Patents by Inventor Thomas Fink

Thomas Fink 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: 20240094333
    Abstract: A radar system for motor vehicles. The radar system has multiple transceiver units, which are situated on separate installation supports for the installation in different locations in the motor vehicle and are connected to one another by a synchronization network. Each of the transceiver units has a scanning module for scanning radar signals received on a plurality of channels in the form of a time signals. Each installation support has a raw-data interface for the transmission of the time signal of the transceiver unit to a central evaluation instance. The central evaluation instance is configured to jointly evaluate the time signals from the plurality of transceiver units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Armin Himmelstoss, Daniel Schindler, Juergen Hasch, Martin Fink, Thomas Binzer
  • Patent number: 11901160
    Abstract: A radio-frequency (RF) power variable capacitor capable of operating at, at least, 50 watts in the MHz range. The capacitor has a composite HDK-NDK ceramic dielectric. The HDK (high dielectric constant) component comprises an active matrix of barium strontium titanate, for example. Acoustic resonances are reduced or eliminated by the addition of a metal or metalloid oxide such as magnesium borate (NDK—low dielectric constant), which acts as an acoustic resonance reduction agent (ARRA) in the RF power domain. The acoustic resonances which previously occurred under bias voltage 500 V or 1100 V in prior art RF power variable capacitors are eliminated by the addition of the ARRA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Comet AG
    Inventors: Thomas Fink, Kevin Häuser, Holger Maune, Daniel Kienemund, Joachim Binder, Rolf Jakoby, Nicole Bohn
  • Patent number: 11496059
    Abstract: A variable voltage generator circuit is described for generating, from a substantially constant supply voltage VS, a variable high-voltage control voltage VC for a variable power capacitor (1) having a variable-permittivity dielectric. The control voltage generator circuit comprises a top-up circuit (10) for maintaining the voltage VCin on an input capacitor (12) at least at supply voltage VS, and a bidirectional DC-DC converter circuit (20) having a variable voltage conversion factor G controlled by control input signal (27). The bidirectional DC-DC converter (20) is arranged to convert voltage, at the voltage conversion factor G, between the input capacitor voltage VCin and the output voltage VC. When VC<G×VCin, the DC-DC converter circuit (20) uses charge stored in the input capacitor (12) to charge the capacitive load (1). When VC>G×VCin, the DC-DC converter circuit (20) uses charge stored in the load capacitance (1) to charge the input capacitor (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: COMET AG
    Inventors: Thomas Fink, Ralf Negele
  • Patent number: 11400476
    Abstract: The invention relates to a carrying device (2) for receiving pipeline elements (4) in a surface coating installation, having a main body (6), an attachment section (28) which is formed on the main body (6) and which serves for the attachment of the carrying device (2) to a ceiling-mounted conveying mechanism, and multiple cantilevers (8) extending laterally from the main body (6). Each cantilever (8) has arranged thereon a receptacle (10) with support feet (12, 12?) arranged in pairwise fashion and spaced apart from one another, wherein the support feet (12, 12?) are configured to come into contact with in each case one outer wall section of a pipeline element (14) in order to hold the pipeline element (14) between the support feet (12, 12?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Minimax Viking Research & Development GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Fink
  • Publication number: 20220189739
    Abstract: A radio-frequency (RF) power variable capacitor capable of operating at, at least, 50 watts in the MHz range. The capacitor has a composite HDK-NDK ceramic dielectric. The HDK (high dielectric constant) component comprises an active matrix of barium strontium titanate, for example. Acoustic resonances are reduced or eliminated by the addition of a metal or metalloid oxide such as magnesium borate (NDK—low dielectric constant), which acts as an acoustic resonance reduction agent (ARRA) in the RF power domain. The acoustic resonances which previously occurred under bias voltage 500 V or 1100 V in prior art RF power variable capacitors are eliminated by the addition of the ARRA.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas Fink, Kevin Häuser, Holger Maune, Daniel Kienemund, Joachim Binder, Rolf Jakoby, Nicole Bohn
  • Publication number: 20210324976
    Abstract: A feedthrough includes: a main body having at least one passage opening that extends through the main body; at least one first functional element which is disposed within the at least one passage opening and is connected to the main body in a fluid-tight manner; and an insulation material that surrounds at least some regions of the at least one first functional element and establishes the fluid-tight connection to the main body. Within the at least one first functional element, there is a pressure-guiding channel by which pressure components that have arisen as a result of pressure are guided from within the at least one first functional element outward to the surrounding insulation material such that a pressure resistance of the fluid-tight connection of the at least one first functional element to the main body is elevated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Applicant: Schott AG
    Inventors: Oliver Wolfgang Fritz, Thomas Fink
  • Publication number: 20210213477
    Abstract: The invention relates to a carrying device (2) for receiving pipeline elements (4) in a surface coating installation, having a main body (6), an attachment section (28) which is formed on the main body (6) and which serves for the attachment of the carrying device (2) to a ceiling-mounted conveying mechanism, and multiple cantilevers (8) extending laterally from the main body (6). Each cantilever (8) has arranged thereon a receptacle (10) with support feet (12, 12?) arranged in pairwise fashion and spaced apart from one another, wherein the support feet (12, 12?) are configured to come into contact with in each case one outer wall section of a pipeline element (14) in order to hold the pipeline element (14) between the support feet (12, 12?).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventor: Thomas FINK
  • Patent number: 11011350
    Abstract: A power capacitor (7) is described for use in an RF power delivery system. The power capacitor comprises at least two RF electrodes (18, 19) separated by a capacitor dielectric (17) comprising a solid paraelectric dielectric material whose relative permittivity is controllable by varying a DC bias voltage applied across the dielectric (17) at DC bias electrodes (10, 26, 28). Composite capacitor configurations, an RF power system and a method of controlling the power capacitor are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Inventors: Mike Abrecht, Thomas Fink, Walter Bigler
  • Patent number: 10726978
    Abstract: A feed-through for high external pressure applications and methods of producing are provided. The feed-through includes a base body, a through-hole extending through the base body, and a functional element. The functional element is arranged inside the through-hole. The functional element is connected to the base body in fluid-tight manner with a pressure compensator and an insulating material that at least partially surrounds the functional element and establishes the fluid-tight connection. The pressure compensator increases pressure resistance of the fluid-tight connection of the functional element to the base body against pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Jürgen Suttner, Thomas Fink
  • Patent number: 10618669
    Abstract: A method for determining actual aircraft ground speed may comprise receiving a reference ground speed value; receiving a wheel speed value of a nose wheel of an aircraft; comparing the wheel speed value of the nose wheel and the reference ground speed value; and/or determining the actual aircraft ground speed based on the reference ground speed value and the wheel speed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventor: Thomas Fink
  • Publication number: 20200007047
    Abstract: A variable voltage generator circuit is described for generating, from a substantially constant supply voltage VS, a variable high-voltage control voltage VC for a variable power capacitor (1) having a variable-permittivity dielectric. The control voltage generator circuit comprises a top-up circuit (10) for maintaining the voltage VCin on an input capacitor (12) at least at supply voltage VS, and a bidirectional DC-DC converter circuit (20) having a variable voltage conversion factor G controlled by control input signal (27). The bidirectional DC-DC converter (20) is arranged to convert voltage, at the voltage conversion factor G, between the input capacitor voltage VCin and the output voltage VC. When VC<G×VCin, the DC-DC converter circuit (20) uses charge stored in the input capacitor (12) to charge the capacitive load (1). When VC>G×VCin, the DC-DC converter circuit (20) uses charge stored in the load capacitance (1) to charge the input capacitor (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Applicant: COMET AG
    Inventors: Thomas Fink, Ralf Negele
  • Publication number: 20190329785
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain and a controller. The powertrain includes a powerplant. The controller is programmed to, responsive to a tip-in resulting in a powertrain torque direction reversal and upon obtaining a base value of a desired powertrain lash angle, adjust a powerplant torque schedule. The controller is then subsequently programmed to adjust the desired powertrain lash angle from the base to an adjusted value based on an observed powertrain lash angle that corresponds to a maximum powertrain acceleration during the tip-in.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Mary Catherine FARMER, Dennis Craig REED, Peter Douglas KUECHLER, Terry Gene FELDPAUSCH, Mitchell Thomas FINK
  • Patent number: 10457588
    Abstract: A lead-through or connecting element is provided that includes an assembly having a carrier body of a high-temperature alloy, a functional element, and an at least partially crystallized glass. The crystallized glass is between a portion of the functional element and a portion of the carrier body. The carrier body subjects the crystallized glass to a compressive stress of greater than or equal to zero, at a temperature from at least 20° C. to more than 450° C. Also provided are a method for producing a lead-through or connecting element, the use of such a lead-through or connecting element, and to a measuring device including such a lead-through or connecting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Oliver Fritz, Georg Meier, Thomas Fink
  • Patent number: 10457291
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain and a controller. The powertrain includes a powerplant. The controller is programmed to, responsive to a tip-in resulting in a powertrain torque direction reversal and upon obtaining a base value of a desired powertrain lash angle, adjust a powerplant torque schedule. The controller is then subsequently programmed to adjust the desired powertrain lash angle from the base to an adjusted value based on an observed powertrain lash angle that corresponds to a maximum powertrain acceleration during the tip-in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mary Catherine Farmer, Dennis Craig Reed, Peter Douglas Kuechler, Terry Gene Feldpausch, Mitchell Thomas Fink
  • Patent number: 10349571
    Abstract: A hydraulic circuit for an agricultural implement consisting of a hydraulic cylinder that exerts a force on a component of the implement. A pressure reduction valve located between a hydraulic power source and the hydraulic cylinder maintains pressure to no more than a preset maximum to protect the hydraulic cylinder by routing excess hydraulic fluid back through a hydraulic line into a reservoir. A pressure relief valve with a preset maximum pressure greater than that of the pressure reduction valve is located between the pressure reduction valve and the hydraulic cylinder, and is connected to the reservoir through a dedicated return line. If hydraulic fluid pressure in the circuit increases to greater than the maximum of the pressure reduction valve, hydraulic fluid is diverted back to the reservoir through the pressure relief valve and a dedicated return line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: KUHN KRAUSE, INC.
    Inventors: Jerome Thomas Fink, Rodney Lee Hagman
  • Publication number: 20190112070
    Abstract: A method for determining actual aircraft ground speed may comprise receiving a reference ground speed value; receiving a wheel speed value of a nose wheel of an aircraft; comparing the wheel speed value of the nose wheel and the reference ground speed value; and/or determining the actual aircraft ground speed based on the reference ground speed value and the wheel speed value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventor: THOMAS FINK
  • Publication number: 20190047904
    Abstract: A lead-through or connecting element is provided that includes an assembly having a carrier body of a high-temperature alloy, a functional element, and an at least partially crystallized glass. The crystallized glass is between a portion of the functional element and a portion of the carrier body. The carrier body subjects the crystallized glass to a compressive stress of greater than or equal to zero, at a temperature from at least 20° C. to more than 450° C. Also provided are a method for producing a lead-through or connecting element, the use of such a lead-through or connecting element, and to a measuring device including such a lead-through or connecting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicant: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Oliver FRITZ, Georg MEIER, Thomas FINK
  • Patent number: 10179576
    Abstract: A brake system may comprise a controller, a vehicle management system (VMS) in communication with the controller, a valve in communication with the controller, and a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the controller, the tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the controller, cause the controller to perform operations comprising determining, by the controller, that a first enable signal is received by the controller from the VMS, determining, by the controller, that a second enable signal is received by the controller from the VMS, and disabling, by the controller, the controller from control of the valve in response to the first enable signal and the second enable signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Daniel Cahill, Thomas Fink, Marc Georgin, Efrem Ayichew
  • Publication number: 20190006066
    Abstract: A feed-through for high external pressure applications and methods of producing are provided. The feed-through includes a base body, a through-hole extending through the base body, and a functional element. The functional element is arranged inside the through-hole. The functional element is connected to the base body in fluid-tight manner with a pressure compensator and an insulating material that at least partially surrounds the functional element and establishes the fluid-tight connection. The pressure compensator increases pressure resistance of the fluid-tight connection of the functional element to the base body against pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Applicant: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Jürgen SUTTNER, Thomas FINK
  • Patent number: 10138157
    Abstract: A lead-through or connecting element is provided that includes an assembly having a carrier body of a high-temperature alloy, a functional element, and an at least partially crystallized glass. The crystallized glass is between a portion of the functional element and a portion of the carrier body. The carrier body subjects the crystallized glass to a compressive stress of greater than or equal to zero, at a temperature from at least 20° C. to more than 450° C. Also provided are a method for producing a lead-through or connecting element, the use of such a lead-through or connecting element, and to a measuring device including such a lead-through or connecting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Oliver Fritz, Georg Meier, Thomas Fink