduced and/or limited by a fault current controller of the charging circuit for a predetermined minimum duration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Applicant: Preh GmbH
    Inventors: Marc NEITZ, Gian Battista CAPPELLETTI, Kaj-Uwe DECKER
  • Publication number: 20230354519
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a component for the surface soldering installation on a circuit board, comprising: a basic body forming at least one locating surface provided for contact with a surface of the circuit board, or several locating points spanning a plane; two elastic brackets, which are formed on opposing sides of the basic body and respectively form one soldering surface for a solder connection with a positioning surface of the circuit board, wherein each of the two brackets has, in sequential arrangement over its course from the basic body to the soldering surface, a strip-shaped, flat, first portion and a strip-shaped, flat, second portion, wherein the main surfaces of the first portion are arranged at an angle to the main surfaces of the second portion; a use and an associated assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Applicant: Preh GmbH
    Inventor: Thilo SCHULTHEIS
  • Publication number: 20230347963
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an operating member including a support; an actuating part, which has an actuating surface facing towards an operator, and the actuating part has an edge region, which is provided outside the actuating surface and via which the actuating part is supported on the support; wherein the actuating part has a layer structure, defining the actuating surface, and the layer structure has at least two layers that differ in the modulus of elasticity; wherein, in a transitional region between the edge region and the actuating surface, a layer with the smallest modulus of elasticity is a highly elastic layer, and has the greatest layer thickness compared to other layers of the layer structure, in order to provide an elastic compliance of the actuating part; a force sensor disposed between the support and the actuating part detects a displacement of the actuating part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Applicant: Preh GmbH
    Inventors: Dennis LOEPPEN, Frank DANGEL, Tobias BODENSTEIN, Peter LOCHNER, Jochen SCHUHMANN
  • Publication number: 20230290583
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an input device, including a carrier; a contact part; a spring disposed between the carrier and the contact part, wherein the spring is adapted to mount the contact part on the carrier in an, along a deflection direction (RA), elastically self-resetting and a vibration-capable manner; wherein the spring is configured such that it is fixed by a positive fit by an insertion in a first direction into at least one carrier-side first accommodating portion of the carrier, and that it is fixed on the contact part by a positive fit by an insertion in a second direction into at least one contact part-side second accommodating portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: Preh GmbH
    Inventors: Michael JORDAN, Thilo SCHULTHEIS, Joachim WUEST
  • Publication number: 20230271564
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a display arrangement, including: a cover that is transparent at least in some regions; a support frame adapted to fix the display arrangement on a supporting structure; a pixel matrix display having a display surface; a housing; wherein the support frame is arranged adjacent to the cover and an intermediate space, which is delimited by the support frame and the cover, is formed and is filled with a thermoplastic elastomer; wherein the cover and the support frame form a well, in which the pixel matrix display is accommodated; wherein a transparent adhesive layer is formed in the well between the display surface and the cover to fix the pixel matrix display on the cover, with the display surface being visible through the cover and the adhesive layer; wherein the housing fits over the pixel matrix display and is fixed on the support frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: Preh GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas SCHMIDT, Michael MARTIN
  • Publication number: 20230257015
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a circuit and a method for carrying out an alternating heating and capacitive measuring mode by a common heating wire, including carrying out a heating mode, wherein, due to a switching by a control circuit, first switching elements and second switching elements are connected in series to the heating wire, and the heating wire is connected, to one of two heating potentials; triggering a switchover from the heating mode into a measuring mode by the control circuit; carrying out the measuring mode, in which the measuring capacitance of the heating wire relative to a reference potential is determined by a detecting circuit by applying to the heating wire an alternating voltage; carrying out a testing phase by a test circuit that is switched by the control circuit that a test impedance is connected to the measuring capacitance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: Preh GmbH
    Inventors: Friedrich WIELAND, Georg DANIEL