Patents by Inventor Christopher Pohl

Christopher Pohl 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: 12290920
    Abstract: An arm module includes a housing with a first connection side controllably rotatable relative to a second connection side, about an axis of rotation. The first connection side has a rotatable first connection device. The second connection side has a second connection device fixed to the housing, with a rotation-compatible data transmission device for transmitting data signals along at least one transmission path between the first and second connection sides. The transmission path includes at least one wireless transmission sub-path for wireless transmission of data signals, and at least one wire-guided transmission sub-path for wire-guided transmission of data signals. The rotation-compatible data transmission device includes at least one first wireless transmission unit and at least one second wireless transmission unit, interconnected via the transmission path and arranged to wirelessly transmit and receive data signals along the wireless transmission sub-path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Kastler, Clemens Maier, Christoph Zech, Thomas Morscher, Armin Pehlivan, Michael Jäger, Peter Fischer, Thomas Rettig, Thorsten Bunte, Christopher Pohl
  • Publication number: 20240303513
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method, a computer program with instructions, and a device for operating an AI module. The disclosure also relates to an AI module suitable for the method and to a locomotion means that has an AI module or a device according to the teachings herein or is configured to carry out a method according to the teachings herein for operating an AI module. In a first step, a state is determined in which a system operated by the AI module is not in use for its primary purpose. Subsequently, data stored by the AI module are processed by adding a random component. A result of the processing is evaluated and the AI module is adapted depending on the evaluation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2021
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Applicant: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christoph Pohling, Heinz-Dieter Lindemann
  • Patent number: 11960611
    Abstract: A computing device, in particular, for a control unit of a motor vehicle. The computing device is configured to receive messages from at least one external unit. The computing device is configured to store the received messages at least temporarily and to transmit a plurality of the received messages to a cryptographic module, which is configured to execute a check of the transmitted messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Christopher Pohl, Frederic Stumpf
  • Publication number: 20230387674
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of field devices electrically connected to a feed-in device configured to provide an electrical energy supply to the field devices. The feed-in device has a monitoring device configured to detect spark generation in the energy supply and, based on this, to switch off the electrical energy supply. The field devices each have an input terminal for connecting a supply line. At least one field device is configured for electrical energy supply to at least one subsequent field device, and for monitoring. The monitoring field device has at least one output terminal for connecting a further supply line, via which the electrical energy can be forwarded to the subsequent field device. The monitoring field device has a monitoring device configured to detect spark generation in the energy supply to the subsequent field device and, based on this, to switch off the electrical energy supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Christopher Pohl, Thomas Rettig, Benjamin Bruns, Sebastian Petrovic
  • Publication number: 20230352931
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of field devices electrically connected to a feed-in device configured to supply electrical energy. The feed-in device has a monitoring device to detect spark generation in the electrical energy supply, and, based on this, to switch off the supply. The field devices have a first section with an input terminal for connecting a supply line, and a second section. The electrical energy provided by the feed-in device can be supplied to the first section via the input terminal, and transmitted from the first section to the second section via an electrical energy supply connection. The second section has a terminal device with at least one output line terminal for connecting at least one output line to forward the electrical energy. The electrical energy supply connection has a power limiting device to limit the electrical power transmittable from the first section to the second section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Christopher Pohl, Thomas Rettig, Sebastian Petrovic, Benjamin Bruns
  • Publication number: 20230082028
    Abstract: An arm module includes a housing with a first connection side controllably rotatable relative to a second connection side, about an axis of rotation. The first connection side has a rotatable first connection device. The second connection side has a second connection device fixed to the housing, with a rotation-compatible data transmission device for transmitting data signals along at least one transmission path between the first and second connection sides. The transmission path includes at least one wireless transmission sub-path for wireless transmission of data signals, and at least one wire-guided transmission sub-path for wire-guided transmission of data signals. The rotation-compatible data transmission device includes at least one first wireless transmission unit and at least one second wireless transmission unit, interconnected via the transmission path and arranged to wirelessly transmit and receive data signals along the wireless transmission sub-path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Peter Kastler, Clemens Maier, Christoph Zech, Thomas Morscher, Armin Pehlivan, Michael Jäger, Peter Fischer, Thomas Rettig, Thorsten Bunte, Christopher Pohl
  • Publication number: 20220388541
    Abstract: A safety module for a secured drive control of an automated drive system is configured to receive encoder data sent from an encoder unit to a drive unit, based on an encoder protocol via a protocol active unit. The safety module is configured to forward the encoder data from the protocol active unit to a safety logic and a protocol passive unit, check the forwarded encoder data with the aid of the safety logic for correspondence with predetermined safety criteria relating to operation of a motor unit, and transmit the forwarded encoder data via the protocol passive unit to the drive unit, in respective data packets based on the encoder protocol. The safety module can stop operation of the motor unit with the aid of the safety logic, if the encoder data does not correspond to the predetermined safety criteria. A corresponding drive system and automation system are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher Pohl, Andreas Kathöfer, Frank Sieweke, Robert Zutz
  • Publication number: 20220043918
    Abstract: A computing device, in particular, for a control unit of a motor vehicle. The computing device is configured to receive messages from at least one external unit. The computing device is configured to store the received messages at least temporarily and to transmit a plurality of the received messages to a cryptographic module, which is configured to execute a check of the transmitted messages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Christopher Pohl, Frederic Stumpf
  • Patent number: 10790622
    Abstract: A technique is provided for detecting decoupling of a first connector part, connected to a first device, of an electrical plug connector from a second connector part, connected to a second device, of the electrical plug connector. A corresponding method, a corresponding apparatus, a corresponding electrical plug connector as well as the first connector part and the second connector part of the plug connector, a corresponding device and a computer program product are stated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Christopher Pohl, Thomas Rettig, Hans Beckhoff, Dirk Bechtel
  • Patent number: 10614013
    Abstract: An input/output module is provided for a bus system having a socket, the five contact cups of which each may comprise an electrical contact, and a measuring device for detecting a connector of a four-wire data cable. The measuring device can be configured to detect, when a connector is inserted into the socket, whether the connector comprises four or five electrical contact pins which are each plugged into one of the contact cups and are electrically connected to the respective electrical contact of the contact cups. The measuring device may be configured to close a first and a second switching device only when five electrical contact pins are detected in order to apply a respective supply voltage from two DC voltage supplies to the corresponding plugged contact pins of the connector plugged into the socket via the respective electrical contacts of the contact cups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Büttner, Thomas Rettig, Dirk Bechtel, Michael Jost, Christopher Pohl, Hans Beckhoff
  • Patent number: 10578644
    Abstract: The invention relates to a probe system for a scanning probe microscope which (a) has a receptacle apparatus for a probe, (b) has a probe storage, which provides at least one probe for the scanning probe microscope, (c) wherein the probe, the probe storage, and the receptacle apparatus are embodied in such a way that the probe can form a releasable first connection with the probe storage and a releasable second connection with the receptacle apparatus, wherein the first connection and/or the second connection use a magnetic force; and wherein the receptacle apparatus and the probe storage are movable relative to one another in such a way for receiving the probe that the probe forms the second connection before the first connection is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Christof Baur, Sylvio Ruhm, Gabriel Baralia, Christoph Pohl, Björn Harnath, Matthias Weber
  • Patent number: 10572428
    Abstract: A microcontroller unit of an input/output module checks whether a communication connection can be set up from the microcontroller unit to a communication subscriber of a data cable plugged into the one portion of a electrical plug connection of the input/output module, wherein the microcontroller unit of the input/output module actuates DC voltage supplies of the input/output module such that the DC voltage supplies apply a respective DC voltage to applicable electrical contacts of electrical contact elements of the input/output module only if the check has revealed that a communication connection has been able to be set up to the communication subscriber of the data cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Erik Vonnahme, Christopher Pohl
  • Patent number: 10566782
    Abstract: A bus system comprises a feed module, a load module and a data cable connecting the feed module to the load module. A fuse is provided in an energy path and/or respectively in an energy/data transmission path between a feed module and a load module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Christopher Pohl, Thomas Rettig, Johannes Künne
  • Patent number: 10567191
    Abstract: A fieldbus system comprises a switching device, a control device and a fieldbus module connected to a first electrical supply voltage, wherein a value of the first electrical supply voltage is ascertained and transmitted to a control device by the fieldbus module, wherein the ascertained value of the first electrical supply voltage is compared with a predetermined value of the first electrical supply voltage by the control device, wherein, if the value of the first electrical supply voltage that is transmitted to the control device is not concordant with the predetermined value of the first electrical supply voltage, shutdown of a second electrical supply voltage by the switching device is initiated by the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Christopher Pohl, Jens Sachs, Thomas Rettig
  • Patent number: 10469285
    Abstract: A bus system comprises a data line having a first channel with a first pair of wires and a second channel with a second pair of wires. The first channel connects a physical feed module interface to a physical consumer module interface and a first DC voltage source to a first consumer module DC voltage consumer, to transmit a first differential data signal between the feed module interface and the consumer module interface and a first direct current from the first DC voltage source to the first consumer module DC voltage consumer. The second channel connects the feed module interface to the consumer module interface and a second DC voltage source to a second consumer module DC voltage consumer, to transmit a second differential data signal between the feed module interface and the consumer module interface and a second direct current from the second DC voltage source to the second consumer module DC voltage consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Prüssmeier, Thomas Rettig, Christopher Pohl, Johannes Künne
  • Patent number: 10440157
    Abstract: The invention refers to a method and a communication system for transmitting in either direction data between any two devices in a client layer and/or a transport layer of a communication system. The data transmission is performed according to the transport control protocol, referred to hereinafter as TCP. In order to achieve a high data transmission rate it is suggested that central storage means (12) for buffering the data to be transmitted and a TCP protocol operation block (10) are provided within the communication system, wherein the TCP protocol operation block (10) handles references on the transported data stored in the storage means (12) instead of the data itself. The invention also refers to an embedded acquisition device (1) located between the two devices of the communication system, between which the data is to be transmitted. The acquisition device (1) comprises means adapted for performing the method according to the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Paul Mohr, Stephan Straub, Christopher Pohl, Kai Roettger, Herbert Leuwer, Thomas Bayer
  • Patent number: 10333640
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for range extension for a combined data and power line are provided. Further, a bus system is provided. The design is based on a supply voltage that is transmitted via the combined data and power line being refreshed by a charge pump. Further, there may be provision, by way of example, for a data signal that is transmitted via the combined data and power line to be refreshed using the likewise transmitted supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Christopher Pohl, Martin Rostan, Thomas Rettig, Johannes Kuenne
  • Publication number: 20190109726
    Abstract: A fieldbus system comprises a switching device, a control device and a fieldbus module connected to a first electrical supply voltage, wherein a value of the first electrical supply voltage is ascertained and transmitted to a control device by the fieldbus module, wherein the ascertained value of the first electrical supply voltage is compared with a predetermined value of the first electrical supply voltage by the control device, wherein, if the value of the first electrical supply voltage that is transmitted to the control device is not concordant with the predetermined value of the first electrical supply voltage, shutdown of a second electrical supply voltage by the switching device is initiated by the control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher Pohl, Jens Sachs, Thomas Rettig
  • Publication number: 20180210854
    Abstract: A microcontroller unit of an input/output module checks whether a communication connection can be set up from the microcontroller unit to a communication subscriber of a data cable plugged into the one portion of a electrical plug connection of the input/output module, wherein the microcontroller unit of the input/output module actuates DC voltage supplies of the input/output module such that the DC voltage supplies apply a respective DC voltage to applicable electrical contacts of electrical contact elements of the input/output module only if the check has revealed that a communication connection has been able to be set up to the communication subscriber of the data cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Erik Vonnahme, Christopher Pohl
  • Publication number: 20180095108
    Abstract: The invention relates to a probe system for a scanning probe microscope which (a) has a receptacle apparatus for a probe, (b) has a probe storage, which provides at least one probe for the scanning probe microscope, (c) wherein the probe, the probe storage, and the receptacle apparatus are embodied in such a way that the probe can form a releasable first connection with the probe storage and a releasable second connection with the receptacle apparatus, wherein the first connection and/or the second connection use a magnetic force; and wherein the receptacle apparatus and the probe storage are movable relative to one another in such a way for receiving the probe that the probe forms the second connection before the first connection is released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Christof Baur, Sylvio Ruhm, Gabriel Baralia, Christoph Pohl, Björn Harnath, Matthias Weber