Patents by Inventor Andrea Frank

Andrea Frank 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: 8320719
    Abstract: A method is provided for tuning the fiber optic retarder of a fiber optic current sensor towards a desired temperature dependence, the sensing fiber is exposed to a magnetic field or corresponding electric current and the sensor signal as well as the signal's dependence on the retarder temperature are measured. From this initial sensor signal and its temperature dependence, a target sensor signal can be determined, at which the dependence on the retarder temperature equals a desired value. Then, the retarder is thermally treated until the sensor signal reaches the target value. The method obviates the need for repetitively measuring the temperature dependence during the tuning process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Robert Wueest, Andreas Frank, Klaus Bohnert, Philippe Gabus
  • Publication number: 20120283969
    Abstract: A fiber-optic current sensor includes a measuring unit having a light source and a light detector, and a sensing head having a sensing fiber wound around a conductor and a retarder connected to the sensing fiber. The scale factor as a function of current of the fiber-optic current sensor is described by the product of two scaling functions fe? and fs? for the measuring unit and the sensing head, respectively. The data describing the scaling functions fe?, fs? is stored in a memory of the measuring unit, while the data describing the scaling function fs? is also stored in a memory of the sensing head. Providing two such memory devices allows to store the scaling functions fe? and fs? separately, thereby turning the control unit as well as the sensor head into easily replaceable modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: ABB Research LTD
    Inventors: Klaus BOHNERT, Andreas FRANK, Robert WÜEST
  • Patent number: 8233754
    Abstract: An electro-optical high-voltage sensor includes a waveguiding sensing fiber of an electro-optical material. The electrical field of the voltage to be measured is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sensing fiber. The sensing fiber carries two orthogonally polarized light waves, with the applied field affecting the birefringence between the waves. Using an electro-optical waveguiding fiber in this configuration allows the voltage between two widely spaced points to be accurately measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Klaus Bohnert, Andreas Frank, Hubert Brändle
  • Publication number: 20110128655
    Abstract: The current in a generator circuit breaker is measured using the Faraday effect of an optical sensing fiber looped around the breaker's conductor. The sensing fiber is arranged in a sensing strip, which can be mounted to the enclosure of the generator circuit breaker or to the conductor. Exemplary embodiments can have a wide measuring range and can easily be fitted to new or existing generator circuit breakers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: ABB RESEARCH LTD
    Inventors: Moritz HOCHLEHNERT, Thomas Lorek, Ahmed Zekhnini, Andreas Frank, Klaus Bohnert
  • Publication number: 20110122654
    Abstract: DC current in a high voltage AC/DC or DC/AC converter station can be measured via the Faraday effect in one or more loops of an optical sensing fiber located at the base of a bushing extending through a wall of the hall. This arrangement can exploit the base of the bushing being at ground potential, which can simplify mounting work and maintenance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: ABB RESEARCH LTD.
    Inventors: Juergen HAEFNER, Andreas Frank, Klaus Bohnert
  • Publication number: 20110072858
    Abstract: A method is provided for tuning the fiber optic retarder of a fiber optic current sensor towards a desired temperature dependence, the sensing fiber is exposed to a magnetic field or corresponding electric current and the sensor signal as well as the signal's dependence on the retarder temperature are measured. From this initial sensor signal and its temperature dependence, a target sensor signal can be determined, at which the dependence on the retarder temperature equals a desired value. Then, the retarder is thermally treated until the sensor signal reaches the target value. The method obviates the need for repetitively measuring the temperature dependence during the tuning process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Robert WUEEST, Andreas FRANK, Klaus BOHNERT, Philippe GABUS
  • Publication number: 20110074393
    Abstract: A fiber optic current or magnetic field sensor uses a sensing fiber in a coil for measuring a current or a magnetic field and has a retarder for converting between linearly polarized light and elliptically polarized light. The retardation of the retarder; its temperature dependence as well as its azimuth angle in respect to the plane of the fiber coil are optimized in dependence of the birefringence in the sensing fiber in order to minimize the influence of temperature variations and manufacturing tolerances on the overall scale factor of the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: ABB RESEARCH LTD
    Inventors: Robert WUEEST, Andreas Frank, Klaus Rohnert
  • Patent number: 7692420
    Abstract: The current in a conductor is measured by exploiting the Faraday effect in a sensing fiber. The light returning from the sensing fiber is split into at least two parts, at least one of which is analyzed by a first circular analyzer for generating a first signal. A second part may e.g. be analyzed by a second circular analyzer, and a third part may be analyzed by a linear analyzer. By combining the signals obtained in this way, the current induced phase delay in the returning light can be measured efficiently and accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Klaus Bohnert, Andreas Frank, Hubert Brandle
  • Publication number: 20090290165
    Abstract: An electro-optical high-voltage sensor includes a waveguiding sensing fiber of an electro-optical material. The electrical field of the voltage to be measured is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sensing fiber. The sensing fiber carries two orthogonally polarized light waves, with the applied field affecting the birefringence between the waves. Using an electro-optical waveguiding fiber in this configuration allows the voltage between two widely spaced points to be accurately measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Klaus Bohnert, Andreas Frank, Hubert Brandle
  • Publication number: 20090211421
    Abstract: Temperature or wear indicating device for material-working tools, in particular pipe-working tools, furthermore in particular saw blades, wherein the temperature or wear indicating device has at least one temperature or wear indicator, the temperature or wear indicator being at least partially produced from an indicator material that changes one of its visual properties, in particular its colour, permanently when a predetermined limit temperature is exceeded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Lier, Achim Schneider, Andreas Frank, William J. Sullivan, Sailesh Athreya
  • Publication number: 20090167688
    Abstract: A system and method are provided in which a processor executes an application program such as an enterprise resources planning application. A primary display displays at least one user interface screen from that application program. A keyboard associated with the processor and the primary display screen is provided having a plurality of data entry keys, and at least one secondary display. The one or more secondary displays may be a part of the keyboard itself or an extension of the keyboard. The one or more secondary displays may be display screen(s) and/or input panel(s). The input panel(s) includes at least one data entry key which effects an action recognized by the processor when activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventor: ANDREAS FRANK
  • Publication number: 20090039866
    Abstract: The current in a conductor is measured by exploiting the Faraday effect in a sensing fiber. The light returning from the sensing fiber is split into at least two parts, at least one of which is analyzed by a first circular analyzer for generating a first signal. A second part may e.g. be analyzed by a second circular analyzer, and a third part may be analyzed by a linear analyzer. By combining the signals obtained in this way, the current induced phase delay in the returning light can be measured efficiently and accurately.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: Klaus Bohnert, Andreas Frank, Hubert Brandle
  • Patent number: 7251023
    Abstract: A high-resolution fiber laser sensor for measuring a quantity to be measured M has a pumping light source, a fiber laser and a detection/evaluating unit. The fiber laser has: a birefringent first end reflector, a second end reflector, a laser-amplifying fiber, a sensor fiber and a mode coupling. The laser-amplifying fiber, the sensor fiber and the mode coupling are arranged between the end reflectors. In the fiber laser, light is capable of propagating in two optical states which are orthogonal to one another due to their polarization and/or their transversal space structure. The orthogonal optical states can be coupled to one another by the mode coupling. In the fiber laser, a number of longitudinal modes are capable of oscillating in each of the two optical states. In the sensor fiber a change in the birefringence for the two orthogonal optical states can be achieved by interaction of the quantity to be measured with the sensor fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Controls Ltd.
    Inventors: Klaus Bohnert, Karim Haroud, Andreas Frank, Hubert Brändle
  • Patent number: 7185635
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for internal combustion engines includes a high-pressure accumulator acted on with highly pressurized fuel by a high-pressure delivery unit and in turn supplies fuel to fuel injectors. The fuel injection system has a pressure control valve, which is disposed between a high-pressure side and a low-pressure side and actuating a valve element. The pressure control valve is actuated by means of an electrical actuator. An end surface of the pressure control valve delimits the low-pressure region in the high-pressure accumulator and is sealed by means of a seal disposed on the low-pressure side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Claudia Esther Frank, legal representative, Simone Christel Frank, legal representative, Verena Andrea Frank, legal representative, Werner Wagner, Kurt Frank, deceased
  • Patent number: 6999978
    Abstract: During backup of a database's data stored in individual files, it is not permissible for the data in the individual files to be altered, for reasons of consistency. For this reason, the files are blocked to altering access operations after a particular time during a backup operation. According to the invention, the backup operation is carried out in two parts. First, the files are transferred without there being any alteration block. A recording file is used to note files which are altered during transferring. These files are transferred again in a second part. During the second part an alteration block is required. It can be assumed that the number of files needing to be transferred in the second part is much smaller than the number of files needing to be transferred in the first part. For this reason, a significantly shortened alteration block is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengellschaft
    Inventors: Claus-Andreas Frank, Guenther Mohr, Gerhard Sommer, Hok-Tjhoen Tan
  • Patent number: D630983
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Andreas Frank, Hans-Dieter Futschik, Hartmut Sinkwitz, Gorden Wagener, Hans-Peter Wunderlich
  • Patent number: D633835
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Andreas Frank, Hans-Dieter Futschik, Hartmut Sinkwitz, Gorden Wagener, Hans-Peter Wunderlich
  • Patent number: D649095
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Andreas Frank, Hans-Dieter Futschik, Hartmut Sinkwitz, Gorden Wagener, Hans-Peter Wunderlich
  • Patent number: D653179
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Andreas Frank, Hans-Dieter Futschik, Hartmut Sinkwitz, Gorden Wagener, Hans-Peter Wunderlich
  • Patent number: D653594
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Andreas Frank, Hans-Dieter Futschik, Hartmut Sinkwitz, Gorden Wagener, Hans-Peter Wunderlich