Patents by Inventor Claus Kaltner

Claus Kaltner 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: 10873330
    Abstract: An electrode arrangement for an electric field sensor device with a transmitting electrode and at least one receiving electrode may have a nonconductive substrate having a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer. A first electrode is arranged within the first conductive layer, wherein the first electrode is a receiving electrode of the electric field sensor device, and a second electrode is arranged within the second conductive layer, wherein the second electrode is a transmitting electrode of the electric field sensor device wherein the second electrode covers a larger area than the first electrode and wherein the second electrode is textured to reduce the capacitance between the first and second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY GERMANY GMBH II & CO. KG
    Inventors: Roland Aubauer, Claus Kaltner
  • Patent number: 10352976
    Abstract: An electrode arrangement has a transmitting electrode configured to generate a quasi-static alternating electric field which extends into an observation area, a first electrode extending in a first direction and configured to be connected to an evaluation device as a receiving electrode, and a second electrode extending in a second direction different from the first direction wherein for evaluating disturbances of the quasi-static alternating electric field an enhanced sensitivity profile is obtained by combining the first and second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Roland Aubauer, Claus Kaltner, Lucian Rosca
  • Patent number: 10345985
    Abstract: An input device has one or more electrodes configured for capacitive sensing, an electronic circuit, one or more conductive feed line(s) connecting the one or more electrode(s) with the electronic circuit, wherein the device is configured to increase or decrease a signal received from at least one of the electrodes through an associated feed line in function of at least one other signal from another electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Lionel Portmann, Axel Heim, Andreas Dorfner, Claus Kaltner
  • Patent number: 10198100
    Abstract: An electrode device for a capacitive sensor device and a circuit arrangement for a capacitive sensor device for the operation of an electrode device are provided, wherein the electrode device has a first electrode structure with at least one transmitting electrode and at least one receiving electrode, and a second electrode structure with at least one field sensing electrode, wherein the electrode device or the capacitive sensor device can be operated in a first operation mode and in a second operation mode. In addition a method is provided for approach and/or touch detection with a sensor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Claus Kaltner, Reinhard Unterreitmayer, Holger Steffens
  • Patent number: 10001540
    Abstract: Provided is a method for adapting the sensitivity of a sensor system, in particular of a capacitive sensor system, which provides a sensor signal, wherein a first lower threshold value is adapted, if the sensor signal fulfills a first switching threshold criterion, a first upper threshold value is adapted, if the sensor signal fulfills a second switching threshold criterion, and at least one switching threshold value is adapted such that the switching threshold value has a predetermined first distance from the first upper threshold value and/or a predetermined second distance from the first lower threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Holger Erkens, Claus Kaltner, Holger Steffens
  • Patent number: 9954524
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor device for approach and/or contact detection can be coupled with an electric circuit (10) and has a sensor electronics (20) and a device for potential separation (30), which with the sensor electronics (20) is coupled and by which the capacitive sensor device can be coupled with the electric circuit (10). In a method for operating a capacitive sensor device which has a sensor electronics, the sensor electronics can be coupled with an electric circuit and the sensor electronics is coupled with the electric circuit in a separable way with respect to the potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY GERMANY GMBH
    Inventor: Claus Kaltner
  • Publication number: 20170269741
    Abstract: An input device has one or more electrodes configured for capacitive sensing, an electronic circuit, one or more conductive feed line(s) connecting the one or more electrode(s) with the electronic circuit, wherein the device is configured to increase or decrease a signal received from at least one of the electrodes through an associated feed line in function of at least one other signal from another electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Applicant: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Lionel Portmann, Axel Heim, Andreas Dorfner, Claus Kaltner
  • Patent number: 9671920
    Abstract: An input device has one or more electrodes configured for capacitive sensing, an electronic circuit, one or more conductive feed line(s) connecting the one or more electrode(s) with the electronic circuit, wherein the device is configured to increase or decrease a signal received from at least one of the electrodes through an associated feed line in function of at least one other signal from another electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Lionel Portmann, Axel Heim, Andreas Dorfner, Claus Kaltner
  • Patent number: 9552068
    Abstract: A gesture detection system according to embodiments includes an input device including a touch sensitive surface and a contact-free detection system; and a controller configured to determine characteristic parameters for the position in three-dimensional space of a user input object and select an operational mode of the input device based on the position of the user input object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Roland Aubauer, Johannes Matokic, Claus Kaltner
  • Publication number: 20160322971
    Abstract: An electrode arrangement for an electric field sensor device with a transmitting electrode and at least one receiving electrode may have a nonconductive substrate having a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer. A first electrode is arranged within the first conductive layer, wherein the first electrode is a receiving electrode of the electric field sensor device, and a second electrode is arranged within the second conductive layer, wherein the second electrode is a transmitting electrode of the electric field sensor device wherein the second electrode covers a larger area than the first electrode and wherein the second electrode is textured to reduce the capacitance between the first and second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Applicant: Microchip Technology Germany GmbH II & CO. KG
    Inventors: Roland Aubauer, Claus Kaltner
  • Patent number: 9459296
    Abstract: An electrode arrangement for an electric field sensor device with a transmitting electrode and at least one receiving electrode may have a nonconductive substrate having a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer. A first electrode is arranged within the first conductive layer, wherein the first electrode is a receiving electrode of the electric field sensor device, and a second electrode is arranged within the second conductive layer, wherein the second electrode is a transmitting electrode of the electric field sensor device wherein the second electrode covers a larger area than the first electrode and wherein the second electrode is textured to reduce the capacitance between the first and second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY GERMANY GMBH II & CO. KG
    Inventors: Roland Aubauer, Claus Kaltner
  • Patent number: 9322861
    Abstract: A method for the detection of a gripping of a hand-held device with one hand, using a capacitive sensor device, uses at least one transmitting electrode, at least one compensating electrode and at least one receiving electrode. An electrical signal is tapped at the receiving electrode and the sensor device can be operated in a first operating mode and in a second operating mode. In the first operating mode, a first alternating electrical signal is applied to the transmitting electrode and a second alternating electrical signal is applied to the compensating electrode. In the second operating mode, the second alternating signal is only applied to the compensating electrode. Furthermore, a sensor device can be provided which is configured to perform the method as described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Burger, Andreas Dorfner, Holger Erkens, Claus Kaltner, Holger Steffens
  • Publication number: 20160041639
    Abstract: An electrode device for a capacitive sensor device and a circuit arrangement for a capacitive sensor device for the operation of an electrode device are provided, wherein the electrode device has a first electrode structure with at least one transmitting electrode and at least one receiving electrode, and a second electrode structure with at least one field sensing electrode, wherein the electrode device or the capacitive sensor device can be operated in a first operation mode and in a second operation mode. In addition a method is provided for approach and/or touch detection with a sensor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Claus Kaltner, Reinhard Unterreitmayer, Holger Steffens
  • Patent number: 9236860
    Abstract: An electrical hand-held device is provided with improved proximity detection, which can be placed on a surface and has at least one transmission electrode, at least one reception electrode and at least one compensation electrode arranged between transmission electrode and reception electrode. The transmission electrode and the compensation electrode can be supplied with an electric switching signal of predetermined signal frequency and predetermined signal amplitude. Switching electric signal at the compensation electrode is phase-delayed with respect to the switching electric signal at the transmission electrode. Alternating electric fields radiated at the transmission electrode and the compensation electrode generate a current in the reception electrode, which is representative of an approach of a hand to the hand-held device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Reinhard Unterreitmayer, Claus Kaltner, Holger Steffens, Stefan Donat
  • Publication number: 20150378482
    Abstract: An input device has one or more electrodes configured for capacitive sensing, an electronic circuit, one or more conductive feed line(s) connecting the one or more electrode(s) with the electronic circuit, wherein the device is configured to increase or decrease a signal received from at least one of the electrodes through an associated feed line in function of at least one other signal from another electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Applicant: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Lionel Portmann, Axel Heim, Andreas Dorfner, Claus Kaltner
  • Patent number: 9166581
    Abstract: An electrode device for a capacitive sensor device and a circuit arrangement for a capacitive sensor device for the operation of an electrode device are provided, wherein the electrode device has a first electrode structure with at least one transmitting electrode and at least one receiving electrode, and a second electrode structure with at least one field sensing electrode, wherein the electrode device or the capacitive sensor device can be operated in a first operation mode and in a second operation mode. In addition a method is provided for approach and/or touch detection with a sensor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Claus Kaltner, Reinhard Unterreitmayer, Holger Steffens
  • Publication number: 20150288361
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor device for approach and/or contact detection can be coupled with an electric circuit (10) and has a sensor electronics (20) and a device for potential separation (30), which with the sensor electronics (20) is coupled and by which the capacitive sensor device can be coupled with the electric circuit (10). In a method for operating a capacitive sensor device which has a sensor electronics, the sensor electronics can be coupled with an electric circuit and the sensor electronics is coupled with the electric circuit in a separable way with respect to the potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventor: Claus Kaltner
  • Patent number: 9124274
    Abstract: A device for an electric hand-held device for detecting the hand-held device being clasped by a hand, has at least one transmitting electrode, which can emit an alternating electric field, and at least one receiving electrode, in which the alternating electric field can be coupled at least partially, wherein the at least one transmitting electrode and the at least one receiving electrode can be arranged on the hand-held device such that each of them is at least partially covered by the hand when the hand-held device is being clasped by the hand. When the hand-held device is being clasped by the hand, a first portion of the alternating electric field emitted by the transmitting electrode can be coupled via the hand into the receiving electrode, wherein at least the first portion of the alternating electric field is a characteristic representative of the hand-held device being clasped by the hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY GERMANY GMBH II & CO. KG
    Inventors: Claus Kaltner, Reinhard Unterreitmayer
  • Publication number: 20150130478
    Abstract: Provided is a method for adapting the sensitivity of a sensor system, in particular of a capacitive sensor system, which provides a sensor signal, wherein a first lower threshold value is adapted, if the sensor signal fulfills a first switching threshold criterion, a first upper threshold value is adapted, if the sensor signal fulfills a second switching threshold criterion, and at least one switching threshold value is adapted such that the switching threshold value has a predetermined first distance from the first upper threshold value and/or a predetermined second distance from the first lower threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Holger Erkens, Claus Kaltner, Holger Steffens
  • Patent number: 8933705
    Abstract: An electronic circuit with a plurality of connections for a plurality of sensor elements is provided, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to detect, with at least one multiplexing method, the presence of an object in at least one observation area of the sensor elements and to distinguish between the sensor elements. Also a method for determining the position of at least one object situated in at least one observation area of sensor elements relative to the sensor elements is provided, whereby with a multiplexing method an electric variable for each sensor element is detected, which is indicative for the presence of the object in the respective observation area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Germany GmbH II & Co. KG
    Inventors: Claus Kaltner, Holger Steffens