Patents by Inventor Rudolf Schwarte

Rudolf Schwarte 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: 20100295940
    Abstract: A method for determining the distance of at least one object in a space relative to an image capturing device. A picture generating element displays at least a part of a spatial image captured by a picture generating element at a certain setting angle and a sensor element signal is generated corresponding to a sensor element. The relative velocity of movement of the image capturing device relative to the object is determined, and by evaluating the sensor element signals of at least two sensor elements—voxel—a spatial image angular speed is determined and the object distance is determined using the relative velocity of the image capturing device, the orthogonal object angular speed attained from the spatial image angular speed of the object displayed on the sensor elements and the setting angle of the object. As a result, comprehensive detection of object distances is possible with simple technical media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: I F M ELECTRONIC GMBH
    Inventor: Rudolf Schwarte
  • Patent number: 7238927
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for detecting electromagnetic waves, especially for also detecting the phase and amplitude of electromagnetic waves, using elements that react sensitively to incident electromagnetic waves. The aim of the invention is to provide a method and a device for detecting the phase and amplitude of electromagnetic waves that are economical as possible and also allow relatively high resolution. To this end, the invention provides that the device has two different pixel types, one pixel type being essentially only sensitive to intensity and the other pixel type being essentially only sensitive to phase. Accordingly, two different pixel types are used in the method, one of which reacts essentially to the intensity of the incoming electromagnetic waves, while the other pixel type is phase-sensitive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: PMDTechnologies GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Hartman, Rudolf Schwarte
  • Patent number: 7081980
    Abstract: A method for detecting and/or processing signal waves that produce charge carriers in an article sensitive to the signal waves. At least two modulation electrodes are provided, at least one of which is disposed in proximity to a readout-electrode in such a manner that, depending on the polarity sign of the modulation voltage of the modulation electrode, the current flowing across the readout electrode is positive or negative. The invention further relates to a device for detecting and processing signal waves. The invention provides a method and a device that is capable of interlinking various optical and/or electronic signals in a logically digital or analogous manner or to detect the course of optical signals by scanning (time interval measurements).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Inventor: Rudolf Schwarte
  • Patent number: 7053357
    Abstract: A method and corresponding device for determining the phase and/or amplitude data of an electromagnetic wave. The method comprises the steps: beaming an electromagnetic wave onto the surface of at least one pixel having at least two light sensitive modulation gates Gam, Gbm and associated accumulation gates Ga and Gb, applying modulation voltages Uam(t) and Ubm(t) to gates Gam and Gbm, applying a direct voltage to accumulation gates Ga and Gb, wherein the charge carriers produced in modulation gates Gam and Gbm by the incident electromagnetic wave being subjected to a potential gradient due to the modulation voltages Uam(t) and Ubm(t), thereby drifting to the corresponding accumulation gate Ga or Gb, and forwarding the charge carriers to evaluation electronics. A plurality of corresponding pixels can be assembled to form an array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Inventor: Rudolf Schwarte
  • Patent number: 7012738
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting and processing the amplitude and phase of signal waves. A Modulated signal source generates the signal waves which are modified by transmission medium or by reflection and scattering by at least one object. The modified signal waves are received and demodulated using a modulation signal. The amplitude of the modulated signal waves and their phase relationship to the modulation signal are measured and evaluated. The demodulated signal wave is converted into an electrical charge or charge displacement in the receiving medium and is distributed in accordance with a modulation signal to at least two readout outputs and fed to an evaluation unit. The evaluation unit produces the sum and difference of the output signals thus applying the value of the intensity and the phase position of the signal wave that has been scattered, reflected or delayed by the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Inventor: Rudolf Schwarte
  • Publication number: 20060050352
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting and/or processing signal waves that produce charge carriers in an article sensitive to the signal waves, said charge carriers inducing a signal current in at least one readout electrode. At least two modulation electrodes are provided, at least one of which is disposed in the proximity of the at least one readout electrode or to another readout electrode in such a manner that, depending on the polarity sign of the modulation volatage of the respective modulation electrode, the current flowing across the associated readout electrode is positive or negative. The invention further relates to a device for detecting and processing signal waves. Said device comprises an OEP article that is sensitive to the signal waves, in which article the signal waves produce charge carriers, and at least one readout electrode (AK) that is linked with the charge carrier range of the article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Publication date: March 9, 2006
    Inventor: Rudolf Schwarte
  • Patent number: 6927889
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the recording and processing of the amplitude and phase of signal waves, whereby a signal source generates a modulated signal wave, which is altered on the way thereof through a transmission medium or through an object as a result of reflection and/or dispersion, received by a receiving device and directly demodulated therein, using a modulation signal which has a well-defined relationship to the modulation of the signal waves, by means of a modulation device without the signal wave carrier and recorded and analysed in relation to the amplitude of the modulated signal wave and phase relationship of the modulation pahse of the signal wave and of the modulation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Inventor: Rudolf Schwarte
  • Publication number: 20050092897
    Abstract: A method and corresponding device for determining the phase- and/or amplitude data of an electromagnetic wave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Inventor: Rudolf Schwarte
  • Patent number: 6825455
    Abstract: A method and corresponding device for determining the phase- and/or amplitude data of an electromagnetic wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Inventor: Rudolf Schwarte
  • Patent number: 6777659
    Abstract: The presented invention concerns an apparatus for detecting the phase and amplitude of electromagnetic waves, comprising at least two modulations photogates which are sensitive to the electromagnetic waves, and accumulating gates which are associated with the modulation photogates and which are not photosensitive, and electrical connections for the modulation photogates and the accumulation gates so that the latter can be connected to a reading-out device and the former can be connected to a modulating device which increases and reduces the potential of the modulation photogates relative to each other and relative to the preferably constant potential of the accumulation gates corresponding to a desired modulation function. It is proposed in accordance with the invention that a plurality of modulation photogates and accumulation gates are provided in the form of long narrow parallel strips which group-wise form a PMD-pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Inventor: Rudolf Schwarte
  • Publication number: 20040012834
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the recording and processing of the amplitude and phase of signal waves, whereby a signal source generates a modulated signal wave, which is altered on the way thereof through a transmission medium or through an object as a result of reflection and/or dispersion, received by a receiving device and directly demodulated therein, using a modulation signal which has a well-defined relationship to the modulation of the signal waves, by means of a modulation device without the signal wave carrier and recorded and analysed in relation to the amplitude of the modulated signal wave and phase relationship of the modulation pahse of the signal wave and of the modulation signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventor: Rudolf Schwarte
  • Patent number: 5784024
    Abstract: When measuring speed over ground by means of microwave Doppler radar, signal noise, switching spikes and nearby reflectors reduce the measurement accuracy. In order to avoid these disadvantages, a reference signal which recurs with the period T.sub.0 and a target signal which follows the reference signal after a time interval T.sub.s are emitted via an antenna. That part of the reference signal which has already been received again during transmission of the target signal is subtracted from the target signal which is received later. The difference signal obtained in this way is a measurement signal from which interference spikes, signal noise and nearby reflectors have been largely removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Patric Heide, Richard Schubert, Rudolf Schwarte, Valentin Magori
  • Patent number: 5675275
    Abstract: In order to sample high-frequency signals, it is necessary to have a needle pulse train and a needle pulse train which is inverted with respect thereto. By means of a switch (T) which is controlled by a clock signal (U), a positive operating voltage (U.sub.B+) is applied for a limited period of time to a first conductor (L.sub.1) and a negative operating voltage (U.sub.B-) is applied for a limited period of time to a second conductor (L.sub.2). The two conductors (L.sub.1, L.sub.2) are connected via a respective diode (D.sub.1, D.sub.2), which are biased differently, to a respective resistor (RV.sub.1, RV.sub.2), which is connected to ground, and to a respective capacitor (C.sub.1, C.sub.2). The respective capacitors connected to a respective further resistors (RL.sub.1, RL.sub.2), which is connected to ground, the needle pulse train being present at one resistor and the needle pulse train which is inverted with respect to the first being present at the other resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Patric Heide, Rudolf Schwarte
  • Patent number: 4849644
    Abstract: A distance measuring apparatus based on a time-of-flight measurement of a light pulse is provided. The apparatus includes a light pulse transmitter having a diode laser and a light pulse receiver having a photodiode. Connected to the photodiode is a pulse amplifier and a pulse detector. The pulse detector includes a delay line connected to the pulse amplifier and having a short-circuited end, a threshold valve and zero crossing detector connected to the delay line at a predetermined distance from its short-circuited end, and a timer circuit. The delay line conducts an electrical pulse from the pulse amplifier to its short-circuited end where the pulse is reflected and inverted. The threshold value and zero crossing detector determines when a combination of the electrical pulse and its inverted copy crosses a threshold value and a zero value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Assignee: Zellweger Uster AG
    Inventors: Silvio Mira, Rudolf Schwarte
  • Patent number: 4737624
    Abstract: In an optoelectric distance measuring apparatus, short light pulses emitted by a laser diode are directed via a measuring probe (2) against a target object (9). The light signals reflected are collected by the measuring probe (2) and fed to a photodiode which transmits the thus-formed electric pulse signals to a control and evaluation unit. In order to make it possible to perform an accurate measurement even in the proximate area, the measuring probe (2) is provided with a double face mirror (23) extending along the optical axis of the lens (22) up to the ends of the emitting lightguide (8) and the receiving lightguide (10) which are situated approximately in the zone of the focal point. Preferably, a total-reflecting mirror in the form of two glass prisms is provided, an air gap being located between these prisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1988
    Inventor: Rudolf Schwarte
  • Patent number: 4734587
    Abstract: An optoelectric distance measuring apparatus, wherein short light pulses emitted by a laser diode and reflected by the target object are received by a photodiode, is associated with a time discriminator (12) for the processing of the electric signals, this time discriminator controlling the gate time of a clock generator, the clock pulses of which are gated through to a counter. To provide for a more exact determination of the chronological sequence of electric signals having varying amplitudes, a minimum comparator (22) is connected to the electric pulse source (17), this minimum comparator regulating the offset voltage via an offset circuit in such a way that this voltage is applied at the correct instant to the positive input of a voltage comparator (25) and that, directly thereafter, derivation of the determining point in time takes place from the differentiated signal and from the original signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Inventor: Rudolf Schwarte