Patents by Inventor Heinz Pofahl

Heinz Pofahl 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: 9454227
    Abstract: A haptic control device, particularly for motor vehicles, with a touchpad including at least one contact-sensitive touch. A control signal can be triggered upon contact with the touch region, and the touchpad can be moveably driven by a drive in the plane of the touchpad in a certain rhythm. The touchpad is connected to a stationary carrier by one or more flexible connecting elements. The flexible connecting element or elements are spring arms, one end of which is connected to the carrier and the other end of which is connected to the touchpad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Dietz, Heinz Pofahl
  • Patent number: 8957867
    Abstract: A haptic operating device particularly for motor vehicles, having a touch panel having at least one touch-sensitive area. When the area is touched, a switching signal can be triggered and the touch panel can be activated by a motion drive to be able to move at a certain rhythm in the plane of the touch panel. The touch panel is connected to a fixed support by one or more flexible connecting elements. The support and the touch panel form two housing parts of a closed housing, in which at least the display device or the display plane thereof is arranged, and are connected to each other by a sealing device so as to be able to move relative to each other in the plane of the touch panel or in a plane parallel to the touch panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Dietz, Werner Lange, Heinz Pofahl, Bruno Santarossa, Josef Werner, Klaus Wittwer
  • Publication number: 20110291975
    Abstract: A haptic operating device particularly for motor vehicles, having a touch panel having at least one touch-sensitive area. When the area is touched, a switching signal can be triggered and the touch panel can be activated by a motion drive to be able to move at a certain rhythm in the plane of the touch panel. The touch panel is connected to a fixed support by one or more flexible connecting elements. The support and the touch panel form two housing parts of a closed housing, in which at least the display device or the display plane thereof is arranged, and are connected to each other by a sealing device so as to be able to move relative to each other in the plane of the touch panel or in a plane parallel to the touch panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: Armin Dietz, Werner Lange, Heinz Pofahl, Bruno Santarossa, Josef Werner, Klaus Wittwer
  • Publication number: 20110221703
    Abstract: A haptic control device, particularly for motor vehicles, with a touchpad including at least one contact-sensitive touch. A control signal can be triggered upon contact with the touch region, and the touchpad can be moveably driven by a drive in the plane of the touchpad in a certain rhythm. The touchpad is connected to a stationary carrier by one or more flexible connecting elements. The flexible connecting element or elements are spring arms, one end of which is connected to the carrier and the other end of which is connected to the touchpad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Dietz, Heinz Pofahl