Patents by Inventor Jochen Vater

Jochen Vater 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: 11075632
    Abstract: An oscillating sensor device, particularly for a proximity sensor, for sensing a dynamic change of attenuation caused by a measurable physical effect includes an oscillator including a resonance circuit and an amplifier fed back to the resonance circuit and configured to maintain oscillation of the oscillator, and a control unit configured to control the open loop gain of the oscillator. The amplifier comprises a non-linear gain characteristics defining an operating point at a preset amplitude of oscillation. The control unit is configured to control the open loop gain of the oscillator so that the operating point is set to a preset amplitude of the oscillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Pepperl + Fuchs GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Kühn, Jochen Vater, Christoph Braunsmann
  • Patent number: 11025250
    Abstract: The invention relates to an oscillating sensor for a measurement device comprising: an oscillator comprising: a resonance circuit for providing an oscillation signal; a gain stage configured to provide a feed-back to the resonance circuit to inject energy for excitation of the oscillator to maintain oscillation; at least one calibration element to adjust the open loop gain of the oscillator; a calibration unit to provide a modulated calibration control signal to selectively adjust an electrical measure of the at least one calibration element based on at least one predetermined duty cycle, wherein the calibration unit is further configured to provide the modulated calibration control signal with at least one cycle frequency which depends on the oscillation frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Inventor: Jochen Vater
  • Publication number: 20200136617
    Abstract: An oscillating sensor device, particularly for a proximity sensor, for sensing a dynamic change of attenuation caused by a measurable physical effect includes an oscillator including a resonance circuit and an amplifier fed back to the resonance circuit and configured to maintain oscillation of the oscillator, and a control unit configured to control the open loop gain of the oscillator. The amplifier comprises a non-linear gain characteristics defining an operating point at a preset amplitude of oscillation. The control unit is configured to control the open loop gain of the oscillator so that the operating point is set to a preset amplitude of the oscillation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: Pepperl+Fuchs GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Kühn, Jochen Vater, Christoph Braunsmann
  • Publication number: 20200136616
    Abstract: The invention relates to an oscillating sensor for a measurement device comprising: an oscillator comprising: a resonance circuit for providing an oscillation signal; a gain stage configured to provide a feed-back to the resonance circuit to inject energy for excitation of the oscillator to maintain oscillation; at least one calibration element to adjust the open loop gain of the oscillator; a calibration unit to provide a modulated calibration control signal to selectively adjust an electrical measure of the at least one calibration element based on at least one predetermined duty cycle, wherein the calibration unit is further configured to provide the modulated calibration control signal with at least one cycle frequency which depends on the oscillation frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventor: Jochen Vater
  • Patent number: 9435837
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor for detecting an object. The sensor includes a probe electrode for forming a measuring capacitance with the object to be detected, a charging generator for generating an alternating charging voltage, wherein the probe electrode is charged by means of the alternating charging voltage, an amplifier for amplifying a voltage across the measuring capacitance, wherein the amplifier includes a first supply connection and a second supply connection, electronic means for processing signals outputted at an output of the amplifier to form at least one output signal and at least one sensor output for outputting the at least one output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: PEPPERL + FUCHS GmbH
    Inventors: Hardi Voelkel, Jochen Vater
  • Publication number: 20130249570
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor for detecting an object. The sensor includes a probe electrode for forming a measuring capacitance with the object to be detected, a charging generator for generating an alternating charging voltage, wherein the probe electrode is charged by means of the alternating charging voltage, an amplifier for amplifying a voltage across the measuring capacitance, wherein the amplifier includes a first supply connection and a second supply connection, electronic means for processing signals outputted at an output of the amplifier to form at least one output signal and at least one sensor output for outputting the at least one output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: PEPPERL + FUCHS GMBH
    Inventors: Hardi Voelkel, Jochen Vater