Patents by Inventor Achim Hofmann

Achim 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).

  • Publication number: 20230271587
    Abstract: A safety system (18) for an automotive vehicle (10) comprises a gas tank (20) in which pressurized gas is stored, a valve (22) associated with the gas tank (20), at least one airbag (24) connected to the valve (22) via a fluid line (30), and a control device (26). In the control device (26) vehicle information (32) is stored and the control device (26) is configured to control the valve (22) in an accident situation of the automotive vehicle (10) on the basis of the vehicle information (32) and to fill the airbag (24) with the gas stored in the gas tank (20). The invention further shows a method of controlling a safety system of an automotive vehicle and a control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Achim HOFMANN, Christian JUNG
  • Publication number: 20220267188
    Abstract: Known methods of producing a three-dimensional glass object comprise the step of shaping of a glass fiber, wherein the glass fiber provided with a protective sheath is fed continuously to a heating source, the protective sheath is removed under the influence of heat, and the glass fiber is softened. In order to facilitate the production of filigree or optically distortion-free and transparent glass objects as much as possible, and also enable the adjustment of optical and mechanical properties with high spatial resolution, in one aspect the glass fiber has a protective sheath with a layer thickness in the range of 10 nm to 10 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: Heraeus Quarzglas GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Miriam Sonja HÖNER, Achim HOFMANN
  • Publication number: 20220234936
    Abstract: Methods are known for producing an anti-resonant hollow-core fiber which has a hollow core extending along a fiber longitudinal axis and an inner jacket region that surrounds the hollow core, said jacket region comprising multiple anti-resonant elements. The known methods have the steps of: providing a cladding tube that has a cladding tube inner bore and a cladding tube longitudinal axis along which a cladding tube wall extends that is delimited by an interior and an exterior; providing a number of tubular anti-resonant element preforms; arranging the anti-resonant element preforms at target positions of the interior of the cladding tube wall, thereby forming a primary preform which has a hollow core region and an inner jacket region; and elongating the primary preform in order to form the hollow-core fiber or further processing the primary preform in order to form a secondary preform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Manuel Rosenberger, Ralph Sattmann, Achim Hofmann, Michael Hünermann, Kay Schuster
  • Patent number: 11267429
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint device comprises a control unit and a group of at least two matched airbags (20, 24; 22, 26) for the protection of a vehicle occupant (10; 16) on a particular vehicle seat (12; 16). The control unit is arranged and the airbags (20, 24; 22, 26) are disposed and designed so that, in a collision case, the control unit differentiates between a first situation in which the vehicle occupant (10; 16) is located in a standard distance area relative to a first airbag (20; 22) and a second situation in which the vehicle occupant (10; 16) is located in a rear area which is further distant from the first airbag (20; 22) than the standard distance area. When the first situation is given, the control unit activates the first airbag (20; 22) only. In contrast, when the second situation is given, the control unit activates the first airbag (20; 22) and additionally at least a second airbag (24; 26) of the group, with the first airbag (20; 22) backing the second airbag (24; 26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Anton Fischer, Robert Disam, Achim Hofmann
  • Patent number: 10960846
    Abstract: An inflator as well as a method of manufacturing an inflator, a module including an inflator and an airbag module. In an inflator, especially for a protective device in a vehicle, comprising plural components a sealant is applied in the area of abutting components, especially a sealant which adheres to both abutting components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: ZF AIRBAG GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Sebastian Bierwirth, Achim Hofmann, Hans-Peter Neumayer, Dieter Spitzenberger, Franz Fuerstenberger, Hannes Nuiding, Dieter Leier, Georg Schoenhuber, Joerg Friedrich
  • Publication number: 20200298786
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint device comprises a control unit and a group of at least two matched airbags (20, 24; 22, 26) for the protection of a vehicle occupant (10; 16) on a particular vehicle seat (12; 16). The control unit is arranged and the airbags (20, 24; 22, 26) are disposed and designed so that, in a collision case, the control unit differentiates between a first situation in which the vehicle occupant (10; 16) is located in a standard distance area relative to a first airbag (20; 22) and a second situation in which the vehicle occupant (10; 16) is located in a rear area which is further distant from the first airbag (20; 22) than the standard distance area. When the first situation is given, the control unit activates the first airbag (20; 22) only. In contrast, when the second situation is given, the control unit activates the first airbag (20; 22) and additionally at least a second airbag (24; 26) of the group, with the first airbag (20; 22) backing the second airbag (24; 26).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Anton Fischer, Robert Disam, Achim Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20200255922
    Abstract: A method including providing a quantity of metal, the quantity of metal being contaminated by a contaminant including a quantity of carbon; configuring a vacuum induction furnace to operate according to a set of operating parameters, the set of operating parameters being selected based on characteristics of the contaminant, the set of operating parameters including at least one of a pressure, an atmosphere composition, a pour temperature, or a hold time; charging the vacuum induction furnace with the quantity of metal; and operating the vacuum induction furnace to melt the quantity of metal in accordance with the set of operating parameters, whereby at least some of the contaminant is removed from the quantity of metal so as to provide an output metal having a concentration of carbon that is less than or equal to a concentration of carbon in the metal as cast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Mark T. Kruzynski, Gregg E. Kruzynski, Vivek M. Sample, Achim Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20200238945
    Abstract: An inflator as well as a method of manufacturing an inflator, a module including an inflator and an airbag module. In an inflator, especially for a protective device in a vehicle, comprising plural components a sealant is applied in the area of abutting components, especially a sealant which adheres to both abutting components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Sebastian Bierwirth, Achim Hofmann, Hans-Peter Neumayer, Dieter Spitzenberger, Franz Fuerstenberger, Hannes Nuiding, Dieter Leier, Georg Schoenhuber, Joerg Friedrich
  • Patent number: 10710542
    Abstract: The invention relates to an inflatable airbag (1) for protecting a person (5), comprising a flexible cover (10) which includes at least two finger-type extensions (11), wherein the flexible cover (10) delimits a closed gas expansion compartment (12) by the finger-type extensions (11). The invention excels by the fact that the finger-type extensions (11) are arranged relative to each other such that in an inflated state the airbag (1) takes a three-dimensional shape and in the inflated state the finger-type extensions (11) at least in portions delimit a clearance (13), wherein the cover (10) is deferrable for absorbing impact energy while deforming, especially reducing, the clearance (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Daniele Aranzulla, Martin Burkhardtsmaier, Achim Hofmann
  • Patent number: 10676388
    Abstract: One aspect relates to a light guide comprising a jacket and one or more cores, wherein the jacket surrounds the cores. Each core has a refractive index profile perpendicular to the maximum extension of the core, wherein at least one refractive index nK of each refractive index profile is greater than the refractive index nM1 of the jacket. The jacket is made of silicon dioxide and has an OH content of less than 10 ppm, a chlorine content of less than 60 ppm, and an aluminium content of less than 200 ppb. One aspect also relates to a silicon dioxide granulate I, characterized by a chlorine content of less than 200 ppm and an aluminium content of less than 200 ppb, in each case based on the total weight of the silicon dioxide granulate I.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Heraeus Quarzglas GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Hünermann, Achim Hofmann, Heinz Fabian, Matthias Otter, Thomas Kayser
  • Patent number: 10618492
    Abstract: The invention relates to an inflatable airbag (1) for the protection of a person comprising a flexible sheath (10) which comprises at least two fingerlike extensions (11), wherein the flexible sheath (10) delimits a closed gas expansion chamber by the fingerlike extensions (11). The invention excels by the fact that the fingerlike extensions (11) are connected by at least one of being stitched, glued or welded to each other so that in an inflated state the airbag (1) takes a three-dimensional shape. The invention further relates to an airbag module, a vehicle occupant restraint system as well as vehicle parts comprising such airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Daniele Aranzulla, Achim Hofmann
  • Patent number: 10589709
    Abstract: An inflator as well as a method of manufacturing an inflator, a module including an inflator and an airbag module. In an inflator, especially for a protective device in a vehicle, comprising plural components a sealant is applied in the area of abutting components, especially a sealant which adheres to both abutting components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: TRW AIRBAG SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Sebastian Bierwirth, Achim Hofmann, Hans-Peter Neumayer, Dieter Spitzenberger, Franz Fuerstenberger, Hannes Nuiding, Dieter Leier, Georg Schoenhuber, Joerg Friedrich
  • Patent number: 10343954
    Abstract: The invention relates to gas generating compositions for use in safety devices for vehicles. In particular, the invention relates to said compositions based on guanidine nitrate used in pedestrian protection devices. The composition substantially comprises 75 to 98% by weight of guanidine nitrate as fuel and 2 to 25% by weight of a burn accelerator selected from the group of the transition metal compounds, the metal nitrates, metal chlorates, metal perchlorates, ammonium perchlorate and mixtures thereof, wherein the transition metal compounds are selected from the compounds of the transition metals Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Zr and Mo and wherein the gas generating composition exhibits a burn rate of from 3 to 17 mm/s at 20 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: TRW AIRBAG SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Jorg Friedrich, Achim Hofmann, Karl-Heinz Rodig, Siegfried Zeuner
  • Publication number: 20190127226
    Abstract: A process for the production of a porous carbon product. The process includes the steps of (a) providing a substrate surface; (b) depositing silicon dioxide as a layer on the substrate surface, thereby obtaining a porous silicon di-oxide material; (c) contacting the porous silicon dioxide material on the substrate surface with a first carbon source thereby obtaining a first precursor comprising the porous silicon dioxide material and the first car-bon source; (d) heating the first precursor thereby obtaining a second precursor comprising the porous silicon dioxide material and carbon; and (e) at least partially removing the silicon dioxide in the second precursor, thereby obtaining the porous carbon product. Also disclosed are a porous carbon product and a device that uses a porous carbon product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Achim Hofmann, Michael Hünermann, Dominik Samuelis, Martin Trommer, Frank Wessely
  • Publication number: 20190062198
    Abstract: One aspect relates to a light guide comprising a jacket and one or more cores, wherein the jacket surrounds the cores. Each core has a refractive index profile perpendicular to the maximum extension of the core, wherein at least one refractive index nK of each refractive index profile is greater than the refractive index nM1 of the jacket. The jacket is made of silicon dioxide and has an OH content of less than 10 ppm, a chlorine content of less than 60 ppm, and an aluminium content of less than 200 ppb. One aspect also relates to a silicon dioxide granulate I, characterized by a chlorine content of less than 200 ppm and an aluminium content of less than 200 ppb, in each case based on the total weight of the silicon dioxide granulate I.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: Heraeus Quarzglas GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael HÜNERMANN, Achim HOFMANN, Heinz FABIAN, Matthias OTTER, Thomas KAYSER
  • Publication number: 20190055150
    Abstract: One aspect relates to a process for the preparation of a quartz glass body, including providing a silicon dioxide granulate composed of a pyrogenic silicon dioxide powder, making a glass melt out of the silicon dioxide granulate and making a quartz glass body out of at least part of the glass melt. The quartz glass body has an OH content of less than 10 ppm, a chlorine content of less than 60 ppm and an aluminium content of less than 200 ppb. One aspect also relates to a quartz glass body which is obtainable by this process. Furthermore, one aspect relates to a formed body and a structure, each of which is obtainable by further processing of the quartz glass body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Applicant: Heraeus Quarzglas GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Heinz FABIAN, Achim HOFMANN, Michael HÜNERMANN, Matthias OTTER, Thomas KAYSER
  • Patent number: 10029938
    Abstract: A method for producing synthetic quartz glass by fusion of SiO2 granulate involves synthesizing amorphous SiO2 primary particles, granulating the amorphous SiO2 primary particles to form an open-pore SiO2 granulate, sintering the open-pore SiO2 granulate by heating in a sintering atmosphere at a sintering temperature and for a sintering period to form a densified SiO2 granulate, and melting the densified SiO2 granulate at a melting temperature to form the synthetic quartz glass. To provide an inexpensive production of low-bubble transparent components of quartz glass despite the use of still open-pore SiO2 granulate, the sintering atmosphere, sintering temperature and sintering duration are adjusted such that the densified SiO2 granulate still comprises open pores but manifests a material-specific infrared transmission T1700 at a wavelength of 1700 nm. This transmission is in the range of 50-95% of the infrared transmission T1700 of quartz glass granules of the same material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Heraeus Quarzglas GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Achim Hofmann, Thomas Kayser, Matthias Otter, Bodo Kühn
  • Patent number: 10024577
    Abstract: Common solar radiation receivers are equipped with a chamber for transmission of an operating gas which is directed along to an absorber for solar radiation for thermal absorption. The absorber has a dome-shaped entry window made of quartz glass, wherein the inner side facing the absorber assumes a nominal interior temperature Ti of at least 950° C. during proper use, preferably at least 1000° C., whereas the outer side facing away from the absorber is exposed to the environment and subject to risk of devitrification. The invention relates to modifying the known solar radiation receiver so that a high absorber temperature can be set and thus a high efficiency of the solar thermal heating is enabled, without increasing the risk of devitrification in the region of the outer side of the entry window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Heraeus Quarzglas GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Klaus Becker, Achim Hofmann, Michael Hünermann, Christian Schenk
  • Publication number: 20180154858
    Abstract: The invention relates to an inflatable airbag (1) for protecting a person (5), comprising a flexible cover (10) which includes at least two finger-type extensions (11), wherein the flexible cover (10) delimits a dosed gas expansion compartment (12) by the finger-type extensions (11). The invention excels by the fact that the finger-type extensions (11) are arranged relative to each other such that in an inflated state the airbag (1) takes a three-dimensional shape and in the inflated state the finger-type extensions (11) at least in portions delimit a clearance (13), wherein the cover (10) is deferrable for absorbing impact energy while deforming, especially reducing, the clearance (13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Daniele Aranzulla, Martin Burkhardtsmaier, Achim Hofmann
  • Patent number: 9840224
    Abstract: An inflator for a protective device in a vehicle includes a diffuser (10) forming a substantially rotation-symmetric external housing of the locator with a closing member (12), wherein the diffuser (10) includes a plurality of discharge orifices (78) arranged in a row, and which are of circular shape. The inflator also includes a circumferential wall (16, 22) which surrounds a combustion chamber (44) and a filter (46) which extends at least partially along the wall (16, 22), wherein the wall (16, 22) has at least one supporting portion (124) which constitutes an axial support for the filter (46) and is integrally formed with the wall (16, 22), and wherein either plural supporting portions (124) are formed by embossed beads, the heads being spaced apart from each other in circumferential direction, and wherein a supporting portion (124) is formed by a completely circumferential embossed bead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: TRW Airbag Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Sebastian Bierwirth, Achim Hofmann, Hans-Peter Neumayer, Dieter Spitzenberger, Hannes Nuiding, Thomas Schober, Josef Bommer, Tobias Breddermann, Dietmar Schwebel