Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Fritz

Thomas A. Fritz 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).

  • Publication number: 20240087476
    Abstract: A dummy device includes a torso element which simulates a torso of a human; a respiration simulation element which at least partially covers the torso element, and which is movably arranged with respect to the torso element; and a drive element which is adapted to sequentially move the respiration simulation element away from the torso element and towards the torso element with a respiratory frequency, to simulate a motion characteristic of a human respiration. Embodiments of the invention further relate to a method for operating a dummy device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Martin Fritz, Thomas Wimmer
  • Publication number: 20240075994
    Abstract: The invention relates to a spoiler system for a vehicle, the system comprising: an active rear spoiler; and a controller being configured to control the active rear spoiler; wherein the system further comprises a channel and an additional active spoiler for arranging on a tail of a vehicle, wherein the additional active spoiler is arranged below the active rear spoiler, wherein the channel is arranged between the active rear spoiler and the additional active spoiler, and wherein the controller is further configured to control the additional active spoiler. The invention provides an improved spoiler system for a vehicle improve the vehicle performance in matters of design language and driving performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas WIECH, Falk FRITZ
  • Publication number: 20230381627
    Abstract: Techniques for providing acoustic feedback are disclosed. Several audio clips have a synchronized beat. A sensor signal received from a sensor has a sensor signal range divided by first and second thresholds into at least three sensor signal sub-ranges. An audio signal is output in response to the received sensor signal, the output audio signal comprising one or more of the audio clips. If the received sensor signal exceeds the first threshold, at least one of the one or more audio clips is discontinued and/or at least one additional audio clip of the audio clips is initiated in synchronization with the one or more audio clips. If the received sensor signal falls below the second threshold, at least one of the one or more audio clips is discontinued and/or at least one additional audio clip of the audio clips is initiated in synchronization with the one or more audio clips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas Fritz, Eric Busch, Silvio Borchardt, Dirk Gummel
  • Patent number: 11731025
    Abstract: Techniques for providing acoustic feedback are disclosed. Several audio clips (21-23) have a synchronized beat. A sensor signal (16) received from a sensor has a sensor signal range divided by first and second thresholds (11, 12) into at least three sensor signal sub-ranges (13-15). An audio signal is output in response to the received sensor signal (16), the output audio signal comprising one or more of the audio clips. If the received sensor signal (16) exceeds the first threshold (11), at least one (21) of the one or more audio clips is discontinued and/or at least one additional audio clip (22) of the audio clips is initiated in synchronization with the one or more audio clips (21). If the received sensor signal (16) falls below the second threshold (12), at least one (21) of the one or more audio clips is discontinued and/or at least one additional audio clip (23) of the audio clips is initiated in synchronization with the one or more audio clips (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FÖRDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN E.V.
    Inventors: Thomas Fritz, Eric Busch, Silvio Borchardt, Dirk Gummel
  • Patent number: 11704257
    Abstract: A method of provisioning a system includes defining one or more virtual peripherals such that each of the virtual peripherals corresponds to a respective device; identifying one or more enabled virtual peripherals; and identifying one or more control modules. Each of the control modules includes one or more terminals for connecting to one or more devices. The method further includes linking each of the enabled virtual peripherals to a respective terminal of the one or more control modules to form a link; generating a provisioning configuration that represents the link between the respective terminal and the corresponding one of the enabled virtual peripherals; and writing the provisioning configuration to each of the control modules. The method further includes connecting the respective device to the respective terminal consistent with the link between the respective terminal and the corresponding one of the enabled virtual peripherals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Pavel V. Tysyachuk, Adriana F. Mickols, Nicholas Thomas Fritz
  • Patent number: 11676082
    Abstract: Technologies for interruptibility analysis and notification are disclosed. In at least one illustrative embodiment, a method may comprise generating a live data stream including activity data received from one or more sensors associated with a worker, repeatedly generating an interruptibility status of the worker as a function of the activity data in the live data stream over a recent time period, and transmitting a signal that causes one of a plurality of status indicators to be displayed, the displayed status indicator corresponding to the current interruptibility status of the worker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: David Shepherd, Patrick Francis, André Meyer, Thomas Fritz, Christopher Corley, Manuela Züger
  • Patent number: 11670992
    Abstract: An electric machine for a drive of a motor vehicle, having a stator, a rotor which can be rotated relative to the stator, a temperature sensor arranged and designed to capture a temperature of the stator and a rotor condition capture sensor which is arranged and designed to capture a rotational speed and/or rotational position of the rotor accommodated in a stator-fixed manner. The temperature sensor and the rotor condition capture sensor are implemented as subsystems of a common sensor system, wherein a first subsystem having the temperature sensor has an elastic thermally conductive contact element connected to the temperature sensor, which contact element is permanently fitted to a contact region of the stator. A hybrid module having this electric machine is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Ruppert, Michael Marsetz, Thomas Fritz
  • Publication number: 20230130699
    Abstract: A motor vehicle traction battery arrangement includes two cooling plates respectively disposed in a horizontal plane and a high-voltage battery module. The lower and upper horizontal walls of which are cooled directly by the cooling plates and which encases a plurality of identical rectangular battery cells in a rigid battery module housing. The battery cells are all configured such that they are plate-like and elongated, are parallel to one another in vertical planes (y,z) and each includes two small-area vertical end walls, two large-area vertical side walls and two medium-area horizontal walls. On its end face, each battery cell includes an anodic connecting element and a cathodic connecting element. At least two similar cell stacks including a same plurality of battery cells are provided, and are stacked such that their battery cell side walls adjoin one another. The battery cell horizontal walls directly adjoin a cooled battery module horizontal wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Applicant: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Philipp Kellner, Benjamin Passenberg, Ralf Keller, Thomas Fritz, Immanuel Vogel, Christopher Volkmer, Sascha Mostofi
  • Patent number: 11577874
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for labeling an item in a conveyor line are disclosed. An example labeling station comprises a labeling member with a label holder configured to hold a label to be affixed to the item. The labeling member is configured to move at least the label holder at a matching speed of the conveyor in a matching direction and to affix the label to the item. An example labeling method includes obtaining a multi-dimensional representation of the item, determining a label target position in the representation, and controlling a labeling station to affix the label at the label target position on the item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: CALJAN A/S
    Inventors: Wieland Wegge, Thomas Fritz Heinz Heydolph
  • Patent number: 11545701
    Abstract: A traction battery of a motor vehicle includes a battery housing, and a plurality of battery modules which are arranged in the battery housing. Each battery module has a module housing and battery cells which are accommodated in the respective module housing. At least one particle sensor and/or at least one gas sensor are/is arranged in the battery housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Inventor: Thomas Fritz
  • Publication number: 20220337107
    Abstract: A rotor for an electric motor, having a laminated rotor core which is rotatable about a rotation axis and has a plurality of rotor laminations which are arranged axially next to one another, at least one magnet which is held in a magnet cutout in the rotor lamination and has a first side face which extends at least along a first side length and a second side face that is oriented at an angle to the first side face and extends at least along a second side length and which is connected by an adhesive to a boundary face of the magnet cutout. An electric motor having a rotor, and a method for seeming a magnet in a rotor are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Alexandre FISCHER, Thomas FRITZ
  • Publication number: 20220320978
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a rotor for an electric motor, having a laminated rotor core which is rotatable about a rotation axis and has a first rotor lamination and a second rotor lamination, which is arranged axially next to the first motor lamination, and having a plurality of magnet cutouts in each of which magnets are arranged and secured. The disclosure further relates to an electric motor having a rotor and a method for reducing the unbalance of a rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Patrick Wisbar, Alexandre Fischer, Thomas Fritz
  • Publication number: 20220247260
    Abstract: An electrical machine (10) for an electrically operable axle of a motor vehicle, having a shaft (12) with an axis of rotation (D), at least one bearing (14), wherein the shaft is rotatably mounted via the at least one bearing, at least one end shield (16), and at least one bearing ring (18), which is arranged coaxially with the axis of rotation (D). The at least one bearing is connected to the end shield via the bearing ring, and the bearing ring has at least one longitudinal recess (20a, 20b) on the outside for fluid evacuation. An electrically operated axle for a motor vehicle having the electrical machine is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2020
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Alexandre FISCHER, Thomas FRITZ, Andreas KESKINOGLU
  • Publication number: 20220216754
    Abstract: An electric machine for driving a motor vehicle includes a rotor having a central rotor shaft and a laminated core which is made of multiple rotor laminations and is fixed to the rotor shaft. The laminated core is contacted on at least one axial side by an end lamination which produces a tolerance compensation, said end lamination being supported by a securing ring pressed onto the rotor shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Alexandre Fischer, Thomas Fritz
  • Publication number: 20220048392
    Abstract: A fire protection device (1) is provided for an at least partially electrically operated motor vehicle for detecting a fire caused by a battery device (2) of the vehicle. The fire protection device (1) includes a fire sensor (4) that is connected operatively to a monitoring system (3). The fire sensor (4) has a monitoring current conductor (14) that is suitable and configured for being interrupted by fire-induced destruction in the event of a fire. The monitoring system (3) is suitable and configured for detecting the fire by the interrupted monitoring current conductor (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventors: Mathias Zilly, Thomas Fritz
  • Publication number: 20220006364
    Abstract: An electric machine for a drive of a motor vehicle, having a stator, a rotor which can be rotated relative to the stator, a temperature sensor arranged and designed to capture a temperature of the stator and a rotor condition capture sensor which is arranged and designed to capture a rotational speed and/or rotational position of the rotor accommodated in a stator-fixed manner. The temperature sensor and the rotor condition capture sensor are implemented as subsystems of a common sensor system, wherein a first subsystem having the temperature sensor has an elastic thermally conductive contact element connected to the temperature sensor, which contact element is permanently fitted to a contact region of the stator. A hybrid module having this electric machine is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas RUPPERT, Michael MARSETZ, Thomas FRITZ
  • Patent number: 11217831
    Abstract: A safety apparatus (20) for a battery (80) has a base (22) for a vehicle (10), sensors (31, 32, 33, 34) and an evaluation apparatus (40). Each sensor (31, 32, 33, 34) is designed to generate a sensor signal (35) on a basis of a deformation of the base (22) and to supply the sensor signal to the evaluation apparatus (40). The evaluation apparatus (40) ascertains from the sensor signals (35) both first information about the location of the deformation of the base (22) and second information about the level of the deformation, and uses the first information and the second information as a basis for determining whether a first state (Z1) is present, in which a driving mode can be maintained, or whether a second state (Z2) is present, in which a driving mode can no longer be maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas Fritz, Armin Steck, Marcus Zacher, Dominik Lembke, Ralf Keller, Maximilian Mueller, Marc Patt, Markus Graef, Philipp Straub
  • Publication number: 20210242507
    Abstract: A traction battery of a motor vehicle includes a battery housing, and a plurality of battery modules which are arranged in the battery housing. Each battery module has a module housing and battery cells which are accommodated in the respective module housing. At least one particle sensor and/or at least one gas sensor are/is arranged in the battery housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Thomas Fritz
  • Publication number: 20210122148
    Abstract: A synthetic board stock for packaging food product is described, as well as a process for producing the synthetic board stock. The synthetic board stock has multiple layers with chosen properties. The board stock has a density less than 1.0 g/cm3 in order to meet the post-consumer waste stream recycling requirements for polypropylene, polyethylene and other polyolefin polymers. A process for making the synthetic board stock is also described, wherein the process eliminates a step from the prior related to dual print passes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Applicant: PROFOL AMERICAS, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Mark VanSUMEREN, Justin Young, Thomas Fritz
  • Publication number: 20210009300
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for labeling an item in a conveyor line are disclosed. An example labeling station comprises a labeling member with a label holder configured to hold a label to be affixed to the item. The labeling member is configured to move at least the label holder at a matching speed of the conveyor in a matching direction and to affix the label to the item. An example labeling method includes obtaining a multi-dimensional representation of the item, determining a label target position in the representation, and controlling a labeling station to affix the label at the label target position on the item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Wieland Wegge, Thomas Fritz Heinz Heydolph