Patents by Inventor Karl Smirra

Karl Smirra 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: 20100128459
    Abstract: A support element for an electronic control device includes receivers for peripheral electronic components and at least one path region for guiding electrical connections. The electrical connections lead to an integrated standardized interface for connection to central control electronics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Josef Loibl, Karl Smirra
  • Publication number: 20100122837
    Abstract: A rigid circuit board is provided which contains at least one integral limb shaped to provide predetermined movement at a free end of the limb in at least two mutually perpendicular planes. The rigid circuit board provides a rewiring structure at a low cost and is adaptable for use in a wide range of applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Hans-Werner Motsch, Florian Schels, Karl Smirra
  • Publication number: 20100110644
    Abstract: An electronic component for an integrated mechatronic system has at least two housing parts with at least one housing base, a housing cover, and an electrical connection between the components disposed in the interior of the housing and components located outside the housing. The electrical connection is fixed on the housing base. The housing cover is glued directly to the electrical connection and/or the housing base and, in this manner, enables lasting hermetically sealed protection for the sensitive electronic components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Joseph Loibl, Karl Smirra
  • Publication number: 20100067202
    Abstract: A housing for an electronic control device includes at least two housing parts, at least one housing base, a housing lid and an electronic connection between components disposed inside the housing and components disposed outside the housing. The connection is fixed to the base of the housing. The electronic connection is either constructed as a single-component flexible printed circuit board or as at least one partial flexible printed circuit board including at least one uniform open area of a copper conductor track outside an area covered by the housing lid. The width of the uniform region is oriented to a predefined contacting type of peripheral components and is longer than necessary for the contacting type. The invention therefore provides for a variable adaptation of generic electronics housings, thereby not necessarily requiring a novel structure of the housing with corresponding expensive individual packaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Josef Loibl, Karl Smirra
  • Publication number: 20100012355
    Abstract: A method for producing a first flexible conductor carrier includes applying at least one conductor track to a base insulating film. A covering layer is applied to the conductor track and the base insulating film in such a way that, in at least one conduction region of the first flexible conductor carrier, the conductor track is completely enclosed by the covering layer and the base insulating film. The base insulating film is free of the conductor track and the covering layer in at least one insulating region. The conductor track is free of the covering layer in at least one contact region of the first flexible conductor carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Georg Fischer, Josef Loibl, Karl Smirra
  • Publication number: 20100014224
    Abstract: A housing for receiving an electronic assembly includes a housing body having two openings opposite to each other, and two housing covers for closing the openings. At least one U-shaped clamp spring has a base and two legs. The clamp spring can be placed onto the housing in such a way that the legs exert forces onto the housing cover that are opposite to one another and interact which each other, with which the housing covers are fixed to the housing body. The clamp spring, which is placed on from the exterior, encompassing the housing body and thereby fixing the housing covers to the housing body in a force-locking manner, can be easily mounted and dismounted any number of times and ensures an installation of the housing covers onto the housing body that is resistant to vibrations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Karl Smirra
  • Publication number: 20100002403
    Abstract: A housing for an electronic control unit has at least two housing parts which include at least a housing base, a housing cover and an electronic connection between components which are disposed inside the housing and components which are outside the housing. The connection is fixed to the housing base. The electronic connection has open conductor track regions outside the housing cover. The regions are at least partially covered by one or more contact partners. In this case, the contact partners simultaneously have at least one direct contact-connection to one or more of the open conductor track regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Joseph Loibl, Karl Smirra
  • Publication number: 20090239401
    Abstract: A conductor track carrier is intended to contact-connect electrical components. The carrier has a flexible base film, a conductor track on the base film, and a contact-connection eye arranged in a contact-connection section of the conductor track carrier and electrically coupled to the conductor track. The conductor track carrier has a respective recess on two opposite sides of the contact-connection section, and web elements formed between the recesses in such a manner that the contact-connection section is pivotably mounted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Fink, Christian Janisch, Karl Smirra
  • Publication number: 20090083980
    Abstract: A method for producing a cooling body including cooling ribs for an electronic housing, in particular for the automotive industry, includes producing extruded profile slabs having cooling ribs which extend in a parallel manner. The profile slabs are disposed next to each other in relation to a surface which includes cooling ribs that are disposed in parallel. The profile slabs are cut to length by a profile circular saw having step profiles. In this way, the production process for producing a cooling body from extruded aluminum is variable for the first time in relation to the shape of the cooling body in such a way that the individual requirements in the electronic housing in relation to heat which is to be withdrawn, sealing between the housing and cooling body, and size of the cooling body, are taken into account. It is particularly suitable for use in the automotive industry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: VDO AUTOMOTIVE AG
    Inventors: Viktor Pfeuffer, Karl Smirra, Robin Zich
  • Publication number: 20090053943
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cable for bringing into contact with a contact point of a flexible strip conductor, to a contact strip for one or more cables of this type, and to a system for bringing control electronics, which are situated on a flexible printed circuit board, into contact with at least one electrical and/or electronic component. The component is, particularly, a mechatronic transmission or engine controller of a motor vehicle. A special contact with a welding boss is placed at the end of a cable. A bundle of cables of this type is fixed in a defined position by way of a contact strip. The invention enables, for the first time, one or more cables to be directly brought into contact with the contact point(s) of a flexible strip conductor. This advantageously eliminates additional contact points and parts such as mating connectors, etc. whereby leading to a distinct improvement in quality and reduction in costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Fink, Christian Janisch, Karl Smirra
  • Publication number: 20090016034
    Abstract: A control device has a base plate, a cover plate coupled to the base plate, a cavity formed between the base plate and the cover plate, a circuit carrier disposed in the cavity, and a conducting track carrier electrically coupled to the circuit carrier. The base plate has a continuous recess that is configured and arranged for feeding a casting compound into the cavity between the base plate and the cover plate. The casting compound is embodied to at least partly enclose the circuit carrier and/or the conducting track carrier in a vibration-damping manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Beer, Josef Loibl, Hermann-Josef Robin, Karl Smirra
  • Publication number: 20090002959
    Abstract: A control device permits a number of individual partially flexible printed circuit boards to be arranged in a manner that makes it possible to optimally disentangle signal and current paths while simultaneously reducing the investment in expensive flexible surfaces to a minimum. The improvement helps in saving on flexible surfaces and to design flexible component parts in order to make an optimal utilization possible and so no waste results. The individual partially flexible printed circuit boards are preferably laminated on an aluminum base plate. The edge areas of the partially flexible printed circuit board are formed by appropriate measures whereby obtaining a reliable sealing by means of a molded seal. The device is suited for mechatronic control units, particularly for control devices for mounting in a transmission or engine of a motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Josef A Loibl, Karl Smirra
  • Publication number: 20080253090
    Abstract: An IC component has a cooling arrangement that is embodied as an electronic housing provided with a cooling body. The IC component is directly disposed on the cooling body in the electronic housing. The invention advantageously provides a cooling arrangement for IC components that enables the IC component to be efficiently and directly cooled and assembled in a simple manner, without requiring additional components. It is especially suitable for applications in electronic housings in the automotive field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: VDO AUTOMOTIVE AG
    Inventors: Christian Janisch, Karl Smirra
  • Patent number: 7401792
    Abstract: To provide a seal for a conducting element (3) which is positioned eccentrically in a through-hole (2) in a housing wall (1), a proposal is made for a sealing body (8) which can be moved in a radial direction (11) and which can be fixed after assembly of the conducting element (3) by means of a clamping device (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Karl Smirra
  • Publication number: 20080087463
    Abstract: A housing (1) with at least one electrical connection (7) through a housing wall (4) can be manufactured especially economically and can facilitate an especially economical lacing of electronic components (2, 13) present on the interior and on the exterior of the housing (1). The electrical connection (7) is enclosed by a housing material and additionally sealed by a sealing material (6). The sealing material (6) also advantageously serves to seal a top (3) and a bottom (5) to the housing wall (4). Through the combination of the casing of the electrical connection (7) of the housing (1) and the sealing material (6), this arrangement is, moreover, especially impervious to oil or other aggressive media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Applicants: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG, SIEMENS AG, WALTER SOHNER PRAZISIONSKUNSTSTOFFTEILE GMBH & CO.
    Inventors: Robert Ingenbleek, Michael Schwab, Hubert Remmlinger, Oskar Schutz, Andreas Rekofsky, Thomas Riepl, Karl Smirra, Gunter Lugert
  • Publication number: 20070207634
    Abstract: A clamping element with an elliptical cross-section is introduced in a lying position between a circuit board and a housing, for fixing the circuit board in the housing. The clamping body is clamped by rotation in a vertical position between the circuit board and housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Inventors: Thomas Maurer, Karl Smirra
  • Publication number: 20060232940
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a housing, wherein the base body of the housing (10) is initially separated from a hollow profile and a printed circuit board (1) is subsequently inserted into the base body of the housing (10). The base body of the housing (10) is then closed laterally with the aid of covering elements (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Publication date: October 19, 2006
    Inventors: Karl Smirra, Gunter Scheid, Georg Fischer, Arnoud Smit
  • Patent number: 7090511
    Abstract: A circuit module (1) comprises a base plate (2) with a pivot slot (27), into which a retaining tab (26) of a cover (25) engages. The pivot joint formed by the pivot slot (27) and retaining tab (26) between base plate (2) and cover (25) makes simply assembly of the circuit module (1) possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Karl Smirra
  • Publication number: 20050026467
    Abstract: A circuit module (1) comprises a base plate (2) with a pivot slot (27), into which a retaining tab (26) of a cover (25) engages. The pivot joint formed by the pivot slot (27) and retaining tab (26) between base plate (2) and cover (25) makes simply assembly of the circuit module (1) possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventor: Karl Smirra
  • Patent number: 6781850
    Abstract: A configuration is described for making electrical contact between a flexible printed circuit board disposed on a supporting element and a contact spring has a sliding element which is disposed between the flexible printed circuit board and the contact spring so as to be incapable of being displaced with respect to the supporting element. When the contact spring is pushed onto the supporting element, the contact spring on the sliding element slides into its end position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Maurer, Karl Smirra