Patents by Inventor Andrea Fickert

Andrea Fickert 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).

  • Publication number: 20230349407
    Abstract: Described is a combination fastener for attaching an object to a stud extending from or an opening formed in a component. The combination fastener includes a carrier portion to retain the object and a fastener portion. The fastener portion includes a body sidewall that defines a central longitudinal axis and a hollow space configured to receive the stud. A plurality of stud-retention features are resiliently coupled to an interior surface of the body sidewall to retain the stud within the hollow space. Each of the plurality of stud-retention features are angled toward the central longitudinal axis to deflect outward from the central longitudinal axis as the stud passes through the hollow space. A plurality of panel-retention features resiliently coupled to an exterior surface of the body sidewall to retain the combination fastener within the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Mark O. Lepper, Andrea Fickert
  • Patent number: 6420863
    Abstract: Process for monitoring an alternating-voltage discharge between the electrodes of a double electrode and an apparatus. The process includes measuring values of at least one of a discharge current and a discharge voltage for each half-wave within an alternating-voltage discharge period, determining a difference between the measured values of a second half-wave and the measured values of the first half-wave, and comparing the determined differences to specific tolerance values. When the specific tolerance values are exceeded by the determined differences, a power supply is reduced, whereby the discharge is at least briefly suppressed. The apparatus includes a double magnetron including first and second targets arranged to form a double electrode, and a power supply coupled to supply power to the first and second targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V
    Inventors: Falk Milde, Torsten Winkler, Andreas Fickert, Volker Kirchhoff, Matthias Fahland