Patents by Inventor Gerhard Merettig

Gerhard Merettig 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: 20230194257
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor in accordance with the triangulation principle is provided for the detection of an object in a monitored zone that has a light transmitter light transmitter for transmitting light into the monitored zone, and a light receiver having a plurality of light reception elements arranged to form an array for the generation of a respective received signal from a received light spot that the light remitted at the object generates on the light receiver. The light transmitter and the light receiver form a triangulation arrangement. The optoelectronic sensor has a control and evaluation unit that is configured to determine the incidence location of the received light spot on the light receiver and to determine distance information therefrom. The control and evaluation unit has a plurality of processing channels in which respective received signals from a group of light reception elements are combined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventor: Gerhard MERETTIG
  • Patent number: 10761193
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor (10) according to the principle of triangulation for detecting an object (36) in a monitoring region (18) comprises a light transmitter (12) and a spatially resolving light receiver (26). A receiving optics (22) and an optical element (24) are arranged in front of the light receiver (26), wherein the optical element (24) comprises a converging partial region (24a) and a diverging partial region (24c) and is arranged such that a remitted light bundle (20) from an object (36) in a near range of the monitoring region (18) passes through the converging partial region (24) and a remitted light bundle (20) from an object (36) in a far range of the monitoring region (18) passes through the diverging partial region (24c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Ingolf Hörsch, Gerhard Merettig, Friedhelm Wiethege, Angelika Hofmann
  • Patent number: 10761209
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a triangulation light sensor for the detection of objects on a conveying path having a light transmitter for transmitting transmitted light into a detection zone that extends over a part region of the conveying path, having a light receiver, a reception optics arranged in an optical path between the detection zone and the light receiver, and an evaluation unit that is configured for generating an object detection signal from the received signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Kai Waslowski, Ingolf Hörsch, Gerhard Merettig, Matthias Götz
  • Publication number: 20190179014
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a triangulation light sensor for the detection of objects on a conveying path having a light transmitter for transmitting transmitted light into a detection zone that extends over a part region of the conveying path, having a light receiver, a reception optics arranged in an optical path between the detection zone and the light receiver, and an evaluation unit that is configured for generating an object detection signal from the received signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Kai WASLOWSKI, Ingolf HÖRSCH, Gerhard MERETTIG, Matthias GÖTZ
  • Patent number: 10197439
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor for recognizing objects or object properties comprises a light transmitter for transmitting transmitted light into a detection zone, a light receiver for receiving received light and an evaluation unit which is configured to detect an object located in or projecting into a detection zone and/or to determine a property of such an object with reference to the received light received by the light receiver. The light transmitter comprises a monolithic semi-conductor component having a first light emitting layer and a second light emitting layer, with the first light emitting layer being configured for emitting red light and the second light emitting layer being configured for emitting infrared light, and with the second light emitting layer defining a central light emitting surface and the first light emitting layer defining an outer light emitting surface surrounding the central light emitting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Ingolf Horsch, Gerhard Merettig, Roland Bergbach, Felix Lang, Gunter Leuker
  • Publication number: 20190033486
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optoelectronic detector for the detection of objects in a monitored zone that comprises: a sensor module comprising a light transmitter for transmitting a transmitted light signal into the monitored zone, a light receiver for receiving a light signal from the monitored zone and for generating a corresponding received signal, and a sensor evaluation unit for evaluating the received signal and for generating process data (object determination signal) and for generating sensor module data; a process data channel for outputting the process data; a condition monitoring module having a condition evaluation unit for generating condition data; and a first internal interface between the sensor module and the condition monitoring module for transmitting the sensor module data to the condition monitoring module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Kai WASLOWSKI, Ingolf HÖRSCH, Gerhard MERETTIG
  • Publication number: 20180275310
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor (10) is provided that has a light transmitter (12) for transmitting light (16) into a monitored zone (18); a light receiver (26) having a first plurality of light reception elements (28) for receiving the light (22) reflected or remitted at objects (20) in the monitored zone (20); and a switching signal unit (32) for generating a switching signal from the reception signals of the light reception elements (28). In this respect, a light distribution measurement unit (36) is provided for generating a light distribution signal spatially resolved over the light reception elements (28) from the reception signals of the light reception elements (28) in parallel with the generation of the switching signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Ingolf HÖRSCH, Kai WASLOWSKI, Gerhard MERETTIG, Matthias GÖTZ
  • Patent number: 9677914
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor for recognizing object edges of objects comprises at least three light transmitters which are arranged such that at least two different spacings result between two respective light transmitters. For recognizing an object edge, an evaluation unit is configured to carry out a common evaluation of an image taken by a light receiver of a light spot generated by the transmitted light beams of a first light transmitter and of an image taken by a light receiver of a light spot generated by the transmitted light beams of another light transmitter. The pair of light transmitters to be used for the common evaluation can be selected in dependence on a selection criterion from at least two differently spaced apart pairs of light transmitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Merettig, Roland Bergbach, Matthias Schonstein, Ingolf Horsch, Matthias Gotz, Alexander Bohli
  • Publication number: 20170139039
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor (10) according to the principle of triangulation for detecting an object (36) in a monitoring region (18) comprises a light transmitter (12) and a spatially resolving light receiver (26). A receiving optics (22) and an optical element (24) are arranged in front of the light receiver (26), wherein the optical element (24) comprises a converging partial region (24a) and a diverging partial region (24c) and is arranged such that a remitted light bundle (20) from an object (36) in a near range of the monitoring region (18) passes through the converging partial region (24) and a remitted light bundle (20) from an object (36) in a far range of the monitoring region (18) passes through the diverging partial region (24c).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Ingolf HÖRSCH, Gerhard MERETTIG, Friedhelm WIETHEGE, Angelika HOFMANN
  • Publication number: 20170016763
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor for recognizing objects or object properties comprises a light transmitter for transmitting transmitted light into a detection zone, a light receiver for receiving received light and an evaluation unit which is configured to detect an object located in or projecting into a detection zone and/or to determine a property of such an object with reference to the received light received by the light receiver. The light transmitter comprises a monolithic semi-conductor component having a first light emitting layer and a second light emitting layer, with the first light emitting layer being configured for emitting red light and the second light emitting layer being configured for emitting infrared light, and with the second light emitting layer defining a central light emitting surface and the first light emitting layer defining an outer light emitting surface surrounding the central light emitting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: Ingolf HORSCH, Gerhard MERETTIG, Roland BERGBACH, Felix LANG, Gunter LEUKER
  • Patent number: 8963113
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor for recognizing object edges of objects moved relative to the sensor, has a light transmission device with at least one light transmitter, in particular at least two light transmitters, for generating a respective collimated or focused transmitted light beam. The sensor has at least two light receivers for imaging a light spot produced by the respective transmitted light beam on an object, wherein the two light receivers are arranged on two mutually opposite sides of the light transmission device, and has an evaluation unit which is designed to compare the two reception intensities of the two images of the respective light spot taken by the two light receivers with one another and to evaluate the result of the respective comparison to recognize an object edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Merettig, Roland Bergbach, Matthias Goetz, Kai Waslowski, Ingolf Hörsch
  • Patent number: 8958056
    Abstract: A triangulation light sensor includes at least one light transmitter for transmitting a light signal into a detection zone, a light receiver having a plurality of receiver elements for receiving light from the detection zone reflected diffusely and/or specularly, and a reception optics arranged between the detection zone and the light receiver in the beam path, with the position of a light spot produced on the light receiver in a triangulation direction by the reflected light resulting in dependence on the distance of the object. The reception optics includes at least one multisegmented lens element having a plurality of lens segments with mutually spaced apart optical axes in the triangulation direction and at least one freeform lens element or one diffractive-optical element having a multisegmented lens element having a plurality of lens segments with optical axes spaced apart from one another in the triangulation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventors: Friedhelm Wiethege, Gerhard Merettig
  • Publication number: 20140333939
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor for recognizing object edges of objects comprises at least three light transmitters which are arranged such that at least two different spacings result between two respective light transmitters. For recognizing an object edge, an evaluation unit is configured to carry out a common evaluation of an image taken by a light receiver of a light spot generated by the transmitted light beams of a first light transmitter and of an image taken by a light receiver of a light spot generated by the transmitted light beams of another light transmitter. The pair of light transmitters to be used for the common evaluation can be selected in dependence on a selection criterion from at least two differently spaced apart pairs of light transmitters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: SICK AG
    Inventors: Gerhard MERETTIG, Roland BERGBACH, Matthias SCHONSTEIN, Ingolf HORSCH, Matthias GOTZ, Alexander BOHLI
  • Patent number: 8559020
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optoelectronic component for the positional determination of an incident light beam in a longitudinal axis direction, having flat sides, longitudinal sides and two oppositely disposed end sides, having a low ohmic first contact layer at a first flat side for a first electric contact (cathode) and having at least two low ohmic second contact layers along the end sides for second contacts (anodes). The invention additionally relates to a light sensor having such a component. To provide an improved optoelectronic component for the positional determination of an incident light beam as well as to provide an improved light sensor having such an optoelectronic component, it is proposed that at least one of the second contact layers not only extends along the end side but also over part sections along a second and third long side longitudinal side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventor: Gerhard Merettig
  • Patent number: 8482720
    Abstract: The subject matter disclosed relates to a method for the detection of objects, wherein one transmitted light bundle is transmitted into a detection region, transmitted light reflected back from an object, when present, is detected by a receiver unit having reception elements arranged in an M×N matrix, wherein M>1 and N>1, and the distance of the object is determined by triangulation from the position of the light patch produced by the reflected light at the receiver unit. In addition to the position of the reflected light, the two-dimensional energy distribution of the received light patch within the light incident on the receiver unit is evaluated to determine further information on the object in addition to the distance of the object determined by triangulation, with a light patch quality value being determined which includes information on the homogeneity of the light reflected or remitted at the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Ingolf Hörsch, Felix Lang, Philipp Fortenbacher, Gerhard Merettig
  • Patent number: 8288707
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor includes at least one light transmitter for the transmission of light signals into a monitored zone and at least one light receiver for the reception of transmitted light signals. In this respect, the received light signals are converted into electrical received signals in the light receiver. The light signals transmitted by the light transmitter are each generated on the basis of an output signal spread in accordance with a frequency spreading technique (spread spectrum) and provided with an offset applied for the generation of a unipolar signal. The electrical received signals can be supplied to a high-pass filter in the light receiver. Means for interference suppression are provided to automatically measure repeatedly or continuously respective then current interference; to analyze it in the time domain and/or in the frequency domain; and to compensate it at least substantially in dependence on the respective result of the interference analyses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventors: Maximilian Hauske, Ralph Tanbourgi, Kai Waslowski, Gerhard Merettig
  • Publication number: 20120236322
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optoelectronic component for the positional determination of an incident light beam in a longitudinal axis direction, having flat sides, longitudinal sides and two oppositely disposed end sides, having a low ohmic first contact layer at a first flat side for a first electric contact (cathode) and having at least two low ohmic second contact layers along the end sides for second contacts (anodes). The invention additionally relates to a light sensor having such a component. To provide an improved optoelectronic component for the positional determination of an incident light beam as well as to provide an improved light sensor having such an optoelectronic component, it is proposed that at least one of the second contact layers not only extends along the end side but also over part sections along a second and third long side longitudinal side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: SICK AG
    Inventor: Gerhard MERETTIG
  • Patent number: 8248619
    Abstract: A light barrier detects an object which interrupts a beam of light of the light barrier. A light transmitter transmits a light beam in the direction of a reflector and a light receiver receives a reflected portion of the light beam. The improved light barrier has a reflector which is made as a cylindrical reflector column having a plurality of retroreflecting elements aligned toward the outer surface. The diameter of the reflector column is considerably smaller than the extent of the light beam perpendicular to the cylinder axis so that an optically effective detection beam of light is formed between the sensor and the reflector column whose cross-section at the sensor is determined by the light transmitter and, in direct proximity to the reflector column. The cross-section is determined by the areal overlap of the light beam with the reflector column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventors: Ingolf Hörsch, Stefan Jaegle, Rolf Meier, Gerhard Merettig, Philipp Fortenbacher, Felix Lang, Thomas Schulz
  • Publication number: 20110290989
    Abstract: This invention relates to an optoelectronic sensor for recognizing object edges of objects moved relative to the sensor, having a light transmission device with at least one light transmitter, in particular at least two light transmitters, for generating a respective collimated or focused transmitted light beam, having at least two light receivers for imaging a light spot produced by the respective transmitted light beam on an object, wherein the two light receivers are arranged on two mutually opposite sides of the light transmission device, and having an evaluation unit which is designed to compare the two reception intensities of the two images of the respective light spot taken by the two light receivers with one another and to evaluate the result of the respective comparison to recognize an object edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: SICK AG
    Inventors: Gerhard MERETTIG, Roland BERGBACH, Matthias GOETZ, Kai WASLOWSKI, Ingolf HÖRSCH
  • Publication number: 20100224762
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor includes at least one light transmitter for the transmission of light signals into a monitored zone and at least one light receiver for the reception of transmitted light signals. In this respect, the received light signals are converted into electrical received signals in the light receiver. The light signals transmitted by the light transmitter are each generated on the basis of an output signal spread in accordance with a frequency spreading technique (spread spectrum) and provided with an offset applied for the generation of a unipolar signal. The electrical received signals can be supplied to a high-pass filter in the light receiver. Means for interference suppression are provided to automatically measure repeatedly or continuously respective then current interference; to analyze it in the time domain and/or in the frequency domain; and to compensate it at least substantially in dependence on the respective result of the interference analyses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: Sick AG
    Inventors: Maximilian Hauske, Ralph Tanbourgi, Kai Waslowski, Gerhard Merettig