Patents by Inventor Michael Hofmann

Michael Hofmann 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: 20240141539
    Abstract: A disclosed method for operating a treatment system and to a treatment system for electrophoretic dip coating, more particularly dip painting of a metal workpiece, more particularly of a vehicle body, in a dipping tank filled with a paint, wherein: a relative movement between the workpiece and a bus bar is carried out in the dipping tank; a voltage is applied to the workpiece; and, while the workpiece is in the effective range of at least one bus bar portion of the bus bar, electric current is fed to the workpiece from the at least one bus bar portion at least some of the time. Examples disclosed herein also relate to a treatment system and to a computer program product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Markus RAMSAIER, Michael DIETERICH, Sebastian BROSI, Jens HOFMANN
  • Publication number: 20240120507
    Abstract: A process is proposed for producing a bipolar plate for an electrochemical device, said process comprising providing a first main plate body and a second main plate body as fibrous shaped bodies including carbon fibers and each having a joining face and an opposing useful face, infiltrating the main plate bodies with at least one carbon allotrope, locally applying silicon to respective joining sites in the joining faces, placing the joining faces against one another, such that the joining sites rest against one another and the useful faces of the two main plate bodies face away from one another, and at least locally heating the joining sites, such that the silicon melts and reacts with adjoining carbon to form a silicon-carbon bond.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Christian Metzner, Michael Hofmann, Florian Vogel, Jürgen Steinwandel, Helmut Piringer
  • Publication number: 20240115115
    Abstract: An adaptable working-channel apparatus comprising: at an external working channel attached at its proximal end to a first mounting coupling; a handle-mounting sleeve for surrounding an endoscope shaft or handle, and having on its radially outer peripheral side at least one second mounting coupling for releasable mounting engagement with the first mounting coupling. The first mounting coupling comprises two spring-loaded clamping branches that are hinged together like a clothes pin and each form a clamping portion and an actuation portion. The second mounting coupling has a mounting rail extending in the longitudinal direction of the handle-mounting sleeve and has or forms at least one undercut that can be interlockingly clasped by the clamping branches of the first mounting coupling. Also provided is a distal tissue-clip application adapter that is connectable to the adaptable working-channel apparatus; and a surgical equipping system, having the working-channel apparatus and tissue-clip application adapter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Ovesco Endoscopy AG
    Inventors: Michael Seibt, Antonio Caputo, Nico Hofmann, Chi-Nghia Ho
  • Publication number: 20240106291
    Abstract: Connection unit for a stator with a stator winding having a number N of phases, having first to Nth contact portions, which are each designed for electrically conductively contacting one of N connection portions of the stator, form a receiving chamber for receiving one of the connection portions and have a guide. A respective contact portion has a wall, which limits the receiving chamber on one side, and the guide of the contact portion has a wall, which adjoins the wall of the contact portion and is bevelled with respect to the wall of the contact portion in a manner facing away from the receiving chamber. A conductor arrangement, which either electrically conductively connects the first to Nth contact portions or comprises N conductor portions, which are electrically isolated from one another and are each electrically conductively connected to one of the contact portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Valeo eAutomotive Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Sebastian DIETERICH, Bianca HOFMANN, Michael MENZ
  • Publication number: 20240106294
    Abstract: Connection device for a stator having a stator winding, including N phases, first and second connection units which each comprise N contact portions and a conductor arrangement. The contact portions of the first connection unit are each designed for electrically conductive contacting of one of N connection portions of the stator winding, and the conductor arrangement of the first connection unit electrically conductively connects the contact portions of the first connection unit. The contact portions of the second connection unit are each designed for electrically conductive contacting of one of N further connection portions of the stator winding and the conductor arrangement of the second connection unit comprises N conductor portions, which are electrically insulated from each other and are each electrically conductively connected to one of the N contact portions of the second connection unit. A fastening mechanism permits the connection units to be detached and fastened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Valeo eAutomotive Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Sebastian DIETERICH, Bianca HOFMANN, Michael MENZ
  • Patent number: 11935243
    Abstract: A method is provided of training a generative adversarial network for performing semantic segmentation of images. The generative adversarial network includes a generator neural network and a discriminator neural network. The method includes providing an image as input to the generator neural network, receiving a predicted segmentation map for the image from the generator neural network, providing i) the image, ii) the predicted segmentation map, and iii) ground-truth label data corresponding to the image, as distinct training inputs to the discriminator neural network, determining a set of one or more outputs from the discriminator neural network in response to said training inputs, and training the generator neural network using a loss function that is a function of said set of outputs from the discriminator neural network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: TomTom Global Content B.V.
    Inventors: Michael Hofmann, Nora Baka, Cedric Nugteren, Mohsen Ghafoorian, Olaf Booij
  • Publication number: 20240081473
    Abstract: A method for forming a molded article having an insert includes temporarily protecting features of the insert during a molding process using a malleable plugging material. In one step, the method includes disposing a plug including the plugging material within a receptacle of the insert, where each receptacle includes an engagement feature. The insert and the plugging material are placed into a mold, and a liquid molding material is applied to an exterior surface of the insert. The liquid molding material is solidified, forming the molded article including the insert embedded in the solidified molding material. The molded article is removed from the mold, and the plugging material is removed from the receptacle of the insert that is embedded in the molded article to expose the engagement feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Bartel, Michael A. Hofmann, Sam Lacey, Geun Rok Park, ManKi Park
  • Publication number: 20240053222
    Abstract: A method for determining a leak in a line for fluid media can include providing at least one noise and/or frequency logger comprising a sensor, and a computing unit, attaching the noise and/or frequency logger to the line or to fittings thereof, measuring noise on the line via the sensor and determining a noise level by means of a frequency analysis of the noise level. The determined frequency spectrum may be divided into two or more frequency bands, and a threshold value may be determined for each frequency band. A threshold value can be determined for each frequency band, and compared the measured noise to determined if one or more threshold values are being exceeded. A leak in the line can be thus be determined and/or analyzed by means of the computing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventor: Michael Hofmann
  • Patent number: 11857025
    Abstract: A method for forming a molded article having an insert includes temporarily protecting features of the insert during a molding process using a malleable plugging material. In one step, the method includes disposing a plug including the plugging material within a receptacle of the insert, where each receptacle includes an engagement feature. The insert and the plugging material are placed into a mold, and a liquid molding material is applied to an exterior surface of the insert. The liquid molding material is solidified, forming the molded article including the insert embedded in the solidified molding material. The molded article is removed from the mold, and the plugging material is removed from the receptacle of the insert that is embedded in the molded article to expose the engagement feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Bartel, Michael A. Hofmann, Sam Lacey, Geun Rok Park, Manki Park
  • Publication number: 20230421015
    Abstract: An electric machine includes windings for creating electromagnetic fields and at least one fluid-tight internal housing. The group of windings is in an interior space of one of the at least one internal housing. Each of the at least one group of the windings includes at least two electric connecting sections for connecting the respective group of the windings to an external electrical circuit, wherein the at least two electric connecting sections reach from the interior space through a wall of the respective internal housing to outside the respective internal housing, wherein the at least one internal housing includes a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet, and wherein neighboring windings of the at least one group of the windings enclose gaps between each other, the gaps being in fluid communication with the respective coolant inlet and the coolant outlet to be flown through by a coolant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Frank HERMLE, Michael HOFMANN, Jorge A. CARRETERO BENIGNOS
  • Publication number: 20230419648
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of training a model for use in semantic image segmentation. The model includes a first classifier neural network and a second classifier neural network. The method includes training the first network by inputting a first training image containing a target object to the first network, using the first network to identify and erase pixels of the first training image that are discriminative for the target object, inputting the first training image to the second network, using the second network to determine a likelihood of the first modified training image containing the target object and updating weights of the first network using a first loss function that is a monotonically-increasing function of the determined likelihood.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Mohsen Ghafoorian, Klaus Michael Hofmann, Erik Stammes
  • Patent number: 11835358
    Abstract: A method and system for determining a geographical location and orientation of a vehicle travelling through a road network is disclosed. The method comprises obtaining, from one or more cameras associated with the vehicle travelling through the road network, a sequence of images reflecting the environment of the road network on which the vehicle is travelling, wherein each of the images has an associated camera location at which the image was recorded. A local map representation representing an area of the road network on which the vehicle is travelling is then generated using at least some of the obtained images and the associated camera locations. The generated local map representation is compared with a section of a reference map, the reference map section covering the area of the road network on which the vehicle is travelling, and the geographical location and orientation of the vehicle within the road network is determined based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: TomTom Global Content B.V.
    Inventors: Tinosch Kolagheichi-Ganjineh, Philipp Holzschneider, Dimitri Schachmann, Sergej Mann, Sebastian Ihlefeld, Michael Hofmann, Olaf Booij, Nicolau Leal Werneck
  • Patent number: 11761790
    Abstract: A method and system for determining a geographical location and orientation of a vehicle (200, 300) travelling through a road network is disclosed. The method comprises obtaining, from one or more cameras (202, 302) associated with the vehicle (200, 300) travelling through the road network, a sequence of images (500) reflecting the environment of the road network on which the vehicle (200, 300) is travelling, wherein each of the images has an associated camera location at which the image was recorded. A local map representation representing an area of the road network on which the vehicle (200, 300) is travelling is then generated using at least some of the obtained images and the associated camera locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignees: TomTom Global Content B.V., TomTom Location Technology Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Tinosch Kolagheichi-Ganjineh, Philipp Holzchneider, Dimitri Schachmann, Sergej Mann, Sebastian Ihlefeld, Michael Hofmann, Olaf Booij, Nicolau Leal Werneck
  • Publication number: 20230129620
    Abstract: A method and system for determining a geographical location and orientation of a vehicle travelling through a road network is disclosed. The method comprises obtaining, from one or more cameras associated with the vehicle travelling through the road network, a sequence of images reflecting the environment of the road network on which the vehicle is travelling, wherein each of the images has an associated camera location at which the image was recorded. A local map representation representing an area of the road network on which the vehicle is travelling is then generated using at least some of the obtained images and the associated camera locations. The generated local map representation is compared with a section of a reference map, the reference map section covering the area of the road network on which the vehicle is travelling, and the geographical location and orientation of the vehicle within the road network is determined based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Tinosch Kolagheichi-Ganjineh, Philipp Holzschneider, Dimitri Schachmann, Sergej Mann, Sebastian Ihlefeld, Michael Hofmann, Olaf Booij, Nicolau Leal Werneck
  • Patent number: 11618717
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lead-free piezoceramic material based on bismuth sodium titanate (BST) having the following parent composition: x(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-yBaTiO3-zSrTiO3 where x+y+z=1 and 0<x<1, 0<y<1, 0?z?0.07 or x(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-yBaTiO3-zCaTiO3 where x+y+z=1 and 0<x<1, 0<y<1, 0<z?0.05 or x(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-y(Bi0.5K0.5)TiO3-zBaTiO3 where x+y+z=1 and 0<x<1, 0<y<1, 0?z<1, characterized by addition of a phosphorus-containing material in a quantity that gives a phosphorus concentration of from 100 to 2000 ppm in the piezoceramic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: PI CERAMIC GMBH
    Inventors: Eberhard Hennig, Antje Kynast, Michael Töpfer, Michael Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20220416275
    Abstract: An electrical energy supply system for mobile platforms includes an electrical arrangement having at least two fuel cell units in a serial interconnection in relation to one another in the electrical arrangement and configured to provide an electrical voltage to supply at least one consumer. The electrical energy supply system includes a ground unit which is assigned an electrical reference potential, and at least two control units, which are each assigned to at least one of the fuel cell units, wherein each of the at least two control units is configured to detect an electrical voltage of the assigned fuel cell unit in relation to the reference potential. An aircraft is disclosed having an electrical energy supply system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Gerhard STEINER, Christian WEHLE, Florian VOGEL, Jürgen STEINWANDEL, Michael HOFMANN
  • Patent number: 11211650
    Abstract: A battery comprising a fluid electrolyte, a casing configured to contain the electrolyte, an anode placed in contact with the electrolyte in the casing, and a cathode placed in contact with the electrolyte in the casing. The battery comprises a temperature control device configured to modify the temperature of the electrolyte, a circulating device configured to circulate the electrolyte in the casing and between the casing and the temperature control device. Also, a method for regulating the temperature of a battery in which a fluid electrolyte is circulated in a battery casing comprising an anode and a cathode, and through a temperature control device configured to modify the temperature of the electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Pilawa, Alexander Ohnesorge, Michael Hofmann, Jürgen Steinwandel
  • Publication number: 20210351666
    Abstract: A cooling device for use in alternating magnetic fields include an evaporator part defining a first volume for evaporating a cooling medium contained therein, the evaporator part being made of an electrically and magnetically non-conductive material, and a condenser part defining a second volume for condensing the cooling medium contained therein, the condenser part being in fluid connection with the first volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Ludovic Ybanez, Lucien Prisse, Jorge A. Carretero Benignos, Jürgen Steinwandel, Michael Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20210303925
    Abstract: A method is provided of training a generative adversarial network for performing semantic segmentation of images. The generative adversarial network includes a generator neural network and a discriminator neural network. The method includes providing an image as input to the generator neural network, receiving a predicted segmentation map for the image from the generator neural network, providing i) the image, ii) the predicted segmentation map, and iii) ground-truth label data corresponding to the image, as distinct training inputs to the discriminator neural network, determining a set of one or more outputs from the discriminator neural network in response to said training inputs, and training the generator neural network using a loss function that is a function of said set of outputs from the discriminator neural network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Hofmann, Nora Baka, Cedric Nugteren, Mohsen Ghafoorian, Olaf Booij
  • Publication number: 20210169171
    Abstract: A method for forming a molded article having an insert includes temporarily protecting features of the insert during a molding process using a malleable plugging material. In one step, the method includes disposing a plug including the plugging material within a receptacle of the insert, where each receptacle includes an engagement feature. The insert and the plugging material are placed into a mold, and a liquid molding material is applied to an exterior surface of the insert. The liquid molding material is solidified, forming the molded article including the insert embedded in the solidified molding material. The molded article is removed from the mold, and the plugging material is removed from the receptacle of the insert that is embedded in the molded article to expose the engagement feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Bartel, Michael A. Hofmann, Sam Lacey, Geun Rok Park, Manki Park