Patents by Inventor Holger Erkens

Holger Erkens 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: 10001540
    Abstract: Provided is a method for adapting the sensitivity of a sensor system, in particular of a capacitive sensor system, which provides a sensor signal, wherein a first lower threshold value is adapted, if the sensor signal fulfills a first switching threshold criterion, a first upper threshold value is adapted, if the sensor signal fulfills a second switching threshold criterion, and at least one switching threshold value is adapted such that the switching threshold value has a predetermined first distance from the first upper threshold value and/or a predetermined second distance from the first lower threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Holger Erkens, Claus Kaltner, Holger Steffens
  • Patent number: 9989569
    Abstract: An electrode configuration for a capacitive sensor device has a transmitting electrode and a receiving electrode, wherein the transmitting electrode can be brought into a capacitive coupling with the receiving electrode, wherein the electrode configuration has at least one first and second sensor area, wherein both of the electrode surfaces of the transmitting electrode and of the receiving electrode in the first sensor area are small compared to the electrode surfaces of the transmitting electrode and of the receiving electrode in the second sensor area. A capacitive sensor device for the detection of an approximation may have such an electrode configuration. An electrical device, particularly an electrical hand-held device, may have at least one such capacitive sensor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY GERMANY GMBH
    Inventor: Holger Erkens
  • Patent number: 9442143
    Abstract: A capacitive proximity sensor has a first sensor electrode and a second sensor electrode, a signal generator for providing a first and a second electric alternating signal, a first load element which comprises a first and a second electric load, in which the first alternating signal by the first load can be fed to the first sensor electrode and the second alternating signal by the second load to the second sensor electrode, and wherein the electric loads each together with the capacitive load to be measured at the respective sensor electrode form a lowpass filter, and a signal processing device, which is coupled with the first sensor electrode and with the second sensor electrode, and which is adapted to form a first measurement value from the push-pull portion of a first electric parameter tapped at the first sensor electrode and a second electric parameter tapped at the second sensor electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY GERMANY GMBH
    Inventor: Holger Erkens
  • Patent number: 9322861
    Abstract: A method for the detection of a gripping of a hand-held device with one hand, using a capacitive sensor device, uses at least one transmitting electrode, at least one compensating electrode and at least one receiving electrode. An electrical signal is tapped at the receiving electrode and the sensor device can be operated in a first operating mode and in a second operating mode. In the first operating mode, a first alternating electrical signal is applied to the transmitting electrode and a second alternating electrical signal is applied to the compensating electrode. In the second operating mode, the second alternating signal is only applied to the compensating electrode. Furthermore, a sensor device can be provided which is configured to perform the method as described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Burger, Andreas Dorfner, Holger Erkens, Claus Kaltner, Holger Steffens
  • Patent number: 9247504
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor device for a handheld radio transceiver for estimating a specific absorption rate (SAR) can be coupled with at least one first electrode, wherein during the operation of the handheld radio transceiver the first electrode is at the same time a sensor electrode of the capacitive sensor device and an antenna of the handheld radio transceiver. Moreover a handheld radio transceiver with such a capacitive sensor device can be provided. Moreover, a method can be provided for adjusting a transmission power of a handheld radio transceiver, wherein an approach of an object to the handheld radio transceiver is detected and wherein depending on the detected approach the transmission power of the handheld radio transceiver is increased or reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY GERMANY GMBH
    Inventor: Holger Erkens
  • Publication number: 20150130478
    Abstract: Provided is a method for adapting the sensitivity of a sensor system, in particular of a capacitive sensor system, which provides a sensor signal, wherein a first lower threshold value is adapted, if the sensor signal fulfills a first switching threshold criterion, a first upper threshold value is adapted, if the sensor signal fulfills a second switching threshold criterion, and at least one switching threshold value is adapted such that the switching threshold value has a predetermined first distance from the first upper threshold value and/or a predetermined second distance from the first lower threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Holger Erkens, Claus Kaltner, Holger Steffens
  • Publication number: 20140176160
    Abstract: An electrode configuration for a capacitive sensor device has a transmitting electrode and a receiving electrode, wherein the transmitting electrode can be brought into a capacitive coupling with the receiving electrode, wherein the electrode configuration has at least one first and second sensor area, wherein both of the electrode surfaces of the transmitting electrode and of the receiving electrode in the first sensor area are small compared to the electrode surfaces of the transmitting electrode and of the receiving electrode in the second sensor area. A capacitive sensor device for the detection of an approximation may have such an electrode configuration. An electrical device, particularly an electrical hand-held device, may have at least one such capacitive sensor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventor: Holger Erkens
  • Publication number: 20140152327
    Abstract: A capacitive proximity sensor has a first sensor electrode and a second sensor electrode, a signal generator for providing a first and a second electric alternating signal, a first load element which comprises a first and a second electric load, in which the first alternating signal by the first load can be fed to the first sensor electrode and the second alternating signal by the second load to the second sensor electrode, and wherein the electric loads each together with the capacitive load to be measured at the respective sensor electrode form a lowpass filter, and a signal processing device, which is coupled with the first sensor electrode and with the second sensor electrode, and which is adapted to form a first measurement value from the push-pull portion of a first electric parameter tapped at the first sensor electrode and a second electric parameter tapped at the second sensor electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventor: Holger Erkens
  • Publication number: 20140155000
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor device for a handheld radio transceiver for estimating a specific absorption rate (SAR) can be coupled with at least one first electrode, wherein during the operation of the handheld radio transceiver the first electrode is at the same time a sensor electrode of the capacitive sensor device and an antenna of the handheld radio transceiver. Moreover a handheld radio transceiver with such a capacitive sensor device can be provided. Moreover, a method can be provided for adjusting a transmission power of a handheld radio transceiver, wherein an approach of an object to the handheld radio transceiver is detected and wherein depending on the detected approach the transmission power of the handheld radio transceiver is increased or reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventor: Holger Erkens
  • Publication number: 20140118012
    Abstract: A sensor device has a first electrode structure and a second electrode structure, the first electrode structure has a transmitting electrode, a compensation electrode and a reception electrode and the second electrode structure has a field transmission electrode and at least one field sensing electrode. The first electrode structure is adapted to detect a gripping of an electric hand-held device, whereas the second electrode structure is adapted to detect an approach of a finger to the second electrode structure, for example of the hand gripping the hand-held device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Inventors: Holger Erkens, Claus Kaltner
  • Publication number: 20140118011
    Abstract: A method for the detection of a gripping of a hand-held device with one hand, using a capacitive sensor device, uses at least one transmitting electrode, at least one compensating electrode and at least one receiving electrode. An electrical signal is tapped at the receiving electrode and the sensor device can be operated in a first operating mode and in a second operating mode. In the first operating mode, a first alternating electrical signal is applied to the transmitting electrode and a second alternating electrical signal is applied to the compensating electrode. In the second operating mode, the second alternating signal is only applied to the compensating electrode. Furthermore, a sensor device can be provided which is configured to perform the method as described above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Inventors: Stefan Burger, Andreas Dorfner, Holger Erkens, Claus Kaltner, Holger Steffens