Patents by Inventor Andreas Walther

Andreas Walther 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: 10500628
    Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for reducing the cutting impact in a hydraulically-driven precision blanking press, the force necessary to reduce the cutting impact as a counterforce is generated directly in the pressure chamber of the drive piston such that the counterforce acts directly on the cutting punch and so that the design of the press can be simplified, costs can be reduced, no additional external hydraulic-mechanical means for reducing the cutting impact are needed, and so that the loads on the press and the die can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Feintool International Holding AG
    Inventors: Hans-Ruedi Honegger, Andreas Walther, Alex Wehrli
  • Patent number: 10479040
    Abstract: In an apparatus and a method for controlling the primary drive of a hydraulically driven fine blanking press, the hydraulic circuit is simplified due to the elimination of hydraulic tubes, and the amount of hydraulic fluid is reduced, while increasing the number of strokes and achieving a simple design for the press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Feintool International Holding AG
    Inventors: Hans-Ruedi Honegger, Andreas Walther, Alex Wehrli
  • Patent number: 10395634
    Abstract: A speech reproduction device for reproducing speech based on a received speech signal so that the reproduced speech is intelligible in a clear speech zone and unintelligible in a masked speech zone includes an audio processing module configured for receiving the speech signal; a set of speech loudspeakers configured for reproducing the speech based on one or more speech loudspeaker signals; and a set of masking sound loudspeakers configured for producing a masking sound based on one or more masking sound loudspeaker signals, wherein the masking sound masks the speech in the masked speech zone; wherein the audio processing module includes a speech signal analysis module configured for producing one or more analysis signals based on spectral and/or temporal characteristics of the speech signal; wherein the audio processing module includes a masking sound generator configured for producing one or more masking sound signals based on the one or more analysis signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Andreas Walther, Martin Schneider, Emanuel Habets, Oliver Hellmuth
  • Patent number: 10306358
    Abstract: A calculation unit for a sound system includes an input terminal, a processor and an output terminal. The input terminal has the purpose to receive an audio stream to be reproduced using the sound system. The output terminal has the purpose to control the sound system based on a first and a second plurality of individual audio signals. The processor is configured to calculate the first plurality of audio signals such that beamforming is performed by the array and to calculate the second plurality of individual audio signals to perform, using the sound system, direct sound suppression such that sound is canceled towards a listening direction. Furthermore, the processor filters at least the second plurality using a second passband characteristic including a second portion of the entire frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Christof Faller, Markus Schmidt, Andreas Walther, Christian Borss, Ville Saari, Philipp Goetz
  • Publication number: 20190110129
    Abstract: An apparatus for decomposing a signal having an number of at least three channels includes an analyzer for analyzing a similarity between two channels of an analysis signal related to the signal having at least two analysis channels, wherein the analyzer is configured for using a pre-calculated frequency dependent similarity curve as a reference curve to determine the analysis result. The signal processor processes the analysis signal or a signal derived from the analysis signal or a signal, from which the analysis signal is derived using the analysis result to obtain a decomposed signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventor: Andreas WALTHER
  • Publication number: 20190045316
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating a plurality of loudspeaker signals from two or more audio source signals is provided. Each of the two or more audio source signals shall be reproduced in one or more of two or more sound zones, and at least one of the two or more audio source signals shall not be reproduced in at least one of the two more sound zones. An audio preprocessor is configured to modify each initial audio signal of the two or more initial audio signals depending on a signal power or a loudness of another initial audio signal of the two or more initial audio signals. A filter is configured to generate the plurality of loudspeaker signals depending on in which of the two or more sound zones the two or more audio source signals shall be reproduced and depending on in which of the two or more sound zones the two or more audio source signals shall not be reproduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Martin SCHNEIDER, Stefan WETZEL, Andreas WALTHER, Christian UHLE, Oliver HELLMUTH, Peter PROKEIN, Emanuel HABETS
  • Patent number: 10187725
    Abstract: An apparatus for decomposing an input signal having a number of at least three input channels includes a downmixer for downmixing the input signal to obtain a downmixed signal having a smaller number of channels. Furthermore, an analyzer for analyzing the downmixed signal to derive an analysis result is provided, and the analysis result is forwarded to a signal processor for processing the input signal or a signal derived from the input signal to obtain the decomposed signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventor: Andreas Walther
  • Patent number: 10081046
    Abstract: The invention relates to a precision blanking press including a top, a base and tie rods and columns that operatively connect the top and the base. The precision blanking press has a press frame with a high stiffness, low mass and simple design, the press allowing the transfer of higher cutting forces during fine blanking while safely eliminating axial play between adjustment elements and at the same time improving the operational safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Feintool International Holding AG
    Inventors: Hans-Ruedi Honegger, Andreas Walther, Alex Wehrli
  • Publication number: 20180184202
    Abstract: A soundbar includes a housing, at least two transducers of a first group and at least one transducer of a second group. The at least two transducers of the first group are arranged at the front side of the housing and configured to emit sound in a first direction in accordance with two first audio signals so as to reproduce a two dimensional sound field. The at least one transducer of a second group is arranged at second side of the housing and configured to emit sound in a second direction in accordance with a second audio signal such that the sound emitted by the at least one transducer of the second group reaches a predefined listener's position in a reflected manner to extend the two dimensional sound field in a height direction. The reflection reflecting the sound emitted by the at least one transducer of the second group has an order of at least two.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Andreas WALTHER, Christian BORSS, Martin SCHNEIDER, Philipp GOETZ
  • Publication number: 20180103316
    Abstract: A calculation unit for a sound system includes an input terminal, a processor and an output terminal. The input terminal has the purpose to receive an audio stream to be reproduced using the sound system. The output terminal has the purpose to control the sound system based on a first and a second plurality of individual audio signals. The processor is configured to calculate the first plurality of audio signals such that beamforming is performed by the array and to calculate the second plurality of individual audio signals to perform, using the sound system, direct sound suppression such that sound is canceled towards a listening direction. Furthermore, the processor filters at least the second plurality using a second passband characteristic including a second portion of the entire frequency range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Christof FALLER, Markus SCHMIDT, Andreas WALTHER, Christian BORSS, Ville SAARI, Philipp GOETZ
  • Publication number: 20180035202
    Abstract: A calculation unit for a sound reproduction system includes an input unit, a processor and at least three outputs for controlling at least three transducers of an array. The input unit has the purpose to receive an audio stream to be reproduced using the array, wherein the audio stream has a frequency range. The processor is configured to calculate three individual audio signals to be output using the at least three outputs, such that a first acoustic differential having a second or higher order is generated using the array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Christian BORSS, Ville SAARI, Markus SCHMIDT, Christof FALLER, Andreas WALTHER
  • Publication number: 20170316773
    Abstract: A speech reproduction device for reproducing speech based on a received speech signal so that the reproduced speech is intelligible in a clear speech zone and unintelligible in a masked speech zone includes an audio processing module configured for receiving the speech signal; a set of speech loudspeakers configured for reproducing the speech based on one or more speech loudspeaker signals; and a set of masking sound loudspeakers configured for producing a masking sound based on one or more masking sound loudspeaker signals, wherein the masking sound masks the speech in the masked speech zone; wherein the audio processing module includes a speech signal analysis module configured for producing one or more analysis signals based on spectral and/or temporal characteristics of the speech signal; wherein the audio processing module includes a masking sound generator configured for producing one or more masking sound signals based on the one or more analysis signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Andreas WALTHER, Martin SCHNEIDER, Emanuel HABETS, Oliver HELLMUTH
  • Patent number: 9729991
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating an output signal having at least two output channels from an input signal having at least two input channels, has an ambient/direct decomposer, an ambient modification unit and a combination unit. The ambient/direct decomposer is adapted to decompose at least two input channels of the input signal such that each one of the at least two input channels is decomposed into a signal of a first signal group and into a signal of a second signal group. The ambient modification unit is adapted to modify a signal of the ambient signal group or a signal derived from a signal of the ambient signal group to obtain a modified signal as a first output channel. The combination unit is adapted to combine a signal of the ambient signal group or a signal derived from a signal of the ambient signal group and a signal of the direct signal group or a signal derived from a signal of the direct signal group as a second output channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Andreas Walther, Andreas Silzle, Oliver Hellmuth, Bernhard Grill, Harald Popp
  • Patent number: 9706296
    Abstract: An apparatus for improving a perceived quality of sound reproduction of an audio output signal is provided. The apparatus has an active noise cancellation unit for generating a noise cancellation signal based on an environmental audio signal, wherein the environmental audio signal has noise signal portions, the noise signal portions resulting from recording environmental noise. Moreover, the apparatus has a residual noise characteristics estimator for determining a residual noise characteristic depending on the environmental noise and the noise cancellation signal. Furthermore, the apparatus has a perceptual noise compensation unit for generating a noise-compensated signal based on an audio target signal and based on the residual noise characteristic. Moreover, the apparatus has a combiner for combining the noise cancellation signal and the noise-compensated signal to obtain the audio output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.
    Inventors: Christian Uhle, Juergen Herre, Andreas Walther, Felix Fleischmann, Patrick Gampp
  • Publication number: 20170129000
    Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for reducing the cutting impact in a hydraulically-driven precision blanking press, the force necessary to reduce the cutting impact as a counterforce is generated directly in the pressure chamber of the drive piston such that the counterforce acts directly on the cutting punch and so that the design of the press can be simplified, costs can be reduced, no additional external hydraulic-mechanical means for reducing the cutting impact are needed, and so that the loads on the press and the die can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Hans-Ruedi HONEGGER, Andreas WALTHER, Alex WEHRLI
  • Publication number: 20170120551
    Abstract: In an apparatus and a method for controlling the primary drive of a hydraulically driven fine blanking press, the hydraulic circuit is simplified due to the elimination of hydraulic tubes, and the amount of hydraulic fluid is reduced, while increasing the number of strokes and achieving a simple design for the press.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Hans-Ruedi HONEGGER, Andreas WALTHER, Alex WEHRLI
  • Publication number: 20170008186
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for stripping away/pushing out a punched grid/internally formed part and ejecting a blanked part in a precision blanking press. The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and a method for stripping/pushing out a punched grid and for ejecting a blanked part from a die in a precision blanking press, wherein the force of stripping/pushing out and ejection can be adjusted independent of the knife-edged ring force and the counterstay force while reducing the mass of the knife-edged ring and counterstay pistons, increasing the stripping/pushing and ejection speeds, and at the same time simplifying the hydraulic circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Hans-Ruedi HONEGGER, Andreas WALTHER, Alex WEHRLI
  • Publication number: 20170008062
    Abstract: The invention relates to a precision blanking press comprising a top, a base and tie rods and columns that connect the top and the base non-positively. The object of the invention is to provide a precision blanking press characterized by a press frame with a high stiffness, low mass and simple design, the press allowing the transfer of higher cutting forces during fine blanking while safely eliminating the axial play between the adjustment elements and at the same time improving the operational safety.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Hans-Ruedi HONEGGER, Andreas WALTHER, Alex WEHRLI
  • Patent number: 9534320
    Abstract: Method for fabricating fiber and film products and composites includes: introducing an aqueous gel of nanofibrillar cellulose into a volume of organic extraction agent miscible with water so that the aqueous gel is kept as a separate phase and forms one or several discrete physical entities containing the nanofibrillar cellulose within the phase; changing water with the organic extraction agent in said one or several discrete physical entities of nanofibrillar cellulose; and drying the nanofibrillar cellulose by removing the organic extraction agent from the one or several discrete physical entities of nanofibrillar cellulose. In the method the aqueous gel of nanofibrillar cellulose is introduced into the volume of organic extraction agent in the form of one or several elongated elements which form a fiber-like or ribbon-like or film-like product after drying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: UPM-KYMMENE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Antti Laukkanen, Jan-Erik Teirfolk, Markus Samuli Nuopponen, Andreas Walther, Olli Ikkala
  • Patent number: 9368263
    Abstract: A magnet assembly, having a disk-shaped magnet, which is made predominantly of metal material and has a through-hole and, by the through-hole, can be placed onto a region of a shaft made of plastic by a press fit. In the region of the magnet placed onto the shaft, the shaft has a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the through-hole. The shaft has a plurality of radially protruding projections in the region of the magnet placed onto the shaft. The projections are distributed evenly on the circumference of the shaft and, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, having a radius, the double of which is oversized relative to the diameter of the through-hole before the magnet is placed onto the projections of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Thorsten Alexander Kern, Andreas Walther