Patents by Inventor Peter Scholz

Peter Scholz 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: 12591010
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for identifying wear of an electromechanical device, the device comprising: a measuring device, which is configured to detect at least one predetermined operating parameter of the electromechanical device; and an evaluation device, which is configured to determine a current operating state of the electromechanical device from the detected predetermined operating parameter of the electromechanical device by means of machine learning with the aid of mass data, preferably in the form of training data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2026
    Assignee: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Elmar Schaper, Peter Scholz, Fabian Winkel
  • Publication number: 20250267022
    Abstract: To improve, simplify and/or make more flexible an energy supply to bus subscribers and/or an energy transmission in a bus system, there is disclosed a network device, which comprises at least one bus interface for connecting the network device to a bus line, in particular a two-wire bus line, wherein the bus interface is designed for data transmission and for energy transmission, and wherein the network device is designed to selectively draw electrical energy from the bus line or to feed electrical energy into the bus line, depending on an operating mode of the network device. Furthermore, a system is disclosed with at least two such network devices, which are connected to each other via a bus line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2023
    Publication date: August 21, 2025
    Inventors: Michael GERKE, Peter SCHOLZ
  • Patent number: 12345389
    Abstract: An optical device usable as a headlight of a motor vehicle has an optical system in the form of a lens and/or a light source which is surrounded by a housing and which is covered by a translucent, in particular transparent, cover which is connected to the housing. To increase the functionality of the optical device, a PTC heating assembly is configured to heat a space between the housing and the cover. The PTC heating assembly includes at least one PTC element and strip conductors that are connected electrically to the PTC element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: Eberspächer catem GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Niederer, Peter Scholz, Kurt Walz, Ralf Lothar Weinand
  • Patent number: 12293890
    Abstract: A contact monitoring means for monitoring an electrical, three-pole changeover contact includes: a signal generator, which generates a monitoring signal; a coupling means, which is connected downstream from the signal generator; a sensing circuit, which is connected downstream from the coupling means and which is coupled or can be coupled to the changeover contact. The monitoring signal generation of the signal generator and thus the monitoring signal and/or a signal derived from the monitoring signal can be changed as a function of a switching position of the changeover contact by means of the sensing circuit, which is coupled to the signal generator via the coupling means. The contact monitoring means also includes an evaluation means, which detects the monitoring signal and/or the signal derived from the monitoring signal and/or a change of the monitoring signal and/or a change of the signal derived from the monitoring signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Christian Reinhold, Peter Scholz
  • Publication number: 20240426910
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for identifying wear of an electromechanical device, the device comprising: a measuring device, which is configured to detect at least one predetermined operating parameter of the electromechanical device; and an evaluation device, which is configured to determine a current operating state of the electromechanical device from the detected predetermined operating parameter of the electromechanical device by means of machine learning with the aid of mass data, preferably in the form of training data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Inventors: Elmar SCHAPER, Peter SCHOLZ, Fabian WINKEL
  • Publication number: 20240380430
    Abstract: In examples, a transmission system for transmitting data and energy, with a master-module, at least one slave-module, and a two-wire line between the master-module and the slave-module for bidirectional data transmission between the master-module and the slave-module and for energy transmission from the master-module to the slave-module. Examples provide for the transmission system to be switchable be-tween several operating states, the operating states preferably differing with regard to energy transmission and/or with regard to data transmission. Furthermore, examples include an adapted master-module, a slave-module and an associated operating method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Inventors: Johannes DEUSE-KLEINSTEUBER, Elmar SCHAPER, Peter SCHOLZ, Christian REINHOLD
  • Publication number: 20240234060
    Abstract: A contact monitoring means for monitoring an electrical, three-pole changeover contact includes: a signal generator, which generates a monitoring signal; a coupling means, which is connected downstream from the signal generator; a sensing circuit, which is connected downstream from the coupling means and which is coupled or can be coupled to the changeover contact. The monitoring signal generation of the signal generator and thus the monitoring signal and/or a signal derived from the monitoring signal can be changed as a function of a switching position of the changeover contact by means of the sensing circuit, which is coupled to the signal generator via the coupling means. The contact monitoring means also includes an evaluation means, which detects the monitoring signal and/or the signal derived from the monitoring signal and/or a change of the monitoring signal and/or a change of the signal derived from the monitoring signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: Christian Reinhold, Peter Scholz
  • Publication number: 20240230056
    Abstract: An optical device usable as a headlight of a motor vehicle has an optical system in the form of a lens and/or a light source which is surrounded by a housing and which is covered by a translucent, in particular transparent, cover which is connected to the housing. To increase the functionality of the optical device, a PTC heating assembly is configured to heat a space between the housing and the cover. The PTC heating assembly includes at least one PTC element and strip conductors that are connected electrically to the PTC element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2023
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: Michael Niederer, Peter Scholz, Kurt Walz, Ralf Lothar Weinand
  • Publication number: 20240161965
    Abstract: A transformer includes a sequence of insulating layers layered transversely to a common plane, and a plurality of at least two galvanically separated circuits. Each circuit has at least one conductor winding, and a common magnetic core only partially surrounding the layered sequence and acting on the number of the at least two circuits. Each conductor winding is disposed on a respective one of the layers and extends parallel to the common plane. The core optionally has a core portion extending parallel to the common plane and bounds the layered sequence to one side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Inventors: Peter SCHOLZ, Yves HACKL, Christian REINHOLD
  • Publication number: 20240133535
    Abstract: An optical device usable as a headlight of a motor vehicle has an optical system in the form of a lens and/or a light source which is surrounded by a housing and which is covered by a translucent, in particular transparent, cover which is connected to the housing. To increase the functionality of the optical device, a PTC heating assembly is configured to heat a space between the housing and the cover. The PTC heating assembly includes at least one PTC element and strip conductors that are connected electrically to the PTC element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Michael Niederer, Peter Scholz, Kurt Walz, Ralf Lothar Weinand
  • Publication number: 20230393200
    Abstract: A switching monitoring device for monitoring a switching operation of a relay switching contact of a relay includes a control terminal, a controller, and an impedance circuit. The control terminal is configured to apply a control signal for switching the relay switching contact to the relay switching contact. The controller is configured to produce an excitation signal. The impedance circuit has a signal input and a signal output, and the controller applies the excitation signal to the signal input. The impedance circuit converts the excitation signal into a switching monitoring signal and outputs the switching monitoring signal at the signal output for application to the relay switching contact. The controller is further configured to detect a change in a signal present at the impedance circuit and, if the change in the signal is present, detect the switching operation of the relay switching contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Peter Scholz, Elmar SCHAPER
  • Publication number: 20230311692
    Abstract: A device for monitoring a contact between charging conductors of a charging station for charging an electric vehicle includes: a signal generator for outputting an alternating test signal at the charging conductors; and an evaluation unit for determining, based upon the test signal, whether an electrically conductive contact exists between the charging conductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventor: Peter SCHOLZ
  • Patent number: 11774501
    Abstract: A switching monitoring device for monitoring a switching operation of a relay switching contact of a relay includes a control terminal, a controller, and an impedance circuit. The control terminal is configured to apply a control signal for switching the relay switching contact to the relay switching contact. The controller is configured to produce an excitation signal. The impedance circuit has a signal input and a signal output, and the controller applies the excitation signal to the signal input. The impedance circuit converts the excitation signal into a switching monitoring signal and outputs the switching monitoring signal at the signal output for application to the relay switching contact. The controller is further configured to detect a change in a signal present at the impedance circuit and, if the change in the signal is present, detect the switching operation of the relay switching contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Peter Scholz, Elmar Schaper
  • Publication number: 20230296674
    Abstract: A contact monitoring device for monitoring an electrical contact having a first contact state and a second contact state includes: an oscillator circuit for generating an excitation signal; a coupler including a signal input and a signal output, the oscillator circuit being connected upstream of the signal input in order to apply the excitation signal to the coupler, the coupler converting the excitation signal into a contact monitoring signal and outputting the contact monitoring signal at the signal output in order to act on the electrical contact; and a detector for detecting a version of the excitation signal in order to monitor the electrical contact. A first impedance value is set with the electrical contact in the first contact state on the oscillator circuit, and a second impedance value is set with the electrical contact in the second contact state on the oscillator circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Peter Scholz, Marius Fischer, Christian Reinhold
  • Patent number: 11476030
    Abstract: An electric module with a planar transformer has a housing with an interior having an internal length and an internal height. The electric module additionally has a main printed circuit board with a first thickness, the main printed circuit board being equipped with at least one electronic component. The planar transformer is arranged on an additional printed circuit board with a second thickness, and the main printed circuit board has a recess which receives the additional printed circuit board. Additionally, the main printed circuit board and the additional printed circuit board are connected together via a connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Peter Scholz
  • Patent number: 11443887
    Abstract: A planar, in particular intrinsically safe transformer, having: a sandwich-type layer structure having a plurality of layers extending horizontally and arranged vertically on top of one another, including a first and a second conductive layer and at least one insulating inner layer disposed between the two conductive layers, a plurality of electrical circuits, wherein a first electrical circuit and at least a second electrical circuit are galvanically isolated from each other; and at least one ring-type magnetic core having a hole, which acts at least on the first electrical circuit and the second electrical circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Peter Scholz
  • Patent number: 11101063
    Abstract: A planar transformer for power transmission, having vertical and horizontal extents, includes a circuit board having a sandwich-type structure with at least three layers to form electrical conductors. First and second layers of these layers form outer layers of the circuit board, and each additional one of these layers forms an inner layer of the circuit board. An insulation material with a minimum thickness is arranged between all of these layers, with a number of at least three mutually galvanically isolated circuits. A first circuit forms a primary circuit and each additional circuit forms an equally entitled secondary circuit, having a magnetic core assembled from two interconnected magnetic core parts. A first core part with a central part and two outer legs forms a U shape. The circuit board has two recesses, and the two outer legs of the first core part are inserted into these recesses and connected to the second core part at their ends remote from the central part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Peter Scholz
  • Publication number: 20210223317
    Abstract: A switching monitoring device for monitoring a switching operation of a relay switching contact of a relay includes a control terminal, a controller, and an impedance circuit. The control terminal is configured to apply a control signal for switching the relay switching contact to the relay switching contact. The controller is configured to produce an excitation signal. The impedance circuit has a signal input and a signal output, and the controller applies the excitation signal to the signal input. The impedance circuit converts the excitation signal into a switching monitoring signal and outputs the switching monitoring signal at the signal output for application to the relay switching contact. The controller is further configured to detect a change in a signal present at the impedance circuit and, if the change in the signal is present, detect the switching operation of the relay switching contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2019
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Peter SCHOLZ, Elmar SCHAPER
  • Publication number: 20200203053
    Abstract: An electric module with a planar transformer has a housing with an interior having an internal length and an internal height. The electric module additionally has a main printed circuit board with a first thickness, the main printed circuit board being equipped with at least one electronic component. The planar transformer is arranged on an additional printed circuit board with a second thickness, and the main printed circuit board has a recess which receives the additional printed circuit board. Additionally, the main printed circuit board and the additional printed circuit board are connected together via a connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventor: Peter SCHOLZ
  • Patent number: 10585829
    Abstract: The object of the invention is an electrical interface module. The electrical interface module has a memory device for storing data and an integrated wireless interface that makes data available to an external reading device, wherein the electrical interface module can exchange data with other nearby electrical interface modules via the integrated wireless interface, wherein adjacent electrical interface modules form a logical bidirectional data bus via the integrated wireless interfaces, wherein data are made available by one nearby electrical interface module or by the other nearby electrical interface modules via the integrated wireless interface(s) in the manner of a bus to the external reading device, and wherein each electrical interface module makes a unique identification available via the integrated wireless interface, so that each electrical interface module is unambiguously identifiable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Peter Scholz, Lars-Peter Wimmer