Patents by Inventor Gerhard Wild

Gerhard Wild 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: 8188756
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the electrical resistance of an electrical supply lead to sensor elements and concerns a sensor arrangement. The sensor elements are interconnected to form a sensor arrangement, and the electrical total resistance of the supply lead to the sensor elements is determined by effecting a measurement involving an electrical component. The electrical total resistance of the supply lead to the sensor elements is compared to a reference value, whereby the reference value is the value of the electrical total resistance of a reference component of the circuit arrangement and of its electrical leads. The reference value is also determined by effecting a measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Justin Cresswell, Arnulf Pietsch, Gerhard Wild
  • Patent number: 7782218
    Abstract: A device and a method for detecting seat occupancy, with the device including first and second sensor elements associated with a respective seat surface. First and second weight-dependent sensor signals are electrically obtainable from the sensor elements. The seat occupancy is determined by taking either the first or the second sensor signals in dependence on an ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Krempl, Gerhard Wild, Jürgen Zacherl
  • Publication number: 20090212791
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the electrical resistance of an electrical supply lead to sensor elements and concerns a sensor arrangement. The sensor elements are interconnected to form a sensor arrangement, and the electrical total resistance of the supply lead to the sensor elements is determined by effecting a measurement involving an electrical component. The electrical total resistance of the supply lead to the sensor elements is compared to a reference value, whereby the reference value is the value of the electrical total resistance of a reference component of the circuit arrangement and of its electrical leads. The reference value is also determined by effecting a measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventors: Justin Cresswell, Arnulf Pietsch, Gerhard Wild
  • Patent number: 7516809
    Abstract: In an occupant detection or classification system for a motor vehicle, a sensor mat (2) measures the pressure or pressure distribution on a seating surface. A control unit (4) receives the signals from the sensor mat (2) representing an occupancy of the vehicle seat. The temperature of the foam core (1) underlying the seating surface is measured at a location other than in the center of the foam core and, specifically, at the control unit (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Erwin Hetzenecker, Michael Krempl, Gerhard Wild, Gerd Winkler
  • Publication number: 20090051607
    Abstract: At least one antenna is disposed and fixed in a vehicle seat. The at least one antenna is formed from a conductive textile or nonwoven formed separately from a seat cover of the vehicle seat. Preferably, the at least one antenna can be coupled to a transmitting or receiving unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: VDO AUTOMOTIVE AG
    Inventors: Stefan Ellinger, Manfred Geyer, Peter Karges, Gerhard Wild, Jurgen Zacherl
  • Publication number: 20080204263
    Abstract: A device and a method for detecting seat occupancy, with the device including first and second sensor elements associated with a respective seat surface. First and second weight-dependent sensor signals are electrically obtainable from the sensor elements. The seat occupancy is determined by taking either the first or the second sensor signals in dependence on an ambient temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: SIEMENS VDO AUTOMOTIVE AG
    Inventors: Michael Krempl, Gerhard Wild, Jurgen Zacherl
  • Patent number: 7391224
    Abstract: The invention relates to planar sensor arrangements, in particular seat mat sensors, for recognition of seat occupancy in a motor vehicle, comprising several pressure sensitive sensor elements, arranged in a planar distribution, the electrical properties of which are dependent on the local value of a measured parameter and having at least one non-rotationally symmetrical sensor element on an insulation-dependent fold line of the sensor arrangement, with a longest sectional line through the active surface of the sensor element arranged along the fold line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Gerhard Wild
  • Patent number: 7365549
    Abstract: A circuit configuration recognizes the occupancy of a seat and triggers a seat belt warning in a motor vehicle. Resistance elements are disposed in a separated and flat manner on a motor vehicle seat, in particular on a sensor seating mat, which alters the resistance values when a force is exerted thereon, for example, perpendicular to the surface of the vehicle seat, or by bending. The weight-sensitive resistance elements contain first resistance elements and additional resistance elements, and the resistance values thereof can be measured in respectively different measuring circuits without the measuring results for the first resistance elements influencing the measuring results for the additional resistance elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Karges, Michael Krempl, Hubert Melzl, Gerhard Wild
  • Publication number: 20070188181
    Abstract: A circuit configuration recognizes the occupancy of a seat and triggers a seatbelt warning in a motor vehicle. Resistance elements are disposed in a separated and flat manner on a motor vehicle seat, in particular on a sensor seating mat, which alters the resistance values when a force is exerted thereon, for example, perpendicular to the surface of the vehicle seat, or by bending. The weight-sensitive resistance elements contain first resistance elements and additional resistance elements, and the resistance values thereof can be measured in respectively different measuring circuits without the measuring results for the first resistance elements influencing the measuring results for the additional resistance elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Peter Karges, Michael Krempl, Hubert Melzl, Gerhard Wild
  • Patent number: 7126353
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a circuit arrangement for determining an electric measurement value for a resistance element (R22), preferably for determining an electric current that flows through said resistance element (R22), whereby the resistance element (R22) to be measured is interconnected to additional resistance elements within a resistance array (2) consisting of columns (CL1, CL2, CL3) and rows (R1, R2, R3) of resistance elements. According to the invention, the load of a basic load resistance element (R13), which is connected between the output of a measurement/supply unit (1) and the common ground terminal connection of the resistance array (2), is applied to the measurement voltage (MEAS). The measurement voltage (MEAS) is simultaneously connected to the input of an impedance transformer (OCL, OR), whose output is connected in a subsequent step to the resistance elements in the resistance array (2) that are not to be measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Arnulf Pietsch, Karlheinz Wamke, Gerhard Wild
  • Publication number: 20060144165
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a circuit arrangement for determining an electric measurement value for a resistance element (R22), preferably for determining an electric current that flows through said resistance element (R22), whereby the resistance element (R22) to be measured is interconnected to additional resistance elements within a resistance array (2) consisting of columns (CL1, CL2, CL3) and rows (R1, R2, R3) of resistance elements. According to the invention, the load of a basic load resistance element (R13), which is connected between the output of a measurement/supply unit (1) and the common ground terminal connection of the resistance array (2), is applied to the measurement voltage (MEAS). The measurement voltage (MEAS) is simultaneously connected to the input of an impedance transformer (OCL, OR), whose output is connected in a subsequent step to the resistance elements in the resistance array (2) that are not to be measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Inventors: Arnulf Pietsch, Karlheinz Wamke, Gerhard Wild
  • Publication number: 20060042852
    Abstract: In an occupant detection or classification system for a motor vehicle, a sensor mat (2) measures the pressure or pressure distribution on a seating surface. A control unit (4) receives the signals from the sensor mat (2) representing an occupancy of the vehicle seat. The temperature of the foam core (1) underlying the seating surface is measured at a location other than in the center of the foam core and, specifically, at the control unit (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Publication date: March 2, 2006
    Inventors: Erwin Hetzenecker, Michael Krempl, Gerhard Wild, Gerd Winkler
  • Publication number: 20050088274
    Abstract: The invention relates to planar sensor arrangements, in particular seat mat sensors, for recognition of seat occupancy in a motor vehicle, comprising several pressure sensitive sensor elements (A,S), arranged in a planar distribution, the electrical properties of which are each dependent on the local value of a measured parameter and with at least one non-rotationally symmetrical sensor element (A) on an installation-dependent fold line of the sensor arrangement, with a longest sectional line (12) through the active surface of the sensor element (A) arranged along the fold line (K).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Publication date: April 28, 2005
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Gerhard Wild
  • Patent number: 6657445
    Abstract: A sensor mat configuration includes a sensor mat having row lines, column lines, and a plurality of force-dependent resistors connected between the row lines and the column lines to form a matrix having rows and columns. The sensor mat configuration includes a printed circuit board having a plurality of fixed resistors. The first terminal of each one of the plurality of the fixed resistors is connected to a respective one of the column lines, and the second terminal of each one of the plurality of the fixed resistors are connected together, thereby forming an additional row of the matrix. The resistances of the plurality of the fixed resistors are known within a narrow tolerance range, which enables these resistors to be used in measurements for accurately determining the resistances of the force-dependent resistors of the sensor mat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Justin Cresswell, Arnulf Pietsch, Gerhard Wild
  • Publication number: 20030160621
    Abstract: A sensor mat configuration includes a sensor mat having row lines, column lines, and a plurality of force-dependent resistors connected between the row lines and the column lines to form a matrix having rows and columns. The sensor mat configuration includes a printed circuit board having a plurality of fixed resistors. The first terminal of each one of the plurality of the fixed resistors is connected to a respective one of the column lines, and the second terminal of each one of the plurality of the fixed resistors are connected together, thereby forming an additional row of the matrix. The resistances of the plurality of the fixed resistors are known within a narrow tolerance range, which enables these resistors to be used in measurements for accurately determining the resistances of the force-dependent resistors of the sensor mat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: Justin Cresswell, Arnulf Pietsch, Gerhard Wild
  • Patent number: 6522155
    Abstract: A sensor configuration for measuring the local distribution of a measured variable has a plurality of sensor elements which are disposed in a distributed fashion and interconnected in an array. An electric response of the sensor elements is a function of the local value of the measured variable. At least one of the sensor elements has a series circuit composed of a series element which is independent of the value of the measured variable and a measuring element which is dependent on the value of the measured variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Arnulf Pietsch, Gerhard Wild, Gerd Winkler
  • Publication number: 20020021136
    Abstract: A sensor configuration for measuring the local distribution of a measured variable has a plurality of sensor elements which are disposed in a distributed fashion and interconnected in an array. An electric response of the sensor elements is a function of the local value of the measured variable. At least one of the sensor elements has a series circuit composed of a series element which is independent of the value of the measured variable and a measuring element which is dependent on the value of the measured variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: Arnulf Pietsch, Gerhard Wild, Gerd Winkler
  • Patent number: 6160442
    Abstract: In a load-side filter of an n-phase converter circuit arrangement, the capacitors are arranged in at least two n-phase capacitor groups, one of which is hard-grounded and the other of which is grounded with a high impedance via a grounding resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AG
    Inventor: Gerhard Wild
  • Patent number: 4791621
    Abstract: A solar powered electric clock of the type configured as a traditional 400-day clock with a torsional pendulum includes a housing in which the clockworks, dial face and hands are disposed. The housing is supported over a base by means of vertical columns. Solar cells are mounted in a top surface of the base, along with a storage capacitor. No battery is required. A radio signal receiver mechanism for setting the time in response to external radio signals can be provided and mounted in the housing or base. A pendulum drive mechanism can be mounted in the housing or base. The clockworks is driven by a motor which can be mounted in the housing or base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: Junghans Uhren GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Wild, Edgar Haller
  • Patent number: 4314606
    Abstract: In an apparatus for a treatment of flowing media which causes heat exchange and mixing internal fittings are located within a housing, which internal fittings consist of tubes extending in the axial direction of the housing, each such tube containing a plurality of elbow-shaped tube portions connected by other tube portions, said tubes being arranged in parallel to one another with the connecting tube portions of adjacent tubes crossing one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1982
    Assignee: Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Walter Muller, Richard Gauer, Wilfried Walkenhorst, Gerhard Wild