Patents by Inventor Roland Bergbach

Roland Bergbach 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: 10197439
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor for recognizing objects or object properties comprises a light transmitter for transmitting transmitted light into a detection zone, a light receiver for receiving received light and an evaluation unit which is configured to detect an object located in or projecting into a detection zone and/or to determine a property of such an object with reference to the received light received by the light receiver. The light transmitter comprises a monolithic semi-conductor component having a first light emitting layer and a second light emitting layer, with the first light emitting layer being configured for emitting red light and the second light emitting layer being configured for emitting infrared light, and with the second light emitting layer defining a central light emitting surface and the first light emitting layer defining an outer light emitting surface surrounding the central light emitting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Ingolf Horsch, Gerhard Merettig, Roland Bergbach, Felix Lang, Gunter Leuker
  • Patent number: 9677914
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor for recognizing object edges of objects comprises at least three light transmitters which are arranged such that at least two different spacings result between two respective light transmitters. For recognizing an object edge, an evaluation unit is configured to carry out a common evaluation of an image taken by a light receiver of a light spot generated by the transmitted light beams of a first light transmitter and of an image taken by a light receiver of a light spot generated by the transmitted light beams of another light transmitter. The pair of light transmitters to be used for the common evaluation can be selected in dependence on a selection criterion from at least two differently spaced apart pairs of light transmitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Merettig, Roland Bergbach, Matthias Schonstein, Ingolf Horsch, Matthias Gotz, Alexander Bohli
  • Publication number: 20170016763
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor for recognizing objects or object properties comprises a light transmitter for transmitting transmitted light into a detection zone, a light receiver for receiving received light and an evaluation unit which is configured to detect an object located in or projecting into a detection zone and/or to determine a property of such an object with reference to the received light received by the light receiver. The light transmitter comprises a monolithic semi-conductor component having a first light emitting layer and a second light emitting layer, with the first light emitting layer being configured for emitting red light and the second light emitting layer being configured for emitting infrared light, and with the second light emitting layer defining a central light emitting surface and the first light emitting layer defining an outer light emitting surface surrounding the central light emitting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: Ingolf HORSCH, Gerhard MERETTIG, Roland BERGBACH, Felix LANG, Gunter LEUKER
  • Patent number: 8963113
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor for recognizing object edges of objects moved relative to the sensor, has a light transmission device with at least one light transmitter, in particular at least two light transmitters, for generating a respective collimated or focused transmitted light beam. The sensor has at least two light receivers for imaging a light spot produced by the respective transmitted light beam on an object, wherein the two light receivers are arranged on two mutually opposite sides of the light transmission device, and has an evaluation unit which is designed to compare the two reception intensities of the two images of the respective light spot taken by the two light receivers with one another and to evaluate the result of the respective comparison to recognize an object edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Merettig, Roland Bergbach, Matthias Goetz, Kai Waslowski, Ingolf Hörsch
  • Publication number: 20140333939
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor for recognizing object edges of objects comprises at least three light transmitters which are arranged such that at least two different spacings result between two respective light transmitters. For recognizing an object edge, an evaluation unit is configured to carry out a common evaluation of an image taken by a light receiver of a light spot generated by the transmitted light beams of a first light transmitter and of an image taken by a light receiver of a light spot generated by the transmitted light beams of another light transmitter. The pair of light transmitters to be used for the common evaluation can be selected in dependence on a selection criterion from at least two differently spaced apart pairs of light transmitters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: SICK AG
    Inventors: Gerhard MERETTIG, Roland BERGBACH, Matthias SCHONSTEIN, Ingolf HORSCH, Matthias GOTZ, Alexander BOHLI
  • Publication number: 20110290989
    Abstract: This invention relates to an optoelectronic sensor for recognizing object edges of objects moved relative to the sensor, having a light transmission device with at least one light transmitter, in particular at least two light transmitters, for generating a respective collimated or focused transmitted light beam, having at least two light receivers for imaging a light spot produced by the respective transmitted light beam on an object, wherein the two light receivers are arranged on two mutually opposite sides of the light transmission device, and having an evaluation unit which is designed to compare the two reception intensities of the two images of the respective light spot taken by the two light receivers with one another and to evaluate the result of the respective comparison to recognize an object edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: SICK AG
    Inventors: Gerhard MERETTIG, Roland BERGBACH, Matthias GOETZ, Kai WASLOWSKI, Ingolf HÖRSCH
  • Patent number: 7578156
    Abstract: A potentially dangerous machine is secured to protect against injuries and has first and second tool parts that define an opening gap between them. At least the first tool part is movable relative to the second tool part in a movement direction during an operating cycle for deforming a workpiece between them by reducing a size of the opening gap in the movement direction. The protected zone precedes the first tool part and extends over at least a portion of the opening gap in the direction of relative movement. The protected zone is monitored with an optoelectronic sensor, and a danger signal is generated in response to a breach of the protected zone. When the size of the opening gap in the movement direction becomes smaller than the protected zone, the size of the protected zone is correspondingly reduced until during subsequent closing movements of the first tool part substantially the entire opening gap is within the protected zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventors: Ingolf Braune, Roland Bergbach, Joerg Grabinger
  • Patent number: 7454935
    Abstract: A method and an optoelectronic sensor are provided for ensuring the safety of a machine tool having a first tool part carrying out working movements in the direction of a second tool part. The sensor monitors a three-dimensional protected field between the tool parts of the machine tool. At the start of a working movement of a first tool part of the machine tool, the extent of the protected field in the direction of the working movement is smaller than the extent of the open gap between the tool parts. On a continued working movement, the extent of the protected field is continuously reduced and the protected field is held in the center of the open gap. Thereafter, on a further continued working movement, the extent of the protected field is maintained and the protected field is held in the center of the open gap. The sensor is finally deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventors: Ingolf Braune, Roland Bergbach
  • Publication number: 20070214854
    Abstract: A potentially dangerous machine is secured to protect against injuries and has first and second tool parts that define an opening gap between them. At least the first tool part is movable relative to the second tool part in a movement direction during an operating cycle for deforming a workpiece between them by reducing a size of the opening gap in the movement direction. The protected zone precedes the first tool part and extends over at least a portion of the opening gap in the direction of relative movement. The protected zone is monitored with an optoelectronic sensor, and a danger signal is generated in response to a breach of the protected zone. When the size of the opening gap in the movement direction becomes smaller than the protected zone, the size of the protected zone is correspondingly reduced until during subsequent closing movements of the first tool part substantially the entire opening gap is within the protected zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2004
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Applicant: Sick AG
    Inventors: Ingolf Braune, Roland Bergbach, Joerg Grabinger
  • Patent number: 7176444
    Abstract: A light barrier having a light emitter (9) spaced apart from a light receiver (10), the emitter including a light source (12) and transmission optics (13) emitting a substantially parallel light beam 11. The light receiver (10) and the light emitter (9) are aligned with each other for focusing the light beam (11) from the light emitter (9) by means of reception optics (15) on a reception element (17) for generating an electrical signal as a function of the light received. A partially reflecting optical boundary surface between the reception optics (15) and the reception element (17), and an alignment plate (18) which includes a light entry opening (19) and a target disk (20), are positioned in front of the reception optics (15) and are used for aligning the light receiver (10) and the light emitter (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventor: Roland Bergbach
  • Publication number: 20060126233
    Abstract: A method and an optoelectronic sensor are provided for ensuring the safety of a machine tool having a first tool part carrying out working movements in the direction of a second tool part. The sensor monitors a three-dimensional protected field between the tool parts of the machine tool. At the start of a working movement of a first tool part of the machine tool, the extent of the protected field in the direction of the working movement is smaller than the extent of the open gap between the tool parts. On a continued working movement, the extent of the protected field is continuously reduced and the protected field is held in the center of the open gap. Thereafter, on a further continued working movement, the extent of the protected field is maintained and the protected field is held in the center of the open gap. The sensor is finally deactivated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Applicant: SICK AG
    Inventors: Ingolf Braune, Roland Bergbach
  • Patent number: 7034929
    Abstract: A protective device for securing to a component movable along a track and for the monitoring of a protected zone moving with the component includes a light transmitter for the radiation of a divergent transmitted light beam into a spatial zone containing the protected zone, a light receiver for the reception of at least some of the light of the transmitted light beam of the light transmitter radiated into the spatial zone and for the emitting of corresponding received signals, and a restriction device which is arranged in the direction of a transmitted light path after a section of the transmitted light path which contains the protected zone and by means of which the transmitted light beam can be restricted to a less divergent received light beam defining the width of the protected zone in at least one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventors: Roland Bergbach, Martin Wüstefeld
  • Publication number: 20050161591
    Abstract: A light barrier having a light emitter (9) spaced apart from a light receiver (10), the emitter including a light source (12) and transmission optics (13) emitting a substantially parallel light beam 11. The light receiver (10) and the light emitter (9) are aligned with each other for focusing the light beam (11) from the light emitter (9) by means of reception optics (15) on a reception element (17) for generating an electrical signal as a function of the light received. A partially reflecting optical boundary surface between the reception optics (15) and the reception element (17), and an alignment plate (18) which includes a light entry opening (19) and a target disk (20), are positioned in front of the reception optics (15) and are used for aligning the light receiver (10) and the light emitter (9).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Applicant: Sick AG
    Inventor: Roland Bergbach
  • Publication number: 20040085530
    Abstract: An optical monitoring apparatus has a light transmitter for the transmission of at least two light beams offset substantially parallel to one another into a protected zone as well as a light receiver for the for the reception of the transmitted light beams and for the outputting of corresponding received signals. The light receiver has at least one photo-sensitive element having an elongate light-sensitive region whose elongate direction is aligned parallel to the arrangement of the light beams perpendicular to the direction of transmission such that all radiated light beams can be completely detected by the light sensitive region. A control circuit is provided for the distinguishing of the light beams which causes the light transmitter to make a transmission of the light beams offset in time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Applicant: Sick AG
    Inventors: Ingolf Braune, Martin Wuestefeld, Roland Bergbach
  • Publication number: 20040070751
    Abstract: A protective device for securing to a component movable along a track and for the monitoring of a protected zone moving with the component includes a light transmitter for the radiation of a divergent transmitted light beam into a spatial zone containing the protected zone, a light receiver for the reception of at least some of the light of the transmitted light beam of the light transmitter radiated into the spatial zone and for the emitting of corresponding received signals, and a restriction device which is arranged in the direction of a transmitted light path after a section of the transmitted light path which contains the protected zone and by means of which the transmitted light beam can be restricted to a less divergent received light beam defining the width of the protected zone in at least one direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Roland Bergbach, Martin Wustefeld
  • Publication number: 20030024421
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of controlling a light grid with a monitored zone for the securing of a hazardous zone pre-determined by a tool movement which is activated with the tool movement. A closed region of the monitored zone is activated as an active field. This active field is moved within the monitored zone such that the hazardous zone is initially only partly secured during the tool movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Applicant: Sick AG
    Inventors: Ingolf Braune, Roland Bergbach