Patents by Inventor Stephan Zech

Stephan Zech 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: 6600427
    Abstract: A combination instrument (1) for displaying measured values and/or other information, having a flexible printed circuit (2) on which electrical and/or electronic components (9, 10, 13) are arranged, and with parts of the flexible printed circuit (2) being clamped in between a rear face cover (4) and a front face cover (3), with the rear face cover (4) to be made of metallic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Ernst-Ulrich Simon, Hans Kolibius, Stephan Zech, Hartmut Kronenberg
  • Patent number: 6490992
    Abstract: A pointer instrument having a connecting sleeve (3) which holds an essentially transparent pointer (4), and an illuminating means (10) that radiates directly into a f lag (12) of the pointer (4) the connecting sleeve (3) having conductors (17), 18) and contact surfaces (15, 16) of conductive plastic. At its end facing away from the pointer (4), the connecting sleeve (3) has connecting contacts (13, 14) for making contact with a power supply of a circuit board (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Helmut Olbrich, Hans Kolibius, Heinrich Noll, Stephan Zech
  • Patent number: 6484663
    Abstract: In a pointer instrument (1), a pointer drive (3) is used to deflect a pointer (4) arranged on a supporting element (2). The supporting element (2) is shaped essentially like a circular ring and is mounted by bearing points (7) equally distributed over its circumference. The central area of the pointer instrument (1) is therefore free of apertures and, as a result, permits the arrangement of a display (9), for example an LCD display, which can be read irrespective of the angular position of the pointer (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Stephan Zech, Bernd Ludewig, Gerhard Friepes, Hermann Haas
  • Publication number: 20020108554
    Abstract: In a pointer instrument (1), a pointer drive (3) is used to deflect a pointer (4) arranged on a supporting element (2). The supporting element (2) is shaped essentially like a circular ring and is mounted by bearing points (7) equally distributed over its circumference. The central area of the pointer instrument (1) is therefore free of apertures and, as a result, permits the arrangement of a display (9), for example an LCD display, which can be read irrespective of the angular position of the pointer (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 1999
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventors: STEPHAN ZECH, BERND LUDEWIG, GERHARD FRIEPES, HERMANN HAAS
  • Patent number: 6433701
    Abstract: An instrument cluster has a rigid printed circuit board (3) on the rear side of a basic (1). On the front side, the basic body (1) is partially covered by a supporting body (10) which is connected in an articulated manner to the basic body (1). A flexible printed circuit board (12) extends over the front side of the basic body (1) and the supporting body (10), the printed circuit board having a connecting region (13) which is deflected by a defined angle with respect to an edge region of the rigid printed circuit board (3) and is connected to this printed circuit board (3) by bow-type soldering (14) for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Ernst-Ulrich Simon, Hans Kolibius, Georg Nehm, Stephan Zech, Hartmut Kronenberg
  • Patent number: 6409355
    Abstract: A combination instrument for a motor vehicle, having a front frame and a display panel and a plurality of display instruments and warning lights which are arranged on a printed circuit board and are provided for displaying information on the display panel. The front frame is produced integrally with light shafts which lead from the warning lights to the display panel. In the region of the warning lights, the display panel is formed by a diaphragm screen which is adhesively bonded to the front frame and is produced as a film. The light shafts simultaneously serve as spacers for the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Ernst-Ulrich Simon, Hans Kolibius, Stephan Zech
  • Patent number: 6379015
    Abstract: In an indicating instrument (1) with a translucent dial (8), an illuminated pointer (4) is arranged, out of the viewing direction of a viewer, behind the dial (8) on its rear, inner side (7). The surface of the outer side and/or of the inner side of the dial is reflection-reducing so as to enable the dial to serve the function of a covering glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Heinz Günther Wilhelm, Michael Döbler, Benoit Bauer, Heinz Turck, Helmut Wolf, Frank Pöhlmann, Stephan Zech
  • Publication number: 20020024799
    Abstract: In a combination instrument (1) for displaying measured values and/or other information, having a flexible printed circuit (2) on which electrical and/or electronic components (9, 10, 13) are arranged, and with parts of the flexible printed circuit (2) being clamped in between a rear-face cover (4) and a front-face cover (3), the invention provides for the rear-face cover (4) to be made of metallic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventors: Ernst-Ulrich Simon, Hans Kolibius, Stephan Zech, Hartmut Kronenberg
  • Publication number: 20020007777
    Abstract: In the case of a pointer instrument having a connecting sleeve (3), that holds an essentially transparent pointer (4), and an illuminating means (10) that radiates directly into a flag (12) of the pointer (4), the connecting sleeve (3) has conductors (17, 18) and contact surfaces (15, 16) of conductive plastic. At its end facing away from the pointer (4), the connecting sleeve (3) has connecting contacts (13, 14) for making contact with a power supply of a circuit board (6). (FIG.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Applicant: Mannesmann VDO
    Inventors: Helmut Olbrich, Hans Kolibius, Heinrich Noll, Stephan Zech
  • Publication number: 20020001185
    Abstract: In an indicating instrument (1) with a translucent dial (8), an illuminated pointer (4) is arranged, out of the viewing direction of a viewer, behind the dial (8) on its rear, inner side (7). An additional covering glass for protecting the pointer (4) can thus be dispensed with.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 1999
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Inventors: HEINZ GUNTHER WILHELM, MICHAEL DOBLER, BENOIT BAUER, HEINZ TURCK, HELMUT WOLLF, FRANK POHLMANN, STEPHAN ZECH
  • Patent number: 6314908
    Abstract: A pointer instrument having a connecting sleeve (3) which holds an essentially transparent pointer (4), and an illuminating means (10) that radiates directly into a flag (12) of the pointer (4), the connecting sleeve (3) having conductors (17), 18) and contact surfaces (15, 16) of conductive plastic. At its end facing away from the pointer (4), the connecting sleeve (3) has connecting contacts (13, 14) for making contact with a power supply of a circuit board (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Helmut Olbrich, Hans Kolibius, Heinrich Noll, Stephan Zech
  • Patent number: 5959844
    Abstract: An instrument cluster having a housing, a system support (21) to receive indicating instruments, and a circuit board (6) which is connected by fastening elements (35) to the system support (21) and mounted in floating fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventors: Ernst-Ulrich Simon, Stephan Zech, Norbert May
  • Patent number: 5430612
    Abstract: A combination instrument having a front frame (12), a transparent cover glass (16), display systems (2) and/or operating elements mounted in the combination instrument, a circuit board (6) arranged behind them and bearing electronic components, the display systems and/or operating elements contacting the circuit board, and having a rear closure cover (13) for the combination instrument. Such a combination instrument is particularly easy to construct and mount and can thus be produced at favorable cost when it has a system support (1) developed as supporting structural part provided with recesses for the positioning and holding of the display systems and/or operating elements. The circuit board is connected to the system support. The system support thus represents the supporting element of the combination instrument around which all other parts of the combination instrument are grouped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventors: Ernst-Ulrich Simon, Stephan Zech, Josef Langhammer
  • Patent number: 5415124
    Abstract: A dial arrangement is formed of plastically deformable material, in particular sheet metal, for a combination instrument. It has at least two individual dials which are connected to each other, each being provided with an imprint. In order to permit a curving, i.e. an arching of the array of dials provided with the imprint while the individual dials are connected to each other without impairing the appearance of the individual dials, the connection in each case of adjacent individual dials is effected by at least one web, the web being arranged outside the center connecting line of the individual dials. The web in question can thus plastically deform upon the curving of the dial arrangement so that the dial center points and the respective imprints, and thus the appearance of the dial arrangement, are retained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventors: Ernst-Ulrich Simon, Stephan Zech