Patents Assigned to Balluff GmbH
  • Publication number: 20260142066
    Abstract: A description is given of a coil device (10) for a proximity sensor, with a flexible circuit board (12), on which is arranged a conductor track (14) which has a first end region (20) and a second end region (22), wherein the flexible circuit board (12) is rolled up around a roller axis (R) or folded around a folding axis (F) such that the conductor track (14) forms a coil (46), with a rigid circuit board (18) for connecting at least one electronic component (24), and with an electrical connecting element (16), wherein the first end region (20) and the second end region (22) are each electrically connected to the rigid circuit board (18) by means of the electrical connecting element (16). It is thereby possible to produce a modular coil device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2025
    Publication date: May 21, 2026
    Applicant: Balluff GmbH
    Inventor: András Holló
  • Patent number: 12613258
    Abstract: A housing part (10) for a sensor has a transparent, hollow base body which has a toothing (14) in the form of a straight-toothed gearwheel in a circular-cylindrical emission region on its lateral surface. A circuit board of the sensor is partially arranged in the housing part (10). The circuit board has at least one light source which faces the emission region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2026
    Assignee: BALLUFF GMBH
    Inventors: Thorsten Krayer, Paul Ludyga, Peter Petrovics, Lukas Foll, Holger Haupt, Jurgen Schiller, Matthias Hofmann
  • Patent number: 12607486
    Abstract: An inductive displacement sensor having a magnetically permeable measuring head arranged displaceably and/or rotatably on an elongated support, having at least one measuring loop with a geometric shape changing in response to longitudinal/rotational displacement of the measuring head along the support, and having at least one exciter loop by means of which a magnetic flux can be generated in the measuring head. At least two measuring loops being provided, the first measuring loop formed geometrically in such a way that a response, changing as linearly as possible, to a magnetic excitation of the measuring head emerges with a longitudinal/rotational displacement of the measuring head along the support and the least second measuring loop formed geometrically in such a way that a periodically changing response to a magnetic excitation of the measuring head emerges with a longitudinal/rotational displacement of the measuring head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2026
    Assignee: BALLUFF GMBH
    Inventors: Andras Fodor, Sandor Pali
  • Publication number: 20260098747
    Abstract: A sensor element has several planes (E1-E7) arranged orthogonal to a sensor axis (A). A coil (21-23) which is surrounded by a first shielding ring (41-43) is arranged in at least one first plane (E1-E3). The sensor element (10) further has at least one second shielding ring (44-47). In each case, each second shielding ring (44-47) is arranged in a second plane (E4-E7) which does not have a coil (21-23).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2025
    Publication date: April 9, 2026
    Applicant: Balluff GmbH
    Inventors: Ümit Koyuncu, Marton Palmann
  • Patent number: 12578210
    Abstract: In the method and the device described here for operating an electromagnetic, in particular magnetostrictive, or acoustic position measuring device (10) having at least one position sensor (44), at least one position encoder (20) and a waveguide (14), said position measuring device having a control device for triggering an interrogation pulse in the waveguide (14) and an evaluation unit for evaluating a wave form (400-450) recorded by the position sensor (44), wherein the time between the triggering of the interrogation pulse and the point in time at which the wave form (400-450) recorded by the position sensor (44) is recorded is measured to determine the position of the position encoder (20) via the relationship between distance and time, it is in particular provided that position recognition is implemented by means of the position encoder (20) by localising patterns in the wave form (400-450) recorded by the position sensor (44), wherein the localisation of such patterns is implemented on the basis of corr
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2026
    Assignee: BALLUFF GMBH
    Inventors: Zoltan Kantor, Attila Szabo, Tobias Konig
  • Publication number: 20260043680
    Abstract: A flange module (10) for a sensor housing (30) has a bearing area and a substantially cylindrical connection element. An opening passes along the longitudinal axis of the connection element through the bearing area and through the connection element. A first seal runs around a lateral surface of the bearing area. A second seal runs on a contact region between the bearing area and the connection element around a lateral area of the connection element. At least one anti-rotation device is arranged on a side of the bearing area facing away from the connection element (12). The sensor housing (30) has an opening in which the bearing area of the flange module (10) is arranged. At least one anti-rotation device of the sensor housing (30) is engaged with at least one anti-rotation device of the flange module (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2025
    Publication date: February 12, 2026
    Applicant: Balluff GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Rupp, David Salamunovic
  • Publication number: 20250389692
    Abstract: A sensor device (10) for detecting foreign objects (8) in a container (2) filled with a filling material (1), comprises: a magnetic field source (3), at least one magnetic flux conductor (5), a magnetic quantum sensor (4) that is arranged in a first position in the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic flux conductor (5), an opening (11), which is arranged in a second position in the magnetic flux conducted by the at least one magnetic flux conductor (5) and through which the container (2) can be moved, and a control and evaluation unit (6) for controlling the magnetic field source and for evaluating the signals emitted by the magnetic quantum sensor (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2025
    Publication date: December 25, 2025
    Applicant: Balluff GmbH
    Inventors: Albert Dorneich, Mark Eberspächer
  • Patent number: 12481276
    Abstract: In a method for parameterising at least one device (30), at least one environmental value (31) of the device is determined via at least one sensor and/or an automation component. It is checked whether parameters are allocated to the at least one environmental value in a parameter database (32). If parameters are allocated to the at least one environmental value (31) in the parameter database (32), the device (30) is parameterised with parameters from the parameter database (32). If no parameters are allocated to the at least one environmental value (31) in the parameter database (32), the device (30) is parameterised with new parameters. The new parameters are then allocated (54) to the at least one environmental value (31) in the parameter database (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2025
    Assignee: BALLUFF GMBH
    Inventors: Andrea Hiller-Brod, Albert Dorneich, Roland Schaefer, Stephan Langer, Heiko Mahr, Jochen Streib, Joerg Maier
  • Patent number: 12460947
    Abstract: An electronic module for an inductive sensor apparatus is provided which comprises at least one voltage-controlled current source, a current source port connected to the at least one voltage-controlled current source for providing a voltage-controlled current from the at least one voltage-controlled current source, an adder device, an adder input port connected to the adder device, and an adder output port which is connected to the adder device. The current source port is connectable to an electrical resonant circuit and/or to a coil element. The adder input port is connectable to the current source port or to at least one further coil element. By way of the adder device, an operation of addition and/or subtraction of a voltage applied to the adder input port and at least one offset voltage is performed. An evaluation signal for evaluation by an evaluation device is providable at the adder output port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2025
    Assignee: BALLUFF GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Friedrich, Marc Bisch
  • Patent number: 12379404
    Abstract: Circuit arrangement measuring at least one measurement capacitor having inverting amplifier with high open-circuit voltage gain, input connected to connection of at least one measurement capacitor and to connection of negative feedback capacitor, another connection of at least one measurement capacitor connected to a reference potential and another connection of negative feedback capacitor connected to output of inverting amplifier; rectifier circuit fed voltage at the output of inverting amplifier and generates at its output voltage corresponding to voltage at output of inverting amplifier; a holding capacitor buffering voltage supply of inverting amplifier and rectifier circuit, a supply voltage connection of inverting amplifier supplied with a periodic control voltage with respect to reference potential and other supply voltage connection of inverting amplifier supplied via a diode with external supply voltage, periodic control voltage generated by signal source having a control input via which level of pe
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2025
    Assignee: BALLUFF GMBH
    Inventor: Frank Winkens
  • Patent number: 12352641
    Abstract: A strain measurement device (10) for electrically determining a strain of a basic body, having a carrier film (12) which can be applied to the basic body (40), an electric measuring loop (14) printed onto the carrier film (12) of conductive printing paste/printing ink, which has a measuring element (16) for generating an electrical signal based on the strain and which has four conducting tracks (18) connected to the measuring element (16) for four-wire sensing, the four conducting tracks (18) each having an electrical conductor connection (22), the conducting tracks (18), the conductor connections (22) and the measuring element (16) being printed with the same printing paste. Furthermore, an overall device (38) with such a strain measurement device (10), the strain measurement device (10) being connected to a base unit (44) which has an evaluation unit (46) and an energy supply unit (48).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: BALLUFF GMBH
    Inventors: Manuela Schmidt, Jonas Holder, Florian Liebgott, Albert Dorneich, Julian Fial, Gunter Huebner, Aakash Grewal, Hubertus Breier
  • Patent number: 12339793
    Abstract: Operating IO-Link system having wirelessly connected IO-Link masters and several IO-Link devices divided into groups wirelessly connected by control system, at least one master with different configurations, one master with first configuration to operate first group of devices; a first process loop connected between at least one master and first group devices, checking communication status of connected devices of first group; at least second process loop reading devices of first group, setting configuration values for operation of first group devices, at least one master with at least second configuration operates at least second group of devices; at least third process loop connected between at least one master and devices of at least second group devices, checking communication status of connected devices of at least second group devices; at least fourth process loop reading devices of at least second group, setting configuration values for operation of at least second group devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: BALLUFF GMBH
    Inventors: Sebastian Hagen, Ulrich Baur, Matthias Beyer, Manuela Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20250189611
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement (10) for evaluating the output signal of an inductive or capacitive proximity switch (105) for switching processes in the low to medium frequency range, comprising a transistor (T) in an emitter circuit, the base of which can be fed an input signal (Vdem), at the collector of which an output signal (Vs) characterising a switching process can be tapped off and the emitter of which is set to a predefined potential (VRef), is characterised in that a coupling capacitor (Ck) is connected between emitter and base which transmits interfering brief voltage peaks at the base directly to the emitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2024
    Publication date: June 12, 2025
    Applicant: Balluff GmbH
    Inventor: Marton Palmann
  • Publication number: 20250183556
    Abstract: An antenna arrangement has a patch antenna with multiple notches and at least one pair of parasitic patches which are arranged in mirror symmetry at opposite ends of the patch antenna. A radar array, which is set up to transmit and receive radar waves, has multiple such antenna arrangements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2024
    Publication date: June 5, 2025
    Applicant: Balluff GmbH
    Inventors: Patrick Schweizer, Matthias Hofherr
  • Patent number: 12222227
    Abstract: A sensor device for detecting at least one physical variable, comprising a housing, at least one sensor element arranged in the housing, at least one circuit board arranged in the housing and comprising a circuit arrangement, and at least one input device arranged on the housing for carrying out input operations which are processed in the circuit arrangement to influence the sensor properties, is characterised in that the input device, to realise a touch-sensitive effect, comprises an actuation area, which is arranged on a housing wall and is permeable to electric fields, and a capacitive area, which is arranged on the circuit board or is formed as part of the circuit board, and in that the circuit board is arranged in the housing such that the capacitive area lies directly below the actuation area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: BALLUFF GMBH
    Inventors: Christoph Boeckenhoff, Robert Meisenbacher, Nick Hof
  • Patent number: 12124911
    Abstract: An RFID antenna device (10) for emitting and/or receiving circularly polarised electromagnetic radiation, comprising a radiator unit (12) which has a radiator network (14) with multiple at least partially curved radiator portions (16) and an auxiliary antenna (20) which is galvanically isolated from the radiator network (14) and is inductively or capacitively coupled to the radiator network (14), a supply network unit (22) having a power division portion (26) with a device port and having at least one delay portion (28) which is electrically conductively connected to the power division portion (26) and is electrically conductively connected to the radiator portions (16), wherein the auxiliary antenna (20) is centrally located between the radiator portions (16). Further, an RFID sensor device comprising such an RFID antenna device (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: BALLUFF GMBH
    Inventors: Debraj Kar, Matthias Hofherr, Fabian Hauser, Daniel Schweizer, Christoph Bauch, Marc Lechler, Thomas Graf
  • Patent number: 12105645
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for distributing a network stream from at least one data source to a plurality of processors or processor cores of a computing device. The computing device has a network card which supports the receive side scaling (RSS) function, wherein, when this function is activated, the network card or its device driver generates an RSS indirection table (25) in which there is stored, for each index, the number of a processor or processor core, which will process an incoming data packet assigned to this index, and subsequently the network card calculates a hash value for each incoming data packet and maps the hash value to an index in precisely this table, wherein the hash value is formed via the combination of source and destination IP addresses and ports and is thus static for the duration of the connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: BALLUFF GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Battmer, Frank Hoschle
  • Patent number: 12007922
    Abstract: The invention relates to an IO-Link system comprising at least one IO-Link master (1), at least one IO-Link device (2) and at least one IO-Link-capable infrastructure component (30). The at least one IO-Link master (1) and the at least one IO-Link device (2) are connected via the at least one infrastructure component (30) and exchange data via a data channel (K1). The infrastructure component (30) has an apparatus (61, 62) for recording diagnostic data. A diagnostic channel (K2) is provided in the IO-Link system, via which diagnostic channel (K2) the diagnostic data can be sent and received between the at least one infrastructure component (30) and the at least one IO-Link master (1) separately from the data channel (K1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: BALLUFF GMBH
    Inventors: Norbert Magyar, Zoltan Kasa
  • Patent number: 11928809
    Abstract: A device for generating an image of an object by electromagnetic waves has a transmission device which is set up to radiate electromagnetic waves in the direction of the object, a receiving device which is set up to receive electromagnetic waves from the object, and a digital processing and control unit which is set up to generate image data of the object from the measured data. Here, the transmission device and the receiving device are arranged in at least one modular unit. The digital processing and control unit has an interface via which different modular units can be exchangeably coupled to the digital processing and control unit. Here, the interface is set up to transmit data to the modular unit and to receive from this, to transmit control signals to the transmission device and to the receiving device, and to supply the modular unit with energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Balluff GmbH
    Inventor: Mark Eberspaecher
  • Patent number: 11906284
    Abstract: A method for detecting an edge of an object is carried out by means of a detection device (10), which has an emission region running along a first straight line and has a receiving region which runs along a second straight line, which is arranged in parallel to the first straight line. An emission subregion (11a-p) of the emission region is selected, which extends up to a first end of the emission region. Light is emitted from the emission subregion (11a-p) and a light signal of light reflected on the object is received in the receiving region. The emission subregion (11a-p) is then shifted along the first straight line in the direction of a second end of the emission region. Emitting, receiving and shifting are repeated until the emission subregion (11a-p) extends up to the second end at the start of the shifting step. A signal course is compiled from the received light signals, and the detection of the edge from the signal course is carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: BALLUFF GMBH
    Inventors: Juri Schroffenegger, Sergej Hense