Patents by Inventor Thomas Froehlich

Thomas Froehlich 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: 20200061690
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a complex-formed component (6) by using austenitic steels in a multi-stage process (4) where cold forming (2) and heating (3) are alternated for at least two multi-stage process (4) steps. The material during every process step and a component produced has an austenitic microstructure with non-magnetic reversible properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas Fröhlich, Stefan Lindner
  • Publication number: 20200024077
    Abstract: A conveying unit for transporting goods on transport rollers in a transport plane. The transport rollers can be rotated about their respective axes of rotation with an adjustable rotational speed and adjustable direction of rotation. The axes of rotation of the transport rollers are adjustable by rotation about their respective pivot axes by a particular pivot axis angle, and at least two of the transport rollers can be adjusted differently from one another. There is also described a method for adjusting the conveyor unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: CARSTEN ASCHPURWIS, THOMAS FROEHLICH
  • Publication number: 20200010275
    Abstract: A conveying unit for a superordinate conveying system for transporting goods on a transport plane. The conveying unit has transport rollers, drive devices, at least one adjustment apparatus and a control unit. The transport rollers rotate about axes at an actuatable rotational speed and with an actuatable direction of rotation. The drive device can be actuated to drive the transport rollers. The axes of rotation of the transport rollers can be actuated about their respective pivot axes by their own pivot axis angle and can be adjusted by rotation. The adjustment apparatus can be actuated to adjust the axes of rotation of the transport rollers about their respective pivot axes. The control unit actuates the conveying unit, and the conveying unit additionally has a connection apparatus for connecting the conveying unit to the superordinate conveying system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: THOMAS FROEHLICH, ALEXANDER SCHNURR
  • Publication number: 20200002989
    Abstract: A pivotable corner element for a radiation protection wall comprises at least one hinge defining a pivot axis and two side elements connected via the at least one hinge, wherein the side elements can be pivoted relative to one another around the pivot axis. Upon pivoting of the side elements, an intermediate space between the side elements results depending on a respective pivot position. The corner element has at least one blind arranged in the intermediate space, wherein the at least one blind is displaceable relative to the side elements in a way that the at least one blind at least partially covers the intermediate space independently from the respective pivot position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Klaus BESCHERER-NACHTMANN, Thomas FRÖHLICH
  • Patent number: 10523234
    Abstract: A signal processing arrangement has a signal input for connecting a capacitive sensor. An amplifier circuit is coupled between the signal input and a feedback point. A loop filter is coupled downstream to the feedback point. A quantizer is connected downstream to the loop filter and provides a multi-bit output word. The multi-bit output word consists of one or more higher significance bits and one or more lower significance bits. A first feedback path is coupled between a quantizer and the feedback point for providing a first feedback signal to the feedback point being representative of the one or more lower significance bits. A second feedback path is coupled to the quantizer for providing a second feedback signal to the signal input being representative of the one or more higher significance bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: ams AG
    Inventors: Thomas Christen, Colin Steele, Thomas Froehlich
  • Patent number: 10523162
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first amplifier and a second amplifier. A first impedance matching circuit is coupled to the first amplifier, a first charge pump, and a single MEMS transducer. A second impedance matching circuit is coupled to the second amplifier, a second charge pump, and to the single MEMS transducer. A first capacitive load as measured at an input of first amplifier, and a second capacitive load as measured at an input of the second amplifier exist. The first capacitive load and the second capacitive load are balanced with respect to each other. A single pressure change causes the single MEMS transducer to create a first electrical signal and a second electrical signal. Both the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal are matched or approximately matched in magnitude, and 180 degrees or approximately 180 degrees out of phase with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: John J. Albers, Thomas Froehlich
  • Publication number: 20190360583
    Abstract: A hydraulic flushing valve arrangement includes a flushing valve having a housing, flushing piston, and at least one spring. The housing includes a valve bore, two circular housing control edges, two inlet channels fluidically connected to the bore, and an outlet channel opening into the bore between the inlet channels. The piston includes two control collars, a piston neck, and piston control edges that delimit the collars from the neck, and that have circular shapes with a recess. The recess has a portion that, in a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to an axis of the piston, is constant and sized such that a flushing quantity is reduced when the portion of the recess is situated in a region of a corresponding housing control edge relative to a quantity when the piston is in an end position. The collars guide the piston so as to be longitudinally displaceable in the bore, and are spaced apart by the neck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas Froehlich, Markus Gepraegs, Patrick Weidele
  • Publication number: 20190358731
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a sandwich panel as a semi-finished product where at least one layer of a non-metallic material is positioned between at least two metallic layers. At least one of the metal layers is shaped into a three dimensional layer and the metal layers are material closured to each other by a tack weld on the metallic contacts between the metallic layers to enable resistance weldability of the semi-finished product in order to connect the semi-finished product to a desired combination of solutions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Philip Ninnemann, Thomas Hündgen, Thomas Fröhlich, Stefan Lindner
  • Publication number: 20190356282
    Abstract: A MEMS sensor (1) comprises a MEMS transducer (10) being coupled to a MEMS interface circuit (20). The MEMS interface circuit (20) comprises a bias voltage generator (100), a differential amplifier (200), a capacitor (300) and a feedback control circuit (400). The bias voltage generator (100) generates a bias voltage (Vbias) for operating the MEMS transducer. The variable capacitor (300) is connected to one of the input nodes (I200a) of the differential amplifier (200). At least one of the output nodes (A200a, A200b) of the differential amplifier is coupled to a base terminal (T110) of an output filter (110) of the bias voltage generator (100). Any disturbing signal from the bias voltage generator (100) is a common-mode signal that is divided equally on the input nodes (I200a, I200b) of the differential amplifier (200) and is therefore rejected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas Froehlich, Mark Niederberger, Colin Steele, Rene Scheuner, Thomas Christen, Lukas Perktold, Duy-Dong Pham
  • Publication number: 20190345575
    Abstract: A method for partial hardening of an austenitic steel by utilizing during cold deformation the TWIP (Twinning Induced Plasticity), TWIP/TRIP or TRIP (Transformation Induced Plasticity) hardening effect. Cold deformation is carried out by cold rolling at least one surface of the steel with forming degree (?) of 5???60% in order to achieve in the steel at least two consecutive areas with different mechanical values in thickness, yield strength (Rp0.2), tensile strength (Rm) and elongation, having a ratio (r) between the ultimate load ratio (?F) and the thickness ratio (?t) of 1.0>r>2.0, and in which the areas are mechanically connected to each other by a transition area having a thickness that is variable from the thickness of the first area in the deformation direction to the thickness of the second area in the deformation direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas Fröhlich, Stefan Lindner, Thorsten Piniek
  • Patent number: 10298179
    Abstract: An amplifier arrangement has an input transistor being connected between reference potential terminals by a current source and a current sink. An amplifier stage has an amplifier output coupled to a first connection node between the current sink and a first terminal of the input transistor by means of a feedback path, and an amplifier input connected to a second connection node between the current source and the second terminal of the input transistor. A level-shifting structure has a level-shifting element with one end connected to a reference connection, wherein the level-shifting element is adapted to perform a level-shifting of a potential at the second connection node with respect to a potential at the reference connection. The reference connection is coupled to one of the following: the amplifier output, the first connection node, a control terminal of the input transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: ams AG
    Inventors: Weixun Yan, Thomas Froehlich
  • Publication number: 20190115932
    Abstract: A signal processing arrangement has a signal input for connecting a capacitive sensor. An amplifier circuit is coupled between the signal input and a feedback point. A loop filter is coupled downstream to the feedback point. A quantizer is connected downstream to the loop filter and provides a multi-bit output word. The multi-bit output word consists of one or more higher significance bits and one or more lower significance bits. A first feedback path is coupled between a quantizer and the feedback point for providing a first feedback signal to the feedback point being representative of the one or more lower significance bits. A second feedback path is coupled to the quantizer for providing a second feedback signal to the signal input being representative of the one or more higher significance bits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Applicant: ams AG
    Inventors: Thomas CHRISTEN, Colin STEELE, Thomas FROEHLICH
  • Publication number: 20190081598
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first amplifier and a second amplifier. A first impedance matching circuit is coupled to the first amplifier, a first charge pump, and a single MEMS transducer. A second impedance matching circuit is coupled to the second amplifier, a second charge pump, and to the single MEMS transducer. A first capacitive load as measured at an input of first amplifier, and a second capacitive load as measured at an input of the second amplifier exist. The first capacitive load and the second capacitive load are balanced with respect to each other. A single pressure change causes the single MEMS transducer to create a first electrical signal and a second electrical signal. Both the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal are matched or approximately matched in magnitude, and 180 degrees or approximately 180 degrees out of phase with respect to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: John J. Albers, Thomas Froehlich
  • Patent number: 10211792
    Abstract: A sensor amplifier arrangement includes an amplifier having a signal input to receive a sensor signal and a signal output, and a feedback path that couples the signal output to the signal input, wherein the feedback path includes an anti-parallel circuit of diodes, and a voltage divider including a first and a second divider resistor and a voltage divider tap between the first and the second divider resistor, wherein the voltage divider couples the signal output to a reference potential terminal, and the voltage divider tap is coupled to the anti-parallel circuit of diodes and the anti-parallel circuit of diodes is coupled to the signal input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: ams AG
    Inventors: Thomas Fröhlich, Matthias Steiner
  • Patent number: 10161024
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing an ultra high strength material with high elongation by work hardening an essentially nickel-free austenitic material and then subjecting the material to heat treatment in the temperature range between 200° C. and <1,100° C. within a period from 10 s to 10 minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Outokumpu Nirosta GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Fröhlich, Marcel Hartig, Seyed Amin Mousavi Rizi, Jochen Krautschick, Stefan Lindner, Jasminko Skrlec
  • Patent number: 10153740
    Abstract: A microphone assembly includes a capacitive MEMS transducer and a bias circuit having a DC output coupled to the transducer. The microphone assembly also includes a differential amplifier having a first input coupled to a first output of the transducer, the differential amplifier having a second input coupled to a second output of the transducer. The microphone assembly further includes a first impedance matching network and a second impedance matching network configured to balance a first capacitive load at the first input of the amplifier and a second capacitive load at the second input of the amplifier. Electrical signals applied by the transducer to the first and second inputs of the amplifier are matched or approximately matched in magnitude and 180 degrees or approximately 180 degrees out of phase with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignees: Knowles Electronics, LLC, AMS AG
    Inventors: John J. Albers, Thomas Froehlich
  • Publication number: 20180334735
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a component with high work hardening rate made of a material having an austenitic microstructure. A cold work hardened material for a component is heat treated to create at least one softened area with high ductility and lower strength than the initial high strength material by heat treating a part of the component material required for the softened area. Also, a use of the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Fröhlich, Stefan Lindner
  • Publication number: 20180304583
    Abstract: A component made of metallic composite material having high corrosion resistance and scale resistance. The metallic composite material contains as a core material an uncoated hardenable steel on which surface a corrosion resistance and scaling resistance layer is provided using heat resistant stainless steel, and has a yield strength Rp0,2 of at least 1000 MPa and a tensile strength Rm of at least 1500 MPa for the core material and a critical scaling resistance temperature in air for the layer material is at least 850° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Gabriele Brückner, Thomas Fröhlich, Thomas Nentwig, Jasminko Skrlec, Stefan Lindner
  • Publication number: 20180281345
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a welded component, where at least one material piece is positioned between metal pieces to be welded together. At least one protrusion (5, 13, 23, 33, 43) is achieved to at least one of the metal pieces (3, 4; 11, 12; 21, 22; 31, 32; 41, 42) to be welded together, and at least one opening (2, 14, 24, 34, 44) is achieved to at least one material piece (1, 15, 25, 35, 45) which is positioned between the metal pieces (3, 4; 11, 12; 21, 22; 31, 32; 41, 42) to be welded and isolated (16, 17; 26; 36) from the metal pieces to be welded. At least one part of the protrusion (5, 13, 23, 33, 43) in one of those metal pieces to be welded together is taken through the opening (2, 14, 24, 34, 44) in order to have mechanical contact through the upper end of the protrusion (5, 13, 23, 33, 43) with the second metal piece to be welded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Fröhlich, Stefan Lindner
  • Patent number: 10060784
    Abstract: A balance with a load changing device (14) that has a magazine table, mounted to be horizontally movable and having a plurality of vertical openings (26) arranged in groups. The balance (12) has a load cell (34) and a load receptor (42) with a carrier arrangement (44) corresponding to each of the groups of openings. The magazine table and the balance are height adjustable relative to each other. In a weighing position, a group of openings above the load receptor is penetrated by the carrier arrangement. In a changing position, the carrier arrangement is positioned lower than the openings in the magazine table. The magazine table is mounted at a fixed height relative to a base (16), and the balance is height adjustable relative to the base. The travel of the balance is upwardly limited by a stop (32), which is at a fixed height relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Sartorius Lab Instruments GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Froehlich, Sigo Muehlich, Falko Hilbrunner, Thomas Fehling, Mario Schreiber