Patents by Inventor Eckhard Lessmueller

Eckhard Lessmueller 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: 11999017
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for conducting and monitoring a machining process of a workpiece (10), in particular a welding process for joining the workpiece (10) to a further workpiece (10), by means of a high-energy machining beam (14), wherein the method comprises the following steps: generating a high-energy machining beam (14); projecting and/or focusing the machining beam (14) onto the workpiece (10), wherein, in accordance with a machining control signal, different machining regions of the workpiece (10) are machined; generating a measurement beam (16) by means of an optical coherence tomograph (18), wherein the measurement beam (16) is able to be coupled into the machining beam (14); determining measurement points (20) during the machining process by means of the optical coherence tomograph (18) using the measurement beam (16), in accordance with a measurement control signal; obtaining at least one external signal which is based on a measured variable and which is independent of a processing of t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Lessmüller Lasertechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Eckhard Lessmueller, Christian Truckenbrodt, Maximilian Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11103952
    Abstract: A measuring device for monitoring a laser welding process that is connectable to a machining device for machining a workpiece by a high-energy processing beam that is displaceable on the workpiece along a main machining path that corresponds to a contour of a closed geometric figure. The measuring device includes an optical coherence tomography unit having a measuring beam source for generating an optical measuring beam that is displaceable on the workpiece by at least one movable deflection unit. The optical measuring beam is displaceable on the workpiece along a first discrete measuring line, along a second discrete measuring line, and along a third discrete measuring line, in each case transversely with respect to the main machining path and intersecting same. The measuring device is configured for determining characteristic features of the geometric figure represented by the main machining path, according to the collected measuring data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: LESSMUELLER LASERTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Eckhard Lessmueller, Christian Truckenbrodt
  • Publication number: 20210237208
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for conducting and monitoring a machining process of a workpiece (10), in particular a welding process for joining the workpiece (10) to a further workpiece (10), by means of a high-energy machining beam (14), wherein the method comprises the following steps: generating a high-energy machining beam (14); projecting and/or focusing the machining beam (14) onto the workpiece (10), wherein, in accordance with a machining control signal, different machining regions of the workpiece (10) are machined; generating a measurement beam (16) by means of an optical coherence tomograph (18), wherein the measurement beam (16) is able to be coupled into the machining beam (14); determining measurement points (20) during the machining process by means of the optical coherence tomograph (18) using the measurement beam (16), in accordance with a measurement control signal; obtaining at least one external signal which is based on a measured variable and which is independent of a processing of t
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: Lessmüller Lasertechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Eckhard Lessmueller, Christian Truckenbrodt, Maximilian Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20200171599
    Abstract: A welding method and device for joining first and second workpieces using a high-energy machining beam. The method comprising inserting the first workpiece into a workpiece holder; positioning the second workpiece on a top side of the first workpiece at a target position for joining the workpieces; providing a high-energy machining beam, and focusing the machining beam on a current machining area; generating a measuring beam in an optical coherent tomograph, the measuring beam being coupleable into the machining beam; carrying out a process measurement by the measuring beam in the current machining area during machining of the workpieces; carrying out a control measurement by the measuring beam on at least one of the workpieces; and determining a distance between the first and second workpieces for detecting a gap between the workpieces, based on the result of the control measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Applicant: Lessmüller Lasertechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Eckhard Lessmueller, Christian Truckenbrodt, Alexander Denkl, Richard Steinbrecht
  • Publication number: 20190126388
    Abstract: A measuring device for monitoring a laser welding process is connectable to a machining device for machining a workpiece by means of a high-energy processing beam that is displaceable on the workpiece along a main machining path that corresponds to a contour of a closed geometric figure. The measuring device includes an optical coherence tomography unit having a measuring beam source for generating an optical measuring beam that is displaceable on the workpiece by means of at least one movable deflection unit. The optical measuring beam is displaceable on the workpiece along a first discrete measuring line, along a second discrete measuring line, and along a third discrete measuring line, in each case transversely with respect to the main machining path and intersecting same. The measuring device is configured for determining characteristic features of the geometric figure represented by the main machining path, according to the collected measuring data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Eckhard Lessmueller, Christian Truckenbrodt
  • Patent number: 9784562
    Abstract: The invention relates to a measurement device for a laser processing system, for carrying out position measurements by means of a measurement beam on a workpiece, which is intended for processing by means of a high energy processing beam, which can be moved relative to the workpiece along a predetermined main processing path. The measurement device can be coupled to a processing device and includes an optical coherence tomograph. The measurement device is equipped to shift the measurement beam on the workpiece in the direction of the main processing path in at least one first measurement position and one second measurement position in order to scan measurement positions transversely to the direction of the main processing path in the measurement positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: LESSMUELLER LASERTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Eckhard Lessmueller, Christian Truckenbrodt, Konstantin Werner
  • Publication number: 20170157703
    Abstract: The invention relates to a monitoring apparatus (10) for a processing system for processing a workpiece (W) by means of a high-energy processing beam (38), in particular in a spatially limited processing area, wherein the monitoring apparatus (10) comprises a measurement beam source (16), which is designed to supply a measurement beam (18) and a recording unit (22), which is designed to detect a component (24) of the measurement beam reflected by the surroundings, wherein the monitoring apparatus (10) is designed to input the measurement beam (18) into a processing beam optics (34) of the processing system, so that the measurement beam (18) and the processing beam (38) can be directed at common positions in the surroundings, wherein the monitoring apparatus (10) is also designed to ascertain at least one distance value (d), which enables a conclusion about a distance from the processing beam optics (34) to the region (X) of the surroundings reflecting measurement beam (18), on the basis of the reflected compo
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Eckhard Lessmueller, Christian Truckenbrodt
  • Publication number: 20160356595
    Abstract: The invention relates to a measurement device for a laser processing system, for carrying out position measurements by means of a measurement beam on a workpiece, which is intended for processing by means of a high energy processing beam, which can be moved relative to the workpiece along a predetermined main processing path. The measurement device can be coupled to a processing device and includes an optical coherence tomograph. The measurement device is equipped to shift the measurement beam on the workpiece in the direction of the main processing path in at least one first measurement position and one second measurement position in order to scan measurement positions transversely to the direction of the main processing path in the measurement positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Eckhard Lessmueller, Christian Truckenbrodt, Konstantin Werner