Patents by Inventor Ralf Schaetzle

Ralf Schaetzle 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).

  • Publication number: 20230259089
    Abstract: An automation technology field device, comprising a radio module, wherein the radio module is configured such that it forms at least one first radio channel and one second radio channel, wherein the first radio channel is configured for a reading access and the second radio channel for a writing access to the field device, characterized in that the second radio channel is deactivated in a basic state of the field device and the field device has a switching element at least partially realized as hardware, wherein the switching element is configured such that the second radio channel can be activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Volker Allgaier, Ralf Schätzle, Stefan Kasper
  • Publication number: 20230022233
    Abstract: A measuring assembly with at least two measuring devices and a higher-level unit, characterized in that the measuring assembly further has a network distributor, wherein the measuring devices are connected to the network distributor via a two-wire Ethernet connection, the measuring devices are fully supplied with power via the two-wire Ethernet connection, and the network distributor is connected to the higher-level unit with an Ethernet connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Winfried Rauer, Ralf Schaetzle, Juergen Haas, Fabian Rank, Natalie Waldecker
  • Patent number: 10701825
    Abstract: An electrical housing made from plastic, comprising a bottom housing part with walls forming a housing bottom and a plurality of side walls, wherein the walls form a housing opening, wherein at least one of the walls has a plurality of positions for arranging cable glands, and a top housing part adapted to the bottom housing part for closing the housing opening in a sealing manner, wherein at least one metallic screw connection plate with threads for the attachment of cable glands integrated into the screw connection plate is disposed in the housing interior, wherein the screw connection plate is oriented and arranged such that the threads are oriented so as to correspond to the positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Vega Grieshaber KG
    Inventors: Ralf Schätzle, Fabian Witt
  • Patent number: 10530241
    Abstract: A driver circuit for an electric device of an intrinsically safe circuit is provided, including a coupling capacitor configured to be open to AC voltage signals and to decouple DC voltage signals, the coupling capacitor includes first and second terminals, and is electrically connected to a first output line of the driver circuit by the first terminal; a first circuit configured to detect an output current of the coupling capacitor, which flows from the first terminal to the first output line; a switchable element electrically connected to the second terminal; a switching behaviour of the element being controllable by switching the element from an electrically blocking state to an electrically conductive state when the output current at the first terminal exceeds a predefined threshold, so that the element in the conductive state causes discharge of the coupling capacitor via the second terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG
    Inventors: Ralf Schaetzle, Albert Woehrle
  • Publication number: 20190335598
    Abstract: An electrical housing made from plastic, comprising a bottom housing part with walls forming a housing bottom and a plurality of side walls, wherein the walls form a housing opening, wherein at least one of the walls has a plurality of positions for arranging cable glands, and a top housing part adapted to the bottom housing part for closing the housing opening in a sealing manner, wherein at least one metallic screw connection plate with threads for the attachment of cable glands integrated into the screw connection plate is disposed in the housing interior, wherein the screw connection plate is oriented and arranged such that the threads are oriented so as to correspond to the positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Ralf Schätzle, Fabian Witt
  • Publication number: 20170250598
    Abstract: There is provided a driver circuit for an electric device of an intrinsically safe circuit. The driver circuit includes a coupling capacitor configured to be open to AC voltage signals and to decouple DC voltage signals, the coupling capacitor includes first and second terminals, and is electrically connected to a first output line of the driver circuit by the first terminal; a first circuit configured to detect an output current of the coupling capacitor, which flows from the first terminal to the first output line; a switchable element electrically connected to the second terminal; means for controlling switching behaviour of the element, configured to switch the element from an electrically blocking state to an electrically conductive state when the output current at the first terminal exceeds a predefined threshold, so that the element in the conductive state causes discharge of of the coupling capacitor via the second terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicant: VEGA Grieshaber KG
    Inventors: Ralf SCHAETZLE, Albert WOEHRLE
  • Patent number: 9141331
    Abstract: A method and a system includes devices for remote operation of a device, especially a field device. The method may be executed on a system including a first device, especially a field device, which supplies data according to a display content, especially image data, to a second device, also a field device for visualizing the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: VEGA GRIESHABER KG
    Inventors: Ralf Schaetzle, Holger Staiger
  • Patent number: 9054724
    Abstract: Described is monitoring of an analog-digital conversion of a measured value of at least one of a pressure gauge, a level gauge and a flowmeter. Different measured values can be provided for the analog-digital converter by means of a first microcontroller, wherein these measured values are subsequently transmitted from this first area into a second area by means of a unidirectional coupler. These values are acquired by a second microcontroller in the second area and compared with reference values that are stored in the second area or at another location. This diagnostic circuit may make it possible to detect drifts of resistances and of reference voltages, as well as a faulty analog-digital converter or a program execution error of the first microcontroller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG
    Inventors: Ralf Schaetzle, Manfred Kopp
  • Publication number: 20150088436
    Abstract: A level measurement device parameterisation system for configuring and/or parameterising a level measurement device includes a user computer and a central computer. The user computer creates configuration instructions and parameterisation instructions on the basis of user inputs and the central computer creates, on the basis thereof, at least part of the configuration information and/or parameterisation information for a level measurement device. The central computer is further configured to transmit control information to the user computer to provide the user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Ralf SCHAETZLE, Fridolin Faist
  • Publication number: 20130275572
    Abstract: A method is for setting up temporary readiness of a field device for process automation to receive data in which a time interval is communicated to the field device during which it should be in transmit/receive mode. After expiry of this time interval, the field device switches back to a power-saving mode. As this time interval is freely selectable by a remote user, it is possible as a result to specify a suitable time for field device maintenance. As a result, it is possible to facilitate field device maintenance of battery-operated field devices which are in power-saving mode for the majority of the time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: VEGA Grieshaber KG
    Inventors: Ralf SCHAETZLE, Fridolin FAIST, Andreas ISENMANN
  • Publication number: 20130249775
    Abstract: Method and device configuration for carrying out the method, wherein the method is provided for remote operation of a device, especially a field device. The method and configuration can also be executed on a first device, especially a field device, which supplies data according to a display content, especially image data, to a second device, also a field device for visualizing the image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: VEGA GRIESHABER KG
    Inventors: Ralf Schaetzle, Holger Staiger
  • Patent number: 8373585
    Abstract: Described is monitoring of an analog-digital conversion of a measured value of at least one of a pressure gauge, a level gauge and a flowmeter. Different measured values can be provided for the analog-digital converter by means of a first microcontroller, wherein these measured values are subsequently transmitted from this first area into a second area by means of a unidirectional coupler. These values are acquired by a second microcontroller in the second area and compared with reference values that are stored in the second area or at another location. This diagnostic circuit may make it possible to detect drifts of resistances and of reference voltages, as well as a faulty analog-digital converter or a program execution error of the first microcontroller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG
    Inventors: Ralf Schaetzle, Manfred Kopp
  • Patent number: 8321155
    Abstract: A field device for measuring the filling level, the pressure or the density of a medium in a container is described. The field device comprises two processors that are separate from each other. The first processor corresponds to a lower safety standard while the second processor corresponds to a higher safety standard. Functions of the field device that are directed towards safety are carried out in the second processor. Functions that are less critical to safety are carried out in the first processor. Data exchange between the two processors is controlled by way of an operating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG
    Inventors: Winfried Rauer, Martin Gaiser, Manfred Kopp, Ralf Schaetzle
  • Patent number: 8205022
    Abstract: A method for generating a device description for a measuring apparatus in a target field bus protocol is described. The method comprises the reception of a first device description of the apparatus. The first device description of the apparatus comprises at least one variable. The at least one variable is related to a storage cell of the apparatus. The target field bus protocol is selected from a plurality of field bus protocols, and at least one block is formed from the at least one variable. The at least one block has a maximum block size that corresponds to the smallest maximum block size of at least two field bus protocols of the plurality of field bus protocols. The maximum block size can be transmitted via a field bus with a single request when the respective field bus protocol is used. Subsequently, the at least one block is provided as device description for the apparatus in the target field bus protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG
    Inventors: Andreas Isenmann, Harald Auber, Fridolin Faist, Martin Gaiser, Manfred Kopp, Robert Laun, Juergen Lienhard, Manfred Metzger, Ralf Schaetzle
  • Publication number: 20110268273
    Abstract: A data processing apparatus for a field device of level measurement and/or pressure measurement technology is described. An input is adapted for receiving data from a measurement processing stage and an output is adapted for providing encrypted data. The encrypted data are marked for a recipient of the data as encrypted data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas Gros, Ralf Schaetzle, Fridolin Faist
  • Patent number: 7962100
    Abstract: This invention relates to a data transmission system for wireless communication of a control device with a field unit via a radio transmission device. The communication between control device and radio transmission device takes place via a field bus protocol. Likewise, the communication of the field unit with the radio transmission device takes place via a field bus protocol. The radio transmission device is capable of transmitting the field bus protocol by a radio protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Vega Grieshaber KG
    Inventors: Andreas Isenmann, Fridolin Faist, Ralf Schaetzle
  • Publication number: 20100271000
    Abstract: Described is monitoring of an analog-digital conversion of a measured value of at least one of a pressure gauge, a level gauge and a flowmeter. Different measured values can be provided for the analog-digital converter by means of a first microcontroller, wherein these measured values are subsequently transmitted from this first area into a second area by means of a unidirectional coupler. These values are acquired by a second microcontroller in the second area and compared with reference values that are stored in the second area or at another location. This diagnostic circuit may make it possible to detect drifts of resistances and of reference voltages, as well as a faulty analog-digital converter or a program execution error of the first microcontroller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventors: Ralf SCHAETZLE, Manfred KOPP
  • Publication number: 20100256921
    Abstract: A field device for measuring the filling level, the pressure or the density of a medium in a container is described. The field device comprises two processors that are separate from each other. The first processor corresponds to a lower safety standard while the second processor corresponds to a higher safety standard. Functions of the field device that are directed towards safety are carried out in the second processor. Functions that are less critical to safety are carried out in the first processor. Data exchange between the two processors is controlled by way of an operating system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Winfried Rauer, Martin Gaiser, Manfred Kopp, Ralf Schaetzle
  • Patent number: D986073
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Inventors: Ralf Schätzle, Fabian Witt, Jürgen R. Schmid
  • Patent number: D991059
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: VEGA GRIESHABER KG
    Inventors: Ralf Schätzle, Fabian Witt, Jürgen R. Schmidt