Patents by Inventor Johann Steinberger
Johann Steinberger 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).
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Patent number: 11859727Abstract: Disclosed is an actuator unit for opening or closing a valve opening of a valve for a pneumatic adjusting device of a vehicle seat, comprising a circuit board with a top side extending in a circuit board plane, an actuating element with an actuating section for opening or closing the valve opening and a bending section connected to the actuating section, and an actuator element with a first end mechanically connected to the actuating section and a second end mechanically connected to the circuit board. The actuator element is configured to, when actuated, bend the bending section such that the actuating section is moved between a first position for opening the valve opening and a second position for closing the valve opening. The actuating section is arranged on a first side and the bending section is arranged on a second side, situated opposite the first side, respective of the circuit board plane.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2020Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbHInventors: Michael Beuschel, Johann Steinberger, Johann Riepl, Stefan Bauer
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Publication number: 20230147954Abstract: The crimping element for holding a wire with a nominal diameter of approximately 0.1 mm or less comprises sheet-metal with a base portion extending in a base plane and a holding portion connected to the base portion. The holding portion comprises first and second clamping elements spaced apart from each other by a holding portion recess. The first element comprises a first clamping portion extending in a first plane and connected to the base portion and a second clamping portion, forming a first clamping region for holding the wire. The second element comprises a third clamping portion extending in a second plane and connected to the base portion and a fourth clamping portion, forming a second clamping region for holding the wire The first plane forms a first angle approximately 0°-10° with the base portion plane. The second plane forms a second angle approximately 1°-10° with the first plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2021Publication date: May 11, 2023Applicant: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbHInventors: Michael Beuschel, Stefan Bauer, Johann Steinberger
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Patent number: 11635154Abstract: A fluid bladder valve for a pneumatic vehicle seat adjustment device is disclosed. The valve comprises a first chamber configured to be connected to a fluid source, a second chamber configured to be connected to the fluid bladder, a third chamber configured to be connected to an environment, a fourth chamber connected to the first chamber via a first fluid passage, connected to the second chamber via a second fluid passage, and connected to the third chamber via a third fluid passage; and an actuator comprising a membrane disposed in the fourth chamber and an actuator element disposed in the third chamber and coupled to the membrane and configured to move the membrane between a first position wherein the first fluid passage is opened and the third fluid passage is closed, and a second position wherein the first fluid passage is closed and the third fluid passage is opened.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2019Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbHInventors: Michael Beuschel, Johann Steinberger, Norbert Seltner
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Publication number: 20220325815Abstract: Disclosed is an actuator unit for opening or closing a valve opening of a valve for a pneumatic adjusting device of a vehicle seat, comprising a circuit board with a top side extending in a circuit board plane, an actuating element with an actuating section for opening or closing the valve opening and a bending section connected to the actuating section, and an actuator element with a first end mechanically connected to the actuating section and a second end mechanically connected to the circuit board. The actuator element is configured to, when actuated, bend the bending section such that the actuating section is moved between a first position for opening the valve opening and a second position for closing the valve opening. The actuating section is arranged on a first side and the bending section is arranged on a second side, situated opposite the first side, respective of the circuit board plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2020Publication date: October 13, 2022Inventors: Michael Beuschel, Johann Steinberger, Johann Riepl, Stefan Bauer
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Patent number: 11236839Abstract: A pneumatic valve, including a valve housing with an air chamber with one or more air ports. A respective air port of at least one of the air ports can be opened and closed by a movable valve flap which is mechanically coupled to a shape memory alloy. The SMA element deforms as a result of supplying electrical heating current and effects a predefined movement of the valve flap for opening or closing the respective air port. The deformation of the SMA element is reversed when the supply of the electrical heating current ends. The valve flap has a leaf spring. The leaf spring is held rotationally fixedly relative to the valve housing. The leaf spring interacts with the SMA element such that a stroke of the SMA element caused by the deformation is converted into a stroke of the valve flap by elastic bending of the leaf spring.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2017Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Inventors: Michael Beuschel, Alexander Kerler, Johann Steinberger
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Patent number: 11077781Abstract: A fluid bladder valve for a pneumatic vehicle seat adjustment device is disclosed. The valve comprises a first chamber configured to connect to a fluid source, a second chamber configured to connect to the fluid bladder, a third chamber configured to connect to an environment, a fourth chamber connected to the first chamber via a first fluid passage, connected to the second valve chamber via a second fluid passage, and connected to the third valve chamber via a third fluid passage; and an actuator comprising a blocking element disposed in the fourth chamber and an actuator element disposed in the third valve chamber and coupled to the blocking element and configured to move the blocking element between a first position wherein the first passage is opened and the third passage is closed, and a second position wherein the first passage is closed and the third passage is opened.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2019Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbHInventors: Michael Beuschel, Johann Steinberger, Norbert Seltner, Stefan Bauer
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Publication number: 20210018109Abstract: A pneumatic valve, including a valve housing with an air chamber with one or more air ports. A respective air port of at least one of the air ports can be opened and closed by a movable valve flap which is mechanically coupled to a shape memory alloy. The SMA element deforms as a result of supplying electrical heating current and effects a predefined movement of the valve flap for opening or closing the respective air port. The deformation of the SMA element is reversed when the supply of the electrical heating current ends. The valve flap has a leaf spring. The leaf spring is held rotationally fixedly relative to the valve housing. The leaf spring interacts with the SMA element such that a stroke of the SMA element caused by the deformation is converted into a stroke of the valve flap by elastic bending of the leaf spring.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2017Publication date: January 21, 2021Inventors: Michael Beuschel, Alexander Kerler, Johann Steinberger
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Patent number: 10793041Abstract: A method for producing an adjusting device for a vehicle seat has the following steps. A flexible hollow body is molded from a thermoplastic plastic by injection molding, wherein the hollow body forms a pressure medium chamber and has an opening which is surrounded by a connecting portion. Furthermore, a first film is arranged at the opening. In particular, a pressure medium line is inserted between the connecting portion or the opening and the first film. Finally, the first film is connected to the hollow body at the connecting portion of the opening at the connecting seam in order to thereby close off the pressure medium chamber. Because the flexible hollow body is formed in one step, in particular by an injection molding process, the manufacturing complexity is minimized and the robustness of the hollow body is increased.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2017Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventors: Johann Steinberger, Franz Stadler, Wolfgang Thiel, Markus Prexl
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Patent number: 10752145Abstract: A pneumatic device for varying a contour of a seat bearing surface includes a carrier foil TF composed of a first and a second foil ply which are arranged adjacent to one another. The pneumatic device has a first bladder for varying the contour of the seat bearing surface, including a bladder chamber which can be filled with pressure medium (DM). The pneumatic device furthermore has a first pressure medium line connected to the first bladder and which is formed by connection of the first and second foil plies along a line-side connection seam to create a pressure medium connection to the bladder chamber of the first bladder. One foil ply has, in the region of the first bladder, an opening in order to form a pressure medium channel to a further bladder, which can be filled with pressure medium and is connected to one of the foil plies.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2017Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbHInventors: Johann Steinberger, Wolfgang Thiel
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Publication number: 20200101883Abstract: A fluid bladder valve for a pneumatic vehicle seat adjustment device is disclosed. The valve comprises a first chamber configured to connect to a fluid source, a second chamber configured to connect to the fluid bladder, a third chamber configured to connect to an environment, a fourth chamber connected to the first chamber via a first fluid passage, connected to the second valve chamber via a second fluid passage, and connected to the third valve chamber via a third fluid passage; and an actuator comprising a blocking element disposed in the fourth chamber and an actuator element disposed in the third valve chamber and coupled to the blocking element and configured to move the blocking element between a first position wherein the first passage is opened and the third passage is closed, and a second position wherein the first passage is closed and the third passage is opened.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2019Publication date: April 2, 2020Inventors: Michael Beuschel, Johann Steinberger, Norbert Seltner, Stefan Bauer
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Publication number: 20200103047Abstract: A fluid bladder valve for a pneumatic vehicle seat adjustment device is disclosed. The valve comprises a first chamber configured to be connected to a fluid source, a second chamber configured to be connected to the fluid bladder, a third chamber configured to be connected to an environment, a fourth chamber connected to the first chamber via a first fluid passage, connected to the second chamber via a second fluid passage, and connected to the third chamber via a third fluid passage; and an actuator comprising a membrane disposed in the fourth chamber and an actuator element disposed in the third chamber and coupled to the membrane and configured to move the membrane between a first position wherein the first fluid passage is opened and the third fluid passage is closed, and a second position wherein the first fluid passage is closed and the third fluid passage is opened.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2019Publication date: April 2, 2020Inventors: Michael Beuschel, Johann Steinberger, Norbert Seltner
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Publication number: 20190308537Abstract: A pneumatic device for varying a contour of a seat bearing surface includes a carrier foil TF composed of a first and a second foil ply which are arranged adjacent to one another. The pneumatic device has a first bladder for varying the contour of the seat bearing surface, including a bladder chamber which can be filled with pressure medium (DM). The pneumatic device furthermore has a first pressure medium line connected to the first bladder and which is formed by connection of the first and second foil plies along a line-side connection seam to create a pressure medium connection to the bladder chamber of the first bladder. One foil ply has, in the region of the first bladder, an opening in order to form a pressure medium channel to a further bladder, which can be filled with pressure medium and is connected to one of the foil plies.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2017Publication date: October 10, 2019Applicant: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbHInventors: Johann STEINBERGER, Wolfgang THIEL
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Publication number: 20190255977Abstract: A method for producing an adjusting device for a vehicle seat has the following steps. A flexible hollow body is molded from a thermoplastic plastic by injection molding, wherein the hollow body forms a pressure medium chamber and has an opening which is surrounded by a connecting portion. Furthermore, a first film is arranged at the opening. In particular, a pressure medium line is inserted between the connecting portion or the opening and the first film. Finally, the first film is connected to the hollow body at the connecting portion of the opening at the connecting seam in order to thereby close off the pressure medium chamber. Because the flexible hollow body is formed in one step, in particular by an injection molding process, the manufacturing complexity is minimized and the robustness of the hollow body is increased.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2017Publication date: August 22, 2019Applicant: Continental Automotive GmbHInventors: Johann STEINBERGER, Franz STADLER, Wolfgang THIEL, Markus PREXL
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Publication number: 20190225128Abstract: To produce a bladder which can be filled with pressure medium, a one-piece hose-like bladder body is provided with a casing surface which extends from a first end portion to a second end portion and encloses a bladder chamber. Furthermore, a pressure medium line is introduced into the bladder chamber in particular through the first or the second end portion. Finally, at least one joint connection is produced for closing the open end portions so as to form a bladder chamber sealed against pressure medium. By using a hose-like bladder body as the base body for the bladder, the manufacturing complexity for production is minimized.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2017Publication date: July 25, 2019Applicant: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbHInventors: Johann Steinberger, Wolfgang Thiel, Thomas Schütze
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Patent number: 10351034Abstract: A pressure medium distributor, for a pneumatic adjustment arrangement of a vehicle seat. The pressure medium distributor has a distribution element including at least one first and one second film connected to each other along a connection seam in order to form a first and at least one second pressure medium chamber. The pressure medium distributor has a first pressure medium inlet line to admit the pressure medium into the first pressure medium chamber, and at least one second pressure medium inlet line to admit the pressure medium into the at least one second pressure medium chamber. At least one first pressure medium outlet line is provided for discharge of the pressure medium from the first pressure medium chamber, and at least one second pressure medium outlet line is provided for discharge of the pressure medium from the second pressure medium chamber creating a pressure medium distributor which is flexible.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2015Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbHInventors: Thomas Schütze, Johann Steinberger
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Patent number: 10315548Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the pneumatic adjustment of a seat in a means of transport, in particular in a motor vehicle, comprising one or more cushions (3) which can be filled with air and which are connected via one or more valves (1) to a compressed-air supply (2), and a control device for the actuation of the one or more valves (1) for the purposes of changing the filling state of the one or more cushions (3). The device according to the invention is characterized in that a respective valve (1) of at least some of the valves (1) comprises one or more actuation elements (4) composed of electroactive polymer, to which an electrical voltage can be applied. By application of the electrical voltage, a respective actuation element (4) is deformed, and in this way, one or more passage openings (6, 6?) via which an exchange of compressed air with at least one cushion (3) takes place is or are opened up or shut off.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2016Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbHInventors: Alexander Kerler, Johann Steinberger, Wolfgang Thiel
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Publication number: 20180222370Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the pneumatic adjustment of a seat in a means of transport, in particular in a motor vehicle, comprising one or more cushions (3) which can be filled with air and which are connected via one or more valves (1) to a compressed-air supply (2), and a control device for the actuation of the one or more valves (1) for the purposes of changing the filling state of the one or more cushions (3). The device according to the invention is characterized in that a respective valve (1) of at least some of the valves (1) comprises one or more actuation elements (4) composed of electroactive polymer, to which an electrical voltage can be applied. By application of the electrical voltage, a respective actuation element (4) is deformed, and in this way, one or more passage openings (6, 6?) via which an exchange of compressed air with at least one cushion (3) takes place is or are opened up or shut off.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2016Publication date: August 9, 2018Inventors: Alexander KERLER, Johann STEINBERGER, Wolfgang THIEL
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Patent number: 9802518Abstract: A pneumatic adjustment arrangement for a vehicle seat. The pneumatic adjustment arrangement has at least one chamber or bladder, which can be filled with a pressure medium, as an adjustment element. Furthermore, the pneumatic adjustment arrangement has a fluid line for the filling and/or evacuation of the chamber. Additionally, the pneumatic adjustment arrangement has a valve device which is provided in the fluid line for volume flow regulation. Finally, the pneumatic adjustment arrangement has a noise absorber which is likewise arranged in the fluid line in order to absorb noise generated in the fluid line. In this way, it is possible to create a pneumatic adjustment arrangement for a vehicle seat, in particular for comfort functions, such that objectionable noises during the execution of the comfort fiction are reduced.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2013Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbHInventors: Johann Steinberger, Stefan Weickmann, Marco Zehndbauer
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Publication number: 20170305308Abstract: A pressure medium distributor, for a pneumatic adjustment arrangement of a vehicle seat. The pressure medium distributor has a distribution element including at least one first and one second film connected to each other along a connection seam in order to form a first and at least one second pressure medium chamber. The pressure medium distributor has a first pressure medium inlet line to admit the pressure medium into the first pressure medium chamber, and at least one second pressure medium inlet line to admit the pressure medium into the at least one second pressure medium chamber, At least one first pressure medium outlet line is provided for discharge of the pressure medium from the first pressure medium chamber, and at least one second pressure medium outlet line is provided for discharge of the pressure medium from the second pressure medium chamber creating a pressure medium distributor which is flexible.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2015Publication date: October 26, 2017Inventors: Thomas Schütze, Johann Steinberger
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Publication number: 20150061337Abstract: A pneumatic adjustment arrangement for a vehicle seat. The pneumatic adjustment arrangement has at least one chamber or bladder, which can be filled with a pressure medium, as an adjustment element. Furthermore, the pneumatic adjustment arrangement has a fluid line for the filling and/or evacuation of the chamber. Additionally, the pneumatic adjustment arrangement has a valve device which is provided in the fluid line for volume flow regulation. Finally, the pneumatic adjustment arrangement has a noise absorber which is likewise arranged in the fluid line in order to absorb noise generated in the fluid line. In this way, it is possible to create a pneumatic adjustment arrangement for a vehicle seat, in particular for comfort functions, such that objectionable noises during the execution of the comfort fiction are reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2013Publication date: March 5, 2015Inventors: Johann Steinberger, Stefan Weickmann, Marco Zehndbauer