Patents by Inventor Gerd Bechtel
Gerd Bechtel 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).
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Publication number: 20260153374Abstract: The invention relates to an electric fill level measuring device (1) for measuring a fill level of a medium in a containment, comprising: an electrically conductive probe (10); an electronic measuring/operating circuit (20); a housing (30); secured to the housing, a process connection (40); wherein the probe is supported radially by the process connection by means of a conical seal (50), wherein the conical seal is compressed between a conical interior surface and the probe, wherein a spring mechanism (60) is adapted to compress the conical seal by exerting a force on the conical seal in the direction of the open end, the probe has a first probe part (11) and a second probe part (12), which probe parts are joined together, wherein the first probe part is arranged in the lumen and provides an engagement surface (11.1) for the spring mechanism, and wherein the second probe part is adapted to be immersed in the medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2022Publication date: June 4, 2026Inventors: Lars Stolz, Robert Schmidt, Gerd Bechtel
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Patent number: 12480876Abstract: A sensor apparatus for determining and/or monitoring a process variable of a medium in a containment includes: a crystal body including at least one defect; a magnetic field system for producing a magnetic field in the region of the crystal body and in the region of the medium within the containment, wherein the crystal body and the magnetic field system are arrangeable from the outside at a wall of the containment; a detection unit for detecting a magnetic field-dependent, fluorescent signal from the crystal body, wherein the detection unit has an excitation unit for optical exciting of the defect and a detector for detecting the fluorescent signal; and an evaluation unit for ascertaining at least one piece of information concerning the process variable based on the fluorescent signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2021Date of Patent: November 25, 2025Assignee: Endress+Hauser SE+Co. KGInventors: Mohammad Sadegh Ebrahimi, Gerd Bechtel, Raphael Kuhnen, Tobias Brengartner, Dietmar Frühauf, Anh Tuan Tham
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Patent number: 12474248Abstract: A device for determining and/or monitoring a process variable of a medium comprises a sensor unit with a mechanically vibrating fork having a first and a second vibrating element and having a first piezoelectric element arranged in the first vibrating element. An electronic unit of the device is designed to excite mechanical vibrations in the mechanically vibratable unit, receive the mechanical vibrations of the vibratable unit and convert same into a first reception signal, generate the excitation signal on the basis of the first reception signal such that there is a specifiable phase shift between the excitation signal and the first reception signal, and ascertain the process variable using the first reception signal. The electronic unit has an adjustable impedance element connected in series to the first piezoelectric element.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2021Date of Patent: November 18, 2025Assignee: Endress+Hauser SE+Co. KGInventors: Tobias Brengartner, Gerd Bechtel
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Publication number: 20250216243Abstract: An electrical assembly for an electrical fill level measuring device for measuring a fill level of a medium in a containment comprises an electrically conductive probe having a plastic coating in a central region and a process connection. The probe is seated by means of a rotationally symmetric, especially ring shaped or tubular, seal radially relative to the process connection. The seal is connected with the plastic coating by material bonding by means of a weld method. The probe is seated radially and/or axially in a housing near end region by a seating means rotationally fixed in at least one rotational direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2023Publication date: July 3, 2025Inventors: Lars Stolz, Robert Schmidt, Gerd Bechtel
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Patent number: 11841259Abstract: Disclosed is a method for parametering an apparatus for determining and/or monitoring a predeterminable fill level, wherein the apparatus includes a sensor unit and an electronics. The method includes determining an influence interval for a received signal received by the sensor unit as a function of an environmental parameter, determining a first value for the received signal or for a variable derived from the received signal corresponding to a first switch state, determining a second value for the received signal or for a variable derived from the received signal corresponding to a second switch state, and determining a third value for the received signal or for a variable derived from the received signal corresponding to a first switching point based on the first switch state and/or the second switch state and taking into consideration the at least one influence interval.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2019Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: Endress+Hauser SE+Co. KGInventors: Michèle Arnold, Gerd Bechtel, Franco Ferraro
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Publication number: 20230341327Abstract: A sensor apparatus for determining and/or monitoring a process variable of a medium in a containment includes: a crystal body including at least one defect; a magnetic field system for producing a magnetic field in the region of the crystal body and in the region of the medium within the containment, wherein the crystal body and the magnetic field system are arrangeable from the outside at a wall of the containment; a detection unit for detecting a magnetic field-dependent, fluorescent signal from the crystal body, wherein the detection unit has an excitation unit for optical exciting of the defect and a detector for detecting the fluorescent signal; and an evaluation unit for ascertaining at least one piece of information concerning the process variable based on the fluorescent signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2021Publication date: October 26, 2023Inventors: Mohammad Sadegh Ebrahimi, Gerd Bechtel, Raphael Kuhnen, Tobias Brengartner, Dietmar Frühauf, Anh Tuan Tham
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Publication number: 20230236102Abstract: A device for determining and/or monitoring a process variable of a medium comprises a sensor unit with a mechanically vibrating fork having a first and a second vibrating element and having a first piezoelectric element arranged in the first vibrating element. An electronic unit of the device is designed to excite mechanical vibrations in the mechanically vibratable unit, receive the mechanical vibrations of the vibratable unit and convert same into a first reception signal, generate the excitation signal on the basis of the first reception signal such that there is a specifiable phase shift between the excitation signal and the first reception signal, and ascertain the process variable using the first reception signal. The electronic unit has an adjustable impedance element connected in series to the first piezoelectric element.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2021Publication date: July 27, 2023Inventors: Tobias Brengartner, Gerd Bechtel
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Patent number: 11605918Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a protection device for a component of a releasable plug-in connection between a plug and a socket, which is arranged on or in a housing of an electronics unit of a field device. The protection device includes a first half shell and a second half shell at least partially complementary to the first half shell, wherein the two half shells are embodied as to define an internal volume when assembled and at least partially surround at least the plug, at least a first passageway for passage of the plug, or the plug and a cable secured to the plug, into the internal volume of the protection device, at least one securement unit for releasably securing the protection device to the housing, and at least one assembling unit for releasably assembling the two half shells with one another.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2018Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: Endress+Hauser SE+Co. KGInventors: Jeannette Liniger, Robert Schmidt, Franco Ferraro, Gerd Bechtel, Willy Huwyler
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Patent number: 11326925Abstract: Disclosed is a probe unit for a capacitive and/or conductive apparatus for determining and/or monitoring of at least one process variable of a medium in a containment, comprising a rod-shaped probe body, which is embodied in the form of a hollow body, especially with a cylindrical wall, and which has an internal volume, at least one ring-shaped electrode placeable, especially releasably, around the wall of the probe body, and at least one securement unit, which is embodied to secure the at least one electrode, especially releasably, at a predeterminable position on the probe body. Further disclosed is an apparatus for capacitive and/or conductive determining and/or monitoring of at least one process variable of a medium in a containment and having a probe unit of the present disclosure.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2018Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: ENDRESS+HAUSER SE+CO. KGInventors: Jeannette Liniger, Robert Schmidt, Franco Ferraro, Gerd Bechtel, Willy Huwyler
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Patent number: 11320459Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a measuring system including: an automation field device embodied for determining and/or monitoring a process variable of a medium; a connection unit, which includes a connection plug, which is electrically connected with the field device, and a cable, which is connected to the connection plug with a cable connection and which serves for supplying the field device with electrical energy and/or for transmitting information between the field device and a superordinated unit; and a protective cover, which surrounds the connection unit and the field device connected with the connection unit in a protection section, wherein by means of the protective cover the impact resistance of the measuring system in the protection section is increased.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2018Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: ENDRESS+HAUSER SE+CO. KGInventors: Gerd Bechtel, Franco Ferraro, Robert Schmidt, Armin Wernet
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Publication number: 20210270658Abstract: Disclosed is a method for parametering an apparatus for determining and/or monitoring a predeterminable fill level, wherein the apparatus includes a sensor unit and an electronics. The method includes determining an influence interval for a received signal received by the sensor unit as a function of an environmental parameter, determining a first value for the received signal or for a variable derived from the received signal corresponding to a first switch state, determining a second value for the received signal or for a variable derived from the received signal corresponding to a second switch state, and determining a third value for the received signal or for a variable derived from the received signal corresponding to a first switching point based on the first switch state and/or the second switch state and taking into consideration the at least one influence interval.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2019Publication date: September 2, 2021Inventors: Michèle Arnold, Gerd Bechtel, Franco Ferraro
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Publication number: 20210123785Abstract: Disclosed is a probe unit for a capacitive and/or conductive apparatus for determining and/or monitoring of at least one process variable of a medium in a containment, comprising a rod-shaped probe body, which is embodied in the form of a hollow body, especially with a cylindrical wall, and which has an internal volume, at least one ring-shaped electrode placeable, especially releasably, around the wall of the probe body, and at least one securement unit, which is embodied to secure the at least one electrode, especially releasably, at a predeterminable position on the probe body. Further disclosed is an apparatus for capacitive and/or conductive determining and/or monitoring of at least one process variable of a medium in a containment and having a probe unit of the present disclosure.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2018Publication date: April 29, 2021Inventors: Jeannette Liniger, Robert Schmidt, Franco Ferraro, Gerd Bechtel, Willy Huwyler
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Publication number: 20210066852Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a protection device for a component of a releasable plug-in connection between a plug and a socket, which is arranged on or in a housing of an electronics unit of a field device. The protection device includes a first half shell and a second half shell at least partially complementary to the first half shell, wherein the two half shells are embodied as to define an internal volume when assembled and at least partially surround at least the plug, at least a first passageway for passage of the plug, or the plug and a cable secured to the plug, into the internal volume of the protection device, at least one securement unit for releasably securing the protection device to the housing, and at least one assembling unit for releasably assembling the two half shells with one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2018Publication date: March 4, 2021Inventors: Jeannette Liniger, Robert Schmidt, Franco Ferraro, Gerd Bechtel, Willy Huwyler
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Patent number: 10895488Abstract: Apparatus for capacitive determining and/or monitoring of at least one process variable of a medium in a container, comprising at least one sensor unit with at least one sensor electrode, a housing and an electronics unit, wherein the electronics unit is embodied to supply the sensor unit with a high-frequency exciter signal, to receive a response signal from the sensor unit, and to provide at least from the response signal information concerning the fill level of medium in the container. The apparatus includes, furthermore, a coupling element, which is arranged and embodied in such a manner at least at times to establish a conductive connection between at least one portion of the housing and at least one component of the electronics unit and at least at times to effect a capacitive coupling between the two components.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2017Date of Patent: January 19, 2021Assignee: Endress+Hauser SE+Co. KGInventors: Armin Wernet, Gerd Bechtel, Kaj Uppenkamp
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Publication number: 20200400717Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a measuring system including: an automation field device embodied for determining and/or monitoring a process variable of a medium; a connection unit, which includes a connection plug, which is electrically connected with the field device, and a cable, which is connected to the connection plug with a cable connection and which serves for supplying the field device with electrical energy and/or for transmitting information between the field device and a superordinated unit; and a protective cover, which surrounds the connection unit and the field device connected with the connection unit in a protection section, wherein by means of the protective cover the impact resistance of the measuring system in the protection section is increased.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2018Publication date: December 24, 2020Inventors: Gerd Bechtel, Franco Ferraro, Robert Schmidt, Armin Wernet
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Patent number: 10439337Abstract: In a plug connector for connecting a field device of automation technology to an energy supply and/or to an evaluation unit, the plug connector includes a connection plug (M12) for the field device, wherein the connection plug (M12) is composed, at least partially, of a transparent material, wherein at least four display elements (gn ye, ye, rd) are arranged in the connection plug (M12). A first display element (gn) signals operational readiness of the field device; second and third display elements (ye, ye) signal two antivalent switch outputs (MIN, MAX) of the field device; and a fourth display element (rd) signals a disturbance or malfunction of field device. A circuit (NOR, XNOR) is provided to detect a disturbance or malfunction of field device based on the antivalent switch outputs (MIN, MAX) of the field device, and to activate fourth display element (rd) upon detection.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2014Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: ENDRESS+HAUSER SE+CO. KGInventors: Armin Wernet, Gerd Bechtel, Dirk Schrank
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Patent number: 10422680Abstract: A method and an apparatus for monitoring at least one media-specific property of a medium in automation technology with a measuring probe, wherein the at least one media-specific property is ascertained in a conductive operating mode and in a capacitive operating mode of the measuring probe. The conductive operating mode and the capacitive operating mode are operated alternately, wherein based on the measured values, which are ascertained in at least one of the two operating modes, it is checked, whether the at least one media-specific property to be monitored lies within a predetermined tolerance band, and wherein a report and/or a switching signal is generated, when the at least one media-specific property to be monitored lies outside of the predetermined tolerance band.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2014Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: ENDRESS+HAUSER SE+CO.KGInventors: Armin Wernet, Gerd Bechtel, Kaj Uppenkamp, Franco Ferraro
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Patent number: 10416020Abstract: Method for monitoring a predetermined fill level of a medium (3) in a container (2) with at least one measuring probe (1) and an electronics unit (7), wherein the measuring probe (1) is operated alternately in the conductive and in the capacitive operating modes, wherein the measuring probe (1) is supplied with an exciter signal, which is composed of two different, time alternatingly sequential, periodic signal components, wherein in a first time interval the first periodic signal component is generated for the conductive operating mode and in a second time interval the second periodic signal component is generated for the capacitive operating mode, wherein from the capacitive or conductive operating mode response signal obtained from the measuring probe (1) as a function of the current signal component, it is ascertained, whether the predetermined fill level has been reached, and wherein a report is generated upon the exceeding or subceeding of this fill level.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2015Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: ENDRESS+HAUSER SE+CO.KGInventors: Armin Wernet, Gerd Bechtel, Kaj Uppenkamp
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Patent number: 10281312Abstract: A method and an apparatus for monitoring a set fill level of a medium in a container using a fill level measuring probe that is designed to operate as a conductive fill level measuring probe in a conductive operating mode and as a capacitive fill level measuring probe in a capacitive operating mode, with a control/evaluation/output unit that is designed to alternately trigger conductive operating mode and capacitive operating mode, and with a control/evaluation/output unit that determines whether the set fill level of the medium in the container has been reached on the basis of the measured values from the two operating modes, and which generates a message when the set fill level is exceeded and/or undershot.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2014Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: ENDRESS+HAUSER SE+CO.KGInventors: Armin Wernet, Gerd Bechtel, Kaj Uppenkamp, Franco Ferraro
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Publication number: 20190078925Abstract: Apparatus for capacitive determining and/or monitoring of at least one process variable of a medium in a container, comprising at least one sensor unit with at least one sensor electrode, a housing and an electronics unit, wherein the electronics unit is embodied to supply the sensor unit with a high-frequency exciter signal, to receive a response signal from the sensor unit, and to provide at least from the response signal information concerning the fill level of medium in the container. The apparatus includes, furthermore, a coupling element, which is arranged and embodied in such a manner at least at times to establish a conductive connection between at least one portion of the housing and at least one component of the electronics unit and at least at times to effect a capacitive coupling between the two components.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2017Publication date: March 14, 2019Inventors: Armin Wernet, Gerd Bechtel, Kaj Uppenkamp