Patents by Inventor Michael Prinz

Michael Prinz 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: 11818859
    Abstract: A carrier-rail bus assembly including a number of n mechanically contiguous bus-circuit-plate sections electrically connected via bus-circuit paths and installed in a carrier rail, an electronic control unit being configured such that it detects whether an apparatus is inserted in an installation position i, respective installation position i being allotted a bus address, which is assigned to the apparatus inserted on the carrier rail on the respective bus-circuit-plate section in respective installation position i. A related method for assigning a bus address is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Bender GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Becker, Oliver Schaefer, Burkhard Macht, Michael Prinz-Weinel
  • Publication number: 20230312190
    Abstract: A suction lance comprising at least one tube and a guide body made from an elastomer material axially displaceable on this tube is provided. The suction lance comprises a retaining section for a connecting body, a conical section axially adjoining the retaining section, the radially largest section whereof lies axially closer to the retaining section than the radially smallest section thereof, and a connecting body for the detachable connection of the suction lance to a removal opening of a container. The connecting body is fastened to the retaining section of the guide body, and the conical section of the guide body, by reason of its material, its radial size and the shape of its external contour, is designed to act in case of use as a sealing body in a removal opening of a container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Prinz, Nadine Hildebrand
  • Publication number: 20230288198
    Abstract: A sensor unit comprising an electronics unit, a first housing part and a second housing part connected thereto is provided. The first and second housing parts form an interior between them and, directed away therefrom, each of them has a housing part outer side. The electronics unit is connected to the first housing part and projects into the interior, wherein a contact area passing through the first housing part is provided. The electronics unit has at least one circuit board with at least two circuit board portions connected to one another in an electrically conductive manner, wherein a first circuit board portion is arranged between the contact area and a second circuit board portion in an electrically conductive manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Sonntag, Michael Prinz
  • Publication number: 20220140577
    Abstract: A carrier-rail bus assembly including a number of n mechanically contiguous bus-circuit-plate sections electrically connected via bus-circuit paths and installed in a carrier rail, an electronic control unit being configured such that it detects whether an apparatus is inserted in an installation position i, respective installation position i being allotted a bus address, which is assigned to the apparatus inserted on the carrier rail on the respective bus-circuit-plate section in respective installation position i. A related method for assigning a bus address is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Matthias Becker, Oliver Schaefer, Burkhard Macht, Michael Prinz-Weinel
  • Patent number: 9966950
    Abstract: A contact and/or proximity-sensitive input device has a cover plate with a light-transmissive control section facing a user of the input device and forming a control field for the user. A light-transmissive sensor film has at least one capacitive sensor field. A carrier plate carries at least one lighting device. The input device also has a light-transmissive decorative film with at least one decorative element. The film is a separate component from the sensor film so that the decorative film can be produced independently of the sensor film and can be adapted simply to desired variants of the input device. The carrier plate, decorative film, sensor film and cover plate are arranged successively in such a way that the light emitted by the lighting device passes through the decorative film, sensor film and control section of the cover plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Diehl AKO Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventors: Uwe Heimann, Michael Prinz
  • Patent number: 9954525
    Abstract: A touch- and/or proximity-sensitive input device has a cover plate with a control section. The side of the control section facing a user forms a control field for the user and a side facing away from the user forms a sensor plane. A sensor film has at least one capacitive sensor field within the control section of the cover plate. A carrier plate has at least one electric contact field. The cover plate has a contacting section next to the control section and the side facing away from the user forms a contacting plane. The sensor film has an electric contact field next to the sensor field. At least one electric contact element connects the electric contact field of the sensor film electrically conductively to the at least one electric contact field of the carrier plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Diehl AKO Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventors: Uwe Heimann, Michael Prinz
  • Publication number: 20160301411
    Abstract: A contact and/or proximity-sensitive input device has a cover plate with a light-transmissive control section facing toward a user of the input device and forming a control field for the user. A light-transmissive sensor film has at least one capacitive sensor field. A carrier plate carries at least one lighting device. The input device also has a light-transmissive decorative film with at least one decorative element. The film is a separate component from the sensor film so that the decorative film can be produced independently of the sensor film and in this way can be adapted simply to desired variants of the input device. The carrier plate, the decorative film, the sensor film and the cover plate are arranged successively in such a way that the light emitted by the lighting device passes through the decorative film, the sensor film and the control section of the cover plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: UWE HEIMANN, MICHAEL PRINZ
  • Patent number: 9466446
    Abstract: A rotary knob operator control apparatus for an electrical domestic appliance has a mounting board on a side of an operator control panel facing away from a user, a first electrode configuration on the mounting board and a substantially annular operator control element on a side of the operator control panel facing toward the user. The operator control element has a second electrode configuration and a holding device for the operator control element on the operator control panel. The operator control element rotates about an axis perpendicular to the operator control panel. The operator control element is latched relative to the operator control panel in predefined rotary positions by a latching device, so the second electrode configuration on the operator control element is oriented in a predefined manner relative to the first electrode configuration. An electrical domestic appliance having at least one rotary knob operator control apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Diehl AKO Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventors: Uwe Heimann, Michael Prinz
  • Publication number: 20160149571
    Abstract: A touch- and/or proximity-sensitive input device has a cover plate with a control section. The side of the control section facing a user forms a control field for the user and a side facing away from the user forms a sensor plane. A sensor film has at least one capacitive sensor field within the control section of the cover plate. A carrier plate has at least one electric contact field. The cover plate has a contacting section next to the control section and the side facing away from the user forms a contacting plane. The sensor film has an electric contact field next to the sensor field. At least one electric contact element connects the electric contact field of the sensor film electrically conductively to the at least one electric contact field of the carrier plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Uwe HEIMANN, Michael PRINZ
  • Publication number: 20150301087
    Abstract: A differential current measuring module is composed of a housing that encases a current transformer core and a printed circuit board, the current transformer core surrounding a line duct of the housing and having at least one secondary winding. The differential current measuring module is characterized in that in the line duct, at least one primary conductor is led out on a top side of the housing to be connected to an external electrical feed line and whose other end protrudes out of a bottom side of the housing and is provided with a solder terminal. The principle idea is based on continuing the electrical line to be monitored, in sections, as a primary conductor in the effective area of the current transformer core so as to advantageously arrive at a differential current measuring device whose integration is constructionally simple and which offers an uncomplicated connecting option.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Winfried Moell, Michael Kammer, Michael Prinz-Weinel
  • Patent number: 8937261
    Abstract: An operator control apparatus for an electrical household appliance has an operator control panel on that side of the operator control apparatus that faces a user and defines an operator control area. A functional assembly is arranged on that face of the operator control panel that is averted from the user. The functional assembly has touch- and/or proximity-sensitive touch-operated switch. The at least one touch-operated switch of the functional assembly is positioned so as to correspond to operator control area of the operator control panel. A connecting apparatus is permanently connected to the operator control panel and releasably connected to the functional assembly, or in the alternative it is permanently connected to the functional assembly while it is releasably connected to the operator control panel. In this way, the functional assembly is releasably attached to the operator control panel but without play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Diehl AKO Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventors: Uwe Heimann, Michael Prinz
  • Publication number: 20140224303
    Abstract: The invention relates to a photovoltaic system with a plastic support and a photovoltaic module for installation on roofs. The plastic support (1) may be mounted directly to a roof substructure, so that an additional roof covering can be dispensed with. The photovoltaic modules may be fixed on the plastic support (1) without screwing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Peter Herwig, Nicolas Muller, Stefan Fleckenstein, Andre Schäfer, Michael Prinz, Andreas Mägerlein, Matthias Dietrich
  • Publication number: 20140021024
    Abstract: A rotary knob operator control apparatus for an electrical domestic appliance has a mounting board on a side of an operator control panel facing away from a user, a first electrode configuration on the mounting board and a substantially annular operator control element on a side of the operator control panel facing toward the user. The operator control element has a second electrode configuration and a holding device for the operator control element on the operator control panel. The operator control element rotates about an axis perpendicular to the operator control panel. The operator control element is latched relative to the operator control panel in predefined rotary positions by a latching device, so the second electrode configuration on the operator control element is oriented in a predefined manner relative to the first electrode configuration. An electrical domestic appliance having at least one rotary knob operator control apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: DIEHL AKO STIFTUNG & CO KG
    Inventors: UWE HEIMANN, MICHAEL PRINZ
  • Publication number: 20120112818
    Abstract: An operator control apparatus for an electrical household appliance has an operator control panel on that side of the operator control apparatus that faces a user and defines an operator control area. A functional assembly is arranged on that face of the operator control panel that is averted from the user. The functional assembly has touch- and/or proximity-sensitive touch-operated switch. The at least one touch-operated switch of the functional assembly is positioned so as to correspond to operator control area of the operator control panel. A connecting apparatus is permanently connected to the operator control panel and releasably connected to the functional assembly, or in the alternative it is permanently connected to the functional assembly while it is releasably connected to the operator control panel. In this way, the functional assembly is releasably attached to the operator control panel but without play.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: DIEHL AKO STIFTUNG & CO. KG
    Inventors: UWE HEIMANN, MICHAEL PRINZ
  • Patent number: 8029912
    Abstract: The present invention relates to coated polyoxymethylene moldings comprising at least one polyoxymethylene homo- or copolymer A), and also, if appropriate, further additives B), which has been coated on the surface with at least one binder C) and one formaldehyde scavenger D), wherein the binder C) used comprises a polyalkylene oxide C1 or a polyvinyl ester C2 or a graft polymer C3 composed of C1 and C2 or a mixture of these, and the formaldehyde scavenger D) used comprises at least one imidazolidin-2-one compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Karthikeyan Sharavanan, Jens Assmann, Lidcay Herrera Taboada, Rainer Anderlik, Lothar Weller, Michael Prinz, Jürgen Demeter
  • Publication number: 20100324184
    Abstract: The present invention relates to coated polyoxymethylene moldings comprising at least one polyoxymethylene homo- or copolymer A), and also, if appropriate, further additives B), which has been coated on the surface with at least one binder C) and one formaldehyde scavenger D), wherein the binder C) used comprises a polyalkylene oxide C1 or a polyvinyl ester C2 or a graft polymer C3 composed of C1 and C2 or a mixture of these, and the formaldehyde scavenger D) used comprises at least one imidazolidin-2-one compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Karthikeyan Sharavanan, Jens Assmann, Lidcay Herrera Taboada, Rainer Anderlik, Lothar Weller, Michael Prinz, Jürgen Demeter
  • Patent number: 7834287
    Abstract: A capacitive touch switch, for a control panel of a domestic electrical appliance, includes a touch panel having an upper side and an underside. A printed circuit board is disposed at a distance below the underside of the touch panel. A sensor element is disposed between the underside of the touch panel and the printed circuit board and is in electrically conductive contact with the printed circuit board. The capacitive sensor element has a compression spring formed of an electrically conductive material and a contact element formed of an electrically conductive material, which is disposed on that side of the compression spring which faces the touch panel and which is in electrically conductive contact with the compression spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Diehl AKO Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventors: Uwe Heiman, Michael Prinz
  • Publication number: 20090128375
    Abstract: A control apparatus having at least one pushbutton switch can be used, for example, in a control panel of an electronic domestic appliance. The control apparatus includes a mount element, a piezo-film having at least one sensor field corresponding to the at least one pushbutton switch, a first adhesive layer connecting the piezo-film to the mount element, a cover layer facing a user side, a second adhesive layer connecting the cover layer to the piezo-film, and at least one attachment element for attachment of the control apparatus to the control panel. An electronic domestic appliance having a control apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: DIEHL AKO STIFTUNG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Uwe Heimann, Klaus-Peter Koch, Michael Prinz
  • Publication number: 20090027356
    Abstract: A capacitive touch switch has a touch panel with a top side and an underside. A circuit board is arranged at a spacing under the underside of the touch panel. A capacitive sensor element which is arranged at the underside of the touch panel and which is in electrically conductive contact with the circuit board is disposed or formed on a circuit carrier that is flexible and three-dimensionally deformable for adaptation to the freely shaped underside of the touch panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: DIEHL AKO STIFTUNG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Uwe Heimann, Michael Prinz
  • Publication number: 20070103451
    Abstract: A capacitive touch switch, for a control panel of a domestic electrical appliance, includes a touch panel having an upper side and an underside. A printed circuit board is disposed at a distance below the underside of the touch panel. A sensor element is disposed between the underside of the touch panel and the printed circuit board and is in electrically conductive contact with the printed circuit board. The capacitive sensor element has a compression spring formed of an electrically conductive material and a contact element formed of an electrically conductive material, which is disposed on that side of the compression spring which faces the touch panel and which is in electrically conductive contact with the compression spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Inventors: Uwe Heimann, Michael Prinz