Patents by Inventor Markus Schoni

Markus Schoni 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: 10946372
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the position of a robotic arm in an automatic liquid handling system in which a measurement probe with a first electrode is arranged on the robotic arm and, together with a second electrode formed by at least part of a working area or at least part of a container or container carrier forms a measurement capacitor that is operatively connected to a measurement unit for measuring an impedance, in particular a capacitance of the measurement capacitor. The method involves moving the measurement probe along a first path, detecting a first change in the impedance, in particular in the capacitance of the measurement capacitor at a first point on the first path, and defining at least one first reference spatial coordinate for a control unit of the robotic arm on the basis of the first point on the first path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: TECAN TRADING AG
    Inventors: Philipp Ott, Markus Schoni, Thomas Struchen, Raffael Bueler, Nicolas Cors, Theo Meier, Daniel Kessler
  • Patent number: 10309820
    Abstract: A method and device for distinguishing between a contacting of foam (2) or of liquid (1) in a liquid container (5) of a device (100) by employing a capacitively operating measuring device (M) having a sensor (3) which can be moved up and down in the liquid container (5), in which at least one output signal (sout(t)) is processed by the measuring device (M).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: TECAN TRADING AG
    Inventors: Philipp Ott, Lars Kamm, Markus Schöni, Remo Keller, Paul Zbinden
  • Publication number: 20190128905
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the position of a robotic arm in an automatic liquid handling system in which a measurement probe with a first electrode is arranged on the robotic arm and, together with a second electrode formed by at least part of a working area or at least part of a container or container carrier forms a measurement capacitor that is operatively connected to a measurement unit for measuring an impedance, in particular a capacitance of the measurement capacitor. The method involves moving the measurement probe along a first path, detecting a first change in the impedance, in particular in the capacitance of the measurement capacitor at a first point on the first path, and defining at least one first reference spatial coordinate for a control unit of the robotic arm on the basis of the first point on the first path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Applicant: TECAN TRADING AG
    Inventors: Philipp OTT, Markus SCHÖNI, Thomas STRUCHEN, Raffael BUELER, Nicolas CORS, Theo MEIER, Daniel KESSLER
  • Patent number: 9335200
    Abstract: A device for detecting a phase boundary in a liquid tank a sensor that can be advanced in the direction of the phase boundary in the liquid tank. A circuit processes an output signal of the sensor to detect a change in capacitance and has a first channel with a first filter module to filter out a first signal having a short pulse width from the output signal and a second channel having a second filter module to filter out a second signal having a greater pulse width from the output signal. A controller module with comparator module determines whether the first signal reaches a first threshold value and a processing module determines whether the second signal meets predefined second signal criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: TECAN TRADING AG
    Inventors: Nicolas Cors, Markus Schoni, Markus Wiggli, Adi Zuppiger
  • Publication number: 20160025546
    Abstract: A method and device for distinguishing between a contacting of foam (2) or of liquid (1) in a liquid container (5) of a device (100) by employing a capacitively operating measuring device (M) having a sensor (3) which can be moved up and down in the liquid container (5), in which at least one output signal (sout(t)) is processed by the measuring device (M).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Applicant: TECAN Trading AG
    Inventors: Philipp OTT, Lars KAMM, Markus SCHÖNI, Remo KELLER, Paul ZBINDEN
  • Patent number: 8841925
    Abstract: The invention relates to devices for liquid level detection (LLD). It relates to a laboratory device having an electronic circuit for detecting a liquid level in a liquid container, a feeler, which can be advanced, and which is connected to an input side of the electronic circuit, and having a movement device, which allows the feeler to be advanced in the direction of the liquid in the liquid container. Upon the immersion of the feeler in the liquid, a capacitance change is caused in the electronic circuit, which triggers a signal in the circuit. The laboratory device comprises a reference circuit, which is connected to the input side of the circuit, and which specifies an effective capacitance on the input side of the circuit. A sequence controller is used, which causes the triggering of a test by the application of a control signal to the reference circuit, the control signal causing an increase of the effective capacitance through a switching procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Tecan Trading AG
    Inventor: Markus Schöni
  • Publication number: 20120242354
    Abstract: A device for detecting a phase boundary in a liquid tank a sensor that can be advanced in the direction of the phase boundary in the liquid tank. A circuit processes an output signal of the sensor to detect a change in capacitance and has a first channel with a first filter module to filter out a first signal having a short pulse width from the output signal and a second channel having a second filter module to filter out a second signal having a greater pulse width from the output signal. A controller module with comparator module determines whether the first signal reaches a first threshold value and a processing module determines whether the second signal meets predefined second signal criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Nicolas Cors, Markus Schoni, Markus Wiggli, Adi Zuppiger
  • Publication number: 20110102004
    Abstract: The invention relates to devices for liquid level detection (LLD). It relates to a laboratory device having an electronic circuit for detecting a liquid level in a liquid container, a feeler, which can be advanced, and which is connected to an input side of the electronic circuit, and having a movement device, which allows the feeler to be advanced in the direction of the liquid in the liquid container. Upon the immersion of the feeler in the liquid, a capacitance change is caused in the electronic circuit, which triggers a signal in the circuit. The laboratory device comprises a reference circuit, which is connected to the input side of the circuit, and which specifies an effective capacitance on the input side of the circuit. A sequence controller is used, which causes the triggering of a test by the application of a control signal to the reference circuit, the control signal causing an increase of the effective capacitance through a switching procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventor: MARKUS SCHÖNI
  • Patent number: 6072319
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a device for measuring properties of a textile product in a measuring gap in which the textile product is inserted. On each of its surfaces the measuring gap has an electrode of a measuring capacitor, between which the product is inserted, an electrode of a compensation capacitor and a conductor. Disturbing influences can be effectively compensated by this arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Zellweger Luwa AG
    Inventor: Markus Schoni
  • Patent number: 5956994
    Abstract: The invention relates to a test apparatus (1) with an end face (11) in front of which a yarn, roving or sliver is moved along in the longitudinal direction in order to test properties, with a plurality of zones of action (8, 9, 10) for producing a respective interaction between the test apparatus and the test material. In order to be able to provide a simple path, which is independent of the number of zones of action, for the yarn, roving or sliver, the yarn, roving or sliver is guided at least approximately in one plane transverse to the end face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Zellweger Luwa AG
    Inventor: Markus Schoni