Patents by Inventor Andreas Ullmann

Andreas Ullmann 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: 20230024618
    Abstract: A method for producing at least one plastic component (1), wherein in the method the following steps, preferably in the following sequence, preferably cyclically in the following sequence, are carried out: a) providing at least one film (2) and at least one sensor film (3), wherein the at least one film (2) and/or the at least one sensor film (3) has at least one thermoplastic material or at least one thermoplastic polymer; b) applying the at least one sensor film (3) to at least one first region of a surface of the at least one film (2); c) forming the at least one film (2) having the at least one sensor film (3), wherein one or more formed film bodies (4) are made; d) punching out one or more film elements (4a) made from at least one second region of the one or more formed film bodies (4), and a device (10) and a plastic component (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Wolfgang Clemens, Martin Hahn, Andreas Ullmann, Matthias Heinrich
  • Publication number: 20210379814
    Abstract: A method for producing a multilayer body and a multilayer body, wherein the method includes: providing a single-layered or multi-layered substrate with a first surface and a second surface, providing one or more sensor films which each have at least one sensor area and have a first surface and a second surface facing away from the first surface, applying the one or more sensor films to the second surface of the substrate such that the first surface of the respective sensor film rests on the second surface of the substrate at least in areas, thermoforming a series of layers comprising the substrate and the one or more sensor films applied to the second surface of the substrate such that, during the thermoforming, on the first surface of the substrate a surface relief is formed which is determined by the shaping, of one or more of the one or more sensor films.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Matthias HEINRICH, Christoph FENZL, Andreas ULLMANN, Stefanie HEIDL, Karin SALZMANN
  • Patent number: 11106319
    Abstract: A layer electrode for touchscreens, in particular one which is suitable for the construction of capacitive touchscreens, wherein the detection accuracy of the touchscreen is virtually independent of an increase in the number of electrode arrays in the touchscreen. This is achieved in that, within the transparent field of view of the touchscreen, conductivity centres are formed through first electrode arrays which are connected directly to supply lines into the edge region and to a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: POLYIC GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Ullmann, Manfred Walter, Mathias Gruber
  • Publication number: 20200249794
    Abstract: A layer electrode for touchscreens, in particular one which is suitable for the construction of capacitive touchscreens, wherein the detection accuracy of the touchscreen is virtually independent of an increase in the number of electrode arrays in the touchscreen. This is achieved in that, within the transparent field of view of the touchscreen, conductivity centres are formed through first electrode arrays which are connected directly to supply lines into the edge region and to a controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Andreas Ullmann, Manfred Walter, Mathias Gruber
  • Patent number: 10642424
    Abstract: The invention relates to a capacitive sensor element with a plurality of sensor fields, as they correspond for example to the arrangement on a touch screen. This capacitive sensor element comprises at least one multilayer body made up of two structured electrically conductive layers and an insulating layer in between. The invention provides a layout with redundant conductive strips for an arrangement of crossing conductive strips, through which the requirement for register accuracy in the two-layer lamination of layer electrodes is reduced, in particular with respect to connecting the connections to the plugs in the edge area of a module using a corresponding sensor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: POLYIC GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Ullmann, Walter Fix, Manfred Walter
  • Patent number: 10518447
    Abstract: The invention relates to a film body, a method for the back-injection molding of a film body and a back-injection molding tool therefor. In particular, the invention relates to a method for the back-injection molding of layer electrodes (1) for producing touch-sensitive sensors for example for touch screens. Parts of the layer electrode (1), which after the back-injection molding should still be able to move freely, are covered by a sacrificial film (3) before and during the back-injection molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: PolyIC GmbH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Ullmann, Walter Fix
  • Patent number: 9921698
    Abstract: The invention relates to a layer electrode for touchscreens, in particular one which is suitable for the construction of capacitive touchscreens. In the case of a growing number of pixels within the layer electrode, various possibilities are proposed for reducing the loss of surface area within an outer electrode array due to the passage of supply lines to inner electrode arrays. For this it is proposed to change the shape of the electrode arrays, the shape of the galvanic isolations between the electrode arrays and finally the arrangement of the supply lines for the electrode arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: PolyIC GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Ullmann, Manfred Walter
  • Patent number: 9826637
    Abstract: A film (2) which has at least one electric or electronic functional layer (22), wherein at least one electric and/or electronic component is provided in a functional area of the functional layer (22), and wherein at least one electrical connection is provided in a contact area of the at least one functional layer (22), which electrical contact is galvanically coupled to at least one component, wherein the film (2) has a contact flap which provides at least one part of the contact area (20b, 20b?), has a further layer (23a, 23b, 24?), in a thickness of at least 300 nm and preferably at least 1 ?m, particularly preferably of at least 7 ?m, on the functional layer (22) at least in a transition area (20c) between the functional area (20a) and the contact area (20b), which comprises at least a partial area of the contact flap. Alternatively, in a transition area the flap can taper away from the functional area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Poly IC GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Ullmann, Walter Fix, Manfred Walter, Thomas Herbst
  • Patent number: 9699899
    Abstract: A plastic film for a multi-modal input device has conductors that link a touch module and an operating element. Such input devices, for example, are in consoles of motor vehicles, dishwashers, washing machines, telephones, or the like. Touch modules and operating element modules are interconnected by the layout of conductors in the form of a geometrically distorted electrical matrix on a single plastic film which forms a carrier for a combined input device. The conductors are electrically insulated from each other, but capacitively coupled to crossover points in the electrical matrix, the crossover points dividing the matrix into at least two areas. Strip conductors extend from the matrix at an edge area of the matrix of the touch module and connected to the operating elements forming a geometrically distorted matrix of conductors on the plastic film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: PolyIC GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Ullmann, Andrey Alekseev, Walter Fix
  • Patent number: 9599451
    Abstract: Disclosed is a plastic film and to a touch module produced therefrom. The module is constructed from two conductive layers with an insulation layer in between, as are used in capacitive touch pads and/or touch screens, for example. The problem of connecting the respective x or y sensors across two planes in a cost-effective manner employs foldable sensor planes in the plastic film suitable for mass production. The connections and conductor tracks are concentrated on one plane on a sensor side wherein the sensor planes are arranged on flexible materials. The registering of the two planes relative to each other is simplified via a secure mechanical connection of the two planes via a fold in the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: PolyIC GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Ullmann, Walter Fix, Norbert Laus, Haymo Katschorek
  • Patent number: 9552087
    Abstract: In a multi-layer body with a carrier and at least one conduction layer first areas and second areas are galvanically isolated from each other by third areas. In the third area sections are omitted from conductor traces and replaced by replacement pieces. The multi-layer body thereby has an optically homogeneous effect (e.g. is uniformly transparent or uniformly reflective).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: PolyIC GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Ullmann, Walter Fix, Manfred Walter, Merlin Welker, Jurgen Krumm, Mathias Maul, Toblias Menger
  • Patent number: 9513758
    Abstract: Transparent electrically conductive functional layer, production process and use thereof. The invention concerns a transparent electrically conductive functional layer, in particular a laminate body. The invention makes it possible for the first time to produce thin conductive functional layers for use in resistive touch screens, for example in a printing process. By way of example with a coverage of 5% and adequate conductivity the functional layer still works at 95% transparent for the human eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: PolyIC GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Walter Fix, Alexander Knobloch, Andreas Ullmann, Jasmin Wörle
  • Publication number: 20160328048
    Abstract: The invention relates to a capacitive sensor element with a plurality of sensor fields, as they correspond for example to the arrangement on a touch screen. This capacitive sensor element comprises at least one multilayer body made up of two structured electrically conductive layers and an insulating layer in between. The invention provides a layout with redundant conductive strips for an arrangement of crossing conductive strips, through which the requirement for register accuracy in the two-layer lamination of layer electrodes is reduced, in particular with respect to connecting the connections to the plugs in the edge area of a module using a corresponding sensor element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Andreas Ullmann, Walter Fix, Manfred Walter
  • Patent number: 9465465
    Abstract: A touchpad apparatus extends, without having to be covered by a cover, up to an outer housing edge of an operating device. In two possible cases, not only touchpads and connections between the touchpads in the touchpad area are formed by patterns of conductive strips which cannot be resolved by the human eye, but also contact connection lines which connect contact elements to each other at two sides of the touchpad area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: PolyIC GmbH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Walter Fix, Andreas Ullmann, Manfred Walter
  • Publication number: 20160229098
    Abstract: The invention relates to a film body, a method for the back-injection molding of a film body and a back-injection molding tool therefor. In particular, the invention relates to a method for the back-injection molding of layer electrodes (1) for producing touch-sensitive sensors for example for touch screens. Parts of the layer electrode (1), which after the back-injection molding should still be able to move freely, are covered by a sacrificial film (3) before and during the back-injection molding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Applicant: PolylC GmbH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Ullmann, Walter Fix
  • Patent number: 9377914
    Abstract: A multi-layer body has a transparent first area which comprises a plurality of touch panels in the first area with a carrier substrate transparent in the first area, and a partially electrically conductive first layer transparent at least in the first area. The first layer has, in the first area, electrically conductive transmission areas, receiving areas and connection areas each formed by a pattern of electrically conductive, non-transparent tracks whose width in the first area is such that the electrically conductive transmission areas, receiving areas and connection areas are transparent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: PolyIc GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Walter Fix, Andreas Ullmann
  • Publication number: 20160154517
    Abstract: The invention relates to a layer electrode for touchscreens, in particular one which is suitable for the construction of capacitive touchscreens. In the case of a growing number of pixels within the layer electrode, various possibilities are proposed for reducing the loss of surface area within an outer electrode array due to the passage of supply lines to inner electrode arrays. For this it is proposed to change the shape of the electrode arrays, the shape of the galvanic isolations between the electrode arrays and finally the arrangement of the supply lines for the electrode arrays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Applicant: Polyic GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Ullmann, Manfred Walter
  • Publication number: 20160077632
    Abstract: The invention relates to a layer electrode for a touchscreen, in particular one which makes the edge region of the transparent input field matrix useful for further input fields.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Andreas ULLMANN, Manfred WALTER
  • Patent number: 9240684
    Abstract: There is described a structure (14) that is disposed on an electrically non-conductive, electrostatically chargeable strip-type carrier film (12) and that has electrically conductive and/or semiconducting structural elements, which structure has at least one structural region (14s) protected against electrostatic voltage flashover. The at least one structural region (14s) protected against electrostatic voltage flashover is connected to a protective conductor track (19) and/or surrounded by a protective conductor track (19, 19?), which is realized such that it discharges an electrostatic charge and/or shields the protected structural region (14s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: PolyIC GmbH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Ullmann, Thomas Herbst, Ludwig Brehm, Haymo Katschorek
  • Patent number: 9236862
    Abstract: A multi-layer body for providing a touch panel functionality has a plurality of areas of surface which have a different size defined by corresponding electrically conductive elements; in particular, larger areas of surface are arranged more in a central area of the entirety of the area of surface and smaller areas of surface are arranged more further toward an edge of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: PolyIC GmbH & CO.KG
    Inventors: Walter Fix, Andreas Ullmann, Manfred Walter