Patents by Inventor Christoph Hofmann

Christoph Hofmann 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: 20240078697
    Abstract: A camera device for localizing an optical marker is provided that has at least one image sensor and a control and evaluation unit. A first camera channel for recording first image data having the optical marker is formed from the image sensor and the control and evaluation unit. The control and evaluation unit is configured to locate the optical marker in the first image data and to determine a first pose of the optical marker relative to the camera device. A second camera channel for recording second image data having the optical marker is formed from the image sensor and the control and evaluation unit. The control and evaluation unit is configured to locate the optical marker in the second image data, to determine a second pose of the optical marker relative to the camera device, and to compare the first pose and the second pose with one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Christoph HOFMANN, Alfred AROCKIARAJ
  • Patent number: 11879974
    Abstract: A sensor system comprising optoelectronic distance sensors for monitoring a hazard zone at a movable machine part having at least one protected field, wherein the optoelectronic distance sensors are arranged in annular form in a first ring at the movable machine part, wherein a tool is arranged at the movable machine part, and wherein the optical axes of the distance sensors each have an acute angle tangentially to the annular shape or the distance sensors are rotatably arranged at the ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Heiko Steinkemper, Christoph Hofmann, Ulrich Druzella, Sanketh Ramachandra
  • Publication number: 20230230500
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an augmented reality system (AR system) for teaching a user of an application. The AR system comprises a detection unit that detects a real environment and provides it as environmental data, wherein at least one work unit is arranged in the environment; a communication unit that receives process data from the work unit; a control unit that processes the process data and environmental data, wherein a virtual image can be created based on the process data; and a display unit that displays the real environment and the virtual image in relation to one another to a user. The AR system further comprises an audio output unit that, on the basis of the process data, outputs audio signals for instructing a user, wherein the audio signals are preferably matched to the virtual image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Christoph HOFMANN, Jens GEBAUER, Heiko STEINKEMPER
  • Publication number: 20230169684
    Abstract: A system and a method using a system for planning a use includes at least one marking, a control and evaluation unit, a database, a display unit, at least one time of flight sensor for a spatial scanning of a real environment, and at least one camera for imaging the real environment. The real environment in a spatial model can be displayed as a virtual environment on the display unit. The marking in the real environment is arranged at a position and has an orientation. The position and the orientation of the marking can be detected at least by the time of flight sensor and the position and orientation of the marking are linked by a virtual sensor model. The virtual sensor model in the spatial model of the virtual environment can be displayed on the display unit at the position and having the orientation of the marking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Heiko STEINKEMPER, Jens GEBAUER, Christoph HOFMANN, Dominik BIRKENMAIER
  • Patent number: 11558729
    Abstract: A safety system for localizing a person or object has a control and evaluation unit, at least one radio location system, and at least one spatially resolving sensor for the position determination of the person or object. The radio location system has arranged radio stations, wherein at least one radio transponder is arranged at the person or object. Position data and classification data of the person or object can be determined by means of the radio location system. The position data and the classification data can be transmitted from the radio station to the control and evaluation unit and position data and contour data of the person or object can be determined by means of the spatially resolving sensor. The control and evaluation unit is configured to compare the position data of the radio location system and the position data of the spatially resolving sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Markus Hammes, Christoph Hofmann
  • Patent number: 11465283
    Abstract: A method of protecting humans in an environment of a moving machine is provided that comprises the environment being monitored by means of a protective device that is configured to detect one or more kinematic parameters of a respective object located in the environment and controlling the moving machine in dependence on detected kinematic parameters of the respective object to initiate a protective measure. The protective equipment here detects the polarization properties and a movement modulation of the respective object in dependence on which the respective object is classified with respect to whether the respective object is a human. In particular only when the respective object was classified as a human, the protective equipment controls the moving machine to initiate the protective measure in dependence on detected kinematic parameters of this respective object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Oliver Prinz, Christoph Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20220244995
    Abstract: A safety device is provided for monitoring at least one machine that has at least one sensor for generating sensor data on the machine and a processing unit for the sensor data that is connected at least indirectly to the sensor and to the machine and that is configured as a runtime environment having at least one computing node and to allow at least one logic unit to run on the computing node, wherein at least one logic unit comprises a safety functional unit for a safety relevant evaluation of the sensor data to output in the case of a safety relevant event a safety signal to the machine for triggering a safety response, In this respect, the processing unit is furthermore configured to generate and resolve logic units and/or to assign them to a computing node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Christoph HOFMANN, Thomas NEUMANN, Sanketh RAMACHANDRA
  • Publication number: 20210227372
    Abstract: A safety system for localizing a person or object has a control and evaluation unit, at least one radio location system, and at least one spatially resolving sensor for the position determination of the person or object. The radio location system has arranged radio stations, wherein at least one radio transponder is arranged at the person or object. Position data and classification data of the person or object can be determined by means of the radio location system. The position data and the classification data can be transmitted from the radio station to the control and evaluation unit and position data and contour data of the person or object can be determined by means of the spatially resolving sensor. The control and evaluation unit is configured to compare the position data of the radio location system and the position data of the spatially resolving sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Markus HAMMES, Christoph HOFMANN
  • Patent number: 10870617
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing dialkyl dicarbonates from the corresponding alkyl chloroformates using specific amine oxides as catalysts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: LANXESS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Christoph Hofmann
  • Patent number: 10800728
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing dialkyl dicarbonates from the corresponding alkyl chloroformates using specific tertiary amines as catalysts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: LANXESS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Erasmus Vogl, Christoph Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20200290205
    Abstract: A safety system for safeguarding a machine is provided, said safety system having at least one safe sensor for producing safe data, wherein the safe sensor also produces non-safe data and/or a non-safe sensor for producing non-safe data is provided, wherein the safety system furthermore has a non-safe evaluation unit for processing the non-safe data and a safe evaluation unit that is configured to test the non-safe evaluation unit in that an evaluation result of the processing of the non-safe data is checked with reference to the safe data, The safe data have a lower accuracy and/or are more rarely available in comparison with the evaluation results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Markus HAMMES, Christoph HOFMANN
  • Publication number: 20200277129
    Abstract: The invention relates to aluminium vessels containing dicarbonic diesters and to a method for producing the packaged dicarbonic diesters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Applicant: LANXESS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Karl-Joachim SCHOEBBEN, Christoph HOFMANN, Marcus TAUPP, Erasmus VOGL
  • Patent number: 10634785
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor (10) is provided for detecting object information from a monitored zone (12) having a light receiver (24); a reception optics (22) associated with the light receiver (24) for generating a light spot on the light receiver (24); and an evaluation unit (26) for generating the object information from a received signal of the light receiver (24). In this respect, a manipulation unit (30) is provided to vary the reception optics (22), the light receiver (24) and/or elements of the reception optics (22) such that the portion of the light spot that is incident on the light receiver (24) varies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Christoph Hofmann, Joachim Krämer, Jörg Sigmund
  • Publication number: 20200122329
    Abstract: A method of protecting humans in an environment of a moving machine is provided that comprises the environment being monitored by means of a protective device that is configured to detect one or more kinematic parameters of a respective object located in the environment and controlling the moving machine in dependence on detected kinematic parameters of the respective object to initiate a protective measure. The protective equipment here detects the polarization properties and a movement modulation of the respective object in dependence on which the respective object is classified with respect to whether the respective object is a human. In particular only when the respective object was classified as a human, the protective equipment controls the moving machine to initiate the protective measure in dependence on detected kinematic parameters of this respective object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Oliver PRINZ, Christoph HOFMANN
  • Publication number: 20200010401
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing dialkyl dicarbonates from the corresponding alkyl chloroformates using specific amine oxides as catalysts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Applicant: LANXESS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Christoph HOFMANN
  • Publication number: 20190369249
    Abstract: A sensor system comprising optoelectronic distance sensors for monitoring a hazard zone at a movable machine part having at least one protected field, wherein the optoelectronic distance sensors are arranged in annular form in a first ring at the movable machine part, wherein a tool is arranged at the movable machine part, and wherein the optical axes of the distance sensors each have an acute angle tangentially to the annular shape or the distance sensors are rotatably arranged at the ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Heiko STEINKEMPER, Christoph HOFMANN, Ulrich DRUZELLA, Sanketh RAMACHANDRA
  • Publication number: 20190185407
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing dialkyl dicarbonates from the corresponding alkyl chloroformates using specific tertiary amines as catalysts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Applicant: LANXESS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Erasmus VOGL, Christoph HOFMANN
  • Patent number: 10227179
    Abstract: A conveyor chute is suitable for use as a store for goods, such as packages and pieces of luggage. The conveyor chute has at least one sliding section with an inclined sliding surface with a direction of fall along the sliding surface as well as a sliding width. The sliding section has a width adjusting mechanism which allows the goods to be distributed across at least part of the sliding width and which thus allows the conveyor chute to be used in an improved manner for storing the goods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michele Vitalini, Juergen Braun, Christoph Hofmann, Oliver Schitthelm
  • Publication number: 20180162644
    Abstract: A conveyor chute is suitable for use as a store for goods, such as packages and pieces of luggage. The conveyor chute has at least one sliding section with an inclined sliding surface with a direction of fall along the sliding surface as well as a sliding width. The sliding section has a width adjusting mechanism which allows the goods to be distributed across at least part of the sliding width and which thus allows the conveyor chute to be used in an improved manner for storing the goods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: MICHELE VITALINI, JUERGEN BRAUN, CHRISTOPH HOFMANN, OLIVER SCHITTHELM
  • Publication number: 20180143319
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor (10) is provided for detecting object information from a monitored zone (12) having a light receiver (24); a reception optics (22) associated with the light receiver (24) for generating a light spot on the light receiver (24); and an evaluation unit (26) for generating the object information from a received signal of the light receiver (24). In this respect, a manipulation unit (30) is provided to vary the reception optics (22), the light receiver (24) and/or elements of the reception optics (22) such that the portion of the light spot that is incident on the light receiver (24) varies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Christoph HOFMANN, Joachim KRÄMER, Jörg SIGMUND