Patents by Inventor Ralph Mende
Ralph Mende 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: 7365676Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor comprising a housing, inside of which a transmitting antenna array that transmits electromagnetic transmission signals in a radiation area and a receiving antenna array that receives received signals reflected by at least one object located within the radiation area are provided. The inventive sensor is designed in such a manner that the transmitting antenna array is provided for transmitting transmission signals in a main radiation area (3) and in a secondary radiation area (4) situated at an angle, thereto, and in that the receiving antenna array (TX) is provided for receiving received signals reflected in both radiation areas (3, 4). This makes it possible, for example when used in a monitor vehicle (5), to monitor the area behind and next to the motor vehicle (5) with a single transmitting antenna (1).Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2003Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: s.m.s smart microwave sensors GmbHInventor: Ralph Mende
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Publication number: 20080068251Abstract: A measuring device , e.g., a measuring device for a motor vehicle, is for measuring a distance between the measuring device and at least one object and/or measuring a difference in speed between the measuring device and the at least one object. The measuring device includes an emitting apparatus for transmitting a transmission signal encompassing at least two sequences of signal portions, a first sequence of signal portions and a second sequence of signal portions with two respective temporally alternating signal portions. The frequency of at least two signal portions of a sequence of signal portions differs by one respective difference frequency, the difference frequency of the first sequence of signal portions being different from the difference frequency of the second sequence of signal portions.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2004Publication date: March 20, 2008Inventors: Marc-Michael Meinecke, Ralph Mende, Marc Behrens, Thanh-Binh To
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Publication number: 20070263177Abstract: A system for displaying pictures in a rear projection television set including projection optics (2) disposed in the housing of the television set and connected to an illumination unit (1), with a picture transmitter (13) having a digital tilt mirror matrix (DMD matrix), the picture modulated by the picture transmitter (13) being projected by the projection optics (2) onto the rear side of a screen (7). The projection optics (2) include a first and second part optics (8, 9) lying on a common optical axis (11) that are provided at the same time for illumination. The light coming from the illumination unit passes via third part optics (10) and via at least one deflection element (15) into the second part optics (9). In the optical path of the front region of the projection optics an “off axis” mirror (5) and at least one deflection element (15) bend the optical path.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2007Publication date: November 15, 2007Applicant: SYPRO OPTICS GMBHInventors: Jurgen Kohler, Jurgen Pudenz, Gerd Reiche, Eberhardt Piehler, Ralph Mende
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Publication number: 20060033654Abstract: For detection of an electromagnetic signal, which is transmitted from a transmitting antenna (2), by means of at least two at least essentially identical receiving antennas (3, 4), whose sensitivity curve has a maximum (M) with falling flanks as well as sidelobes (SL) adjacent to it with sensitivity increased again at a reception angle symmetrically with respect to a basic alignment, with angle determination for an object which reflects the transmitted signal being carried out by the two receiving antennas (3, 4) by phase determination in an unambiguity area (?u) whose boundaries (L) are predetermined by the distance (d) between the receiving antennas (3, 4), the distance (d) is chosen such that the boundaries (L) of the unambiguity area (?u) intersect the sidelobes (SL), and the reflective object is detected by means of vectorial addition of the signals from the receiving antennas (3, 4), after which the parameters R, v are determined.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2005Publication date: February 16, 2006Inventors: Ralph Mende, Marc Behrens
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Publication number: 20050237250Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor comprising a housing, inside of which a transmitting antenna array that transmits electromagnetic transmission signals in a radiation area and a receiving antenna array that receives received signals reflected by at least one object located within the radiation area are provided. The inventive sensor is designed in such a manner that the transmitting antenna array is provided for transmitting transmission signals in a main radiation area (3) and in a secondary radiation area (4) situated at an angle, thereto, and in that the receiving antenna array (TX) is provided for receiving received signals reflected in both radiation areas (3, 4). This makes it possible, for example when used in a monitor vehicle (5), to monitor the area behind and next to the motor vehicle (5) with a single transmitting antenna (1).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2003Publication date: October 27, 2005Inventor: Ralph Mende
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Patent number: 6943727Abstract: In a method for determination of the length of objects in traffic, especially passenger cars, trucks, buses, motorbikes, bicycles and pedestrians, radar signals are transmitted by a vehicle, the radar signals are reflected by an object being measured, the reflected radar signals are received in the vehicle, the frequency spectra of the reflected radar signals are evaluated, and the reflection peaks contained in the frequency spectra are determined. Length measurement, by means of known radar sensors, from a vehicle is made possible by the fact that the width of the reflection peaks is determined, and that the length of the object being measured is determined by means of the determined width.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2003Date of Patent: September 13, 2005Assignee: Volkswagen AGInventors: Marc-Michael Meinecke, Ralph Mende, Marc Behrens
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Patent number: 6935751Abstract: A projection arrangement is provided, comprising a light source (1), a light modulator (4), which is arranged following the light source (1) and onto which light from the light source (1) may be directed, said light being modulated by the light modulator (4) under the control of a control device (5) on the basis of predetermined image data, in order to generate an image, and projection optics (6) arranged following the light modulator (4) for projecting said image onto a projection surface (9), wherein the control device (5) comprises a control unit (15) and a correcting unit (16), said correcting unit (16) pre-distorting the predetermined image data such that a non-linear distortion caused by the projection optics (6) is compensated, and said control unit (15) controls the light modulator (4) by means of the pre-distorted image data.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2002Date of Patent: August 30, 2005Assignee: Carl Zeiss Jena GmbHInventors: Gerd Rieche, Gudrun Schröter, Ralph Mende
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Patent number: 6864832Abstract: The distance and relative speed of an object remote from an observation point determined using a signal form which includes two signals having a predetermined spacing relative to each other. The two signals are transmitted for a certain time interval during which the frequency of the signals is modulated in a stepwise fashion. Additionally, the signal sections of the two signals are transmitted alternately for each step so that there is a predetermined frequency spacing between the signal sections being emitted consecutively.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2001Date of Patent: March 8, 2005Assignee: s.m.s. smart microwave sensors GmbHInventors: Ralph Mende, Hermann Rohling, Marc-Michael Meinecke
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Patent number: 6844842Abstract: A radar system is operated by controlling and thereby limiting the mean power of the transmitted signal in response to the mean power of the received signal thereby limiting the power to a predetermined power range. Preferably the power control or regulation is performed by varying the pulse repetition frequency and/or the pulse duration of the transmitter pulses. This method is well suited for operating a motor vehicle range warning system.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2001Date of Patent: January 18, 2005Assignee: Automotive Distance Control Systems GmbHInventors: Jens Kroeger, Ralph Mende, Karsten Schumann
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Publication number: 20040150797Abstract: A projection arrangement is provided, comprising a light source (1), a light modulator (4), which is arranged following the light source (1) and onto which light from the light source (1) may be directed, said light being modulated by the light modulator (4) under the control of a control device (5) on the basis of predetermined image data, in order to generate an image, and projection optics (6) arranged following the light modulator (4) for projecting said image onto a projection surface (9), wherein the control device (5) comprises a control unit (15) and a correcting unit (16), said correcting unit (16) pre-distorting the predetermined image data such that a non-linear distortion caused by the projection optics (6) is compensated, and said control unit (15) controls the light modulator (4) by means of the pre-distorted image data.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2003Publication date: August 5, 2004Inventors: Gerd Rieche, Gudrun Schroter, Ralph Mende
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Publication number: 20040140927Abstract: In a method for determination of the length of objects in traffic, especially passenger cars, trucks, buses, motorbikes, bicycles and pedestrians, radar signals are transmitted by a vehicle, the radar signals are reflected by an object being measured, the reflected radar signals are received in the vehicle, the frequency spectra of the reflected radar signals are evaluated, and the reflection peaks contained in the frequency spectra are determined. Length measurement, by means of known radar sensors, from a vehicle is made possible by the fact that the width of the reflection peaks is determined, and that the length of the object being measured is determined by means of the determined width.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2003Publication date: July 22, 2004Inventors: Marc-Michael Meinecke, Ralph Mende, Marc Behrens
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Publication number: 20040004567Abstract: Radar systems are used for ascertaining the range to at least one reflecting object present in an observation area and/or for ascertaining the speed of the at least one reflecting object. Such a radar system emits into the observation area successive transmitter pulses having a determined pulse duration, with a determined pulse-repetition frequency as a transmitted signal. The system receives transmitted pulses reflected by the at least one reflecting object of the transmitted signal as a received signal. The disadvantage thereby is, that the method has high signal dynamics, which has an unfavorable effect on the price of the circuit components required for the signal processing. The new method for operating a radar system shall be performable with cost effective means.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2003Publication date: January 8, 2004Inventors: Jens Kroeger, Ralph Mende, Karsten Schumann
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Publication number: 20030179128Abstract: The determination of separation (R) and relative speed (v) of at least one object which is distant from an observation point can be achieved by sending electromagnetic signals from the observation point, with a frequency shift over a modulation range (fSweep), in the form of signal segments (A, B) during a measuring interval, with a frequency separation (fShift) from each other which are transmitted alternately, the echo signals from which are detected after reflecting from the object. The phase difference (&Dgr;&phgr;) of the echo signals arising from each signal segment (A, B) is detected. Said determination occurs with short reaction time and high precision whereby the signal segments (A, B) are transmitted with a stepwise shift each time by a frequency step (fIncr) over the modulation range (fSweep) and at least one sampled value for determination of the phase difference (&Dgr;&phgr;) for each signal segment is taken.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2003Publication date: September 25, 2003Inventors: Ralph Mende, Hermann Rohling, Marc-Michael Meincke
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Patent number: 6509864Abstract: The invention relates to a distance measuring device. A transmitting part (E) for electromagnetic radiation especially radar radiation, emits measuring pulses (A, B) which are controlled by a pulse generator (1), and a receiving part (8) is switched to a ready-to-receive mode after a certain, adjustable delay (TDELAY, before a next measuring pulse is emitted, for receiving a reflected pulse during a time gate (18). The aim of the invention is to provide a calibration process taking into account all practical defects. To this end, the pulse generator (1) produces pulses with a multiple of the frequency with which the measuring pulses are repeated and a calibrating cycle in which calibrating pulses (&tgr;0 to &tgr;9) are produced with pulses generated by the pulse generator (1), controlled by the transmitting part (5), is carried out at longer intervals in time.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2002Date of Patent: January 21, 2003Assignee: s. m. s. smart microwave sensors GmbHInventors: Ralph Mende, Hermann Rohling
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Patent number: 6147638Abstract: In a method for operating a radar system, the object is to determine by simple means and at low cost the distance and/or the radial velocity of at least one target object with high resolution. For this purpose, in each measuring phase of the measurement process in the "pulse FMCW radar system", switchover between a transmission mode and a receiving mode is effected a multiple number of times and at short intervals of time. In the transmission mode, all receiving units of the radar system are switched off, while a pulse-shaped (frequency-modulated) transmission signal with time-successive transmission pulses having a specific pulse-on time and a specific carrier frequency is emitted from at least one transmitter unit of the radar system.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 1998Date of Patent: November 14, 2000Assignee: Automotive Distance Control SystemsInventors: Hermann Rohling, Ralph Mende