Patents by Inventor Christian Hoferer
Christian Hoferer 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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Publication number: 20230359776Abstract: A level sensor configured to activate a safe operating state is provided, including an input interface configured to receive a first activation command to start a first activation method for activating the safe operating state; and a controller connected to the input interface and being configured to perform the first activation method after receiving the first activation command.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2023Publication date: November 9, 2023Applicant: VEGA Grieshaber KGInventors: Christian HOFERER, Manuel KAUFMANN
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Publication number: 20230332939Abstract: A level-measuring device, for determining a level of a medium is described, with an evaluation unit, that generates a measuring signal for determining the level based on a digitally converted signal of a reflected signal emitted from the level-measuring device toward the medium, wherein the level is determined based on a characteristic feature of the measuring signal; and that monitors, by way of a monitoring function, the determination of the level based on the characteristic feature and wherein the monitoring function selectively has at least one of a higher quality level and a lower quality level to the determination of the level.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2023Publication date: October 19, 2023Applicant: VEGA Grieshaber KGInventors: Christian HOFERER, René HERRMANN, Manuel KAUFMANN, Martin GAISER, Joachim BENZ
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Publication number: 20230273060Abstract: A method for distributed determination of a filling level or limit level of a filling material by means of a sensor is provided, the method including steps of: determining, by the sensor, characteristic values of significant reflection points of an echo curve; and transmitting, by the sensor, the characteristic values of significant reflection points to a server, the characteristic values being usable for determining the filling level or the limit level in a decision process. A sensor configured to perform the steps of the method, and a server configured to perform the steps of the method, are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2020Publication date: August 31, 2023Applicant: VEGA Grieshaber KGInventors: Roland WELLE, Christian HOFERER
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Publication number: 20230030027Abstract: A field device having an integrated first chip card with a first set of parameters and an interface to a replaceable second chip card. The interface is arranged to receive a second set of parameters from the second chip card. The field device is arranged to establish a connection to a cloud service using the first and/or second set of parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2022Publication date: February 2, 2023Applicant: VEGA GRIESHABER KGInventors: Manfred METZGER, Christian HOFERER, Dominik FEHRENBACH
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Publication number: 20230030683Abstract: A measuring device for process automation in an industrial environment is provided, the measuring device including: a first sensor device configured to detect a process variable; a position detection device configured to detect a position of the measuring device; a second sensor device configured to acquire environmental data; and a controller configured to analyze the acquired environmental data, determine, based on the analysis, whether or not a current position of the measuring device should be detected, and instruct the position detection device to detect the current position of the measuring device when the analysis of the environmental data has determined that the current position should be detected. A method for determining a position of a measuring device is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2019Publication date: February 2, 2023Applicant: VEGA GRIESHABER KGInventors: Christian HOFERER, Manuel KAUFMANN
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Patent number: 11313711Abstract: A field device is provided for detecting a process measurement variable, which is configured as a level measuring device for detecting a fill level of a medium, the field device including: a sensor arrangement to detect a measurement signal correlating with the process measurement variable; and a computing arrangement to determine a measurement value of the process measurement variable based on the measurement signal, the computing arrangement including at least one first computing device and at least one second computing device, the first computing device being configured to perform at least one deterministic computing operation, and the second computing device including at least one artificial intelligence module, and being configured to perform at least one probability-based and/or classification-based computing operation. A method of operating the field device is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: July 4, 2019Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KGInventor: Christian Hoferer
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Patent number: 11231492Abstract: A radar fill level measurement device for determining a fill level of a medium is provided, including a transmitter configured to transmit a transmission signal towards the medium; a receiver configured to receive a reception signal reflected by the medium; and a controller configured to determine the fill level of the medium based on the reception signal and based on at least one evaluation parameter, the radar fill level measurement device being configured to vary a transmitting power of the transmission signal, the controller being further configured to determine a current transmitting power of the transmission signal, and the controller being further configured to vary, based on the determined current transmitting power, a value of the at least one evaluation parameter and/or at least one measurement signal that correlates with the reception signal, such that the fill level is determined taking into account the transmitting power.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2018Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KGInventors: Christian Hoferer, Joachim Benz, Thomas Deck, Johannes Franz, Martin Gaiser, Karl Griessbaum, Juergen Haas, Andreas Isenmann, Manuel Kaufmann, Juergen Motzer, Daniel Schultheiss, Roland Welle
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Patent number: 11153848Abstract: A field device for process automation, comprising a short-range wireless communication circuit having a mobile communication device and a control circuit for controlling the communication circuit. The control circuit selects data stored in the field device, instructs the communication circuit to transmit the selected data in a publicly available broadcast mode, establishes a short-range communication connection with the mobile communication device, and uses configuration data that the mobile communication device has sent to the field device after establishing the short-range communication connection in order to change the selection of data sent out in the publicly available broadcast mode or to stop the broadcast mode.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2018Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: VEGA GRIESHABER KGInventors: Christian Hoferer, Manfred Metzger, Juergen Haas
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Publication number: 20210262848Abstract: A field device is provided for detecting a process measurement variable, which is configured as a level measuring device for detecting a fill level of a medium, the field device including: a sensor arrangement to detect a measurement signal correlating with the process measurement variable; and a computing arrangement to determine a measurement value of the process measurement variable based on the measurement signal, the computing arrangement including at least one first computing device and at least one second computing device, the first computing device being configured to perform at least one deterministic computing operation, and the second computing device including at least one artificial intelligence module, and being configured to perform at least one probability-based and/or classification-based computing operation. A method of operating the field device is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 4, 2019Publication date: August 26, 2021Applicant: VEGA Grieshaber KGInventor: Christian HOFERER
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Publication number: 20190349890Abstract: A field device for process automation, comprising a short-range wireless communication circuit having a mobile communication device and a control circuit for controlling the communication circuit. The control circuit selects data stored in the field device, instructs the communication circuit to transmit the selected data in a publicly available broadcast mode, establishes a short-range communication connection with the mobile communication device, and uses configuration data that the mobile communication device has sent to the field device after establishing the short-range communication connection in order to change the selection of data sent out in the publicly available broadcast mode or to stop the broadcast mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2018Publication date: November 14, 2019Applicant: VEGA GRIESHABER KGInventors: Christian HOFERER, Manfred METZGER, Juergen HAAS
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Patent number: 10254146Abstract: The topology of a filling material surface is first determined by sampling the surface of the filling material in order to determine the fill level. When calculating the surface topology of the filling material, the measurement signal, which has been reflected at the filling material surface and has been picked up by the antenna unit of the fill level measurement device, is evaluated, taking into account the distance between the source of the measurement signal and a center of rotation of the main emission axis of the antenna. This makes it possible to accurately determine the fill level of bulk materials, even if the source of the measurement signal and the center of rotation of the main emission axis do not coincide.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2014Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: VEGA GRIESHABER KGInventor: Christian Hoferer
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Patent number: 10222250Abstract: A coaxial probe is for a time-domain reflectometry fill level measurement device. The internal conductor of which is tensioned against the external conductor using a tension element. The tension element is in the form of a disc for example, and includes an internal thread which is screwed onto an external thread on the end of the internal conductor. Thus, the number of spacers can be reduced.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2014Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: VEGA GRIESHABER KGInventors: Christian Hoferer, Florian Zimmermann
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Publication number: 20190033116Abstract: A radar fill level measurement device for determining a fill level of a medium is provided, including a transmitter configured to transmit a transmission signal towards the medium; a receiver configured to receive a reception signal reflected by the medium; and a controller configured to determine the fill level of the medium based on the reception signal and based on at least one evaluation parameter, the radar fill level measurement device being configured to vary a transmitting power of the transmission signal, the controller being further configured to determine a current transmitting power of the transmission signal, and the controller being further configured to vary, based on the determined current transmitting power, a value of the at least one evaluation parameter and/or at least one measurement signal that correlates with the reception signal, such that the fill level is determined taking into account the transmitting power.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2018Publication date: January 31, 2019Applicant: VEGA Grieshaber KGInventors: Christian HOFERER, Joachim Benz, Thomas Deck, Johannes Franz, Martin Gaiser, Karl Griessbaum, Juergen Haas, Andreas Isenmann, Manuel Kaufmann, Juergen Motzer, Daniel Schultheiss, Roland Welle
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Patent number: 9638568Abstract: A weight apparatus for a waveguide has a wave resistance. The weight apparatus includes a weight body having a fixing device. The fixing device is adapted to fix the weight body to the waveguide and has a wave resistance which is substantially adapted to the wave resistance of the waveguide.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2014Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: VEGA GRIESHABER KGInventors: Juergen Haas, Christian Hoferer, Karl Griessbaum
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Publication number: 20170059387Abstract: The topology of a filling material surface is first determined by sampling the surface of the filling material in order to determine the fill level. When calculating the surface topology of the filling material, the measurement signal, which has been reflected at the filling material surface and has been picked up by the antenna unit of the fill level measurement device, is evaluated, taking into account the distance between the source of the measurement signal and a center of rotation of the main emission axis of the antenna. This makes it possible to accurately determine the fill level of bulk materials, even if the source of the measurement signal and the center of rotation of the main emission axis do not coincide.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2014Publication date: March 2, 2017Applicant: VEGA GRIESHABER KGInventor: Christian HOFERER
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Publication number: 20160252385Abstract: A coaxial probe is for a time-domain reflectometry fill level measurement device. The internal conductor of which is tensioned against the external conductor using a tension element. The tension element is in the form of a disc for example, and includes an internal thread which is screwed onto an external thread on the end of the internal conductor. Thus, the number of spacers can be reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2014Publication date: September 1, 2016Applicant: VEGA Grieshaber KGInventors: Christian Hoferer, Florian ZIMMERMANN
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Patent number: 9086310Abstract: A level gauge carries out a tracking method with consideration of the mobility of the echoes. For this purpose, mobility values of echoes of an echo curve are determined and the expectancy function, by means of which it is determined whether a certain echo needs to be assigned to a certain track, is determined with consideration of at least one of the mobility values. In this way, the correct allocation of an echo to a certain track may be realized with high reliability.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2012Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KGInventors: Christian Hoferer, Roland Welle
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Publication number: 20150168203Abstract: A weight apparatus for a waveguide has a wave resistance. The weight apparatus includes a weight body having a fixing device. The fixing device is adapted to fix the weight body to the waveguide and has a wave resistance which is substantially adapted to the wave resistance of the waveguide.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2014Publication date: June 18, 2015Inventors: Juergen HAAS, Christian HOFERER, Karl GRIESSBAUM
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Publication number: 20150142363Abstract: A model is based on noise-suppression technique in level indicators that uses mutually independent mathematical models, the quality of each of which models is calculated by comparing with measured values. The models are then weighted and combined, or a single model is selected, in order to calculate the level at a later point in time. Effective noise suppression may be achieved by these means.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2014Publication date: May 21, 2015Inventor: Christian HOFERER
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Publication number: 20150032411Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, the received signal of a level sensor is sampled at discrete times, and the sampled values are digitised. New values are obtained from the digitised sample values by rotating the phase through a predetermined angle, which new values are then used together with the digital sample values to calculate the envelope curve.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2013Publication date: January 29, 2015Inventors: Christian Hoferer, Roland Welle, Werner Reich