Patents by Inventor Felix Mednikov

Felix Mednikov 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: 10502591
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement for determining a position and/or a change in the position of a measurement object is described, wherein the sensor arrangement has a magnet and a magnetic field sensor which can be moved relative to one another in a direction of movement. The magnet generates a magnetic field. Movements of the magnet and of the measurement object or movements of the magnetic field sensor and of the measurement object are coupled. To achieve the greatest possible measurement range with a characteristic curve which is as linear as possible at the same time, the sensor arrangement comprises a rod-shaped body which is made from a ferromagnetic material and has a considerably larger dimension in the longitudinal direction than in the transverse direction. A relative movement takes place between the rod-shaped body and the magnet, wherein the rod-shaped body can be connected to the magnet. The magnetic field from the magnet is at least partially directed in the direction of the magnetic field sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: MICRO-EPSILON Messtechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Felix Mednikov, Johann Hofer, Christian Pfaffinger
  • Publication number: 20180313666
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement for determining a position and/or a change in the position of a measurement object is described, wherein the sensor arrangement has a magnet and a magnetic field sensor which can be moved relative to one another in a direction of movement. The magnet generates a magnetic field. Movements of the magnet and of the measurement object or movements of the magnetic field sensor and of the measurement object are coupled. To achieve the greatest possible measurement range with a characteristic curve which is as linear as possible at the same time, the sensor arrangement comprises a rod-shaped body which is made from a ferromagnetic material and has a considerably larger dimension in the longitudinal direction than in the transverse direction. A relative movement takes place between the rod-shaped body and the magnet, wherein the rod-shaped body can be connected to the magnet. The magnetic field from the magnet is at least partially directed in the direction of the magnetic field sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Felix Mednikov, Johann Hofer, Christian Pfaffinger
  • Patent number: 9574865
    Abstract: A method for detecting magnetic fields, particularly for detecting the position of objects with a preferably oblong, soft-magnetic element, which is connected to electronics, with via the electronics the impedance of the soft-magnetic material is measured, characterized in that a magnetic field is used in which by the position of an object which is located in an arrangement with the soft-magnetic material the magnetic field develops at the location of the soft-magnetic material, with the magnetic permeability ? of the soft-magnetic material adjusting, depending on the magnetic field and thus the position of the object. A respective device serves for applying the method according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: MICRO-EPSILON Messtechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christian Pfaffinger, Johann Hofer, Felix Mednikov, Thomas Wisspeintner, Guenter Schallmoser
  • Patent number: 9222805
    Abstract: A circuit system for evaluating a sensor, wherein the circuit system comprises two complex impedances (2, 3, 13, 14), wherein the complex impedances (2, 3, 13, 14) are each part of a resonant circuit in which the complex impedances (2, 3, 13, 14) can be excited to perform oscillations, and wherein at least one of the two complex impedances (2, 3, 13, 14) are part of the sensor, is characterized with respect to a particularly cost-effective and as simple a circuit design as possible in that a counter (9, 18) and a switch apparatus (8, 16) are provided, wherein the counter (9, 18) can be used to alternately count the oscillations of one of the two resonant circuits, the switch apparatus (8, 16) can be switched when a specifiable counter reading has been reached, and the switch signal of the switch apparatus serves as a pulse width-modulated output signal (11, 21) for the circuit system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Micro-Epsilon Messtechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christian Pfaffinger, Felix Mednikov
  • Publication number: 20140198824
    Abstract: An eddy current sensor that works in contact-free manner, for temperature measurement on an electrically conductive measurement object or component, wherein the measurement is independent of the distance between the sensor and the measurement object/component, characterized by determination of the inherent temperature of the sensor, preferably at the location of the measurement coil of the sensor, wherein the influence of the inherent temperature of the sensor or of a temperature gradient at the sensor on the result of the temperature measurement on the measurement object or component is compensated. A system comprises a corresponding sensor and an electrically conductive measurement object. A method serves for temperature measurement on a measurement object or component, by means of a corresponding sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: MICRO-EPSILON MESSTECHNIK GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Josef Nagl, Reinhold Hoenicka, Felix Mednikov, Werner Groemmer
  • Publication number: 20130141081
    Abstract: A method for detecting magnetic fields, particularly for detecting the position of objects with a preferably oblong, soft-magnetic element, which is connected to electronics, with via the electronics the impedance of the soft-magnetic material is measured, characterized in that a magnetic field is used in which by the position of an object which is located in an arrangement with the soft-magnetic material the magnetic field develops at the location of the soft-magnetic material, with the magnetic permeability ? of the soft-magnetic material adjusting, depending on the magnetic field and thus the position of the object. A respective device serves for applying the method according to the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: Micro-Epsilon Messtechnik GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Christian Pfaffinger, Johann Hofer, Felix Mednikov, Thomas Wisspeintner, Guenter Schallmoser
  • Patent number: 8198888
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for determining the distance of a conducting surface profiled in a direction of distance determination from a functional surface moving relative to the profiled surface is disclosed. The method includes connecting inputs of a sensor to an oscillator arrangement. The sensor includes a first and a second measuring coil. The method includes further connecting outputs of the sensor to an analog-to-digital converter via a demodulator unit to obtain first and second digital measured values. The first and second digital measured values correspond to the distance between the profiled surface and the first and second measuring coil of the sensor, respectively. The method further includes connecting an arithmetic unit to the analog converter unit. The second measurement coil is arranged at a known distance from the first measuring coil on the side of the first measuring coil that faces away from the profiled surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Micro-Epsilon Messtechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Werner Grömmer, Felix Mednikov, Robert Schmid, Martin Sellen, Benno Weis
  • Publication number: 20110316558
    Abstract: A circuit system for evaluating a sensor, wherein the circuit system comprises two complex impedances (2, 3, 13, 14), wherein the complex impedances (2, 3, 13, 14) are each part of a resonant circuit in which the complex impedances (2, 3, 13, 14) can be excited to perform oscillations, and wherein at least one of the two complex impedances (2, 3, 13, 14) are part of the sensor, is characterized with respect to a particularly cost-effective and as simple a circuit design as possible in that a counter (9, 18) and a switch apparatus (8, 16) are provided, wherein the counter (9, 18) can be used to alternately count the oscillations of one of the two resonant circuits, the switch apparatus (8, 16) can be switched when a specifiable counter reading has been reached, and the switch signal of the switch apparatus serves as a pulse width-modulated output signal (11, 21) for the circuit system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Christian Pfaffinger, Felix Mednikov
  • Patent number: 7602175
    Abstract: A non-contacting position measuring system comprising a sensor that includes a measuring coil which can be energized with alternating current, where the measuring coil comprises at least two voltage taps, an electrically or magnetically conductive object to be measured which is assigned to the sensor, and an evaluation circuit, where the sensor and the object to be measured can be displaced relative to one another in a longitudinal direction of the measuring coil. The position-measuring system presented is formed in such a manner that the object to be measured comprises at least one marking affecting the impedance of the measuring coil between two voltage taps so that the evaluation circuit provides an output signal correlating with the position of the object to be measured in relation to the voltage taps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Micro-Epsilon Messtechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Felix Mednikov, Martin Sellen, Eduard Huber
  • Publication number: 20090072820
    Abstract: A method and a system are disclosed for determining the distance between a conducting surface which is profiled in the direction of distance determination and a functional surface moving in relation to the surface by using a measuring system. Two exploring coils are applied to an oscillator system and are connected on the output end to an analog-to-digital converter via a demodulator, the analog-to-digital converter being connected to an arithmetic module. In at least one embodiment of the invention, a method and a system are provided which allow to effect a distance measurement substantially uninfluenced by the profile of the conducting surface and by variations in ambient temperature. For this purpose, a sensor is used whose second exploring coil is mounted on the first exploring coil facing away from the surface at a defined, known distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Werner Grommer, Felix Mednikov, Robert Schmid, Martin Sellen, Benno Weis
  • Patent number: 7345471
    Abstract: A device and method for detecting the position and velocity of a test object relative to a sensor, the sensor and the test object being arranged such that they can be displaced relative to one another. In one embodiment, the sensor has a measuring coil with one or more voltage tap(s) and has a target that is placed on the test object while being electromagnetically coupled to the measuring coil. An electronic component for adding the voltages tapped on the sensor is assigned to the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Micro-Epsilon Messtechnik GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Martin Sellen, Felix Mednikov, Mark Nechaewskij
  • Patent number: 7275015
    Abstract: A method and a device for determining motion parameters of a conductive, profiled surface (22) relative to a sensor (3), with the sensor (3) comprising at least one coil for generating an electromagnetic alternating field, which is subjected, because of the feedback resulting from position changes between the surface (22) and the sensor (3), to a variation, which is determined by means of the coil (16). The position change is derived from the coupling impedance (Zc) of the coil (16), and the real component (Rc) and the imaginary component (Xc) of the complex coupling impedance (Zc) of the coil (16) are determined, with a distance d between the sensor (3) and the surface (22) being computed based on the determined values while using an algorithm as a basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Micro-Epsilon Messtechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stanislav Medinkov, Mark Netchaewskij, Felix Mednikov, Werner Grömmer, Martin Sellen
  • Publication number: 20070200558
    Abstract: A device and method for detecting the position and velocity of a test object relative to a sensor, the sensor and the test object being arranged such that they can be displaced relative to one another. In one embodiment, the sensor has a measuring coil with one or more voltage tap(s) and has a target that is placed on the test object while being electromagnetically coupled to the measuring coil. An electronic component for adding the voltages tapped on the sensor is assigned to the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Inventors: Martin Sellen, Felix Mednikov, Mark Nechaewskij
  • Publication number: 20060202682
    Abstract: A non-contacting position measuring system comprising a sensor that includes a measuring coil which can be energized with alternating current, where the measuring coil comprises at least two voltage taps, an electrically or magnetically conductive object to be measured which is assigned to the sensor, and an evaluation circuit, where the sensor and the object to be measured can be displaced relative to one another in a longitudinal direction of the measuring coil. The position-measuring system presented is formed in such a manner that the object to be measured comprises at least one marking affecting the impedance of the measuring coil between two voltage taps so that the evaluation circuit provides an output signal correlating with the position of the object to be measured in relation to the voltage taps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Inventors: Felix Mednikov, Martin Sellen, Eduard Huber
  • Patent number: 7061230
    Abstract: A circuit for measuring distances and which has at least two inputs (1, 2), at least one measuring coil (3), and at least one signal source, wherein at least two input signals (epos, eneg) are generated by means of the signal source, and the inputs (1, 2) are activatable by means of the input signals (epos, eneg). The input signals (epos, eneg) are applied, preferably preprocessed, to the inputs of the measuring coil (3). The circuit is designed for use where little space is available for the circuit, with the input signals (epos, eneg) being applied to a preferably timed SC network, which generates a measuring output signal that is dependent on temperature. A corresponding method is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Micro-Epsilon Messtechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ulrich Kleine, Falk Roewer, Klaus Salzwedel, Felix Mednikov, Martin Sellen
  • Publication number: 20060071658
    Abstract: A method and a device for determining motion parameters of a conductive, profiled surface (22) relative to a sensor (3), with the sensor (3) comprising at least one coil for generating an electromagnetic alternating field, which is subjected, because of the feedback resulting from position changes between the surface (22) and the sensor (3), to a variation, which is determined by means of the coil (16). The position change is derived from the coupling impedance (Zc) of the coil (16), and the real component (Rc) and the imaginary component (Xc) of the complex coupling impedance (Zc) of the coil (16) are determined, with a distance d between the sensor (3) and the surface (22) being computed based on the determined values while using an algorithm as a basis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Stanislav Mednikov, Mark Netchaewskij, Felix Mednikov, Werner Grommer, Martin Sellen
  • Patent number: 7012462
    Abstract: A circuit and method for demodulating at least one modulated signal (e), such as a measuring signal of a sensor. The circuit comprises at least one input (1), with the signal (e) being applied to the input (1), and the input is connected to at least one switched-capacitor network which is configured to demodulate the signal. The circuit permits use even in a small available space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Micro-Epsilon Messtechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ulrich Kleine, Falk Roewer, Klaus Salzwedel, Felix Mednikov, Martin Sellen
  • Patent number: 6999892
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement (10) for activating a sensor and evaluating its signals, in particular for parametric sensors with complex impedances. The circuit arrangement comprises at least one sensor (2) for acquiring mechanical data. In order to minimize or largely prevent temperature caused disturbances in a constructionally simple layout, the measuring signal, the absolute temperature, and the gradient temperature of the sensor (2) are acquired simultaneously, preferably by means of a microprocessor or microcomputer (3). A corresponding method for activating sensors and evaluating their signals is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Micro-Epsilon Messtechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Felix Mednikov, Martin Sellen, Karl Wisspeintner
  • Publication number: 20040201376
    Abstract: A circuit for measuring distances comprising at least two inputs (1, 2), at least one measuring coil (3), and at least one signal source, wherein at least two input signals (epos, eneg) are generated by means of the signal source, and the inputs (1, 2) are activatable by means of the input signals (epos, eneg) The input signals (epos, eneg) are applied, preferably preprocessed, to the inputs of the measuring coil (3). The circuit is designed for use where little space is available for the circuit, with the input signals (epos, eneg) being applied to a preferably timed SC network, which generates a measuring signal and/or an output signal that is dependent on temperature. A corresponding method is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Applicant: Micro-Epsilon Messtechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ulrich Kleine, Falk Roewer, Klaus Salzwedel, Felix Mednikov, Martin Sellen
  • Patent number: 6762922
    Abstract: A device and a method for detecting the position of an object (1), such as an armature (2) of an inlet or outlet valve (3), with the device comprising at least two coils (4, 5), preferably two magnet coils, which can be energized for moving the object (1) between the two coils (4, 5), or used with an evaluation circuit for detecting the position of the object (1). The two coils (4, 5) are alternately used for moving the object (1) between the coils (4, 5) and for detecting the position of the object (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Micro-Epsilon Messtechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Felix Mednikov, Stanislav Mednikov, Mark Netschaewsky, Günter Schallmoser