Patents Assigned to Pepperl + Fuchs GmbH
  • Publication number: 20140327447
    Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit arrangement for establishing compatibility between a field device or an interface device for a field device and a diagnostic system pertaining to a control system, to the output of which the interface device or field device can be connected. The diagnostic system is adapted to send, via the output of the control system, a test signal to the interface device or field device and to emit an error signal when an electrical response at the output of the control system lies outside an expectancy range. The circuit arrangement comprises voltage influencing means for influencing a voltage at the output of the control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: PEPPERL + FUCHS GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Jung, Peter Ball
  • Publication number: 20140321018
    Abstract: The invention relates to a diagnostic method for multiple-stage excess voltage protection apparatuses that include at least one gas discharge distance between an input and a reference potential as a first stage, at least one diode path between an output and the reference potential as a second stage, and at least one decoupling inductance interposed between the input and the output. The diagnostic method is characterized in that a secondary voltage applied to a secondary inductance, which is actively connected, inductively, to the decoupling inductance, is measured and evaluated with a view to excess voltage events in the excess voltage protection apparatus. The invention also relates to a two-stage excess voltage protection apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: PEPPERL + FUCHS GmbH
    Inventor: Micha Beutel
  • Publication number: 20140311236
    Abstract: A method and device for metrologically differentiating material regions, namely majority regions and minority regions of a page-like, web-like or sheet-like material. At least one sensor receives a measuring signal of variable amplitude, the amplitude being variable depending on the material region located in a spatial detection range of the sensor. The amplitude is increased by a controllable amplifier. The material is moved relatively to the sensor such that majority regions are located in the spatial detection range of the sensor more frequently than minority regions. The method is characterized in that in phases, in which majority regions undergo examination by means of the sensor, by means of the amplifier regulation of the amplitude to a set point is carried out and the sensor generates a signal “majority region”, and that in situations, in which the amplitude undergoes a sufficient change, the sensor generates a signal “minority region”.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: PEPPERL + FUCHS GmbH
    Inventor: Enrico Schulz
  • Patent number: 8867184
    Abstract: An electrical circuit comprising a power supply, a load, first and second trunks disposed therebetween and control means adapted to control the electrical status of the first and second trunks, in which the control means comprises monitoring means adapted to monitor the current and/or voltage of the first and second trunks and to detect current and/or voltage events which are indicative of faults occurring thereon, and isolation means adapted to isolate the first or second trunk when the monitoring means detects a current and/or voltage event which is indicative of a fault occurring thereon, in which the first and second trunks are electrically connected and arranged in parallel such that the power supplied to the load is distributed substantially equally between them, and in which the control means comprises compensation means adapted to prevent the isolation means from isolating one of said first or second trunks when a current and/or voltage event which is indicative of a fault occurs thereon which is caus
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Pepperl + Fuchs GmbH
    Inventors: Renato Kitchener, Gunther Rogoll
  • Patent number: 8797050
    Abstract: An electrical circuit confirming to the IEC 61158-2 standard comprising a power supply, a device as a load thereof, and monitoring means adapted to monitor one or more physical layer attributes of the electrical circuit, in which the device comprises an enclosure, device function electronics disposed therein and two terminals connecting said device function electronics to said electrical circuit, in which water detection means is disposed inside said enclosure, and comprises water detection probes and a physical layer attribute modifier mounted across said electrical circuit in parallel with said device function electronics, and in which when said water detection probes detect water said physical layer attribute modifier makes a modification to a physical layer attribute of the electrical circuit, which modification is detectable by said monitoring means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Pepperl + Fuchs GmbH
    Inventors: Renato Kitchener, Gunther Rogoll
  • Patent number: 8723727
    Abstract: The invention relates to a slot antenna, more particularly to a transmitting antenna for RFID, comprising an antenna contour board having a plurality of antenna slots and at least one control circuit for enabling the antenna contour board to transmit and/or receive electromagnetic radiation. The slot antenna is characterized in that in at least one antenna slot of the antenna contour board there is inserted a circuit board carrying a control circuit. The invention further relates to an RFID method involving the use of the slot antenna of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Pepperl + Fuchs GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Albrecht
  • Patent number: 8611613
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for checking print products of the same kind, more particularly printed sheets of paper of the same kind, which are transported by a conveying device. For this purpose, during a teach-in phase, test images are recorded at a plurality of points on the print product by means of a digital camera. The test images recorded, or parts thereof, are analyzed with respect to their characteristic information, and the test image having the most distinct characteristic information is selected as the reference image. For the purpose of checking print products of the same kind, the subsequent print products of the same kind are checked by recording at least one image at a position corresponding to the reference image and by comparing it with the image data of the reference image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Pepperl + Fuchs GmbH
    Inventors: Benedikt Rauscher, Thomas Caspari, Hendrik Steinmann, Rainer Boenick
  • Patent number: 8610592
    Abstract: The invention relates to a proximity switch for the detection of objects, comprising a sleeve-type housing, comprising a transducer unit disposed at a measuring end of said sleeve-type housing, the transducer unit comprising a transducer receptacle and a transducer element disposed therein for detecting a physical measurand, comprising a connecting piece disposed at a connecting end of said sleeve-type housing, comprising an electronic assembly disposed on a printed circuit board accommodated in said sleeve-type housing and having a control and evaluation unit adapted to control said transducer element, to evaluate signals measured by said transducer element and to emit switching signals to an environment, wherein variously colored light-emitting diodes are disposed on said printed circuit board at the measuring end and at the connecting end for indicating operational and/or switching states, wherein said transducer receptacle exhibits a transparent region disposed around a housing axis and/or a transparent r
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Pepperl + Fuchs GmbH
    Inventor: Dierk Schoen
  • Patent number: 8564349
    Abstract: A data signal generation device comprising a microprocessor and a digital potential divider, in which the microprocessor is adapted to generate a square wave output signal, and in which the digital potential divider is adapted to receive said square wave output signal, and to ramp up and down an output signal voltage and/or current according to state transitions in said square wave output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Pepperl + Fuchs GmbH
    Inventor: Steffen Graber
  • Publication number: 20130249570
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor for detecting an object. The sensor includes a probe electrode for forming a measuring capacitance with the object to be detected, a charging generator for generating an alternating charging voltage, wherein the probe electrode is charged by means of the alternating charging voltage, an amplifier for amplifying a voltage across the measuring capacitance, wherein the amplifier includes a first supply connection and a second supply connection, electronic means for processing signals outputted at an output of the amplifier to form at least one output signal and at least one sensor output for outputting the at least one output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: PEPPERL + FUCHS GMBH
    Inventors: Hardi Voelkel, Jochen Vater
  • Patent number: 8528264
    Abstract: Disclosed is a wall mount enclosure for mounting in a wall, including a housing with a front side, a back side and at least one side wall defining an interior accessible from an opening in the front side, where the front side has an outer perimeter extending outwardly beyond the side wall to interface with a front surface of the wall when a plurality of clamping mechanisms are engaged to mount the enclosure to the wall. The clamping mechanisms comprising a threaded fastener having a head accessible through the interior, and an at least partially threaded elongated member. A clamp body is provided and is pivotal about an axis by pivoting the threaded fastener in a first direction away from the interior of the enclosure and linearly translatable when in a second pivotal position to engage a back portion of the wall and mount the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Pepperl+Fuchs GmbH
    Inventors: Gary M. Thut, Steve Jopek
  • Publication number: 20130229328
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reducing image sticking in liquid crystal display panels, in which the liquid crystal display panel is controlled by a control program running on a logic device, in which at least a number of selected pixels in the liquid crystal display panel are subjected to modified control at least for specified periods of time instead of the control normally necessary to display a specific image. The modified control is carried out under the condition that the maximum contrast between the selected pixels and their adjacent pixels is reduced. The invention further relates to a device for reducing image sticking and also to a computer program and a data carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: PEPPERL + FUCHS GMBH
    Inventors: Sven Adler, Achim Rausenberger
  • Patent number: 8508243
    Abstract: The inductive incremental displacement sensor is characterized in that the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit each have a first inductive sensor and a second inductive sensor disposed at a distance from each other and that the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit deliver a switching signal relevant to a conductive region of the graduated track when the difference or the ratio of the detection signals from the inductive sensors allocated to the respective sensor unit as generated by the conductive region is less than a specifiable threshold. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for determining the displacement of a first object relative to a second object as well as to an inductive sensor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Pepperl + Fuchs GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Speckmann, Ulrich Ehrenfried
  • Patent number: 8467196
    Abstract: A modular Fieldbus segment protector comprising a support means provided with trunk connection means, a trunk connection bus and a plurality of spur outlets, in which autonomous fault isolation means are removably mounted on the support means between the trunk connection bus and any one or more of the plurality of spur outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignees: Pepperl + Fuchs GmbH, Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gunther Rogoll, Renato Kitchener
  • Publication number: 20130082678
    Abstract: An electronic power conditioner circuit for use in an I EC 61 158 Fieldbus network comprising a series element, a capacitor and a resistor formed as a gyrator circuit, and a biasing circuit, in which said biasing circuit supplies a control voltage and/or current to a control terminal of the series element, and in which said biasing circuit is adapted to set said control voltage and/or current such that a voltage drop across the series element is maintained at a pre-determined level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: PEPPERL + FUCHS GMBH
    Inventors: Renato Kitchener, Gunther Rogoll
  • Publication number: 20130063847
    Abstract: A fault protection circuit for use on a spur of an IEC 61158 Fieldbus network comprising a fast acting current limiter adapted to limit the spur current to the level of a reference current when the spur current reaches said reference current, control means adapted to monitor the spur AC and/or DC current and/or voltage, and isolation means adapted to apply a shunt short circuit isolation to said spur upon receipt of an activation signal from the control means, in which the control means is adapted to control the level of the reference current, and in which when said control means detects one or more pre-determined fault conditions on said spur it activates the isolation means and lowers the level of reference current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: PEPPERL + FUCHS GMBH
    Inventors: Renato Kitchener, Steffen Graber
  • Patent number: 8392058
    Abstract: An electrical communications circuit comprising a power supply, a trunk section, a spur section, isolation means disposed between the trunk section and the spur section, diagnostics apparatus connected to the trunk section and a field device connected to the spur section, in which the field device is adapted to send data signals over the communications circuit, which data signals comprise one or more core functions, in which the communications circuit and/or the data signals function under one or more pre-determined normal operating parameters, in which the diagnostics apparatus is adapted to detect one or more pre-determined breaches of said normal operating parameters, in which a spur diagnostics module is connected to the spur section and is adapted to monitor electrical characteristics of the spur section, in which the spur diagnostics module comprises interference means adapted to interfere with the communications circuit and/or the data signals sent thereon such that said one or more pre-determined brea
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Pepperl + Fuchs GmbH
    Inventors: Renato Kitchener, Gunther Rogoll, Steffen Graber
  • Patent number: 8351176
    Abstract: An electrical installation comprising control and/or monitoring means connected to a field device by means of an electrical communications circuit, in which the communications circuit comprises a power supply, a communications device, the field device as a load thereof, and Intrinsic Safety means, in which the communications device is adapted to send and receive signals over the communications circuit to and from the field device, in which the field device is adapted to send and receive signals over the communications circuit to and from the communications device, in which the Intrinsic Safety means renders all or part of the communications circuit Intrinsically Safe, in which the field device is located in an Intrinsically Safe part of the communications circuit, characterized in which the communications circuit is adapted to carry DSL signals, and in which the communications device and the field device communicate with one another according to the DSL protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Pepperl + Fuchs GmbH
    Inventors: Renato Kitchener, Gunther Rogoll, Michael Kessler
  • Patent number: 8334972
    Abstract: A device for detecting soiling, having a light source, which emits a light beam, and a layer having a first boundary surface and a second boundary surface, whereby the light beam emitted by the light source first impinges on the first boundary surface, and part of a light beam fraction, which is scattered at the second boundary surface, impinges on a receiver and forms a measuring signal, and hereby the first boundary surface is set up to scatter part of the incident light beam, and the part impinging on the receiver of the light beam, scattered at the first boundary surface, forms a reference signal, and the device is set up further to determine a measure for the soiling of the second boundary surface from the comparison of the reference signal and measuring signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Pepperl & Fuchs GmbH
    Inventor: Marcus Thien
  • Patent number: 8330964
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting objects in which a light pattern is beamed by a plurality of transmitting modules into an observation zone, the transmitting modules being spaced to each other, in which light radiated back from the observation zone is detected by at least one spatially resolving detector unit, in which a surface contour of an object located in the observation zone is determined on the basis of the detected light according to the light section principle, in which a maximum spatial resolution is caused by the intervals at which the transmitting modules are spaced from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Pepperl + Fuchs GmbH
    Inventors: Torsten Olbrecht, Benedikt Rauscher, Ernst Tabel