Patents by Inventor Thomas Kühn
Thomas Kühn 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: 11570884Abstract: A relay arrangement includes at least two series-connected relays, which are mechanically and electrically connected to a main printed circuit board via first terminals and second terminals, and at least one flat conductor for conducting current between the at least two series connected relays. The flat conductor is mechanically connected to the main printed circuit board and electrically and thermally connected to the first terminals of the relays, and the at least one flat conductor is configured to dissipate heat produced during operation of the relays.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2021Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AGInventors: Frank Papenfuss, Lars Bethke, Thomas Kuehn, Christian Gehrke
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Publication number: 20220007498Abstract: A relay arrangement includes at least two series-connected relays, which are mechanically and electrically connected to a main printed circuit board via first terminals and second terminals, and at least one flat conductor for conducting current between the at least two series connected relays. The flat conductor is mechanically connected to the main printed circuit board and electrically and thermally connected to the first terminals of the relays, and the at least one flat conductor is configured to dissipate heat produced during operation of the relays.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2021Publication date: January 6, 2022Inventors: Frank Papenfuss, Lars Bethke, Thomas Kuehn, Christian Gehrke
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Patent number: 11169004Abstract: An inductive sensor, particularly for a proximity sensor, includes a resonance circuit including a sensing coil and an amplifier comprising a first gain stage and a second gain stage each coupled via respective adjusting elements with the resonance circuit to inject energy for maintaining an oscillation of the resonance circuit. The first gain stage provides a substantially linear amplification and the second gain stage provides a comparator characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2019Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: PEPPERL+FUCHS SEInventor: Thomas Kühn
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Patent number: 11129272Abstract: A relay arrangement includes at least two series-connected relays, which are mechanically and electrically connected to a main printed circuit board via first terminals and second terminals, and at least one flat conductor for conducting current between the at least two series connected relays. The flat conductor is mechanically connected to the main printed circuit board and electrically and thermally connected to the first terminals of the relays, and the at least one flat conductor is configured to dissipate heat produced during operation of the relays.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2019Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AGInventors: Frank Papenfuss, Lars Bethke, Thomas Kuehn, Christian Gehrke
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Patent number: 11101797Abstract: The present invention relates to an oscillating sensor for a measurement device comprising: an oscillator comprising a resonance circuit for providing an oscillation signal; a gain stage configured to feedback to the resonance circuit to inject energy for excitation of the resonance circuit to maintain oscillation; at least one calibration element to adjust the open loop gain of the oscillator; a calibration unit to provide a modulated calibration control signal to selectively adjust an electrical measure of the at least one calibration element based on at least one predetermined duty cycle, wherein the modulated calibration control signal has an irregularly time-varying cycle frequency.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2019Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Inventor: Thomas Kühn
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Patent number: 11075632Abstract: An oscillating sensor device, particularly for a proximity sensor, for sensing a dynamic change of attenuation caused by a measurable physical effect includes an oscillator including a resonance circuit and an amplifier fed back to the resonance circuit and configured to maintain oscillation of the oscillator, and a control unit configured to control the open loop gain of the oscillator. The amplifier comprises a non-linear gain characteristics defining an operating point at a preset amplitude of oscillation. The control unit is configured to control the open loop gain of the oscillator so that the operating point is set to a preset amplitude of the oscillation.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2019Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: Pepperl + Fuchs GmbHInventors: Thomas Kühn, Jochen Vater, Christoph Braunsmann
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Publication number: 20200136617Abstract: An oscillating sensor device, particularly for a proximity sensor, for sensing a dynamic change of attenuation caused by a measurable physical effect includes an oscillator including a resonance circuit and an amplifier fed back to the resonance circuit and configured to maintain oscillation of the oscillator, and a control unit configured to control the open loop gain of the oscillator. The amplifier comprises a non-linear gain characteristics defining an operating point at a preset amplitude of oscillation. The control unit is configured to control the open loop gain of the oscillator so that the operating point is set to a preset amplitude of the oscillation.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2019Publication date: April 30, 2020Applicant: Pepperl+Fuchs GmbHInventors: Thomas Kühn, Jochen Vater, Christoph Braunsmann
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Publication number: 20200136615Abstract: The present invention relates to an oscillating sensor for a measurement device comprising: an oscillator comprising a resonance circuit for providing an oscillation signal; a gain stage configured to feed back to the resonance circuit to inject energy for excitation of the resonance circuit to maintain oscillation; at least one calibration element to adjust the open loop gain of the oscillator; a calibration unit to provide a modulated calibration control signal to selectively adjust an electrical measure of the at least one calibration element based on at least one predetermined duty cycle, wherein the modulated calibration control signal has an irregularly time-varying cycle frequency.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2019Publication date: April 30, 2020Inventor: Thomas Kühn
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Publication number: 20200132510Abstract: An inductive sensor, particularly for a proximity sensor, includes a resonance circuit including a sensing coil and an amplifier comprising a first gain stage and a second gain stage each coupled via respective adjusting elements with the resonance circuit to inject energy for maintaining an oscillation of the resonance circuit. The first gain stage provides a substantially linear amplification and the second gain stage provides a comparator characteristics.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2019Publication date: April 30, 2020Applicant: Pepperl+Fuchs GmbHInventor: Thomas Kühn
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Patent number: 10505539Abstract: The invention relates to an oscillator comprising a resonant circuit having at least one inductor and one capacitor and having a feedback amplifier, wherein there is at least one trimming resistor in a feedback circuit of the amplifier. The oscillator is characterized in that there is an electronic switching device for alternately connecting and disconnecting the trimming resistor, in that a trimming circuit is formed by the trimming resistor and the electronic switching device, in that there is a drive device for driving the electronic switching device, in that the electronic switching device, together with the drive device, is designed to alternately connect and disconnect the trimming resistor in a switching sequence, and in that an average time value of the electrical resistor of the trimming circuit, which is active in an oscillator mode, is defined by the switching sequence.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2015Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: Pepperl + Fuchs GmbHInventor: Thomas Kühn
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Publication number: 20190350073Abstract: A relay arrangement includes at least two series-connected relays, which are mechanically and electrically connected to a main printed circuit board via first terminals and second terminals, and at least one flat conductor for conducting current between the at least two series connected relays. The flat conductor is mechanically connected to the main printed circuit board and electrically and thermally connected to the first terminals of the relays, and the at least one flat conductor is configured to dissipate heat produced during operation of the relays.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2019Publication date: November 14, 2019Inventors: Frank Papenfuss, Lars Bethke, Thomas Kuehn, Christian Gehrke
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Patent number: 10178814Abstract: The disclosure relates to an inverter, in particular for a photovoltaic system, including a housing with at least one chamber and a cooling air channel formed within the chamber for guiding ambient air as cooling air for electrical and/or electronic components of the inverter disposed along the cooling air channel. The cooling air channel extends through the housing from an air inlet to an air outlet. The inverter includes a further air outlet provided within the cooling air channel between two of the components to be cooled, and is arranged above the air inlet and the air outlet. The disclosure further relates to a method of cooling such an inverter.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2017Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AGInventors: Andreas Falk, Jan Goldau, Thomas Kuehn, Henning Schneider, Jochen Roemer
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Publication number: 20180123587Abstract: The invention relates to an oscillator comprising a resonant circuit having at least one inductor and one capacitor and having a feedback amplifier, wherein there is at least one trimming resistor in a feedback circuit of the amplifier. The oscillator is characterized in that there is an electronic switching device for alternately connecting and disconnecting the trimming resistor, in that a trimming circuit is formed by the trimming resistor and the electronic switching device, in that there is a drive device for driving the electronic switching device, in that the electronic switching device, together with the drive device, is designed to alternately connect and disconnect the trimming resistor in a switching sequence, and in that an average time value of the electrical resistor of the trimming circuit, which is active in an oscillator mode, is defined by the switching sequence.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2015Publication date: May 3, 2018Applicant: Pepperl + Fuchs GmbHInventor: Thomas Kühn
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Publication number: 20170238445Abstract: The disclosure relates to an inverter, in particular for a photovoltaic system, including a housing with at least one chamber and a cooling air channel formed within the chamber for guiding ambient air as cooling air for electrical and/or electronic components of the inverter disposed along the cooling air channel. The cooling air channel extends through the housing from an air inlet to an air outlet. The inverter includes a further air outlet provided within the cooling air channel between two of the components to be cooled, and is arranged above the air inlet and the air outlet. The disclosure further relates to a method of cooling such an inverter.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2017Publication date: August 17, 2017Inventors: Andreas Falk, Jan Goldau, Thomas kuehn, Henning Schneider, Jochen Roemer
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Patent number: 9479165Abstract: The invention relates to an inductive proximity switch having a current-fed resonant circuit comprising at least one resonant circuit transmitting coil and a capacitance. The resonant circuit transmitting coil generates an alternating magnetic field, which is able to induct a mutual induction voltage in at least one receiving coil, and the oscillation state of the resonant circuit can be influenced by a metallic release entering or moving away from the alternating field, having an evaluating circuit for obtaining a switching signal from the change in the oscillation state of the resonant circuit, the change in the complex coupling between the at least two coils, namely transmitting coil and receiving coil, being evaluatable with the aid of an auxiliary voltage signal as a switching signal in the presence or absence of the release.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2007Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: PEPPERL + FUCHS GmbHInventor: Thomas Kuehn
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Patent number: 7924103Abstract: The present invention relates to an inductive proximity switch with an oscillator having a resonant circuit and an amplifier and with an evaluating and control device for evaluating an impedance of the resonant circuit and for outputting a switching signal. According to the invention, the proximity switch is characterized in that a frequency measuring device is provided for measuring the oscillation frequency of the oscillator and for eliminating ambiguities of the evaluation result of the evaluating and control device. The invention also relates to a method for operating an inductive proximity switch.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2007Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: Pepperl + Fuchs GmbHInventor: Thomas Kuehn
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Patent number: 7924105Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the detection of a predamping state of an inductive sensor. The sensor has at least one oscillator with a resonant circuit and an oscillation amplifier. According to the method the oscillatory response of the oscillator is analyzed with an operating amplification or gain. According to the invention the method is further developed in that the oscillatory behavior of the oscillator is additionally analyzed for an analysis amplification or gain, which is chosen lower than the operating amplification. The analysis amplification is also chosen in such a way that the oscillatory response of the oscillator reacts sensitively to objects or articles located in close proximity to the sensor. The invention also relates to an inductive sensor with predamping detection.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2009Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: Pepperl + Fuchs GmbHInventor: Thomas Kuehn
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Patent number: 7626466Abstract: The invention relates to a proximity switch, particularly an inductive proximity switch, with an oscillator having an at least partly self-compensated feedback network influenceable by a target to be detected, as well as an oscillator amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2006Date of Patent: December 1, 2009Assignee: Pepperl + Fuchs GmbHInventor: Thomas Kuehn
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Publication number: 20090243615Abstract: The invention relates to an inductive proximity switch which has a resonant circuit (Ls, C) comprising a resonant circuit transmission coil (Ls) and a capacitance (C), wherein the resonant circuit transmission coil (Ls) generates an alternating magnetic field which induces a mutual induction voltage in at least one receiving coil (LE), and the oscillation state of the resonant circuit can be influenced by means of a metallic release which enters or moves away from the alternating field. An evaluation circuit is used to obtain a switching signal (uswitch) from the change in the oscillation state of the resonant circuit, wherein the change in the complex coupling between the at least two coils, the transmission coil (Ls) and the receiving coil (LE), can be evaluated, as a switching signal (uswitch), using an auxiliary voltage signal (UHSP) in the presence or absence of the release.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2007Publication date: October 1, 2009Inventor: Thomas Kuehn
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Publication number: 20090224841Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the detection of a predamping state of an inductive sensor. The sensor has at least one oscillator with a resonant circuit and an oscillation amplifier. According to the method the oscillatory response of the oscillator is analyzed with an operating amplification or gain. According to the invention the method is further developed in that the oscillatory behaviour of the oscillator is additionally analyzed for an analysis amplification or gain, which is chosen lower than the operating amplification. The analysis amplification is also chosen in such a way that the oscillatory response of the oscillator reacts sensitively to objects or articles located in close proximity to the sensor. The invention also relates to an inductive sensor with predamping detection.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2009Publication date: September 10, 2009Inventor: Thomas Kuehn