Patents by Inventor Manfred Stein

Manfred 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).

  • Patent number: 11709266
    Abstract: A time-of-flight (TOF) sensor device includes: an illumination component that emitting a light beam toward a viewing space; a receiving lens element receiving reflected light and directing the reflected light to a photo-receiver array; and a processor. The processor is configured to generate distance information for a pixel corresponding to an object in the viewing space based on time-of-flight analysis of the reflected light; record a variation of an intensity of the reflected light from the object over time to yield intensity variation information; record a variation of the distance information for the pixel corresponding to the object over time to yield distance variation information; and apply a correction factor to the distance information in response to a determination that the intensity variation information and the distance variation information do not conform to an inverse-square relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION SAFETY AG
    Inventors: Carl Meinherz, Martin Hardegger, Manfred Stein, Danilo Dorizzi
  • Patent number: 11262475
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optoelectronic sensor used with light curtains for monitoring a sensing field. The optoelectronic sensor includes at least one optical unit having at least one radiation emitting element and at least one radiation receiving element and a control unit for processing an output signal generated by said radiation receiving element and for generating a defined sensor signal based on the output signal. The optical unit has a diagnostic unit including a monitoring unit operable to monitor at least one parameter indicative of an operational status of the optical unit. The diagnostic unit includes a processing unit operable to generate a communication signal indicative of said operational status, and the diagnostic unit is arranged in a separately housed, detachable plug-in module. The processing unit comprises a wireless communication interface for wirelessly receiving and transmitting communication signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Martin Hardegger, Norbert Manfred Stein, Suresh R. Nair
  • Publication number: 20200278447
    Abstract: A time-of-flight (TOF) sensor device includes: an illumination component that emitting a light beam toward a viewing space; a receiving lens element receiving reflected light and directing the reflected light to a photo-receiver array; and a processor. The processor is configured to generate distance information for a pixel corresponding to an object in the viewing space based on time-of-flight analysis of the reflected light; record a variation of an intensity of the reflected light from the object over time to yield intensity variation information; record a variation of the distance information for the pixel corresponding to the object over time to yield distance variation information; and apply a correction factor to the distance information in response to a determination that the intensity variation information and the distance variation information do not conform to an inverse-square relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: Carl Meinherz, Martin Hardegger, Manfred Stein, Danilo Dorizzi
  • Patent number: 10677922
    Abstract: A time-of-flight (TOF) sensor device is provided with features for correcting distance measurement offset errors caused by such factors as temperature, dynamic reflectivity ranges of objects in the viewing space, or other factors. In various embodiments, the TOF sensor device generates corrected distance values based on comparison of two different distance values measured for an object by two different measurement techniques, including but not limited to phase shift measurement, pulsed TOF measurement, distance measurement based on the focal length of the TOF sensor's lens, and comparison of distance variations with light intensity variations. In addition, some embodiments of the TOF sensor device perform self-calibration using internal waveguides or parasitic reflections as distance references.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Automotive Safety AG
    Inventors: Carl Meinherz, Martin Hardegger, Manfred Stein, Danilo Dorizzi
  • Publication number: 20190094412
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optoelectronic sensor used with light curtains for monitoring a sensing field. The optoelectronic sensor includes at least one optical unit having at least one radiation emitting element and at least one radiation receiving element and a control unit for processing an output signal generated by said radiation receiving element and for generating a defined sensor signal based on the output signal. The optical unit has a diagnostic unit including a monitoring unit operable to monitor at least one parameter indicative of an operational status of the optical unit. The diagnostic unit includes a processing unit operable to generate a communication signal indicative of said operational status, and the diagnostic unit is arranged in a separately housed, detachable plug-in module. The processing unit comprises a wireless communication interface for wirelessly receiving and transmitting communication signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Martin Hardegger, Norbert Manfred Stein, Suresh R. Nair
  • Patent number: 9910186
    Abstract: A light curtain system is configured to perform dynamic partial muting of the light curtain's beams to accommodate products of different heights. When a product enters the light curtain's protective field during muting mode, the system identifies the highest interrupted light beam, which is indicative of the product's height. The system then sets the muting height for the light curtain based on this highest interrupted beam. Beams higher than the set muting height are un-muted, while beams up to the set muting height remain muted. Both regions are actively monitored during the partial muting mode to confirm the expected non-interrupted, respectively interrupted conditions. When the product clears the light curtain, the muting height is reset, and a new muting height is set in a similar fashion when the next part enters the light curtain's protective field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Safety AG
    Inventors: Manfred Stein, Eric Matthew Lutz
  • Publication number: 20180059245
    Abstract: A time-of-flight (TOF) sensor device is provided with features for correcting distance measurement offset errors caused by such factors as temperature, dynamic reflectivity ranges of objects in the viewing space, or other factors. In various embodiments, the TOF sensor device generates corrected distance values based on comparison of two different distance values measured for an object by two different measurement techniques, including but not limited to phase shift measurement, pulsed TOF measurement, distance measurement based on the focal length of the TOF sensor's lens, and comparison of distance variations with light intensity variations. In addition, some embodiments of the TOF sensor device perform self-calibration using internal waveguides or parasitic reflections as distance references.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Carl Meinherz, Martin Hardegger, Manfred Stein, Danilo Dorizzi
  • Patent number: 9823352
    Abstract: A time-of-flight (TOF) sensor device is provided with features for correcting distance measurement offset errors caused by such factors as temperature, dynamic reflectivity ranges of objects in the viewing space, or other factors. In various embodiments, the TOF sensor device generates corrected distance values based on comparison of two different distance values measured for an object by two different measurement techniques, including but not limited to phase shift measurement, pulsed TOF measurement, distance measurement based on the focal length of the TOF sensor's lens, and comparison of distance variations with light intensity variations. In addition, some embodiments of the TOF sensor device perform self-calibration using internal waveguides or parasitic reflections as distance references.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Safety AG
    Inventors: Carl Meinherz, Martin Hardegger, Manfred Stein, Danilo Dorizzi
  • Publication number: 20170052278
    Abstract: A light curtain system is configured to perform dynamic partial muting of the light curtain's beams to accommodate products of different heights. When a product enters the light curtain's protective field during muting mode, the system identifies the highest interrupted light beam, which is indicative of the product's height. The system then sets the muting height for the light curtain based on this highest interrupted beam. Beams higher than the set muting height are un-muted, while beams up to the set muting height remain muted. Both regions are actively monitored during the partial muting mode to confirm the expected non-interrupted, respectively interrupted conditions. When the product clears the light curtain, the muting height is reset, and a new muting height is set in a similar fashion when the next part enters the light curtain's protective field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Manfred Stein, Eric Matthew Lutz
  • Publication number: 20160124089
    Abstract: A time-of-flight (TOF) sensor device is provided with features for correcting distance measurement offset errors caused by such factors as temperature, dynamic reflectivity ranges of objects in the viewing space, or other factors. In various embodiments, the TOF sensor device generates corrected distance values based on comparison of two different distance values measured for an object by two different measurement techniques, including but not limited to phase shift measurement, pulsed TOF measurement, distance measurement based on the focal length of the TOF sensor's lens, and comparison of distance variations with light intensity variations. In addition, some embodiments of the TOF sensor device perform self-calibration using internal waveguides or parasitic reflections as distance references.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Carl Meinherz, Martin Hardegger, Manfred Stein, Danilo Dorizzi
  • Patent number: 8107058
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Cedes AG
    Inventors: Manfred Stein, Carl Meinherz, Bas Albers
  • Publication number: 20110298579
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for defining a safety zone in an industrial automation environment. The method includes monitoring an object that approaches an operating zone where equipment is controlled within the operating zone. This includes determining the speed or direction that the object approaches the operating zone. The method includes dynamically adjusting a safety region in view of the determined speed or direction of the object and enabling or disabling the equipment within the operating zone based in part on the object entering the safety region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicants: Cedes Safety & Automation AG, ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Martin Hardegger, Reto Berner, Richard Galera, Suresh Nair, Wei Jie Chen, Carl Meinherz, Craig Martin Brockman, Elik I. Fooks, Manfred Stein, Robert M. Black, Roger Merz, Steven A. Eisenbrown
  • Patent number: 6350809
    Abstract: Water-borne base coats, the resin solid of which contain 40 to 90 wt-% of a water-dilutable polyester binder, 0 to 50 wt-% of one or more additional binders, 0 to 20 wt-% of one or more paste resins and 10 to 40 wt-% of one or more cross-linking agents, wherein the water-dilutable polyester binder has a weight average molecular mass of 5000 to 50000, an acid value of 10 to 50 mg KOH/g, a hydroxyl value of 30 to 100 mg KOH/g and an average hydroxyl-functionality of 2 to 3 and consists of 5 to 25 wt-% of structural units —O—R—O— derived from one or more macrodiols having a hydroxyl value of 25 to 120 mg KOH/g, wherein R represents residues located between the terminal hydroxyl groups of the one or more macrodiols, are suitable for preparing water-borne base coat/clear coat-two-layer coatings, in particular water-borne base coat/powder clear coat two-layer coatings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Armin Goebel, Holger Schmidt, Manfred Stein, Bettina Vogt-Birnbrich
  • Patent number: 6174474
    Abstract: A device and a method are disclosed, by means of which microfilament yarns made of synthetic polymers can be produced with increased uniformity of the titer, dye absorption and improved physical yarn properties at increased production speeds by means of a spinning process with spinnerets of high hole density and a central cooling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: EMS-Inventa AG
    Inventors: Manfred Stein, Christian Baumann, Ulrich Kemp, Gunter Goossens
  • Patent number: 5507928
    Abstract: Process for the production of multi-layer lacquer coatings by electrophoretic deposition of a first coating layer of a first, aqueous coating composition onto an electrically conductive substrate, application of a second coating layer based on a second, powder coating composition and joint baking of the coating layers so obtained, which process is characterised in that a powder coating composition is used for the second coating layer which is based on binders which contain no diene-based polymer units, wherein the coating composition is selected such that the minimum baking temperature range of the second coating layer is above that of the first coating layer or overlaps with this range in such a manner that the lower limit of the range of the second coating layer is above the lower limit of the range of the first coating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Herberts GmbH
    Inventors: Reiner Bohmert, Matthias Kimpel, Klausjorg Klein, Manfred Stein
  • Patent number: 5486384
    Abstract: Process for producing a multi-layer lacquer coating by the application of a coat of clear lacquer including coating agents which are curable exclusively by polymerization in radicalic and/or cationic manner to a dried or crosslinked colored and/or effect-producing basecoat film process is performed in light having a wavelength of over 550 nm or subject to the exclusion of light. The application step is followed by initiation or implementation of curing of the clear-lacquer film by high-energy radiation. The process is particularly suitable for producing multi-layer lacquer coatings in the automobile industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: Herberts GmbH
    Inventors: Udo Bastian, Manfred Stein
  • Patent number: 5216599
    Abstract: An instrument for recording individual body temperature data by means of an electrical temperature sensor to determine the ovulation time of humans or animals, has a data counter which is fed by temperature data pulses, and generates a mean value which is fed to an output of the data counter thus enabling the instrument to self-adjust for sensor drift and physiological changes. The instrument also has an electrical display, which is connected to the output, to display temperature data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Uebe-Thermometer GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Uebe, Manfred Stein
  • Patent number: 4254491
    Abstract: Electric clock with an oscillator, particularly a quartz oscillator, a frequency divider connected to the quartz oscillator and a control stage connected following the frequency divider, via which control stage a stepping motor, which stepping motor is coupled with the dial train, is able to be applied with pulses of the same or alternating polarity. Each pulse is formed from a number of individual pulses, the pulse duty cycle of the individual pulses reducing toward the end of the first mentioned pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1981
    Assignee: Quarz-Zeit AG
    Inventors: Martin Haub, Manfred Stein
  • Patent number: 4176515
    Abstract: An electronic clock, particularly a quartz clock, with a timer signal transmitting stage, an indicator system which at least contains a minute counter and an hour counter, as well as a decoding stage and a digital indicator board, and an alarm system which at least contains a presettable counter associated with the minutes and a presettable counter associated with the hours, the outputs of which presettable counters are able to be locked on the indicator system, and a coincidence stage for comparison of the output signals of the counters of the indicator system with those of the alarm system. Each counter of the alarm system constitutes a forward-rearward-counter, and switches are provided for selection of the counting direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1979
    Assignee: Quarz-Zeit AG
    Inventors: Manfred Stein, Dieter Busch
  • Patent number: 4161759
    Abstract: A protection circuit for a voltage regulator in integrated construction, particularly for motor vehicles, comprising a resistor in the ground connection line of the voltage regulator and a diode path between the voltage regulator-sided end of the same and the input of the voltage regulator and a unit for limiting the potential difference occurring on the resistor to a constant or a very small value in comparison to the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1979
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventor: Manfred Stein