Patents by Inventor Helmut Sautter

Helmut Sautter 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).

  • Patent number: 7187440
    Abstract: A holographic sensor for recognizing moisture on a glass pane of a motor vehicle is provided, having a casing, a carrier layer, a diffractive element and an adhesive layer, the diffractive element being fixed, preferably glued, on the carrier layer. The diffractive element may be embodied as an embossed hologram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Sautter, Stefan Stampfer
  • Patent number: 7057248
    Abstract: A semiconductor component, in particular a micromechanical pressure sensor based on silicon, having a base layer, an at least largely self-supporting diaphragm and an overlayer situated on the diaphragm, the diaphragm and the base layer, at least from place to place, delimiting a void. Furthermore, at least from place to place, above the diaphragm a conducting region is provided in the overlayer which is electrically poorly conductive as compared to the conducting region, to which the surface of the diaphragm that faces the overlayer is able to be electrically contacted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Sautter, Frank Schatz, Juergen Graf, Hans Artmann, Udo-Martin Gomez, Kersten Kehr
  • Patent number: 7034699
    Abstract: A rain sensor, particularly for a motor vehicle, includes a light-conducting member arranged in an intermediate layer of a glass, and is designed as an optically closed system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Sautter, Armin Jerger, Frank Wolf, Gerhard Hochenbleicher, Vincent Thominet, Zishao Yang
  • Patent number: 7019322
    Abstract: An optical sensor (5) for recording wetting of a surface (20) of a member (21), especially a window of a motor vehicle, having a transmitter (13), a receiver (14) and a retroreflector (11, 11?, 11?) for electromagnetic waves is proposed. The surface (20) of the member (21) has for this at least two sensing regions (12, 12?), which are exposed to electromagnetic waves originating from the transmitter (13) and coupled into the member (21) in a central region (10), the development of wetting on the sensing regions (12, 12?) effecting a change of the signal of the electromagnetic waves coupled out into the receiver (14) in the central region (10). For this, the retroreflector (11, 11?, 11?) is developed and positioned in such a way that it feeds back electromagnetic waves reflected by the surface (20) of the member (21) to the surface (20) of the member (21), and from there into the central region (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Sautter
  • Patent number: 6842271
    Abstract: A rain sensor for a motor vehicle, having a transmitter emitting radiation, a receiver, and a holographically embodied diffractive element that has a linear-grating-like structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Sautter, Armin Jerger, Frank Wolf, Gerhard Hochenbleicher, Vincent Thominet, Zishao Yang
  • Publication number: 20040232363
    Abstract: A rain sensor, particularly for a motor vehicle, includes a light-conducting member arranged in an intermediate layer of a glass, and is designed as an optically closed system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Helmut Sautter, Armin Jerger, Frank Wolf, Gerhard Hochenbleicher, Vincent Thominet, Zishao Yang
  • Patent number: 6810729
    Abstract: A rain sensor (10), in particular for a motor vehicle, is shown, having at least one transmitter (20) emitting radiation in the operating state, and at least one receiver (22) at least partially sensitive to the radiation from the transmitter (20), and a substantially flat light-conducting body (14) that is capable of being coupled nearly parallel to a surface of a wettable window pane (12) of the motor vehicle, and comprising structures (18a, 18b) for directing and catching the radiation from the transmitter (20), whereby the structures (18a) for directing the radiation are different from the structures (18b) for catching the radiation, and they have radiation-concentrating properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Sautter, Bruno Hodapp, Rainer Pientka, Hans Meier, Andreas Schneider, Manfred Burkart
  • Publication number: 20040113105
    Abstract: A rain sensor for a motor vehicle is proposed, having a transmitter (16) emitting radiation, a receiver (18), and a holographically embodied diffractive element (22a, 22b) that has a linear-grating-like structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Helmut Sautter, Armin Jerger, Frank Wolf, Gerhard Hochenbleicher, Vincent Thominet, Zishao Yang
  • Publication number: 20040075828
    Abstract: A holographic sensor for recognizing moisture on a glass pane (14) of a motor vehicle, having a casing (22), a carrier layer (28), and a diffractive element (12) and an adhesive layer (30), the diffractive element (12) being fixed, preferably glued, on the carrier layer (28). Furthermore, a sensor is shown, whose diffractive element (12) is embodied as an embossed hologram.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventors: Helmut Sautter, Stefan Stampfer
  • Publication number: 20040027666
    Abstract: An optical sensor (5) for recording wetting of a surface (20) of a member (21), especially a window of a motor vehicle, having a transmitter (13), a receiver (14) and a retroreflector (11, 11′, 11″) for electromagnetic waves is proposed. The surface (20) of the member (21) has for this at least two sensing regions (12, 12′), which are exposed to electromagnetic waves originating from the transmitter (13) and coupled into the member (21) in a central region (10), the development of wetting on the sensing regions (12, 12′) effecting a change of the signal of the electromagnetic waves coupled out into the receiver (14) in the central region (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventor: Helmut Sautter
  • Patent number: 6668104
    Abstract: An optical sensor for detecting wetting of a surface (11), In particular of a vehicle window, has at least one transmitter (13) and at least one receiver (15) for electromagnetic waves, the surface being located in a sensor region (16) between the at least one transmitter (13) and the at least one receiver (15). The development of wetting on the sensor region (16) of the surface (11) causes a signal change. The optical sensor has a light-carrying element (18), in which the electromagnetic waves are guided bidirectionally into the sensor region (16) and out of the sensor region (16), and a retroreflector (10) is disposed in the sensor region (16) in such a way that it returns the electromagnetic waves, reflected before the surface (11), back to the surface (11) and from there to the light-carrying element (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Mueller-Fiedler, Helmut Sautter, Winfried Bernhard, Andre Mueller, Lutz Mueller, Rainer Schink
  • Patent number: 6605804
    Abstract: An optical sensor is provided for determining a physical and/or chemical parameter of a sample, having at least one optical transmitter and at least one optical receiver, and having a sensitive element which is arranged in a beam path between the transmitter and the receiver and is exposable to the sample, and which changes its absorption and/or its refractive index for electromagnetic radiation of a specific wavelength in response to a change in parameters of the sample, in particular, a gas-sensitive element, and possibly having an evaluation unit arranged downstream of the receiver. The transmitter and the receiver can be coupled to the sensitive element via at least one optical waveguide. Provision is made for the transmitter (12) and for the receiver (14) to be coupled to the sensitive element via at least one optical waveguide (26, 28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Muller-Fiedler, Helmut Sautter, Joachim Schneider, Anton Pfefferseder, Winfried Bernhard, Andre Mueller, Andreas Hensel, Ulrich Oppelt, Lutz Mueller
  • Publication number: 20030146447
    Abstract: A semiconductor component, in particular a micromechanical pressure sensor based on silicon, having a base layer, an at least largely self-supporting diaphragm and an overlayer situated on the diaphragm, the diaphragm and the base layer, at least from place to place, delimiting a void. Furthermore, at least from place to place, above the diaphragm a conducting region is provided in the overlayer which is electrically poorly conductive as compared to the conducting region, to which the surface of the diaphragm that faces the overlayer is able to be electrically contacted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventors: Helmut Sautter, Frank Schatz, Juergen Graf, Hans Artmann, Udo-Martin Gomez, Kersten Kehr
  • Publication number: 20030074962
    Abstract: A rain sensor (10), in particular for a motor vehicle, is shown, having at least one transmitter (20) emitting radiation in the operating state, and at least one receiver (22) at least partially sensitive to the radiation from the transmitter (20), and a substantially flat light-conducting body (14) that is capable of being coupled nearly parallel to a surface of a wettable window pane (12) of the motor vehicle, and comprising structures (18a, 18b) for directing and catching the radiation from the transmitter (20), whereby the structures (18a) for directing the radiation are different from the structures (18b) for catching the radiation, and they have radiation-concentrating properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: Helmut Sautter, Bruno Hodapp, Rainer Pientka, Hans Meier, Andreas Schneider, Manfred Burkart
  • Patent number: 6178281
    Abstract: A method for the manufacture of optical components, at least one three-dimensional optical waveguide structure being produced in a light-sensitive substrate by locally subjecting the substrate to an exposure so that a difference in refractive index between the substrate and the at least one optical waveguide structure is created. Provision is made for an exposure to occur at least twice, at different angles of incidence for the light perpendicular to a light wave propagation direction of the optical waveguide structure; the substrate surrounding what will later be the optical waveguide structure thereby experiences a diminution in refractive index, the optical waveguide structure being defined using a mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Sautter, Jörg Blechschmidt, Rainer Schink, J{umlaut over (u)}rgen Graf, Peter Loeffler
  • Patent number: 5321586
    Abstract: The lighting device for a vehicle has at least one central reflector (10), which is formed as a substantially closed hollow body. The reflector (10) is formed from two reflector parts (11, 12), which have light outlet openings facing each other. The reflector parts (11, 12) are shaped like portions of an ellipsoid of revolution and are arranged so that their first focal points (Fl) coincide and their second focal points (F2) lie on the peak of the opposing reflector part (11, 12). The light emitting body (16) of the light source is arranged in the vicinity of the first focal points (F1). Because of this structure of the reflector (10) almost all of the light issuing from the light emitting body (16) is concentrated on the second focal points (F2) of the reflector parts. A light guide (18) is positioned to guide light away from each reflector part in the vicinity of its second focal point (F2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Guenter Hege, Rainer Neumann, Alfred Bruder, Helmut Sautter
  • Patent number: 5109829
    Abstract: A high-voltage switch (10), which is usable particularly as an ignition voltage distributor for applying the ignition voltage to spark plugs of an internal combustion engine, comprises a cascade circuit of optoelectronic semiconductor elements (11) which are actuated by means of incident light radiation. A plurality of photo semiconductor elements (11) are controlled by a light-emitting element (12) via a biconvex cylinder lens (30). A distribution of the radiation by means of light guide fibers (37) is also possible. The light-emitting elements (12) which are operated with low voltage can be arranged in a housing (36) separate from the high-voltage side by means of the use of light guides (37), so that a complete galvanic separation is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Herden, Johann Konrad, Helmut Sautter, Wadym Suchowerskyj
  • Patent number: 4787717
    Abstract: A pigment is mixed with an epoxy resin or varnish binder in a weight ratio from 5:1 to 6:1 to make a paste, which is then applied as a thin layer by screen printing on top of the counterelectrode layer previously baked onto a metal substrate. In another baking step the new layer for producing a reflective coating is heated to between 120.degree. and 180.degree. C., in which temperature range the binder produces small bubbles before hardening, so that the layer that is produced is permeable to ions when the layer becomes soaked with electrolyte in the assembled electrochromic device. The metal substrate is shaped by drawing to provide the electrolyte cavity after the application of the counterelectrode and the reflecting background layer thereon, since the deformation does not damage either of these layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jutta Heinz geb Belgardt, Helmut Sautter, Rainer Schink, Lothar Weber
  • Patent number: 4780332
    Abstract: A screen-printing paste containing Cu.sub.2 O or NiO and preferably aluminum oxide or, more preferably, an aluminum compound such as aluminum acetylacetonate which forms aluminum oxide under calcination heat, is printed over an entire surface of a substrate consisting of aluminum oxide ceramic, after which it is calcined in air at from 800.degree. to 1350.degree. C. to produce an adhesion-promoting spinel layer. That layer is then metallized by plating in an electroless bath for deposition of copper or nickel, as the case may be, after which the metal layer thus deposited is reinforced galvanically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1988
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Birgit Pitz, Helmut Sautter, Lothar Weber
  • Patent number: 4561729
    Abstract: The counterelectrode (16) of an electrochromic indicator device is made of a paste of activated carbon and an organic binder baked on a metal plate (15). The shape of the metal plate can be dished after the layer is baked on without damage. Activated carbon in the counterelectrode, operating with the usual electrolyte and a transition metal oxide electrochromic electrode, makes possible a high-charge density from migration of ions with the application of very small voltages. The electrochromic effect can be extinguished simply by a short-circuit, especially if polyvinyl alcohol is provided as a supplementary binder by dipping the baked counterelectrode therein and baking again, and even more so if the activated carbon paste contains finely divided gold from decomposition of a gold compound during baking. The counterelectrode layer can be applied by screen printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1985
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jutta Heinz, Helmut Sautter, Rainer Schink, Lothar Weber