Patents Assigned to Preh GmbH
  • Publication number: 20230194767
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a function display for selectively displaying symbols representing switching states for a motor vehicle including a light guide stack of at least two transparent or translucent, planar light guides arranged in an overlaid manner in a stacking direction, which are spaced apart by a transparent or translucent layer including a material that is optically thinner compared to the adjacent light guides so that the light guides have a main surface facing towards an observer and a main surface facing away from the observer that faces towards a light guide which is most closely adjacent in stacking direction; at least one light source per light guide arranged to couple light into the respective light guide via an end face; wherein one light-refractive and/or light-scattering microstructured portion per light guide, which is provided in or on the light guide, is provided for generating a symbol display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: Preh GmbH
    Inventors: Dennis LOEPPEN, Björn MORBER, Kilian MEMMEL
  • Publication number: 20230182452
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a visible part for an operating part or decorative panel, in particular for use in a motor vehicle, including a layer structure with the following layer sequence of layers while forming interfaces: a lower substrate layer; a decorative layer; an upper cover layer, wherein the upper cover layer is any one of: translucent and transparent; wherein the layer structure forms an end face into which an access to at least one interface enters, and wherein the substrate layer forms a projection with respect to the upper cover layer of the layer structure; wherein the visible part furthermore has an upper transparent protective paint layer, which covers the cover layer and the end face and which, if the visible part is attached as intended, forms a top surface facing towards an observer and covers the access; as well as to an associated manufacturing method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: Preh GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Karl HEIL, Dieter GOTTWALT, Holger STEINMÜLLER, Andre KESSLER, Martin SÜNNEMANN
  • Patent number: 11673482
    Abstract: A method for charging a high-voltage battery of an electric vehicle, comprising: providing the high-voltage battery having a nominal battery voltage; providing a charging station outputting a DC charging voltage less than the nominal battery voltage; draining current between a first battery terminal and a protective earth terminal such that the voltage between the first battery terminal and the protective earth terminal essentially matches with the voltage between a first charging terminal and the protective earth terminal, and boosting the voltage at a second charging terminal of the charging station to match the charging voltage with the nominal battery voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignees: PREH GMBH, BRUSA ELEKTRONIK AG
    Inventors: Marc Neitz, Alexander Matthias, Axel Krause, Andreas Kruspan, Marc Hanselmann, Hannes Hobi, Rudolf Meusburger
  • Patent number: 11650675
    Abstract: A rotary knob having (inter alia, adjustable) a coupling electrode and capacitive coupling devices for placing on a touch screen is provided. Depending on the position of the rotary knob or of the coupling electrode, contact of a corresponding partial region of the touchscreen is detected. The rotary knob is designed detect and ignore disturbing influences such as drops of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Preh GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Martin, Benedikt Schmidt, Markus Klein
  • Publication number: 20230116914
    Abstract: A method for producing a plastic composite panel which is provided as a layer structure. The method includes providing a film layer structure comprising an adhesive layer which is arranged between two transparent plastic films. The film layer structure is pre-molded to assume an approximately final shape and is arranged in a molding tool so that a first main surface of the film layer structure is towards the molding surface of the molding tool and so that a cavity is formed between the second main surface of the film layer structure and a surface of the molding tool. The film layer structure is then back-molded in a thermal molding method step while introducing a thermoplastic material into the cavity to provide the layer structure. A pre-molding and back-molding step, a rigidification of the thermoplastic layer, and a demolding of the layer structure is further performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Applicant: PREH GMBH
    Inventors: PETER LOCHNER, STEFFEN NEUBAUER, BENEDIKT RUECKERT, MARTIN SUENNEMANN
  • Publication number: 20230113215
    Abstract: The invention relates to an input assembly, comprising a carrier, an input part, which is mounted on the carrier in a manner capable of vibrating along at least one direction of movement) by means of mounting means, with an input surface intended to be touched by an operator and with a touch-detection device for detecting a touch upon the input surface by the operator, an electromagnetic actuator for exciting a movement of the input part along the direction of movement by means of an electric control signal in order to generate a haptic feedback for the operator in the case of a touch by the operator, wherein the actuator has a resiliently mounted additional mass and the actuator is attached to the input part via a vibration isolator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Applicant: PREH GMBH
    Inventors: Tobias BODENSTEIN, Andreas KRAMLICH
  • Publication number: 20230089289
    Abstract: A circuit structure and a method for carrying out an alternating heating and capacitive measuring mode by a common heating wire is presented. The method includes carrying out a heating mode, during which from a switching by a control circuit switching elements are in a conducting state, the switching elements are connected in series, so that the heating wire is supplied with a heating current from two different heating potentials; triggering a change into a detecting mode by the control circuit, so that the switching elements switch from the heating mode into a measuring mode, during which the switching elements are in a blocking state, so that the two different heating potentials are each interrupted several times; carrying out the measuring mode, in which the capacitance of the heating wire relative to a reference potential is determined by a detecting circuit by applying to the heating wire an alternating voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: Preh GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred SCHNEIDER, Georg DANIEL, Friedrich WIELAND
  • Publication number: 20230079883
    Abstract: An operating member including a support; an actuating part mounted on the support by a mount, to be movable relative to the support, by manual actuation against a resetting force to carry out an actuating movement from a rest position into a depressed position; and a detector, having at least one force sensor, adapted to detect at least one position of the actuating part is presented. The mount includes a guidance mechanism having at least one pair of coupled levers, wherein the levers are each pivotably mounted on the support by a first pivot joint defining at least one first pivot axis and on the actuating part by a second pivot joint defining at least one second pivot axis to cause a pivoting movement of the levers by the actuating movement. The guidance mechanism further includes at least one coupling rod to couple the pivoting movement of the levers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Applicant: Preh GmbH
    Inventors: Arthur KLOSSEK, Thomas OFENHITZER, Thilo SCHULTHEIS, Andreas HOFMANN
  • Publication number: 20220404542
    Abstract: The invention relates to a function display (1) for selectively displaying several symbols representing one switching function, respectively, and/or at least two switching states, respectively, comprising: a light guide stack which, given an attachment of the function display (1) as intended, forms a display surface (8) facing towards the observer (B); wherein the light guide stack is formed from at least two transparent or translucent, planar light guides (2, 3) arranged in an overlaid manner in a stacking direction, which are arranged so as to be spaced apart by a transparent or translucent layer consisting of a material that is optically thinner compared to the adjacent light guides (2, 3), preferably an air gap (14), so that the light guides (2, 3) each have a main surface (H) facing towards the observer (B) and a main surface (H?) facing away from the observer (B), and, in at least one light guide (2), the main surface (H?) facing away from the observer (B) faces towards a light guide (3) which is most c
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Applicant: Preh GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang SCHUSTEK, Michael BENKERT
  • Publication number: 20220340190
    Abstract: A steering wheel for a motor vehicle is presented. The steering wheel includes a steering wheel hub configured for the detachable attachment to a steering shaft of the motor vehicle; a steering wheel rim fixed to the steering wheel hub; at least one electrode, which is integrated into the steering wheel rim, for the capacitive detection of a touch on the steering wheel rim; an electrically conductive connection disposed outside the steering wheel to apply an electrical measuring potential for touch detection to the electrode, and to detect the touch on the steering wheel rim; a non-volatile data storage unit on or in the steering wheel, wherein the non-volatile data storage unit is in each case configured or developed to be read out by a reading unit disposed outside the steering wheel and connected to the electronic evaluation unit in a data-transmitting manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Applicant: Preh GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred SCHNEIDER, Lutz DOEBRICH
  • Publication number: 20220317785
    Abstract: An input device includes a capacitive detection device, which has a detection surface while forming a first array of array electrodes associated with the detection surface, that are arranged so as to cross one another several times while being electrically insulated to form one junction point at the locations where they cross one another; an electronic evaluation unit, which is electrically connected to the array electrodes to form an associated electric measuring field array for the spatially resolving detection of a capacitive influence on the detection surface; a handling means mounted on the detection surface movable along an adjustment path parallel to the detection surface to perform an operating input by a manually effected movement along the adjustment path; and at least one position indicator moved along with the handling means to capacitively influence at least one measuring field of the measuring field array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: Preh GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas KLEFFEL, Norbert BAUER
  • Publication number: 20220305707
    Abstract: A method for producing a plastic composite panel which is provided as a layer structure. The method includes providing a film layer structure comprising an adhesive layer which is arranged between two transparent plastic films. The film layer structure is pre-molded to assume an approximately final shape and is arranged in a molding tool so that a first main surface of the film layer structure is towards the molding surface of the molding tool and so that a cavity is formed between the second main surface of the film layer structure and a surface of the molding tool. The film layer structure is then back-molded in a thermal molding method step while introducing a thermoplastic material into the cavity to provide the layer structure. A pre-molding and back-molding step, a rigidification of the thermoplastic layer, and a demolding of the layer structure is further performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicant: PREH GMBH
    Inventors: PETER LOCHNER, STEFFEN NEUBAUER, BENEDIKT RUECKERT, MARTIN SUENNEMANN
  • Publication number: 20220308706
    Abstract: The invention relates to an input device comprising: a touch-sensitive input surface facing towards an operator (B); a detection device for the spatially resolved detection of an approach towards and touch on the touch-sensitive input surface having a sensor array for capacitive and/or inductive detection, which extends parallel to the input surface; an input part, which is disposed on the input surface and mounted so as to be movable from a rest position (X0) into an actuation position (XE) along an actuating direction (B1) extending perpendicularly to the input surface, for enabling a performance of an operating input by the operator (B) through a manual displacement of the input part along the actuating direction (B1); a position indicator for contactless position detection, which is attached to the input part and cooperates with the detection device; restoring means for generating a restoring force (F) with snap haptics counteracting the manual shifting from the rest position (X0); wherein the detection d
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicant: PREH GMBH
    Inventors: Norbert BAUER, Thomas KLEFFEL
  • Publication number: 20220285108
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an operating member including: a support; an actuating part, which defines an actuating surface is mounted on the support by a mount to be movable relative to the support, by manual actuation against a resetting force, while carrying out an actuating movement from a rest position into a depressed position; a detector having at least one force sensor, wherein the detector is adapted to detect at least one position of the actuating part; wherein the mount includes a guidance mechanism having at least one pair of coupled levers, wherein the levers are each pivotably mounted on the support by a first pivot joint and on the actuating part—by a second pivot joint to cause a pivoting movement of the at least one pair of coupled levers by the actuating movement, wherein the guidance mechanism further includes at least one coupling rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: Preh GmbH
    Inventors: Arthur Klossek, Thomas Ofenhitzer, Thilo Schultheis, Andreas Hofmann
  • Patent number: 11354003
    Abstract: A device for spatially resolving a projected capacitive touch detection. The device includes an electrically insulating substrate with a first and a second type of electrically conductive surfaces, and a through-hole. The first type of electrically conductive surfaces are connected in rows to form transmitting electrodes. The second type of electrically conductive surfaces are connected in columns to form receiving electrodes. The first type of electrically conductive surfaces includes non-deformed first type of electrically conductive surfaces and deformed first type of electrically conductive surface(s). The second type of electrically conductive surfaces includes non-deformed second type of electrically conductive surfaces and deformed second type of electrically conductive surface(s). The first type of electrically conductive surfaces and the second type of electrically conductive surfaces are arranged in an alternating manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: PREH GMBH
    Inventors: Rainer Schlegelmilch, Jochen Schlereth
  • Patent number: 11340739
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an input device and a method of producing the device. The input device includes a flat panel defining an array of control surfaces, a support disposed on a side of the panel facing away from an operator, and a flat film layer structure disposed between the flat panel and the support which defines an array of capacitive sensors; wherein each capacitive sensor forms a measuring capacitance assigned to one of the control surfaces; wherein the support forms at least one web, which protrudes towards the flat panel and connects to the flat panel to fix the film layer structure between the flat panel and the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Preh GMBH
    Inventors: David Heurich, Matthias Lembach, Ronald Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20220153192
    Abstract: A vehicle steering wheel system is provided. The system includes a steering wheel body with a hub region for attachment to a steering shaft of a vehicle steering system, a steering wheel rim and at least one spoke for attaching the steering wheel rim to the hub region; an electromechanical triggering device for triggering an acoustic output by means of an acoustic warning device of the vehicle, wherein the triggering device has an impact absorber cover and at least one force transducer wherein a force value threshold is predefined for each force transducer, and a wake-up signal is transmitted via the data connection to the evaluation unit if the force value threshold is exceeded by at least one force value, so that the latter changes from the energy-saving mode into the operating mode in which an actuating force value is determined by force value measured by the at least one force transducer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: Preh GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver KATZENBERGER, Stefan WAHL, Dirk RUETZEL, Martin SCHÄFER, Sebastian SCHRENK
  • Publication number: 20220153137
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an input assembly including: a support, an input part, and at least one light source, wherein the input part has at least one input layer having an input surface intended to be touched by an operator, and a light guide for guiding light of the light source towards the display region for backlighting the latter, and wherein the light guide is disposed on the side of the input part facing away from the input surface, a touch-detection device for detecting a touch on the input surface by the operator and/or an actuation detection device for detecting an actuation of the input part by the operator, and an electromagnetic actuator for exciting a movement of the input part along the direction of movement by means of an electric control signal in order to generate a haptic feedback, wherein the actuator includes an electromagnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: Preh GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes DÜNNINGER, Michael JORDAN
  • Publication number: 20220153193
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vehicle steering wheel, including: a steering wheel body with a hub region for attachment to a steering shaft, with a steering wheel rim and with at least one spoke for attaching the steering wheel rim to the hub region; an airbag initiation device; wherein an electromechanical triggering device has at least one force transducer, which is disposed between a projection and the steering wheel body and via which the impact absorber cover is supported on the steering wheel body, for measuring a force value that can be associated with an actuating force acting on the actuating surface of the impact absorber cover; wherein the electromechanical triggering device has at least one electronic evaluation unit connected in an electrically conductive manner to the force transducer to determine an actuating force value by a force value measured by the at least one force transducer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: Preh GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver KATZENBERGER, Stefan WAHL, Dirk RUETZEL, Martin SCHÄFER, Sebastian SCHRENK
  • Patent number: 11235702
    Abstract: A device including: a rotary actuator; an electronic pixel matrix display comprising a transparent outer layer; wherein the rotary actuator comprises an actuating part and a detector configured to detect rotational position, wherein the actuating part is rotationally mounted by a bearing so that it can rotate about an axis of rotation along a rotation direction, and the rotary actuator is arranged on the transparent layer; and wherein the rotary actuator also comprises a light guide designed to guide light of several pixels of the pixel matrix display from a light inlet surface of the light guide to a light outlet surface of the light guide either in the direction of or into an illumination surface of at least one of the rotary actuator and the actuating part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: PREH GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Schubert, Haiko Glienicke