Patents by Inventor Michael STEINKAMP
Michael STEINKAMP 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).
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Patent number: 11604532Abstract: The invention relates to an operating device for a vehicle, comprising a display with a touch-sensor system for inputting a command and additionally a retaining device which retains the display. The retaining device has a base face and a free area which is defined by support elements protruding from the base face. The operating device is additionally provided with at least one actuation sensor for detecting a bend of the display upon being manually actuated and an analysis unit which is connected to the touch sensor system and the at least one actuation sensor for analyzing the signals of the touch sensor system and the at least one actuation sensor.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2019Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: BEHR-HELLA THERMOCONTROL GMBHInventors: Ralph Trapp, Michael Steinkamp
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Publication number: 20210237571Abstract: The invention relates to an operating device for a vehicle, comprising a display with a touch-sensor system for inputting a command and additionally a retaining device which retains the display. The retaining device has a base face and a free area which is defined by support elements protruding from the base face. The operating device is additionally provided with at least one actuation sensor for detecting a bend of the display upon being manually actuated and an analysis unit which is connected to the touch sensor system and the at least one actuation sensor for analyzing the signals of the touch sensor system and the at least one actuation sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2019Publication date: August 5, 2021Inventors: Ralph TRAPP, Michael STEINKAMP
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Patent number: 10418992Abstract: An operating unit for an electrical apparatus is provided with a housing, an operating strip and a support element arranged in the housing. The operating strip is mounted on the support element about a tilt axis extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the operating strip. The support element is tiltable parallel to the longitudinal direction of the operating strip. The support element is elastically prestressed, into a pivot position, which is detected by a pivot position sensor. Two tilt detection sensors detect a tilting of the operating strip about the tilt axis when it is actuated. The operating unit is provided with a controller for receiving signals and determining the operating field on which a finger is applied with an actuating force required for adopting the pivot position of the support element and triggering the function associated with the determined operating field.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2015Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: Behr-Hella Thermocontrol GmbHInventors: Alexander Beschnitt, Michael Steinkamp
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Patent number: 10302331Abstract: A heating device is provided with plates stacked one on top of another. At least one first fluid channel is formed in a fluid-tight manner between a first plate package with a first and a second plate. An electrical heating element is arranged between a first plate of the first plate package and an additional plate. The electrical heating element is accommodated between the two plates in a sealed manner and is electrically insulated, wherein an inlet-side and an outlet side fluid connection of the first fluid channel is arranged on the second plate of the first plate package. The electrical heating element has a connection device for electrical contacting, which is connected to the electrical heating element and protrudes through a window in the second plate of the first plate package, wherein the fluid connections and the window are arranged adjacent to opposing lateral edges of the second plate.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2015Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignees: MAHLE International GmbH, Behr-Hella Thermocontrol GmbHInventors: Michael Kohl, Karl-Gerd Krumbach, Karl Lochmahr, Wolfgang Seewald, Olivier Schunck, Dirk Nagel, Lars Heeper, Matthias Stallein, Michael Steinkamp, Karsten Marquas, Volker Dicke
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Patent number: 10229795Abstract: The operating unit (10) for an electrical appliance, in particular a vehicle component such as a heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning system, is provided with an operating element (16) which can be pressed down in a direction of actuation (28), and a support element (24) which is mechanically coupled to the operating element (16) and on which the operating element (16) is elastically supported so as to be movable in the direction of actuation (28).Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2015Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: Behr-Hella Thermocontrol GmbHInventors: Winfried Fust, Michael Steinkamp
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Patent number: 9979391Abstract: The invention relates to an operating unit (10) for an electrical apparatus, in particular a vehicle component such as, for example, a heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning installation, which is provided with a housing (12) having a front wall (14), with an operating strip (18) that projects beyond the front wall (14), which has an elongated operating surface (20) with a plurality of adjacently arranged operating fields (22, 24, 26, 28, 30), and with a support element (32) for the operating strip (18), which is arranged in the housing (12). The operating strip (18) is connected to the support element (32) by means of connecting webs (48) which protrude in the respective areas between the operating panels (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) of the operating strip (18).Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2015Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: Behr-Hella Thermocontrol GmbHInventors: Alexander Beschnitt, Winfried Fust, Michael Steinkamp, Frank Vogt
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Publication number: 20180034463Abstract: The invention relates to an operating unit (10) for an electrical apparatus, in particular for a vehicle component such as, for example, a heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning installation, which is provided with a housing (12), an operating strip (18) and a support element (32) for the operating strip (18), which is arranged in the housing (12). The operating strip (18) is mounted on the support element (32) about a tilt axis that extends transversely to the longitudinal extension of the operating strip (18). The support element (32) is tiltable in at least one pivoting direction and about a pivot axis (34) that extends parallel to the longitudinal extension of the operating strip (18) from a rest position, in which the support element (32) is elastically prestressed, into a pivot position, which is detected by a pivot position sensor (42, 44).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2015Publication date: February 1, 2018Inventors: Alexander Beschnitt, Michael Steinkamp
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Patent number: 9848464Abstract: The application relates to an induction heating device having a housing and a fluid duct. The fluid duct is arranged in the housing and has a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. Inside the housing is an induction element which generates an alternating magnetic field and which is separated from the fluid duct in a sealed manner by at least one wall. The device also includes at least one metallic areal heating element arranged in the fluid duct which can be heated by the alternating magnetic field.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2013Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignees: MAHLE INTERNATIONAL GMBH, BEHR-HELLA THERMOCONTROL GMBHInventors: Michael Kohl, Karl-Gerd Krumbach, Karl Lochmahr, Wolfgang Seewald, Olivier Schunck, Dirk Nagel, Lars Heeper, Matthias Stallein, Michael Steinkamp, Karsten Marquas, Volker Dicke
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Publication number: 20170155387Abstract: The invention relates to an operating unit (10) for an electrical apparatus, in particular a vehicle component such as, for example, a heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning installation, which is provided with a housing (12) having a front wall (14), with an operating strip (18) that projects beyond the front wall (14), which has an elongated operating surface (20) with a plurality of adjacently arranged operating fields (22, 24, 26, 28, 30), and with a support element (32) for the operating strip (18), which is arranged in the housing (12). The operating strip (18) is connected to the support element (32) by means of connecting webs (48) which protrude in the respective areas between the operating panels (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) of the operating strip (18).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2015Publication date: June 1, 2017Inventors: Alexander Beschnitt, Winfried Fust, Michael Steinkamp, Frank Vogt
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Publication number: 20170148587Abstract: The operating unit (10) for an electrical appliance, in particular a vehicle component such as a heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning system, is provided with an operating element (16) which can be pressed down in a direction of actuation (28), and a support element (24) which is mechanically coupled to the operating element (16) and on which the operating element (16) is elastically supported so as to be movable in the direction of actuation (28).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2015Publication date: May 25, 2017Inventors: Winfried Fust, Michael Steinkamp
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Patent number: 9638587Abstract: A capacitive sensor for detecting the movement of an object, such as actuation of a key of an operating unit, includes first and second electrodes that are provided for connection or mechanical coupling to or arrangement on the object, the distance of which second electrode from the first electrode changes when the object moves. The electrodes form a first capacitor with a volume between the electrodes, the size of which changes when the object moves. An evaluation unit determines a change of capacitance between the two electrodes resulting from a change of their spacing and volume. A deformable, non-gaseous first dielectric is arranged between the electrodes and defines at least one gas volume that is filled by a gaseous second dielectric that can escape from the gas volume when the two electrodes approach one another.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2013Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Behr-Hella Thermocontrol GmbHInventors: Karsten Marquas, Michael Steinkamp, Dirk Schluter
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Publication number: 20160157303Abstract: The invention relates to a heating device comprising a housing having a fluid channel arranged therein with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, wherein an element generating an alternating magnetic field is provided in the housing, wherein, furthermore, at least one metallic panel heating element is provided, which is heatable by the alternating magnetic field, wherein the at least one panel heating element is arranged in the fluid channel, wherein the element generating the alternating magnetic field is formed by a coil shaped in hollow-cylindrical fashion, which coil is operable by an AC voltage, wherein the coil is separated in fluidtight fashion from the fluid channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2014Publication date: June 2, 2016Applicant: BEHR-HELLA THERMOCONTROL GMBHInventors: Lars HEEPER, Karsten MARQUAS, Dirk NAGEL, Matthias STALLEIN, Michael STEINKAMP
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Publication number: 20160150598Abstract: The invention relates to a heating device, comprising a housing, which has a fluid channel arranged therein, which has a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, wherein an element that generates an alternating magnetic field is provided in the housing, which element is separated from the fluid channel in a sealed manner by at least one wall, wherein furthermore at least one metal planar heating element is provided, which can be heated by the alternating magnetic field, wherein the at least one planar heating element is arranged in the fluid channel, wherein at least one of the planar heating elements is made of a magnetic material.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2014Publication date: May 26, 2016Applicant: BEHR-HELLA THERMOCONTROL GMBHInventors: Lars HEEPER, Karsten MARQUAS, Dirk NAGEL, Matthias STALLEIN, Michael STEINKAMP
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Publication number: 20150341031Abstract: The capacitive sensor for detecting the movement of an object, particularly for detecting the actuation of a key of an operating unit, is furnished with a first electrode (30; 32) and a second electrode (34; 36) which is provided for connection or mechanical coupling to or arrangement on the object, the distance of which second electrode from the first electrode changes (30; 32) when the object moves. The two electrodes (30, 34; 32, 36) form a first capacitor (26; 28) with a volume (40) between the electrodes (30, 34; 32, 36), the size of which changes when the object moves. An evaluation unit (38), which is connected to the two electrodes (30, 34; 32, 36) and determines a change of capacitance between the two electrodes (30, 34; 32, 36) resulting from a change of their spacing and volume, is further provided. A deformable, non-gaseous first dielectric (42) is arranged between the two electrodes (30, 34; 32, 36).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2013Publication date: November 26, 2015Inventors: Karsten Marquas, Michael Steinkamp, Dirk Schluter
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Publication number: 20150131979Abstract: A heating device is provided with plates stacked one on top of another. At least one first fluid channel is formed in a fluid-tight manner between a first plate package with a first and a second plate. An electrical heating element is arranged between a first plate of the first plate package and an additional plate. The electrical heating element is accommodated between the two plates in a sealed manner and is electrically insulated, wherein an inlet-side and an outlet side fluid connection of the first fluid channel is arranged on the second plate of the first plate package. The electrical heating element has a connection device for electrical contacting, which is connected to the electrical heating element and protrudes through a window in the second plate of the first plate package, wherein the fluid connections and the window are arranged adjacent to opposing lateral edges of the second plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2015Publication date: May 14, 2015Inventors: Michael KOHL, Karl-Gerd KRUMBACH, Karl LOCHMAHR, Wolfgang SEEWALD, Olivier SCHUNCK, Dirk NAGEL, Lars HEEPER, Matthias STALLEIN, Michael STEINKAMP, Karsten MARQUAS, Volker DICKE
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Publication number: 20140027444Abstract: The invention relates to a heating device having a housing and having a fluid duct which is arranged in said housing and which has a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, wherein, in the housing, there is provided an element which generates an alternating magnetic field and which is separated from the fluid duct in a sealed manner by at least one wall, wherein furthermore, at least one metallic areal heating element is provided which can be heated by the alternating magnetic field, wherein the at least one areal heating element is arranged in the fluid duct.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2013Publication date: January 30, 2014Applicants: Behr GmbH & Co., KG, Behr-Hella Thermocontrol GmbH, Behr France Rouffach SASInventors: Michael KOHL, Karl-Gerd KRUMBACH, Karl LOCHMAHR, Wolfgang SEEWALD, Olivier SCHUNCK, Dirk NAGEL, Lars HEEPER, Matthias STALLEIN, Michael STEINKAMP, Karsten MARQUAS, Volker DICKE