Patents by Inventor Burkhard Kuhlmann

Burkhard Kuhlmann 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: 8938364
    Abstract: A sensor device includes: a sensor module mounted on a conductor board; a sensitive element which is sensitive to a variable; a self-test control unit implementing a self-test program, the self-test control unit applying a self-test variable to the sensitive element, taking the self-test program into account; a detection unit detecting a characteristic of the sensitive element which is altered as a result of the applied self-test variable and providing an actual self-test response, taking the altered characteristic into account; and a comparator unit provided on or in the sensor module, the comparator unit comparing the actual self-test response to at least one specified setpoint self-test response and providing comparative information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Patrick Goerlich, Riad Stefo, Wolfram Bauer, Rainer Willig, Burkhard Kuhlmann, Mathias Reimann, Ermin Esch, Michael Baus, Gregor Wetekam, Michael Veith, Emma Abel, Wolfgang Fuerst
  • Patent number: 8910518
    Abstract: A yaw rate sensor (10) includes a movable mass structure (12) and a drive component (13) which is suitable for setting the movable mass structure (12) in motion (14), and an analysis component (15) which is suitable for detecting a response (40) of the movable mass structure (12) to a yaw rate (?). A method for functional testing of a yaw rate sensor (10) includes the following steps: driving a movable mass structure (12), feeding a test signal (42) into a quadrature control loop (44) at a feed point (48) of the quadrature control loop (44), feeding back a deflection (40) of the movable mass structure (12), detecting a measure of the feedback of the movable mass structure (12), and reading out the response signal (47) from the quadrature control loop (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfram Bauer, Johannes Classen, Rainer Willig, Matthias Meier, Burkhard Kuhlmann, Mathias Reimann, Ermin Esch, Hans-Dieter Schwarz, Michael Veith, Christoph Lang, Udo-Martin Gomez
  • Publication number: 20140326070
    Abstract: A yaw-rate sensor having a substrate and a plurality of movable substructures that are mounted over a surface of the substrate, the movable substructures being coupled to a shared, in particular, central spring element, means being provided for exciting the movable substructures into a coupled oscillation in a plane that extends parallel to the surface of the substrate, the movable substructures having Coriolis elements, means being provided for detecting deflections of the Coriolis elements induced by a Coriolis force, a first Coriolis element being provided for detecting a yaw rate about a first axis, a second Coriolis element being provided for detecting a yaw rate about a second axis, the second axis being oriented perpendicularly to the first axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Reinhard Neul, Johannes Classen, Torsten Ohms, Burkhard Kuhlmann, Axel Franke, Oliver Kohn, Daniel Christoph Meisel, Joerg Hauer, Udo-Martin Gomez, Kersten Kehr
  • Patent number: 8875575
    Abstract: A yaw rate sensor includes: at least one Coriolis element; a drive device connected to the Coriolis element and configured to drive a vibration of the Coriolis element; a detection device having at least one rotor; and a coupling device connected to the detection device and to the Coriolis element. The coupling device is configured to couple a deflection in the plane of vibration of the Coriolis element to the detection device in a direction orthogonal to the vibration, so that when the Coriolis element is deflected a torque for driving the at least one rotor is transmitted from the Coriolis element to the at least one rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Torsten Ohms, Burkhard Kuhlmann, Daniel Christoph Meisel, Rolf Scheben
  • Patent number: 8844357
    Abstract: A yaw-rate sensor includes: a substrate having a main extension plane for detecting a yaw rate about a first axis extending parallel to the main extension plane; a first Coriolis element; a second Coriolis element; a third Coriolis element; and a fourth Coriolis element. The first Coriolis element and the fourth Coriolis element are drivable in the same direction parallel to a second axis extending parallel to the main extension plane and perpendicularly to the first axis. The first Coriolis element and the second Coriolis element are drivable in opposite directions parallel to the second axis. The first Coriolis element and the third Coriolis element are drivable in opposite directions parallel to the second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Scheben, Burkhard Kuhlmann, Thorsten Balslink, Daniel Christoph Meisel, Benjamin Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8783105
    Abstract: A yaw-rate sensor is described as having a substrate which has a main plane of extension for detecting a yaw rate about a first axis extending parallel to the main plane of extension is provided, the yaw-rate sensor having a first rotation element and a second rotation element, the first rotation element being drivable about a first axis of rotation, the second rotation element being drivable about a second axis of rotation, the first axis of rotation being situated perpendicularly to the main plane of extension, the second axis of rotation being situated perpendicularly to the main plane of extension, the first rotation element and the second rotation element being drivable in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Burkhard Kuhlmann, Rolf Scheben, Daniel Christoph Meisel, Benjamin Schmidt, Thorsten Balslink
  • Patent number: 8683863
    Abstract: In a yaw rate sensor with a substrate having a main extent plane and with a first and second partial structure disposed parallel to the main extent plane, the first partial structure includes a first driving structure and the second partial structure includes a second driving structure, the first and second partial structure being excitable by a driving device, via the first and second driving structure, into oscillation parallel to a first axis parallel to the main extent plane, the first partial structure having a first Coriolis element and the second partial structure having a second Coriolis element, the yaw rate sensor being characterized in that the first and second Coriolis elements are displaceable by a Coriolis force parallel to a second axis, which is perpendicular to the first axis, and parallel to a third axis, which is perpendicular to the first and second axis, the second axis extending parallel to the main extent plane, and the first Coriolis element being connected to the second Coriolis eleme
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Classen, Burkhard Kuhlmann, Daniel Christoph Meisel
  • Publication number: 20130340522
    Abstract: A yaw rate sensor, including a substrate and a main extension plane, for detecting a yaw rate around a first direction in parallel to the main extension plane, a first Coriolis mass, and a second Coriolis mass, and a drive device configured to drive the first and second Coriolis masses in parallel to a drive direction perpendicular to the first direction, the first and second Coriolis masses, for a yaw rate around the first direction, experiencing a Coriolis acceleration in parallel to a detection direction, which is perpendicular to the drive and first directions, the first and second Coriolis masses having first/second partial areas and third/fourth partial areas, respectively. The first and third partial areas are farther from the axis of symmetry in parallel to the first direction, and the second and fourth partial areas are closer to the axis of symmetry in parallel to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Burkhard KUHLMANN, Rolf SCHEBEN, Daniel Christoph MEISEL, Benjamin SCHMIDT, Thorten BALSLINK
  • Publication number: 20130298672
    Abstract: A yaw-rate sensor, having a substrate which has a main extension plane, for detecting a yaw rate about a first direction extending either parallel to the main extension plane or perpendicular to the main extension plane. The yaw-rate sensor has a drive device, a first Coriolis mass and a second Coriolis mass, the drive device being configured to drive at least one part of the first Coriolis mass and at least one part of the second Coriolis mass in a direction parallel to a drive direction extending perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Burkhard KUHLMANN, Rolf SCHEBEN, Daniel Christoph MEISEL, Benjamin SCHMIDT, Thorsten BALSLINK
  • Patent number: 8490483
    Abstract: A micromechanical yaw-rate sensor comprising a first yaw-rate sensor element, which outputs a first sensor signal, which contains information about a rotation around a first rotational axis, a second yaw-rate sensor element, which outputs a second sensor signal, which contains information about a rotation around a second rotational axis, which is perpendicular to the first rotational axis, a drive, which drives the first yaw-rate sensor element, and a coupling link, which mechanically couples the first yaw-rate sensor element and the second yaw-rate sensor element to one another, so that driving of the first yaw-rate sensor element also causes driving of the second yaw-rate sensor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Wrede, Johannes Classen, Torsten Ohms, Carsten Geckeler, Burkhard Kuhlmann, Jens Frey, Daniel Christoph Meisel, Joerg Hauer, Thorsten Balslink
  • Publication number: 20130174661
    Abstract: A rotation rate sensor having a substrate including a main extension plane, force transmission elements that are movably fastened on the substrate using detection springs and a seismic mass are provided, the seismic mass being suspended over the force transmission elements, movably relative to the substrate, in such a way that the seismic mass is able to be excited, using a drive unit, to a drive vibration about a drive axis that is parallel to the main extension plane, and in response to the presence of a rotation rate that extends in parallel to the main extension plane and perpendicular to the drive axis, the seismic mass is excitable, as a result of Coriolis forces, to a detection vibration about a detection axis that is perpendicular to the main extension plane, the detection springs being connected to the force transmission elements in the region of the vibrational nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Inventors: Burkhard KUHLMANN, Jan-Timo LIEWALD
  • Patent number: 8443668
    Abstract: A yaw rate sensor having a substrate, a first Coriolis element and a second Coriolis element is described, the first Coriolis element being excitable to a first vibration by first excitation means, and the second Coriolis element being excitable to a second vibration by second excitation means, and the first and second Coriolis elements being connected to one another by a spring structure, and the spring structure also including at least one rocker structure, the rocker structure being anchored on the substrate by at least one spring element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Torsten Ohms, Burkhard Kuhlmann, Markus Heitz, Robert Sattler, Daniel Christoph Meisel, Thorsten Balslink
  • Publication number: 20130042664
    Abstract: A method for providing functional checking of an inertial sensor, a first test signal having a first frequency being fed in at a test electrode of the inertial sensor for exciting a vibration of a vibration mass and a first response signal corresponding to the vibration mass is recorded, a second test signal having a second frequency different from the first frequency being fed in at the test electrode, a second response signal corresponding to the vibration mass being recorded, and the two response signals being evaluated. Also described is an inertial sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Inventors: Martin Wrede, Klaus Petzold, Burkhard Kuhlmann, Uwe Tellermann, Markus Brockmann, Marian Keck, Thorsten Balslink
  • Publication number: 20120247206
    Abstract: A yaw-rate sensor and a method for operating a yaw-rate sensor having a first Coriolis element and a second Coriolis element are proposed, the yaw-rate sensor having a substrate having a main plane of extension, the yaw-rate sensor having a first drive element for driving the first Coriolis element in parallel to a second axis, the yaw-rate sensor having a second drive element for driving the second Coriolis element in parallel to the second axis, the yaw-rate sensor having detection means for detecting deflections of the first Coriolis element and of the second Coriolis element in parallel to a first axis due to a Coriolis force, the second axis being situated perpendicularly to the first axis, the first and second axis being situated in parallel to the main plane of extension, the first and second drive elements being mechanically coupled to each other via a drive coupling element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Torsten Ohms, Burkhard Kuhlmann, Robert Sattler
  • Publication number: 20120186345
    Abstract: A yaw rate sensor (10) includes a movable mass structure (12) and a drive component (13) which is suitable for setting the movable mass structure (12) in motion (14), and an analysis component (15) which is suitable for detecting a response (40) of the movable mass structure (12) to a yaw rate (?). A method for functional testing of a yaw rate sensor (10) includes the following steps: driving a movable mass structure (12), feeding a test signal (42) into a quadrature control loop (44) at a feed point (48) of the quadrature control loop (44), feeding back a deflection (40) of the movable mass structure (12), detecting a measure of the feedback of the movable mass structure (12), and reading out the response signal (47) from the quadrature control loop (44).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventors: Wolfram Bauer, Johannes Classen, Rainer Willig, Matthias Meier, Burkhard Kuhlmann, Matthias Mathias Reimann, Ermin Esch, Hans-Dieter Schwarz, Michael Veith, Christoph Lang, Udo-Martin Gomez
  • Publication number: 20120152019
    Abstract: A yaw-rate sensor is described as having a substrate which has a main plane of extension for detecting a yaw rate about a first axis extending parallel to the main plane of extension is provided, the yaw-rate sensor having a first rotation element and a second rotation element, the first rotation element being drivable about a first axis of rotation, the second rotation element being drivable about a second axis of rotation, the first axis of rotation being situated perpendicularly to the main plane of extension, the second axis of rotation being situated perpendicularly to the main plane of extension, the first rotation element and the second rotation element being drivable in opposite directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Burkhard Kuhlmann, Rolf Scheben, Daniel Christoph Meisel, Benjamin Schmidt, Thorsten Balslink
  • Publication number: 20120125099
    Abstract: A yaw-rate sensor includes: a substrate having a main extension plane for detecting a yaw rate about a first axis extending parallel to the main extension plane; a first Coriolis element; a second Coriolis element; a third Coriolis element; and a fourth Coriolis element. The first Coriolis element and the fourth Coriolis element are drivable in the same direction parallel to a second axis extending parallel to the main extension plane and perpendicularly to the first axis. The first Coriolis element and the second Coriolis element are drivable in opposite directions parallel to the second axis. The first Coriolis element and the third Coriolis element are drivable in opposite directions parallel to the second axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventors: Rolf Scheben, Burkhard Kuhlmann, Thorsten Balslink, Daniel Christoph Meisel, Benjamin Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20120060604
    Abstract: A yaw-rate sensor having a substrate and a plurality of movable substructures that are mounted over a surface of the substrate, the movable substructures being coupled to a shared, in particular, central spring element, means being provided for exciting the movable substructures into a coupled oscillation in a plane that extends parallel to the surface of the substrate, the movable substructures having Coriolis elements, means being provided for detecting deflections of the Coriolis elements induced by a Coriolis force, a first Coriolis element being provided for detecting a yaw rate about a first axis, a second Coriolis element being provided for detecting a yaw rate about a second axis, the second axis being oriented perpendicularly to the first axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Reinhard Neul, Johannes Classen, Torsten Ohms, Burkhard Kuhlmann, Axel Franke, Oliver Kohn, Daniel Christoph Meisel, Joerg Hauer, Udo-Martin Gomez, Kersten Kehr
  • Publication number: 20120011933
    Abstract: A yaw rate sensor is described which includes a drive device, at least one Coriolis element, and a detection device having at least two detection elements which are coupled to one another with the aid of a coupling device, the drive device being connected to the Coriolis element for driving a vibration of the Coriolis element, and an additional coupling device which is connected to the detection device and to the Coriolis element for coupling a deflection in the plane of vibration of the Coriolis element to the detection device in a direction orthogonal to the vibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventors: Torsten OHMS, Burkhard KUHLMANN, Daniel Christoph MEISEL, Rolf SCHEBEN
  • Publication number: 20110296913
    Abstract: A yaw rate sensor includes: at least one Coriolis element; a drive device connected to the Coriolis element and configured to drive a vibration of the Coriolis element; a detection device having at least one rotor; and a coupling device connected to the detection device and to the Coriolis element. The coupling device is configured to couple a deflection in the plane of vibration of the Coriolis element to the detection device in a direction orthogonal to the vibration, so that when the Coriolis element is deflected a torque for driving the at least one rotor is transmitted from the Coriolis element to the at least one rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Torsten Ohms, Burkhard Kuhlmann, Daniel Christoph Meisel, Rolf Scheben