Patents by Inventor Andreas Brinker

Andreas Brinker 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: 12606388
    Abstract: A switch-on unit for a tool of a movable unit of a linear transport system can be fastened to the movable unit. The switch-on unit includes a housing, an energy-receiving coil with energy-receiving electronics, and a movable antenna with communication electronics. The energy-receiving electronics and the communication electronics are disposed on at least a first circuit board within the housing. The housing has an opening for connections of the tool and an installation space for application electronics. A first circuit board has a first interface for the application electronics, with a power supply and communication link. The communication electronics are arranged to receive a first data signal via the movable antenna, to calculate a second data signal from information about a data structure of the first data signal and the first data signal, and to provide the second data signal at the communication link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2026
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Jan Achterberg, Andreas Brinker, Manuel Bettenworth, Thomas Vorbohle
  • Patent number: 12576722
    Abstract: A method is provided for transferring energy from a stationary unit to a movable unit of a linear transport system. The system includes a guide rail for guiding the movable unit, a plurality of stationary units, a controller, and a linear motor for driving the movable unit along the guide rail. The linear motor includes a stator and a rotor. The stator comprises the stationary units, each having one or more drive coils. The rotor is arranged on the movable unit, and has one or a more magnets. In addition, the stationary units each have one or more energy-transmitting coils, and the movable unit has at least one energy-receiving coil. The controller determines position data for the energy-receiving coil, selects at least one energy-transmitting coil based on the position data, and outputs a control signal to the stationary unit, with identification information for identifying the energy-transmitting coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2026
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Prüssmeier, Andreas Brinker, Irina Stockem, Thomas Vorbohle
  • Patent number: 12567892
    Abstract: A method for transferring data between movable and stationary units of a linear transport system having a controller and linear motor with stator and rotor for driving the movable unit along a guide rail. The stator includes the stationary units, each with one or more drive coils. The rotor is arranged on the movable unit, with one or more magnets. The stationary units each have at least one stationary antenna, and the movable unit has a movable antenna. The controller selects a stationary antenna based on position data of the moveable antenna and outputs a data packet to the stationary unit, with control and data signals transmitted via the selected stationary antenna. The control signal includes identification information to identify the stationary antenna. The data signal includes a communication frame with a start bit and user data following a start sequence arranged to trigger data receipt of the movable unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2026
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Jan Achterberg, Andreas Brinker, Manuel Bettenworth, Thomas Vorbohle
  • Publication number: 20240217749
    Abstract: A method for transmitting energy from a stationary unit of a linear transport system to a movable unit of the linear transport system. The linear transport system includes a movable unit and at least one further movable unit, a guide rail and a linear motor. The movable units include energy-transmitting coils. The following steps are carried out by a controller: determining that the movable unit requires an amount of energy to carry out an application that cannot be provided via energy transmission between energy-transmitting coils of at least one stationary unit to the at least one energy-receiving coil, and outputting control signals to at least one stationary unit for positioning the further movable unit in a transmission position on the guide rail immediately in front of or behind the movable unit, and for coupling energy-transmitting elements of the further movable unit to energy-transmitting elements of the movable unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2024
    Publication date: July 4, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas Vorbohle, Jan Achterberg, Andreas Brinker
  • Publication number: 20240223010
    Abstract: An inductive energy-transmitting device is provided in a linear transport system in which at least one magnetically driven carriage moves along a carriage guide including a motor module device. The inductive energy-transmitting device includes an energy-transmitting coil having a primary winding for applying an input voltage and an energy-receiving coil having a secondary winding for tapping an output voltage. The secondary winding of the energy-receiving coil has a control-voltage-winding portion and a load-voltage-winding portion, the control-voltage-winding portion and the load-voltage-winding portion including winding conductor tracks separate from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2024
    Publication date: July 4, 2024
    Inventors: Jan Achterberg, Andreas Brinker, Thomas Vorbohle
  • Publication number: 20240217347
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for transmitting energy from a stationary unit to a movable unit of a linear transport system. The linear transport system includes a guide rail, a plurality of stationary units, and a linear motor for driving the movable unit along the guide rail. The linear motor includes a stator and a rotor, the stator including the stationary units, each having one or more drive coils. The rotor is arranged on the movable unit and incudes one or more magnets. The stationary units each have one or more energy-transmitting coils, each energy-transmitting coil including actuation electronics. The movable unit has at least one energy-receiving coil. The actuation electronics carry out the following steps: reading in an energy quantity signal for the energy-transmitting coil concerned, converting the energy quantity signal into a pulse-pause ratio for actuating the energy-transmitting coil, and actuating the energy-transmitting coil based on the pulse-pause ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2024
    Publication date: July 4, 2024
    Inventors: Andreas Brinker, Thomas Vorbohle, Jan Achterberg
  • Publication number: 20230044922
    Abstract: A switch-on unit for a tool of a movable unit of a linear transport system can be fastened to the movable unit. The switch-on unit includes a housing, an energy-receiving coil with energy-receiving electronics, and a movable antenna with communication electronics. The energy-receiving electronics and the communication electronics are disposed on at least a first circuit board within the housing. The housing has an opening for connections of the tool and an installation space for application electronics. A first circuit board has a first interface for the application electronics, with a power supply and communication link. The communication electronics are arranged to receive a first data signal via the movable antenna, to calculate a second data signal from information about a data structure of the first data signal and the first data signal, and to provide the second data signal at the communication link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Jan Achterberg, Andreas Brinker, Manuel Bettenworth, Thomas Vorbohle
  • Publication number: 20230015917
    Abstract: A method for transferring data between movable and stationary units of a linear transport system having a controller and linear motor with stator and rotor for driving the movable unit along a guide rail. The stator includes the stationary units, each with one or more drive coils. The rotor is arranged on the movable unit, with one or more magnets. The stationary units each have at least one stationary antenna, and the movable unit has a movable antenna. The controller selects a stationary antenna based on position data of the moveable antenna and outputs a data packet to the stationary unit, with control and data signals transmitted via the selected stationary antenna. The control signal includes identification information to identify the stationary antenna. The data signal includes a communication frame with a start bit and user data following a start sequence arranged to trigger data receipt of the movable unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Jan Achterberg, Andreas Brinker, Manuel Bettenworth, Thomas Vorbohle
  • Publication number: 20220388401
    Abstract: A method is provided for transferring energy from a stationary unit to a movable unit of a linear transport system. The system includes a guide rail for guiding the movable unit, a plurality of stationary units, a controller, and a linear motor for driving the movable unit along the guide rail. The linear motor includes a stator and a rotor. The stator comprises the stationary units, each having one or more drive coils. The rotor is arranged on the movable unit, and has one or a more magnets. In addition, the stationary units each have one or more energy-transmitting coils, and the movable unit has at least one energy-receiving coil. The controller determines position data for the energy-receiving coil, selects at least one energy-transmitting coil based on the position data, and outputs a control signal to the stationary unit, with identification information for identifying the energy-transmitting coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Uwe Prüssmeier, Andreas Brinker, Irina Stockem, Thomas Vorbohle