Patents by Inventor Juergen Pullmann

Juergen Pullmann 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: 11566750
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for executing a safety function is particularly applicable to monitoring a safety area of a technical installation. An imaging unit acquires an event that triggers the safety function within a defined working area. A controller carries out a safety-related reaction depending on the triggering event. A test unit is configured to verify the operability of the imaging unit and includes a processing unit and a projection unit. The projection unit projects a pattern with defined properties into the working area. The processing unit evaluates the image data acquired by the imaging unit to detect the projected pattern within the acquired image data. Further, the processing unit extracts the specific properties of the detected projected pattern, and compares the specific properties of the detected projected pattern with the defined properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Pilz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Daniel Bakovic, Juergen Pullmann, Bernd Neuschwander
  • Patent number: 11005360
    Abstract: Apparatus for voltage monitoring of a dual-channel device which implements or monitors a safety function of a machine or technical installation. The apparatus comprises an input for receiving an input voltage, a voltage regulator for generating a defined output voltage, and an output for providing the defined output voltage for the operation of the device. A voltage monitor compares a voltage present at the output with the defined output voltage and switches off the output in case the present voltage at the output deviates from the defined output voltage. A first interface and a second interface connect the voltage regulator to the dual-channels of the device, wherein the first interface and the second interface connect to a first processing channel and a second processing channel of the device separately so that the first processing channel and the second processing channel of the device can detune the voltage regulator independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: PILZ GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Daniel Bakovic, Matthias Schweiker, Uwe Schoch, Juergen Pullmann
  • Patent number: 10971995
    Abstract: Apparatus for voltage monitoring of a dual-channel device which implements or monitors a safety function of a machine or technical installation. The apparatus comprises an input for receiving an input voltage, a voltage regulator for generating a defined output voltage, and an output for providing the defined output voltage for the operation of the device. A voltage monitor compares a voltage present at the output with the defined output voltage and switches off the output in case the present voltage at the output deviates from the defined output voltage. A first interface and a second interface connect the voltage regulator to the dual-channels of the device, wherein the first interface and the second interface connect to a first processing channel and a second processing channel of the device separately so that the first processing channel and the second processing channel of the device can detune the voltage regulator independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: PILZ GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Daniel Bakovic, Matthias Schweiker, Uwe Schoch, Juergen Pullmann
  • Publication number: 20210062969
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for executing a safety function is particularly applicable to monitoring a safety area of a technical installation. An imaging unit acquires an event that triggers the safety function within a defined working area. A controller carries out a safety-related reaction depending on the triggering event. A test unit is configured to verify the operability of the imaging unit and includes a processing unit and a projection unit. The projection unit projects a pattern with defined properties into the working area. The processing unit evaluates the image data acquired by the imaging unit to detect the projected pattern within the acquired image data. Further, the processing unit extracts the specific properties of the detected projected pattern, and compares the specific properties of the detected projected pattern with the defined properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Daniel BAKOVIC, Juergen PULLMANN, Bernd NEUSCHWANDER
  • Patent number: 10896794
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement comprises: an electronic switch; at least one relay including a relay coil; a shunt resistor; a voltage supply device to supply an operating voltage to the at least one relay, wherein the electronic switch, the relay coil of the at least one relay, and the shunt resistor are electrically connected in series to one another between the operating voltage and ground; a current regulator to drive the electronic switch with a pulse width modulation to adjust a control current that flows through the relay coil; at least one sensor to generate sensor data indicative of shocks, impacts or vibrations acting on the at least one relay; and an evaluating unit to evaluate the sensor data, wherein the current regulator is configured to adjust the control current based on the sensor data evaluated by the evaluating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Pilz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Pullmann, Bernd Neuschwander, Frieder Scharpf
  • Patent number: 10847963
    Abstract: Safety circuit arrangement for failsafe shutdown of an electrically driven installation, comprising a safety switching device, having a safety switching relay that is configured to close or disconnect a power supply path to the installation in a failsafe manner, and a signaling device, having an actuator and a signal generator that is connected to the safety switching device by a first line. The actuator of the signaling device is interchangeable between first and second defined states and the signal generator is configured to generate a first clock signal on the first line only when the actuator is in the first defined state. Furthermore, the safety switching device is configured to draw electrical power from the first clock signal that is greater than or equal to the defined actuating power of the safety switching relay and to convert said electrical power to direct current for actuating the safety switching relay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: PILZ GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Jürgen Pullmann
  • Publication number: 20200177072
    Abstract: Apparatus for voltage monitoring of a dual-channel device which implements or monitors a safety function of a machine or technical installation. The apparatus comprises an input for receiving an input voltage, a voltage regulator for generating a defined output voltage, and an output for providing the defined output voltage for the operation of the device. A voltage monitor compares a voltage present at the output with the defined output voltage and switches off the output in case the present voltage at the output deviates from the defined output voltage. A first interface and a second interface connect the voltage regulator to the dual-channels of the device, wherein the first interface and the second interface connect to a first processing channel and a second processing channel of the device separately so that the first processing channel and the second processing channel of the device can detune the voltage regulator independently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Daniel BAKOVIC, Matthias SCHWEIKER, Uwe SCHOCH, Juergen PULLMANN
  • Patent number: 10460895
    Abstract: A safety switching device for fail-safely disconnecting an electrical load has an input part for receiving a safety-relevant input signal, a logic part for processing the at least one safety-relevant input signal, and an output part. The output part has a relay coil and four relay contacts. The first and second relay contacts are arranged electrically in series with one another. The third and fourth relay contacts are also arranged electrically in series with one another. The first and the third relay contacts are mechanically coupled to each other and form a first group of positively driven relay contacts. The second and the fourth relay contacts are mechanically coupled to each other and form a second group of positively driven relay contacts. The logic part redundantly controls the first and the second groups of positively driven relay contacts to selectively allow, or to interrupt in a fail-safe manner, a current flow to the electrical load, depending on the safety-relevant input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: PILZ GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Pullmann, Roland Rupp, Christoph Zinser, Antonio Spataro, Marco Giger, Hans Schwenkel
  • Publication number: 20180233312
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement comprises: an electronic switch; at least one relay including a relay coil; a shunt resistor; a voltage supply device to supply an operating voltage to the at least one relay, wherein the electronic switch, the relay coil of the at least one relay, and the shunt resistor are electrically connected in series to one another between the operating voltage and ground; a current regulator to drive the electronic switch with a pulse width modulation to adjust a control current that flows through the relay coil; at least one sensor to generate sensor data indicative of shocks, impacts or vibrations acting on the at least one relay; and an evaluating unit to evaluate the sensor data, wherein the current regulator is configured to adjust the control current based on the sensor data evaluated by the evaluating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Jürgen PULLMANN, Bernd NEUSCHWANDER, Frieder SCHARPF
  • Publication number: 20180175604
    Abstract: Safety circuit arrangement for failsafe shutdown of an electrically driven installation, comprising a safety switching device, having a safety switching relay that is configured to close or disconnect a power supply path to the installation in a failsafe manner, and a signaling device, having an actuator and a signal generator that is connected to the safety switching device by a first line. The actuator of the signaling device is interchangeable between first and second defined states and the signal generator is configured to generate a first clock signal on the first line only when the actuator is in the first defined state. Furthermore, the safety switching device is configured to draw electrical power from the first clock signal that is greater than or equal to the defined actuating power of the safety switching relay and to convert said electrical power to direct current for actuating the safety switching relay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventor: Jürgen PULLMANN
  • Publication number: 20180005788
    Abstract: A safety switching device for fail-safely disconnecting an electrical load has an input part for receiving a safety-relevant input signal, a logic part for processing the at least one safety-relevant input signal, and an output part. The output part has a relay coil and four relay contacts. The first and second relay contacts are arranged electrically in series with one another. The third and fourth relay contacts are also arranged electrically in series with one another. The first and the third relay contacts are mechanically coupled to each other and form a first group of positively driven relay contacts. The second and the fourth relay contacts are mechanically coupled to each other and form a second group of positively driven relay contacts. The logic part redundantly controls the first and the second groups of positively driven relay contacts to selectively allow, or to interrupt in a fail-safe manner, a current flow to the electrical load, depending on the safety-relevant input signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Jürgen PULLMANN, Roland RUPP, Christoph ZINSER, Antonio SPATARO, Marco GIGER, Hans SCHWENKEL
  • Patent number: 9293285
    Abstract: A safety circuit arrangement for failsafe connection or disconnection of a hazardous installation has a control device, which is designed to connect or interrupt, in failsafe fashion, a power supply path to the installation. The safety circuit arrangement also has a signaling device, which is connected to the control device via a two-wire line having a first core and a second core. The signaling device has an actuator, which can change between a defined first state and a second state. Between the two cores is a substantially constant voltage when the actuator is in the second state. A pulse generator in the signaling device causes a voltage dip between the first core and the second core in order to generate a defined pulsed signal comprising a plurality of signal pulses on the lines, when the actuator is in the defined first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: PILZ GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Juergen Pullmann, Christoph Zinser, Michael Schlecht
  • Patent number: 8944478
    Abstract: A locking apparatus with tumbler for safety doors has a door part for fastening on a movable safety door and has a frame part for fastening on a door counterpart. The frame part has a receptacle and the door part has an actuator configured to be inserted into the receptacle. The frame part further has a blocking member which is displaceable between a release position, in which the actuator can be released in, and a blocking position in which the actuator is secured in the receptacle. The actuator is arranged on the door part via an elastic compensating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Pilz Auslandsbeteiligungen GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Pullmann, Roland Rupp, Andreas Veit
  • Publication number: 20130020817
    Abstract: A locking apparatus with tumbler for safety doors has a door part for fastening on a movable safety door and has a frame part for fastening on a door counterpart. The frame part has a receptacle and the door part has an actuator configured to be inserted into the receptacle. The frame part further has a blocking member which is displaceable between a release position, in which the actuator can be released in, and a blocking position in which the actuator is secured in the receptacle. The actuator is arranged on the door part via an elastic compensating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventors: Juergen PULLMANN, Roland RUPP, Andreas VEIT
  • Patent number: 7948391
    Abstract: A signaling device for a safety circuit has an input part for receiving an external state variable, at least one switching element and a control part. The control part controls the at least one switching element as a function of the external state variable, such that a signal applied to the input is communicated to the output. According to one aspect of the invention, the input of the switching element is internally connected to a fixed potential, preferably a fixed High potential. In a safety circuit for turning off a hazardous installation, such signaling devices are connected in series with one another to a safety controller. In such an arrangement, the control part of the downstream second signaling device also controls its switching elements as a function of the output of the first signaling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Pilz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Pullmann, Christoph Zinser, Günter Hornung, Jürgen Fleiner
  • Patent number: 7775072
    Abstract: There is disclosed a safety switch for generating an enable signal as a function of the position of a moveable guard door. The safety switch comprises a door part and a frame part. The door part has an activator, which can be displaced between a first and a second position. The frame part has a cutout, in which the activator can engage in the second position. A locking element is arranged on the door part in order to lock the activator in the second position. A sensor is designed to detect at least one of the positions of the activator in order to generate the enable signal as a function thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Pilz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Pullmann, Roland Rupp, Andreas Veit, Peter Eichinger
  • Patent number: 7705492
    Abstract: A safety switching device comprises a position encoder, such as a potentiometer, for user selection of an operational quantity, such as an operating mode. The position encoder has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a tap moveable through a plurality of positions. A total impedance is defined between the first terminal and the second terminal. A first partial impedance is defined between the first terminal and the tap, and a second partial impedance is defined between the tap and the second terminal. An arrangement for determining an instantaneous position of the tap comprises a first evaluation circuit designed to determine a first measurement value representative of the first partial impedance, and a second evaluation circuit designed to determine a second measurement value representative of the second partial impedance. At least one from the first and second evaluation circuits is designed to determine the instantaneous position of the tap by means of the first and second measurement values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Pilz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Juergen Pullmann, Thomas Nitsche, Guenter Hornung, Christoph Zinser
  • Patent number: 7656629
    Abstract: A safety switch for safety circuit arrangement has a control part for processing an input signal and at least one switching element with at least one active and one inactive switching state. The control part controls the switching element in order to generate an output signal dependent on the input signal at an output. In addition, the safety switch has a diagnostic function for identifying a functional fault. The control part is configured to transfer the switching element into the inactive state when a functional fault is identified. According to one aspect of the invention, the control part is also configured to generate a data message at the output, which data message is dependent on the functional fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Pilz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Pullmann, Roland Rupp
  • Patent number: 7548159
    Abstract: A device for reliably monitoring a closed position of two parts which can move relative to one another has an actuator and a sensor. The device is particularly used for monitoring the closed position of a protective door installed for safeguarding a technical installation which operates in an automated fashion. The sensor has a receiver circuit at an input side, which circuit generates a defined receiver circuit signal when a switching distance between the sensor and the actuator is fallen short of. A detector circuit provides an enable signal when the defined receiver circuit signal is present. According to one aspect of the invention, a test element is provided for selectively suppressing the defined receiver circuit signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Pilz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Juergen Pullmann, Christoph Zinser, Thomas Nitsche
  • Patent number: 7504747
    Abstract: A safety switch for reliably switching off a dangerous device has an actuator which can be moved between a first position and at least one second position. It also has a detector for detecting the actuator in at least one of the said positions. The detector comprises a transponder with an individual transponder identification and a reading unit for reading out the transponder identification. The transponder and the reading unit are arranged relative to one another such that the reading unit is capable of reading out the transponder in the first position of the actuator but not in its second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Pilz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Pullmann, Christoph Zinser, Klaus Stark