Patents Assigned to Sick AG
  • Patent number: 11742853
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a housing and a housing for an inductive sensor having at least one sleeve-like housing part and at least one beaker-like end cap for a sensor element, wherein the beaker-like end cap, wherein the end cap is composed of plastic, wherein the end cap is arranged in the sleeve-like housing part, wherein the end cap has a peripheral annular pressing surface that has an excess size with respect to an inner diameter of the housing part along an outer diameter of the sleeve-like section so that a press fit is formed between the sleeve like housing part and the end cap, and wherein a jacket-like outer surface of the sleeve-like section of the end cap does not have a step that projects beyond the inner diameter of the sleeve-like housing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Frank Gutmann, Torsten Neuhaeuser, Wolfgang Marschner, Dominik Paul, Matthias Kopf
  • Patent number: 11701747
    Abstract: A sensor (10) for inspecting a tool (28) of a machine tool (24) is provided that has a radio frequency transmitter (12) for generating a radio frequency signal, a radio frequency receiver (14) for generating a received signal from a received radio frequency signal, a coupling unit (16) to couple a radio frequency signal into the tool (28) and to decouple it from the tool (28), and a control and evaluation unit (20) to determine a time of flight of a radio frequency signal transmitted from the radio frequency transmitter (12) and received again by the radio frequency receiver (14) with reference to the received signal of the radio frequency receiver (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Thomas Weber, Kim Fritz, Gerald Krumm, Robert Schröder
  • Patent number: 11703891
    Abstract: A method for controlling a filling process, wherein a predetermined filling quantity of a medium is filled into a container, the flow rate of the medium flowing into the container is measured as a time series of measured values for the instantaneous flow rate and a filling quantity already filled is estimated from the time series, wherein at least one current measured value of the time series is corrected on the basis of at least one earlier measured value of an earlier time series of measured values of the flow rate of an earlier filling process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Thomas Weber, William Weigold
  • Patent number: 11703409
    Abstract: A pressure sensor is provided. The pressure sensor includes a housing with a control and evaluation unit. A plurality of pressure ports are arranged at the housing of the pressure sensor, with a pressure measuring cell being associated with every pressure port. The pressure measurement cells are connected to the control and evaluation unit, and the pressure sensor has at least one digital output interface. At least one pressure port is a port for inserting a pressure line, with the pressure line being installable without tools and with the pressure line being surrounded by a seal of the pressure port and being secured against being pulled out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Stefan Schweiger, Thomas Weber
  • Patent number: 11698386
    Abstract: An encoder device for determining a kinematic value of the movement of a first object relative to a second object is provided, wherein the encoder device comprises a standard associated with the first object and at least one scanning unit associated with the second object for producing at least one scanning signal by detection of the standard and a control and evaluation unit that is configured to determine the kinematic value from the scanning signal. The control and evaluation unit is here further configured to determine the kinematic value by an evaluation of the scanning signal using a method of machine learning, with the evaluation being trained with a plurality of scanning signals and associated kinematic values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Simon Brugger, Christian Sellmer, David Hopp, Dominic Thomae
  • Patent number: 11698442
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor is provided that has at least one light transmitter for transmitting a plurality of mutually separated light beams starting from a respective one transmission point; a transmission optics for the transmitted light beams; at least one light receiver for generating a respective received signal from the remitted light beams reflected from the objects and incident at a respective reception point; a reception optics for the remitted light beams; and an evaluation unit for acquiring information on the objects from the received signals. The reception optics and/or the transmission optics is/are a two-lens objective for an annular image field with an image field angle that has a first lens and a second lens, with the first lens being configured such that bundles of rays of every single transmission point and/or reception point with an image field angle ? only impinge on half of the second lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Hartmut Gimpel, Matthias Jägel
  • Patent number: 11680825
    Abstract: A rotary encoder (1) is provided, including a shaft (W) connected to and drivable by an external shaft, a first gear unit (G1) and a second gear unit (G2), each following rotations of the shaft (W). Both gear units (G1, G2) (G1 and G2) are drivable independently of one another by the shaft (W), a first gear stage (G1S1) of the first gear unit (G1) has a first detection unit (E1), and a gear stage (G2S2) downstream of a first gear stage (G2S1) of the second gear unit (G2) has a second detection unit (E2). An evaluation unit derives the angular position from signals of the detection units (E1, E2) and compares the rotations of the first gear stage (G1S1) and the downstream gear stage (G2S2) for plausibility, taking into account a known ratio of the rotation of the first gear stage (G1S1) to the rotation of the downstream gear stage (G2S2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Sebastian Süß, David Hopp
  • Patent number: 11674641
    Abstract: A safety system and a method having a safety system for localizing and identifying a person or an object, a control and evaluation unit, at least one radio location system, and having at least one identification sensor for identifying the person or the object, wherein a marking is arranged on the person or on the object, wherein the radio location system has arranged radio stations, wherein at least one radio transponder is arranged on the person or on the object, wherein position data of the person or of the object can be determined by means of the radio location system, and wherein the position data can be transmitted from the radio station of the radio location system to the control and evaluation unit, and identification data from the marking on the person or the object can be determined by means of the identification sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Fabio Brunner, Markus Hammes, Mathias Ams
  • Patent number: 11660740
    Abstract: A flow rack unit for providing stock material units includes at least two rack bays and one control system. Each rack bay has a removal side and a storage side opposite the removal side and is configured to provide the stock material units in a respective bay level arranged next to one another starting in the direction of the storage side. A respective sensor arrangement of the control system is associated with each rack bay. Each sensor arrangement is arranged at the storage side of the associated rack bay and connected to a control unit of the control system via a common data line. The sensor arrangements each include an occupancy sensor configured as a distance sensor. Each occupancy sensor has a measurement zone that is aligned to measure a distance from a rearmost stock material unit stored in the associated rack bay and disposed closest to the occupancy sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Jürgen Bürger, Matthias Opfolter
  • Patent number: 11650074
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of creating a map of a navigation region of a vehicle, the method comprising: traveling along a path, predefined by a track guidance marking present in the navigation region, with the vehicle; determining distances of the vehicle from objects possibly present in an environment of the path; and creating the map based on the track guidance marking and on the distances. The invention further relates to a method of determining a pose of a vehicle in a navigation region, the method comprising: determining a position of the vehicle relative to a track guidance marking present in the navigation region; determining distances of the vehicle from objects possibly present in an environment of the vehicle; and determining the pose based on the position, on the distances, and on a map. The invention further relates to a corresponding mapping apparatus and to a corresponding localization apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Bastian Steder, Fabian Fischer, Patrick Schopp, Christoph Hansen
  • Patent number: 11624673
    Abstract: To enable easy alignment of a leakage outlet according to known guidelines, a connecting device (1) for connecting a sensor (3) to a unit (2) containing a fluid is provided, comprising a first mounting portion (1a) to which the sensor (3) is mountable, a second mounting portion (1b) which is mountable to the unit (2), a central portion (1c) located between the first and second mounting portions (1a and 1b) and a leakage ring (1e) covering the bore (1d) of the central portion (1c), the leakage ring (1e) being sealed and rotatable relative to the central portion (1c), wherein the leakage ring (1e) has a leakage outlet (1f) on its periphery, the leakage outlet (1f) being provided to be located in the region of a lowest position of the periphery of the leakage ring (1e) in an operating position to allow any fluid present to drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Markus Bleiziffer, Thomas Graner, Martin Urban
  • Patent number: 11624824
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor (10) for detecting objects in a monitoring region (20), the sensor (10) having a scanning unit (12, 58) movable about an axis of rotation (18), a plurality of scanning modules (22) for periodically scanning the monitoring region (20) and for generating corresponding received signals, and an evaluation unit (48) for obtaining information about the objects from the received signals, the scanning modules (22) comprising at least one light transmitter (24) for transmitting several light beams (28) separated from one another and at least one light receiver (36) for generating the received signals from the light beams (32) remitted by the objects, wherein at least one scanning module (22) is at least one of tilted by a tilt angle (?) relative to its main viewing direction and rotated by a rotation angle (?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Hartmut Gimpel, Gottfried Hug, Klaus Clemens
  • Patent number: 11624823
    Abstract: A safety laser scanner for detecting objects in a monitored zone having a light transmitter for transmitting a light beam into the monitored zone; having a light receiver for generating a received signal from the light beam remitted by the objects; having a rotatable deflection unit for a periodic deflection of the light beam to scan the monitored zone in the course of the movement; having an internal reference target that reflects the transmitted light beam within the safety laser scanner to the light receiver to generate a reference signal; and having a control and evaluation unit that is configured to detect objects with reference to the received signal and to check the operability of the safety laser scanner with reference to the reference signal, The control and evaluation unit is here configured to change the sensitivity of the detection in dependence on the reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventor: Fabian Jachmann
  • Patent number: 11609422
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optoelectronic sensor for detecting objects in a monitored zone that has a light transmitter; a deflection unit for deflecting the transmission light beam without mechanical moving parts or at most with micromechanical moving parts to scan the monitored zone; a light receiver; and a control and evaluation unit that is configured to determine information on the objects by means of the reception signal received by the light receiver. The sensor has at least one reference target that receives at least a portion of the deflected transmission light beam at at least one deflection angle of the deflection unit or returns it to the light receiver in order to generate a reference signal; and the control and evaluation unit is configured to check the operability of the deflection unit by means of the reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Sebastian Pastor, Kay Fürstenberg
  • Patent number: 11598656
    Abstract: An encoder (10) for determining an angular position, the encoder (10) comprising a shaft (14, 16), a housing (18) and a transition region (32), the shaft (14, 16) projecting outwards from the housing (18) into the transition region (32), a measuring element (20) connected to the shaft (14), a sensor (22) for detecting the measuring element (20), and a control and evaluation unit (28) for generating, from the signals of the sensor (22), an angle signal in dependence on the angular position of the measuring element (20), wherein a protective cap (34) is arranged in the transition region (32) for protection against fluids (12) directed with pressure onto the transition region (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Rolf Hartlieb, Jarrod Haupt
  • Patent number: 11592552
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor, in particular a laser scanner, for detecting an object in a monitored zone is provided having a light transmitter for transmitting a light beam into the monitored zone; a light receiver for generating a received signal from the light beam remitted by the object; a moving deflection unit for a periodic deflection of the light beam to scan the monitored zone in the course of the movement; and having a control and evaluation unit that is configured to determine the time of flight between the transmission and reception of the light beam and to determine the distance from the object therefrom, wherein the sensor has a correction of the signal dynamics, i.e. of the relative reception power in dependence on the distance of the scanned object, The control and evaluation unit is here configured to correct the signal dynamics by adapting the sensitivity of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Michael Engler, Joachim Krämer
  • Patent number: 11595741
    Abstract: A camera for detecting an object in a detection zone is provided that has an image sensor for recording image data, a reception optics having a focus adjustment unit for setting a focal position, a distance sensor for measuring a distance value from the object, and a control and evaluation unit connected to the distance sensor and the focus adjustment unit to set a focal position in dependence on the distance value, and to determine a distance value with the distance sensor via a variable measurement duration that is predefined in dependence on a provisional distance value such that a measurement error of the distance value and thus, on a recording of image data of the object, a focus deviation of the set focal position from an ideal focal position remains small enough for a required image sharpness of the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Romain Müller, Tobias Pontiggia
  • Patent number: 11582380
    Abstract: A focus module for an optoelectronic sensor is provided that has a focus adjustable optics, a focus adjustment unit for varying a focal position of the optics, and a focus control to move the optics into a focal position corresponding to a distance value by means of the focus adjustment unit. The focus module here furthermore has a distance sensor for determining the distance value and the focus adjustment unit, the focus control, and the distance sensor are parts of the focus module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Florian Schneider, Tobias Pontiggia, Jonathan Pfeil
  • Patent number: 11579269
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor for determining the distance of an object in a monitoring area has a light transmitter for transmitting transmitted light, a light receiver for generating a received signal from remitted light remitted by the object, and a control and evaluation unit configured to modulate the transmitted light with at least a first frequency and a second frequency, to determine a phase offset between transmitted light and remitted light for the first frequency and the second frequency, and to determine a light time of flight. The control and evaluation unit is configured to determine a first amplitude and a second amplitude for the first frequency and the second frequency from the received signal and to detect whether the transmitted light impinges on an edge in the monitoring area on the basis of an evaluation of the first amplitude and the second amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Hartmut Gimpel, Matthias Honal
  • Patent number: D984913
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Ralf Friedrich, Ossama Dreibati