Patents by Inventor Alexander Thorsten Kern

Alexander Thorsten Kern has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9268402
    Abstract: An operator control device has an operating element with haptic feedback. The operating element has a touch-sensitive operator control area and is operated through an input element. The device includes a first and a stationary second flat component that are composed of a ferromagnetic material and arranged to face each other in parallel by way of their large areas. The operator control device also includes a coil or an electrical conductor that is arranged between the first and second flat components and associated with a first pole shoe that is connected to the second flat component and projects in relation to the first flat component. A magnetic field can be generated by applying current to the coil or to the conductor, and the first flat component is driven by the magnetic field such that the first flat component can be displaced horizontally with respect to the stationary second flat component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Thorsten Kern, Ingo Zoller
  • Patent number: 9195308
    Abstract: An operator control apparatus has an operator control element with haptic feedback. The operator control element has an input area and can be operated by an operator using an input member. The operator control apparatus includes a first and second ferromagnetic areal components and a first and second flat coils that are arranged between the first and second components. The first and second components have their largest areas oriented toward each other and are configured to move relative to each other. The input area is either configured as a part of the first or second component or coupled to the first or second component using a coupling apparatus. The first coil is associated with the first component and the second coil is associated with the second component such that a flow of current through the first and second coils causes the first and second components to move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Thorsten Kern, Ingo Zoller
  • Publication number: 20140197938
    Abstract: An operator control device has an operating element with haptic feedback. The operating element has a touch-sensitive operator control area and is operated through an input element. The device includes a first and a stationary second flat component that are composed of a ferromagnetic material and arranged to face each other in parallel by way of their large areas. The operator control device also includes a coil or an electrical conductor that is arranged between the first and second flat components and associated with a first pole shoe that is connected to the second flat component and projects in relation to the first flat component. A magnetic field can be generated by applying current to the coil or to the conductor, and the first flat component is driven by the magnetic field such that the first flat component can be displaced horizontally with respect to the stationary second flat component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Inventors: Alexander Thorsten Kern, Ingo Zoller
  • Publication number: 20140176478
    Abstract: An operator control apparatus has an operator control element with haptic feedback. The operator control element has an input area and can be operated by an operator using an input member. The operator control apparatus includes a first and second ferromagnetic areal components and a first and second flat coils that are arranged between the first and second components. The first and second components have their largest areas oriented toward each other and are configured to move relative to each other. The input area is either configured as a part of the first or second component or coupled to the first or second component using a coupling apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Thorsten Kern, Ingo Zoller