Patents by Inventor Rene Wichert

Rene Wichert 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: 11632855
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an arrangement for dissipating heat of an electronic component mounted on a circuit board. The arrangement includes a heat sink for dissipating heat of an electronic component. In order for bottom heat of the electronic component to be dissipated, at least one heat-dissipating heat conducting section is configured on the circuit board, wherein the heat sink is connected in a heat transmitting manner to the heat conducting section of the circuit board. The heat sink by way of a foot section bears directly on the heat conducting section of the circuit board. A recess is configured in the base body of the heat sink, wherein the electronic component lies at least partially in the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rene Wichert, Martin Fieseler
  • Publication number: 20210410271
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an arrangement for dissipating heat of an electronic component mounted on a circuit board. The arrangement includes a heat sink for dissipating heat of an electronic component. In order for bottom heat of the electronic component to be dissipated, at least one heat-dissipating heat conducting section is configured on the circuit board, wherein the heat sink is connected in a heat transmitting manner to the heat conducting section of the circuit board. The heat sink by way of a foot section bears directly on the heat conducting section of the circuit board. A recess is configured in the base body of the heat sink, wherein the electronic component lies at least partially in the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Rene Wichert, Martin Fieseler
  • Patent number: 9577567
    Abstract: An electric motor in a work apparatus has a power characteristic line which runs between a lower rotational speed of the electric motor and an upper rotational speed of the electric motor. The power characteristic line has a power characteristic with a pronounced maximum (M) and an operating plateau (AP) which lies in a working rotational speed range (AD) of the work apparatus. A method for operating the electric motor provides for configuring the position of the operating plateau (AP) to be variable with respect to the rotational speed of the electric motor to achieve stable operating points over a wide rotational speed range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jochen Oerding, Rene Wichert, Christian Renz, Gernot Liebhard
  • Patent number: 9525360
    Abstract: A capacitor power supply unit converts a mains voltage (U) into a lower operating voltage (V1) for a controller and a supply voltage (V2) for an electrical small load. A series circuit including a mains capacitor and a zener diode is connected to the mains voltage (U) whereat the supply voltage (V2) for an electrical small load having a permissible operating voltage is tapped off. The capacitor power supply unit provides for the supply voltage (V2) to be greater than the permissible operating voltage of the electrical small load and for the small load to be connected to the supply voltage (V2) via a buck converter. Here, the buck converter is controlled as a current source having a variable operating frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kay-Steffen Gurr, Gernot Liebhard, Rene Wichert, Rudolf Saemann
  • Patent number: 9337759
    Abstract: A circuit for activating an electric motor in a work apparatus includes a main circuit having an electric motor, a rechargeable-battery pack, and an operating switch for activating the motor, and also a parallel branch to the battery pack and the operating switch. A capacitor is arranged in the parallel branch. To lower the electrical contact load on the operating switch, provision is made to arrange an electronic switch, which is connected in series with the capacitor, in the parallel branch. The series circuit which includes the capacitor and the electronic switch has a first and a second end. The ends form the only electrical power connection of the capacitor to the main circuit. The electronic switch in the series circuit will apply a supply voltage, which is provided by the battery pack, to the capacitor only after a period of time following closing of the operating switch has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kay-Steffen Gurr, Gernot Liebhard, Rene Wichert
  • Patent number: 9306478
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for braking an electric drive motor having a stator and a rotor. The stator has field coils which have electrical phase connections for three motor phases. To generate an electromagnetic rotating field driving the rotor, the phase connections are connected to a supply voltage via switches actuated by a control unit which closes the switches depending on the rotary position of the rotor. To brake a rotating rotor, a braking current is generated by short-circuiting the phase connections. A phase short circuit is switched in between each two phase connections of the field coils with a preset temporal sequence to brake the rotor. The phase connections short-circuited are each selected corresponding to the rotary position of the rotor so that that field coil is short circuited in which the voltage induced by the magnetic field of the rotating rotor passes through its maximum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Claudius Kischka, Simon Trinkle, Andreas Neubauer, Gernot Liebhard, Rene Wichert
  • Publication number: 20150326138
    Abstract: A capacitor power supply unit converts a mains voltage (U) into a lower operating voltage (V1) for a controller and a supply voltage (V2) for an electrical small load. A series circuit including a mains capacitor and a zener diode is connected to the mains voltage (U) whereat the supply voltage (V2) for an electrical small load having a permissible operating voltage is tapped off. The capacitor power supply unit provides for the supply voltage (V2) to be greater than the permissible operating voltage of the electrical small load and for the small load to be connected to the supply voltage (V2) via a buck converter. Here, the buck converter is controlled as a current source having a variable operating frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Kay-Steffen Gurr, Gernot Liebhard, Rene Wichert, Rudolf Saemann
  • Publication number: 20150091480
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for braking an electric drive motor having a stator and a rotor. The stator has field coils which have electrical phase connections for three motor phases. To generate an electromagnetic rotating field driving the rotor, the phase connections are connected to a supply voltage via switches actuated by a control unit which closes the switches depending on the rotary position of the rotor. To brake a rotating rotor, a braking current is generated by short-circuiting the phase connections. A phase short circuit is switched in between each two phase connections of the field coils with a preset temporal sequence to brake the rotor. The phase connections short-circuited are each selected corresponding to the rotary position of the rotor so that that field coil is short circuited in which the voltage induced by the magnetic field of the rotating rotor passes through its maximum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Claudius Kischka, Simon Trinkle, Andreas Neubauer, Gernot Liebhard, Rene Wichert
  • Patent number: 8947024
    Abstract: An electric motor includes an arrangement of windings provided for driving the rotor, with the windings being connected to an energy source to develop torque which drives the rotor. The electric circuits of corresponding ones of the windings each have a potential point, the voltage (UL, UG) of which is supplied to an evaluation unit via an adaptation device. The adaptation device can be operated in two switchable adaptation stages and is connected to a drive circuit that operates in dependence upon the rotational position of the rotor. The drive circuit switches the adaptation device into the first stage having a high sensitivity or into the second stage having a low sensitivity in dependence upon the rotational position of the rotor of the motor, such that the number of required analog inputs at a microprocessor in the evaluation unit can be kept low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rene Wichert, Gernot Liebhard, Rudolf Saemann
  • Patent number: 8796972
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for starting an electronic drive circuit for the windings of an electric motor. A control unit, which is connected to a voltage source, is provided as well as a capacitor connected via a system switch element to the connecting terminals of the voltage source. The capacitor is connected across the input terminals parallel to the drive circuit. An operating circuit controls the system switch element. In order to start the motor, the operating circuit closes the system switch element and charges the capacitor and after the charging of the capacitor, opens the system switch element again. A test step is then started by the control unit, the drive circuit being supplied exclusively by the capacitor voltage (UC) during the test step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: René Wichert, Gernot Liebhard
  • Patent number: 8742703
    Abstract: The invention relates to a blower apparatus (1) having a blower wheel (4) for generating a blower air flow (50). The blower wheel (4) is arranged in a housing (2), wherein the blower wheel is driven by an electric drive motor (8). A blower tube (6) via which the generated blower air flow (50) is guided connects at an outlet (5). A control unit (17) is provided for controlling the rotational speed of the electric drive motor. For a quick reduction of the blower air flow (50), it is provided that the control unit (17) supports the deceleration of the drive motor (8) through a braking current (I).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Binder, Arne Untermann, René Wichert
  • Patent number: 8723453
    Abstract: An electric chain saw has an electric drive motor defining a motor-specific characteristic line of the drawn-in current as a function of the rotational speed of the motor. A control unit controls the current flowing through the drive motor below an engaging rotational speed to values below the motor-specific characteristic line. In order to generate an operating point the operator can feel in a working region in a predetermined rotational speed band, a control characteristic line of the electric input power of the electric drive motor as a function of the rotational speed is provided above the engaging rotational speed. The control characteristic line is adapted to reduce the electric input power within the rotational speed band to an approximately even mean power so as to cause the torque of the drive motor to increase within the rotational speed band with falling rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Heiko Rosskamp, Gernot Liebhard, René Wichert
  • Publication number: 20140049195
    Abstract: A circuit for activating an electric motor in a work apparatus includes a main circuit having an electric motor, a rechargeable-battery pack, and an operating switch for activating the motor, and also a parallel branch to the battery pack and the operating switch. A capacitor is arranged in the parallel branch. To lower the electrical contact load on the operating switch, provision is made to arrange an electronic switch, which is connected in series with the capacitor, in the parallel branch. The series circuit which includes the capacitor and the electronic switch has a first and a second end. The ends form the only electrical power connection of the capacitor to the main circuit. The electronic switch in the series circuit will apply a supply voltage, which is provided by the battery pack, to the capacitor only after a period of time following closing of the operating switch has elapsed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kay-Steffen Gurr, Gernot Liebhard, Rene Wichert
  • Patent number: 8493011
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of controlling the run-up of an electronically commutated electric motor (1) to drive a tool. A rotor (7) rotates in the rotating field (21) of the stator (2). The field windings (3, 4, 5) alternately have a supply voltage applied thereto via an actuation unit (10) in order to obtain an advancing motor rotating field. For advancing the rotating field in the rotational direction (29) of the rotor (7), the inductance of the arrangement of the field coils (3, 4, 5), which is ascertained via a changing measuring current (IM), is evaluated and the advancement is carried out upon reaching a maximum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: René Wichert
  • Publication number: 20120319626
    Abstract: An electric motor includes an arrangement of windings provided for driving the rotor, with the windings being connected to an energy source to develop torque which drives the rotor. The electric circuits of corresponding ones of the a windings each have a potential point, the voltage (UL, UG) of which is supplied to an evaluation unit via an adaptation device. The adaptation device can be operated in two switchable adaptation stages and is connected to a drive circuit that operates in dependence upon the rotational position of the rotor. The drive circuit switches the adaptation device into the first stage having a high sensitivity or into the second stage having a low sensitivity in dependence upon the rotational position of the rotor of the motor, such that the number of required analog inputs at a microprocessor in the evaluation unit can be kept low.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Rene Wichert, Gernot Liebhard, Rudolf Saemann
  • Publication number: 20120249027
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for starting an electronic drive circuit for the windings of an electric motor. A control unit, which is connected to a voltage source, is provided as well as a capacitor connected via a system switch element to the connecting terminals of the voltage source. The capacitor is connected across the input terminals parallel to the drive circuit. An operating circuit controls the system switch element. In order to start the motor, the operating circuit closes the system switch element and charges the capacitor and after the charging of the capacitor, opens the system switch element again. A test step is then started by the control unit, the drive circuit being supplied exclusively by the capacitor voltage (UC) during the test step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: René Wichert, Gernot Liebhard
  • Publication number: 20120153876
    Abstract: The invention relates to a blower apparatus (1) having a blower wheel (4) for generating a blower air flow (50). The blower wheel (4) is arranged in a housing (2), wherein the blower wheel is driven by an electric drive motor (8). A blower tube (6) via which the generated blower air flow (50) is guided connects at an outlet (5). A control unit (17) is provided for controlling the rotational speed of the electric drive motor. For a quick reduction of the blower air flow (50), it is provided that the control unit (17) supports the deceleration of the drive motor (8) through a braking current (I).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Andreas Binder, Arne Untermann, René Wichert
  • Publication number: 20120086365
    Abstract: An electric chain saw has an electric drive motor defining a motor-specific characteristic line of the drawn-in current as a function of the rotational speed of the motor. A control unit controls the current flowing through the drive motor below an engaging rotational speed to values below the motor-specific characteristic line. In order to generate an operating point the operator can feel in a working region in a predetermined rotational speed band, a control characteristic line of the electric input power of the electric drive motor as a function of the rotational speed is provided above the engaging rotational speed. The control characteristic line is adapted to reduce the electric input power within the rotational speed band to an approximately even mean power so as to cause the torque of the drive motor to increase within the rotational speed band with falling rotational speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: Heiko Rosskamp, Gernot Liebhard, René Wichert
  • Publication number: 20110279073
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of controlling the run-up of an electronically commutated electric motor (1) to drive a tool. A rotor 7 rotates in the rotating field (21) of the stator (2). The field windings (3, 4, 5) alternately have a supply voltage applied thereto via an actuation unit (10) in order to obtain an advancing motor rotating field. For advancing the rotating field in the rotational direction (29) of the rotor (7), the inductance of the arrangement of the field coils (3, 4, 5), which is ascertained via a changing measuring current (IM), is evaluated and the advancement is carried out upon reaching a maximum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventor: René Wichert