Patents by Inventor Ralf Kelz
Ralf Kelz 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: 11931219Abstract: A method of charging a battery of a dental light irradiation device has the steps of powering the battery at a first charging current and measuring a first terminal voltage of the battery; powering the battery at a different second charging current and measuring a second terminal voltage of the battery; calculating a battery source voltage; and powering off the battery as soon as the battery source voltage reaches or exceeds the threshold voltage.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2019Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Ralf Kelz
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Publication number: 20220287800Abstract: A heating device for heating a dental material. The heating device has a body and a socket. The socket is removably received within the body and has a socket wall that forms a receptacle for positioning a container for the dental material therein. The body has a light source for emitting light toward the socket wall in a direction toward the receptacle. The socket wall is at least partially transmissive for infrared light. The heating device allows for heating the dental material within the container.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2020Publication date: September 15, 2022Inventors: Christian A. Richter, Korbinian Gerlach, Rudolf Schmid, Stefan K. Welker, Ralf Kelz
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Publication number: 20220273409Abstract: The apparatus (1000) includes a housing (110), a chamber (120) disposed in the housing, at least two light emitting diodes (LEDs) (130) disposed within the housing (110), and a user interface (140) disposed on an exterior (112) of the housing. The chamber (120) is adaptable to each of an open, closed, and hermetically sealed configuration. The chamber (120) includes a material transparent to actinic radiation and light from the LEDs (130) enters the chamber from more than one direction. The user interface (140) includes a display (142) and program switches (144) configured to adjust at least three operational parameters of the apparatus. The apparatus (1000) further includes a vacuum pump (150) operatively coupled to the chamber (120). The system includes the apparatus (1000) and an article (180). An article includes layers of at least one photopolymerized crosslinked composition and a low extractable component content.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2020Publication date: September 1, 2022Inventors: Rudolf Schmid, Ralf Kelz, Christian A. Richter, Anja Friedrich, James D. Hansen, Saswata Chakraborty, Benjamin C. Mac Murray, Daniel D. Oberpertinger
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Publication number: 20220015886Abstract: A method of charging a battery of a dental light irradiation device has the steps of powering the battery at a first charging current and measuring a first terminal voltage of the battery; powering the battery at a different second charging current and measuring a second terminal voltage of the battery; calculating a battery source voltage; and powering off the battery as soon as the battery source voltage reaches or exceeds the threshold voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2019Publication date: January 20, 2022Inventor: Ralf Kelz
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Publication number: 20200345471Abstract: A dental light polymerization device has a polymerization light source and a camera. The dental light polymerization device comprises an actively movable light reflector. The invention provides for emitting light for polymerization of a dental material and capturing an image in the same dental light polymerization device.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2017Publication date: November 5, 2020Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Rudolf SCHMID, Korbinian GERLACH, Stefan K. WELKER, Ralf KELZ, Thomas K. MÜLLER
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Publication number: 20200030070Abstract: A dental light irradiation device has a first light source for emitting blue light, a camera and at least a first detector. The device is operable in a camera mode in which the camera is activated and in a non-camera mode in which the camera is deactivated. In the non-camera mode a user input on the first detector activates the camera mode. The dental light irradiation device helps facilitating the proper curing of a dental material in a patient's mouth.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2018Publication date: January 30, 2020Inventors: Korbinian Gerlach, Rudolf Schmid, Stefan Welker, Ralf Kelz
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Patent number: 10231810Abstract: A dental irradiation device comprises a first light emitting unit for emitting blue light adapted for light hardening of a dental material. The device further comprises a second light emitting unit and an image sensing unit which are adapted for cooperation with each other for simultaneous illumination and image capturing. The device facilitates hardening of dental materials and provides, inter alia, additional diagnostic functions.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2013Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Jens Gramann, Stefan K. Welke, Thomas Müeller, Korbinian Schepke-Gerlach, Ralf Kelz, Karin Watzek, Manfred Harre, Rudolf Schmid
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System and device for dispensing a dental material and a cartridge for use with the system or device
Patent number: 9775691Abstract: A system for dispensing a dental material comprises a cartridge from which the dental material is extrudable. The cartridge comprises a operating means and an interface for transmitting a cartridge output based on a user input. The system further has a dental dispensing device having a receptacle for receiving the cartridge and an interface for receiving the cartridge output. The system helps maximizing reliability and maximizing safety in operation for dispensing dental material.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2013Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Jens Gramann, Korbinian Schepke-Gerlach, Manfred Harre, Emir Jelovac, Ralf Kelz, Özcan Dönmez, Christian A. Richter -
Publication number: 20160287351Abstract: The invention relates to a dental device (1) comprising a housing with a tool portion (2) and a handling portion (3); at least on dental tool (49 located in the tool portion (2) of the housing; an interface device (5) for activating the at least one tool located in the handling portion of the housing, wherein the interface device (5) comprises a touch sensor with a touch surface and being adapted to translate wiping of a use's finger on the touch surface (6) into an instruction to operate the dental tool (4). The invention also relates to a method for activating a dental device.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2014Publication date: October 6, 2016Inventors: Korbinian Gerlach, Ralf Kelz
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Publication number: 20150250572Abstract: A dental irradiation device comprises a first light emitting unit for emitting blue light adapted for light hardening of a dental material. The device further comprises a second light emitting unit and an image sensing unit which are adapted for cooperation with each other for simultaneous illumination and image capturing. The device facilitates hardening of dental materials and provides, inter alia, additional diagnostic functions.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2013Publication date: September 10, 2015Inventors: Jens Gramann, Stefan Welker, Thomas K. Mueller, Korbinian Schepke-Gerlach, Ralf Kelz, Karin Watzek, Manfred Harre, Rudolf Schmid
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SYSTEM AND DEVICE FOR DISPENSING A DENTAL MATERIAL AND A CARTRIDGE FOR USE WITH THE SYSTEM OR DEVICE
Publication number: 20150157429Abstract: A system for dispensing a dental material comprises a cartridge from which the dental material is extrudable. The cartridge comprises a operating means and an interface for transmitting a cartridge output based on a user input. The system further has a dental dispensing device having a receptacle for receiving the cartridge and an interface for receiving the cartridge output. The system helps maximizing reliability and maximizing safety in operation for dispensing dental material.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2013Publication date: June 11, 2015Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Jens Gramann, Korbinian Schepke-Gerlach, Manfred Harre, Emir Jelovac, Ralf Kelz, Özcan Dönmez, Christian A. Richter -
Patent number: 8814738Abstract: A device for dispensing a dental composition comprises a piston for extruding a component of the dental composition from a container. The device has a roller drive for displacing the first piston. The roller drive comprises cooperating first and second rollers, and each of the rollers have a roller surface with a radial rib profile. The rollers are arranged for rolling with their roller surfaces on one another. The invention may help providing for a relatively reliable and compact device.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2010Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Jens Gramann, Manfred Harre, Ralf Kelz, Christian A. Richter, Karin Watzek, Oezcan Doenmez
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Patent number: 8613376Abstract: A device for dispensing a dental material comprises a plunger for extruding a component of the dental material, and a motor for driving the plunger. The device has two electric circuits for powering the motor to drive the plunger forward or backward. A selector switch is arranged in the device for alternately selecting between the first electric circuit and the second electric circuit for powering the motor. The device further has switches for interrupting the first and/or second electric circuits when the plunger is positioned at certain positions. The device provides automatic functionality for facilitating dispensing of dental materials, and further is preferably relatively robust and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2010Date of Patent: December 24, 2013Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Jens Gramann, Ralf Kelz
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Publication number: 20120292341Abstract: A device for dispensing a dental composition comprises a piston for extruding a component of the dental composition from a container. The device has a roller drive for displacing the first piston. The roller drive comprises cooperating first and second rollers, and each of the rollers have a roller surface with a radial rib profile. The rollers are arranged for rolling with their roller surfaces on one another. The invention may help providing for a relatively reliable and compact device.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2010Publication date: November 22, 2012Inventors: Jens Gramann, Manfred Harre, Ralf Kelz, Christian A. Richter, Karin Watzek, Oezcan Doenmez
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Publication number: 20120231410Abstract: A device for dispensing a dental material comprises a plunger for extruding a component of the dental material, and a motor for driving the plunger. The device has two electric circuits for powering the motor to drive the plunger forward or backward. A selector switch is arranged in the device for alternately selecting between the first electric circuit and the second electric circuit for powering the motor. The device further has switches for interrupting the first and/or second electric circuits when the plunger is positioned at certain positions. The device provides automatic functionality for facilitating dispensing of dental materials, and further is preferably relatively robust and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2010Publication date: September 13, 2012Inventors: Jens Gramann, Ralf Kelz