Patents by Inventor Rolf Melcher

Rolf Melcher 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: 8935128
    Abstract: The interference-compensated sensor for detecting an object located in a detection area in a contactless manner, particularly a rain sensor, is provided with a first and a second measuring channel each having a control device and an output, wherein both measuring channels are substantially identical. The sensor further comprises a main subtractor having an output for outputting the difference of the signals at the outputs of the measuring channels. The sensor is provided with a controller unit having an input that is connected to the output of the main subtractor and with an output for outputting a controller signal, by means of which the two measuring channels can be controlled in such a way that the signal at the output of the main subtractor can be controlled to zero. By means of the magnitude of the signal at the output of the controller, it can be determined if an object is located in the detection area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignees: Mechaless Systems GmbH, ELMOS Semiconductor AG
    Inventors: Rolf Melcher, Erhard Musch, Erhard Schweninger, Roberto Zawacki
  • Patent number: 8731414
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical receiver (1) for receiving alternating-light data signals and for storing electrical energy obtained from extraneous light, having a photodiode (2) for receiving light, which comprises extraneous light and an alternating-light data signal component with a higher frequency in comparison to the extraneous light, and for converting the light into a photocurrent (IP) which comprises a data signal current (IN) and an extraneous light current (IF) said receiver additionally comprises a coupling unit (3) for coupling in and separating the data signal current generated by the optical alternating-light data signal component from the extraneous light current generated by the extraneous light, an amplifying unit (4) for amplifying the data signal current and an energy storage unit (5) which is charged by the extraneous light current (IF) and which includes a circuit for increasing voltage, wherein the energy charged in the energy storage unit (5) is used for at least partially
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Mechaless Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Melcher, Uwe Hill
  • Publication number: 20130028593
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical receiver (1) for receiving alternating-light data signals and for storing electrical energy obtained from extraneous light, having a photodiode (2) for receiving light, which comprises extraneous light and an alternating-light data signal component with a higher frequency in comparison to the extraneous light, and for converting the light into a photocurrent (IP) which comprises a data signal current (IN) and an extraneous light current (IF) said receiver additionally comprises a coupling unit (3) for coupling in and separating the data signal current generated by the optical alternating-light data signal component from the extraneous light current generated by the extraneous light, an amplifying unit (4) for amplifying the data signal current and an energy storage unit (5) which is charged by the extraneous light current (IF) and which includes a circuit for increasing voltage, wherein the energy charged in the energy storage unit (5) is used for at least partially
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventors: Rolf Melcher, Uwe Hill
  • Publication number: 20110295505
    Abstract: The interference-compensated sensor (10) for detecting an object located in a detection area in a contactless manner, particularly a rain sensor, is provided with a first and a second measuring channel (12,14) each having a control device and an output (20,22), wherein both measuring channels (12,14) are substantially identical. The sensor (10) further comprises a main subtractor (24) having an output (26) for outputting the difference of the signals at the outputs (20,22) of the measuring channels (12,14). The sensor (10) is provided with a controller unit (30) having an input that is connected to the output (26) of the main subtractor (24) and with an output for outputting a controller signal, by means of which the two measuring channels (12,14) can be controlled in such a way that the signal at the output (26) of the main subtractor (24) can be controlled to zero. By means of the magnitude of the signal at the output of the controller, it can be determined if an object is located in the detection area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicants: MECHALESS SYSTEMS GMBH, ELMOS SEMICONDUCTOR AG
    Inventors: Rolf Melcher, Erhard Musch, Erhard Schweninger, Roberto Zawacki
  • Patent number: 7378641
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for identifying an object O in an opening that can be closed by means of a mobile element (12). Light is fed into at least one fiber-optic light guide (33, 34) from a light source (1, 2), and variations in the received light are detected by means of at least one receiver (Ea, Eb), the fiber-optic light guide being arranged at least partially along the edge of the opening (11). A first fiber-optic light guide sends light transversally to the length thereof, said light being then received by a second fiber-optic light guide transversally to the length thereof. The second fiber-optic light guide (34) is connected to the receiver (Eb). The fiber-optic light guides are arranged on the edge of the opening (11) in such a way that a light field (F) at least partially bridging the opening is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignees: Daimler Chrysler AG, Mechaless Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Melcher, Frank Rottmann, Gerd Reime, Andreas Rodewald, Juergen Setzer, Michael Dietz, Peter Langer
  • Publication number: 20070221824
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for identifying an object O in an opening that can be closed by means of a mobile element (12). Light is fed into at least one fibre-optic light guide (33, 34) from a light source (1, 2), and variations in the received light are detected by means of at least one receiver (Ea, Eb), the fibre-optic light guide being arranged at least partially along the edge of the opening (11). A first fibre-optic light guide sends light transversally to the length thereof, said light being then received by a second fibre-optic light guide transversally to the length thereof. The second fibre-optic light guide (34) is connected to the receiver (Eb). The fibre-optic light guides are arranged on the edge of the opening (11) in such a way that a light field (F) at least partially bridging the opening is produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2005
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Inventors: Rolf Melcher, Frank Rottmann, Gerd Reime, Andreas Rodewald, Juergen Setzer, Michael Dietz, Peter Langer
  • Patent number: 6400163
    Abstract: In a circuit arrangement for monitoring an electronic switch provided for controlling a load and current flown through the load during turn-on intervals for driving the load, the switch has a substantially linear resistance behavior during parts of its turn-on state and the operating point of the switch is located in this part of the turn-on state during the load control. The circuit arrangement comprises a modulation signal generator for generating a modulation signal for modulating the load current flowing through the electronic switch. A first voltage measuring device measures the first voltage drop across the electronic switch caused by the modulation signal. A second voltage measuring device measures the voltage drop across the electronic switch caused by the load current, and an evaluation unit determines the load current from the modulation signal and the first and second voltage drops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Inventors: Rolf Melcher, Siegfried Seliger