Patents by Inventor Heinz Walter

Heinz Walter 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: 11949227
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transmitter for transmitting a process variable to a programmable logic controller. In a current mode a 4-20 milliamp current is fed into a burden and in a voltage mode 0-10 Volt signals are generated. The transmitter includes a process value input, a current stage, a voltage stage and a U/I output for the current or the voltage signal, and a U/I control input for switching between the two modes. The transmitter is configured to feed a current which is dependent on the voltage across the burden into the current stage via a resistor and thus to compensate for a current loss at the voltage stage which is dependent on the voltage across the burden.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: IFM Electronic GmbH
    Inventors: Heinz Walter, Dorin Antonovici
  • Patent number: 11340129
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating a capacitive pressure measurement device. In order to achieve an insensitivity to external signal sources, the disclosure proposes continuously varying the working frequency of the pressure measurement device so that a resonance formation with externally injected (interfering) frequencies is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: IFM ELECTRIC GMBH
    Inventors: Heinz Walter, Manfred Maurus, Peter Kimbel, Alexander Oppe
  • Publication number: 20220094156
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transmitter for transmitting a process variable to a programmable logic controller. In a current mode a 4-20 milliamp current is fed into a burden and in a voltage mode 0-10 Volt signals are generated. The transmitter includes a process value input, a current stage, a voltage stage and a U/I output for the current or the voltage signal, and a U/I control input for switching between the two modes. The transmitter is configured to feed a current which is dependent on the voltage across the burden into the current stage via a resistor and thus to compensate for a current loss at the voltage stage which is dependent on the voltage across the burden.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Applicant: IFM Electronic gmbH
    Inventors: Heinz Walter, Dorin Antonovici
  • Patent number: 11137306
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for monitoring the operation of a pressure measuring cell of a capacitive pressure sensor, wherein the pressure measuring cell comprises a pressure-dependent measuring capacitor and a pressure-dependent reference capacitor and the pressure measuring value is obtained as a measuring signal from the capacitance values of the measuring capacitor and the reference capacitor, wherein the measuring signal is supplied to an evaluation unit in the form of an alternating square-wave signal, the pulse height of the signal depending on quotients of the capacitance values of the reference capacitor and the measuring capacitor and the period of the signal being determined by the capacitance value of the measuring capacitor such that, in the nominal pressure range of the pressure sensor, there is a fixed correlation between the pulse height and the period, wherein the pairs of values of pulse height and period (h1, d1), . . .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: IFM ELECTRONIC GMBH
    Inventors: Heinz Walter, Manfred Maurus
  • Publication number: 20210199529
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for monitoring the operation of a pressure measuring cell of a capacitive pressure sensor, wherein the pressure measuring cell comprises a pressure-dependent measuring capacitor and a pressure-dependent reference capacitor and the pressure measuring value is obtained as a measuring signal from the capacitance values of the measuring capacitor and the reference capacitor, wherein the measuring signal is supplied to an evaluation unit in the form of an alternating square-wave signal, the pulse height of the signal depending on quotients of the capacitance values of the reference capacitor and the measuring capacitor and the period of the signal being determined by the capacitance value of the measuring capacitor such that, in the nominal pressure range of the pressure sensor, there is a fixed correlation between the pulse height and the period, wherein the pairs of values of pulse height and period (h1, d1), . . .
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Heinz WALTER, Manfred MAURUS
  • Publication number: 20210010892
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating a capacitive pressure measurement device. In order to achieve an insensitivity to external signal sources, the disclosure proposes continuously varying the working frequency of the pressure measurement device so that a resonance formation with externally injected (interfering) frequencies is avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Heinz WALTER, Manfred MAURUS, Peter KIMBEL, Alexander OPPE
  • Patent number: 10211628
    Abstract: A protective circuit for protecting an output stage in the event of faulty contacting of the electrical connections, wherein the output stage includes a driver unit and has an analog or digital signal output is provided. Accordingly, in order to protect the output stage from a faulty connection in a simple and economical manner, the protective circuit comprises a first transistor circuit, which is connected in series between the output stage and the signal output, and a second transistor circuit, which is connected in series between the negative supply connection and the signal output. The second transistor circuit is connected to the base of the first transistor circuit in order to influence the first transistor circuit in such a way that the first transistor circuit becomes highly resistive in the event of a fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: IFM ELECTRONICS GMBH
    Inventor: Heinz Walter
  • Patent number: 9316557
    Abstract: A method for monitoring the operation of a pressure measuring cell (10) of a capacitive pressure sensor (1), wherein the pressure measuring cell (10) has a measuring capacitor (CM) and a reference capacitor (CR) and the pressure measuring value (p) is obtained from the capacity values of the measuring capacitor (CM) and the reference capacitor (CR), characterized in that a control pressure measuring value (p?) is obtained with an auxiliary capacitor (CZ) arranged outside the pressure measuring cell (10) and the operability of the pressure measuring cell (10) is inferred by comparing the pressure measuring value (p) to the control pressure measuring value (p?) is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: IFM ELECTRONIC GMBH
    Inventor: Heinz Walter
  • Publication number: 20160049785
    Abstract: A protective circuit for protecting an output stage in the event of faulty contacting of the electrical connections, wherein the output stage includes a driver unit and has an analog or digital signal output is provided. Accordingly, in order to protect the output stage from a faulty connection in a simple and economical manner, the protective circuit comprises a first transistor circuit, which is connected in series between the output stage and the signal output, and a second transistor circuit, which is connected in series between the negative supply connection and the signal output. The second transistor circuit is connected to the base of the first transistor circuit in order to influence the first transistor circuit in such a way that the first transistor circuit becomes highly resistive in the event of a fault.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventor: Heinz Walter
  • Publication number: 20130269412
    Abstract: A method for monitoring the operation of a pressure measuring cell (10) of a capacitive pressure sensor (1), wherein the pressure measuring cell (10) has a measuring capacitor (CM) and a reference capacitor (CR) and the pressure measuring value (p) is obtained from the capacity values of the measuring capacitor (CM) and the reference capacitor (CR), characterized in that a control pressure measuring value (p?) is obtained with an auxiliary capacitor (CZ) arranged outside the pressure measuring cell (10) and the operability of the pressure measuring cell (10) is inferred by comparing the pressure measuring value (p) to the control pressure measuring value (p?) is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: IFM ELECTRONIC GMBH
    Inventor: Heinz Walter
  • Patent number: 8552383
    Abstract: Methods for in-vitro analysis of biological cells and/or microorganisms to determine characteristics such as: degree of differentiation, cell type, donor individuals, culture conditions, purity, lack of natural characteristic, or additional characteristics in comparison to natural characteristics. The methods include the steps of: (a) projecting infrared radiation on a sample; (b) recording spectral characteristics of the sample; (c) deriving a Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FT-IR) from the collected spectral characteristics; (d) generating a derivative transformation of the FT-IR spectrum; (e) comparing said derivative transformation with a derivative of a reference FT-IR spectrum; (f) identifying deviations of said derivative from said reference derivative; and (g) providing an analysis of said characteristics based on the presence of said deviations. In addition, the invention relates to an apparatus for carrying out the disclosed methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Tetec Tissue Engineering Technologies AG
    Inventors: Heinz Walter Joseph, Nicolas Lembert
  • Publication number: 20130118264
    Abstract: A pressure measuring cell for detecting the pressure prevailing in an adjoining medium, comprising an elastic membrane on which a first electromechanical transducer is arranged, which supplies a first pressure-dependent output signal is provided. According to the invention, a second electromechanical transducer, which supplies a second pressure-dependent output signal, is arranged on the membrane wherein the two transducers are arranged such that with an elastically reversible deformation of the membrane the output signals have a first pressure characteristic, and after an irreversible deformation of the membrane due to an increased pressure load same have a significantly different second pressure characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: IFM ELECTRONIC GMBH
    Inventors: Heinz Walter, Oliver Blankenhorn, Jochen Forster
  • Patent number: 8195402
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the in vitro determination and typification of well-differentiated or fully differentiated mammalian cells is disclosed. The method comprises placing a cell sample on a sampling device, irradiating the cells with infrared light, preparing an FT-IR spectrum from the absorption spectrum, calculating derivatives of the FT-IR spectrum and comparing the derivatives to reference FT-IR spectra for known cell types. The apparatus comprises an infrared source and measuring apparatus capable of recording an absorption spectrum, and software for measurement, evaluation, documentation, and derivation of the absorption spectra. Fourier transformation he method is particularly useful for typing cells from tissue biopsies in preparation for cell transplantation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: TETEC Tissue Engineering Technologies AG
    Inventor: Heinz Walter Joseph
  • Patent number: 8182214
    Abstract: A pond pump comprising an impeller (2) which rotates about an axis of rotation (X) within a pump housing (1). The pump housing (1) comprises a suction inlet (11) that is coaxial to the impeller (2), a pressure outlet (14) for the water that is to be conducted, the pressure outlet (14) being disposed in a radial to tangential direction relative to the impeller (2), and a counterflow plate (12) between the suction inlet (11) and the pressure outlet (14). The impeller (2) is fitted with a radially disposed disk (22) with vanes (21) that are arranged on one side thereof. The counterflow plate (12) is on the impeller side encompassing the vanes (21) while channels (23) that are formed between the vanes (21) have a cross-section which tapers from the inner radial face to the outer face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Messner GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Olaf Dickertmann, Heinz-Walter Koester
  • Publication number: 20110062338
    Abstract: Methods for in-vitro analysis of biological cells and/or microorganisms to determine characteristics such as: degree of differentiation, cell type, donor individuals, culture conditions, purity, lack of natural characteristic, or additional characteristics in comparison to natural characteristics. The methods include the steps of: (a) projecting infrared radiation on a sample; (b) recording spectral characteristics of the sample; (c) deriving a Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FT-IR) from the collected spectral characteristics; (d) generating a derivative transformation of the FT-IR spectrum; (e) comparing said derivative transformation with a derivative of a reference FT-IR spectrum; (f) identifying deviations of said derivative from said reference derivative; and (g) providing an analysis of said characteristics based on the presence of said deviations. In addition, the invention relates to an apparatus for carrying out the disclosed methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventor: Heinz Walter Joseph
  • Patent number: 7852141
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement is described for selectively generating an analog current output value or an analog voltage output value as a function of an analog input value. Optionally, the analog current output value or the analog voltage output value may also be a function of an input base value or a signed input correction value. The circuit arrangement includes a current control unit, a voltage control unit, a current output source is triggered by the current control unit, and a voltage output source triggered by the voltage control unit. The current output source and voltage output source of the circuit arrangement may be triggered in parallel and are connected in series on the output side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: i f m electronic GmbH
    Inventor: Heinz Walter
  • Patent number: 7735372
    Abstract: An electronic pressure switch has only two terminals, a resistance measuring bridge pickup, an amplifier unit downstream of the resistance measuring bridge, a comparator connected to the amplifier unit and a switching stage downstream of the comparator achieves a lower residual current in the blocked state and a lower voltage drop in the switched state. The resistance measuring bridge has a high internal resistance and the amplifier unit supplies both an analog measurement signal corresponding to the analog measured value of the resistance measuring bridge and a threshold value to the comparator at low resistance. A high-resistance balancing network is assigned to the resistor network, and an in-phase regulator on the input side limits and controls the supply voltage of the resistance measuring bridge, the amplifier unit, the comparator and the balancing network and the switching stage is made as a shunt controller triggered by the output of the comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: i f m electronic GmbH
    Inventor: Heinz Walter
  • Publication number: 20090304501
    Abstract: A pond pump comprising an impeller (2) which rotates about an axis of rotation (X) within a pump housing (1). The pump housing (1) comprises a suction inlet (11) that is coaxial to the impeller (2), a pressure outlet (14) for the water that is to be conducted, the pressure outlet (14) being disposed in a radial to tangential direction relative to the impeller (2), and a counterflow plate (12) between the suction inlet (11) and the pressure outlet (14). The impeller (2) is fitted with a radially disposed disk (22) with vanes (21) that are arranged on one side thereof. The counterflow plate (12) is on the impeller side encompassing the vanes (21) while channels (23) that are formed between the vanes (21) have a cross-section which tapers from the inner radial face to the outer face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Olaf Dickertmann, Heinz-Walter Koester
  • Patent number: 7496458
    Abstract: An electrical transducer has a sensor outputting a value corresponding to the quantity to be measured, an analog end stage connected downstream of the sensor, a processor circuit, and an analog measurement signal transmission path. The end stage converts the sensor output signal into an impressed output current related to the magnitude of the quantity measured, the electronic transducer being controlled with the processor circuit. The electrical transducer can be scaled by the user, has low inherent power consumption and ensures high response speed because the processor circuit in normal operation is shifted temporarily into a sleep mode, in the analog measurement signal transmission path an analog scaling unit is inserted, the output signal of the sensor and at least one analog setting value are supplied to the analog scaling unit, and the output signal of the analog scaling unit is supplied to the analog end stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: i f m electronic GmbH
    Inventors: Heinz Walter, Alfred Wagner
  • Patent number: 7291250
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vacuum distillation plant and a process for concentrating organic aqueous solutions, especially spissum extracts, using said plant. The vacuum distillation plant of the invention comprises a flash evaporator, a means for vapor concentration and a multi-stage condenser positioned down-stream of said means for vapor concentration, means for recycling at least part of the condensate from a condensation stage into the bottoms product being provided. In addition, the present invention relates to a process for concentrating organic aqueous solutions such as concentrated extracts using said plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Bionorica AG
    Inventors: Michael A. Popp, Heinz Walter Joseph, Michael R. Rannow