Patents by Inventor Thomas Krautheim

Thomas Krautheim 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).

  • Capacitive occupant detection system
    Patent number: 7656169
    Abstract: A capacitive occupant detection system has an oscillator and an electrode operatively coupled to the oscillator, to which the oscillator applies an oscillating voltage signal. In response to the oscillating voltage being applied, an electric current is caused to flow in the electrode, the current being responsive to an electric-field-influencing property of an object or occupant proximate to the electrode. The current caused to flow in the electrode has a first current component in phase with the oscillating voltage signal and a second current component 90°-phase-offset with respect to the oscillating voltage signal. A sensing circuit is operatively coupled to the electrode and to the oscillator so as to generate a first signal indicative of the first current component and a second signal indicative of the second current component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering S.A.
    Inventors: Ingrid Scheckenbach, Stephen Fuks, Frank Althaus, Thomas Krautheim, Christoph Wendt
  • Capacitive occupant detection system
    Publication number: 20080186034
    Abstract: A capacitive occupant detection system has an oscillator and an electrode operatively coupled to the oscillator, to which the oscillator applies an oscillating voltage signal. In response to the oscillating voltage being applied, an electric current is caused to flow in the electrode, the current being responsive to an electric-field-influencing property of an object or occupant proximate to the electrode. The current caused to flow in the electrode has a first current component in phase with the oscillating voltage signal and a second current component 90°-phase-offset with respect to the oscillating voltage signal. A sensing circuit is operatively coupled to the electrode and to the oscillator so as to generate a first signal indicative of the first current component and a second signal indicative of the second current component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Ingrid Scheckenbach, Stephen Fuks, Frank Althaus, Thomas Krautheim, Christoph Wendt
  • Electrical circuit board and a method for making the same
    Patent number: 6449839
    Abstract: A method for forming connections within a multi-layer electronic circuit board 10. In one non-limiting embodiment, the method includes selectively forming air bridges over portions of the circuit board 10 and selectively collapsing the air bridges with a metallurgical bonding tool, effective to interconnect layers of the circuit board 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Visteon Global Tech., Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Z. Glovatsky, Thomas Krautheim, Robert E. Belke, Jr., Vivek Amir Jairazbhoy, Cuong V. Pham