Patents by Inventor Frank Saupe

Frank Saupe 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: 10845183
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical sensor element for a measuring machine, comprising a coupling element on the sensor element side for mechanically and optically connecting to a coupling element on the measuring machine side. An optical fiber is arranged in the coupling element on the sensor element side, wherein said optical fiber comprises an optical interface for connecting to an optical machine contact element of the measuring machine, wherein said optical interface is formed by an optical sensor contact element having a self-centering ferrule that encloses the end of the optical fiber. The ferrule is supported in the coupling element on the sensor element side in a floating manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: HEXAGON TECHNOLOGY CENTER GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Jensen, Frank Saupe, Benjamin Vullioud
  • Publication number: 20170030702
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical sensor element for a measuring machine, comprising a coupling element on the sensor element side for mechanically and optically connecting to a coupling element on the measuring machine side. An optical fiber is arranged in the coupling element on the sensor element side, wherein said optical fiber comprises an optical interface for connecting to an optical machine contact element of the measuring machine, wherein said optical interface is formed by an optical sensor contact element having a self-centering ferrule that encloses the end of the optical fiber. The ferrule is supported in the coupling element on the sensor element side in a floating manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Applicant: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Thomas JENSEN, Frank SAUPE, Benjamin VULLIOUD
  • Patent number: 9459091
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor element for a measuring machine, having a sensing component with a sensing element for optically measuring a surface; a sensing element receiving portion with a plate-shaped base; and a sensor housing with a sensing component receiving portion comprising at least one bearing which contacts the base, which has at least one defined bearing point, and via which the sensing component is connected in a movable manner relative to the sensing component receiving portion. The sensor housing has a coupling on a housing coupling side for connecting to the measuring machine and at least partly surrounds the sensing component at the base, and a force directed in the direction of the sensing element is applied to the base. The sensing component receiving portion lies in the sensor housing opposite the coupling side and has the at a least one bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: HEXAGON TECHNOLOGY CENTER GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Jensen, Frank Saupe, Benjamin Vullioud
  • Publication number: 20150101205
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor element for a measuring machine, having a sensing component with a sensing element for optically measuring a surface; a sensing element receiving portion with a plate-shaped base; and a sensor housing with a sensing component receiving portion comprising at least one bearing which contacts the base, which has at least one defined bearing point, and via which the sensing component is connected in a movable manner relative to the sensing component receiving portion. The sensor housing has a coupling on a housing coupling side for connecting to the measuring machine and at least partly surrounds the sensing component at the base, and a force directed in the direction of the sensing element is applied to the base. The sensing component receiving portion lies in the sensor housing opposite the coupling side and has the at a least one bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: Hexagon Technology Center GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Jensen, Frank Saupe, Benjamin Vullioud
  • Patent number: 8839526
    Abstract: A sighting device includes an objective unit, an image unit, a transmitter for emitting measurement beams as transmitted beams and/or a receiver for capturing measurement beams as received beams, and at least one optical deflection means for coupling the transmitted beams into the optical beam path of the sighting device. The at least one lens comprises a cylindrical recess around the optical axis, the recess extending in the direction of the optical axis. Furthermore, the deflection means comprises a cylindrical fastening section that extends inside the recess such that a gluing gap is created between the outer lateral surface of the fastening section and at least a portion of an inner lateral surface of the lens defined by the recess, and the deflection means is fastened to the at least one lens, mediated by an adhesive located in the gluing gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Juerg Hinderling, Laurent Stauffer, Frank Saupe, Jochen Scheja
  • Patent number: 8397395
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical sensor with collision protection for a measurement machine, in particular for a coordinate measurement machine. The optical sensor comprises a sensor-side coupling part for mechanically and optically connecting to the measurement machine, and a sensor element. According to the invention, the sensor comprises a sensor protective coupling as collision protection, said protective coupling comprising a coupling part on the measurement machine side and a coupling part on the sensor element side, wherein a fiber optic cable is routed between the coupling parts of the sensor protective coupling and wherein a fiber optic cable protection element surrounds the fiber optic cable, wherein the ends of the fiber optic cable protection element are fastened to the associated coupling part of the sensor protective coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Thomas Jensen, Frank Saupe, Benjamin Vullioud
  • Publication number: 20120198712
    Abstract: A sighting device includes an objective unit, an image unit, a transmitter for emitting measurement beams as transmitted beams and/or a receiver for capturing measurement beams as received beams, and at least one optical deflection means for coupling the transmitted beams into the optical beam path of the sighting device. The at least one lens comprises a cylindrical recess around the optical axis, the recess extending in the direction of the optical axis. Furthermore, the deflection means comprises a cylindrical fastening section that extends inside the recess such that a gluing gap is created between the outer lateral surface of the fastening section and at least a portion of an inner lateral surface of the lens defined by the recess, and the deflection means is fastened to the at least one lens, mediated by an adhesive located in the gluing gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Juerg Hinderling, Laurent Stauffer, Frank Saupe, Jochen Scheja
  • Publication number: 20120110866
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical sensor with collision protection for a measurement machine, in particular for a coordinate measurement machine. The optical sensor comprises a sensor-side coupling part for mechanically and optically connecting to the measurement machine, and a sensor element. According to the invention, the sensor comprises a sensor protective coupling as collision protection, said protective coupling comprising a coupling part on the measurement machine side and a coupling part on the sensor element side, wherein a fiber optic cable is routed between the coupling parts of the sensor protective coupling and wherein a fiber optic cable protection element surrounds the fiber optic cable, wherein the ends of the fiber optic cable protection element are fastened to the associated coupling part of the sensor protective coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Thomas Jensen, Frank Saupe, Benjamin Vullioud
  • Publication number: 20110229091
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical sensor element for a measuring machine, comprising a coupling element on the sensor element side for mechanically and optically connecting to a coupling element on the measuring machine side. An optical fiber is arranged in the coupling element on the sensor element side, wherein said optical fiber comprises an optical interface for connecting to an optical machine contact element of the measuring machine, wherein said optical interface is formed by an optical sensor contact element having a self-centering ferrule that encloses the end of the optical fiber. The ferrule is supported in the coupling element on the sensor element side in a floating manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Thomas Jensen, Frank Saupe, Benjamin Vullioud
  • Publication number: 20110154672
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical sensor with collision protection for a measurement machine, in particular for a coordinate measurement machine. The optical sensor comprises a sensor-side coupling part for mechanically and optically connecting to the measurement machine, and a sensor element. According to the invention, the sensor comprises a sensor protective coupling as collision protection, said protective coupling comprising a coupling part on the measurement machine side and a coupling part on the sensor element side, wherein a fiber optic cable is routed between the coupling parts of the sensor protective coupling and wherein a fiber optic cable protection element surrounds the fiber optic cable, wherein the ends of the fiber optic cable protection element are fastened to the associated coupling part of the sensor protective coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Thomas Jensen, Frank Saupe, Benjamin Vullioud