Patents Assigned to Preh GmbH
  • Publication number: 20170131461
    Abstract: A display device is provided. The display device comprises a display surface with several segments that can be backlit, which are configured in such a way that, if subsets of the segments are backlit together, a different one of several symbols is in each case depicted by the display surface, a number of light sources corresponding to the number of symbols, a layer structure of several flat light transmitting layers made of a transparent or translucent material, preferably plastic, wherein the light transmitting layers are stacked with the main surfaces facing each other and are in each case configured in such a way that, primarily, light of exactly one of the light sources is transmitted from a narrow side of the light transmitting layer provided for light entrance to another narrow side of the light transmitting layer as a light exit to at least one segment of the associated symbol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: Preh GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Kramlich
  • Publication number: 20170052073
    Abstract: A control element comprising a support; a control part which defines at least one operating surface, which is movable or elastically yielding if an operating force F acts upon the operating surface; a layer structure that is disposed between the control part and the support and that is elastically deformed if an operating force F acts on the operating surface. The layer structure has at least one first electrode associated with the support and a second electrode, which is associated with the control part and disposed underneath the operating surface, for the definition of a measuring capacity varying in accordance with the operating force. The layer structure further has an intermediate layer having a recess which is disposed between the first and second electrodes for defining a hollow chamber; and means for venting the hollow chamber. The means for venting is integrated at least partially into the intermediate layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Applicant: Preh GmbH
    Inventors: Alain Dani, Xiaoxi Li, Jochen Schlereth
  • Publication number: 20170004941
    Abstract: A rocker switch includes a housing. An actuating part is pivotably mounted at the housing and includes at least two opposing actuating surfaces with two opposing actuating directions associated thereto. At least one actuating surface includes a backlit lighting surface. At least one lighting device is attached to the housing for backlighting the lighting surface. The rocker switch includes least one electromechanical pushbutton and at least one multiple-part telescoping light duct. At least one plunger is displaceably supported at the housing. The at least one plunger acts through the actuator part on the electromechanical pushbutton and the at least one light duct so as to define a light channel between the at least one lighting device and the lighting surface. The at least one light duct comprises a tubular lower light duct section corresponding to the electromechanical pushbutton and a tubular upper light duct section corresponding to the lighting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Applicant: PREH GMBH
    Inventor: STEFFEN NEUBAUER
  • Patent number: 9298206
    Abstract: An operator control element with magnetic return for a number of switching and/or control functions: includes an abutment part; an actuating part which can be moved, for example displaced and/or pivoted, by hand from an inoperative position in at least two opposite directions with respect to the abutment part; magnetic return means for returning the actuating part into the inoperative position; and detection means for producing an electrical signal corresponding in each case at least to the maximum positions and the inoperative position of the actuating part. The magnetic return means include at least one actuating part-side ring magnets and one abutment part-side ring magnet arranged in the inoperative position such that the end faces thereof face one another and are spaced apart. They are arranged so as to pull the actuating part towards the abutment part and that they are concentric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: PREH GMBH
    Inventors: Arthur Klossek, Thilo Schultheis, Stefan Schuberth
  • Patent number: 8854163
    Abstract: The invention relates to an operating element (10) for a regulating and/or switching functionality having at least two switching or regulating stages, comprising: an actuating part (4) which can be actuated manually and thereby moved out of a rest position; at least three permanent magnets (1, 2, 3), comprising: a first movable permanent magnet (1), which is driven synchronously in its range of movement by the actuating part (4); a second movable permanent magnet (2), which, in a first partial range of the range of movement of the first permanent magnet (1), is synchronously entrained by it through magnetic force, and whose further movement is inhibited in at least one second partial range of the range of movement of the first permanent magnet (1) by at least one stop (5a); a third permanent magnet (3), which is stationary relative to the actuating part (4), for generating a magnetic return force on the at least first permanent magnet (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Preh GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Gessner, Thilo Schultheis, Arthur Klossek
  • Publication number: 20140260771
    Abstract: An operator control element with magnetic return for a number of switching and/or control functions: includes an abutment part; an actuating part which can be moved, for example displaced and/or pivoted, by hand from an inoperative position in at least two opposite directions with respect to the abutment part; magnetic return means for returning the actuating part into the inoperative position; and detection means for producing an electrical signal corresponding in each case at least to the maximum positions and the inoperative position of the actuating part the magnetic return means include at least one actuating part-side ring magnets and one abutment part-side ring magnet arranged in the inoperative position such that the end faces thereof face one another and are spaced apart. They are arranged so as to pull the actuating part towards the abutment part and that they are concentric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: PREH GMBH
    Inventors: Arthur Klossek, Thilo Schultheis, Stefan Schuberth
  • Patent number: 8771573
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a plastic housing, where at least one first plastic housing part with at least one guide or bearing for at least one mechanically movable component, in particular a sensor, is produced in a first molding step, the at least one first plastic housing part is overmolded in a second molding step while a second plastic housing part is being formed, in order to form an integral plastic housing. Moreover, the invention relates to a plastic housing with at least one first plastic housing part including at least one guide or bearing for at least one mechanically movable component, where the at least one plastic housing part is entirely or partially overmolded by a second plastic housing part so that the integral plastic housing is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Preh GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Knüttel, Annegret Suckfüll
  • Patent number: 8681014
    Abstract: The invention relates to a display device (1, 20) in a motor vehicle, consisting of a display (3, 25), a transilluminatable screen (4, 21) disposed behind the display (3, 25), a lighting means (6, 23) and a reflector (7, 24), wherein the lighting means (6, 23) is attached in the display device (1, 20) between the screen (4, 21) and the reflector (7, 24) and the light (L) of the lighting means (6, 23) can be parallelized and directed towards and through the screen (4, 21) onto the display (3, 25) by means of the reflector (7, 26), so that symbols that can be changed by means of the screen (4, 21) can be shown on the display (3, 24), and wherein the reflector (7, 24) is a facetted reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: PREH GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Jeitner
  • Patent number: 8651735
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement for determining an inside temperature in a motor vehicle having a climate control device and at least a panel is at least a part of a control part of the climate control device, where the sensor arrangement includes a housing with at least a front wall and a rear wall, the housing is filled with a heat-insulating material, a first temperature sensor attached to a rear of the front wall and a second temperature sensor attached to an inner side of the rear wall, said inner side facing a rear of the front wall, and where the front wall is a part of the panel of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Preh GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Regensburger, Georg Bauer, Andreas Kramlich, Michael Reiser, Claudia Guck
  • Patent number: 8610010
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary control element comprising a control element body and a rotary button (1) mounted so as to be rotatable about at least one axis of rotation (9), wherein the control element body and the rotary button (1) cooperate such that a first associated switching function is provided by rotating the rotary button (1). The rotary control element according to the invention is characterized by the rotary button (1) being mounted so as to be displaceable relative to the control element body in at least one direction which is substantially perpendicular relative to the axis of rotation (9), with at least one additional switching function being provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Preh GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Karch, Stefan Schuberth
  • Publication number: 20130327758
    Abstract: The invention relates to an operating or controlling device and associated method for a motor vehicle for carrying out an operator-specific switching and/or regulating function, including: at least one operating or control element for carrying out several switching and/or regulating functions; at least one seat heater; means for generating and feeding a specific current signal into the seat heater in order to induce a specific voltage signal in the operator by means of the seat heater; detection means in order to detect the specific voltage signal upon contact with the operating element by the operator; evaluation means in order to assign a specific one of the several switching and/or regulating functions to the operating element or control element upon detection of the specific voltage signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: PREH GMBH
    Inventor: Norbert Bauer
  • Patent number: 8573092
    Abstract: Disclosed is a rotating actuator with a variable latching profile, the rotating actuator having a housing, a rotary knob and a rotary shaft connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the rotary knob, and also at least two latching contours connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the rotary shaft, one support per latching contour, on which support at least one latching element is arranged, the latching element engaging in the latching contour assigned to the support, and which support is mounted rotatably about the rotary shaft, and at least one locking device per support, by means of which the support can be locked relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Preh GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Kramlich
  • Patent number: 8562196
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cap (1) for a display and/or control element. Said cap (1) comprises a cap member (3) for covering a light source (7) and optionally also actuating a switch of an associated control element. A luminous area or projection area is embodied in the cap member (3) in such a way that a symbol represented on or through the luminous area or projection area becomes visible on an operator's side of the display and/or control element by irradiating the symbol by means of a light source (7). The luminous area or projection area encompasses a light-permeable metal coating (2) which is preferably applied using a PVD process. The cap is characterized in that the metal coating (2) has a three-dimensional contour (2a, 2b) for representing the symbol. The invention further relates to an associated production method, a display or control element comprising said cap, and a use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Preh GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Lust, Martin Jeitner, Wolfgang Kuechler, Dieter Schroeder
  • Publication number: 20130271245
    Abstract: The invention relates to an operating element (10) for a regulating and/or switching functionality having at least two switching or regulating stages, comprising: an actuating part (4) which can be actuated manually and thereby moved out of a rest position; at least three permanent magnets (1, 2, 3), comprising: a first movable permanent magnet (1), which is driven synchronously in its range of movement by the actuating part (4); a second movable permanent magnet (2), which, in a first partial range of the range of movement of the first permanent magnet (1), is synchronously entrained by it through magnetic force, and whose further movement is inhibited in at least one second partial range of the range of movement of the first permanent magnet (1) by at least one stop (5a); a third permanent magnet (3), which is stationary relative to the actuating part (4), for generating a magnetic return force on the at least first permanent magnet (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: Preh GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Gessner, Thilo Schultheis, Arthur Klossek
  • Publication number: 20120315402
    Abstract: A control element is provided, in particular for a motor vehicle, including a material through which light can be passed and whish is provided with at least one opaque coating provided with symbols, and having a transparent enamel layer on the coating, wherein nanoparticles are introduced into the enamel layer and the coating and the enamel layer are removed by means of a laser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: PREH GMBH
    Inventors: Matthias LUST, Horst WILHELM, Michael HALLER, Martin STAHL
  • Patent number: 8284003
    Abstract: A control element for a motor vehicle including a control button, a bearing location for the control button located in a housing of the control element, an extension firmly connected with the control button, a first permanent magnet attached to the extension, and a second permanent magnet attached in the housing, where the permanent magnets form a permanent magnet pair, and unlike poles of the magnets face each other at a distance in a mid-position of the control button, wherein a magnetically conductive material is attached at least in some areas and circumferentially to the permanent magnet pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Preh GmbH
    Inventors: Artur Klossek, Thilo Schultheis
  • Publication number: 20120178315
    Abstract: The invention relates to a punched grid with a blade receiving contact including at least two symmetrical contact springs forming a blade receiving contact and extending from a base area, the contact springs being spaced from each other so that a gap is formed and the contact springs have at their free ends a curved portion narrowing the gap, wherein an embossed contour is formed into at least one curved portion of a contact spring, the invention further relating to a method for producing a blade receiving contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: PREH GMBH
    Inventors: Bernhard Knüttel, Annegret Suckfüll, Verena Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20120145523
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cap (1) for a display and/or control element. Said cap (1) comprises a cap member (3) for covering a light source (7) and optionally also actuating a switch of an associated control element. A luminous area or projection area is embodied in the cap member (3) in such a way that a symbol represented on or through the luminous area or projection area becomes visible on an operator's side of the display and/or control element by irradiating the symbol by means of a light source (7). The luminous area or projection area encompasses a light-permeable metal coating (2) which is preferably applied using a PVD process. The cap is characterized in that the metal coating (2) has a three-dimensional contour (2a, 2b) for representing the symbol. The invention further relates to an associated production method, a display or control element comprising said cap, and a use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: PREH GMBH
    Inventors: Matthias Lust, Martin Jeitner, Wolfgang Kuechler, Dieter Schroeder
  • Patent number: 8153915
    Abstract: A control element including at least four switches for electrical/electronic functions having a precise guidance for operation, where mount arms are disposed in a cross shape on their underside on a tip disposed in a housing, and on their top side in a spherical shell, and a pin is attached to the housing in each corner formed by the arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: PREH GmbH
    Inventor: Gerold Eckert
  • Patent number: 8138866
    Abstract: A rotary actuator with a magnetically produced tactile sense is provided, in particular for a motor vehicle. The rotary actuator includes two plane-parallel permanent magnets, with the first magnet being arranged in a fixed position in a housing of the rotary actuator, and in which case the second magnet can be rotated with respect to the first magnet by a handle of the rotary actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Preh GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Kramlich, Dieter Weth