Patents by Inventor Roland Kalberer
Roland Kalberer 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: 11703847Abstract: An input device including an input circuit with an input connection point for applying an input signal and with an input signal path which leads from the input connection point to an evaluation input and on which a conversion of the input signal into an evaluation signal is effected, an evaluation device which includes the evaluation input and which is designed to recognise an input signal level of the input signal on the basis of the evaluation signal, wherein the evaluation device is further designed to carry out a functionality test of the input device and within the framework of the functionality test by way of providing a test signal to effect a first change of the evaluation signal and to test the functionality of the input device on the basis of the effected first change of the evaluation signal, wherein the input circuit includes a transistor which is connected into the input signal path, and the input circuit is designed to control a control terminal of the transistor on the basis of the test signal,Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2021Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: Festo SE & Co. KGInventors: Roland Kälberer, Jan Reimer, Tobias Rossbach
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Publication number: 20210294315Abstract: An input device including an input circuit with an input connection point for applying an input signal and with an input signal path which leads from the input connection point to an evaluation input and on which a conversion of the input signal into an evaluation signal is effected, an evaluation device which includes the evaluation input and which is designed to recognise an input signal level of the input signal on the basis of the evaluation signal, wherein the evaluation device is further designed to carry out a functionality test of the input device and within the framework of the functionality test by way of providing a test signal to effect a first change of the evaluation signal and to test the functionality of the input device on the basis of the effected first change of the evaluation signal, wherein the input circuit includes a transistor which is connected into the input signal path, and the input circuit is designed to control a control terminal of the transistor on the basis of the test signal,Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2021Publication date: September 23, 2021Inventors: Roland Kälberer, Jan Reimer, Tobias Rossbach
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Patent number: 10761493Abstract: A safety module for an automation system includes a communication interface designed for a signal-transmitting connection to a communication system, an output interface designed for a signal-transmitting connection to at least one user which can be fitted downstream and a processing device connected to the communication interface and the output interface and designed to process communication signals from the communication interface and to provide output signals to the output interface wherein the processing device is designed for a detection of an actual component behaviour, using a control command contained in a communication signal and a component measured value contained in a communication signal, and for a comparison of a presettable component behaviour to the actual component behaviour as well as for a provision of a safety-oriented output signal to the output interface at a presettable divergence between the presettable component behaviour and the actual component behaviour.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2017Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: FESTO SE & CO. KGInventors: Martin Gehrke, Roland Kalberer, Ralf Forcht
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Patent number: 10503137Abstract: A safety module for an automation system including a communication interface, which is configured for a signal-transmitting connection to a communication system including an output interface, which is configured for a signal-transmitting connection to consumers, which can be attached downstream, and including a processing device which is connected to both interfaces and is configured for processing communication signals from the communication interface and for providing processing results as output signals at the output interface. The processing device is configured such that a safety-related output signal is provided at the output interface if a safety signal, which is contained in a communication signal, is present, and if at least two data records, which are respectively provided in a communication signal, are encoded differently and are directed at the processing device, conform with one another.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2017Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: FESTO AG & CO. KGInventors: Martin Gehrke, Martin Maier, Roland Kalberer, Andreas Herzog, Ralf Forcht
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Patent number: 10466670Abstract: A field bus module for the operation of actuators and/or sensors with at least one device interface for the connection of a sensor and/or actuator, with at least one field bus interface for connection to a field bus system, and with a processing device for receiving and processing and sending field bus telegrams and also for making available control commands, especially safety-oriented control commands, to the device interface depending on incoming field bus telegrams wherein the processing device is configured to process in different operating modes sensor data that can be made available at the device interface and/or field bus telegrams that can be made available at the field bus interface, wherein an operating mode memory is allocated to the processing device for the optional provision of one of at least two different operating mode data sets at the processing device depending on an incoming field bus telegram.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2015Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: Festo AG & Co., KGInventors: Roland Kalberer, Martin Hommel, Colin Leitner, Martin Gehrke, Martin Maier
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Patent number: 10333515Abstract: Control device having at least one electrical switching device, configured to provide electrical power to an associated load and arranged between a supply connection and a load connection and having at least one processing device, electrically connected with an input interface, with the at least one electrical switching device and with the load connection wherein it is provided that between the supply connection and the load connection parallel to the switching device an electrical resistor means is arranged, in order that when the switching device is open it forms a voltage divider with the load and allows a monitoring of the load connection independently of the switching state of the switching device.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2018Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: FESTO AG & Co. KGInventors: Roland Kalberer, Andreas Herzog
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Patent number: 10101384Abstract: A signal converter circuit includes a sensor connection, two comparator circuits, each having a signal input for an electric connection to the sensor connection, a reference input for an electric connection to a respectively assigned reference signal source and a signal output for a provision of an output signal, with a feedback line being formed between the respective signal output and the respective reference input, and further including two reference signal sources, each of the comparator circuits being configured for comparing a signal level at the signal input to a signal level at the reference input and for outputting a digital output signal as a function of a comparison result between the signal levels, wherein the two reference signal inputs are connected to one another via a coupling line being configured to transmit a presettable fraction of the respective signal level present at one reference input to the other reference input.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2016Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: FESTO AG & CO. KGInventors: Roland Kalberer, Martin Hommel
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Publication number: 20180219548Abstract: Control device having at least one electrical switching device, configured to provide electrical power to an associated load and arranged between a supply connection and a load connection and having at least one processing device, electrically connected with an input interface, with the at least one electrical switching device and with the load connection wherein it is provided that between the supply connection and the load connection parallel to the switching device an electrical resistor means is arranged, in order that when the switching device is open it forms a voltage divider with the load and allows a monitoring of the load connection independently of the switching state of the switching device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2018Publication date: August 2, 2018Inventors: Roland Kalberer, Andreas Herzog
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Publication number: 20180143594Abstract: A safety module for an automation system includes a communication interface designed for a signal-transmitting connection to a communication system, an output interface designed for a signal-transmitting connection to at least one user which can be fitted downstream and a processing device connected to the communication interface and the output interface and designed to process communication signals from the communication interface and to provide output signals to the output interface wherein the processing device is designed for a detection of an actual component behaviour, using a control command contained in a communication signal and a component measured value contained in a communication signal, and for a comparison of a presettable component behaviour to the actual component behaviour as well as for a provision of a safety-oriented output signal to the output interface at a presettable divergence between the presettable component behaviour and the actual component behaviour.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2017Publication date: May 24, 2018Inventors: Martin Gehrke, Roland Kalberer, Ralf Forcht
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Publication number: 20180143604Abstract: A safety module for an automation system including a communication interface, which is configured for a signal-transmitting connection to a communication system including an output interface, which is configured for a signal-transmitting connection to consumers, which can be attached downstream, and including a processing device which is connected to both interfaces and is configured for processing communication signals from the communication interface and for providing processing results as output signals at the output interface. The processing device is configured such that a safety-related output signal is provided at the output interface if a safety signal, which is contained in a communication signal, is present, and if at least two data records, which are respectively provided in a communication signal, are encoded differently and are directed at the processing device, conform with one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2017Publication date: May 24, 2018Inventors: Martin Gehrke, Martin Maier, Roland Kalberer, Andreas Herzog, Ralf Forcht
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Patent number: 9709616Abstract: A monitoring device for monitoring safety components including monitoring electronics which include a plurality of clock generators and evaluation means and on which at least two interfaces to be monitored for electric coupling to safety components are formed, wherein each of the interfaces includes at least two output ports and at least two input ports, wherein each of a first output port and a second output port is connected to a clock generator designed for providing clocked electric monitoring signals, wherein a first input port and a second input port are connected to the evaluation means, and wherein a number of clock generators greater than two and less than a number of all output ports of the interfaces to be monitored is chosen.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2014Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: FESTO AG & CO. KGInventors: Roland Kalberer, Martin Hommel, Colin Leitner
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Publication number: 20170185059Abstract: A field bus module for the operation of actuators and/or sensors with at least one device interface for the connection of a sensor and/or actuator, with at least one field bus interface for connection to a field bus system, and with a processing device for receiving and processing and sending field bus telegrams and also for making available control commands, especially safety-oriented control commands, to the device interface depending on incoming field bus telegrams wherein the processing device is configured to process in different operating modes sensor data that can be made available at the device interface and/or field bus telegrams that can be made available at the field bus interface, wherein an operating mode memory is allocated to the processing device for the optional provision of one of at least two different operating mode data sets at the processing device depending on an incoming field bus telegram.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2015Publication date: June 29, 2017Inventors: Roland Kalberer, Martin Hommel, Colin Leitner, Martin Gehrke, Martin Maier
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Publication number: 20170010319Abstract: A signal converter circuit includes a sensor connection, two comparator circuits, each having a signal input for an electric connection to the sensor connection, a reference input for an electric connection to a respectively assigned reference signal source and a signal output for a provision of an output signal, with a feedback line being formed between the respective signal output and the respective reference input, and further including two reference signal sources, each of the comparator circuits being configured for comparing a signal level at the signal input to a signal level at the reference input and for outputting a digital output signal as a function of a comparison result between the signal levels, wherein the two reference signal inputs are connected to one another via a coupling line being configured to transmit a presettable fraction of the respective signal level present at one reference input to the other reference input.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2016Publication date: January 12, 2017Inventors: Roland Kalberer, Martin Hommel
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Publication number: 20150168475Abstract: A monitoring device for monitoring safety components including monitoring electronics which include a plurality of clock generators and evaluation means and on which at least two interfaces to be monitored for electric coupling to safety components are formed, wherein each of the interfaces includes at least two output ports and at least two input ports, wherein each of a first output port and a second output port is connected to a clock generator designed for providing clocked electric monitoring signals, wherein a first input port and a second input port are connected to the evaluation means, and wherein a number of clock generators greater than two and less than a number of all output ports of the interfaces to be monitored is chosen.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2014Publication date: June 18, 2015Inventors: Roland Kalberer, Martin Hommel, Colin Leitner
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Publication number: 20070167114Abstract: System for processing technical surfaces, in particular surfaces of essentially rotationally symmetrical work pieces (3), comprising at least one processing unit (4) and one motor-driven work-piece carrier (1) and, mounted thereon in rotatable fashion, at least two or more holders (5) that feed work pieces (3) to the processing unit (4), characterized in that the processing unit (4) includes means (6) serving to exert an essentially constant hold-down pressure on the surface of the respective work piece (3), while the motor drive is so designed as to control the feed-in-timing sequence of the work pieces (3) and the duration of their processing cycle in the processing unit (4).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2007Publication date: July 19, 2007Applicant: OC OERLIKON BALZERS AGInventors: Norbert Fromel, Caroline Siebert, Roland Kalberer