Patents Assigned to Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
  • Patent number: 7707730
    Abstract: An annular body has an angle scale for measuring the rotational position of a machine part about an axis, the body having recesses and projections on its inner circumference, and at least one of the recesses being suited for a form-locking rotatably fixed attachment on the machine part. The sum of the central angles, which are respectively defined by starting points and end points of the projections is smaller than the sum of the central angles, which are respectively defined by the starting points and end points of the recesses. Such a body on a high-speed shaft of a machine tool may be used for measuring the rotational position of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Mitterreiter, Jens Dormann, Pascal Haible
  • Patent number: 7710578
    Abstract: A position measuring arrangement for detecting a relative position is disclosed. The position measuring arrangement includes a reflection scale graduation and a scanning unit having a plurality of optical elements. The plurality of optical elements includes a combining grating, a retro-reflector element, a scanning grating and detector elements. The optical elements are arranged so that light beams and/or partial light beams of a scanning beam path act on the reflection scale graduation at least twice; a directional reversal of the incident partial light beams impinging on the reflection scale graduation perpendicularly with respect to the measuring direction takes place by the retro-reflector element; and a pair of partial light beams impinges in a non-parallel manner on the combining grating, and the combining grating brings the partial light beams impinging on the combining grating to interference, so that phase-shifted signals are detected by the plurality of detector elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventors: Karsten Sändig, Wolfgang Holzapfel
  • Patent number: 7705289
    Abstract: A scanning unit for an optical position-measuring device includes a semiconductor light source and at least one downstream reflector element that has a defined optical effect on the beams of rays emitted by the semiconductor light source. The optically active surface of the reflector element is arranged in subregions to be reflection-preventive such that no beams of rays are reflected back from the reflector element into the semiconductor light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventor: Ulrich Benner
  • Patent number: 7701593
    Abstract: An optical position measuring arrangement including a source of illumination that generates one or several bundles of illuminating beams, a measuring graduation that is illuminated by the source of illumination so as to generate a periodic fringe pattern of a defined fringe pattern period and a fiber-optical scanning head, wherein the fiber-optical scanning head scans the periodic fringe pattern. A scanning plate is arranged in the fiber-optical scanning head, wherein the scanning plate is matched to the fringe pattern period and scans the periodic fringe pattern. Fringe patterns, which are phase-shifted in relation to each other, are generated within a fringe pattern period in bundles of partial signal beams in the one or several bundles of illuminating beams via a wavelength-dependent local separation, and the bundles of partial signal beams are employed for conversion into position-dependent phase-shifted scanning signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Holzapfel, Walter Huber, Erwin Spanner
  • Patent number: 7694599
    Abstract: A gear mechanism includes a rotating input element, a rotating output element, and at least one first force transmission device arranged along a spiral line on a face of the input element. A second force transmission device is arranged along an encircling line on a face of the output element. The interaction of these force transmission devices transmits a turning moment from the input element to the output element, whereby this turning moment effects a rotating motion in the output element so that the rotational speed is lower than the rotational speed of the input element. A rotary encoder may be equipped with a gear mechanism of the aforementioned type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventors: Alois Brandl, Johann Mitterreiter, Michael Schwabe
  • Patent number: 7694596
    Abstract: In a gear system and a rotary transducer provided with the gear system, the gear system includes a first part, a convex toothed wheel, a supporting body, relative to which the first part and the convex toothed wheel are rotationally mounted, and engaging elements which mesh with the toothed wheel according to the rotational position of the first part. The engaging elements carry out a movement with a radial directional component relative to the toothed wheel. A force with a tangential directional component is applied to the toothed wheel, the force being the result of the interaction between the engaging elements and the supporting body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventor: Johann Mitterreiter
  • Patent number: 7690567
    Abstract: A scanning unit is for scanning a measuring standard having a coded track formed by a graduated scale, such as an incremental track, and a reference mark system, including a detector system for scanning the coded track and an additional detector system for scanning the reference mark system. The detector system, when scanning the associated coded track or reference mark system, receives scanning signals on a signal-sensitive surface, and the additional detector system includes at least two sensors, of which only one is used for scanning the reference mark system during operation of the scanning unit. Each of the two sensors is connected to one of the two inputs of a differential amplifier, and the sensor not used for scanning is deactivated in that its signal-sensitive surface is covered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Mauerberger, Sebastian Tondorf
  • Patent number: 7684059
    Abstract: A device for determining the position of an object that is movable along at least one displacement direction, the or each displacement direction having assigned to it one length measuring device for measuring the position of the object along the respective spatial direction, includes: at least one scale extending along a displacement direction of the object to be measured as a first component of the respective length measuring device; a scanning head for scanning the scale as a second component of the respective length measuring device such that a change in the position of the scale with respect to the scanning head along the associated displacement direction of the object to be measured is measurable, one of the two components of the respective length measuring device being moved together with the object to be measured along the respective displacement direction when the latter is moved; and a device for determining the distance of the component of the respective length measuring device, which is movable tog
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventors: Gerald Metz, Christian Spaeth, Holmer Dangschat
  • Patent number: 7676935
    Abstract: In an angle-measurement system and a method for producing an angle-measurement system, the angle-measurement system includes a bearing assembly and a scanning head, the bearing assembly including a graduated ring, an outer ring and rolling bodies. Rolling surfaces are formed both on the graduated ring and the outer ring, the rolling surface of the graduated ring having a smaller path radius than that of the outer ring. Furthermore, the rolling surface of the outer ring is arranged opposite the rolling surface of the graduated ring, and the rolling bodies are disposed between the two rolling surfaces such that the bearing assembly is free of radial play. In addition, an angle scaling is applied directly onto the graduated ring such that a geometrical pattern of the angle scaling in a first region deviates from a geometrical pattern in a second region as a function of rotational eccentricities of the bearing assembly. The angle scaling is able to be scanned by the scanning head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventor: Johann Mitterreiter
  • Patent number: 7667188
    Abstract: A scale and a position-measuring device include the shifting of reference markings in graduation tracks, offset transversely with respect to the measuring direction, by fractions of the interval of the reference markings within a graduation track. It is thus possible to eliminate, or at least to markedly reduce, negative effects of the disturbance of the periodicity of a graduation track by the reference markings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventor: Heinz Tovar
  • Patent number: 7658014
    Abstract: A length measuring arrangement for measuring the relative position of two objects, the length measuring arrangement including a housing made of a non-magnetic material and longitudinally extending in a measuring direction. The length measuring arrangement including a scale in the housing, the scale having a measuring graduation, a first guide face and a second guide face which extends perpendicular to the first guide face. A mounting piece attachable to one of the two objects rigidly in the measuring direction and resiliently transversely to the measuring direction. The length measuring arrangement including a scanning carriage that scans the measuring graduation, wherein the scanning carriage is coupled to the mounting piece rigidly in the measuring direction and resiliently transversely to the measuring direction, and the scanning carriage is linearly guided in the measuring direction on the first and second guide faces and is pressed against the first and second guide faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Peterlechner
  • Patent number: 7656787
    Abstract: A modular, numerical control includes at least two modules, each including a microprocessor unit and being connected to each other via serial data-transmission channels for the transmission of information in the form of data packets. In at least one module, a data-packet generating unit is provided for generating data packets and for transmitting data packets to at least one further module. In so doing, the data-packet generating unit operates independently of the function of the microprocessor unit. Moreover, in at least one module, a data-packet processing unit is provided by which data packets are able to be processed and/or are able to be transmitted to at least one further module, independently of the function of the microprocessor unit. The data packets include the status of at least one safety signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventor: Georg Zehentner
  • Patent number: 7649167
    Abstract: A rotary encoder for determining the rotation of an object to be measured includes a shaft that is coupled to the rotation of the object to be measured, as well as at least one bearing in which the shaft is rotationally mounted. The rotary encoder also has a rotary-transducer base member having a bearing fixation region at which the bearing is fixed in position, at least one depression area being formed continuously with a defined depth on the rotary-transducer base member along the periphery of the bearing fixation region such that it surrounds at least half the periphery of the bearing fixation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Nakamura, Masato Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7649724
    Abstract: In a protective circuit for a converter having a plurality of phases, for each phase current of the phases, a signal proportional to the respective phase current is applied to a transformer circuit that, below and in the area of a limiting frequency, functions as a low-pass filter with the limiting frequency, and above the limiting frequency, functions as a divider. The outputs of the transformer circuit are applied to a maximum generator for forming the absolute value maximum. This maximum is fed to a comparator in which the maximum is compared to a reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventor: Norbert Huber
  • Patent number: 7637019
    Abstract: A rotary encoder includes a first component group and a second component group, the two component groups being rotatably arranged relative to each other in a measuring operation. The first component group has a detector system, a housing part having at least one wedge-shaped element, and a clamping ring having at least one cam. The second component group includes a code disk and a shaft. The housing part is arranged radially outside of the shaft, and a force having a radial directional component oriented toward the axis is applicable on the at least one wedge-shaped element via the at least one cam by a turning motion of the clamping ring relative to the housing part such that the shaft is able to be clamped on the housing part outside of the measuring operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventor: Alois Brandl
  • Patent number: 7639366
    Abstract: A position-measuring device for determining the positions of two objects movable with respect to each other along a measuring direction includes a first radiation source for emitting an electromagnetic beam of rays, a beam splitter, which splits each beam of rays emitted by the radiation source into at least one first and one second partial beam of rays, a reference reflector arranged in the beam path of the first partial beam of rays, a measuring reflector, movable with respect to the reference reflector along the measuring direction, which is arranged in the beam path of the second partial beam of rays, a device for superposing the two partial rays of beams after their reflecting at the respective reflector, for generating a measuring signal, a second radiation source for emitting additional electromagnetic beams of rays and a combining device for combining the additional electromagnetic beams of rays into the beam path of the electromagnetic beam of rays generated by the first radiation source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventor: Erwin Spanner
  • Patent number: 7603399
    Abstract: A method for noise filtering and a noise filter are for the filtering of override signals in a numerical control system. If an input value change condition is present, an accumulator is reset and an input value is set as the new output value of noise filter. If a noise detection condition is present, the accumulator is reset while the output value is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Renger, Christian Rutkowski
  • Patent number: 7596880
    Abstract: A scanning unit including a light source for illuminating a scale by a light beam and a detector for detecting the light beam which has been modulated by the scale as a function of a relative position between two objects. An inner chamber of the scanning unit in which the light beam extends is closed off in a dust-proof manner against an outer chamber, and the inner chamber is closed off by a transparent body, through which the light beam passes. The inner chamber is connected with the outer chamber via a filter which is dust-proof, but permeable to gas and vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventors: Barbara Martin, Oliver Schenk, Robert Siegel
  • Patent number: 7591080
    Abstract: A securing system for transporting and mounting a measuring instrument for the determination of a position of two components which are movable in relation to each other. The securing system including a securing device and a support body having a guide track and supporting a linearly extending measuring graduation. The securing device includes a base body, which is longitudinally displaceable along the guide track of the support body and can be fixed in place on the support body by clamping forces in order to maintain the mounting base in a desired position in regard to the support body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Fiedler, Johann Tauber
  • Patent number: 7586352
    Abstract: A converter includes a time-delay circuit for a PWM signal, applied to input of the time-delay circuit, by which rising edges of the PWM signal are delayed by an ON delay and falling edges of the PWM signal are delayed by an OFF delay, in order to form a drive signal, available at the output of the time-delay circuit, for a semiconductor switch element. The time-delay circuit includes two resistors, two capacitors, a diode and a comparator, and is therefore particularly easy to implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventor: Norbert Huber