Patents by Inventor Stefan Donat

Stefan Donat 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: 9236860
    Abstract: An electrical hand-held device is provided with improved proximity detection, which can be placed on a surface and has at least one transmission electrode, at least one reception electrode and at least one compensation electrode arranged between transmission electrode and reception electrode. The transmission electrode and the compensation electrode can be supplied with an electric switching signal of predetermined signal frequency and predetermined signal amplitude. Switching electric signal at the compensation electrode is phase-delayed with respect to the switching electric signal at the transmission electrode. Alternating electric fields radiated at the transmission electrode and the compensation electrode generate a current in the reception electrode, which is representative of an approach of a hand to the hand-held device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Reinhard Unterreitmayer, Claus Kaltner, Holger Steffens, Stefan Donat
  • Patent number: 9141174
    Abstract: An electrical hand-held device is provided with improved proximity detection, which can be placed on a surface and has at least one transmission electrode, at least one reception electrode and at least one compensation electrode arranged between transmission electrode and reception electrode. The transmission electrode and the compensation electrode can be supplied with an electric switching signal of predetermined signal frequency and predetermined signal amplitude. Switching electric signal at the compensation electrode is phase-delayed with respect to the switching electric signal at the transmission electrode. Alternating electric fields radiated at the transmission electrode and the compensation electrode generate a current in the reception electrode, which is representative of an approach of a hand to the hand-held device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Reinhard Unterreitmayer, Stefan Donat
  • Publication number: 20140191969
    Abstract: An electrical hand-held device is provided with improved proximity detection, which can be placed on a surface and has at least one transmission electrode, at least one reception electrode and at least one compensation electrode arranged between transmission electrode and reception electrode. The transmission electrode and the compensation electrode can be supplied with an electric switching signal of predetermined signal frequency and predetermined signal amplitude. Switching electric signal at the compensation electrode is phase-delayed with respect to the switching electric signal at the transmission electrode. Alternating electric fields radiated at the transmission electrode and the compensation electrode generate a current in the reception electrode, which is representative of an approach of a hand to the hand-held device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventors: Reinhard Unterreitmayer, Stefan Donat
  • Patent number: 8665077
    Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit for selectively producing switching signals, in particular signals used for locking vehicle doors, a vehicle provided with said circuit, a system and method for protecting areas of risk and a system, components and method for hermetically transferring validated data. For automotive engineering, it is desired that certain switching processes in or outside the vehicle like the opening of a door, the actuation of a start button or the activation of a parking brake be carried out exclusively by a driver. The aim of said invention is to develop the solutions which make it possible to advantageously produce distinctive signals for coordinating a switching process. For this purpose, the inventive method for generating switching signals consists in producing said signals according to the selective activation of a switching device by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Ident Technology AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Richter, Stefan Donat, Peter Rosenbeck
  • Patent number: 8493074
    Abstract: An electrical hand-held device with proximity detection can be placed on a surface and has at least one transmission electrode, at least one reception electrode, and at least one compensation electrode between the transmission and reception electrodes. The transmission and compensation electrodes can be supplied with electric switching signals of predetermined frequency and amplitude. The electric switching signal at the compensation electrode is phase-delayed with respect to the electric signal at the transmission electrode. Alternating electric fields radiated at the transmission and compensation electrodes generate in the reception electrode a current that is representative of an approach of a hand to the hand-held device. The transmission and reception electrodes are arranged such that the impedance between the transmission and the reception electrodes exceeds a predetermined value suitable to keep the current generated in the reception electrode under a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Ident Technology AG
    Inventors: Reinhard Unterreitmayer, Stefan Donat
  • Publication number: 20120026121
    Abstract: An electrical hand-held device is provided with improved proximity detection, which can be placed on a surface and has at least one transmission electrode, at least one reception electrode and at least one compensation electrode arranged between transmission electrode and reception electrode. The transmission electrode and the compensation electrode can be supplied with an electric switching signal of predetermined signal frequency and predetermined signal amplitude. Switching electric signal at the compensation electrode is phase-delayed with respect to the switching electric signal at the transmission electrode. Alternating electric fields radiated at the transmission electrode and the compensation electrode generate a current in the reception electrode, which is representative of an approach of a hand to the hand-held device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Reinhard Unterreitmayer, Claus Kaltner, Holger Steffens, Stefan Donat
  • Patent number: 7982624
    Abstract: A system for preventing accidents in the operation of a monitored apparatus carried by a user has terminal in direct contact with the body of the user and provided with a circuit for continuously or periodically transmitting an authorizing user data signal through the body of the user. A signal receiver assigned on the monitored apparatus or machine has an interface in contact with the user for receiving the signal, a circuit for continuously or periodically testing the received data signal, another circuit for outputting a clearance signal that allows operation of the monitored machine or apparatus after a successful test of the received authorizing user data signal, and yet another circuit for terminating output of the clearance signal following a successful test of the authorizing user data signal when a subsequent test of the data signal fails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Ident Technology AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Richter, Stefan Donat, Peter Rosenbeck
  • Patent number: 7652573
    Abstract: A presence analysis system for objects carried by a user has a signal-transmitter provided on the object to be observed in terms of its presence for transmitting an object or signal-transmitter specific signal and a receiver for receiving signals including the object or signal-transmitter specific signal. A capacitative link formed by the person or clothing of the person conducts the signal from the transmitter to the receiver. An analysis unit coupled with the receiver generates an output signal indicating the presence or absence of the object by analysis of the signals received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Ident Technology AG
    Inventors: Stefan Donat, Wolfgang Richter, Peter Rosenbeck
  • Publication number: 20060208577
    Abstract: This invention relates to a system for accident prevention on operating devices with a user terminal, comprising an output unit for the transmission of signals with authorizing user data by means of the body of the user and signal receiver, provided for at least one device with an interface unit for receiving signals transmitted by means of the body of the user, units for checking the received authorizing user data and units for the generation of a release signal on a successful checking of the received authorisation user data
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Publication date: September 21, 2006
    Inventors: Wolfgang Richter, Stefan Donat, Peter Rosenbeck
  • Publication number: 20060109135
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to object presence analysis, especially that of objects which are worn in the immediate vicinity of a user, on the body thereof for example, or in the clothing thereof. The invention more specifically relates to a system, components of said system and to a method used to determine the presence of specific objects in a reliable manner in the immediate vicinity of a user, i.e. enabling the presence of said objects to be determined. The aim of the invention is to detect, analyze or monitor the presence of specific objects of a person, i.e. the presence of objects in an immediate vicinity such as the area close to the body, in a reliable manner. According to the invention, a signal is generated by a signal transmitter which is assigned to the object that is to be monitored and which is, more particularly connected thereto. Said signal is fed into a receiver via a user, especially the body thereof and/or clothes thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Publication date: May 25, 2006
    Inventors: Stefan Donat, Wolfgang Richter, Peter Rosenbeck