Patents by Inventor Manfred Kopp

Manfred Kopp 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: 9054724
    Abstract: Described is monitoring of an analog-digital conversion of a measured value of at least one of a pressure gauge, a level gauge and a flowmeter. Different measured values can be provided for the analog-digital converter by means of a first microcontroller, wherein these measured values are subsequently transmitted from this first area into a second area by means of a unidirectional coupler. These values are acquired by a second microcontroller in the second area and compared with reference values that are stored in the second area or at another location. This diagnostic circuit may make it possible to detect drifts of resistances and of reference voltages, as well as a faulty analog-digital converter or a program execution error of the first microcontroller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG
    Inventors: Ralf Schaetzle, Manfred Kopp
  • Patent number: 8443019
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a device such as a sensor, operator device, communication device, or a liquid level metering device, with a measured value input to apply a measured value. The device includes at least a first memory region to provide for an adjustment factor, and a computer, which is designed and/or controlled to multiply a first whole number by a floating-point number to obtain a product of the multiplication, while the first whole number corresponds either to the applied measured value or the provided adjustment factor; and, the floating-point number corresponds to the other measured value or to the adjustment factor. The computer has a second memory region for the storing of the floating-point number in a format of a second whole number, and the computer is designed and/or controlled to carry out a multiplication of the first whole number and the second whole number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Vega Grieshaber KG
    Inventor: Manfred Kopp
  • Publication number: 20130064321
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the unidirectional, asynchronous serial data transfer with an asynchronous data format with F frame bits between a transmitting interface of a data transmitting device and between a data receiving device with a serial receiving interface comprising an asynchronous serial data input. It is provided that the transmitting interface is constructed as a synchronous serial interface with at least one data line, whereby the data line is connected to the asynchronous serial data input of the receiving interface, a data word with D data bits to be transmitted by the data transmitting device in order to generate a format with F frame bits corresponding to the asynchronous data format is supplemented. The data word supplemented with the frame bits is stored in a transmitting register for transmission to the data receiving device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventor: Manfred Kopp
  • Patent number: 8373585
    Abstract: Described is monitoring of an analog-digital conversion of a measured value of at least one of a pressure gauge, a level gauge and a flowmeter. Different measured values can be provided for the analog-digital converter by means of a first microcontroller, wherein these measured values are subsequently transmitted from this first area into a second area by means of a unidirectional coupler. These values are acquired by a second microcontroller in the second area and compared with reference values that are stored in the second area or at another location. This diagnostic circuit may make it possible to detect drifts of resistances and of reference voltages, as well as a faulty analog-digital converter or a program execution error of the first microcontroller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG
    Inventors: Ralf Schaetzle, Manfred Kopp
  • Patent number: 8321155
    Abstract: A field device for measuring the filling level, the pressure or the density of a medium in a container is described. The field device comprises two processors that are separate from each other. The first processor corresponds to a lower safety standard while the second processor corresponds to a higher safety standard. Functions of the field device that are directed towards safety are carried out in the second processor. Functions that are less critical to safety are carried out in the first processor. Data exchange between the two processors is controlled by way of an operating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG
    Inventors: Winfried Rauer, Martin Gaiser, Manfred Kopp, Ralf Schaetzle
  • Patent number: 8205022
    Abstract: A method for generating a device description for a measuring apparatus in a target field bus protocol is described. The method comprises the reception of a first device description of the apparatus. The first device description of the apparatus comprises at least one variable. The at least one variable is related to a storage cell of the apparatus. The target field bus protocol is selected from a plurality of field bus protocols, and at least one block is formed from the at least one variable. The at least one block has a maximum block size that corresponds to the smallest maximum block size of at least two field bus protocols of the plurality of field bus protocols. The maximum block size can be transmitted via a field bus with a single request when the respective field bus protocol is used. Subsequently, the at least one block is provided as device description for the apparatus in the target field bus protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG
    Inventors: Andreas Isenmann, Harald Auber, Fridolin Faist, Martin Gaiser, Manfred Kopp, Robert Laun, Juergen Lienhard, Manfred Metzger, Ralf Schaetzle
  • Publication number: 20100271000
    Abstract: Described is monitoring of an analog-digital conversion of a measured value of at least one of a pressure gauge, a level gauge and a flowmeter. Different measured values can be provided for the analog-digital converter by means of a first microcontroller, wherein these measured values are subsequently transmitted from this first area into a second area by means of a unidirectional coupler. These values are acquired by a second microcontroller in the second area and compared with reference values that are stored in the second area or at another location. This diagnostic circuit may make it possible to detect drifts of resistances and of reference voltages, as well as a faulty analog-digital converter or a program execution error of the first microcontroller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventors: Ralf SCHAETZLE, Manfred KOPP
  • Publication number: 20100256921
    Abstract: A field device for measuring the filling level, the pressure or the density of a medium in a container is described. The field device comprises two processors that are separate from each other. The first processor corresponds to a lower safety standard while the second processor corresponds to a higher safety standard. Functions of the field device that are directed towards safety are carried out in the second processor. Functions that are less critical to safety are carried out in the first processor. Data exchange between the two processors is controlled by way of an operating system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Winfried Rauer, Martin Gaiser, Manfred Kopp, Ralf Schaetzle
  • Publication number: 20100169398
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a device such as a sensor, operator device, communication device, or a liquid level metering device, with a measured value input to apply a measured value. The device includes at least a first memory region to provide for an adjustment factor, and a computer, which is designed and/or controlled to multiply a first whole number by a floating-point number to obtain a product of the multiplication, while the first whole number corresponds either to the applied measured value or the provided adjustment factor; and, the floating-point number corresponds to the other measured value or to the adjustment factor. The computer has a second memory region for the storing of the floating-point number in a format of a second whole number, and the computer is designed and/or controlled to carry out a multiplication of the first whole number and the second whole number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: VEGA Grieshaber KG
    Inventor: MANFRED KOPP
  • Publication number: 20100121999
    Abstract: A method for generating a device description for a measuring apparatus in a target field bus protocol is described. The method comprises the reception of a first device description of the apparatus. The first device description of the apparatus comprises at least one variable. The at least one variable is related to a storage cell of the apparatus. The target field bus protocol is selected from a plurality of field bus protocols, and at least one block is formed from the at least one variable. The at least one block has a maximum block size that corresponds to the smallest maximum block size of at least two field bus protocols of the plurality of field bus protocols. The maximum block size can be transmitted via a field bus with a single request when the respective field bus protocol is used. Subsequently, the at least one block is provided as device description for the apparatus in the target field bus protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Andreas Isenmann, Harald Auber, Fridolin Faist, Martin Gaiser, Manfred Kopp, Robert Laun, Juergen Lienhard, Manfred Metzger, Ralf Schaetzle