Patents by Inventor Ralf Hoffmann

Ralf Hoffmann 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: 11946293
    Abstract: A door unlocking and/or door opening mechanism may have an actuating device that may have at least one actuating element, a housing, and at least one detection unit. The detection unit may have a sensor, a trigger element and an evaluation unit. The detection unit may be arranged in the housing. The actuating element may be arranged for an actuation outside the housing and in a region that is accessible from the outside. The trigger element may be arranged at a distance from the sensor in a locked state of the door unlocking and/or door opening mechanism. When the actuating element is actuated in the direction of the housing, to the actuating element deforms the trigger element. The sensor detects a change in the distance between the trigger element and the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Witte Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Hoffmann, Markus Herdering, Patrick Schlosser, Ralf Höhn
  • Publication number: 20240085390
    Abstract: The compact scent delivery system (300) comprises: —a compact scent delivery device (100, 200), —an air flow mixing unit (400) comprising: 5—an inlet (405) for scented air, configured to be connected to an outlet (125) of scented air of the compact scent delivery device, —an outlet (410) for mixed scented air directed at a smelling port (415), —a conduit (420) connecting the inlet for scented air and the outlet for mixed diluted scent air and 0—at least one element of: —an inlet (425) for fresh air, configured to be connected to a fresh air delivery apparatus, said inlet delivering fresh air into the scented air stream between the inlet for scented air and the outlet for mixed scented air and/or 5—an outlet (430) for waste scented air, configured to be connected to an air flow retrieval apparatus and/or a waste air exhaust, said outlet retrieving scented air from the scented air stream between the inlet for scented air and the outlet for mixed scented air to reduce the air flow either for subsequent dilution
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Denis SHCHERBAKOV, Artem KIRSHON, Addi FADEL, Nicholas O'LEARY, Ralf INAUEN, Ronny HOFFMANN, Manuel WEBER, Branislav BALAZ, Alessandro CASILLI, Stefan SIEBER
  • Patent number: 11926666
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bispecific antibody construct comprising a first human binding domain which binds to human CDH3 on the surface of a target cell and a second binding domain which binds to human CDS on the surface of a T cell. Moreover, the invention provides a polynucleotide encoding the antibody construct, a vector comprising said polynucleotide and a host cell transformed or transected with said polynucleotide or vector. Furthermore, the invention provides a process for the production of the antibody construct of the invention, a medical use of said antibody construct and a kit comprising said antibody construct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: AMGEN RESEARCH (MUNICH) GMBH
    Inventors: Bertram Weiss, Anna-Lena Frisk, Ruprecht Zierz, Peter Kufer, Tobias Raum, Doris Rau, Jonas Anlahr, Ralf Lutterbüse, Lisa Nahrwold, Christoph Dahlhoff, Claudia Blümel, Patrick Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20240062283
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating account statements for a user from blockchain data is disclosed, the method comprising the following steps performed by a communication server: providing a connection between the communication server and a blockchain network; retrieving data associated with the account address of the user from a block most recently generated on the blockchain network, including a final account state, wherein the final account state comprises a final account balance of the block corresponding to the account address of the user; determining whether the final account state of the block differs from an account state of the user that was last stored in a memory accessible by the communication server, and if a difference is determined: storing the final account state as account state of the user in the memory; retrieving further data associated with the account address of the user from the block including blockchain transactions; deriving a closing balance from the final account balance
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Ingo Czok, Ralf Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 11827938
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for diagnosing, monitoring or prognosticating prostate cancer or the progression state of prostate cancer wherein said method determines the state of the prostate cancer, based on the expression level of phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) variants. The invention further relates to a method of identifying an individual for eligibility for prostate cancer therapy. The invention also relates to products for the analysis of phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) variants as well as pharmaceutical compositions modulating the activity and/or expression of PDE4D variants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Ralf Hoffmann, Eveline Den Biezen-Timmermans, Dianne Arnoldina Margaretha Wilhelmina Van Strijp, Anne Godefrida Catharina Van Brussel, Marcia Alves De Inda, Janneke Wrobel, Joannes Baptist Adrianus Dionisius Van Zon
  • Patent number: 11476067
    Abstract: A relay includes an armature, a yoke configured to be electromagnetically coupled to the armature, and a bracket-shaped clamping spring. The armature lies at least partially flat on the yoke, and a receiving depression is partly formed in the armature. The bracket-shaped clamping spring surrounds the armature and the yoke on an end face such that the armature is fixed on the yoke. The bracket-shaped clamping spring has a first clamping limb arranged in the receiving depression of the armature, and a second clamping limb lying on the yoke. The first clamping limb has an angled tab which engages elastically into a recess formed in the receiving depression of the armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ralf Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 11443831
    Abstract: The present application mainly relates to specific methods for inferring activity of one or more cellular signaling pathway(s) in tissue of a medical subject based at least on the expression level(s) of one or more target gene(s) of the cellular signaling pathway(s) measured in an extracted sample of the tissue of the medical subject, an apparatus comprising a digital compressor configured to perform such methods and a non-transitory storage medium storing instructions that are executable by a digital processing device to perform such methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: InnoSIGN B.V.
    Inventors: Wilhelmus Franciscus Johannes Verhaegh, Anja Van De Stolpe, Hendrik Jan Van Ooijen, Kalyana Chakravarthi Dulla, Marcia Alves De Inda, Ralf Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 11380506
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for monitoring an electromechanical component of an automation system. The method includes sensing a current mechanical state variable of the electromechanical component, sensing a current electrical state variable of the electromechanical component and determining a state of the electromechanical component based at least in part on a behaviour model of the electromechanical component, wherein the behaviour model takes into account an effect of the sensed current mechanical state variable on the sensed current electrical state variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ralf Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 11361925
    Abstract: A relay for assembling in terminal blocks includes an electromagnetic drive arrangement including an armature, an armature bearing spring, and a yoke. The armature is at least partially spaced from the yoke, is movably mounted, and is reduces the distance between the yoke and the armature under an effect of an electromagnetic force. The armature bearing spring applies a spring force counteracting the electromagnetic force. The yoke interacts electromagnetically with the armature to apply the electromagnetic force. A contact spring has a first contact surface and a contact arm, and the contact arm is spaced from the first contact surface and comes into contact with the first contact surface via a pressure force acting to establish an electrical connection between the first contact surface and the contact arm. An insulating element electrically isolates the armature from the contact arm and actuates the contact arm to produce the pressure force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ralf Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 11342147
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an electromagnetic relay that comprises a yoke and an armature. The armature may be swivellably arranged on the yoke, have an open position and a contact position in relation to the yoke, and configured to be attracted by a magnetic field out of the open position into the contact position. The armature may include a first branch circuit having a first capacitor and a first exciter coil connected in series with the first capacitor, a second branch circuit having a second capacitor and a second exciter coil connected in series with the second capacitor, and a switch element arranged between the first branch circuit and the second branch circuit and having a first switch state and a second switch state. The first exciter coil and the second exciter coil may provide the magnetic field for attracting and retaining the armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Benk, Christian Adam, Ralf Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20220051862
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an electromagnetic relay that comprises a yoke and an armature. The armature may be swivellably arranged on the yoke, have an open position and a contact position in relation to the yoke, and configured to be attracted by a magnetic field out of the open position into the contact position. The armature may include a first branch circuit having a first capacitor and a first exciter coil connected in series with the first capacitor, a second branch circuit having a second capacitor and a second exciter coil connected in series with the second capacitor, and a switch element arranged between the first branch circuit and the second branch circuit and having a first switch state and a second switch state. The first exciter coil and the second exciter coil may provide the magnetic field for attracting and retaining the armature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan BENK, Christian ADAM, Ralf HOFFMANN
  • Patent number: 11239580
    Abstract: A plug-in connection arrangement for arranging a relay includes a terminal block comprising a relay holder configured to hold a relay. The relay has a bottom wall, a side wall, and a contact plug which projects out of the bottom wall. The side wall is arranged perpendicular to the bottom wall and includes an offset section which contacts the bottom wall and projects out into the relay in a direction of a surface normal of the side wall. The relay holder includes a socket configured to hold the contact plug of the relay when the relay is inserted into the relay holder. The relay holder also includes an insulating wall which, when the relay is inserted into the relay holder, is aligned parallel to the side wall and projects beyond the bottom wall to form an angled insulation section for the contact plug along a surface of the insulating wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ralf Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 11198909
    Abstract: Methods are described for stratifying patient risk for patients with prostate cancer and for providing a treatment recommendation to a patient based on a phosphodiesterase 4D variant 7 (PDE4D7) risk score. A diagnostic kit and a computer program product for the analysis and determination of the PDE4D7 risk score are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Ralf Hoffmann, Eveline Den Biezen-Timmermans, Dianne Arnoldina Margaretha Wilhelmina Van Strijp, Anne Godefrida Catharina Van Brussel, Marcia Alves De Inda, Johannes Baptist Adrianus Dionisius Van Zon, Janneke Wrobel
  • Patent number: 11201018
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electromechanical switching device comprising switching contacts configured to close an electrical circuit, wherein the switching contacts have a first switching contact and a second switching contact, wherein the first switching contact and the second switching contact can be brought into contact in order to close the electrical circuit, wherein at least one of the switching contacts s formed from a plurality of closed bodies which are arranged against one another, and wherein hollow spaces for receiving liquid are arranged between the closed bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ralf Hoffmann, Thomas Gundlach
  • Publication number: 20210358710
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for monitoring an electromechanical component of an automation system. The method includes sensing a current mechanical state variable of the electromechanical component, sensing a current electrical state variable of the electromechanical component and determining a state of the electromechanical component based at least in part on a behaviour model of the electromechanical component, wherein the behaviour model takes into account an effect of the sensed current mechanical state variable on the sensed current electrical state variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventor: Ralf Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 11177063
    Abstract: A method for magnetizing at least two magnets having different magnetic coercivities, includes the steps of: a) simultaneously exposing the at least two magnets to a first substantially homogeneous magnetic field having a predeterminable first field strength and a first magnetic field direction for completely magnetizing the magnets in the first magnetic field direction; b) simultaneously exposing the magnets magnetized in step a) to a second substantially homogeneous magnetic field having a predeterminable second field strength and a second magnetic field direction opposite to the first magnetic field direction such that the at least two magnets are differently magnetized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jens Heinrich, Ralf Hoffmann, Christian Mueller
  • Publication number: 20210350992
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a winding device for a coil yoke of a relay. The coil yoke may include first and second yoke limbs each with first and second coil formers that extend in the direction of first and second longitudinal axes and are arranged parallel to one another. The winding device comprises a rotatable coil receptacle which can be rotated around an axis of rotation which is oriented parallel to the first and second longitudinal axes, to hold the coil yoke. The coil receptacle may support the coil yoke displaceably transversely to the axis of rotation to position the coil formers with the first and second longitudinal axes on the axis of rotation for winding coil wire onto said first and second coil formers. The winding device may also include a winding nozzle configured to dispense the coil wire parallel to the axis of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Ralf Hoffmann, Peter WARTMANN, Mario ABENDROTH
  • Publication number: 20210313131
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an electromagnetic relay module, comprising a first circuit branch comprising a first capacitor and a first relay connected in series with the first capacitor, a second circuit branch comprising a second capacitor and a second relay connected in series with the second capacitor, a switching element which is arranged between the first circuit branch and the second circuit branch and comprises a first switching state and a second switching state. In the first switching state of the switching element the first circuit branch and the second circuit branch are arranged in a parallel connection. In the second switching state of the switching element the first relay and the second relay are arranged in a series connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Stefan BENK, Ralf HOFFMANN, Christian ADAM
  • Patent number: 11127541
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an electromagnetic switch, comprising: an armature; a slider configured to manually move to actuate the armature; and a deformable force transfer element positioned between the slider and the armature, wherein the slider is configured to be pressed against the deformable force transfer element to actuate the armature with a press force, and wherein the deformable force transfer element is configured to deform when a press force threshold value is exceeded to limit a transferable force from the slider onto the armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ralf Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 11120960
    Abstract: A modular switching contactor arrangement for use in a safety-oriented application, has two switching contactor modules that can be arranged in succession by means of a coupling module, the switching contactor modules and the coupling module merely having to be joined together by a user, without any external wiring, so as to be mechanically and electrically coupled to one another. In the mounted state, the switching contactor arrangement has a reduced construction width that is substantially delimited by the narrow faces of the switching contactor modules. In particular, the construction width can be 22.5 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ralf Hoffmann