Patents by Inventor Thomas Maier

Thomas Maier 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: 20250347858
    Abstract: Optical ferrule includes a fixing area for fixing an axial end section of the optical waveguide. The fixing area is designed such that a longitudinal axis of the axial end section of the optical waveguide is alignable in a plug-in direction S of the optical ferrule. The optical ferrule further includes an optical area for beamforming between a light beam bundle transmitted in the optical waveguide and the light beam bundle transmitted in a focused or collimated manner in a free space. The optical area axially adjoins the fixing area in the plug-in direction S and a beamforming means having an optical axis extending in the plug-in direction S is formed therein. The optical ferrule further includes at least one guide area having a longitudinal extension in the plug-in direction S, which has a plurality of grooved segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2025
    Publication date: November 13, 2025
    Inventors: Andreas Fischer, Stefan Schmidt, Thomas Maier, Till Bredbeck
  • Publication number: 20250200170
    Abstract: A method for the dynamic integrity monitoring of a container runtime environment executed on a host computer, in which environment at least one container is executed and is managed by an orchestration device, in the orchestration device, when a container instance is started in the container runtime environment by the orchestration device, creating an instance-specific integrity rule concerning at least one resource of the host computer adding the instance-specific integrity rule to form a host-computer-specific integrity standard which includes an instance-specific integrity rule for each container instance already executed in the container runtime environment transmitting the host-computer-specific integrity standard to the host computer; in the host computer, checking the resources on the host computer allocated by container instances against the host-computer-specific integrity standard, and outputting an alarm message if the check reveals a breach of the host-computer-specific integrity standard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2023
    Publication date: June 19, 2025
    Inventors: Christian Knierim, Thomas Maier
  • Patent number: 12330257
    Abstract: A handheld work apparatus includes a work tool. The work apparatus defines a longitudinal plane and includes a handle having a longitudinal axis. The blocking lever is mounted so as to be pivotable about a rotational axis. The blocking lever blocks the actuating lever in a blocking or disable position and enables the actuating lever for actuation in at least one operating enable position. In the direction of view perpendicular to the longitudinal plane, the longitudinal axis of the handle and the rotational axis of the blocking lever conjointly define an angle (?). The angle (?) lies in a range of from 10° to 60°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2025
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Felix Oberhofer, Marcus Jenke, Franziska Kern, Thomas Maier, Verena Mann, Lars Bathke, Roland Mandel, Benedikt Posner
  • Patent number: 12284749
    Abstract: A power module for the controllable electrical power supply of a consumer includes a plurality of housed power semiconductors each with an electrically non-insulated heat discharge surface, a printed circuit board, a heat sink, one or more insulation plates, wherein the printed circuit board is arranged on a side of the power semiconductor in an orthogonal direction opposite the heat sink, wherein the insulation plate is arranged between the housed power semiconductors and a cooling surface of the heat sink, wherein one insulation plate in each case is interlockingly connected by one side to one electrically non-insulated heat discharge surface of a housed power semiconductor and is interlockingly connected by the other side to the heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Thomas Maier
  • Patent number: 12126104
    Abstract: An electrical plug-in connector for transmitting a differential signal between a first interface and a second interface comprises a first contact element and a second contact element. A longitudinal axis of the first and second contact element in a first longitudinal portion, at the interface, is oriented at a first angle (?1?) with respect to a second longitudinal portion of the contact elements at the second interface. A third longitudinal portion of the contact elements is between the first and second longitudinal portions, where at the contact elements are each bent, relative to a first axis of rotation that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axes in the first and second longitudinal portions, through a first angle of rotation ?1. In the third longitudinal portion the contact elements are each additionally bent through a second angle of rotation ?2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Rosenberger Hochfrequenztechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Maier, Till Bredbeck, Franz Xaver Huber
  • Publication number: 20240261921
    Abstract: A handheld work apparatus includes a work tool. The work apparatus defines a longitudinal plane and includes a handle having a longitudinal axis. The blocking lever is mounted so as to be pivotable about a rotational axis. The blocking lever blocks the actuating lever in a blocking or disable position and enables the actuating lever for actuation in at least one operating enable position. In the direction of view perpendicular to the longitudinal plane, the longitudinal axis of the handle and the rotational axis of the blocking lever conjointly define an angle (?). The angle (?) lies in a range of from 10° to 60°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2024
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventors: Felix Oberhofer, Marcus Jenke, Franziska Kern, Thomas Maier, Verena Mann, Lars Bathke, Roland Mandel, Benedikt Posner
  • Patent number: 12038774
    Abstract: Control center for an aerial device, said aerial device comprising a main boom part mounted with a first end on a turret, the main boom part being inclinable around a horizontal axis in a first inclination movement, rotatable around a vertical axis in a rotation movement, and extendable and retractable along its longitudinal extension direction in a first telescopic movement, wherein the control center comprises a first joystick configured for controlling the first inclination movement by tilting the first joystick around a first control axis, controlling the rotation movement by tilting the first joystick around a second control axis perpendicular to the first control axis, and for controlling the first telescopic movement by rotating the first joystick around its stick axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: IVECO MAGIRUS AG
    Inventors: Thomas Maier, Markus Schmid, Roland Mandel, Kristian Karlovic, Philipp Pomiersky, Jens Kraemer
  • Patent number: 11958155
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a handheld work apparatus having a work tool. The work apparatus defines a longitudinal plane and includes a handle having a longitudinal axis. The blocking lever is mounted so as to be pivotable about a rotational axis. The blocking lever blocks the actuating lever in a blocking or disable position and enables the actuating lever for actuation in at least one operating enable position. In the direction of view perpendicular to the longitudinal plane, the longitudinal axis of the handle and the rotational axis of the blocking lever conjointly define an angle (?). The angle (?) lies in a range of from 10° to 60°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Felix Oberhofer, Marcus Jenke, Franziska Kern, Thomas Maier, Verena Mann, Lars Bathke, Roland Mandel, Benedikt Posner
  • Patent number: 11924971
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a printed circuit board arrangement with a printed circuit board with at least two current conducting layers. The current conducting layers extend in an axial direction of the printed circuit board and are arranged in succession in a thickness direction of the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board arrangement has a busbar which is arranged on a lateral surface of the printed circuit board and is in contact with at least one part of the current conducting layers of the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Thomas Maier
  • Patent number: 11858556
    Abstract: A hood assembly for an agricultural vehicle such as a farm tractor has a first hood panel and a second hood panel pivotably attached to the first hood panel and movable from a first closed position to a second open position relative to the first hood panel. The first hood panel is an elongate body mounted above an engine of the vehicle and having a front end and a rear end joined by two side portions. The second hood panel wraps around the front end of the first hood panel and extends along the two sides thereof to respective pivotal attachments. The attachments have a common pivot axis which traverses the first hood panel in spaced-apart relation to the first hood panel front end. Opening the second hood panel provides maintenance access to a cooling package of the vehicle without opening or disassembling the remainder of the hood assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Bräutigam, Andreas Kleinhenz, Franz Erhard, Thomas Maier, Simon Brack
  • Publication number: 20230402778
    Abstract: An electrical plug-in connector for transmitting a differential signal between a first interface and a second interface comprises a first contact element and a second contact element. A longitudinal axis of the first and second contact element in a first longitudinal portion, at the interface, is oriented at a first angle (?1?) with respect to a second longitudinal portion of the contact elements at the second interface. A third longitudinal portion of the contact elements is between the first and second longitudinal portions, where at the contact elements are each bent, relative to a first axis of rotation that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axes in the first and second longitudinal portions, through a first angle of rotation ?1. In the third longitudinal portion the contact elements are each additionally bent through a second angle of rotation ?2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas Maier, Till Bredbeck, Franz Xaver Huber
  • Publication number: 20230400088
    Abstract: A drive device for a high pressure cleaning appliance includes a motor, the motor shaft of which is rotatably mounted on a motor flange and is coupled to a swash plate arrangement by a planetary gearing, wherein the planetary gearing comprises a sun gear, which is connected to the motor shaft in a rotationally-fixed manner and meshes with planetary gears that are rotatably mounted on a planet carrier and are in engagement with an internally toothed ring gear, and wherein the swash plate arrangement is positioned in an oil housing. So that the drive device has a longer service life and enables a greater selection of materials in the production thereof, the motor flange and the oil housing form separate components, wherein the motor flange comprises the ring gear and the oil housing is fixed to the motor flange, wherein the motor flange forms a centering for the oil housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: Wolfgang Mueller, Thomas Maier, Robert Nathan, Manuel Kerkow
  • Patent number: 11802833
    Abstract: The invention relates to a microbial test standard for use in infrared spectrometry which has at least two resealable vessels which are liquid-tight when closed, each of which contains a predefined amount of dried biomass of a microorganism. The microorganisms in the different vessels differ in at least one characteristic, which is selected in particular from the group comprising species, subspecies, strain, serovar, pathovar, toxivar and variety, and the difference manifests itself in a predefined intermicrobial spectral distance. The disclosure furthermore comprises a method of using the microbial test standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas Maier, Norman Mauder
  • Patent number: 11712962
    Abstract: A utility vehicle such as an agricultural tractor includes an engine, a heat exchanger, and a fan located under a hood. The hood is pivotable between a closed position and an open position. The fan is mounted to the hood such that, when in the closed position, the hood covers the engine and heat exchanger and the fan is positioned in an operable position to generate a cooling airstream through the heat exchanger. When the hood is in the open position, the fan is displaced from the operable position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Maier, Erich Freytag
  • Publication number: 20230151521
    Abstract: This invention relates to a nonwoven substrate, containing lyocell fibers with a titer of between 1.5 and 1.9 dtex, viscose fibers with a titer of between 1.5 and 1.9 dtex and cellulosic man-made fibers with a stiffening cross-section. It further relates to a method of manufacturing such nonwovens as well as to their use and to wet wipes containing them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Alexis Porcher, Thomas Maier
  • Patent number: 11652021
    Abstract: A power module has a plurality of packaged power semiconductors, a printed circuit board, a heat sink, and possibly a sealing compound. The power semiconductors have electrically conductive connection elements and heat removal areas on respective outer sides. The power semiconductors are arranged on a cooling surface of the heat sink and has its heat removal area connected to the cooling surface of the heat sink to conduct heat, and the printed circuit board is arranged on a side of the power semiconductors that is opposite the heat sink in an orthogonal direction, wherein the connection elements of the power semiconductors make electrical contact with pads on the printed circuit board regions, for example, laterally beside an edge of the heat sink, in which a projection of the heat sink onto the printed circuit board in the orthogonal direction does not cover the connection elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: Thomas Maier
  • Publication number: 20220418088
    Abstract: A power module for the controllable electrical power supply of a consumer includes a plurality of housed power semiconductors each with an electrically non-insulated heat discharge surface, a printed circuit board, a heat sink, one or more insulation plates, wherein the printed circuit board is arranged on a side of the power semiconductor in an orthogonal direction opposite the heat sink, wherein the insulation plate is arranged between the housed power semiconductors and a cooling surface of the heat sink, wherein one insulation plate in each case is interlockingly connected by one side to one electrically non-insulated heat discharge surface of a housed power semiconductor and is interlockingly connected by the other side to the heat sink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Thomas MAIER
  • Publication number: 20220412988
    Abstract: Microorganisms are identified as present in a complex sample or mixed culture by acquiring a mass spectrum of the sample and comparing it to combination spectra, each of which is formed by combining at least two reference mass spectra of known microorganisms. Microorganisms corresponding to the reference spectra used to form the combination spectrum are identified as present in the sample if that combination spectrum exhibits a better match with the sample mass spectrum than any one of reference mass spectra used to form that combination spectrum. It is also possible to identify microorganisms by forming a difference spectrum by subtracting a reference mass spectrum from the sample mass spectrum and comparing the difference spectrum to the reference mass spectra.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Markus KOSTRZEWA, Thomas MAIER, Stefan KLEPEL
  • Patent number: 11489466
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for checking an electrical value of an electric machine, in particular an electric machine of a coordinate measuring device. The electric machine has an electric drive comprising a stator and a rotor. The method includes the steps of: detecting a value of a drive current delivered to the electric drive for driving the rotor, detecting a measured value of an electrical input variable of the electric machine, determining a calculated value of the electrical input variable on the basis of the detected value of the drive current and on the basis of a performance model of the electric machine, and determining a comparison value on the basis of the detected measured value and the calculated value of the electrical input variable, in order to check the detected value of the drive current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: CARL ZEISS INDUSTRIELLE MESSTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Guenter Grupp, Otto Ruck, Peter Uhl, Thomas Maier
  • Patent number: 11473122
    Abstract: The invention mainly relates to the mass spectrometric identification of pathogens in blood cultures from bloodstream infections (septicemia). The invention provides a method with which microbial pathogens can be separated in purified form from blood after a relatively brief cultivation in a blood culture flask, without any interfering human proteins or any residual fractions of blood particles such as erythrocytes and leukocytes, and can be directly identified by mass spectrometric measurement of their protein profiles. The method is based on the use of relatively strong tensides to destroy the blood particles by dissolving the weak cell membranes and most of the internal structures of the blood particles; in spite of the fact that tensides are regarded as strong ionization inhibitors in MALDI and other ionization processes required for mass spectrometric measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Inventor: Thomas Maier