Patents by Inventor Thomas Kaelberer
Thomas Kaelberer 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: 11946782Abstract: An optical position-measuring device for determining a relative position of scales includes a light source, the scales and a detector. The scales are movable relative to each other along measurement directions and disposed in different planes in crossed relation to each other, and each have a graduation having grating regions which are arranged periodically and have different optical properties. At the first scale, the illumination beam is split into sub-beams, the sub-beams subsequently impinge on the second scale and are reflected back toward the first scale, and the reflected-back sub-beams strike the first scale again, where they are recombined, so that a resulting signal beam subsequently propagates toward the detector. The measuring graduation of one or more of the scales is configured as a two-dimensional cross grating which has a filtering effect that suppresses disturbing higher diffraction orders.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2022Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBHInventor: Thomas Kaelberer
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Patent number: 11644348Abstract: An optical position measuring device for recording a relative position of two scales includes the scales. The longitudinal extents of the scales are oriented parallel to a first and second measuring direction. A horizontal plane of movement is spanned by these measuring directions. A light source is configured to emit an illumination beam that is split into at least two sub-beam bundles at the first scale. The sub-beam bundles subsequently impinge on the second scale, which is tilted about the direction of the longitudinal extent thereof relative to the horizontal plane of movement, and are back-reflected to impinge again on the first scale and are recombined there such that a resulting signal beam is subsequently propagated toward a detection unit, via which phase-shifted scanning signals are generatable with respect to a relative movement of the scales along a third perpendicular measuring direction and the first or second measuring direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2021Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBHInventors: Thomas Kaelberer, Wolfgang Holzapfel
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Publication number: 20230120787Abstract: An optical position-measuring device for determining a relative position of scales includes a light source, the scales and a detector. The scales are movable relative to each other along measurement directions and disposed in different planes in crossed relation to each other, and each have a graduation having grating regions which are arranged periodically and have different optical properties. At the first scale, the illumination beam is split into sub-beams, the sub-beams subsequently impinge on the second scale and are reflected back toward the first scale, and the reflected-back sub-beams strike the first scale again, where they are recombined, so that a resulting signal beam subsequently propagates toward the detector. The measuring graduation of one or more of the scales is configured as a two-dimensional cross grating which has a filtering effect that suppresses disturbing higher diffraction orders.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2022Publication date: April 20, 2023Inventor: Thomas Kaelberer
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Patent number: 11590831Abstract: A device and a method for controlling a shading system of vehicle windows. A camera system detects image data of the head of a driver. The image data is evaluated to determine a gaze direction of the driver either as a function of a current pose of the head or body position of the driver ascertained based on the image data or as a function of eye positions of the driver determined based on image data. The shading system is controlled when the determined current gaze direction is looking in an interior rear view mirror, in the direction of the rear window, in the direction of one of the side windows, a reverse gear of the vehicle is set/activated, and the vehicle is in operation/activated. The control involves suspending or switching off a current shading/darkening of the rear window or of the side window in the gaze direction of the driver.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2020Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AGInventors: Manja Zedler, Tingting Zhang-Xu, Thomas Kälberer, Fabian Stiebert
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Publication number: 20220274471Abstract: A device and a method for controlling a shading system of vehicle windows. A camera system detects image data of the head of a driver. The image data is evaluated to determine a gaze direction of the driver either as a function of a current pose of the head or body position of the driver ascertained based on the image data or as a function of eye positions of the driver determined based on image data. The shading system is controlled when the determined current gaze direction is looking in an interior rear view mirror, in the direction of the rear window, in the direction of one of the side windows, a reverse gear of the vehicle is set/activated, and the vehicle is in operation/activated. The control involves suspending or switching off a current shading/darkening of the rear window or of the side window in the gaze direction of the driver.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2020Publication date: September 1, 2022Applicant: DAIMLER AGInventors: Manja ZEDLER, Tingting ZHANG-XU, Thomas KÄLBERER, Fabian STIEBERT
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Patent number: 11313672Abstract: An optical position-measuring device for sensing a relative position of two objects, each object being connected to a grating. The optical position-measuring device is configured such that, at one of the gratings, an illumination beam emitted from a light source is split into two sub-beams which, in respective scanning beam paths following the splitting, experience different polarization-optical effects and recombine at one of the gratings. After the differently polarized sub-beams are recombined, a plurality of phase-shifted, displacement-dependent scanning signals are generatable from a resulting signal beam in a detection unit. No separate polarization-optical components are disposed in the scanning beam paths of the sub-beams between splitting and recombination.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2020Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBHInventor: Thomas Kaelberer
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Publication number: 20210255008Abstract: An optical position measuring device for recording a relative position of two scales includes the scales. The longitudinal extents of the scales are oriented parallel to a first and second measuring direction. A horizontal plane of movement is spanned by these measuring directions. A light source is configured to emit an illumination beam that is split into at least two sub-beam bundles at the first scale. The sub-beam bundles subsequently impinge on the second scale, which is tilted about the direction of the longitudinal extent thereof relative to the horizontal plane of movement, and are back-reflected to impinge again on the first scale and are recombined there such that a resulting signal beam is subsequently propagated toward a detection unit, via which phase-shifted scanning signals are generatable with respect to a relative movement of the scales along a third perpendicular measuring direction and the first or second measuring direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2021Publication date: August 19, 2021Inventors: Thomas Kaelberer, Wolfgang Holzapfel
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Publication number: 20200363193Abstract: An optical position-measuring device for sensing a relative position of two objects, each object being connected to a grating. The optical position-measuring device is configured such that, at one of the gratings, an illumination beam emitted from a light source is split into two sub-beams which, in respective scanning beam paths following the splitting, experience different polarization-optical effects and recombine at one of the gratings. After the differently polarized sub-beams are recombined, a plurality of phase-shifted, displacement-dependent scanning signals are generatable from a resulting signal beam in a detection unit. No separate polarization-optical components are disposed in the scanning beam paths of the sub-beams between splitting and recombination.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2020Publication date: November 19, 2020Inventor: Thomas Kaelberer
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Patent number: 10703265Abstract: A lighting device for illuminating the vehicle interior of a motor vehicle is provided. The motor vehicle includes a plurality of light sources for illuminating the vehicle interior and a control device that can be used to actuate the plurality of light sources independently of one another. The motor vehicle further has an operator control device connected to the control device and includes segments and operator control elements that can be used to actuate the light sources independently of one another by a user. A display unit displays at least a partial image of the vehicle interior that can be illuminated or is illuminated by the controllable light sources.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2018Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: DAIMLER AGInventors: Daniel Fuhrmann, Daniela Knapp, Michael Holz, Florian Staib, Timo Gramlich, Thomas Kälberer
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Publication number: 20200114817Abstract: A lighting device for illuminating the vehicle interior of a motor vehicle is provided. The motor vehicle includes a plurality of light sources for illuminating the vehicle interior and a control device that can be used to actuate the plurality of light sources independently of one another. The motor vehicle further has an operator control device connected to the control device and includes segments and operator control elements that can be used to actuate the light sources independently of one another by a user. A display unit displays at least a partial image of the vehicle interior that can be illuminated or is illuminated by the controllable light sources.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2018Publication date: April 16, 2020Inventors: Daniel FUHRMANN, Daniela KNAPP, Michael HOLZ, Florian STAIB, Timo GRAMLICH, Thomas KÄLBERER
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Patent number: 9921468Abstract: An X-Y table with a position-measuring device includes a table which is disposed on a support and is movable on the support so that altogether the table is positionable in a plane parallel to an underlying stationary base. Two groups of scanning heads are disposed on the support. For position measurement in two directions, a respective one of the scanning heads directs light through a respective transmissive scale attached along an edge of the table such that a respective reflective scale, which is stationary relative to a processing tool disposed above the table, reflects the light through the respective transmissive scale back to the respective scanning head. In a central position of the table, the two groups are in positional correspondence with the transmissive scales, and, in either of two edge positions of the table, only one of the two groups is in positional correspondence with the transmissive scales.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2016Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GmbHInventors: Wolfgang Holzapfel, Joerg Drescher, Markus Meissner, Ralph Joerger, Bernhard Musch, Thomas Kaelberer
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Patent number: 9733068Abstract: In an optical position measuring device for detecting the relative position of a first measuring standard and a second measuring standard, movable relative to each other along at least one measuring direction, at a splitting grating, a beam bundle emitted by a light source is split up into at least two partial beam bundles. When passing through scanning beam paths, the partial beam bundles undergo different polarization-optical effects. After the differently polarized partial beam bundles are recombined at a combination grating, a plurality of phase-displaced, displacement-dependent scanning signals is able to be generated from the resulting beam bundle. No polarization-optical components are arranged in the scanning beam paths of the partial beam bundles between the splitting and recombination.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2015Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBHInventors: Jörg Drescher, Wolfgang Holzapfel, Ralph Joerger, Thomas Kälberer, Markus Meissner, Bernhard Musch, Erwin Spanner
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Publication number: 20170102227Abstract: An X-Y table with a position-measuring device includes a table which is disposed on a support and is movable on the support so that altogether the table is positionable in a plane parallel to an underlying stationary base. Two groups of scanning heads are disposed on the support. For position measurement in two directions, a respective one of the scanning heads directs light through a respective transmissive scale attached along an edge of the table such that a respective reflective scale, which is stationary relative to a processing tool disposed above the table, reflects the light through the respective transmissive scale back to the respective scanning head. In a central position of the table, the two groups are in positional correspondence with the transmissive scales, and, in either of two edge positions of the table, only one of the two groups is in positional correspondence with the transmissive scales.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2016Publication date: April 13, 2017Inventors: Wolfgang Holzapfel, Joerg Drescher, Markus Meissner, Ralph Joerger, Bernhard Musch, Thomas Kaelberer
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Patent number: 9389100Abstract: An optical position measuring instrument including a first scale having a first graduation, wherein the first scale is disposed movable in a first measuring direction, and at a first defined position in the first measuring direction, the first scale includes a spatially limited first marking that differs from the first graduation. The optical position measuring instrument further including a second scale having a second graduation, wherein the second scale is disposed movable in a second measuring direction, and at a second defined position, the second scale includes a second reference marking that is usable for generating at least one reference signal at a reference position of the second scale only if the first scale is located in the first defined position.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2013Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBHInventors: Wolfgang Holzapfel, Joerg Drescher, Markus Meissner, Ralph Joerger, Bernhard Musch, Thomas Kaelberer
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Patent number: 9389065Abstract: A position-measuring device, as well as a system having such a position-measuring device, is used for determining the position of a first object relative to a second object, the first and the second object being movable relative to one another along at least two measuring directions. The position-measuring device has an optical unit that is linked to one of the two objects and includes at least one light source, a detector system, as well as further optical elements in a defined configuration. In addition, the position-measuring device includes a measuring standard-reflector unit, which is provided on the other object, and has at least two differently formed regions in one track that are optically scannable by the optical unit for position sensing.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2013Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBHInventors: Wolfgang Holzapfel, Joerg Drescher, Markus Meissner, Ralph Joerger, Bernhard Musch, Thomas Kaelberer
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Publication number: 20150354944Abstract: In an optical position measuring device for detecting the relative position of a first measuring standard and a second measuring standard, movable relative to each other along at least one measuring direction, at a splitting grating, a beam bundle emitted by a light source is split up into at least two partial beam bundles. When passing through scanning beam paths, the partial beam bundles undergo different polarization-optical effects. After the differently polarized partial beam bundles are recombined at a combination grating, a plurality of phase-displaced, displacement-dependent scanning signals is able to be generated from the resulting beam bundle. No polarization-optical components are arranged in the scanning beam paths of the partial beam bundles between the splitting and recombination.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2015Publication date: December 10, 2015Inventors: Jörg Drescher, Wolfgang Holzapfel, Ralph Joerger, Thomas Kälberer, Markus Meissner, Bernhard Musch, Erwin Spanner
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Patent number: 9200893Abstract: In position-measuring devices and a systems having a plurality of position-measuring devices for determining the position of an object in several spatial degrees of freedom, the plurality of optical position-measuring devices scan the object from a single probing direction, and the probing direction coincides with one of the two main axes of motion.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2013Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBHInventors: Wolfgang Holzapfel, Joerg Drescher, Markus Meissner, Ralph Joerger, Bernhard Musch, Thomas Kaelberer
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Patent number: 9188424Abstract: An interferometer includes a light source and a beam splitter, via which the beam of rays emitted by the light source is split into a measurement beam and a reference beam. The measurement beam propagates in a measuring arm extending in a first direction between the beam splitter and a measuring reflector. The measuring reflector brings about an offset perpendicular to the direction of incidence between the measurement beam falling on it and the measurement beam reflected back by it. In a reference arm extending in a second direction, the reference beam propagates between the beam splitter and a reference reflector. In addition, the interferometer has a detector system, to which the superposed and recombined measurement beam and reference beam are able to be supplied, and via which a distance-dependent interference signal with respect to the position of the measuring reflector is able to be generated.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2013Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBHInventors: Wolfgang Holzapfel, Joerg Drescher, Markus Meissner, Ralph Joerger, Bernhard Musch, Erwin Spanner, Thomas Kaelberer
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Patent number: 9151593Abstract: In a system and a method for positioning a processing tool in relation to a workpiece, an object alignment mark and the workpiece are situated on a first object. In addition, a workpiece alignment mark is situated on the workpiece. The processing tool via which the object alignment mark is detectable is situated on a second object, which is disposed so as to be displaceable along at least one movement direction in relation to the first object. Furthermore, an alignment sensor is disposed thereon, with whose aid the object alignment mark and the workpiece alignment mark are detectable. In addition, a scannable measuring standard, which extends along the at least one movement direction, is disposed on the second object. At least two scanning units for scanning the measuring standard are situated on the first object in order to thereby determine the relative position between the first and the second object along the movement direction, the two scanning units having a defined offset.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2013Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBHInventors: Wolfgang Holzapfel, Joerg Drescher, Markus Meissner, Ralph Joerger, Bernhard Musch, Thomas Kaelberer
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Patent number: 8842295Abstract: In a system for detecting the position of an object in relation to a reference system, the object is arranged so as to be movable in relation to the reference system along at least two orthogonal first and second main movement axes. To record the position of the object in relation to the reference system, a position measuring device includes at least two two-dimensional measuring standards situated along the first main movement axis, and four scanning units for an optical scanning of these measuring standards. In addition, at least four additional supplementary scanning units are provided, which are situated between the four scanning units along the first main movement axis.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2013Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: Johannes Heidenhain GmbHInventors: Wolfgang Holzapfel, Joerg Drescher, Markus Meissner, Ralph Joerger, Bernhard Musch, Thomas Kaelberer