Patents by Inventor Norbert Manfred Stein

Norbert Manfred Stein 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).

  • Optoelectronic sensor having plug-in unit for providing extended functionality
    Patent number: 11262475
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optoelectronic sensor used with light curtains for monitoring a sensing field. The optoelectronic sensor includes at least one optical unit having at least one radiation emitting element and at least one radiation receiving element and a control unit for processing an output signal generated by said radiation receiving element and for generating a defined sensor signal based on the output signal. The optical unit has a diagnostic unit including a monitoring unit operable to monitor at least one parameter indicative of an operational status of the optical unit. The diagnostic unit includes a processing unit operable to generate a communication signal indicative of said operational status, and the diagnostic unit is arranged in a separately housed, detachable plug-in module. The processing unit comprises a wireless communication interface for wirelessly receiving and transmitting communication signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Martin Hardegger, Norbert Manfred Stein, Suresh R. Nair
  • Optoelectronic Sensor Having Plug-in Unit for Providing Extended Functionality
    Publication number: 20190094412
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optoelectronic sensor used with light curtains for monitoring a sensing field. The optoelectronic sensor includes at least one optical unit having at least one radiation emitting element and at least one radiation receiving element and a control unit for processing an output signal generated by said radiation receiving element and for generating a defined sensor signal based on the output signal. The optical unit has a diagnostic unit including a monitoring unit operable to monitor at least one parameter indicative of an operational status of the optical unit. The diagnostic unit includes a processing unit operable to generate a communication signal indicative of said operational status, and the diagnostic unit is arranged in a separately housed, detachable plug-in module. The processing unit comprises a wireless communication interface for wirelessly receiving and transmitting communication signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Martin Hardegger, Norbert Manfred Stein, Suresh R. Nair