Patents by Inventor Bernd Ackermann

Bernd Ackermann 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: 20160314898
    Abstract: The invention relates to a high voltage transformer (50) comprising: a magnetic core (5); a low voltage winding (10); a high voltage winding (20); at least one inner sleeve (30); and a coil bobbin (24) for carrying the high voltage winding (20), wherein the coil bobbin (24) is configured to be arranged inside the at least one inner sleeve (30) and configured to be attached to the at least one inner sleeve (30) at an outer perimeter of the at least one inner sleeve (30); and wherein the coil bobbin (24) comprises at least one field-control electrode (22), which is adapted to shape an electric field generated by the high voltage winding (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: BERND ACKERMANN, WOLFGANG EFFTINGE, ALBERT GARCIA-TORMO, CHRISTIAN HATTRUP, RALF KRÖGER, THOMAS SCHEEL, PETER LÜRKENS, ANTONIUS JOHANNES JOSEPH WISMANS
  • Publication number: 20160270851
    Abstract: The invention relates to a light application apparatus (1) for applying light to an object (3). A light source (4) generates processing light (2) and sensing light (5), which are coupled into the object (3). A light detector (8) detects the sensing light (5) after having left the object (3), and a control unit (9) controls the light source (4) such that processing light (2) in a processing time interval and sensing light (5) in a sensing time interval are alternately generated. Since processing light and sensing light are generated alternately, the generation of the processing light and of the sensing light is decoupled, i.e. the processing light can be optimized for processing purposes and the sensing light can be optimized for sensing purposes. This allows improving the quality of sensing the object and, thus, the quality of controlling the application of light depending on properties of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: HOLGER MOENCH, BERND ACKERMANN
  • Publication number: 20160227622
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an LED retrofit lamp (700) adapted for operation with an alternating current. The LED lamp comprises an LED unit (740), a mains current line, first and second switching devices (710, 720) (e.g., first and second relays), and a control unit (730). The control unit (730) detects an ignition voltage on the mains current line. In response to detecting the ignition voltage on the mains current line, the control unit (730) sets the first and second switching devices (710, 720) to a conducting state such that the LED unit (740) is connected to power. By using the first and second switching devices (710, 720), safety of the LED lamp (700) is improved, in particular when installing the lamp (700) into a fixture designed for fluorescent lamps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: BERND ACKERMANN, HAIMIN TAO, GEORG SAUERLAENDER, BERNHARD CHRISTIAAN VAN DIJK, BORONG SU
  • Patent number: 9375281
    Abstract: The invention relates to a light application apparatus (1) for applying light to an object (3). A light source (4) generates processing light (2) and sensing light (5), which are coupled into the object (3). A light detector (8) detects the sensing light (5) after having left the object (3), and a control unit (9) controls the light source (4) such that processing light (2) in a processing time interval and sensing light (5) in a sensing time interval are alternately generated. Since processing light and sensing light are generated alternately, the generation of the processing light and of the sensing light is decoupled, i.e. the processing light can be optimized for processing purposes and the sensing light can be optimized for sensing purposes. This allows improving the quality of sensing the object and, thus, the quality of controlling the application of light depending on properties of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Holger Moench, Bernd Ackermann
  • Publication number: 20160173168
    Abstract: Pick-up devices (1-9) for picking-up signals from first cables (21, 22) in electrically contactless manners comprise first arrangements (31) for picking-up power signals from the first cables (21, 22) in inductive manners and second arrangements (35, 36) for picking-up data signals from the first cables (21, 22) in capacitive manners. The first arrangements (31) may comprise inductive couplings such as magnetic cores (61, 62) with first openings for surrounding parts of first conductors (21) of the first cables (21, 22) and with second openings for surrounding parts of second conductors (22) of the first cables (21, 22). The second arrangements (35, 36) may comprise capacitive couplings such as first and second electrodes (71-74). The pick-up devices (1-9) may be pick-up and transfer devices (3) for transferring the signals to second cables (23, 24) in electrically contactless manners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: EBERHARD WAFFENSCHMIDT, BERND ACKERMANN, THEODORUS JOHANNES PETRUS VAN DEN BIGGELAAR
  • Publication number: 20160164574
    Abstract: Cables (1, 2) comprise first and second conductors (1, 2) for transporting signals to be picked-up in contactless manners. At first/second locations (3, 4), the first and second conductors (1, 2) are at first/second distances from each other. The first locations (3) are neutral locations where the conductors (1, 2) are parallel. The second locations (4) are pick-up locations. The second distances are larger than the first distances. Pick-up devices for picking-up signals in a contactless manner from the cables (1, 2) comprise parts for defining minimum values of the second distances. These parts may comprise core-parts, such as center ends (10) of E-shaped magnetic cores further comprising outer ends (11, 12) and backs (13). Methods for installing pick-up devices comprise steps of at second locations (4) increasing a distance between the first and second conductors (1, 2) from a value of the first distance to a value of the second distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: BERND ACKERMANN, THEODORUS JOHANNES PETRUS VAN DEN BIGGELAAR, EBERHARD WAFFENSCHMIDT
  • Publication number: 20160156228
    Abstract: The invention relates to a capacitive powering system (1), comprising: a) a receiver element (2), comprising a pair of flat receiver electrodes (3, 4) connected to a load (5); b) a transmitter element (7), comprising a pair of flat transmitter electrodes (8, 9) connected to a driver (10) and positioned parallel to the pair of receiver electrodes (3, 4), c) an inductor (6) for resonating the system during its powering, and d) a first insulation layer (11) being positioned between the pair of flat receiver electrodes (3, 4) and the pair of flat transmitter electrodes (8, 9), in order to form a capacitive impedance between the transmitter electrodes and the receiver electrodes during powering of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Theodorus JOHANNES PETRU VAN DEN BIGGELAAR, Bernd ACKERMANN
  • Publication number: 20160049881
    Abstract: A multiple inductive component (100) comprises: - a cylindrical drum core component (120) with at least two axially spaced circumferential grooves (131, 132) in its cylindrical outer surface (121), a separation disc portion (111) between said two circumferential grooves and two outer disc portions (112, 113) at the sides of the said two circumferential grooves, respectively, directed away from the separation disc portion; - at least one first winding (141) arranged in a first one (131) of said grooves; - at least one second winding (142) arranged in a second one (132) of said grooves; - a cylindrical shell core component (150) arranged coaxially around the cylindrical drum core component; - two outer air gaps (162, 163) between the cylindrical shell core component and said two outer disc portions, respectively. The separation disc portion is magnetically short circuited with the cylindrical shell core component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Bernd ACKERMANN, Reinhold ELFERICH, David Llewellyn JOHN
  • Patent number: 9105773
    Abstract: The invention relates to a photo-detector comprising a light sensitive element (101) and a wavelength converter (103) arranged in front of the light sensitive element, the wavelength converter being configured to convert light of a first wavelength into light of a second wavelength and to direct the light of the second wavelength to the light sensitive element. The advantage is that a stable reading across the entire visible spectrum may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Christoph Martiny, Bernd Ackermann, Marc Salsbury, Hans-Helmut Bechtel, Matthias Heidemann
  • Patent number: 9085931
    Abstract: The invention describes a system for controlling a shading device with a plurality of controllable shading elements. To provide a system for controlling a shading device, which reduces direct sunlight transmission and enhances thermal comfort and lighting conditions, the system comprises at least one detector unit for providing an image signal of a shading area and a control unit (5) being configured to receive said image signal, determine from said signal, whether a characteristic pattern is present in said shading area and in case said characteristic pattern is determined, control said shading elements to reduce said characteristic pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Bernd Ackermann
  • Patent number: 8523924
    Abstract: A lighting device for generating colored and white light. According to the invention the lighting device comprises at least one light source (1, 4) emitting blue or ultraviolet light and a color conversion unit (2, 5) for converting said blue or ultraviolet light into visible light comprising at least two sections (2a, 2b, 2c, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d), at least one section (2c, 6d) of which being a transparent or translucent color converting section, said color conversion unit (2, 5) being arranged for alternately illuminating said at least two sections (2a, 2b, 2c, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) with said blue or ultraviolet light, said at least one color converting section containing luminescent material, wherein said luminescent material is a luminescent organic dye in a polymer matrix or a crystalline inorganic luminescent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Jorg Meyer, Peter Lurkens, Bernd Ackermann, Andreas Tucks
  • Patent number: 8348472
    Abstract: Disclosed is a lighting device, including at least partially reflective electroactive polymer actuator and a lighting element illuminating the electroactive polymer actuator. A voltage control arrangement for driving the electroactive polymer actuator with a spatially varying voltage distribution is provided. This way, the curvature and alignment of the reflective surface of the electroactive polymer actuator can be adjusted as needed, thereby providing an optimized beam pattern for the relevant field of application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Bernd Ackermann, Reinhold Elferich
  • Publication number: 20120116373
    Abstract: The invention relates to a light application apparatus (1) for applying light to an object (3). A light source (4) generates processing light (2) and sensing light (5), which are coupled into the object (3). A light detector (8) detects the sensing light (5) after having left the object (3), and a control unit (9) controls the light source (4) such that processing light (2) in a processing time interval and sensing light (5) in a sensing time interval are alternately generated. Since processing light and sensing light are generated alternately, the generation of the processing light and of the sensing light is decoupled, i.e. the processing light can be optimized for processing purposes and the sensing light can be optimized for sensing purposes. This allows improving the quality of sensing the object and, thus, the quality of controlling the application of light depending on properties of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Holger Moench, Bernd Ackermann
  • Patent number: 8158916
    Abstract: This invention relates to a color controlled light source comprising a plurality of colored light elements; a detector for detecting the light output of the light source and generating a detection signal; and a color control unit for generating driving signals to said light elements on the basis of said detection signal and a predetermined target color point of the light output of the light source. In order to enable detection of contributions from individual light elements to the light output of the light source, the light source further comprises a modulator for individual signature modulation of the driving signal to each one of said light elements; and a corresponding demodulator for demodulation of said detection signal and generation of actual, i.e. measured, values of the output of the individual light elements. The color control unit determines nominal values of the light output of each light element for obtaining said target color point, and compares the actual values with the nominal values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Volkmar Schulz, Bernd Ackermann, Lorenzo Feri
  • Patent number: 8115779
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a system for translating a three value color space signal, preferably given in a CIE scale, to an n primary color space signal, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 4, thus providing color controlling of a white light source comprising an array of colored light emitting diodes with respect to maximum CRI and maximum luminous efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Bernd Ackermann
  • Publication number: 20120029704
    Abstract: The invention describes a system for controlling a shading device with a plurality of controllable shading elements. To provide a system for controlling a shading device, which reduces direct sunlight transmission and enhances thermal comfort and lighting conditions, the system comprises at least one detector unit for providing an image signal of a shading area and a control unit (5) being configured to receive said image signal, determine from said signal, whether a characteristic pattern is present in said shading area and in case said characteristic pattern is determined, control said shading elements to reduce said characteristic pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventor: Bernd Ackermann
  • Patent number: 8076872
    Abstract: Disclosed are light emitting diode circuits employing first sub-circuits including first light emitting diodes and connected in parallel with second sub-circuits including second light emitting diodes and switches for, in conducting states, switching on the second light emitting diodes and switching off the first light emitting diodes and for, in non-conducting states, switching off the second light emitting diodes and switching on the first light emitting diodes. The first sub-circuits and the second sub-circuits have different signal characteristics such as different minimum threshold voltages to be realized by using different kinds of light emitting diodes, by using different total numbers of serial light emitting diodes, or by adding threshold voltage elements to the first sub-circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Georg Sauerlander, Bernd Ackermann
  • Patent number: 8063577
    Abstract: A driver circuit for operating one or more light emitting diodes(LEDs) is disclosed. An alternating supply current is generated and transformed to an alternating secondary winding voltage. Using rectifier means, such as diodes or synchronous switches, the alternating secondary winding voltage is converted to a substantially constant load current by using a buffer element. The buffer element comprises an output choke, such as an inductor. The power transferred from the power source to the LEDs may be controlled by frequency control of the alternating supply current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Georg Sauerlaender, Reinhold Elferich, Bernd Ackermann, Dirk Hente, Christoph Martiny, Matthias Wendt
  • Publication number: 20110140131
    Abstract: The invention relates to a photo-detector comprising a light sensitive element (101) and a wavelength converter (103) arranged in front of the light sensitive element, the wavelength converter being configured to convert light of a first wavelength into light of a second wavelength and to direct the light of the second wavelength to the light sensitive element. The advantage is that a stable reading across the entire visible spectrum may be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Christoph Martiny, Bernd Ackermann, Marc Salsbury, Hans-Helmut Bechtel, Matthias Heidemann
  • Patent number: 7956714
    Abstract: Primary (4, 8) and secondary (10) windings are subjected to a significant heat stress during operation of a high voltage transformer. The present invention describes a high voltage transformer which is believed to have good temperature properties. This transformer may have a planar primary winding and a Litz secondary winding. The planar primary winding may abut against a planar face of the core (2) therefore allowing for a good heat exchange between these two elements. The Litz secondary winding and the planar primary winding may be cooled by means of a cooling medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Bernd Ackermann, Christoph Loef