Patents by Inventor Harald Merkel

Harald Merkel 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: 11289816
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a horn antenna or waveguide system comprising a corrugated horn or waveguide, wherein the corrugation takes the form of a helical spiral along the inner surface of the horn or waveguide. The present disclosure further relates to radar antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignees: TOYOTA MOTOR EUROPE, TEADE AB
    Inventors: Gabriel Othmezouri, Harald Merkel
  • Patent number: 11233333
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a tunable waveguide system comprising a waveguide configured to guide radio waves in at least two dimensions, and an electronically tunable metamaterial configured to tune the radio waves by electronically changing its dielectric and/or conductive characteristics. The present disclosure further relates to a radar antenna system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignees: TOYOTA MOTOR EUROPE, TEADE AB
    Inventors: Gabriel Othmezouri, Harald Merkel
  • Patent number: 11218985
    Abstract: A node transmits/receives signals over first and second communication channels having non-equal propagation speeds. When node identifies reset signal received over first communication channel, it adjusts internal clock, transmits acknowledgement signal and initiates acknowledgement process. When reset signal not identified, node transmits reset signal over first communication channel and receives response signal from one node. If response signal is acknowledgement signal, acknowledgement process is initiated. If response signal is non-acknowledgement signal, internal clock is adjusted and acknowledgement process is initiated. In acknowledgement process, node determines distance to other nodes by measuring travelling time for signal over second communication channel exchanges distance information with other nodes, and fine tunes internal clock of each node when transmitting over first communication channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Teade OÜ
    Inventor: Harald Merkel
  • Patent number: 11218034
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of aligning a set of objects, the method comprising the steps of: providing each object with at least one resonant circuit, the resonant circuits having at least one resonance frequency, and aligning the objects until a field coupling between the resonant circuits reaches a predetermined value. The disclosure further relates to an electronic alignment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignees: TOYOTA MOTOR EUROPE, TEADE AB
    Inventors: Gabriel Othmezouri, Harald Merkel
  • Patent number: 11189907
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electronic circuit having a three-dimensional design by comprising a set of two-dimensional electronic circuits, wherein the two-dimensional electronic circuits are coupled with each other by radiation. The disclosure further relates to a radar antenna system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignees: TOYOTA MOTOR EUROPE, TEADE AB
    Inventors: Gabriel Othmezouri, Harald Merkel
  • Patent number: 11069980
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a waveguide system comprising a plurality of stacked layers. The system further comprises a waveguide in a direction across the layers by providing each layer with a predetermined metal pattern. The disclosure further relates to a method for forming a waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignees: TOYOTA MOTOR EUROPE, TEADE AB
    Inventors: Gabriel Othmezouri, Harald Merkel
  • Patent number: 11024934
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a three-dimensional dielectric structure comprising at least one input and at least one output configured to transmit electromagnetic waves of at least one predetermined wavelength, a metamaterial between the at least one input and the at least one output comprising a substrate and objects with a predetermined dielectric characteristic different to the dielectric characteristic of the substrate, the objects being distributed in the substrate according to a spatially varying distribution function that depends on the wavelength. The disclosure further relates to a method of forming a three-dimensional dielectric structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignees: TOYOTA MOTOR EUROPE, TEADE AB
    Inventors: Gabriel Othmezouri, Harald Merkel
  • Publication number: 20200396707
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a node for use in a sensor network, e.g. for use in radar systems, using the antenna elements in each separate node as antenna elements in an array antenna configuration. The node transmits and receives signals over a first and a second communication channel having non-equal speeds of propagation. When the node identifies that a reset signal has been received over the first communication channel (S10), it adjusts the internal clock (S11), transmits an acknowledgement signal (S12) and initiates an acknowledgement process (S17). When the reset signal has not been identified, the node transmits the reset signal over the first communication channel (S13) and receives a response signal from one node (S14). If the response signal is an acknowledgement signal, an acknowledgement process is initiated (S17), or if the response signal is a non-acknowledgement signal, the internal clock is adjusted (S16) and an acknowledgement process is initiated (S17).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Applicant: Teade OÜ
    Inventor: Harald MERKEL
  • Publication number: 20200014091
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electronic circuit having a three-dimensional design by comprising a set of two-dimensional electronic circuits, wherein the two-dimensional electronic circuits are coupled with each other by radiation. The disclosure further relates to a radar antenna system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Applicants: TOYOTA MOTOR EUROPE, TEADE AB
    Inventors: Gabriel OTHMEZOURI, Harald MERKEL
  • Publication number: 20200014253
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of aligning a set of objects, the method comprising the steps of: providing each object with at least one resonant circuit, the resonant circuits having at least one resonance frequency, and aligning the objects until a field coupling between the resonant circuits reaches a predetermined value. The disclosure further relates to an electronic alignment system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Applicants: TOYOTA MOTOR EUROPE, TEADE AB
    Inventors: Gabriel OTHMEZOURI, Harald MERKEL
  • Publication number: 20200014114
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a waveguide system comprising a plurality of stacked layers. The system further comprises a waveguide in a direction across the layers by providing each layer with a predetermined metal pattern. The disclosure further relates to a method for forming a waveguide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Applicants: TOYOTA MOTOR EUROPE, TEADE AB
    Inventors: Gabriel OTHMEZOURI, Harald MERKEL
  • Publication number: 20200006860
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a tunable waveguide system comprising a waveguide configured to guide radio waves in at least two dimensions, and an electronically tunable metamaterial configured to tune the radio waves by electronically changing its dielectric and/or conductive characteristics. The present disclosure further relates to a radar antenna system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Applicants: TOYOTA MOTOR EUROPE, TEADE AB
    Inventors: Gabriel OTHMEZOURI, Harald MERKEL
  • Publication number: 20190393611
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a horn antenna or waveguide system comprising a corrugated horn or waveguide, wherein the corrugation takes the form of a helical spiral along the inner surface of the horn or waveguide. The present disclosure further relates to radar antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicants: TOYOTA MOTOR EUROPE, TEADE AB
    Inventors: Gabriel OTHMEZOURI, Harald MERKEL
  • Publication number: 20190379096
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a three-dimensional dielectric structure comprising at least one input and at least one output configured to transmit electromagnetic waves of at least one predetermined wavelength, a metamaterial between the at least one input and the at least one output comprising a substrate and objects with a predetermined dielectric characteristic different to the dielectric characteristic of the substrate, the objects being distributed in the substrate according to a spatially varying distribution function that depends on the wavelength. The disclosure further relates to a method of forming a three-dimensional dielectric structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Applicants: TOYOTA MOTOR EUROPE, TEADE AB
    Inventors: Gabriel OTHMEZOURI, Harald MERKEL
  • Patent number: 10124684
    Abstract: An arrangement, system and method are described which enhance efficiency, reduce the stray field of wireless power transfer, and make use of special coil geometries for transmitter and receiver. The coil geometry is an approximation of a multipole current. Such currents have a faster decaying electromagnetic field compared to traditional coils. This allows higher power densities to be transferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Inventors: Harald Merkel, Anders Karlstrom
  • Publication number: 20160243949
    Abstract: An arrangement, system and method are described which enhance efficiency, reduce the stray field of wireless power transfer, and make use of special coil geometries for transmitter and receiver. The coil geometry is an approximation of a multipole current. Such currents have a faster decaying electromagnetic field compared to traditional coils. This allows higher power densities to be transferred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Harald MERKEL, Anders KARLSTRÖM
  • Patent number: 9054552
    Abstract: A system for power distribution and communication over a two-wire network comprises a control unit (dedicated or distributed) configured to receive power from the two-wire network and provided with a transceiver circuitry connected to the two-wire network, a power converter unit having a power converter which converts incoming voltage to a DC-voltage of less than 50 V and feeds the DC-voltage to the two-wire network, and a power fuse unit with a power fuse identity connected between the power converter and the two-wire network. The power fuse unit forwards the DC-voltage to the two-wire network and comprises a transceiver circuitry connected to the two-wire network and a fuse. The system monitors an amount of power consumed in the network and activates a power switch in the power fuse unit when the amount of power consumed in the two-wire network exceeds predetermined limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Zoliex AB
    Inventors: Harald Merkel, Per Herolf, Stephan Mangold
  • Publication number: 20140111302
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling communication in a network comprising a plurality of interconnected network nodes, each network node comprises a processor and a memory in which a unique identity is stored; a sensor having at least two states; and an actuator performing functions in response to received signals. The method forming a relationship between a primary network node to which a first sensor is connected and at least one secondary network node to which one or more actuators are connected to establish a link there between. The primary and secondary network nodes are one of the plurality of interconnected network nodes; storing information of the link in the memory of each secondary network node; and controlling the one or more actuators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: ZOLIEX AB
    Inventors: Harald Merkel, Per Herolf, Stephan Mangold
  • Publication number: 20120283891
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for power distribution and communication over a two-wire network 21; 51. The system 20; 30; 50; 70 comprises: a control unit 22; CU (dedicated or distributed) configured to receive power from said two-wire network and provided with a transceiver circuitry connected to the two-wire network, a power converter unit 23; 31; 71 having a power converter 24 converts incoming voltage to a DC-voltage of less than 50 V and feeds the DC-voltage to the two-wire network, and a power fuse unit 25; 72 with a power fuse identity connected between the power converter 24 and the two-wire network 21; 51. The power fuse unit forwards the DC-voltage to the two-wire network and comprises: a transceiver circuitry connected to the two-wire network, and a fuse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: Harald Merkel, Per Herolf, Stephan Mangold
  • Patent number: 7679375
    Abstract: A system for detecting a change in material composition in a product including a microwave transmitter emitting a microwave signal at a predetermined microwave frequency composition, and an ultrasonic transmitter emitting an ultrasound signal at a predetermined ultrasound frequency composition into at least a part of the product to create a density displacement within the product. The system further includes a receiver to receive a microwave signal and/or an ultrasonic signal passed through at least apart of the product, device to measure the attenuation and/or runtime between each emitted signal and each received signal, respectively, under the influence of the created density displacement, and a comparator to compare the measured attenuation and/or runtime with a previously determined attenuation and/or runtime to determine a change in material composition to detect a possible change in material composition in a product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Food Radar System in Sweden AB
    Inventor: Harald Merkel