Patents by Inventor Guenter Hirt

Guenter Hirt 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: 20230384214
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a transmission unit comprising a light element that is configured to emit light in a predefined wavelength range; and a transmission optics that is configured to direct the emitted light to an object; a reception unit comprising a first reception element; a second reception element that is arranged spaced apart from the first reception element; and a reception optics that is configured to receive light remitted by the object and to direct it to the first reception element and the second reception element; and an evaluation unit that is configured to evaluate light received by the first reception element and to determine a distance of the object and to evaluate light received by the second reception element and to determine a color of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Roland ALBRECHT, Johannes EBLE, Wendelin FISCHER, Günter HIRT, Eva-Maria KRIENER, Ralf MEYER, Matthias OPFOLTER, Hans-Peter REICHENBACH
  • Patent number: 11747513
    Abstract: A sensor apparatus for detecting a target object influenced by a process or formed in the process includes a sensor unit and an evaluation device. The sensor unit detects the target object in a detection zone of the sensor unit and generates a sensor signal that can be influenced by the target object. The evaluation device processes the sensor signal as a first input variable and generates an output signal, which indicates the detection of the target object, in dependence on the sensor signal. The evaluation device further processes a process parameter of the process, which acts on the target object, or a target object parameter, which characterizes the target object and is influenced by the process, as a respective further input variable and to generate the output signal in dependence on the process parameter and/or the target object parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignees: SICK AG, TRUMPF WERKZEUGMASCHINEN SE + CO. KG
    Inventors: Jens Ottnad, Dennis Wolf, Kevin Lutz, Christoph Blömker, Michael Burger, Peter Steurer, Günter Hirt, Stefan Kienzler
  • Publication number: 20230175833
    Abstract: A method of measuring objects that are conveyed in a conveying direction comprises the steps that (i) a first object edge of a conveyed object is detected at a first measurement position by means of a first optoelectronic sensor, (ii) the first object edge or a second object edge of the object is detected at a second measurement position, which is spaced apart from the first measurement position in the conveying direction, by means of a second optoelectronic sensor that is spatially resolving at least in the conveying direction, (iii) a time difference between the detection of the first object edge at the first measurement position and the detection of the object edge detected in step (ii) at the second measurement position is determined, (iv) a transit time is determined in which the object edge detected in step (ii) moves through a predetermined measurement path, (v) the object speed is determined based on the transit time and a length of the measurement path, and (vi) the length of the object is determine
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Günter HIRT, Lukas HAUSER, Clemens HAUSER
  • Publication number: 20220082724
    Abstract: A sensor apparatus for detecting a target object influenced by a process or formed in the process includes a sensor unit and an evaluation device. The sensor unit detects the target object in a detection zone of the sensor unit and generates a sensor signal that can be influenced by the target object. The evaluation device processes the sensor signal as a first input variable and generates an output signal, which indicates the detection of the target object, in dependence on the sensor signal. The evaluation device further processes a process parameter of the process, which acts on the target object, or a target object parameter, which characterizes the target object and is influenced by the process, as a respective further input variable and to generate the output signal in dependence on the process parameter and/or the target object parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Jens OTTNAD, Dennis WOLF, Kevin LUTZ, Christoph BLÖMKER, Michael BURGER, Peter STEURER, Günter HIRT, Stefan KIENZLER
  • Patent number: 10726288
    Abstract: A contrast sensor for evaluating identification markings and a method of evaluating identification markings on detecting objects using a contrast sensor, having at least one light transmitter and at least one light receiver, with the light receiver having a single photodiode; having a control and evaluation unit for evaluating the light receiver signal of the light receiver, and having an output for a sensor signal that is formed by the control and evaluation unit on the basis of the light receiver signal, wherein the identification marking has lettering or a marking; an elongate illumination field is projected by the light transmitter onto a region of the identification marking narrow in the direction of movement; and the control and evaluation unit compares a reception signal sequence having a plurality of contrast transitions with a stored reception signal sequence and outputs the sensor signal in dependence on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Günter Hirt, Simone Schwarz, Alexander Bierbaum
  • Publication number: 20180322354
    Abstract: A contrast sensor for evaluating identification markings and a method of evaluating identification markings on detecting objects using a contrast sensor, having at least one light transmitter and at least one light receiver, with the light receiver having a single photodiode; having a control and evaluation unit for evaluating the light receiver signal of the light receiver, and having an output for a sensor signal that is formed by the control and evaluation unit on the basis of the light receiver signal, wherein the identification marking has lettering or a marking; an elongate illumination field is projected by the light transmitter onto a region of the identification marking narrow in the direction of movement; and the control and evaluation unit compares a reception signal sequence having a plurality of contrast transitions with a stored reception signal sequence and outputs the sensor signal in dependence on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Günter HIRT, Simone SCHWARZ, Alexander BIERBAUM
  • Patent number: 9778090
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor for determining a filling level of a liquid fellable into a container, having a light transmitter for transmitting at least one light pulse; having a receiver for receiving at least one reflected back light pulse, wherein the light pulse is at least partly reflect able at a liquid surface; having a control and evaluation unit for controlling the sensor and for evaluating the received back light pulse; and having a coupling and decoupling unit for coupling the light pulse into a liquid jet which can be introduced into the container and for decoupling the back light pulse to the receiver, wherein the control and evaluation unit is configured for determining a time difference between a transmission of the light pulse and a reception of the back light pulse to calculate a distance between the coupling and decoupling unit and the liquid surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventor: Günter Hirt
  • Publication number: 20150241263
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor for determining a filling level of a liquid fillable into a container, having a light transmitter for transmitting at least one light pulse; having a receiver for receiving at least one reflected back light pulse, wherein the light pulse is at least partly reflectable at a liquid surface; having a control and evaluation unit for controlling the sensor and for evaluating the received back light pulse; and having a coupling and decoupling unit for coupling the light pulse into a liquid jet which can be introduced into the container and for decoupling the back light pulse to the receiver, wherein the control and evaluation unit is configured for determining a time difference between a transmission of the light pulse and a reception of the back light pulse to calculate a distance between the coupling and decoupling unit and the liquid surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventor: Günter HIRT
  • Patent number: 8836957
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor (10) is provided with a plurality of light transmitters (14) and light receivers (26) that form between one another a field (20) of mutually parallel monitoring beams (18), wherein beam shaping optics (16, 24) are assigned to the light transmitters (14) and the light receivers (26). The optics (16, 24) comprise a geometry and arrangement leading to a mutual overlap of the optics (16, 24) in a direction diagonal, in particular perpendicular, to the field (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventors: Daniel Kietz, Jürgen Bürger, Axel Hauptmann, Günter Hirt
  • Publication number: 20120086951
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor (10) is provided with a plurality of light transmitters (14) and light receivers (26) that form between one another a field (20) of mutually parallel monitoring beams (18), wherein beam shaping optics (16, 24) are assigned to the light transmitters (14) and the light receivers (26). The optics (16, 24) comprise a geometry and arrangement leading to a mutual overlap of the optics (16, 24) in a direction diagonal, in particular perpendicular, to the field (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: SICK AG
    Inventors: Daniel KIETZ, Jürgen BÜRGER, Axel HAUPTMANN, Günter HIRT
  • Patent number: 6998631
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensing device detects two contrasting marks arranged next to each other along two reading tracks on a moving web. An optical head is arranged above each reading track. Each head has a lighting source and a lens, by means of which the contrast marks are imaged on an associated light receiver. Information from the contrast mark is obtained from the output signal of the light receiver. An adjustable connector joins two substantially identical optical heads to each other so that their respective lenses are arranged asymmetrically in the associated optical head and are situated in immediate proximity to each other, which permits adjustment of the device for the smallest possible track spacings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventors: Guenter Hirt, Matthias Opfolter
  • Publication number: 20040217308
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensing device detects two contrasting marks arranged next to each other along two reading tracks on a moving web. An optical head is arranged above each reading track. Each head has a lighting source and a lens, by means of which the contrast marks are imaged on an associated light receiver. Information from the contrast mark is obtained from the output signal of the light receiver. An adjustable connector joins two substantially identical optical heads to each other so that their respective lenses are arranged asymmetrically in the associated optical head and are situated in immediate proximity to each other, which permits adjustment of the device for the smallest possible track spacings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: Sick AG
    Inventors: Guenter Hirt, Matthias Opfolter
  • Patent number: 6091071
    Abstract: An opto-electronic sensor for recognizing transparent articles, such as, for example, glass bodies, plastic bodies, or foils. The sensor includes at least one transmitter for transmitting light signals into a monitored region, at least one receiver for receiving the transmitted light signals, and at least one evaluation unit for the evaluation of the received signals. The transmitter is designed for the transmission of the light signals in the UV range. At least one reference transmitter is provided for the transmission of light signals into the monitored region. The light signals transmitted by the reference transmitter lie in a different frequency range from the light signals transmitted by the transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventors: Thomas Franz, Gerhard Alt, Guenter Hirt, Daniel Kietz