Patents by Inventor Carl Christian Lexow
Carl Christian Lexow 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).
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Patent number: 11175774Abstract: A method for determining a time of contact of a capacitive sensor includes continuously measuring a capacitance value of the capacitive sensor and processing the measured capacitance value into a digital sensor signal. The sensor signal is filtered to output a filter signal. Initial dynamics of the filter signal are identified upon the filter signal exceeding a first set filter threshold value. A time at which the filter signal falls below a second set filter threshold value is determined as being a potential time of contact of the capacitive sensor. An actual time of contact of the capacitive sensor is determined when the sensor signal relative to an offset of the sensor signal exceeds a sensor signal threshold value. The offset of the sensor signal is a value of the sensor signal prior to the contact of the capacitive sensor.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2019Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: KOSTAL Automobil Elektrik GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Stephan Quint, Philipp Ciolek, Christoph Rebbe, Carl Christian Lexow
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Patent number: 11112870Abstract: An electromagnetic feedback actuator for an operating element includes an electromagnet, a magnet armature, and a metal body. The electromagnet includes a magnetic coil and a magnetic core. The magnet armature is moveable relative to the electromagnet. The operating element includes an actuating element (e.g., touch surface, sensor surface). The magnet armature is mechanically coupled to the operating element to provide a force pulse to the operating element in response to contact with, or pressure actuation on, an actuating element of the operating element. The electromagnet is arranged in the metal body. The metal body, in integral fashion, forms the magnet armature, a magnet yoke for the magnetic core of the electromagnet, and a holder for the electromagnet. An arrangement includes at least one such electromagnetic feedback actuator coupled to an operating element.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2018Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignee: KOSTAL Automobil Elektrik GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Michael Bleckmann, Daniel Klagges, Carl Christian Lexow, Kai Brensel
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Patent number: 11079880Abstract: A method for measuring a capacitance value of a capacitive sensor uses an integration process involving charge quantities being transferred in successive integration cycles from the capacitive sensor to an integration capacitor. The method includes performing the integration process until the number of integration cycles carried out has reached a number N of integration cycles to be carried out, wherein a starting value NStart is set to N and an end value NEnd is determined. An A/D converter measures a voltage value UCI(N) at the integration capacitor and the voltage value is added to a voltage sum value UTotal. The number N is increased by a value n, where n is at least one and is less than NDiff=NEnd?NStart. The steps are repeated until the number N exceeds the end value NEnd. The ending voltage sum value is indicative of the capacitance value of the capacitive sensor.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2017Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: KOSTAL Automobil Elektrik GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Carl Christian Lexow
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Publication number: 20200004380Abstract: A method for determining a time of contact of a capacitive sensor includes continuously measuring a capacitance value of the capacitive sensor and processing the measured capacitance value into a digital sensor signal. The sensor signal is filtered to output a filter signal. Initial dynamics of the filter signal are identified upon the filter signal exceeding a first set filter threshold value. A time at which the filter signal falls below a second set filter threshold value is determined as being a potential time of contact of the capacitive sensor. An actual time of contact of the capacitive sensor is determined when the sensor signal relative to an offset of the sensor signal exceeds a sensor signal threshold value. The offset of the sensor signal is a value of the sensor signal prior to the contact of the capacitive sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2019Publication date: January 2, 2020Applicant: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Stephan Quint, Philipp Ciolek, Christoph Rebbe, Carl Christian Lexow
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Publication number: 20190079585Abstract: An electromagnetic feedback actuator for an operating element includes an electromagnet, a magnet armature, and a metal body. The electromagnet includes a magnetic coil and a magnetic core. The magnet armature is moveable relative to the electromagnet. The operating element includes an actuating element (e.g., touch surface, sensor surface). The magnet armature is mechanically coupled to the operating element to provide a force pulse to the operating element in response to contact with, or pressure actuation on, an actuating element of the operating element. The electromagnet is arranged in the metal body. The metal body, in integral fashion, forms the magnet armature, a magnet yoke for the magnetic core of the electromagnet, and a holder for the electromagnet. An arrangement includes at least one such electromagnetic feedback actuator coupled to an operating element.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2018Publication date: March 14, 2019Applicant: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Michael Bleckmann, Daniel Klagges, Carl Christian Lexow, Kai Brensel
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Patent number: 10101862Abstract: A method for measuring a capacitance value of a capacitive sensor uses an integration process. For the integration process, the sensor is connected to an integration capacitor having a known capacitance value greater than the capacitance value of the sensor and a voltage UCI of the integration capacitor is measured by an A/D converter after a number IZ of executed integration cycles of the integration process. The method includes carrying out the integration process until the number IZ of executed integration cycles has reached the number N of integration cycles to be executed, adding a voltage value UCI (N) of the integration capacitor, which is determined by the A/D converter, to the total voltage value Utotal, increasing the number N, and repeating until the number N exceeds a predetermined value. The final total voltage value Utotal is indicative of the capacitance value of the capacitive sensor.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2016Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: Leopold Kotsai GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Uwe Borgmann, Carl Christian Lexow
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Publication number: 20180106843Abstract: A method for measuring a capacitance value of a capacitive sensor uses an integration process involving charge quantities being transferred in successive integration cycles from the capacitive sensor to an integration capacitor. The method includes performing the integration process until the number of integration cycles carried out has reached a number N of integration cycles to be carried out, wherein a starting value NStart is set to N and an end value NEnd is determined. An A/D converter measures a voltage value UCI(N) at the integration capacitor and the voltage value is added to a voltage sum value UTotal. The number N is increased by a value n, where n is at least one and is less than NDiff=NEnd?NStart. The steps are repeated until the number N exceeds the end value NEnd. The ending voltage sum value is indicative of the capacitance value of the capacitive sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2017Publication date: April 19, 2018Applicant: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Carl Christian Lexow
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Publication number: 20170010721Abstract: A method for measuring a capacitance value of a capacitive sensor uses an integration process. For the integration process, the sensor is connected to an integration capacitor having a known capacitance value greater than the capacitance value of the sensor and a voltage UCI of the integration capacitor is measured by an A/D converter after a number IZ of executed integration cycles of the integration process. The method includes carrying out the integration process until the number IZ of executed integration cycles has reached the number N of integration cycles to be executed, adding a voltage value UCI (N) of the integration capacitor, which is determined by the A/D converter, to the total voltage value Utotal, increasing the number N, and repeating until the number N exceeds a predetermined value. The final total voltage value Utotal is indicative of the capacitance value of the capacitive sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2016Publication date: January 12, 2017Applicant: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Uwe Borgmann, Carl Christian Lexow