Patents by Inventor Ralf Kessler

Ralf Kessler 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).

  • Publication number: 20100052886
    Abstract: Described is a procedure for controlling the transmission operation of a tire pressure monitoring device (1) arranged in a pneumatic tire of a vehicle, whereby data telegrams are transmitted in a normal mode of operation (13) in first time intervals, and there is a changeover from the normal mode of operation (13) to a pressure drop mode, if an inspection of the pressure signals indicates a drop in the pressure of a drop speed exceeding a pre-defined threshold value, and data telegrams are transmitted in the pressure drop mode in second time intervals, which are shorter than the first time intervals, and the tire pressure monitoring devices (1) are put into a travel starting mode (10, 11, 12) at the beginning of the travel by activation a roll sensor. Data telegrams are transmitted in the travel starting mode in shorter third time intervals as compared to the normal mode of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Ralf Kessler, Holger Kõninger, Karsten Sandrock
  • Patent number: 7662147
    Abstract: A device and method for steering a laser beam to a focal point in target tissue requires generating a laser beam. Diversions of the laser beam from a central beam path are minimized by a sequential arrangement of optical steering components. In order, the beam is first directed to the center of a z-scanning apparatus which will move the focal point in the medium in a z-direction. The beam is then passed to the center of a first galvanometric mirror which introduces focal point movements in the x-direction. A second galvanometric mirror then compensates for the x-direction movement by redirecting the beam to the center of a third galvanometric mirror where focal point movements in the y-direction are introduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Technolas PerfectVision GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Kessler, Frieder Loesel, Thomas Sauter
  • Patent number: 7618415
    Abstract: A device and method for steering a laser beam to a focal point in target tissue requires generating a laser beam. Diversions of the laser beam from a central beam path are minimized by a sequential arrangement of optical steering components. In order, the beam is first directed to the center of a z-scanning apparatus which will move the focal point in the medium in a z-direction. The beam is then passed to the center of a first galvanometric mirror which introduces focal point movements in the x-direction. A second galvanometric mirror then compensates for the x-direction movement by redirecting the beam to the center of a third galvanometric mirror where focal point movements in the y-direction are introduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Technolas Perfect Vision GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Kessler, Frieder Loesel, Thomas Sauter
  • Publication number: 20080147051
    Abstract: A device and method for steering a laser beam to a focal point in target tissue requires generating a laser beam. Diversions of the laser beam from a central beam path are minimized by a sequential arrangement of optical steering components. In order, the beam is first directed to the center of a z-scanning apparatus which will move the focal point in the medium in a z-direction. The beam is then passed to the center of a first galvanometric mirror which introduces focal point movements in the x-direction. A second galvanometric mirror then compensates for the x-direction movement by redirecting the beam to the center of a third galvanometric mirror where focal point movements in the y-direction are introduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Ralf Kessler, Frieder Loesel, Thomas Sauter
  • Publication number: 20070173796
    Abstract: A device for calibrating a laser beam system includes a calibration member having a surface positioned at a predetermined distance from the base datum of the unit. Further, the system includes a mechanism for focusing the beam to a focal point and for moving the focal point relative to the surface of the calibration member. When the focal point reaches the surface of the calibration member, Laser Induced Optical Breakdown (LIOB) is induced. Thereafter, the position of the location of LIOB may be measured relative to the base datum to calibrate the laser beam. Further, patterns may be applied to the calibration member using LIOB to calibrate tilt/decenter of the beam and to determine the energy density and uniformity in the focal spot of the laser beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventors: Ralf Kessler, Marcel Martin, Stefan Wuhl, Tobias Kuhn, Ulrich von Pape
  • Publication number: 20050228366
    Abstract: A device and method for steering a laser beam to a focal point in target tissue requires generating a laser beam. Diversions of the laser beam from a central beam path are minimized by a sequential arrangement of optical steering components. In order, the beam is first directed to the center of a z-scanning apparatus which will move the focal point in the medium in a z-direction. The beam is then passed to the center of a first galvanometric mirror which introduces focal point movements in the x-direction. A second galvanometric mirror then compensates for the x-direction movement by redirecting the beam to the center of a third galvanometric mirror where focal point movements in the y-direction are introduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Publication date: October 13, 2005
    Inventors: Ralf Kessler, Frieder Loesel, Thomas Sauter
  • Patent number: 6828905
    Abstract: A system for monitoring and signaling by radio a pressure or a change in pressure in pneumatic tires of wheels on vehicles consists of a receiver unit provided in or on the vehicle to which at least one antenna is associated, and of a unit, arranged in the pneumatic tire, for measuring, evaluating and transmitting tire pressure signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Inventors: Norbert Normann, Andreas Kühnle, Gunter Lothar Schulze, Ralf Kessler
  • Patent number: 6794993
    Abstract: An arrangement for transmitting signals from a device (3) for monitoring the tire pressure in vehicle wheels (1), being arranged in the tire preferably as one module together with a valve, and comprising a pressure sensor arranged for measuring the tire pressure and generating an electric pressure signal, a control circuit, a battery as power source, and a transmitter with a sending antenna for transmitting the measured pressure signal as a radio-frequency (RF) signal under the control of the control circuit to a central evaluation and control unit (8), which is arranged in the vehicle (2) and which is connected to receiving antennas (4), to which individual wheels (1) or groups of wheels (1) of the vehicle (2) are allocated, via a RF receiver which comprises a demodulator and transforms the received RF signals to low-frequency (LF) signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Inventors: Ralf Kessler, Andreas Kühnle, Roland Michal, Norbert Normann, Lothar Gunter Schulze
  • Patent number: 6633229
    Abstract: A method for allocating identifiers, that are contained in signals issued by transmitters arranged in a tire pressure monitoring system, to the positions of the wheels by transmitting the signals to a receiving and analysis circuit, which analyses the information, contained in the signal, wherein for differentiating between wheels on the right side of the vehicle and wheels on the left side of the vehicle, the sign of a translation acceleration b is determined for each running wheel, the sign of the variation of the centrifugal acceleration z occurring during the translation acceleration b is additionally determined and multiplied by the sign of the translation acceleration b determined for the respective wheel, and the differentiation between wheels on the right side of the vehicle and wheels on the left side of the vehicle is effected by comparing the products of the two signs determined for the wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Beru Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Norbert Normann, Roland Michal, Ralf Kessler, Andreas Kühnle, Lothar Gunter Schulze
  • Patent number: 6445286
    Abstract: A method for operating a device for monitoring and indicating a pressure change in vehicle tires by wire, being preferably arranged in the tire as one module together with the tire valve, and comprising a current source, a pressure sensor arranged for measuring the tire pressure at first time intervals, an analog/digital converter for digitizing a pressure signal obtained from the pressure sensor, a memory for storing the pressure signal, a transmitter for transmitting the measured tire pressure information to a receiving unit located in the vehicle, a comparator, especially one realized in one module with a microprocessor, which compares the pressure signal with a previously stored comparison pressure signal and controls the transmitter in such a way that the transmitter will transmit signals at second time intervals greater than the first time intervals, so long as the decrease of the pressure signal, relative to the comparison pressure signal (drift), does not exceed a threshold value, but will transmit si
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Beru Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ralf Kessler, Andreas Kuhnle, Norbert Normann, Gunter Lothar Schulze
  • Publication number: 20020113692
    Abstract: The system for monitoring and signalling by radio a pressure or a change in pressure in pneumatic tires of wheels (1) on vehicles (2) consists of a receiver unit (9) provided in or on the vehicle (1) to which at least one antenna (6, 7) is associated, and of a unit (3), arranged in the pneumatic tire, for measuring, evaluating and transmitting tire pressure signals, hereinafter referred to as “wheel-mounted electronic unit”, the latter comprising
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventors: Norbert Normann, Andreas Kuhnle, Gunter Lothar Schulzer, Ralf Kessler
  • Patent number: 6181241
    Abstract: A vehicle tire pressure monitoring system includes a pressure sensor, a transmitter, and a transmitting antenna at each of N wheels of the vehicle, and at least one receiving antenna attached to the vehicle, respectively allocated to each transmitting, antenna. The receiving, antenna is connected to an electronic receiving, and analysis system which determines whether a signal belongs to the local vehicle by allocating an identifier characterizing the individual wheel to its transmitter. Emitted signals contain the identifier and are forwarded to the central electronic receiving and analysis system, which records the signal intensities under the signal's identifier, compares the intensities, selects those N transmitter identifiers with the greatest intensities, then stores the N transmitter identifiers as belonging to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Beru Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Norbert Normann, Ralf Kessler, Gunter Schulze
  • Patent number: 6169480
    Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring device includes a pressure measurement sensor provided on each of the wheels to be monitored, a transmitter arranged near each pressure measurement sensor for sending signals representative of the pressure determined by the pressure measurement sensor, respective antennas for receiving the signals, the antennas being arranged on the vehicle chassis near the respective wheel. Each antenna is formed by making use of a separate electric line belonging to another monitoring system that is associated to the same wheel or is formed by making use of a sensor belonging to another monitoring system associated to the same wheels. Alternatively an electric line that leads to another consumer which is associated to the respective wheel, like a lamp, is used as an antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Doduco GmbH
    Inventors: G{umlaut over (u)}nter Uhl, Norbert Normann, Gunter Lothar Schulze, Ralf Kessler
  • Patent number: 6112165
    Abstract: A method of operating a device for monitoring vehicle-tire pressures and indicating changes in pressure by radio, which is arranged in the valve of the pneumatic tire and contains a power source; a pressure sensor; an analog/digital converter for digitizing the pressure signal obtained from the pressure sensor; a memory for storing the pressure signal; a transmitter; a comparator, in particular in a module with a microprocessor, which compares the pressure signal with a previously stored comparison pressure signal, generates a signal if the deviation of the pressure signal from the comparison pressure signal exceeds a threshold, and activates the transmitter, which thereupon transmits a datum regarding the detected deviation to a receiver arranged in the vehicle; and a timing switch which activates the device at time intervals for a measurement and comparison operation and otherwise keeps it deactivated for purpose of power conservation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: DODUCO GmbH
    Inventors: Gunter Uhl, Norbert Normann, Gunter Lothar Schulze, Ralf Kessler
  • Patent number: 6034597
    Abstract: A method for processing signals of a tire pressure monitoring system on vehicles on each of whose N wheels (R1 through R5) a transmitter is mounted and a reception antenna (1 through 5) which is connected to the input of a common receiver (8) is allocated to each transmitter in its vicinity, the transmitters transmitting, at time intervals, data telegrams which contain an individual identifier and a data portion following the latter. The signals received simultaneously from the reception antennas (1 through 5) and having the same identifier are conveyed in summed fashion to the receiver (8), alternately from all N reception antennas (1 through 5) and from N-1 reception antennas (1, 2, 4, 5), such that the one reception antenna (3) whose signal is blanked out of the sum of the signals is selected by cyclical transposition from the total number N of reception antennas (1 through 5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Ami Doduco GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Normann, Gunter Lothar Schulze, Ralf Kessler, Andreas Kuhnle
  • Patent number: 6018993
    Abstract: A method for allocating transmitters and receiving antennas in tire pressure monitoring systems which consist of a pressure sensor, a transmitter, and a transmitting antenna at each wheel, of a receiving antenna respectively allocated to them on the body, and of an electronic receiving and analysis system connected thereto via cables. In this, an identifier characterizing the wheel is allocated to each transmitter, and the signals are forwarded to the central electronic receiving and analysis system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Doduco GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Normann, Ralf Kessler, Gunter Schulze