Patents by Inventor THOMAS LAUTENBACHER

THOMAS LAUTENBACHER 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: 20220167354
    Abstract: A method for transmitting data or sensor data by radio between a preferably fixed battery-operated node and base station in a communication system with bidirectional radio transmission, includes providing a base station communication module having a first frequency transmitter, and a node communication module having a first frequency transmitter and second frequency transmitter with lower frequency. The node communication module transmits data in the uplink to the base station communication module by splitting a radio telegram into data packets transmitted successively with temporal spacing. The base station communication module transmits data in the downlink to the node communication module by splitting a radio telegram into data packets transmitted successively with temporal spacing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Raphael Mzyk, Hristo Petkov, Thomas Lautenbacher, Thomas Kauppert
  • Publication number: 20220167295
    Abstract: A method transmits data via radio between a node and a base station with bidirectional radio transmission-based operation. The base station has a communication module with a first frequency transmitter. The node has a communication module with a first frequency transmitter and a second frequency transmitter with a frequency lower than the first frequency transmitter. The communication module of the node is intended to transmit data in the uplink to the communication module of the base station by virtue of a radio telegram being split into two data packets transmitted successively with a temporal spacing. The communication module of the base station transmits data in the downlink to the communication module of the node by virtue of a radio telegram being split into two data packets transmitted successively with a temporal spacing. The transmission time and/or the carrier frequency of at least one of the data packets is corrected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Hristo Petkov, Thomas Lautenbacher, Thomas Kauppert, Raphael Mzyk
  • Patent number: 11240758
    Abstract: A method for operating an electronic consumption-data acquisition device includes wirelessly transferring consumption data to a receiver over a first radio system, operating the consumption-data acquisition device in a first operating mode in which the consumption data is transferred over the first radio system and a second operating mode having a lower rate of transmission and/or readiness to receive compared with the first operating mode, with it being possible to switch between the first and second operating modes. The switchover between the first and second operating modes is performed by a second radio system. A consumption-data acquisition device includes a communication module having a radio apparatus for a second radio system which can be used to perform the switchover between the first and second operating modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Diehl Metering Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Hristo Petkov, Thomas Lautenbacher, Thomas Kauppert, Klaus Gottschalk
  • Patent number: 11206464
    Abstract: A method and a device are used during battery operation of a smart metering meter equipped with a consumption sensor and a transmit clock generator for a radio module for transmitting consumption data packets, in the event of a decreased residual capacity of the battery, to determine if the data packets can be transmitted as previously with the residual capacity over the residual time period until a scheduled battery exchange at the end of a specified operating time period. If not, the transmit power, for example, of the data packets is reduced and/or their transmit clock is extended over the residual period. This determination, along with a control specification, are preferably performed in a concentrator and are transmitted to the meter by using bidirectionally operating radio modules so that computer capacities required therefor need not be retained in each individual meter of a supply area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Diehl Metering Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Hristo Petkov, Thomas Lautenbacher, Thomas Kauppert, Klaus Gottschalk
  • Patent number: 11206125
    Abstract: A method distributes data in a communication system which has a group of metering units arranged in each case to measure the consumption of a delivered supply medium, and a data collector. Each metering unit has a communication module, a frequency reference device, and a processor to operate the metering unit on the basis of the data. The metering units and the data collector are arranged in a communication network, wherein the data are transmitted by the data collector via the communication system within a session, common to the group of metering unit. A synchronization sequence common to the metering units is transmitted within the common session and the synchronization sequence is dimensioned in such a way that the frequency reference device of each metering unit in the group of metering units is synchronized with the transmitted synchronization sequence within a session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Diehl Metering Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Hristo Petkov, Thomas Lautenbacher, Thomas Kauppert, Klaus Gottschalk
  • Patent number: 11070319
    Abstract: Domestic data are transmitted in the form of data messages from a data source to a memory in an unsynchronized manner in time slots via a freely accessible and accordingly heavily used transmission channel. On account of the interfering influences on the long data messages which occur in this case, the transmission of the data messages must be repeated several times until a data message is received without interference once. A comparator is used to determine a packet error rate from the ratio of the number of data messages received without interference over a certain period to the number of data messages actually transmitted during the period. A predefined packet error rate can be adaptively complied with despite varying transmission circumstances by varying the repeated transmissions per unit time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Diehl Metering Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Hristo Petkov, Thomas Lautenbacher, Thomas Kauppert, Klaus Gottschalk
  • Patent number: 10962977
    Abstract: A method provides communication between a meter and a flying device. The meter records consumption data. The flying device performs flight movements to a prescribed target position of the meter. Radio signals are received by a reception device and information is ascertained, relating to the transmission quality of a radio channel, based on the received signals. A poor transmission quality, satisfaction of which is dependent on the quality of the information, results in the reception of received signals and the ascertainment of the information being repeated after a communication protocol for communication with the meter has been changed, a position of the flying device being altered and/or a directivity of the reception device is altered until the transmission quality or a termination condition is satisfied. Upon having a satisfactory quality condition, meter information is captured and a message for controlling the operation of the meter is sent to the meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignees: Diehl Metering Systems GmbH, Diehl Metering GmbH
    Inventors: Hristo Petkov, Thomas Lautenbacher, Thomas Kauppert, Klaus Gottschalk, Raphael Mzyk, Philip Roehrle, Michael Traenkler
  • Patent number: 10883853
    Abstract: A method improves the transmission quality between a data collector and a plurality of metering units. A first communication module is assigned to the data collector and a second communication module is assigned in each case to a metering unit. The second communication module transmits data via radio signals to the first communication module. The first communication module has a first frequency reference device and the second communication module has a second frequency reference device. The radio signals transmitted are dependent on the second frequency reference device. The measurement of a parameter of the radio signal is performed by the first communication module. An estimation of an error of the second frequency reference device on the basis of the parameter measured values is determined. An adjustment of the frequency of the first frequency reference device is performed such that the error is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Diehl Metering Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Hristo Petkov, Thomas Lautenbacher, Thomas Kauppert, Klaus Gottschalk
  • Patent number: 10820070
    Abstract: Data are transmitted by radio between a terminal and a data collector. The data collector is intermittently or constantly in receive mode. The terminal attempts, from an idle phase, to set up a communication with the data collector in order to send all or some of the data to the data collector and/or to receive them from the data collector. Alternatively, the data collector attempts to set up a communication with the terminal in order to send all or some of the data to the terminal and/or to receive them from the terminal. The setup of the communication is followed by the terminal sending a message to the data collector and the data collector, after receiving the message, continuing, interrupting and/or terminating the transmission of the data during communication on a basis of the content of the message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Diehl Metering Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Hristo Petkov, Thomas Lautenbacher, Thomas Kauppert, Raphael Mzyk
  • Patent number: 10805142
    Abstract: To optimally receive smart meter control messages transmitted by a concentrator, in a meter having a transceiver for bidirectional data interchange, despite its minimal resources, a current modulation reference frequency which is subject to drift is shifted by the instantaneous frequency difference between the current transmitter-side reference frequency and the current transceiver-side reference frequency in the concentrator. Therefore, the current reference frequencies correspond in the downlink without having to intervene in the meter. This frequency difference in the concentrator is obtained by comparing the current receiver-side demodulation reference frequency with the current transmitter-side reference frequency, and the current transceiver-side reference frequency, on the other hand, from messages from the transmitter of the concentrator and from the transceiver of the meter which are received using the receiver of the concentrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Diehl Metering Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Hristo Petkov, Thomas Lautenbacher, Thomas Kauppert, Klaus Gottschalk, Raphael Mzyk
  • Patent number: 10743089
    Abstract: Data are transmitted and/or received in a communication system by a communication participant, which has a communication device, a microprocessor, and an energy supply. The latter has an electrical variable that changes from an initial value when it supplies the microprocessor and/or the communication device with energy. The microprocessor encodes the data before transmission and/or decodes the data after reception, each using a computing cycle. When the electrical variable changes during the computing cycle, it is interrupted, preferably at any desired point. The encoding and/or decoding are carried out separately during the computing cycle in individual encoding phases in which the value of the electrical variable changes. Regeneration phases for regenerating the electrical variable are provided between and/or within the encoding phases. The duration of a regeneration phase is such that the value of the electrical variable approaches or reaches the initial value during the regeneration phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Diehl Metering Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Hristo Petkov, Thomas Lautenbacher, Thomas Kauppert, Klaus Gottschalk
  • Publication number: 20200127807
    Abstract: A method distributes data in a communication system which has a group of metering units arranged in each case to measure the consumption of a delivered supply medium, and a data collector. Each metering unit has a communication module, a frequency reference device, and a processor to operate the metering unit on the basis of the data. The metering units and the data collector are arranged in a communication network, wherein the data are transmitted by the data collector via the communication system within a session, common to the group of metering unit. A synchronization sequence common to the metering units is transmitted within the common session and the synchronization sequence is dimensioned in such a way that the frequency reference device of each metering unit in the group of metering units is synchronized with the transmitted synchronization sequence within a session.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Hristo Petkov, Thomas Lautenbacher, Thomas Kauppert, Klaus Gottschalk
  • Publication number: 20200112914
    Abstract: A method for operating an electronic consumption-data acquisition device includes wirelessly transferring consumption data to a receiver over a first radio system, operating the consumption-data acquisition device in a first operating mode in which the consumption data is transferred over the first radio system and a second operating mode having a lower rate of transmission and/or readiness to receive compared with the first operating mode, with it being possible to switch between the first and second operating modes. The switchover between the first and second operating modes is performed by a second radio system. A consumption-data acquisition device includes a communication module having a radio apparatus for a second radio system which can be used to perform the switchover between the first and second operating modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: Hristo Petkov, Thomas Lautenbacher, Thomas Kauppert, Klaus Gottschalk
  • Publication number: 20200053437
    Abstract: A method and a device are used during battery operation of a smart metering meter equipped with a consumption sensor and a transmit clock generator for a radio module for transmitting consumption data packets, in the event of a decreased residual capacity of the battery, to determine if the data packets can be transmitted as previously with the residual capacity over the residual time period until a scheduled battery exchange at the end of a specified operating time period. If not, the transmit power, for example, of the data packets is reduced and/or their transmit clock is extended over the residual period. This determination, along with a control specification, are preferably performed in a concentrator and are transmitted to the meter by using bidirectionally operating radio modules so that computer capacities required therefor need not be retained in each individual meter of a supply area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: HRISTO PETKOV, THOMAS LAUTENBACHER, THOMAS KAUPPERT, KLAUS GOTTSCHALK
  • Publication number: 20190387289
    Abstract: Data are transmitted by radio between a terminal and a data collector. The data collector is intermittently or constantly in receive mode. The terminal attempts, from an idle phase, to set up a communication with the data collector in order to send all or some of the data to the data collector and/or to receive them from the data collector. Alternatively, the data collector attempts to set up a communication with the terminal in order to send all or some of the data to the terminal and/or to receive them from the terminal. The setup of the communication is followed by the terminal sending a message to the data collector and the data collector, after receiving the message, continuing, interrupting and/or terminating the transmission of the data during communication on a basis of the content of the message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: HRISTO PETKOV, THOMAS LAUTENBACHER, THOMAS KAUPPERT, RAPHAEL MZYK
  • Publication number: 20190281369
    Abstract: Data are transmitted and/or received in a communication system by a communication participant, which has a communication device, a microprocessor, and an energy supply. The latter has an electrical variable that changes from an initial value when it supplies the microprocessor and/or the communication device with energy. The microprocessor encodes the data before transmission and/or decodes the data after reception, each using a computing cycle. When the electrical variable changes during the computing cycle, it is interrupted, preferably at any desired point. The encoding and/or decoding are carried out separately during the computing cycle in individual encoding phases in which the value of the electrical variable changes. Regeneration phases for regenerating the electrical variable are provided between and/or within the encoding phases. The duration of a regeneration phase is such that the value of the electrical variable approaches or reaches the initial value during the regeneration phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: HRISTO PETKOV, THOMAS LAUTENBACHER, THOMAS KAUPPERT, KLAUS GOTTSCHALK
  • Publication number: 20190271565
    Abstract: A method improves the transmission quality between a data collector and a plurality of metering units. A first communication module is assigned to the data collector and a second communication module is assigned in each case to a metering unit. The second communication module transmits data via radio signals to the first communication module. The first communication module has a first frequency reference device and the second communication module has a second frequency reference device. The radio signals transmitted are dependent on the second frequency reference device. The measurement of a parameter of the radio signal is performed by the first communication module. An estimation of an error of the second frequency reference device on the basis of the parameter measured values is determined. An adjustment of the frequency of the first frequency reference device is performed such that the error is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: HRISTO PETKOV, THOMAS LAUTENBACHER, THOMAS KAUPPERT, KLAUS GOTTSCHALK
  • Publication number: 20190273580
    Abstract: Domestic data are transmitted in the form of data messages from a data source to a memory in an unsynchronized manner in time slots via a freely accessible and accordingly heavily used transmission channel. On account of the interfering influences on the long data messages which occur in this case, the transmission of the data messages must be repeated several times until a data message is received without interference once. A comparator is used to determine a packet error rate from the ratio of the number of data messages received without interference over a certain period to the number of data messages actually transmitted during the period. A predefined packet error rate can be adaptively complied with despite varying transmission circumstances by varying the repeated transmissions per unit time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: HRISTO PETKOV, THOMAS LAUTENBACHER, THOMAS KAUPPERT, KLAUS GOTTSCHALK
  • Publication number: 20190253928
    Abstract: In the repeated transmission of information in the form of a coded packet from a transmitter via a radio link to a receiver, an interference-free receive packet is quickly available if interference-free subpackets are assembled from the packet as subpackets of the interference-free receive packet. For this purpose, subpackets of successively received and temporarily stored packets assigned to one another can be compared with one another and, in the event of a match, can be inserted in a gap-filling manner into the received packet. Alternatively, the successive packets are already divided in each case at the transmitting end into subpackets provided with error detection codes, the subpackets being incorporated into the received packet as soon as they have been correctly received in a packet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: HRISTO PETKOV, THOMAS LAUTENBACHER, THOMAS KAUPPERT, KLAUS GOTTSCHALK
  • Publication number: 20190146502
    Abstract: A method provides communication between a meter and a flying device. The meter records consumption data. The flying device performs flight movements to a prescribed target position of the meter. Radio signals are received by a reception device and information is ascertained, relating to the transmission quality of a radio channel, based on the received signals. A poor transmission quality, satisfaction of which is dependent on the quality of the information, results in the reception of received signals and the ascertainment of the information being repeated after a communication protocol for communication with the meter has been changed, a position of the flying device being altered and/or a directivity of the reception device is altered until the transmission quality or a termination condition is satisfied. Upon having a satisfactory quality condition, meter information is captured and a message for controlling the operation of the meter is sent to the meter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: HRISTO PETKOV, THOMAS LAUTENBACHER, THOMAS KAUPPERT, KLAUS GOTTSCHALK, RAPHAEL MZYK, PHILIP ROEHRLE, MICHAEL TRAENKLER