Patents Assigned to Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
  • Patent number: 12098919
    Abstract: In a device and method for determining a contact between a tool and a workpiece, which are displaceable relative to each other, the tool or workpiece being rotationally fixedly connected to a shaft, the device includes a measuring arrangement including a measuring scale rotationally fixedly disposed on the shaft and at least one position encoder disposed in a stationary manner relative to the shaft, and a processing device. The position encoder is adapted to scan the measuring scale and to generate position values indicating a position of the shaft. The position values are fed to the processing device, which determines contact between the tool and the workpiece by evaluating a progression of the position values and signals the result of the evaluation by the status of a displacement signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBH
    Inventors: Ingo Joachimsthaler, Sebastian Schmidt, Johann Mitterreiter, Robert Metzke, Christian Rebelein, Alois Bartlechner, Sebastian Gruber
  • Patent number: 12044553
    Abstract: A scanning unit for determining a relative angular position of an angular scale that is rotatable about an axis relative to the scanning unit includes a circuit board and evaluation electronics. A detector assembly is disposed in a manner that enables scanning of the angular scale. A contact carrier encloses electrical contacts for creating a plug-and-socket connection. The contact carrier has an outer wall and is mounted on the circuit board such that the electrical contacts extend in a direction having an axial component. A housing body is provided with an opening having an inner wall. A first elastic element is disposed under radial preload such that the contact carrier is centered with respect to the inner wall of the opening. The circuit board is torsionally rigidly attached to the housing body such that the circuit board is radially spaced therefrom by a first gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBH
    Inventors: Gregor Rosenegger, Andreas Mitterer, Christian Funk, Erich Strasser
  • Patent number: 12031886
    Abstract: A sensor assembly for measuring a torsion of a rotor blade of a wind turbine generator system includes a first light source configured to generate light and a first transmitter-side polarizer disposed downstream thereof in a direction of light propagation and configured to generate linearly polarized light as a first transmission light. A second light source is configured to generate unpolarized light as a second transmission light. First and second detector elements are arranged and adapted to receive the first and second transmission light. A first receiver-side polarizer is disposed upstream of the first detector element in the direction of light propagation and a second receiver-side polarizer is disposed upstream of the second detector element in the direction of light propagation. An orientation of a polarization plane of the first receiver-side polarizer and an orientation of a polarization plane of the second receiver-side polarizer are different from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Meissner, Franz Langrieger, Siegfried Reichhuber, Stefan Gilg
  • Patent number: 12025474
    Abstract: A measuring device includes first and second component groups rotatable about an axis relative to each other. The first component group has a scanning component, having a first substrate, and the second component group has a scale component, having a second substrate and an angle scale. The measuring device can determine a relative angular position between the component groups. The measuring device has a passive sensor array having conductor track structures. The conductor track structures are applied on the first substrate by an additive process so that the sensor array determines a torsional load of the first substrate about the axis. Alternatively, the conductor track structures are applied on the second substrate by an additive process so that the sensor array determines a torsional load of the second substrate about the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBH
    Inventors: Daniel Auer, Christoph Heinemann, Marc Oliver Tiemann
  • Patent number: 11946782
    Abstract: An optical position-measuring device for determining a relative position of scales includes a light source, the scales and a detector. The scales are movable relative to each other along measurement directions and disposed in different planes in crossed relation to each other, and each have a graduation having grating regions which are arranged periodically and have different optical properties. At the first scale, the illumination beam is split into sub-beams, the sub-beams subsequently impinge on the second scale and are reflected back toward the first scale, and the reflected-back sub-beams strike the first scale again, where they are recombined, so that a resulting signal beam subsequently propagates toward the detector. The measuring graduation of one or more of the scales is configured as a two-dimensional cross grating which has a filtering effect that suppresses disturbing higher diffraction orders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBH
    Inventor: Thomas Kaelberer
  • Patent number: 11940304
    Abstract: A position-measuring device includes a scale having first and second measuring graduations, which each include graduation structures that respectively extend parallel to first and second directions. A first scanning unit is associated with the first measuring graduation, and second and third scanning units are associated with the second measuring graduation. A fourth scanning unit is associated with the first or second measuring graduation. In the former case, a first straight connecting line running through scanning locations of the first and fourth scanning units and a second straight connecting line running through scanning locations of the second and third scanning units are parallel or form a predetermined angle therebetween that is not equal to a sum of the angles of the first and second directions. In the latter case, the scanning locations of the second, third and fourth scanning units do not lie on a common straight connecting line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBH
    Inventors: Josef Mitterleitner, Thomas Becker
  • Patent number: 11933643
    Abstract: An inductive angle measuring device includes a scanning element and a scale element having scale tracks. First and third scale tracks have an equal first number of scale structures, and a second scale track has a different number of scale structures. The scale tracks are arranged circumferentially and concentrically about an axis, such that the first scale track is located radially inwardly, the second scale track is located radially between the first scale track and the third scale track, and the third scale track is located radially outwardly. The scanning element includes receiver conductors by which the signals having angle-related signal periods can be generated. The first signal period is equal to the third signal period. An overall signal can be generated from the first signal and the third signal and can be combined with the second signal for determining absolute angle position information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBH
    Inventors: Marc Oliver Tiemann, Martin Heumann, Alexander Frank
  • Patent number: 11913814
    Abstract: A position-measuring device includes a carrier body having a first and second measuring graduations and a reference mark. The first and second measuring graduations include graduation structures periodically arranged along first and second measurement directions, respectively, that are perpendicular to each other. The graduation structures of the first measuring graduation each extend parallel to a first direction and the reference mark extends in a second direction that forms an angle different from 0° with the first direction. First and second scanners are configured to scan the first and second measuring graduations and generate first and second scanning signals, respectively. A third scanner is configured to scan the reference mark and generate a reference pulse. The position-measuring device is configured such that a phase angle of the reference pulse is determined as a function of the first scanning signals and the reference pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBH
    Inventors: Pascal Haible, Alois Bartlechner, Sebastian Gruber
  • Patent number: 11885607
    Abstract: An interferometric distance-measurement device includes a multi-wavelength light source which provides a beam having at least three different wavelengths. An interferometer unit splits the beam into measuring and reference beams. The measuring beam propagates in the direction of a measuring reflector movable along a measuring axis and undergoes a back-reflection, and the reference beam propagates in the direction of a stationary reference reflector and undergoes a back-reflection. The back-reflected measuring and reference beams interfere with each other in an interference beam. A detection unit splits the interference beam such that several phase-shifted partial interference signals result for each wavelength. A signal processing unit determines absolute position information regarding the measuring reflector from the partial interference signals of different wavelengths and an additional coarse position signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBH
    Inventor: Herbert Huber-Lenk
  • Patent number: 11874107
    Abstract: A device for processing rotation-dependent measured values includes a data converter, a sequencing control, and an output interface. Series of measured values, which are a function of the rotation of a shaft and of which at least one is an angle value that indicates the angular position of the shaft, are conveyable to the data converter at constant time intervals of a measuring interval. The data converter is adapted to subdivide a rotation of the shaft into sectors and, using one of the angle values as a reference angle value, to allocate received measured values to a sector, and per rotation of the shaft, to ascertain for each series of measured values precisely one result value for each sector. The result values are able to be output to the output interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBH
    Inventors: Ingo Joachimsthaler, Sebastian Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11841248
    Abstract: A scanning element includes a circuit board having a first detector unit provided with a first receiver conductor trace arranged circumferentially about an axis in the circumferential direction. The course of the first receiver conductor trace has: a periodic configuration along a first line; a first gap along its extension in the circumferential direction; a first amplitude in the first quadrant or in the second quadrant of a Cartesian coordinate system; and a second amplitude in the third quadrant or in the fourth quadrant of the coordinate system. The origin of the coordinate system is located on the axis, and the ordinate extends centrically through the first gap in relation to the circumferential direction. The second amplitude is smaller than the first amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Heumann, Christoph Heinemann
  • Patent number: 11828630
    Abstract: In an optical position-measuring device for acquiring the rotational angle between two objects that are rotationally moveable relative to each other, a grating measuring standard rotating about an axis of rotation is arranged as a reflection grating. Position information both about an azimuthal rotary movement about the axis of rotation and about a radial displacement of the grating measuring standard is able to be obtained. At least one detection unit is used for scanning the rotating grating measuring standard in order to determine the azimuthal rotational angle as well as a radial displacement of the grating measuring standard. The neutral pivot points of the scanning of the grating measuring standard for the determination of the rotational angle and the displacement are situated in the same plane, with this plane being situated in parallel with the grating measuring standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Holzapfel, Daniel Frese, Christoph Lingk
  • Patent number: 11796297
    Abstract: A position-measuring device includes a housing having a first portion in the form of a hollow section and extending in a longitudinal direction. The housing includes at least a first passage and a second passage, the first and second passages each extending in the longitudinal direction at least partially through the first portion. A scale is disposed within the housing for being scanned as part of a position measurement. The position-measuring device includes a connecting channel, the first and second passages being interconnected via the connecting channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBH
    Inventors: Thilo Schlicksbier, Tarek Nutzinger
  • Patent number: 11796301
    Abstract: A sensor element for storing rotation or position information includes a substrate and a domain wall conductor arranged on the substrate. A course of the domain wall conductor is of a closed circumferential, continuous configuration without crossings. The domain wall conductor comprises a first region having a positive curvature and a second region having a negative curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBH
    Inventors: Johannes Schneider, Wolfgang Holzapfel, Martin Heumann
  • Patent number: 11796313
    Abstract: A position-measuring device includes a measuring transducer configured to carry out a position measurement. The position-measuring device has at least one memory having stored parameter data defining an active configuration under which the position-measuring device is operable. The at least one memory further has data and instructions useable to activate at least one further configuration under which the position-measuring device is operable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBH
    Inventors: Rudolf Mittmann, Ingo Joachimsthaler
  • Patent number: 11740068
    Abstract: A scanning element includes a circuit board and electronic components. The circuit board includes first and second shielding layers, a first detector unit is arranged in first and second layers, and a second detector unit is arranged in third and fourth layers. A first straight line passes through the first detector unit and the first shielding layer but not through the second shielding layer. Starting from the first detector unit, the first shielding layer is located beyond the center plane. A second straight line passes through the second detector unit and the second shielding layer but not through the first shielding layer. Starting from the second detector unit, the second shielding layer is located beyond the center plane. The first and second straight lines are orthogonal to the center plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Heinemann, Marc Oliver Tiemann
  • Patent number: 11733019
    Abstract: An assembly comprises a support including a plurality of individual sections. A scale is disposed on the support. The scale extends in a longitudinal direction and has a measuring graduation for position measurement at least in the longitudinal direction. A plurality of fastening devices are configured to fasten the scale to the support. The fastening devices are disposed on the individual sections of the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBH
    Inventor: Kilian Bauer
  • Patent number: 11733066
    Abstract: An assembly includes a rotary encoder having a shaft rotatable about an axis relative to a housing, a tolerance ring and a body accommodating the rotary encoder and the tolerance ring. The housing includes an outer wall having first and second distances from the axis in first and second sections, respectively, the first distance being greater than the second distance. The body has an opening that is: bounded radially by a first inner wall having third and fourth distances from the axis in third and fourth sections, the fourth distance being greater than the third distance; and bounded by a second inner wall which forms an axial stop for the housing. The tolerance ring surrounds the housing and is positioned within the opening such that it is disposed radially between the first and fourth sections and between the second and third sections, and is radially clamped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBH
    Inventors: Stephan Mix, Sebastian Riepertinger, Thomas Jaeger
  • Patent number: 11725923
    Abstract: A method for positioning a body that has a surface extending along a circular arc, includes: attaching the body to a machine part that is capable of swiveling; attaching a stationary, first distance gauge; attaching a stationary, second distance gauge; determining three first distance values and three second distance values at three defined angular positions of the machine part different from each other; calculating a first offset value, based on the three first distance values and the corresponding angular positions, and a second offset value, based on the three second distance values and the corresponding angular positions; shifting the body relative to the machine part, until the first offset value is determined by the first distance gauge and the second offset value is determined by the second distance gauge within permissible tolerances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GmbH
    Inventors: Alois Bartlechner, Sebastian Gruber, Jürgen Hertenberger, Karsten Sändig
  • Patent number: 11686568
    Abstract: A scanning element includes a multi-layer circuit board and electronic components, and the circuit board includes a first detector unit having a first receiver track. Moreover, the circuit board includes a second detector unit having a second receiver track. The circuit board has a geometrical center plane located between the detector units. The receiver tracks include first and second receiver conductor traces, each having a periodic characteristic, and the first receiver track has a first gap along its extension, which is restricted by the first receiver conductor traces. The second receiver track has a second gap, which is restricted by the second receiver conductor traces. The circuit board has a plated through-hole arranged both within the first gap and within the second gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Heinemann, Martin Heumann, Marc Oliver Tiemann