Patents by Inventor Bernd Kirchner

Bernd Kirchner 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: 7577533
    Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasound control device for non-destructively inspecting a workpiece. The inventive ultrasound control device comprises a transmitting-receiving sensor provided with an element for connecting to the input surface of a controlled workpiece, a transmitter which is connected to the sensor and sends pulses produced thereby to said sensor, a receiver connected to the sensor and a screen which is connected to the receiver for displaying electric echo signals received by the receiver. The sensor transmits ultrasound pulses which, on one hand are reflected by the input surface and return to said sensor, and penetrate into the workpiece and are reflected at least once by the back wall thereof, on the other hand. Said ultrasound control device also comprises a bar display for visualising the received electric echo signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Agfa NDT GmbH
    Inventors: Paul Buschke, Bernd Kirchner
  • Patent number: 7512510
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (10), for the preparation, execution and evaluation of a non-destructive analysis with one or more suitable analysis devices (20) of any type. The device (10) includes an input device (12), an output device (14), a data store, a data processing unit (16), an interface (18) for connection of the analysis device (14), by means of which data may be transmitted in both directions and a standardised data processing programme. It is possible to generate an analysis flow scheme, by means of the data processing programme, whereby an analysis object (26) can be defined, various analysis regions (28) of the analysis object (26) can be determined, a particular analysis device (20) can be selected, analytically-relevant parameters can be selected and determined for the selected analytical device (20), the type of visualisation and the analysis of the measured analytical values can be determined and the obtained analytical results can be archived and stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: GR Inspection Technologies GmbH
    Inventor: Bernd Kirchner
  • Publication number: 20070112539
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (10), for the preparation, execution and evaluation of a non-destructive analysis with one or more suitable analysis devices (20) of any type. The device (10) includes an input device (12), an output device (14), a data store, a data processing unit (16), an interface (18) for connection of the analysis device (14), by means of which data may be transmitted in both directions and a standardised data processing programme. It is possible to generate an analysis flow scheme, by means of the data processing programme, whereby an analysis object (26) can be defined, various analysis regions (28) of the analysis object (26) can be determined, a particular analysis device (20) can be selected, analytically-relevant parameters can be selected and determined for the selected analytical device (20), the type of visualisation and the analysis of the measured analytical values can be determined and the obtained analytical results can be archived and stored.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Inventor: Bernd Kirchner
  • Patent number: 7210329
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the threshold value of screens which enable an evaluation of a sound coupling during the ultrasound testing of a series of spot welding joints of a selected type. Initially, a geometrical minimal thickness dMin is established for the spot welding joints. At least one echo of the front surface (entrance echo) is received in addition to one echo of the first reflection on a rear wall of the spot welding joint (first rear wall echo) and at least one further (n-th) rear wall echo. The propagation time tMin of the ultra sound pulse is defined for the path to the front surface to the rear wall and back to the front surface at a minimal thickness dMin and a propagation time tT for the total thickness. A first screen (B1) is set for the signal of the rear wall echo, starting at a moment in time t1S=tE+tMin?tSA and ending at a moment in time t1T=tE+tT+tSE, whereby tSA and tSE are additional small security measures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Agfa NDT GmbH
    Inventors: Paul Buschke, Bernd Kirchner
  • Publication number: 20060109002
    Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasound control device for non-destructively inspecting a workpiece. The inventive ultrasound control device comprises a transmitting-receiving sensor provided with an element for connecting to the input surface of a controlled workpiece, a transmitter which is connected to the sensor and sends pulses produced thereby to said sensor, a receiver connected to the sensor and a screen which is connected to the receiver for displaying electric echo signals received by the receiver. The sensor transmits ultrasound pulses which, on one hand are reflected by the input surface and return to said sensor, and penetrate into the workpiece and are reflected at least once by the back wall thereof, on the other hand. Said ultrasound control device also comprises a bar display for visualising the received electric echo signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Publication date: May 25, 2006
    Inventors: Paul Buschke, Bernd Kirchner
  • Publication number: 20050210953
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the threshold value of screens which enable an evaluation of a sound coupling during the ultrasound testing of a series of spot welding joints of a selected type. Initially, a geometrical minimal thickness dMin is established for the spot welding joints. At least one echo of the front surface (entrance echo) is received in addition to one echo of the first reflection on a rear wall of the spot welding joint (first rear wall echo) and at least one further (n-th) rear wall echo. The propagation time tMin of the ultra sound pulse is defined for the path to the front surface to the rear wall and back to the front surface at a minimal thickness dMin and a propagation time tT for the total thickness. A first screen (B1) is set for the signal of the rear wall echo, starting at a moment in time t1S=tE+tMin?tSA and ending at a moment in time t1T=tE+tT+tSE, whereby tSA and tSE are additional small security measures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Inventors: Paul Buschke, Bernd Kirchner
  • Patent number: 5592164
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement for signal processing of discrete or continuous signals of at least one CCD component, includes a multiplexer which receives the signals for processing and has an output, a pre-amplifier having an input connected to the output of the multiplexer, and further having an output. Two sample and hold circuits are provided that each have an input connected to the output of the pre-amplifier, each of the sample and hold circuits further having an output. An operational amplifier is provided having a non-inverting input connected to the output of a first of the sample and hold circuits, and an inverting input connected to the output of a second of the sample and hold circuits, the operational amplifier further has an output. A digital-analog converter having an output connected to the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier and puts out a correction signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Deutsche Forschungsanstalt fur Luft-und Raumfahrt, e.V.
    Inventors: Stefan Hilbert, Bernd Kirchner