Patents by Inventor Thomas Convent

Thomas Convent 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: 20240019537
    Abstract: A radar arrangement includes a multi-layer printed circuit board, an antenna, an electronic component for generating and converting a high frequency (HF) signal, and a lead structure for guiding the HF signal between the electronic component and the antenna. The circuit board includes a first layer of a carrier material and a second layer of a HF substrate. The electronic component and the antenna are arranged on a component side of the HF substrate. The lead structure is arranged at least in regions on the component side. The component side is cast at least in the region of the electronic component. A metal layer is arranged between the first and second layers. The lead structure is connected to the metal layer in areas via a through-hole such that the through-hole forms a DC short circuit so the lead structure and the metal layer have the same potential during operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas Convent, Markus Hammes, Charalambos Ouzounis, Christoph Schmits
  • Patent number: 11860296
    Abstract: A radar arrangement includes a printed circuit board (PCB), an electronic component, and an antenna. The electronic component is arranged on the PCB and is used to generate a high-frequency signal. The PCB has at least four electrically conductive layers separated from one another by at least three electrically insulating layers. A first conductive inner layer is adjacent to a first conductive outer layer, and a second conductive inner layer is adjacent to a second conductive outer layer. The electronic component is arranged on the first conductive outer layer. The antenna is formed at least partially in the second outer layer. The signal generated by the electronic component is transmitted to the antenna, which is formed at least partially in the second conductive outer layer of the PCB, through a region of the conductive inner layers and insulating inner layers of the PCB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas Convent, Christoph Dahl, Michael Gerding, Christian Schulz, Michael Vogt
  • Patent number: 11476561
    Abstract: A radar antenna arrangement includes a plurality of transmitting elements and with a plurality of receiving elements. The transmitting elements are arranged in a transmitting arrangement and the receiving elements are arranged in a receiving arrangement, in each case in fields of a regularly hexagonally parqueted surface. An associated virtual antenna arrangement of virtual antenna elements results from the geometrical convolution of the transmitting arrangement with the receiving arrangement. High angular resolution and good alignability with good directional independence can be achieved by arranging the receiving elements in the receiving arrangement and the transmitting elements in the transmitting arrangement so that the virtual antenna elements in the virtual antenna arrangement are arranged without overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: KROHNE Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Convent, Christoph Dahl, Michael Gerding, Christian Schulz, Michael Vogt
  • Publication number: 20210234261
    Abstract: A radar antenna arrangement includes a plurality of transmitting elements and with a plurality of receiving elements. The transmitting elements are arranged in a transmitting arrangement and the receiving elements are arranged in a receiving arrangement, in each case in fields of a regularly hexagonally parqueted surface. An associated virtual antenna arrangement of virtual antenna elements results from the geometrical convolution of the transmitting arrangement with the receiving arrangement. High angular resolution and good alignability with good directional independence can be achieved by arranging the receiving elements in the receiving arrangement and the transmitting elements in the transmitting arrangement so that the virtual antenna elements in the virtual antenna arrangement are arranged without overlap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas Convent, Christoph Dahl, Michael Gerding, Christian Schulz, Michael Vogt
  • Publication number: 20210231772
    Abstract: A radar arrangement includes a printed circuit board (PCB), an electronic component, and an antenna. The electronic component is arranged on the PCB and is used to generate a high-frequency signal. The PCB has at least four electrically conductive layers separated from one another by at least three electrically insulating layers. A first conductive inner layer is adjacent to a first conductive outer layer, and a second conductive inner layer is adjacent to a second conductive outer layer. The electronic component is arranged on the first conductive outer layer. The antenna is formed at least partially in the second outer layer. The signal generated by the electronic component is transmitted to the antenna, which is formed at least partially in the second conductive outer layer of the PCB, through a region of the conductive inner layers and insulating inner layers of the PCB.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas Convent, Christoph Dahl, Michael Gerding, Christian Schulz, Michael Vogt
  • Patent number: 10605643
    Abstract: A fill level switch for determining a level limit of a medium in a container, has a sensor unit having an antenna unit, a process window for protecting the sensor unit and for connection to a container wall, an electronic unit and a sensor housing. The antenna unit has at least a first emitting element for emitting a first electromagnetic transmission signal, at least a feed line, at least a reference surface having a reference potential and at least a dielectric layer, wherein the dielectric layer is arranged between the reference surface and the emitting element. An aperture coupling is provided via which the emitting element is fed by the feed line during operation. The reference surface has an opening for passage of the electromagnetic transmission signal, and the first emitting element is arranged such that it has direct contact with the medium during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: KROHNE MESSTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Convent, Robert Storch
  • Patent number: 10408658
    Abstract: A fill level switch arrangement (1) for determining the fill level of a medium (2) in a container (3) and a method for determining the fill level of a medium (2) in a container (3) using a fill level switch arrangement (1). The fill level switch arrangement (1) has at least one alarm threshold that can be implemented in a simplified manner due to the fill level switch arrangement (1) having a transmitting element (4) and a receiving element (5), wherein the transmitting element (4) is used for transmitting a radio signal and is operatively connected to the receiving element (4), wherein the receiving element (5) is configured to detect radio signals, and wherein the receiving element (5) is configured such that it generates and transmits a switching signal in the event of a change in the received radio signal caused by the medium (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: KROHNE MESSTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Convent, Michael Gerding, Robert Storch
  • Patent number: 10337858
    Abstract: Described is a device for detecting a surface of bulk materials, the device including: a transmitter unit having a radiation direction for transmitting a measuring signal, a receiver unit for receiving a measuring signal reflected on the surface of the bulk material, a control and evaluation unit for controlling the alignment of the radiation direction and for evaluating the received measuring signal, and an alignment arrangement for aligning the transmitter unit. The alignment arrangement includes at least one connecting element for connection to the transmitter unit, at least one bearing element, and at least one positioning member. The connecting element is pivotably connected to the bearing element via the positioning member. The alignment of the transmitter unit can be changed by the positioning member. The positioning member includes a shape memory element that actively changes its shape under variations of an influencing parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: KROHNE MESSTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Gerding, Michael Deilmann, Mattias Linkies, Almir Adrovic, Thomas Convent
  • Publication number: 20180224316
    Abstract: A fill level switch for determining a level limit of a medium in a container, has a sensor unit having an antenna unit, a process window for protecting the sensor unit and for connection to a container wall, an electronic unit and a sensor housing. The antenna unit has at least a first emitting element for emitting a first electromagnetic transmission signal, at least a feed line, at least a reference surface having a reference potential and at least a dielectric layer, wherein the dielectric layer is arranged between the reference surface and the emitting element. an aperture coupling is provided via which the emitting element is fed by the feed line during operation. The reference surface has an opening for passage of the electromagnetic transmission signal, and the first emitting element is arranged such that it has direct contact with the medium during operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: KROHNE Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Convent, Robert Storch
  • Publication number: 20180120140
    Abstract: A fill level switch arrangement (1) for determining the fill level of a medium (2) in a container (3) and a method for determining the fill level of a medium (2) in a container (3) using a fill level switch arrangement (1). The fill level switch arrangement (1) has at least one alarm threshold that can be implemented in a simplified manner due to the fill level switch arrangement (1) having a transmitting element (4) and a receiving element (5), wherein the transmitting element (4) is used for transmitting a radio signal and is operatively connected to the receiving element (4), wherein the receiving element (5) is configured to detect radio signals, and wherein the receiving element (5) is configured such that it generates and transmits a switching signal in the event of a change in the received radio signal caused by the medium (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: KROHNE Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Convent, Michael Gerding, Robert Storch
  • Publication number: 20170284796
    Abstract: Described is a device for detecting a surface of bulk materials, the device including: a transmitter unit having a radiation direction for transmitting a measuring signal, a receiver unit for receiving a measuring signal reflected on the surface of the bulk material, a control and evaluation unit for controlling the alignment of the radiation direction and for evaluating the received measuring signal, and an alignment arrangement for aligning the transmitter unit. The alignment arrangement includes at least one connecting element for connection to the transmitter unit, at least one bearing element, and at least one positioning member. The connecting element is pivotably connected to the bearing element via the positioning member. The alignment of the transmitter unit can be changed by the positioning member. The positioning member includes a shape memory element that actively changes its shape under variations of an influencing parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Applicant: KROHNE Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Gerding, Michael Deilmann, Mattias Linkies, Almir Adrovic, Thomas Convent
  • Patent number: 7430265
    Abstract: The invention specifies a circuit arrangement with a phase locked loop (1), which can be used as a mobile radio transmitter, in particular. The reference frequency for the PLL (1), which is provided by means of the source (3), is multiplied by a multiplier (10) and is down-converted to an intermediate-frequency level in a down-conversion mixer (9) using the output signal from the PLL, and is evaluated such that a modulator (13) connected to the input of the oscillator (6) can be trimmed. The inventive principle is used to advantage in two-point modulators and allows inexpensive, integratable mobile radio transmitters with good noise characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Thomas Convent, Markus Hammes, André Hanke, Giuseppe Li Puma, Walter Mevissen
  • Patent number: 7340633
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for automatic identification of the clock frequency of a system clock (15) for the configuration of a peripheral device (12), having the following steps: generation of a secondary clock (16) at a predetermined clock frequency; application of the system clock (15) and of the secondary clock (16) to a host (10); application of the system clock (15) and of the secondary clock (16) to the peripheral device (12); determination of the clock frequency of the system clock (15) in the peripheral device (12) by means of the secondary clock (16); and configuration of the peripheral device (12) using the determined system clock (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Thomas Convent, Markus Hammes, Roland Hellfajer, Michael Jung
  • Patent number: 7260359
    Abstract: Method for transmission of data between a master station and a slave station, and a data transmission system Data slots are interchanged in accordance with a time slot method between a master station (B) and the slave station (M1) in a data transmission system. The slave station (M1) may assume various operating modes during a connection. The operating mode of the slave station (M1) is identified by the data transmission system, and the slave station (M1) is addressed by the master station (M1), by means of a time addressing scheme which is dependent on the identified operating mode of the slave station (M1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Boetzel, Thomas Convent, Roland Hellfajer, Michael Warmers
  • Publication number: 20060133553
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for automatic identification of the clock frequency of a system clock (15) for the configuration of a peripheral device (12), having the following steps: generation of a secondary clock (16) at a predetermined clock frequency; application of the system clock (15) and of the secondary clock (16) to a host (10); application of the system clock (15) and of the secondary clock (16) to the peripheral device (12); determination of the clock frequency of the system clock (15) in the peripheral device (12) by means of the secondary clock (16); and configuration of the peripheral device (12) using the determined system clock (15).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Publication date: June 22, 2006
    Applicant: Infineon Technlolgies AG
    Inventors: Thomas Convent, Markus Hammes, Roland Hellfajer, Michael Jung
  • Publication number: 20050185749
    Abstract: The invention specifies a circuit arrangement with a phase locked loop (1), which can be used as a mobile radio transmitter, in particular. The reference frequency for the PLL (1), which is provided by means of the source (3), is multiplied by a multiplier (10) and is down-converted to an intermediate-frequency level in a down-conversion mixer (9) using the output signal from the PLL, and is evaluated such that a modulator (13) connected to the input of the oscillator (6) can be trimmed. The inventive principle is used to advantage in two-point modulators and allows inexpensive, integratable mobile radio transmitters with good noise characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Convent, Markus Hammes, Andre Hanke, Giuseppe Puma, Walter Mevissen
  • Publication number: 20040185779
    Abstract: Method for transmission of data between a master station and a slave station, and a data transmission system
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventors: Ulrich Boetzel, Thomas Convent, Roland Hellfajer, Michael Warmers