Patents by Inventor Bernd Wölfing

Bernd Wölfing 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: 20240104704
    Abstract: A method for iteratively reconstructing an input image from an acquired output image generated by transmitting components of the input image by a light guide having unsorted fibers where the output image is detected by an image sensor having a plurality of sensor points includes the steps of: calculating an input image area brightness value for a first area of the input image based on at least a first sensor point brightness value, a first weighting factor, and at least one further input image area brightness; and replacing a first input image area brightness value with the calculated input image area brightness value for subsequent use as the first input image area brightness value. The calculating and replacing are sequentially performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: SCHOTT AG
    Inventor: Bernd Wölfing
  • Publication number: 20240060629
    Abstract: A light application device for curing of liquid materials is provided. The device includes a handpiece and a light guiding element which can be mounted to the handpiece and has a light guiding body consisting of a solid body. The light guiding element defines a first optical axis for coupled-in light and a second optical axis for coupled-out light. The second optical axis runs transversely to the first optical axis. The light guiding element has a distal end side at which the coupled-in light can be deflected for coupling out in such a way that the light exit is formed by a region of the lateral surface of the light guiding element. The distal end side has end faces for deflecting the light. The end faces each extend transversely to the first optical axis and transversely to the second optical axis and are connected to one another via intermediate surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Applicant: SCHOTT AG
    Inventor: Bernd Wölfing
  • Publication number: 20220276427
    Abstract: A lighting device is provided that includes a light source and an optical element. The light source emits primary light having a primary emission characteristic. The optical element has a light entry face and a light exit face. The optical element includes light guiding elements each forming part of the light entry and exit faces. The light entry faces inject the primary light into the optical element. The light guiding elements each have a boundary surface that totally internally reflects the primary light so that the light exit face emits a secondary light. The optical element reduces a divergence of the primary light such that the secondary light has a secondary emission characteristic with an emission angle (?) that is smaller than an emission angle (?) of the primary emission characteristic. The light exit face is larger than the light entry face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Applicant: SCHOTT AG
    Inventor: Bernd Wölfing
  • Patent number: 11246194
    Abstract: A driver circuit for a semiconductor light source and to a method for controlling the brightness thereof are provided. When a pulse width modulated semiconductor light source reaches a duty cycle threshold value, the voltage is increased or decreased through a variable voltage source in order to achieve a higher dynamic range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Bernd Woelfing, Andreas Hatzenbuehler
  • Patent number: 10908342
    Abstract: A linear light source is provided that includes a light-emitting element and a light guide, which has a core with an end and a longitudinal extension. In the operating state, light from the light emitting element is injected on the end and is guided along the longitudinal extension. The core includes at least one scattering element that changes a propagation direction of the light guided in the core. The light guide having a lateral surface with a light-blocking coating at least partially or in portions thereof. The light-blocking coating being structured so that the light guide has a light-transmissive portion extending along the longitudinal extension and so that the light scattered on the at least one scattering element and striking the light-transmissive portion is able to escape from the light guide, at least partially. The coating having a light transmittance that is lower than a light transmittance of the light-transmissive portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Stephan Schabacker, Bernd Woelfing
  • Patent number: 10901131
    Abstract: A luminous glazing is provided that includes a pane and a light guide. The pane has two opposite faces and is transparent in the visible spectrum. The light guide has a core surrounded by a cladding so that the core is capable of guiding light along the longitudinal extension of the light guide. The light guide includes a light scattering element so that when light is injected into one of the end faces if the light guide, the light guide is a side-emitting light guide and forms a linear light source. The light guide extends along the faces and is disposed on one face such that the light scattering area is spaced apart from the face and so that light guided in the core, scattered, and laterally exiting from the light guide enters the transparent pane through the face and is be transmitted through the pane to the opposite face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Stephan Schabacker, Bernd Woelfing, Eric Senner
  • Patent number: 10874007
    Abstract: A lighting device for interior spaces or rooms is provided. The lighting device has a plurality of lighting units that are individually calibrated. Further, the lighting device has a regulating device, which, based on corrected color and/or intensity values, forms a control value with which light sources of the lighting units are actuated in order to achieve a specified color and/or intensity value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Bernd Wölfing, Oliver Keiper, Sandra Mattheis, Andreas Schneider, Marc Timon Sprzagala, Andreas Dietrich, Thomas Reichert, Sebastian Biel
  • Patent number: 10813185
    Abstract: A lighting device is provided that has a light source arrangement with a plurality of semiconductor-based light sources in the form of light-emitting diodes. The light sources are bundled or collimated such that they each emit light in differently directed light cones with adjacent light cones overlapping. The lighting device has an adjusting device for adjustment of the direction of illumination and an actuating circuit connected to the adjusting device. The adjusting device adjusts intermediate stages for which the light-emitting diodes of adjacent and overlapping light cones operate and with varying light intensity in such a way the focal point of the light field produced by the light-emitting diodes lies between the focal points of adjacent light cones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Bernd Wölfing, Thomas Reichert, Achim Weil, Andreas Jurk, Björn Bleisinger
  • Publication number: 20200241189
    Abstract: A luminous glazing is provided that includes a pane and a light guide. The pane has two opposite faces and is transparent in the visible spectrum. The light guide has a core surrounded by a cladding so that the core is capable of guiding light along the longitudinal extension of the light guide. The light guide includes a light scattering element so that when light is injected into one of the end faces if the light guide, the light guide is a side-emitting light guide and forms a linear light source. The light guide extends along the faces and is disposed on one face such that the light scattering area is spaced apart from the face and so that light guided in the core, scattered, and laterally exiting from the light guide enters the transparent pane through the face and is be transmitted through the pane to the opposite face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Stephan Schabacker, Bernd Woelfing, Eric Senner
  • Publication number: 20190313497
    Abstract: A lighting device is provided that has a light source arrangement with a plurality of semiconductor-based light sources in the form of light-emitting diodes. The light sources are bundled or collimated such that they each emit light in differently directed light cones with adjacent light cones overlapping. The lighting device has an adjusting device for adjustment of the direction of illumination and an actuating circuit connected to the adjusting device. The adjusting device adjusts intermediate stages for which the light-emitting diodes of adjacent and overlapping light cones operate and with varying light intensity in such a way the focal point of the light field produced by the light-emitting diodes lies between the focal points of adjacent light cones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Bernd Wölfing, Thomas Reichert, Achim Weil, Andreas Jurk, Björn Bleisinger
  • Publication number: 20190187352
    Abstract: A linear light source is provided that includes a light-emitting element and a light guide, which has a core with an end and a longitudinal extension. In the operating state, light from the light emitting element is injected on the end and is guided along the longitudinal extension. The core includes at least one scattering element that changes a propagation direction of the light guided in the core. The light guide having a lateral surface with a light-blocking coating at least partially or in portions thereof. The light-blocking coating being structured so that the light guide has a light-transmissive portion extending along the longitudinal extension and so that the light scattered on the at least one scattering element and striking the light-transmissive portion is able to escape from the light guide, at least partially. The coating having a light transmittance that is lower than a light transmittance of the light-transmissive portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Applicant: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Stephan Schabacker, Bernd Woelfing
  • Patent number: 10261229
    Abstract: A lighting device having a side-emitting fiber bundle is provided. The fiber bundle is inserted in a sleeve that has an extension, which is effective as a light mixer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Bernd Woelfing, Hubertus Russert, Juergen Meinl, Jia Guo
  • Publication number: 20190082516
    Abstract: A lighting device for interior spaces or rooms is provided. The lighting device has a plurality of lighting units that are individually calibrated. Further, the lighting device has a regulating device, which, based on corrected color and/or intensity values, forms a control value with which light sources of the lighting units are actuated in order to achieve a specified color and/or intensity value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Bernd WÖLFING, Oliver KEIPER, Sandra MATTHEIS, Andreas SCHNEIDER, Marc Timon SPRZAGALA, Andreas DIETRICH, Thomas REICHERT, Sebastian BIEL
  • Patent number: 10231309
    Abstract: A light source is provided that includes at least two semiconductor light-emitting elements that emit light of different color, a light guide, an electronic control unit, and a light sensor. The light emitted by the elements is injected, at least partially, into the light guide and exits laterally from the light guide. The brightness of the elements can be adjusted by the electronic control unit. The light sensor is arranged to receive the light injected by the elements and laterally exiting from the light guide. The electronic control unit accumulates sensor signals from the light sensor over an integration time interval and compares the accumulated signals with a target value or range to determine a difference, changes a brightness of the elements in response to the difference, and changes the integration time interval in response to the difference or to a change in the target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Bernd Wölfing, Thomas Reichert, Andreas Dietrich, Andreas Schneider, Björn Bleisinger, Marc Timon Sprzagala, Martin Cramer, Oliver Keiper, Sandra Mattheis
  • Patent number: 10228146
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus with a cooktop composed of a glass or glass-ceramic material is provided. The cooking apparatus includes a heating element and a lighting element that are disposed in the region below the underside of the cooktop. The heating element is applied to the underside of the cooktop indirectly by a pressing device or directly by pre-stressing one or a plurality of spring elements. The lighting element and the heating element are disposed on a common support section of the pressing device in such a way that they are adjustable with an oscillation of the cooktop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Thomas Zenker, Gerold Ohl, Bernd Woelfing, Ju-Young Uam, Martin Taplan
  • Patent number: 10180522
    Abstract: An optical arrangement is provided that includes a first optical element comprising a light guide that has a bevel face and a second optical element. The first optical element conducts light by total internal reflection at a wall and has a light entry area defined by a non-beveled end face and a light exit area formed by a surface area of the wall at that end proximate the bevel face. The second optical element has a light entry aperture arranged on or facing the light exit area. The light entry area has a width x and the light entry aperture has a height z, which meet the following relationship: x/z?1.5·[tan(90°??/2)?tan(90°?(2·[?/2+90°]?[180°?arcsin(1/n)]))]?1. Herein, ? denotes the deflection angle of the light at the bevel face and n denotes the refractive index of the material of the first optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Bernd Wölfing, Andreas Schneider
  • Publication number: 20180332683
    Abstract: A driver circuit for a semiconductor light source and to a method for controlling the brightness thereof are provided. When a pulse width modulated semiconductor light source reaches a duty cycle threshold value, the voltage is increased or decreased through a variable voltage source in order to achieve a higher dynamic range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Applicant: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Bernd Woelfing, Andreas Hatzenbuehler
  • Publication number: 20180242423
    Abstract: A light source is provided that includes at least two semiconductor light-emitting elements that emit light of different color, a light guide, an electronic control unit, and a light sensor. The light emitted by the elements is injected, at least partially, into the light guide and exits laterally from the light guide. The brightness of the elements can be adjusted by the electronic control unit. The light sensor is arranged to receive the light injected by the elements and laterally exiting from the light guide. The electronic control unit accumulates sensor signals from the light sensor over an integration time interval and compares the accumulated signals with a target value or range to determine a difference, changes a brightness of the elements in response to the difference, and changes the integration time interval in response to the difference or to a change in the target value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Applicant: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Bernd WÖLFING, Thomas REICHERT, Andreas DIETRICH, Andreas SCHNEIDER, Björn BLEISINGER, Marc Timon SPRZAGALA, Martin CRAMER, Oliver KEIPER, Sandra MATTHEIS
  • Patent number: 9992840
    Abstract: A light source is provided that includes at least two semiconductor light-emitting elements that emit light of different color, a light guide, an electronic control unit, and a light sensor. The light emitted by the elements is injected, at least partially, into the light guide and exits laterally from the light guide. The brightness of the elements can be adjusted by the electronic control unit. The light sensor is arranged to receive the light injected by the elements and laterally exiting from the light guide. The electronic control unit accumulates sensor signals from the light sensor over an integration time interval and compares the accumulated signals with a target value or range to determine a difference, changes a brightness of the elements in response to the difference, and changes the integration time interval in response to the difference or to a change in the target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Bernd Wölfing, Thomas Reichert, Andreas Dietrich, Andreas Schneider, Björn Bleisinger, Marc Timon Sprzagala, Martin Cramer, Oliver Keiper, Sandra Mattheis
  • Patent number: 9845930
    Abstract: A fiber-optic conversion module is provided as part of a lighting device on a vehicle. The module includes optical fibers with connectors, a light exit head, and a converter mounted on a cooling element. Shorter wavelength excitation light is fed to the optical fibers that emit the excitation light towards the converter arranged at an angle relative to the beam direction, at a light spot that remits useful light in a radiation angle in form of a cone of useful light and reflects excitation light as a Fresnel reflection substantially outside the cone of useful light, where Fresnel reflection is made harmless by a light stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Bernd Wölfing, Volker Hagemann, Jürgen Meinl, Hubertus Russert, Thomas Reichert