Patents by Inventor Reiner Eckhardt

Reiner Eckhardt 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: 9207045
    Abstract: An optical device for guiding radiation from an object scene to a detector contains an alignment device for pivoting a field of view of the detector relative to a predetermined direction, a detector optical unit and an optical articulation for guiding the beam path from the pivoted field of view into the detector optical unit. In order to achieve a compact configuration of the device, the optical articulation has a reversing prism, in which beams running in the optical axis of the articulation are refracted towards a mirror surface of the reversing prism and are reflected by the reflection surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: DIEHL BGT DEFENCE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Reiner Eckhardt, Joachim Barenz, Hubert Kuppel
  • Patent number: 8927914
    Abstract: An optical device forms a beam path between an optical end element at a beam path end and an object scene into which the beam path is directed via a field of view of the end element. The optical device contains an alignment device for pivoting the field of view relative to a predetermined direction, an end optical unit and an optical articulation for guiding the beam path from the pivoted field of view into the end optical unit. In order to achieve good shielding against spurious radiation, the device has a shielding unit containing a shielding element led partly around the optical articulation, which shielding unit shields the optical articulation against incident radiation that is not incident through the entrance or exit aperture of the optical articulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Diehl BGT Defense GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Reiner Eckhardt, Joachim Barenz, Hubert Kuppel
  • Patent number: 8354626
    Abstract: An optical system for a missile has optics for imaging an object through a beam path on an imaging plane. The optics have external optics, rotatably mounted about a roll axis and a pitch axis of the missile, and internal optics, and one of the ends of the beam paths is fixed with respect to the structure in the missile. In order to prevent image disturbances caused by shadows which are caused at a high squint angle by an element which is fixed to the structure, the optical system includes a shutter, which can be introduced into the beam path during flight of the missile, in order to mask out a shadow, which is produced by an element of the missile, in the beam path in a viewing direction of the external optics which is tilted with respect to the roll axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Diehl BGT Defence GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Reiner Eckhardt
  • Publication number: 20120312913
    Abstract: An optical device forms a beam path between an optical end element at a beam path end and an object scene into which the beam path is directed via a field of view of the end element. The optical device contains an alignment device for pivoting the field of view relative to a predetermined direction, an end optical unit and an optical articulation for guiding the beam path from the pivoted field of view into the end optical unit. In order to achieve good shielding against spurious radiation, the device has a shielding unit containing a shielding element led partly around the optical articulation, which shielding unit shields the optical articulation against incident radiation that is not incident through the entrance or exit aperture of the optical articulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: DIEHL BGT DEFENCE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: REINER ECKHARDT, JOACHIM BARENZ, HUBERT KUPPEL
  • Publication number: 20120312968
    Abstract: An optical device for guiding radiation from an object scene to a detector contains an alignment device for pivoting a field of view of the detector relative to a predetermined direction, a detector optical unit and an optical articulation for guiding the beam path from the pivoted field of view into the detector optical unit. In order to achieve a compact configuration of the device, the optical articulation has a reversing prism, in which beams running in the optical axis of the articulation are refracted towards a mirror surface of the reversing prism and are reflected by the reflection surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: DIEHL BGT DEFENCE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Reiner Eckhardt, Joachim Barenz, Hubert Kuppel
  • Publication number: 20110078095
    Abstract: The invention relates to a kit for assembly of a plastic letter tray with an open front side and an open topside. The kit comprises a left side panel, a right side panel, a back panel, and a floor panel, which panels are provided with receiving apertures and/or insert lips, preferably snap fingers, for interconnecting the panels to assemble the letter tray. The panels are formed as one body in an injection mould, and are only disconnected from each other by the end user when assembling the letter tray. Thus there is nor risk of the panels getting lost or mixed up with panels of other letter trays during transport. The panels are connected via breakaway connections. Furthermore, the left side panel is positioned with a bottom edge along the left side of the floor panel, the right side panel is positioned with a bottom edge along the right side of the floor panel, and the back panel is positioned with a bottom edge along the backside of the floor panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventor: Reiner Eckhardt
  • Publication number: 20100327105
    Abstract: An optical system for a missile has optics for imaging an object through a beam path on an imaging plane. The optics have external optics, rotatably mounted about a roll axis and a pitch axis of the missile, and internal optics, and one of the ends of the beam paths is fixed with respect to the structure in the missile. In order to prevent image disturbances caused by shadows which are caused at a high squint angle by an element which is fixed to the structure, the optical system includes a shutter, which can be introduced into the beam path during flight of the missile, in order to mask out a shadow, which is produced by an element of the missile, in the beam path in a viewing direction of the external optics which is tilted with respect to the roll axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: DIEHL BGT DEFENCE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Reiner Eckhardt
  • Patent number: 7564478
    Abstract: An apparatus for capturing an object scene, in particular a seeking head for target-tracking missiles, such that, with a detector 86 in fixed relationship with a structure, it is possible to capture a large spatial angle. For that purpose the imaging optical system (30) has a system portion (28) facing the object scene which is pivotable with a pitch frame (24) about a pitch axis (26) perpendicular to a roll axis (18). The pitch frame (24) is mounted pivotably about the pitch axis (26) in a roll frame (16) which is supported in the structure (10) rotatably about the roll axis (18). The system portion (28) includes first beam deflection structure (36) by which the imaging beam path of the imaging optical system (30) is deflectable in a direction along the pitch axis (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Bodenseewerk Gerätetechnikk GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Baumann, Reiner Eckhardt
  • Patent number: 6196497
    Abstract: An infrared seeker head for target tracking missiles has a main detector and an imaging optical system generating an image of a field of view on the main detector. The field of view contains a target such as an enemy aircraft. The missile is guided to the target in accordance with signals from the main detector. The target, if attacked by the missile, emits high-intensity laser radiation towards the missile as a counter-measure. This is to disturb the operation of the seeker head by dazzling or even destroying the main detector. The seeker head contains a device for defending against such disturbances. Various types of such defending devices are described. Incident light is deviated from the main detector. A second-quadrant-detector of reduced sensitivity guides the missile along the disturbing laser beam. Another embodiment uses attenuating optical elements in front of the main detector under the control of one or more second detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Bodenseewerk Gerätetechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Simon Lankes, Michael Gross, Reiner Eckhardt, Heinz Hoch
  • Patent number: 5702068
    Abstract: In a seeker head a field of view is scanned cyclically for providing picture informations referenced to a seeker-fixed coordinate system. The seeker carries a gyro assembly, which provides attitude variation signals as a function of attitude variations of the seeker relative to inertial space. The attitude variation signals are applied to a coordinate transformer which transforms all picture informations with their addresses into an inertial coordinate system which coincided with the seeker-fixed coordinate system after the completion of the preceding scan. Thereby during each scan all picture informations are transformed into one single inertial coordinate system. After the completion of the scan, the picture informations are again transformed into an inertial coordinate system, which coincided with the seeker-fixed coordinate system at the end of said scan, and are stored in a memory. This is the same coordinate system into which the picture informations will be transformed during the next-following scan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Bodenseewerk Geratetechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Alfred Stoll, Wolfgang Gulitz, Hans Tessari, Reiner Eckhardt
  • Patent number: 5541839
    Abstract: The interface arrangement is provided for data transfer between a carrier aircraft and a missile which is to be launched from the carrier aircraft and which includes a target seeking head. The missile is connected to the carrier aircraft through a connecting cable which contains a small number of wires sufficient for transferring analog data and which is detachable upon launch. For selectively operating the carrier aircraft in conjunction with a missile which is equipped with either (i) a target seeking head producing analog target deviation data or (ii) a image processing target seeking head, at least two interfaces are connected to the connecting cable. One of the interfaces is designed for data transfer via the connecting cable to and from the target seeking head producing analog target deviation data. An other one of the interfaces is designed for data transfer via the connecting cable to and from a image processing target seeking head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Bodenseewerk Geratetechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Mitzkus, Reiner Eckhardt
  • Patent number: 4632502
    Abstract: A nutating coupler arrangement is provided for driving an oscillating mirror movable about an axis of oscillation 12. A driving member 18, which rotates about a driving axis 24, is connected to the oscillating mirror through a coupler 28. The driving axis 24 is offset relative to the plane 34 perpendicular to the axis of oscillation 12 and extending through the pivotal point 30 of the coupler 28 at the oscillating mirror. The coupler 28 makes a nutating motion while the pivotal point 30 makes an oscillating motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Assignee: Bodenseewerk Geratetchnik GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Kordulla, Reiner Eckhardt
  • Patent number: 4576346
    Abstract: In a seeker head for a target seeking missile, which comprises a seeker 28 adapted to be directed to a target, two distance sensors 32 and 34 in the form of laser transceiver units are adapted to be directed to the target together with the seeker 28. The arrangement of the distance sensors 32 and 34 on opposite sides of the pitch axis 26 ensures that, with large squint angles, at most one of the distance sensors 32 and 34 is covered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1986
    Assignee: Bodenseewerk Geratetechnic GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Gauggel, Reiner Eckhardt