Patents by Inventor Rolf Thiel

Rolf Thiel 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: 10753809
    Abstract: A contact force testing apparatus includes a measuring sensor that can be contacted with an electrical contact element and measures a contact force (F) of a contact with the electrical contact element. The measuring sensor includes piezoelectric material that receives the contact force (F) in a contact region and produces polarization charges. The measuring sensor includes an acceptor electrode that is completely surrounded by piezoelectric material in the contact region in the direction of a thickness extension of the measuring sensor and receives the polarization charges. A method is provided for the use of such a contact force testing apparatus, and a method is provided for producing such a contact force testing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: KISTLER HOLDING, AG
    Inventors: Giovanni Mastrogiacomo, Sandro Brandenberger, Paul Furter, Reinhard Staub, Rolf Thiel, Claudio Cavalloni
  • Patent number: 10753810
    Abstract: A contact force testing apparatus includes a measuring sensor that can be contacted with an electrical contact element and measures a contact force (F) of a contact with the electrical contact element of an electrical connector having a male component and a female component. The measuring sensor receives the contact force in a contact region with a piezoelectric pick-up. The measuring sensor includes a plurality of piezoelectric pick-ups that are spaced apart from one another by pick-up gaps. The measuring sensor has a protective sleeve that covers the piezoelectric pick-ups and the pick-up gaps in the contact region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: KISTLER HOLDING, AG
    Inventors: Giovanni Mastrogiacomo, Sandro Brandenberger, Paul Furter, Reinhard Staub, Rolf Thiel, Claudio Cavalloni
  • Publication number: 20180113033
    Abstract: A contact force testing apparatus includes a measuring sensor that can be contacted with an electrical contact element and measures a contact force (F) of a contact with the electrical contact element of an electrical connector having a male component and a female component. The measuring sensor receives the contact force in a contact region with a piezoelectric pick-up. The measuring sensor includes a plurality of piezoelectric pick-ups that are spaced apart from one another by pick-up gaps. The measuring sensor has a protective sleeve that covers the piezoelectric pick-ups and the pick-up gaps in the contact region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: GIOVANNI MASTROGIACOMO, SANDRO BRANDENBERGER, PAUL FURTER, REINHARD STAUB, ROLF THIEL, CLAUDIO CAVALLONI
  • Publication number: 20180067002
    Abstract: A contact force testing apparatus includes a measuring sensor that can be contacted with an electrical contact element and measures a contact force (F) of a contact with the electrical contact element. The measuring sensor includes piezoelectric material that receives the contact force (F) in a contact region and produces polarization charges. The measuring sensor includes an acceptor electrode that is completely surrounded by piezoelectric material in the contact region in the direction of a thickness extension of the measuring sensor and receives the polarization charges. A method is provided for the use of such a contact force testing apparatus, and a method is provided for producing such a contact force testing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: GIOVANNI MASTROGIACOMO, SANDRO BRANDENBERGER, PAUL FURTER, REINHARD STAUB, ROLF THIEL, CLAUDIO CAVALLONI
  • Patent number: 9440270
    Abstract: A force sensor system for measuring forces that are transferred from film strips or sheet metal strips to a measuring roll during rolling in roll stands can be inserted into a cylindrical hole of a measuring roll under preload. The force sensor system includes a first force sensor and a preloading device for creating a preload on the first force sensor, so that the first force sensor can determine a force acting radially on the measuring roll. The first force sensor has a high sensitivity, which corresponds to the required measurement sensitivity of the contact force of the film strip or sheet metal strip. The force sensor system includes a second force sensor, which also can be placed under preload by means of the preloading device. The second force sensor is a statically measuring force sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: KISTLER HOLDING AG
    Inventor: Rolf Thiel
  • Publication number: 20140211317
    Abstract: A rearview mirror incorporates the use of electrochromic mirror glass capable of dimming via electronic controls. The electrochromic mirror glass dims when glare from vehicle driving aft of the motor vehicle impinge on the rearview mirror. The rearview mirror includes a control circuit with a single sensor. The sensor receives glare from aft and ambient light forward the motor vehicle. A light conductor guides light from the two directions. A sensor receives the light from the two directions and is able to discern between the glare light and the ambient light, by filtering the light received from each direction based on color. One color is received from one location and not from the other. The sensor is sensitive to wavelengths and can identify the magnitude of flux received in each color. This allows the interior rearview mirror to identify situations that are appropriate for dimming the electrochromic mirror glass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventors: Rolf Thiel, Manfred Herrler
  • Patent number: 8733181
    Abstract: An electromechanical joining module for applying a linear force to a joining element, includes a stator, which represents the stationary part of the joining module, a tappet, which can be linearly extended out of the stator and which has an outer tappet end, and a force transducer for detecting forces that are applied to the joining element during the operation of the tappet end. The force transducer is attached in the area of the tappet end and has sensor electronics for wirelessly transmitting measurement data by means of near-field and far-field telemetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Kistler Holding AG
    Inventors: Andreas Kirchheim, Jochen Schneider, Daniel Otter, Georges Schaffner, Rolf Thiel
  • Publication number: 20130298625
    Abstract: A force sensor system for measuring forces that are transferred from film strips or sheet metal strips to a measuring roll during rolling in roll stands can be inserted into a cylindrical hole of a measuring roll under preload. The force sensor system includes a first force sensor and a preloading device for creating a preload on the first force sensor, so that the first force sensor can determine a force acting radially on the measuring roll. The first force sensor has a high sensitivity, which corresponds to the required measurement sensitivity of the contact force of the film strip or sheet metal strip. The force sensor system includes a second force sensor, which also can be placed under preload by means of the preloading device. The second force sensor is a statically measuring force sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: Kistler Holding AG
    Inventor: Rolf Thiel
  • Publication number: 20120090168
    Abstract: An electromechanical joining module for applying a linear force to a joining element, includes a stator, which represents the stationary part of the joining module, a tappet, which can be linearly extended out of the stator and which has an outer tappet end, and a force transducer for detecting forces that are applied to the joining element during the operation of the tappet end. The force transducer is attached in the area of the tappet end and has sensor electronics for wirelessly transmitting measurement data by means of near-field and far-field telemetry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: KISTLER HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Andreas Kirchheim, Jochen Schneider, Daneil Otter, Georges Schaffner, Rolf Thiel
  • Publication number: 20080225397
    Abstract: A rearview mirror incorporates the use of electrochromic mirror glass capable of dimming via electronic controls. The electrochromic mirror glass dims when glare from vehicle driving aft of the motor vehicle impinge on the rearview mirror. The rearview mirror includes a control circuit with a single sensor. The sensor receives glare from aft and ambient light forward the motor vehicle. A light conductor guides light from the two directions. A sensor receives the light from the two directions and is able to discern between the glare light and the ambient light, by filtering the light received from each direction based on color. One color is received from one location and not from the other. The sensor is sensitive to wavelengths and can identify the magnitude of flux received in each color. This allows the interior rearview mirror to identify situations that are appropriate for dimming the electrochromic mirror glass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: Rolf Thiel, Manfred Herrler
  • Patent number: 7320525
    Abstract: A rearview mirror reflects ambient light and dims when light from headlights of a following motor vehicle is detected. Electrochromic mirror glass is fixedly secured to a frame within an opening. A sensor is fixedly secured to a housing for sensing ambient light and focused or glare light directed toward the rearview mirror. A light guide is disposed between the housing and the sensor for directing the ambient light and glare light outside the housing toward the sensor. The rearview mirror also includes a switching device for periodically disrupting the transmission of the light to identify a presence of the glare light, such that the sensor creates a dimming signal upon the identification of the presence of the glare light to dim the electrochromic mirror glass. The use of the switching device minimizes the number of sensors required by using the same sensor for measuring ambient light and glare light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Schefenacker Vision Systems Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Thiel, Volker Zipf
  • Publication number: 20070188895
    Abstract: Oscillating or vibrating components, especially inside rearview mirrors, are provided in motor vehicles. In order to avoid undesirable vibrations of the inside rearview mirror, the mirror housing (3) is reinforced or complex measures need to be taken to secure the mirror housing (3) to the vehicle. The aim of the invention is to at least significantly reduce the amount of vibrations for various components of motor vehicles by using granulate particles (9) as vibration suppression elements which are placed in a recess. The granulate particles (9) make it possible to suppress and attenuate vibrations in a simple manner. The vibration suppressors are advantageously used in inside rearview mirrors in motor vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventor: Rolf Thiel
  • Publication number: 20060256441
    Abstract: A rearview mirror reflects ambient light and dims when light from headlights of a following motor vehicle is detected. Electrochromic mirror glass is fixedly secured to a frame within an opening. A sensor is fixedly secured to a housing for sensing ambient light and focused or glare light directed toward the rearview mirror. A light guide is disposed between the housing and the sensor for directing the ambient light and glare light outside the housing toward the sensor. The rearview mirror also includes a switching device for periodically disrupting the transmission of the light to identify a presence of the glare light, such that the sensor creates a dimming signal upon the identification of the presence of the glare light to dim the electrochromic mirror glass. The use of the switching device minimizes the number of sensors required by using the same sensor for measuring ambient light and glare light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Applicant: Schefenacker Vision Systems Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Thiel, Volker Zipf
  • Publication number: 20060013785
    Abstract: The hairstyling agent in gel form contains a combination of at least one gel former, more than two percent by weight of at least one UV filter and at least one hair-fixing polymer. The hairstyling gel preferably is in optically clear form and can simultaneously have hair fixing action, light protective action for the skin and light protective action for the hair or dyed hair colors. Preferred UV filters have both a benzimidazole group and a sulfonic acid group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Publication date: January 19, 2006
    Inventors: Dirk Lauscher, Gabriele Hess, Susanne Birkel, Rolf Thiel, Michael Franzke
  • Publication number: 20050270649
    Abstract: A control circuit having particular application in dimming an EC (Electrochromic) mirror glass of a rearview mirror of a motor vehicle. Light flux from headlight glare of vehicles traveling behind is received by one conductor and filtered whereas light flux from the ambient light is received by a second conductor and filtered in a way that complements the first filtering. This allows a single sensor to be used to sense both the ambient light and the glare light which enables simpler control of the dimming function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Publication date: December 8, 2005
    Applicant: Schefenacker Vision Systems Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Thiel, Manfred Herrler