Patents by Inventor Jochen Schenk

Jochen Schenk 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: 11837849
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control circuit (50) for pulsed control of a light-emitting means (52), in particular an LED or a laser diode (52), having a switched-mode power supply unit (54) with a first switch (64) arranged in a primary circuit of the switched-mode power supply unit (54), wherein the switched-mode power supply unit (54) has a primary-side connector (62) for connection to a supply voltage, a secondary-side connector (67) for supplying the light-emitting means (52) and a switching input (65) for operating the first switch (64), having a storage capacitor (68) arranged between the secondary-side connector (67) and a ground (66), having a second switch (70) arranged in a current path (71) in parallel with the storage capacitor (68), wherein the light-emitting means (52) is positionable in the current path (71), and having a control unit (72) to control the first and the second switch (64, 70), wherein the control unit (72) is designed to operate the first switch (64) in order to induce at least on
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: VALEO SCHALTER UND SENSOREN GMBH
    Inventors: Felix Mueller, Juergen Nies, Jochen Schenk, Daniel Stricker-Shaver
  • Publication number: 20220299611
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an optoelectronic detection device (12) for monitoring at least one monitoring region (14) with optical monitoring signals (34), and to an optoelectronic detection device (12). In the method, at least one first receive start signal (58a) is sent to at least one first receiver (24a), and at least one second receive start signal (58b) is sent to at least one second receiver (24b). In response to the at least one first receive start signal (58a), a receive process which is carried out with the at least one first receiver (24a) is started and at least one first trigger signal (44a) is generated with the at least one first receiver (24a). In response to the at least one second receive start signal (58b), a receive process which is carried out with the at least one second receiver (24b) is started and at least one second trigger signal (44b) is generated with the at least one second receiver (24b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen Schenk, Michael Kleiser, Jürgen Nies, Frank Selbmann
  • Publication number: 20210396858
    Abstract: A method for determining a distance of an object with the aid of an optical detection apparatus and such an apparatus are described. A light signal pulse is emitted and reflected at the object, and is received as an echo light signal pulse. The echo light signal pulse is divided upon reception into temporally successive discrete reception time windows and converted into corresponding electrical energy. The end of the respective conversion is in each case assigned as the sampling time to the corresponding time window. The electrical energies of the time windows are compared in each case with a threshold value. As soon as the electrical energy of a first reference reception time window is greater than the threshold value, a linear interpolation of the temporal profile of the discrete electrical reception signal is carried out temporally before the sampling time of the first reference time window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicant: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Stricker-Shaver, Jochen Schenk, Frank Selbmann
  • Publication number: 20210382298
    Abstract: A method for controlling a drive apparatus (20) of a micro-oscillation mirror (16), a control device (28) and a deflector mirror apparatus (14) are described. The drive apparatus (20) has at least two comb drives (22a, 22b) which are arranged on different radial sides of a pivoting axis (18) of the micro-oscillation mirror (16). In the method, at least two actuation signals AS1, AS2) are generated, and the at least two comb drives (22a, 22b) are therefore actuated at least temporarily in such a way that they drive the micro-oscillation mirror (16) in an oscillating fashion. At least one elongation signal (P1, P2), which characterizes the elongation (26) of the micro-oscillation mirror (16) is generated using at least one comb drive (22a, 22b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Applicant: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen Schenk, Michael Kleiser, Jürgen Nies, Frank Selbmann, Felix Müller
  • Publication number: 20210255454
    Abstract: A method for controlling a drive apparatus (18) of a micro-oscillation mirror (16), a control device (28) and a deflector mirror apparatus (14) are described. In the method, at least one actuation signal (20) is generated, and the drive apparatus (18) is actuated therewith in such a way that it drives the micro-oscillation mirror (16) in an oscillating fashion. At least one position signal (26) which characterizes the deflection (22) of the micro-oscillation mirror (16) is sensed. The at least one actuation signal (20) is closed-loop controlled on the basis of the at least one position signal (26) in such a way that the micro-oscillation mirror (16) is driven at its resonant frequency. The amplitude of the at least one position signal (26) is continuously compared with at least one threshold value (38a, 38b, 38c). At least one time interval (42a, 42b, 42c) between at least two passes of the at least one position signal (26) through at least one threshold value (38a, 38b, 38c) is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Applicant: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Nies, Jochen Schenk, Michael Kleiser
  • Publication number: 20210243866
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control circuit (50) for pulsed control of a light-emitting means (52), in particular an LED or a laser diode (52), having a switched-mode power supply unit (54) with a first switch (64) arranged in a primary circuit of the switched-mode power supply unit (54), wherein the switched-mode power supply unit (54) has a primary-side connector (62) for connection to a supply voltage, a secondary-side connector (67) for supplying the light-emitting means (52) and a switching input (65) for operating the first switch (64), having a storage capacitor (68) arranged between the secondary-side connector (67) and a ground (66), having a second switch (70) arranged in a current path (71) in parallel with the storage capacitor (68), wherein the light-emitting means (52) is positionable in the current path (71), and having a control unit (72) to control the first and the second switch (64, 70), wherein the control unit (72) is designed to operate the first switch (64) in order to induce at least on
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Felix Mueller, Juergen Nies, Jochen Schenk, Daniel Stricker-Shaver
  • Publication number: 20200355828
    Abstract: In an optoelectronic detection device (1) with at least one optical transmitting unit (3) with an electromagnetic pulse generator (4) for emitting electromagnetic emitted pulses (5), and at least one optical receiver for receiving reflected emitted pulses (7) that provides a reception signal, formed depending on the reflected emitted pulse, to an evaluation device (10), wherein the optical receiver (2) is configured to provide a trigger signal (11) for the control of the optical transmitter (3), an improved compensation of the optoelectronic detection device for errors resulting from temperature or ageing should be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Applicant: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen Schenk, Michael Kleiser, Frank Selbmann, Jürgen Nies
  • Patent number: 10656273
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an optoelectronic sensor (5) of a motor vehicle (1), in which during a measuring cycle for detecting an object (3), light pulses are emitted using an emitting unit (6) and the light pulses reflected from the object (3) are received using a receiving unit (7), wherein a light source (12) of the emitting unit (6) is activated at determined emission points in time (14) to emit the light pulses and the light pulses are deflected using a deflection unit (13) of the emitting unit (6) within a predetermined angle range (12), wherein the light source (12) is activated in such a way that time intervals between the determined emission points in time (14) differ from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen Schenk, Frank Selbmann
  • Publication number: 20190324146
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an optoelectronic sensor (5) of a motor vehicle (1), in which during a measuring cycle for detecting an object (3), light pulses are emitted using an emitting unit (6) and the light pulses reflected from the object (3) are received using a receiving unit (7), wherein a light source (12) of the emitting unit (6) is activated at determined emission points in time (14) to emit the light pulses and the light pulses are deflected using a deflection unit (13) of the emitting unit (6) within a predetermined angle range (12), wherein the light source (12) is activated in such a way that time intervals between the determined emission points in time (14) differ from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Applicant: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen Schenk, Frank Selbmann
  • Patent number: 10005118
    Abstract: A method for the joining of hollow profiles made from high-strength steel, in particular to form a motor vehicle frame, the hollow profiles being connected to one another, nonpositively and positively against being pulled out, by pinching (crimping) in a connection zone, one end of at least one of the hollow profiles having a connection zone for pinching which is soft at least during forming. This soft connection zone may be hardened during pinching if at least one of the profiles to be joined is made from hardenable steel and is brought to austenizing temperature before pinching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Horst Heribert Lanzerath, Jochen Schenk
  • Publication number: 20150355064
    Abstract: A method is provided for selecting a heat treated aluminum sheet for use in a manufacturing process. The aluminum sheet is tested for an initial strength value before being stored for a period of time. A subsequent strength value of the aluminum sheet is calculated after the period of time has elapsed. The aluminum sheet is selected for use in the manufacturing process if the subsequent strength value is within a predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Laurent Bernard Chappuis, Peter A. Friedman, Christopher Joseph Mracna, JR., Jochen Schenk
  • Publication number: 20130248092
    Abstract: A method for the joining of hollow profiles made from high-strength steel, in particular to form a motor vehicle frame, the hollow profiles being connected to one another, nonpositively and positively against being pulled out, by pinching (crimping) in a connection zone, one end of at least one of the hollow profiles having for pinching a connection zone which is soft at least during forming. This soft connection zone may be hardened during pinching if at least one of the profiles to be joined is made from hardenable steel and is brought to austenizing temperature before pinching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Horst Heribert Lanzerath, Jochen Schenk