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).
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Patent number: 6600427Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 8, 2001Date of Patent: July 29, 2003Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AGInventors: Ernst-Ulrich Simon, Hans Kolibius, Stephan Zech, Hartmut Kronenberg
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Patent number: 6490992Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 24, 2001Date of Patent: December 10, 2002Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AGInventors: Helmut Olbrich, Hans Kolibius, Heinrich Noll, Stephan Zech
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Patent number: 6484663Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 21, 1999Date of Patent: November 26, 2002Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AGInventors: Stephan Zech, Bernd Ludewig, Gerhard Friepes, Hermann Haas
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Publication number: 20020108554Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 1999Publication date: August 15, 2002Inventors: STEPHAN ZECH, BERND LUDEWIG, GERHARD FRIEPES, HERMANN HAAS
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Patent number: 6433701Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 28, 2000Date of Patent: August 13, 2002Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AGInventors: Ernst-Ulrich Simon, Hans Kolibius, Georg Nehm, Stephan Zech, Hartmut Kronenberg
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Patent number: 6409355Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 1, 1999Date of Patent: June 25, 2002Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AGInventors: Ernst-Ulrich Simon, Hans Kolibius, Stephan Zech
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Patent number: 6379015Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 12, 1999Date of Patent: April 30, 2002Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AGInventors: Heinz Günther Wilhelm, Michael Döbler, Benoit Bauer, Heinz Turck, Helmut Wolf, Frank Pöhlmann, Stephan Zech
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Publication number: 20020024799Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2001Publication date: February 28, 2002Inventors: Ernst-Ulrich Simon, Hans Kolibius, Stephan Zech, Hartmut Kronenberg
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Publication number: 20020007777Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2001Publication date: January 24, 2002Applicant: Mannesmann VDOInventors: Helmut Olbrich, Hans Kolibius, Heinrich Noll, Stephan Zech
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Publication number: 20020001185Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 1999Publication date: January 3, 2002Inventors: HEINZ GUNTHER WILHELM, MICHAEL DOBLER, BENOIT BAUER, HEINZ TURCK, HELMUT WOLLF, FRANK POHLMANN, STEPHAN ZECH
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Patent number: 6314908Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 1, 1999Date of Patent: November 13, 2001Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AGInventors: Helmut Olbrich, Hans Kolibius, Heinrich Noll, Stephan Zech
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Patent number: 5959844Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 9, 1994Date of Patent: September 28, 1999Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AGInventors: Ernst-Ulrich Simon, Stephan Zech, Norbert May
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Patent number: 5430612Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 20, 1993Date of Patent: July 4, 1995Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AGInventors: Ernst-Ulrich Simon, Stephan Zech, Josef Langhammer
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Patent number: 5415124Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 27, 1993Date of Patent: May 16, 1995Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AGInventors: Ernst-Ulrich Simon, Stephan Zech