Patents by Inventor Mark EBERSPAECHER

Mark EBERSPAECHER 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: 11928809
    Abstract: A device for generating an image of an object by electromagnetic waves has a transmission device which is set up to radiate electromagnetic waves in the direction of the object, a receiving device which is set up to receive electromagnetic waves from the object, and a digital processing and control unit which is set up to generate image data of the object from the measured data. Here, the transmission device and the receiving device are arranged in at least one modular unit. The digital processing and control unit has an interface via which different modular units can be exchangeably coupled to the digital processing and control unit. Here, the interface is set up to transmit data to the modular unit and to receive from this, to transmit control signals to the transmission device and to the receiving device, and to supply the modular unit with energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Balluff GmbH
    Inventor: Mark Eberspaecher
  • Patent number: 11573288
    Abstract: A multi-field zone proximity sensor (10) for measuring a distance (1) of an object (22) from the multi-field zone proximity sensor (10) The multi-field zone proximity sensor (10) has a housing (12) that includes an antenna structure (14) that is arranged in or close to a side (19) of the housing (12). The antenna structure (14) is set up for emitting an electromagnetic transmission free space wave (20) and for receiving an electromagnetic reflection wave (24) reflected on the object (22). The multi-field zone proximity sensor (10) has sensor electronics (16) which are set up to determine the distance (l) of the object (22) from the multi-field zone proximity sensor (10) based on the received reflection wave (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: BALLUFF GMBH
    Inventors: Mark Eberspaecher, Attila Szabo
  • Publication number: 20220156916
    Abstract: A device for generating an image of an object by electromagnetic waves has a transmission device which is set up to radiate electromagnetic waves in the direction of the object, a receiving device which is set up to receive electromagnetic waves from the object, and a digital processing and control unit which is set up to generate image data of the object from the measured data. Here, the transmission device and the receiving device are arranged in at least one modular unit. The digital processing and control unit has an interface via which different modular units can be exchangeably coupled to the digital processing and control unit. Here, the interface is set up to transmit data to the modular unit and to receive from this, to transmit control signals to the transmission device and to the receiving device, and to supply the modular unit with energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: Balluff GmbH
    Inventor: Mark EBERSPAECHER
  • Patent number: 10598777
    Abstract: A proximity sensor for measuring the distance from a target contains a microwave oscillator providing a transmission wave output signal emitted toward the target as a free space transmission wave which is reflected by an electrically conductive target surface as a free space reflection wave received by the proximity sensor as a reflection wave. The distance is determined from the transmission wave and the reflection wave. The transmission wave is guided in a waveguide transmission path as a waveguide transmission wave. The transmission wave is coupled into the waveguide with a wave mode leading to the detachment of the waveguide transmission wave at the waveguide front end aperture into the free space transmission wave and to the propagation of the free space transmission wave to the target. At least one reception path is electromagnetically decoupled from the transmission path and guides the reflection wave as a waveguide reflection wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Balluff GmbH
    Inventors: Mark Eberspaecher, Sorin Fericean
  • Publication number: 20200018820
    Abstract: A multi-field zone proximity sensor (10) for measuring a distance (l) of an object (22) from the multi-field zone proximity sensor (10) is described, wherein the multi-field zone proximity sensor (10) has a housing (12) in which an antenna structure (14) is incorporated, which is arranged in or close to a side (19) of the housing (12), wherein the antenna structure (14) is set up for emitting an electromagnetic transmission free space wave (20) and for receiving an electromagnetic reflection wave (24) reflected on the object (22), wherein the multi-field zone proximity sensor (10) has sensor electronics (16) which are set up to determine the distance (l) of the object (22) from the multi-field zone proximity sensor (10) based on the received reflection wave (24).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Mark EBERSPAECHER, Attila SZABO
  • Patent number: 10534077
    Abstract: A proximity sensor measures the distance of a target and a method operates the proximity sensor. The proximity sensor emits a transmission signal as a free-field transmission wave, which is reflected at the target and as a free-field reflection signal is received by the proximity sensor as a reflection signal, wherein the determining of the distance is provided from the phasing of the reflection signal in relation to the phasing of the transmission signal. The proximity sensor shifts the phasing of the transmission signal chronologically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Balluff GmbH
    Inventors: Sorin Fericean, Mark Eberspaecher
  • Patent number: 10132922
    Abstract: A proximity sensor for measuring the distance from an object contains a microwave oscillator providing, as an output signal, a transmission wave emitted toward the object as a free space transmission wave reflected by the object, the object being electrically conductive or having at least one electrically conductive surface, as a free space reflection wave and is received by the proximity sensor as a reflection wave. The reflection coefficient is determined from the transmission and reflection waves and is provided by the proximity sensor as a measure of the distance. The transmission wave is guided in a waveguide as a waveguide transmission wave and is injected into the waveguide with a wave mode which results in the waveguide transmission wave being separated at the aperture at the front end of the waveguide into the free space transmission wave and in the free space transmission wave propagating to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Balluff GmbH
    Inventors: Sorin Fericean, Mark Eberspaecher
  • Publication number: 20180045820
    Abstract: A proximity sensor measures the distance of a target and a method operates the proximity sensor. The proximity sensor emits a transmission signal as a free-field transmission wave, which is reflected at the target and as a free-field reflection signal is received by the proximity sensor as a reflection signal, wherein the determining of the distance is provided from the phasing of the reflection signal in relation to the phasing of the transmission signal. The proximity sensor shifts the phasing of the transmission signal chronologically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: Balluff GmbH
    Inventors: Sorin FERICEAN, Mark EBERSPAECHER
  • Publication number: 20170363730
    Abstract: A proximity sensor for measuring the distance from a target contains a microwave oscillator providing a transmission wave output signal emitted toward the target as a free space transmission wave which is reflected by an electrically conductive target surface as a free space reflection wave received by the proximity sensor as a reflection wave. The distance is determined from the transmission wave and the reflection wave. The transmission wave is guided in a waveguide transmission path as a waveguide transmission wave. The transmission wave is coupled into the waveguide with a wave mode leading to the detachment of the waveguide transmission wave at the waveguide front end aperture into the free space transmission wave and to the propagation of the free space transmission wave to the target. At least one reception path is electromagnetically decoupled from the transmission path and guides the reflection wave as a waveguide reflection wave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: Balluff GmbH
    Inventors: Mark EBERSPAECHER, Sorin FERICEAN
  • Publication number: 20160124083
    Abstract: A proximity sensor for measuring the distance from an object contains a microwave oscillator which provides, as an output signal, a transmission wave which is emitted by the proximity sensor in the direction of the object as a free space transmission wave which is reflected by the object, which is electrically conductive or has at least one electrically conductive surface, as a free space reflection wave and is received by the proximity sensor as a reflection wave. The reflection coefficient is determined from the transmission wave and the reflection wave and is provided by the proximity sensor as a measure of the distance. The transmission wave is guided in a waveguide as a waveguide transmission wave, the transmission wave is injected into the waveguide with a wave mode which results in the waveguide transmission wave being separated at the aperture at the front end of the waveguide into the free space transmission wave and in the free space transmission wave propagating to the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Applicant: Balluff GmbH
    Inventors: Sorin FERICEAN, Mark EBERSPAECHER