Patents by Inventor Manfred Norbert Stein

Manfred Norbert Stein 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: 20230322524
    Abstract: Sensor device for an elevator comprising a car comprising an elevator door, which has a door movement space in the passage and disposed in front of which is a spatial region in front on the floor in front of the door movement space, comprising a detection device, configured for separately detecting objects in the door movement space and in the spatial region in front and for carrying out successive detection passes, and comprising an evaluation device, wherein the evaluation device has a memory and is configured to store in the memory at least temporarily the information as to whether an object has been detected during a detection pass, and to output an early closing signal for closing the elevator doors if no object has been detected during a detection pass and the information that an object has been detected has been stored in the memory for a preceding detection pass, in particular for a specific preceding detection pass, in particular for the directly preceding detection pass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: Martin Lendi, Manfred Norbert Stein
  • Publication number: 20160085080
    Abstract: A lens carrier and an optical module for forming a light curtain associated with monitoring a protective field. The lens carrier includes at least one lens for focussing a radiation beam forming said light curtain and a lens mask having at least one opening for shaping the radiation beam to have a predetermined aperture. The lens carrier is formed by overmolding said lens mask with a transparent material. The optical module has such a lens carrier and a module body for mounting a radiation transmitter/receiver carrier that comprises at least one transmitter and/or receiver for transmitting and/or receiving said radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Applicant: CEDES SAFETY & AUTOMATION AG
    Inventors: Carl Meinherz, Richard Casty, Danilo Dorizzi, Martin Hardegger, Manfred Norbert Stein, Clau Lombriser, Guido Baumgartner
  • Patent number: 9279902
    Abstract: An optical module for an optical unit associated with forming a light curtain for monitoring a protective or surveillance field. The optical module includes at least one radiation emitting and/or radiation receiving element for transmitting and/or receiving a radiation beam associated with forming a light curtain. The optical module includes a module body for mounting a radiation transmitter/receiver carrier that carries the at least one transmitting and/or receiving element associated with the radiation beam. The module body has at least one alignment element for aligning the optical module within a support element that forms an outer housing of the optical unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Safety AG
    Inventors: Carl Meinherz, Richard Casty, Danilo Dorizzi, Martin Hardegger, Manfred Norbert Stein, Clau Lombriser, Guido Baumgartner
  • Patent number: 9274343
    Abstract: A lens carrier and an optical module for forming a light curtain associated with monitoring a protective field. The lens carrier includes at least one lens for focusing a radiation beam forming said light curtain and a lens mask having at least one opening for shaping the radiation beam to have a predetermined aperture. The lens carrier is formed by overmolding said lens mask with a transparent material. The optical module has such a lens carrier and a module body for mounting a radiation transmitter/receiver carrier that comprises at least one transmitter and/or receiver for transmitting and/or receiving said radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Safety AG
    Inventors: Carl Meinherz, Richard Casty, Danilo Dorizzi, Martin Hardegger, Manfred Norbert Stein, Clau Lombriser, Guido Baumgartner
  • Patent number: 9025019
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for utilizing time of flight sensors in an industrial automation environment. The method includes employing a multi pixel camera associated with a time of flight sensor to detect an object located within a defined or bounded target area, comparing pixels with adjacent pixels associated with an image of the object captured by the multi pixel camera, identifying the object as being a colored, texture, or highly reflective object, and controlling industrial machinery based on the identification of the object entering the target area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignees: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc., Cedes Safety & Automation AG
    Inventors: Carl Meinherz, Craig Martin Brockman, Elik I. Fooks, Manfred Norbert Stein, Martin Hardegger, Wei Jie Chen, Reto Berner, Richard Galera, Robert M. Black, Roger Merz, Suresh Nair, Steven A. Eisenbrown
  • Publication number: 20130335725
    Abstract: A system for calibrating a color sensing pixel based upon the distance between the color sensing pixel and an object. The distance is determined by measuring the phase shift of electromagnetic radiation as reflected from the surface of the object compared with the wave profile of the electromagnetic radiation incident on the object surface. The color sensing pixel is associated with a Time-of-Flight (ToF) pixel which is employed to determine the distance of the color sensing pixel. The electromagnetic radiation can be from any part of the electromagnetic spectrum, in particular the infrared and visible light portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The color sensing pixel and the ToF pixel can reside on the same semiconductor or on disparate semiconductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicants: Cedes Safety & Automation AG, Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Hardegger, Reto Berner, Richard Galera, Suresh Nair, Carl Meinherz, Craig Martin Brockman, Elik I. Fooks, Manfred Norbert Stein, Robert M. Black
  • Publication number: 20130292554
    Abstract: An optical module for an optical unit associated with forming a light curtain for monitoring a protective or surveillance field. The optical module includes at least one radiation emitting and/or radiation receiving element for transmitting and/or receiving a radiation beam associated with forming a light curtain. The optical module includes a module body for mounting a radiation transmitter/receiver carrier that carries the at least one transmitting and/or receiving element associated with the radiation beam. The module body has at least one alignment element for aligning the optical module within a support element that forms an outer housing of the optical unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: CEDES SAFETY & AUTOMATION AG
    Inventors: Carl Meinherz, Richard Casty, Danilo Dorizzi, Martin Hardegger, Manfred Norbert Stein, Clau Lombriser, Guido Baumgartner
  • Publication number: 20130293966
    Abstract: A lens carrier and an optical module for forming a light curtain associated with monitoring a protective field. The lens carrier includes at least one lens for focussing a radiation beam forming said light curtain and a lens mask having at least one opening for shaping the radiation beam to have a predetermined aperture. The lens carrier is formed by overmolding said lens mask with a transparent material. The optical module has such a lens carrier and a module body for mounting a radiation transmitter/receiver carrier that comprises at least one transmitter and/or receiver for transmitting and/or receiving said radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: CEDES SAFETY & AUTOMATION AG
    Inventors: Carl Meinherz, Richard Casty, Danilo Dorizzi, Martin Hardegger, Manfred Norbert Stein, Clau Lombriser, Guido Baumgartner
  • Patent number: 8542348
    Abstract: A system for calibrating a color sensing pixel based upon the distance between the color sensing pixel and an object. The distance is determined by measuring the phase shift of electromagnetic radiation as reflected from the surface of the object compared with the wave profile of the electromagnetic radiation incident on the object surface. The color sensing pixel is associated with a Time-of-Flight (ToF) pixel which is employed to determine the distance of the color sensing pixel. The electromagnetic radiation can be from any part of the electromagnetic spectrum, in particular the infrared and visible light portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The color sensing pixel and the ToF pixel can reside on the same semiconductor or on disparate semiconductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Hardegger, Reto Berner, Richard Galera, Suresh Nair, Carl Meinherz, Craig Martin Brockman, Elik I. Fooks, Manfred Norbert Stein, Robert M. Black
  • Publication number: 20120105823
    Abstract: A system for calibrating a color sensing pixel based upon the distance between the color sensing pixel and an object. The distance is determined by measuring the phase shift of electromagnetic radiation as reflected from the surface of the object compared with the wave profile of the electromagnetic radiation incident on the object surface. The color sensing pixel is associated with a Time-of-Flight (ToF) pixel which is employed to determine the distance of the color sensing pixel. The electromagnetic radiation can be from any part of the electromagnetic spectrum, in particular the infrared and visible light portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The color sensing pixel and the ToF pixel can reside on the same semiconductor or on disparate semiconductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicants: CEDES SAFETY & AUTOMATION AG, ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Martin Hardegger, Reto Berner, Richard Galera, Suresh Nair, Carl Meinherz, Craig Martin Brockman, Elik I. Fooks, Manfred Norbert Stein, Robert M. Black
  • Publication number: 20120092485
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for utilizing time of flight sensors in an industrial automation environment. The method includes employing a multi pixel camera associated with a time of flight sensor to detect an object located within a defined or bounded target area, comparing pixels with adjacent pixels associated with an image of the object captured by the multi pixel camera, identifying the object as being a colored, texture, or highly reflective object, and controlling industrial machinery based on the identification of the object entering the target area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicants: CEDES SAFETY & AUTOMATION AG, ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Carl Meinherz, Craig Martin Brockman, Elik I. Fooks, Manfred Norbert Stein, Martin Hardegger, Wei Jie Chen, Reto Berner, Richard Galera, Robert M. Black, Roger Merz, Suresh Nair, Steven A. Eisenbrown
  • Publication number: 20120095575
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling industrial equipment in the performance of various industrial activities based on the detected body movement of a user in an industrial automation environment. The method includes employing a time-of-flight sensor to detect movement of a body part of the user, ascertaining whether or not the movement of the body part conforms to a recognized movement of the body part, interpreting the recognized movement of the body part as a performable action, and thereafter actuating industrial machinery to perform the performable action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicants: Cedes Safety & Automation AG, Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Meinherz, Craig Martin Brockman, Elik I. Fooks, Manfred Norbert Stein, Martin Hardegger, Wei Jie Chen, Reto Berner, Richard Galera, Robert M. Black, Roger Merz, Suresh Nair, Steven A. Eisenbrown
  • Publication number: 20090316135
    Abstract: A sensor device having a sensor arrangement for detecting moving objects that includes a sensor and an electronic unit. The sensor arrangement is designed to detect an object and to subsequently investigate whether there are present within the surface of the object regions that move at a different speed and/or acceleration. The sensor arrangement can also investigate whether the object is accelerating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: Cedes AG
    Inventors: Manfred Norbert Stein, Carl Meinherz, Bas Albers