Patents Assigned to Preh GmbH
  • Publication number: 20100315221
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for measuring wear-induced displacement of a brake lining with respect to an associated brake caliper, comprising a gear mechanism for converting the wear-induced displacement into a rotary movement, having a sensor for detecting the rotary movement, wherein a contact-free coupling is provided for transmitting the rotary movement to the sensor. The apparatus is designed in such a way that the sensor generates an analogue or pulse-width-modulated detection signal for determining the wear-induced displacement of the brake lining, wherein the detection signal corresponds to the respective displacement caused by the rotary movement. The invention also related to a corresponding method for measuring the wear-induced displacement of a brake lining with respect to an associated brake caliper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: PREH GMBH
    Inventors: Hans-Michael Schmitt, Martin Blaufuss, Bernhard Knuettel
  • Patent number: 7852071
    Abstract: A control element is provided for a motor vehicle, particularly a rotary actuator, having at least one pivoted control knob, an extension formed on the control knob, and an electrical device to detect the rotary movement of the control knob, whereby the electrical device works together with the extension of the control knob, and whereby the electrical device is formed of at feast two oppositely polarized magnets connected torsion-proof to the extension and by at least two sensors held stationary in the control element and detecting the magnetic field lines of the magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Preh GmbH
    Inventor: Oliver Zegula
  • Patent number: 7841768
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement is provided for determining an interior temperature in a motor vehicle, which sensor arrangement is at least one part of an air-conditioning operating part, comprising a closed housing having at least one front wall and one rear wall, wherein the front wall is manufactured from a material which ensures satisfactory thermal transfer and the housing and is filled with a thermally insulating means, further comprising a first temperature sensor which is fastened to a rear side of the front wall and a second temperature sensor which interacts with the first temperature sensor at least in relation to an evaluation of the interior temperature, wherein the at least second temperature sensor is fastened on an inner side of the rear wall which faces the rear side of the front wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: PREH GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Regensburger, Georg Bauer, Andreas Kramlich, Michael Reiser, Wolfgang Kuechler
  • Publication number: 20100288071
    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, wherein 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: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: PREH GMBH
    Inventors: Artur Klossek, Thilo Schultheis
  • Patent number: 7817001
    Abstract: In actuating devices such as, e.g., multifunctional actuators, it is necessary in many cases to block at least one specific direction of movement. A simple and reliably operating device is proposed for this purpose, which uses an electromagnet to bring a ball from a rest position into a blocking position. In the blocking position, the ball mechanically blocks the relative movement between two parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Preh GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Kramlich
  • Publication number: 20100255692
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical connection system (1) comprising a housing (12), into which electrical and/or mechanical components may be integrated, at least one printed circuit board (30) that can be positioned on the housing (12), having at least one printed circuit board connection (34, 36) and at least one contact element (18, 20) that is held on the housing (12) in a stationary manner, said contact element having a contacting section (22, 24) on the free end thereof for electrically contacting the printed circuit board connection (34, 36), wherein the contact element (18, 20) is configured in a bendable manner at least in regions such that the contacting section (22, 24) can be bent from an assembly position, in which said contacting section is not in contact with the printed circuit board connection (34, 36), into a contacting position, in which said contacting section is electric contact with the printed circuit board connection (34, 36).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: PREH GMBH
    Inventors: Melitta Bott, Bernhard Knüttel
  • Patent number: 7808374
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for measuring wear-induced displacement of a brake lining with respect to an associated brake caliper, comprising a gear mechanism for converting the wear-induced displacement into a rotary movement, having a sensor for detecting the rotary movement, wherein a contact-free coupling is provided for transmitting the rotary movement to the sensor. The apparatus is designed in such a way that the sensor generates an analogue or pulse-width-modulated detection signal for determining the wear-induced displacement of the brake lining, wherein the detection signal corresponds to the respective displacement caused by the rotary movement. The invention also related to a corresponding method for measuring the wear-induced displacement of a brake lining with respect to an associated brake caliper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: PREH GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Michael Schmitt, Martin Blaufuss, Bernhard Knuettel
  • Publication number: 20100218639
    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: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: PREH GMBH
    Inventor: Andreas Kramlich
  • Patent number: 7781686
    Abstract: An operating element is provided that has a control knob, which is mounted in a housing, a console, or the like, and can move in a swiveling manner between a home position and multiple switching or contact positions. In order to design the operating element in a simple way, a central momentary switch that establishes the switch actuation point of the operating element and has a haptic function is associated with the control knob, and the momentary switch is actuated each time the control knob is swiveled out of its home position by a predefined angle toward a switching or contact position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Preh GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Kramlich
  • Publication number: 20100171632
    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: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: PREH GMBH
    Inventor: Martin JEITNER
  • Patent number: 7741938
    Abstract: A control element is provided having programmable haptics, in particular a programmable central catch, for a motor vehicle, having a control knob which can be accommodated such that it can rotate, the control knob being connected in a force-fitting or interlocking manner to a toothed ring or having an integral design, and it being possible for the toothed ring (to be rotated by means of the control knob, and at least one latching element which can move towards the toothed ring and/or away from the toothed ring by means of an electromagnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: PREH GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Kramlich
  • Publication number: 20100147095
    Abstract: A control element for a motor vehicle, includes a control button retained in the control element so as to be at least rotatable and pressable, where a switching and/or regulating function is assigned to every movement, where the control element can additionally be shifted and where the shifting movement takes place in a plane horizontal relative to the control button.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: PREH GMBH
    Inventors: Gerold Eckert, Thilo Kirchner
  • Patent number: 7723658
    Abstract: A solar sensor is provided that has microspheres on an interior face of a protective cap or of another radiation-transparent area above a transducer of the sensor. The microspheres scatter the light but at the same time have a much lower damping effect. Preferably, the microspheres are glued to or sealed into the interior face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: PREH GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Jeitner
  • Patent number: 7723673
    Abstract: An ambient light sensor system is provided for sensing ambient light and light in the area in front of a motor vehicle, wherein the ambient light sensor system includes a light guide element arranged behind a transparent surface of the motor vehicle and at least two sensors arranged on the light guide element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Preh GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Jeitner, Haiko Glienicke, Harald Schelbert, Dirk Vormann
  • Patent number: 7719402
    Abstract: A diagnostic circuit for a potentiometer that connects a load resistor (laboratory resistor) to the slider of the potentiometer to allow a constant comparison of the contact resistance to measured values in the loaded and/or unloaded state when the slider is being adjusted, or when it is being paused at a critical point. This is accomplished by connecting a pull-up resistor to an input of the microprocessor, to which a load resistor is connected, and which is electrically connected to the slider. The slider itself is connected to an additional input of the microprocessor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: PREH GmbH
    Inventor: Anton Ruettiger
  • Publication number: 20100108485
    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: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: PREH GMBH
    Inventor: Gerold Eckert
  • Publication number: 20100108450
    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: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: PREH GMBH
    Inventors: Annegret Suckfull, Bernhard Knuttel
  • Patent number: 7698814
    Abstract: A method for linearizing potentiometric sensors is provided, the method can include the steps of: insertion in a measurement and/or processing station of a potentiometric sensor provided with a resistive track; application of a defined voltage and/or of a defined current across the resistive track; placement of a number of sensing elements composed of metallic contacts distributed at uniform intervals over the length of the resistive track; acquisition of the individual measured values of the sensing elements and determination of the curve of the resistance of the resistive track, and linearization of the resistance of the resistive track by means of sequential adjustment of the resistance of the resistive track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: PREH GmbH
    Inventor: Alfons Buehner
  • Publication number: 20100073288
    Abstract: An input device including a control surface and a control element that can be moved over the control surface, with means for detecting the position and/or movement of the control element on the control surface and an evaluation unit for generating a control signal corresponding to the detected quantity, where the control element adheringly rests against the control surface by a magnetic force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: PREH GMBH
    Inventor: Andreas Kramlich
  • Patent number: 7683748
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a control element, particularly in a central control unit. A magnet clamping system is integrated into a control element in order to render the function “slider setting” unequivocal. In addition to an actuator head that is positioned on a shaft, which is guided in a cylinder, for example, and at least one circuit board having LEDs, the control element includes a magnetic device having a designated magnet, which is functionally connected to the actuator head. When the actuator head is moved vertically by sliding, the magnetic device lifts off the magnet due to tilting, which causes a code disc attached to the actuator head to be brought into an inclined position such that a light flow on the light barriers formed by the LEDs is disrupted and/or opened up. In a further embodiment, this control element also includes press and rotate functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: PREH GmbH
    Inventor: Anton Ruettiger