Patents Assigned to Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
  • Publication number: 20140146326
    Abstract: An optical position-measuring device includes a measuring standard having a first grating in a form of a periodic incremental graduation and an absolute mark. A scanning unit is displaceable relative to the measuring standard in a measuring direction. The scanning unit has at least one second grating disposed at a scanning distance from the first grating. A first detector array is configured to obtain a first scanning signal for purposes of position determination in which the gratings are illuminated with light of a first wavelength. A second detector array is configured to obtain a second scanning signal for purposes of position determination in which the absolute mark is illuminated with light of a second wavelength. The first wavelength is shorter than the second wavelength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GmbH
    Inventors: Mario Himmel, Jarno Waetzig, Thomas Juenemann
  • Publication number: 20140132964
    Abstract: An optical position measuring instrument including a first scale having a first graduation, wherein the first scale is disposed movable in a first measuring direction, and at a first defined position in the first measuring direction, the first scale includes a spatially limited first marking that differs from the first graduation. The optical position measuring instrument further including a second scale having a second graduation, wherein the second scale is disposed movable in a second measuring direction, and at a second defined position, the second scale includes a second reference marking that is usable for generating at least one reference signal at a reference position of the second scale only if the first scale is located in the first defined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Dr.Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Holzapfel, Joerg Drescher, Markus Meissner, Ralph Joerger, Bernhard Musch, Thomas Kaelberer
  • Patent number: 8711367
    Abstract: A position-measuring device, for ascertaining the position of two objects which are disposed in a manner allowing movement relative to each other in at least one measuring direction, includes a light source, as well as a splitting device by which a light beam, provided by the light source, is split into two or more partial beams of rays. The partial beams of rays traverse at least two partial-beam paths. Interfering partial beams of rays from the partial-beam paths strike a plurality of opto-electronic detector elements, so that displacement-dependent position signals are ascertainable via the detector elements. The light source takes the form of a semiconductor laser having a fiber-grating feedback device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Meissner
  • Publication number: 20140101955
    Abstract: An absolute position-measuring device includes a first subassembly having a measuring standard on which at least one code track is disposed, and a scanning unit with which, by scanning the at least one code track in a measuring direction, position signals are able to be produced, from which an absolute digital position value is able to be generated. The position-measuring device includes a second subassembly having at least one peripheral unit adapted to perform an additional or auxiliary function of the position-measuring device. The first subassembly and the second subassembly are connected to each other by a plurality of electric lines for the transmission of electrical signals. The first subassembly exclusively includes components which are suitable for use in a radiation area of a machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBH
    Inventors: Daniel Auer, Erwin Bratzdrum
  • Publication number: 20140077795
    Abstract: A position-measuring device includes a code carrier having a first graduation track and a second graduation track, the second graduation track being an incremental graduation track. A first detector system is configured to scan the graduation tracks so as to generate first position signals. A second detector system is configured to scan the second graduation track so as to generate second position signals. A first position-processing unit is configured to process the first position signals so as to yield a first absolute position value. A second position-processing unit is configured to process the second position signals so as to yield a second absolute position value. The first position-processing unit is configured to feed an absolute auxiliary position value to the second position-processing unit. The second position-processing unit is initializable with the absolute auxiliary position value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Oberhauser, Bernhard Schmied, Jannik Jens Rosenlehner-Emde, Werner Schwaiger, Thomas Schweizer, Hubert Mayer, Marc Oliver Tiemann
  • Patent number: 8664944
    Abstract: An angle measuring system includes a first component group and a second component group, the first component group being mounted in a manner allowing rotation about an axis relative to the second component group. The first component group includes a ring having a running surface and an angle scaling. The second component group has a further ring having a further running surface, as well as a sensor for scanning the angle scaling. Rolling elements are arranged between the running surfaces, the angle scaling being applied such that a geometric pattern of the angle scaling in a first region differs from a geometric pattern of the angle scaling in a second region as a function of radial runouts of the running surfaces and/or of the rolling elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventor: Johann Mitterreiter
  • Patent number: 8650769
    Abstract: An assembly including a substrate and a scale held on the substrate, wherein the scale has a measuring graduation, and the scale is held on the substrate by pneumatic suction. The scale is braced on the substrate via two-dimensionally distributed, spaced-apart supports, which are disposed facing a measurement area defined by the measuring graduation and wherein adjacent ones of the supports are spaced apart from one another at a mutual period that is less than a thickness of the scale. In addition, the supports have a structure such that a connection by optical contact bonding between the supports and the scale and/or between the supports and the substrate is prevented at least in the measurement area. A space between the scale and the substrate is sealed off from surroundings by a sealing structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Speckbacher, Josef Weidmann, Wolfgang Holzapfel
  • Patent number: 8651443
    Abstract: A device for clamping a scale to an attachment face of a support, the device including a securing element and a clamping element that is secured to a support by the securing element. The clamping element includes a first spring element that is resilient in a first direction toward an attachment face of the support, wherein the first spring element introduces a first clamping force on a scale in a direction of the attachment face. The clamping element further includes a second spring element that is resilient in a second direction that extends perpendicular to the first direction and wherein the second spring element introduces a second clamping force onto the scale in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventor: Reinhard Mayer
  • Publication number: 20140022561
    Abstract: A position measuring device includes a position detection unit, which may be used to process positional signals that result from scanning a code track by a scanning unit, into digital positional values, a first interface unit for the communication with a control unit via a data transmission channel, and a second interface unit for the communication with at least one peripheral unit. The first interface unit is a hard-wired interface, and the second interface unit is a wireless radio interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBH
    Inventor: Marc Tiemann
  • Patent number: 8633428
    Abstract: A scanning unit of a position measuring unit for scanning a scale, the scanning unit including a display unit having a light source. The scanning unit further including a regulating device for controlling an amplitude of an analog scanning signal of the scanning unit, wherein the regulating device triggers the light source to cause a change of an illumination state of the light source, wherein successive changes of the illumination state of the light source contain information regarding the amplitude of the analog scanning signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventors: Friedrich Lipp, Ludwig Schlichtner
  • Patent number: 8618466
    Abstract: A position-measuring device for measuring linear and/or angular positions includes a first measuring standard that has a first code track, with the aid of which consecutive position regions are cyclically measurable, and at least two multiturn code disks having second code tracks, via whose angular positions the currently measured position region of the first code track may be determined. The first measuring standard and the multiturn code disks are positioned such that the first code track and the second code tracks are scannable by a common scanning unit, through a first scanning window and second scanning windows, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventors: Joern Ehrenberg, Herman Meyer, Erich Strasser
  • Patent number: 8619266
    Abstract: An optical position-measuring device includes a light source, a measuring reflector movable in space, a detection unit and a light-beam deflection unit that can align at least one beam of rays, emitted by the light source, in the direction of the measuring reflector. The light-beam deflection unit includes a cardan system having two cardan frames. A first cardan frame is adjustable by motor about a first axis of rotation, and a second cardan frame within the first cardan frame is adjustable by motor about a second axis of rotation oriented in a direction perpendicular to the first axis of rotation. The two axes of rotation intersect in a fixed reference point, at which a reference reflector is disposed. A plurality of mirrors are disposed rigidly on the cardan frames, so that the beam of rays can be pivoted about the fixed reference point via the mirrors during alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Holzapfel, Florian Flossmann
  • Patent number: 8604778
    Abstract: An angle measuring system includes a first component group and a second component group, the first component group being mounted so as to be rotatable relative to the second component group. The first component group includes a ring having a running surface and an angle scaling. The second component group has a sensor for scanning the angle scaling as well as a printed circuit board having an electronic circuit for evaluating sensor signals producible by the scanning. The second component group furthermore includes a solid ring, on which another running surface is situated and which has a first recess for accommodating the circuit board and a second recess for accommodating an electrical conductor. The conductor connects the sensor electrically to the electronic circuit situated at a distance from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventor: Johann Mitterreiter
  • Patent number: 8570621
    Abstract: A position measuring device including a code having a sequence of code elements of equal width B that is disposed in a measurement direction and includes a first property and a second property. The sequence of codes elements includes a first set of code elements having the first property and a second set of code elements having the second property, wherein the first and second sets of code elements are each being disposed aperiodically. The position measuring device further including a scanning unit having a plurality of detectors for scanning the code and obtaining scanning signals, wherein a code word defining an absolute position is defined from the scanning signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventors: Jan Braasch, Wolfgang Holzapfel, Ulrich Benner, Gabriele Ehgartner, Robert Bernhard, Elmar Mayer, Martin Seichter
  • Patent number: 8570533
    Abstract: A position measuring device including a reflective scale and a scanning unit. The scanning unit includes a retroreflector and a signal unit wherein the signal unit includes a light source and a detector arrangement. The scanning unit and the signal unit are structurally separate from one another and are disposed in planes parallel to one another, and wherein the scanning unit is movable relative to the reflective scale in a measuring direction. The light source emits a beam that propagates freely in a direction to the scanning unit, wherein from the scanning unit along the direction to the signal unit a pair of interfering partial beams propagate freely and wherein between the signal unit and the scanning unit the partial beams propagate freely in a propagation direction that is oriented perpendicular to the planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventors: Florian Garczarek, Wolfgang Holzapfel
  • Publication number: 20130278751
    Abstract: A device for detecting the position of an object in a machine tool includes a camera configured to provide an image of the object and an object carrier to which the object is connected and whose position within the machine tool is known. A first processing unit is configured to identify a position of the object relative to the camera based on geometric features of the object which are obtained from the image. A second processing unit is configured to identify a position of the object carrier relative to the camera based on geometric features of the object carrier which are obtained from the image. A third processing unit is configured to determine a position of the object relative to the object carrier from the identified positions of the object and the object carrier relative to the camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBH
    Inventors: Walter Kranitzky, Martin Schilcher, Gerhard Muehlbauer
  • Publication number: 20130265000
    Abstract: In a device and a method for transmitting energy and data between a control unit and a position-measuring device via a line pair, the energy transmission takes place in a charge mode and the data transmission takes place in a communication mode, and an energy storage device is provided in the position-measuring device, which is able to be charged in the charge mode via the line pair, and which is able to supply energy to the position-measuring device in the communication mode, and a charge unit and a switching device are provided in the control unit. The switching unit is adapted to the charge unit to the line pair in two-pole manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Beaury, Hermann Hofbauer, Markus Mooshammer, Erich Strasser, Ernst Thielicke, Sebastian Tondorf
  • Patent number: 8547543
    Abstract: An angle-measuring device includes a first group of components and a second group of components that are rotatable relative to each other about an axis. The first group includes a carrier element for enclosing a shaft and on which a graduation disk is secured, a connecting element, and a device for affixing the connecting element relative to the carrier element. The second group includes a sensor element for scanning the graduation disk. The carrier element and the connecting element are arranged such that the connecting element is able to be brought into operative connection with the carrier element so that torque is transmittable with positive locking between the connecting element and the carrier element about the axis. The connecting element is able to be brought into a positive-locking position by axial displacement by the device for affixing the connecting element, and is able to be prestressed radially against the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventor: Johann Mitterreiter
  • Patent number: 8537340
    Abstract: An optical distance-measuring device includes a light source, and an interferometer unit having a measuring retroreflector, stationary reference retroreflector, beam-splitter element, beam-recombiner unit, and detection unit. The beam of rays emitted by the light source swivels about the center of the reference retroreflector. The beam of rays arriving from the light source splits via the beam-splitter element into a measuring beam and reference beam. The measuring beam propagates in the direction of the measuring retroreflector, and the reference beam propagates collinearly with the measuring beam in the direction of the reference retroreflector. The measuring beam is reflected back by the measuring retroreflector and the reference beam is reflected back by the reference retroreflector in the direction of the beam-recombiner unit, the measuring beam traveling symmetrically relative to the reference retroreflector prior to and after reflection at the measuring retroreflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Holzapfel, Michael Stepputat, Gerhard Vogt, Florian Garczarek
  • Patent number: 8537370
    Abstract: A measuring device for detecting a relative position, the measuring device including a measurement graduation movable in at least one measurement direction and a scanning unit for determining a relative position of the measurement graduation with respect to the scanning unit. The scanning unit includes a light source, a scanning grating disposed on a first side of a transparent carrier element that is positioned in a scanning beam path and a detector arrangement. The scanning unit further includes an attenuation structure that adjusts a light intensity on the detector arrangement in a defined manner, wherein either 1) the attenuation structure is disposed on a second side, opposite the first side, of the transparent carrier element or 2) the attenuation structure has a permeability that varies as a function of location at least along one direction so that a light intensity which is uniform at least in that one direction results on the detector arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventor: Ulrich Benner