Patents by Inventor Johann Hofer

Johann Hofer 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).

  • Publication number: 20240003760
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a heating system component, comprising a carrier unit having a dry side, a wet side, a groove provided on the dry side, and a medium leading section at least partially opposite a medium flow area on the wet side; a heating unit at least partially received in the groove; a heat conducting plate assembly that comprises a first heat capturing plate portion that is thermally coupled to the heating unit, a second heat capturing plate portion that is thermally coupled to the medium leading section of the carrier unit, a first heat releasing plate portion, and a second heat releasing plate portion; at least one printed circuit board comprising circuitry with a first sensor area and a second sensor area, wherein the circuitry is configured to sense a first temperature at the first sensor area and a second temperature at the second sensor area; a housing accommodating at least a part of the printed circuit board and at least a part of the heat conducting plate assembly in such a way th
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Johann HÖFER, Bernhard STEGER, Mladen Gojkic
  • Publication number: 20220178582
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a heating system component, including a carrier unit having a dry side, a wet side, a groove provided on the dry side, and a medium leading section at least partially opposite a medium flow area on the wet side; a heating unit at least partially received in the groove; a heat conducting plate assembly that comprises a first heat capturing plate portion that is thermally coupled to the heating unit, a second heat capturing plate portion that is thermally coupled to the medium leading section of the carrier unit, a first heat releasing plate portion, and a second heat releasing plate portion; at least one printed circuit board comprising circuitry with a first sensor area and a second sensor area, wherein the circuitry is configured to sense a first temperature at the first sensor area and a second temperature at the second sensor area; a housing accommodating at least a part of the printed circuit board and at least a part of the heat conducting plate assembly in such a way tha
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Johann Höfer, Bernhard Steger
  • Patent number: 11287161
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heating system component for a heating system for heating a fluid medium, with a carrier unit, and a heating unit coupled to said carrier unit, wherein said carrier unit comprises a wet side and a dry side, wherein said wet side corresponds to a surface of said carrier unit configured to be in contact with said fluid medium, wherein said dry side is located on a surface opposite to said wet side; and wherein said heating unit is recessed in a groove provided on said dry side of the carrier unit. A temperature sensor, in particular an NTC thermistor, positioned to measure a temperature of a fluid medium at the wet side of the carrier unit, wherein the temperature sensor is effectively thermally insulated from the heating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Bleckmann GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Johann Höfer, Andreas Pleschinger, Hubert Unterberger
  • Patent number: 10932324
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a flange assembly for holding a heating device to a fluid container of an appliance accommodating a fluid to be heated, in particular a domestic appliance, comprising a flange unit arranged for being mounted to an opening of the fluid container by at least one fixing unit and having a non-sealing and a sealing and attachment position, wherein the flange unit is reversibly moveable from the non-sealing to the sealing and attachment position by means of the fixing unit for being configured to engage the opening of the fluid container in the sealing and attachment position, wherein the flange unit comprises a sealing element and a tensioning element, wherein the sealing element and the tensioning element are moveable relative to each other in an axial direction by means of the fixing unit such that the sealing element and the tensioning element can be pressed against each other, wherein the sealing element and the tensioning element are, in the sealing and attachment position, ar
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: BLECKMANN GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Johann Höfer, Martin Reichl, Peter Melcher, Georg Görg
  • Patent number: 10800895
    Abstract: A plurality of polymer slides, each having a polymer part with a first polymer surface portion uncoated and a second surface portion coated with a metal. The first and second surface portions each have different surface coating properties and have respective first and second specified degrees of hydrophobicity which are different from each other. A hydrophobic small molecule is located in the polymer part of each polymer slide, and the hydrophobic small molecule and the polymer are essentially inert to one another. Adjacent polymer slides are arranged in a manner that the first polymer surface of one slide faces a metal coated second surface portion of another slide. The hydrophobic small molecule evaporates from said first polymer surface portion of the polymer part of one polymer slide onto the adjacent metal coated second surface portion of another polymer slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: STRATEC CONSUMABLES GMBH
    Inventors: Andrew Naisby, Werner Balika, Johann Hofer, Georg Bauer
  • Patent number: 10611890
    Abstract: A method of producing a polymer part comprising the following steps: (a) incorporating a hydrophobic small molecule into the polymer before, during or after manufacture of the polymer part, the hydrophobic small molecule and the polymer being essentially inert to one another; and (b) annealing the polymer part to induce migration of the hydrophobic small molecules to a surface of the polymer part to provide that surface with a specified degree of hydrophobicity defined by the combination of the polymer and the hydrophobic small molecule; is described. Polymer parts made according to the method are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: STRATEC CONSUMABLES GmbH
    Inventors: Andrew Naisby, Werner Balika, Johann Hofer, Georg Bauer
  • Patent number: 10502591
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement for determining a position and/or a change in the position of a measurement object is described, wherein the sensor arrangement has a magnet and a magnetic field sensor which can be moved relative to one another in a direction of movement. The magnet generates a magnetic field. Movements of the magnet and of the measurement object or movements of the magnetic field sensor and of the measurement object are coupled. To achieve the greatest possible measurement range with a characteristic curve which is as linear as possible at the same time, the sensor arrangement comprises a rod-shaped body which is made from a ferromagnetic material and has a considerably larger dimension in the longitudinal direction than in the transverse direction. A relative movement takes place between the rod-shaped body and the magnet, wherein the rod-shaped body can be connected to the magnet. The magnetic field from the magnet is at least partially directed in the direction of the magnetic field sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: MICRO-EPSILON Messtechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Felix Mednikov, Johann Hofer, Christian Pfaffinger
  • Publication number: 20190346175
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heating system component for a heating system for heating a fluid medium, with a carrier unit, and a heating unit coupled to said carrier unit, wherein said carrier unit comprises a wet side and a dry side, wherein said wet side corresponds to a surface of said carrier unit configured to be in contact with said fluid medium, wherein said dry side is located on a surface opposite to said wet side; and wherein said heating unit is recessed in a groove provided on said dry side of the carrier unit. A temperature sensor, in particular an NTC thermistor, positioned to measure a temperature of a fluid medium at the wet side of the carrier unit, wherein the temperature sensor is effectively thermally insulated from the heating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Johann Höfer, Andreas Pleschinger, Hubert Unterberger
  • Publication number: 20190335540
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heating system component for a heating system for heating a fluid medium, with a carrier unit, and a heating unit coupled to said carrier unit, and a controller; wherein said carrier unit comprises a wet side and a dry side, wherein said wet side corresponds to a surface of said carrier unit configured to be in contact with said fluid medium, wherein said dry side is located on a surface opposite to said wet side. A temperature sensor, in particular an NTC thermistor, is effectively in thermal contact with at least a part of an upper surface of said dry side of the carrier unit, the method comprising: receiving a starting signal at the controller for starting the heating system component; carrying out a test routine for at least the at least one temperature sensor; and in case the test routine is not successful: entering a safe state of the heating system component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Johann Höfer, Andreas Pleschinger, Hubert Unterberger, Jürgen Winkler, Ernst Lehner, Heinz Frederic Hackl
  • Publication number: 20180313666
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement for determining a position and/or a change in the position of a measurement object is described, wherein the sensor arrangement has a magnet and a magnetic field sensor which can be moved relative to one another in a direction of movement. The magnet generates a magnetic field. Movements of the magnet and of the measurement object or movements of the magnetic field sensor and of the measurement object are coupled. To achieve the greatest possible measurement range with a characteristic curve which is as linear as possible at the same time, the sensor arrangement comprises a rod-shaped body which is made from a ferromagnetic material and has a considerably larger dimension in the longitudinal direction than in the transverse direction. A relative movement takes place between the rod-shaped body and the magnet, wherein the rod-shaped body can be connected to the magnet. The magnetic field from the magnet is at least partially directed in the direction of the magnetic field sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Felix Mednikov, Johann Hofer, Christian Pfaffinger
  • Publication number: 20180220492
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a flange assembly for holding a heating device to a fluid container of an appliance accommodating a fluid to be heated, in particular a domestic appliance, comprising a flange unit arranged for being mounted to an opening of the fluid container by at least one fixing unit and having a non-sealing and a sealing and attachment position, wherein the flange unit is reversibly moveable from the non-sealing to the sealing and attachment position by means of the fixing unit for being configured to engage the opening of the fluid container in the sealing and attachment position, wherein the flange unit comprises a sealing element and a tensioning element, wherein the sealing element and the tensioning element are moveable relative to each other in an axial direction by means of the fixing unit such that the sealing element and the tensioning element can be pressed against each other, wherein the sealing element and the tensioning element are, in the sealing and attachment position, ar
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Johann HÖFER, Martin REICHL, Peter MELCHER, Georg GÖRG
  • Patent number: 9648983
    Abstract: A flow though heater device comprising a fluid tube carrying a fluid to be heated, a tubular heating element extending at least partially parallel and in thermal contact with the fluid tube, wherein the tubular heating element comprises a profiled casing tube and at least one heating coil mounted in a tubular portion of said profiled casing tube. The profiled casing tube further comprises at least one tab portion laterally protruding from the tubular portion and being wrapped around the fluid tube, wherein the assembly of the fluid tube and the tubular heating element has an approximately helical shape so that the tubular portion of the casing tube is positioned with respect to the helix radially inside of the fluid tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: BLECKMANN GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Johann Höfer, Andreas Pleschinger
  • Patent number: 9574865
    Abstract: A method for detecting magnetic fields, particularly for detecting the position of objects with a preferably oblong, soft-magnetic element, which is connected to electronics, with via the electronics the impedance of the soft-magnetic material is measured, characterized in that a magnetic field is used in which by the position of an object which is located in an arrangement with the soft-magnetic material the magnetic field develops at the location of the soft-magnetic material, with the magnetic permeability ? of the soft-magnetic material adjusting, depending on the magnetic field and thus the position of the object. A respective device serves for applying the method according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: MICRO-EPSILON Messtechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christian Pfaffinger, Johann Hofer, Felix Mednikov, Thomas Wisspeintner, Guenter Schallmoser
  • Publication number: 20170029587
    Abstract: A method of producing a polymer part comprising the following steps: (a) incorporating a hydrophobic small molecule into the polymer before, during or after manufacture of the polymer part, the hydrophobic small molecule and the polymer being essentially inert to one another; and (b) annealing the polymer part to induce migration of the hydrophobic small molecules to a surface of the polymer part to provide that surface with a specified degree of hydrophobicity defined by the combination of the polymer and the hydrophobic small molecule; is described. Polymer parts made according to the method are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Applicant: STRATEC CONSUMABLES GmbH
    Inventors: Andrew NAISBY, Werner BALIKA, Johann HOFER, Georg BAUER
  • Publication number: 20160370035
    Abstract: A heat exchanging device having a first hollow profile configured to conduct a first medium, a second hollow profile configured to conduct a second medium, and where at least a part of the second hollow profile is wound around at least a part of the first hollow profile. A nominal width of the second hollow profile is smaller than a nominal width of the first hollow profile. An outer surface of the first hollow profile comprises a first contact portion, an outer surface of the second hollow profile comprises a second contact portion, and the first contact portion and the second contact portion are coupled by means of a soldered connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Johann Höfer, Andreas Pleschinger
  • Publication number: 20150182064
    Abstract: A flow though heater device comprising a fluid tube carrying a fluid to be heated, a tubular heating element extending at least partially parallel and in thermal contact with the fluid tube, wherein the tubular heating element comprises a profiled casing tube and at least one heating coil mounted in a tubular portion of said profiled casing tube. The profiled casing tube further comprises at least one tab portion laterally protruding from the tubular portion and being wrapped around the fluid tube, wherein the assembly of the fluid tube and the tubular heating element has an approximately helical shape so that the tubular portion of the casing tube is positioned with respect to the helix radially inside of the fluid tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: BLECKMANN GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Johann Höfer, Andreas Pleschinger
  • Publication number: 20140309375
    Abstract: A method of producing a polymer part comprising the following steps: (a) incorporating a hydrophobic small molecule into the polymer before, during or after manufacture of the polymer part, the hydrophobic small molecule and the polymer being essentially inert to one another; and (b) annealing the polymer part to induce migration of the hydrophobic small molecules to a surface of the polymer part to provide that surface with a specified degree of hydrophobicity defined by the combination of the polymer and the hydrophobic small molecule; is described. Polymer parts made according to the method are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Sony DADC Austria AG
    Inventors: Andrew NAISBY, Werner BALIKA, Johann HOFER, Georg BAUER
  • Patent number: 8797511
    Abstract: A distance-measuring device for contactless measurement of a distance to an object, including a housing; a contactless measuring apparatus utilizing an optical measuring beam arranged in the housing and having a radiation unit, an optical unit with optical elements encompassing at least a transmitting and receiving lens system, an optical transmitting path with an optical axis for emitting a measuring beam onto the target object, an optical receiving path with an optical axis for receiving a measuring beam that is reflected and/or scattered by the target object. At least one optical element is movable relative to an initial position; a motion sensor detects a movement of the object, the optical element movable out of the initial position into a variable compensation position so that the transmitting path can be stabilized at a spatially fixed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Tiefenthaler, Johann Hofer, Torsten Gogolla
  • Publication number: 20130141081
    Abstract: A method for detecting magnetic fields, particularly for detecting the position of objects with a preferably oblong, soft-magnetic element, which is connected to electronics, with via the electronics the impedance of the soft-magnetic material is measured, characterized in that a magnetic field is used in which by the position of an object which is located in an arrangement with the soft-magnetic material the magnetic field develops at the location of the soft-magnetic material, with the magnetic permeability ? of the soft-magnetic material adjusting, depending on the magnetic field and thus the position of the object. A respective device serves for applying the method according to the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: Micro-Epsilon Messtechnik GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Christian Pfaffinger, Johann Hofer, Felix Mednikov, Thomas Wisspeintner, Guenter Schallmoser
  • Publication number: 20120133917
    Abstract: A distance-measuring device for contactless measurement of a distance to an object, including a housing; a contactless measuring apparatus utilizing an optical measuring beam arranged in the housing and having a radiation unit, an optical unit with optical elements encompassing at least a transmitting and receiving lens system, an optical transmitting path with an optical axis for emitting a measuring beam onto the target object, an optical receiving path with an optical axis for receiving a measuring beam that is reflected and/or scattered by the target object. At least one optical element is movable relative to an initial position; a motion sensor detects a movement of the object, the optical element movable out of the initial position into a variable compensation position so that the transmitting path can be stabilized at a spatially fixed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan TIEFENTHALER, Johann HOFER, Torsten GOGOLLA