Patents by Inventor Norbert Sporer

Norbert Sporer 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: 11105694
    Abstract: The invention relates to a torque sensor (1000; 1100) having a base body (1001; 1101) which extends in a radial direction (Y) of the base body from an annular inner flange (1003; 1103) having first force application points (1005; 1105), via a mechanically weakened sensor portion (1007; 1107) equipped with measurement transducers (10, 20) which generate output signals, to an annular outer flange (1009; 1109) having second force application points (1011; 1111), wherein a rubber-elastic sealing membrane (1031; 1131) arranged axially between the outer flange (1009; 1109) and the inner flange (1003; 1103) covers the mechanically weakened sensor portion (1007; 1107) in a fluid-tight manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Sensodrive GMBH
    Inventors: Matthias Haehnle, Norbert Sporer, Michael Grandl, Mathias Sattler
  • Patent number: 11105695
    Abstract: The invention relates to a torque sensor having a base body (601) which extends in a radial direction (Y) of the base body from an annular inner flange (603) having first force application points (605), via a mechanically weakened sensor portion (607) equipped with measurement transducers (10, 20) which generate output signals, to an annular outer flange (509; 609) having second force application points (611), wherein the mechanically weakened sensor portion (607) comprises radially extending first connecting webs (619a) and second connecting webs (619b), which have different mechanical properties and are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Sensodrive GMBH
    Inventors: Matthias Haehnle, Norbert Sporer, Michael Grandl, Mathias Sattler
  • Patent number: 10739216
    Abstract: The invention relates to a torque sensor having a base body which extends in a radial direction of the base body from an annular inner flange having first force application points, via a mechanically weakened sensor portion equipped with measurement transducers which generate output signals, to an annular outer flange having second force application points, wherein the second force application points are connected to the sensor portion by a radially elastic material portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: SENSODRIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Matthias Haehnle, Norbert Sporer, Michael Grandl, Mathias Sattler
  • Patent number: 10350023
    Abstract: The invention relates to a retaining device for an instrument, comprising at least one joint having at least two parts that can be moved relative to each other and at least one drive unit associated with the joint. The drive unit is designed to move the joint by driving at least one of the parts of the joint that can be moved relative to each other. The retaining device also comprises a securing device, which has a locking mechanism associated with the joint and a release unit that can be activated, wherein the locking mechanism interacts with the release unit in such a way that the locking mechanism holds the joint in a locked position as long as the release unit is not activated. The securing device is designed to permit a motion of the joint out of the particular locked position within a specified range of motion even if the release unit is not activated. The invention further relates to a corresponding securing device for a retaining device and to an operating method for said securing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: SENSODRIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Norbert Sporer, Matthias Haehnle
  • Publication number: 20190212217
    Abstract: The invention relates to a torque sensor (1000; 1100) having a base body (1001; 1101) which extends in a radial direction (Y) of the base body from an annular inner flange (1003; 1103) having first force application points (1005; 1105), via a mechanically weakened sensor portion (1007; 1107) equipped with measurement transducers (10, 20) which generate output signals, to an annular outer flange (1009; 1109) having second force application points (1011; 1111), wherein a rubber-elastic sealing membrane (1031; 1131) arranged axially between the outer flange (1009; 1109) and the inner flange (1003; 1103) covers the mechanically weakened sensor portion (1007; 1107) in a fluid-tight manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Matthias Haehnle, Norbert Sporer, Michael Grandl, Mathias Sattler
  • Publication number: 20190204169
    Abstract: The invention relates to a torque sensor having a base body (601) which extends in a radial direction (Y) of the base body from an annular inner flange (603) having first force application points (605), via a mechanically weakened sensor portion (607) equipped with measurement transducers (10, 20) which generate output signals, to an annular outer flange (509; 609) having second force application points (611), wherein the mechanically weakened sensor portion (607) comprises radially extending first connecting webs (619a) and second connecting webs (619b), which have different mechanical properties and are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Matthias Haehnle, Norbert Sporer, Michael Grandl, Mathias Sattler
  • Publication number: 20190187013
    Abstract: The Invention relates to a torque sensor (100) having a base body (101) which extends in a radial direction (Y) of the base body from an annular inner flange (103) having first force application points (105), via a mechanically weakened sensor portion (107) equipped with measurement transducers (10, 20) which generate output signals, to an annular outer flange (109) having second force application points (111), wherein the second force application points (111) are connected to the sensor portion (107) by a radially elastic material portion (113).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Matthias Haehnle, Norbert Sporer, Michael Grandl, Matthias Sattler
  • Publication number: 20160270874
    Abstract: The invention relates to a retaining device for an instrument, comprising at least one joint having at least two parts that can be moved relative to each other and at least one drive unit associated with the joint. The drive unit is designed to move the joint by driving at least one of the parts of the joint that can be moved relative to each other. The retaining device also comprises a securing device, which has a locking mechanism associated with the joint and a release unit that can be activated, wherein the locking mechanism interacts with the release unit in such a way that the locking mechanism holds the joint in a locked position as long as the release unit is not activated. The securing device is designed to permit a motion of the joint out of the particular locked position within a specified range of motion even if the release unit is not activated. The invention further relates to a corresponding securing device for a retaining device and to an operating method for said securing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: Norbert Sporer, Matthias Haehnle
  • Patent number: 9366285
    Abstract: A retaining device is provided for an instrument, including at least one joint having at least two parts, and at least one drive unit associated with the joint designed to move the joint by driving at least one of the parts. The retaining device includes a securing device, which has a locking mechanism associated with the joint and a release unit that can be activated, wherein the locking mechanism interacts with the release unit such that the locking mechanism holds the joint in a locked position as long as the release unit is not activated. The securing device permits motion of the joint out of the particular locked position within a specified range of motion even if the release unit is not activated. A corresponding securing device for a retaining device and to an operating method for the securing device are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: SENSODRIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Norbert Sporer, Matthias Haehnle
  • Publication number: 20130205558
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a retaining device for an instrument, including at least one joint having at least two parts, and at least one drive unit associated with the joint designed to move the joint by driving at least one of the parts. The retaining device includes a securing device, which has a locking mechanism associated with the joint and a release unit that can be activated, wherein the locking mechanism interacts with the release unit such that the locking mechanism holds the joint in a locked position as long as the release unit is not activated. The securing device permits motion of the joint out of the particular locked position within a specified range of motion even if the release unit is not activated. The present disclosure further relates to a corresponding securing device for a retaining device and to an operating method for the securing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: SENSODRIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Norbert Sporer, Matthias Haehnle
  • Patent number: 7109678
    Abstract: In a holding arrangement (101) for a medical-optical instrument (103), an electric motor is provided in a rotational joint (111, 119) to compensate a load torque occurring in this rotational joint. This electric motor is supplied with current in correspondence to a detected position of the rotational joint (111, 119). A current control curve required for this purpose is stored in a memory. This current control curve can be determined in that the rotational joints are deflected with the electric motor into predetermined positions and the current demand needed therefor is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
    Inventors: Martin Kraus, Hartmut Gärtner, Martin Poxleitner, Michael Wirth, Alfons Abele, Roland Brenner, Norbert Sporer, Matthias Hähnle
  • Patent number: 6949065
    Abstract: A fully implantable left ventricular assist system comprising a pumping means connectable via adapter elements to the ventricle includes two compressible chambers in the form of sacs (5, 5?) and a compressing means (4) to alternatingly fill and discharge the compressible chambers (5, 5?) at the same time, including a drive unit (41) assigned thereto, a cooling means (50) for cooling the drive unit (41), and a power supply unit (60) for the drive unit (41) and cooling means (50). In this implantable system the pumping means, compression means (4), drive unit (41) and part of the cooling means (50) are accommodated in a two-part housing (1) on which tubular ports (10a, 10b; 10?a, 10?b) for connecting Y-shaped adapter elements (3, 3?) are configured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Deutsches Zentrum für Luft-und Raumfahrt e.V.
    Inventors: Norbert Sporer, Harald Wagner, Thomas Schmid, Wolfgang Schiller
  • Publication number: 20040263102
    Abstract: In a holding arrangement (101) for a medical-optical instrument (103), an electric motor is provided in a rotational joint (111, 119) to compensate a load torque occurring in this rotational joint. This electric motor is supplied with current in correspondence to a detected position of the rotational joint (111, 119). A current control curve required for this purpose is stored in a memory. This current control curve can be determined in that the rotational joints are deflected with the electric motor into predetermined positions and the current demand needed therefor is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Martin Kraus, Hartmut Gartner, Martin Poxleitner, Michael Wirth, Alfons Abele, Roland Brenner, Norbert Sporer, Matthias Hahnle
  • Publication number: 20020165426
    Abstract: A fully implantable left ventricular assist system comprising a pumping means connectable via adapter elements to the ventricle includes two compressible chambers in the form of sacs (5, 5′) and a compressing means (4) to alternatingly fill and discharge the compressible chambers (5, 5′) at the same time, including a drive unit (41) assigned thereto, a cooling means (50) for cooling the drive unit (41), and a power supply unit (60) for the drive unit (41) and cooling means (50).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Applicant: Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft-und Raumfahrt e.V.
    Inventors: Norbert Sporer, Harald Wagner, Thomas Schmid, Wolfgang Schiller
  • Patent number: 6119046
    Abstract: Depending on the desired direction of current flux through an electrical load such as a stepped motor, in a measuring bridge circuit provided with switchable semiconductors and recovery diodes the semiconductors through which the current direction is switched are closed, causing the actual current to increase until it has attained the nominal current value, whereupon switching is effected into either slow current decay mode or fast current decay mode. A selection of the operating mode is made at the next semiconductor switch-on such that, if the actual current value is greater than the nominal current value at the next semiconductor switch-off, fast current decay mode is selected, and if the actual current value is lower than the nominal current value, slow current decay mode is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft-und Raumfahrt e.V.
    Inventor: Norbert Sporer