Patents by Inventor Johann Schenkl

Johann Schenkl 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: 9274012
    Abstract: A sensor device to measure a force or pressure in a washing handling apparatus includes a light source, a light receiver, a light-reflecting surface that reflects light emitted by the light source toward the light receiver, and one or more spring elements that biases the light-reflecting surface into a predefined initial position with respect to the light source and the light receiver where the light-reflecting surface is disposed to be displaceable with respect to the light source and the light receiver in response to application of an external force or pressure against a resetting force of the one or more spring elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Johann Schenkl, Johannes Baumer, Michael Sorgenfrei, Manfredi Signorino
  • Publication number: 20160047966
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical household appliance, namely a refrigeration and/or freezer device or a stove, comprising at least one luminous plate (24) illuminating an interior of the appliance, and a light source device (30) feeding light into at least one narrow side of the luminous plate. According to the invention, the light source device includes at least one light-emitting diode (32) and a lens optics, which collects at least a major portion of the light emitted by the light-emitting diode, directing the light to at least one narrow side of the luminous plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Applicant: EMZ-HANAUER GMBH & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Johann Schenkl, Manfredi Signorino, Martin Brabec
  • Patent number: 9170001
    Abstract: A household appliance light emitting device has a light diode that emits a light beam having a cross-section area and a light deflection device through which the light beam travels and that deflects the entering light beam such that the light beam exits asymmetrically to the optical axis of the household appliance light emitting device from the light deflection device. The light deflection device is designed integrally with a housing where the light diode is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventor: Johann Schenkl
  • Publication number: 20150267339
    Abstract: A washing machine includes a machine housing, a tub that is suspended on a plurality of support arms in the machine housing, and a washing drum that is rotatably mounted in the tub, at least one of the support arms being equipped with a force sensor, which generates a force measurement signal that is representative of the force acting upon the respective support arm. Moreover, the washing machine is equipped with a level sensor, which generates a level signal that is representative of the water level in the washing drum, and an electronic control unit that processes the force measurement signal and the level signal, and which is configured to control the sequence of a washing program of the washing machine in dependence on the force measurement signal and the level signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventor: Johann Schenkl
  • Publication number: 20150042220
    Abstract: A sensor device to measure a force or pressure in a washing handling apparatus includes a light source, a light receiver, a light-reflecting surface that reflects light emitted by the light source toward the light receiver, and one or more spring elements that biases the light-reflecting surface into a predefined initial position with respect to the light source and the light receiver where the light-reflecting surface is disposed to be displaceable with respect to the light source and the light receiver in response to application of an external force or pressure against a resetting force of the one or more spring elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Johann Schenkl, Johannes Baumer, Michael Sorgenfrei, Manfredi Signorino
  • Patent number: 8888929
    Abstract: A device to capture the relative position of a component (14) of which the position can change relative to a reference component (12) of a washing handling device (10), in particular a washing machine or drier, includes at least one light source (34, 38, 42), at least one light receiver (36, 40, 44), a light-reflecting surface (50, 52), which reflects light which the light source (34, 38, 42) emits to the light receiver (36, 40, 44). The device is designed to capture the present relative position of the changeable-position component (14) relative to the reference component (12), according to the reflected light which the light receiver (36, 40, 44) captures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KgaA
    Inventors: Johann Schenkl, Johannes Baumer, Michael Sorgenfrei, Manfredi Signorino
  • Patent number: 8531670
    Abstract: An optical sensor to measure the turbidity of wash water in a household washing machine or dishwasher, includes a housing having a housing interior containing a measurement module having a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element, the measurement module defining a measurement light path which extends from the light-emitting element to the light-receiving element and passes outside the housing over a part of its path length. The light-emitting element and the light-receiving element are arranged together in a first subspace of the housing interior, and the measurement light path extends over a part of its path length through at least one second subspace of the housing interior, which is sealed from the first subspace. All the electrical/electronic components of the measurement module are fitted in the first subspace, so that any ingress of wash water into the second subspace does not compromise the electrical functionality of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Johann Schenkl, Martin Brabec, Thomas Hanauer
  • Publication number: 20120162652
    Abstract: An optical sensor to measure the turbidity of wash water in a household washing machine or dishwasher, includes a housing having a housing interior containing a measurement module having a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element, the measurement module defining a measurement light path which extends from the light-emitting element to the light-receiving element and passes outside the housing over a part of its path length. The light-emitting element and the light-receiving element are arranged together in a first subspace of the housing interior, and the measurement light path extends over a part of its path length through at least one second subspace of the housing interior, which is sealed from the first subspace. All the electrical/electronic components of the measurement module are fitted in the first subspace, so that any ingress of wash water into the second subspace does not compromise the electrical functionality of the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: EMZ-HANUAER GMBH & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Johann Schenkl, Martin Brabec, Thomas Hanauer
  • Publication number: 20120120667
    Abstract: A household appliance light emitting device has a light diode that emits a light beam having a cross-section area and a light deflection device through which the light beam travels and that deflects the entering light beam such that the light beam exits asymmetrically to the optical axis of the household appliance light emitting device from the light deflection device. The light deflection device is designed integrally with a housing where the light diode is arranged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: EMZ-HANAUER GMBH & CO. KGAA
    Inventor: Johann Schenkl
  • Publication number: 20120113427
    Abstract: An optical sensor (10) for fitting to a washing machine or dishwasher is proposed, comprising: a housing (16), an arrangement, which is housed in the housing, of optical components, the optical components comprising a controllable light emitter (26) and a first and a second light receiver (28, 30), and an electronic analysis and control unit (36) which is connected to the light emitter (26) and the two light receivers (28, 30), the first light receiver (28) being arranged at the end of a first light measurement path (54) which starts at the light emitter (26) and runs on a portion outside the housing (16), and the second light receiver (30) being arranged at the end of a second light measurement path (56) which starts at the light emitter (26), and when the sensor is fitted to the machine as specified, the first light measurement path running on a portion through a washing space (14) of the machine, and is the second light measurement path running completely outside this washing space, the analysis and contro
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: EMZ-HANAUER GMBH & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Andreas Reith, Martin Brabec, Johann Schenkl
  • Patent number: 8169622
    Abstract: An optical sensor (10) for fitting to a washing machine or dishwasher is proposed, comprising: a housing (16), an arrangement, which is housed in the housing, of optical components, the optical components comprising a controllable light emitter (26) and a first and a second light receiver (28, 30), and an electronic analysis and control unit (36) which is connected to the light emitter (26) and the two light receivers (28, 30), the first light receiver (28) being arranged at the end of a first light measurement path (54) which starts at the light emitter (26) and runs on a portion outside the housing (16), and the second light receiver (30) being arranged at the end of a second light measurement path (56) which starts at the light emitter (26), and when the sensor is fitted to the machine as specified, the first light measurement path running on a portion through a washing space (14) of the machine, and is the second light measurement path running completely outside this washing space, the analysis and contro
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Andreas Reith, Martin Brabec, Johann Schenkl
  • Publication number: 20120073613
    Abstract: A device to capture the relative position of a component (14) of which the position can change relative to a reference component (12) of a washing handling device (10), in particular a washing machine or drier, includes at least one light source (34, 38, 42), at least one light receiver (36, 40, 44), a light-reflecting surface (50, 52), which reflects light which the light source (34, 38, 42) emits to the light receiver (36, 40, 44). The device is designed to capture the present relative position of the changeable-position component (14) relative to the reference component (12), according to the reflected light which the light receiver (36, 40, 44) captures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: emz-Hanuaer GmbH & Co. KgaA
    Inventors: Johann Schenkl, Johannes Baumer, Michael Sorgenfrei, Manfredi Signorino
  • Publication number: 20120001099
    Abstract: An optical sensor for use in a washing machine or dishwasher comprises a housing, a light-emitting element, a light-receiving element and a light-conducting structure, which is made from a transparent material, having a light entry point, a first reflection surface, a second reflection surface and a light exit point. The light-emitting element, the light-receiving element and the light-conducting structure define a light measurement path that runs, in this sequence, from the light-emitting element, via the light entry point, the first reflection surface, the second reflection surface and the light exit point, to the light-receiving element. In this case, on a section located between the first and the second reflection surface, the light measurement path runs outside the housing. The light that reaches the light-receiving element, along the light measurement path, from the light-emitting element undergoes total reflection on the first reflection surface and on the second reflection surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Johann Schenkl, Martin Brabec, Manfredi Signorino
  • Patent number: 7926313
    Abstract: Device and method for detecting the unbalance of a rotatable component of a domestic appliance, in which device and method a mass, which is movable in dependence on motions of the rotatable component that are caused by unbalance, and/or a spring force which acts upon the mass, and/or a fluidic damping which acts upon the mass, is/are so defined that, above a predefined frequency, movements of the mass are substantially non-dependent on frequency, or frequency-dependent components of movements of the mass are within a predefined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: EMZ-Hanauer GmbH & Co., KGAA
    Inventors: Johann Schenkl, Tony Durfee
  • Patent number: 7733097
    Abstract: Method for determining a property of a fluid for a household device includes the following steps: measurement of a physical variable of the fluid associated with the property of the fluid, in each case when a first parameter influencing the physical variable has one of at least two predetermined values, in order to obtain at least two measurement values for the first parameter, and correlation of the at least two measurement values for the first parameter, in order to obtain a first value characterizing the property of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Johann Schenkl, Herbert Altenhofer
  • Publication number: 20090140754
    Abstract: Method for determining a property of a fluid for a household device, comprising the following steps: measurement of a physical variable of the fluid associated with the property of the fluid, in each case when a first parameter influencing the physical variable has one of at least two predetermined values, in order to obtain at least two measurement values for the said first parameter, and correlation of the at least two measurement values for the first parameter, in order to obtain a first value characterising the property of the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: EMZ-HANAUER GMBH & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Johann Schenkl, Herbert Altenhofer
  • Publication number: 20070188763
    Abstract: Sensor for transmission measurement in a washing machine or dishwasher, with a carrier (2) a transmitter (4) attached to the carrier (2) to emit a transmitter beam, a receiver (6) attached to the carrier (2) to receive the beam generated by the transmitter (4), and a diaphragm system arranged on the carrier spaced from the transmitter and/or receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventor: Johann Schenkl
  • Publication number: 20070006619
    Abstract: Device and method for detecting the unbalance of a rotatable component of a domestic appliance, in which device and method a mass, which is movable in dependence on motions of the rotatable component that are caused by unbalance, and/or a spring force which acts upon the mass, and/or a fluidic damping which acts upon the mass, is/are so defined that, above a predefined frequency, movements of the mass are substantially non-dependent on frequency, or frequency-dependent components of movements of the mass are within a predefined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Inventors: Johann Schenkl, Tony Durfee
  • Patent number: 7060979
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transmission sensor (1) for measuring the turbidity of a fluid, comprising a first and a second measuring section (2, 3). A transmitter (6) emits electromagnetic radiation into the two measuring sections (2, 3). A first receiver (14) is allocated to the first measuring section (2) and a second receiver (15) is allocated to the second measuring section (3). The transmitter (6) is inserted into a transmitter carrier (8) in such a way that the transmitter (6) is forced to adopt a predetermined oriented position. The receivers (14, 15) are inserted into a receiver carrier (18) in such a way that each of said receivers (14, 15) is forced to adopt a predetermined oriented position. A transmitter carrier holder (9) forcibly positions the transmitter carrier (8) in a predetermined location and a receiver carrier holder (19) forcibly positions the receiver carrier (18) in a predetermined location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignees: Mahle Filtersysteme GmbH, emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KgaA
    Inventors: Rolf Manz, Gerhard Steiner, Reinhard Wierling, Johann Schenkl, Martin Brabec
  • Patent number: 6833555
    Abstract: For adjusting output voltages of a turbidity sensor which is used for measuring the turbidity of a medium by means of a radiation at least partially propagating through the medium being emitted from a sender and being received by a receiver, ohmic loads for the receiver on its output side are adjusted such that desired output voltages are obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Elektromanufaktur Zangenstein Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventor: Johann Schenkl