Patents Assigned to Balluff GmbH
  • Patent number: 8274274
    Abstract: A position/displacement measuring system is provided comprising at least one magnetically encoded scale body with at least one encoding track and a sensor device with at least one sensor sensitive to the encoding, the at least one encoding track comprising main fields of at least a first type and a second type which are arranged in a periodically alternating manner in at least a first direction, the subfields of the first type and second type being north pole fields and south pole fields, wherein the main fields of the first type and the main fields of the second type are each subdivided into subfields of at least two different types; wherein a length and/or an encoding strength of the subfields within a main field varies in at least the first direction; and wherein, in the main fields of the first type, the total length in the first direction and/or the total surface of field portions of the first type is greater than the total length and/or the total surface of field portions which are not of the first type
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Balluff GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Burkhardt, Achim Zern
  • Patent number: 8239602
    Abstract: Field bus system, comprising (i) at least one field bus module with a connection unit for the connection to a network, wherein a control unit can be connected to the network and the at least one field bus module can be addressed in the network, and with a plurality of ports for the connection of field devices, in particular sensors and/or actuators, and (ii) at least one address connector which has a non-volatile memory for an address, wherein the at least one field bus module has an address port for the at least one address connector and the address of the at least one address connector in the network is communicated to the field bus module via its connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: BALLUFF GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Gutekunst, Florian Hermle
  • Patent number: 8179129
    Abstract: Position/displacement measuring system, comprising a sensor head and an encoded scale body, the scale body extending in a first direction and in a second direction lying transversely to the first direction, and the scale body having a region for incremental position determination with an encoding in the first direction and a region for absolute position determination with an encoding in the second direction, the sensor head having a first sensor device with a sensor resolution parallel to the first direction, which is associated with the region for incremental position determination, and the sensor head having a second sensor device with a sensor resolution in a second direction, which is associated with the region for absolute position determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: BALLUFF GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Burkhardt, Ralph Bauer
  • Patent number: 8179266
    Abstract: In order to provide a sensor that is employable in an advantageous manner and which comprises at least one sensitive element and a housing within which the at least one sensitive element is arranged, it is proposed that at least one RFID data carrier be arranged below a surface of the housing, said data carrier storing sensor properties in a non-volatile manner and being adapted to be read out in a non-contact making manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: BALLUFF GmbH
    Inventor: Rolf Hermle
  • Publication number: 20120049050
    Abstract: A photoelectric barrier apparatus is provided, which comprises a transmitting device for light, a reflecting device and a receiving device for reflected light with at least one photodetector, wherein the at least one photodetector is arranged at an acute angle to an optical axis, wherein the at least one photodetector has a receiving face for light and the acute angle lies between the optical axis and a normal of the receiving face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: BALLUFF GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Hilsenbeck, Alexander Forkl
  • Publication number: 20120041691
    Abstract: A device for detecting a twist angle and/or a torque of a shaft occurring on the shaft and methods for operating the device uses at least one first encoder and at least one second encoder at a predefined spacing therefrom. Each encoder influences at least one coil parameter, is associated with at least a part of the circumference of the shaft, and has at least one track having at least one period per revolution of the shaft. At least first and second inductive sensors scan the first and second encoders, respectively. Each inductive sensor provides a respective sensor signal reflecting at least one measure for the rotational angle of the shaft within the period, and a difference ascertainment unit ascertains and provides the twist angle of the shaft as an angle difference of the two rotational angles detected by the inductive sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: Balluff GmbH
    Inventors: Sorin Fericean, Andrea Hiller-Brod, Reinhard Droxler, Markus Fritton, Daniel Kraeter
  • Publication number: 20110238339
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic component for a sensor apparatus comprising a first terminal device for connecting a sensitive device which is influenceable by a target, a second terminal device for the external communication, and a control device and/or an evaluation device which provides output signals, wherein the component is programmable via the second terminal device, characterized by a first programming level in which parameters for the setup of the sensor apparatus are adjustable and a second programming level in which a characteristic curve of the sensor apparatus is adjustable, wherein the first programming level is hierarchically superordinate to the second programming level and adjustments and/or possibilities of adjustment in the second programming level are a function of adjustments in the first programming level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: BALLUFF GmbH
    Inventors: Sorin Fericean, Frank Kruepl, Markus Fritton, Thomas Reider
  • Publication number: 20100297881
    Abstract: There is provided an electric power supply connecting device for a parameterizable electrical apparatus, comprising a first connector for an electric power source, a second connector to the electrical apparatus and a storage device for parameter data which can be read out by the electrical apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: BALLUFF GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Hoehn, Dieter Reuker
  • Publication number: 20100264939
    Abstract: Inductive sensor module comprising a coil arrangement and a carrier, on which electronic components are arranged, wherein the coil arrangement is arranged on a first side of the carrier and the electronic components are arranged on a second side of the carrier directed away from the first side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: BALLUFF GmbH
    Inventors: Simon Mahler, Martin Kohler, Matthias Kohler, Michael Frauchiger, Christian Gnaegi
  • Publication number: 20100259284
    Abstract: The invention proposes a circuit arrangement for determination of a measuring capacitance (1), comprising a reference circuit portion for defined periodic charging and discharging of a predefined reference capacitance (1a), and a measuring circuit portion for defined periodic charging and discharging of the measuring capacitance (1) to be determined, and at least one circuit portion (4, 7; 4a, 7a) intended to determine at least one value (M2) characteristic of the charging time curve of the reference capacitance (1a) and for deriving at least one value (M1) characteristic of the charging time curve of the measuring capacitance (1), as well as a circuit portion (9) for comparing the at least one value (M2) characteristic of the charging time curve of the reference capacitance (1 a) with the at least one value (M1) characteristic of the charging time curve of the measuring capacitance (1), and for deriving from that comparison the value of the measuring capacitance (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: Balluff GmbH
    Inventor: Frank Winkens
  • Publication number: 20100244815
    Abstract: A position/displacement measuring system is provided comprising at least one magnetically encoded scale body with at least one encoding track and a sensor device with at least one sensor sensitive to the encoding, the at least one encoding track comprising main fields of at least a first type and a second type which are arranged in a periodically alternating manner in at least a first direction, the subfields of the first type and second type being north pole fields and south pole fields, wherein the main fields of the first type and the main fields of the second type are each subdivided into subfields of at least two different types; wherein a length and/or an encoding strength of the subfields within a main field varies in at least the first direction; and wherein, in the main fields of the first type, the total length in the first direction and/or the total surface of field portions of the first type is greater than the total length and/or the total surface of field portions which are not of the first type
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: BALLUFF GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Burkhardt, Achim Zern
  • Publication number: 20100146182
    Abstract: Field bus system, comprising (i) at least one field bus module with a connection unit for the connection to a network, wherein a control unit can be connected to the network and the at least one field bus module can be addressed in the network, and with a plurality of ports for the connection of field devices, in particular sensors and/or actuators, and (ii) at least one address connector which has a non-volatile memory for an address, wherein the at least one field bus module has an address port for the at least one address connector and the address of the at least one address connector in the network is communicated to the field bus module via its connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: BALLUFF GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Gutekunst, Florian Hermle
  • Publication number: 20100102804
    Abstract: Position/displacement measuring system, comprising a sensor head and an encoded scale body, the scale body extending in a first direction and in a second direction lying transversely to the first direction, and the scale body having a region for incremental position determination with an encoding in the first direction and a region for absolute position determination with an encoding in the second direction, the sensor head having a first sensor device with a sensor resolution parallel to the first direction, which is associated with the region for incremental position determination, and the sensor head having a second sensor device with a sensor resolution in a second direction, which is associated with the region for absolute position determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: BALLUFF GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Burkhardt, Ralph Bauer
  • Publication number: 20100097050
    Abstract: A displacement measuring apparatus is provided, which comprises a measuring sensor, a housing, a first board, a second board and a third board, which boards are arranged in the housing and are circuit carriers, wherein the second board and the third board are in each case oriented transversely to the first board, the second board and the third board are connected by means of a first plug-in connection device and the combination of the second board and third board is connected to the first board by means of a second plug-in connection device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: BALLUFF GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen Wangler, Gerd Eckel
  • Publication number: 20100067906
    Abstract: A bandwidth allocation and management system for cellular communication networks. The system includes at least one master optical switch and processing station, a number of aggregation base stations that are in optical fiber, communication with a master optical switching and processing station and a number (for example about 18) of auxiliary cellular base stations surrounded by and supported by each aggregation base station. In preferred embodiments each of a plurality of the aggregation base stations is in communication with one or more auxiliary base stations via a wireless millimeter wave link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: BALLUFF GmbH
    Inventors: Prasanna Adhikari, Hus Tigli, Robert A. Fein
  • Publication number: 20090189738
    Abstract: In order to provide a sensor that is employable in advantageous manner and which comprises at least one sensitive element and a housing within which the at least one sensitive element is arranged, it is proposed that at least one RFID data carrier be arranged below a surface of the housing, said data carrier storing sensor properties in non-volatile manner and being adapted to be read out in non-contact making manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: BALLUFF GmbH
    Inventor: Rolf Hermle
  • Patent number: 7515090
    Abstract: A high-frequency position/path sensor for detecting the approach of an object, with a detection range in a near field, which comprises a high-frequency transmitter and a high-frequency receiver, is proposed. The high-frequency transmitter and the high-frequency receiver are arranged and configured such that a main transmitting direction and a main receiving direction lie at an angle to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: BALLUFF GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Jagiella, Sorin Fericean
  • Publication number: 20080272766
    Abstract: An inductive sensor is provided having a housing with a sensing face and a sensing unit arranged in the housing. The sensing unit has an oscillatory circuit with at least one inductive element. The at least one inductive element is arranged proximate to the sensing face of the housing and has an outer surface made of copper or a copper alloy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: BALLUFF GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Jagiella
  • Publication number: 20080251702
    Abstract: Light barrier device, comprising a housing, a light source, by means of which a radiation beam may be emitted, and a light receiver, wherein the light source and/or the light receiver is positioned on the housing with a joint device, by means of which the light source and/or the light receiver is movable relative to the housing for alignment of the optical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: BALLUFF GmbH
    Inventors: Edgar Melzner, Kerstin Rintelmann, Georg Legen
  • Patent number: 7430236
    Abstract: A communication interface for a path measuring device is provided. The interface can be coupled between the path measuring device and a control device. A path determination can be carried out by the path measuring device by way of a measurement of the propagation time of measurement signals. A measurement of the propagation time can be triggered by way of control signals on a control signal communication channel. A propagation-time signal communication channel is provided for propagation-time signals. The present invention enables a path measuring device to be used universally and in a simple manner, as the communication interface may be coupled to the control signal communication channel and/or to the propagation-time signal communication channel and digital data may be transmittable between the control device and the path measuring device in addition to control signals for the measurement of the propagation time and propagation-time signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Balluff GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Eberle, Thomas Burkhardt, Bernd Buehlmeyer