Patents by Inventor Christoph Menzel

Christoph Menzel 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: 11977950
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor is provided that has an image sensor for the detection of image data in its field of view and an aiming device having a light source that is arranged laterally offset from the image sensor and that is configured to generate alignment light and thus a light pattern in the field of view to make the position and/or extent of the field of view in space visible. In this respect, the aiming device has at least one optical metaelement having a metasurface and/or a metamaterial that is arranged and configured such that the optical axes of the image sensor and the aiming device are coaxially superposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Katharina Bleicher, Christoph Menzel
  • Patent number: 11970100
    Abstract: A table device for an interior of a vehicle includes a table element that is positionable from a non-use position into a use position. The table element, secured to a pivot arm in the non-use position, forms a trim element of a center console of the vehicle. The pivot arm is secured to a frame element and the frame element is guided by a guide element through a predefined movement path. The frame element is liftable by a first drive unit through the predefined movement path such that the table element pivots out in part, through a predefined angle, from a housing formed by the center console. The table element is liftable by a second drive unit into the use position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Valentin Maier, Christoph Menzel, Bernd Plocher, Benno Stamp
  • Patent number: 11904610
    Abstract: A fluid ejector includes a nozzle layer, a body, an actuator and a membrane. The body includes a pumping chamber, a return channel, and a first passage fluidically connecting the pumping chamber to an entrance of the nozzle. A second passage fluidically connects the entrance of the nozzle to the return channel. The actuator is configured to cause fluid to flow out of the pumping chamber such that actuation of the actuator causes fluid to be ejected from the nozzle. The membrane is formed across and partially blocks at least one of the first passage, the second passage or the entrance of the nozzle. The membrane has at least one hole therethrough such that in operation of the fluid ejector fluid flows through the at least one hole in the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Darren Imai
  • Publication number: 20240042755
    Abstract: A fluid ejection apparatus includes a plurality of fluid ejectors. Each fluid ejector includes a pumping chamber, and an actuator configured to cause fluid to be ejected from the pumping chamber. The fluid ejection apparatus includes a feed channel fluidically connected to each pumping chamber; and at least one compliant structure formed in a surface of the feed channel. The at least one compliant structure has a lower compliance than the surface of the feed channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Kevin von Essen, Steven H. Barss, Mats G. Ottosson, Darren T. Imai
  • Patent number: 11865837
    Abstract: A fluid ejection apparatus includes a plurality of fluid ejectors. Each fluid ejector includes a pumping chamber, and an actuator configured to cause fluid to be ejected from the pumping chamber. The fluid ejection apparatus includes a feed channel fluidically connected to each pumping chamber; and at least one compliant structure formed in a surface of the feed channel. The at least one compliant structure has a lower compliance than the surface of the feed channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Kevin von Essen, Steven H. Barss, Mats G. Ottosson, Darren T. Imai
  • Publication number: 20240001732
    Abstract: An air nozzle of an air outlet in an interior of a motor vehicle. An operating element is adjustable around an axis of rotation. A kinematics adjustment system has a deflection unit where, via an adjustment of the operating element, a shut-off flap inside the air outlet is displaceable around a flap axis by the kinematics adjustment system. The operating element is disposed on an end of an actuator rod where the actuator rod is displaceable in a direction of extension from an actuating position into a locking position. The axis of rotation of the operating element runs transversely to the flap axis, a rotational movement of the actuator rod is deflectable by the deflection unit into a rotational movement of the shut-off flap, and, by displacing the actuator rod into the locking position, the deflection unit is lockable by applying a spring force to the deflection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Christoph MENZEL, Bernd SCHROETER, Bernd PLOCHER, Klaus KUONATH
  • Publication number: 20230421972
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compact hearing aids, components thereof, and support systems therefor, as well as methods of insertion and removal thereof. The compact hearing aids generally include a sensor, such as a microphone, an actuation mass, an energy source for providing power to the compact hearing aid, a processor, and an actuator enclosed in a housing that is designed to be inserted through the tympanic membrane during a minimally-invasive outpatient procedure. In operation, the microphone receives sound waves and converts the sound waves into electrical signals. A processor then modifies the electrical signals and provides the electrical signals to the actuator. The actuator converts the electrical signals into mechanical motion, which actuates the actuation mass to modulate the velocity or the position of the tympanic membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Michael M. MOORE, Smruti MIRCHANDANI, Christoph MENZEL
  • Publication number: 20230384452
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optoelectronic sensor for distance measurement that comprises a light source that is configured to convert a transmission signal into transmission light and to transmit the transmission light into an environment. The optoelectronic sensor further comprises a light receiver that receives transmission light reflected by objects in the environment as reception light, wherein the light receiver has an optical routing layer, wherein the light receiver has an image sensor comprising a plurality of sensor elements, wherein the sensor elements are configured to convert reception light into reception signals, wherein at least two sensor elements are part of a sensor element group, wherein the routing layer is configured to supply the reception light successively and/or alternately to the sensor elements of the sensor element group. The invention further relates to a method for a corresponding optoelectronic sensor and to a method for manufacturing a corresponding optoelectronic sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Christoph MENZEL, Axel JAHN
  • Publication number: 20230364288
    Abstract: A storage assembly has at least one storage compartment and a disinfection device, which has at least one light source that emits UV-C radiation and is integrated in the disinfection device. The storage compartment in which the disinfection device is integrated has a covering element and the storage compartment is radiopaque when the covering element is closed. The storage assembly includes a safety device, which detects a state of the covering element using detected signals when activating or deactivating the disinfection device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Valentin MAIER, Christoph MENZEL, Benno STAMP
  • Patent number: 11794475
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a reservoir and a printhead. The printhead includes a support structure including a deformable portion defining at least a top surface of a pumping chamber, a flow path extending from the reservoir to the pumping chamber to transfer fluid from the reservoir to the pumping chamber, and an actuator disposed on the deformable portion of the support structure. A trench is defined in a top surface of the actuator. Application of a voltage to the actuator causes the actuator to deform along the trench, thereby causing deformation of the deformable portion of the support structure to eject a drop of fluid from the pumping chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Shinya Sugimoto, Mats G. Ottoson, Wayne Liu
  • Publication number: 20230316017
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor is provided that has an image sensor for the detection of image data in its field of view and an aiming device having a light source that is arranged laterally offset from the image sensor and that is configured to generate alignment light and thus a light pattern in the field of view to make the position and/or extent of the field of view in space visible. In this respect, the aiming device has at least one optical metaelement having a metasurface and/or a metamaterial that is arranged and configured such that the optical axes of the image sensor and the aiming device are coaxially superposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Katharina BLEICHER, Christoph MENZEL
  • Patent number: 11770660
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compact hearing aids, components thereof, and support systems therefor, as well as methods of insertion and removal thereof. The compact hearing aids generally include a sensor, such as a microphone, an actuation mass, an energy source for providing power to the compact hearing aid, a processor, and an actuator enclosed in a housing that is designed to be inserted through the tympanic membrane during a minimally-invasive outpatient procedure. In operation, the microphone receives sound waves and converts the sound waves into electrical signals. A processor then modifies the electrical signals and provides the electrical signals to the actuator. The actuator converts the electrical signals into mechanical motion, which actuates the actuation mass to modulate the velocity or the position of the tympanic membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: NANOEAR CORPORATION, INC.
    Inventors: Michael M. Moore, Smruti Mirchandani, Christoph Menzel
  • Publication number: 20230256123
    Abstract: A vehicle storage compartment includes an integrated disinfection device with at least one light source that emits UV-C radiation. A support for supporting and disinfecting an item has a surface structure that reflects the UV-C radiation from the at least one light source so that the reflected UV-C radiation irradiates a side of the item facing the support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Valentin MAIER, Benno STAMP, Christoph MENZEL
  • Publication number: 20230258775
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor includes a plurality of light sources for generating transmission light, including at least a first and a second light source. The optoelectronic sensor includes transmission optics for projecting transmission light into the field of view and at least one detector for detecting transmission light reflected by the object. A photonic network has a plurality of irradiation points to each of which transmission light, in particular in each case of exactly one light source, can be supplied. The transmission light exits into the transmission optics and ultimately exits into the field of view. A plurality of irradiation points that are arranged directly next to one another or that are directly adjacent are in this respect configured to irradiate transmission light into partial fields of view, in particular different partial fields of view and/or a plurality of partial fields of view arranged next to one another or are adjacent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Christoph MENZEL, Frederick BĂ–CKLING, Dominic RUH
  • Publication number: 20230161017
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor is provided having at least one measurement light source for transmitting at least one measurement light beam in the infrared wavelength range into a monitored zone; at least one pilot light source for transmitting at least one pilot light beam in the visible wavelength range into the monitored zone; an optical element for the coaxial superposition of the measurement light beam and of the pilot light beam; a light receiver for receiving measurement light beams remitted or reflected from the monitored zone and for generating corresponding received signals; and a control and evaluation unit for controlling the light receiver, the measurement light source, and/or the pilot light source and for evaluating the received signals, wherein the optical element for the coaxial superposition of the measurement light beam and of the pilot light beam has at least one first optical metasurface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Christoph MENZEL, Boris BALDISCHWEILER
  • Publication number: 20230161018
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor is provided having at least one measurement light source for transmitting at least one measurement light beam in the infrared wavelength range along a transmission beam path into a monitored zone; a light receiver for receiving measurement light beams remitted or reflected from the monitored zone and for generating corresponding received signals; and having a control and evaluation unit for controlling the light receiver and the measurement light source and for evaluating the received signals, The optoelectronic sensor has at least one nonlinear optical element for generating at least one pilot light beam in the visible wavelength range from at least one portion of the measurement light beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Christoph MENZEL, Boris BALDISCHWEILER
  • Publication number: 20230156409
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compact hearing aids, components thereof, and support systems therefor, as well as methods of insertion and removal thereof. The compact hearing aids generally include a sensor, such as a microphone, an actuation mass, an energy source for providing power to the compact hearing aid, a processor, and an actuator enclosed in a housing that is designed to be inserted through the tympanic membrane during a minimally-invasive outpatient procedure. In operation, the microphone receives sound waves and converts the sound waves into electrical signals. A processor then modifies the electrical signals and provides the electrical signals to the actuator. The actuator converts the electrical signals into mechanical motion, which actuates the actuation mass to modulate the velocity or the position of the tympanic membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Michael M. MOORE, Smruti MIRCHANDANI, Christoph MENZEL
  • Publication number: 20230150262
    Abstract: A method for ejecting fluid from a fluid ejector includes actuating a piezoelectric actuator to cause deformation of a membrane defining a wall at a first end of an elongated channel of the fluid ejector, the deformation of the membrane causing ejection of a droplet of fluid from a nozzle disposed at a second end of the channel. The elongated channel fluidically connects a first channel to the nozzle, the first channel disposed at the first end of the elongated channel, and wherein an impedance of the first channel is at least ten times greater than an impedance of the elongated channel. Deformation of the membrane induces fluid flow along the elongated channel, and wherein at least 60% of the fluid flow induced by the deformation of the membrane is in a direction extending from the first end of the elongated channel to the second end of the elongated channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventor: Christoph Menzel
  • Publication number: 20230067699
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor for detecting an object in a monitored zone is provided that has a light transmitter and a transmission optics associated with the light transmitter in a transmission path for transmitting a light beam and a light receiver and a reception optics associated with the light receiver and offset from the transmission optics by a spacing in a reception path for receiving a light beam remitted by the object and for generating a received light spot on the light receiver, as well a control and evaluation unit that is configured to evaluate a received signal of the light receiver. The reception optics has at least one optical metaelement having a metasurface and/or a metamaterial and is configured such that a displacement of the received light spot on the light receiver in a near zone of the sensor dependent on a distance of the object from the sensor is no larger than a full width at half maximum of the received light spot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Christoph MENZEL, Siegfried RINGWALD, Kai WASLOWSKI
  • Publication number: 20230050914
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a reservoir and a printhead. The printhead includes a support structure including a deformable portion defining at least a top surface of a pumping chamber, a flow path extending from the reservoir to the pumping chamber to transfer fluid from the reservoir to the pumping chamber, and an actuator disposed on the deformable portion of the support structure. A trench is defined in a top surface of the actuator. Application of a voltage to the actuator causes the actuator to deform along the trench, thereby causing deformation of the deformable portion of the support structure to eject a drop of fluid from the pumping chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Shinya Sugimoto, Mats G. Ottoson, Wayne Liu