Patents by Inventor Thomas Malzahn

Thomas Malzahn 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: 20100141539
    Abstract: In an antenna array, in particular for diversity operation, a cohesive radiofrequency-conductive area (1) is provided, to which switchable impedances (7) are coupled in highly resistive fashion. In order to output the antenna signals, at least one tap point (6b) is provided in particular at a highly resistive point at the outer edge of the conductive area (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Michael Thole, Bert Jannsen, Thomas Malzahn
  • Patent number: 7400152
    Abstract: A diagnostic method for monitoring at least one plug-in connection (4) to an antenna (1), a diagnostic signal is supplied via the antenna signal path toward the antenna (1). The diagnosis signal bypasses an active circuit (31) in the antenna signal path. In the event of a defective plug-in connection (4), the diagnostic signal influences the power supply of the active circuit (31). If the power consumption is outside a predefined window, an error is signaled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Thole, Bert Jannsen, Thomas Malzahn
  • Publication number: 20070152675
    Abstract: A diagnostic method for monitoring at least one plug-in connection (4) to an antenna (1), a diagnostic signal is supplied via the antenna signal path toward the antenna (1). The diagnosis signal bypasses an active circuit (31) in the antenna signal path. In the event of a defective plug-in connection (4), the diagnostic signal influences the power supply of the active circuit (31). If the power consumption is outside a predefined window, an error is signaled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Inventors: Michael Thole, Bert Jannsen, Thomas Malzahn
  • Patent number: 7201050
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for determining the filling level of a filling material in a container, having a signal-generating unit which generates measuring signals, having an input coupling unit and having an antenna. The input coupling unit couples the measuring signals onto the antenna, and the antenna emits the measuring signals in the direction of the surface of the filling material, and has a receiving/evaluating circuit which receives the measuring signals reflected at the surface of the filling material and determines the filing level in the container via the propagation time of the measuring signals. The antenna has at least one first dielectric layer, wherein the side of the dielectric layer not facing from the filling material bears a feed structure, and wherein the side of the dielectric layer facing the filling material has a plurality of cutouts which at least partially have different dimensions and/or shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co.
    Inventor: Thomas Malzahn
  • Patent number: 6672155
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for determining the filling level of a filling material in a container having a signal production unit which produces measurement signals, having at least one antenna which transmits the measurement signals in the direction of the surface of the filling material and which receives the measurement signals reflected on the surface of the filling material, and having a control/evaluation unit which uses the delay time of the measurement signals to determine the filling level of the filling material in the container. The apparatus allows a filling level measurement device, which operates on the delay-time principle, to be mounted on a container in a cost-effective and simple manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co.
    Inventors: Roland Müller, Winfried Maier, Wolfgang Lubcke, Thomas Malzahn
  • Publication number: 20020121138
    Abstract: The device according to the present invention serves the purpose of determining the filling level of a filling material in a container. It has the following components: a signal-generating unit which generates measuring signals, a signal injector and at least one antenna having an antenna, the signal injector injecting the measuring signals onto the antenna structure. The antenna emits the measuring signals in the direction of the surface of the filling material, and an evaluation circuit which receives the measuring signals reflected at the surface of the filling material and received by the antenna determines the filling level in the container via the propagation time of the measuring signals. The antenna has at least one first dielectric substrate to which the antenna structure is applied. The antenna structure is at least one spiral antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co.
    Inventor: Thomas Malzahn
  • Publication number: 20020116996
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for determining the filling level of a filling material in a container, having a signal-generating unit which generates measuring signals, having an input coupling unit and having an antenna. The input coupling unit couples the measuring signals onto the antenna, and the antenna emits the measuring signals in the direction of the surface of the filling material, and has a receiving/evaluating circuit which receives the measuring signals reflected at the surface of the filling material and determines the filing level in the container via the propagation time of the measuring signals. The antenna has at least one first dielectric layer, wherein the side of the dielectric layer not facing from the filling material bears a feed structure, and wherein the side of the dielectric layer facing the filling material has a plurality of cutouts which at least partially have different dimensions and/or shapes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co.
    Inventor: Thomas Malzahn
  • Publication number: 20020059828
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for determining the filling level of a filling material (2) in a container (4) having a signal production unit which produces measurement signals, having at least one antenna (7) which transmits the measurement signals in the direction of the surface (3) of the filling material (2) and which receives the measurement signals reflected on the surface (3) of the filling material (2), and having a control/evaluation unit which uses the delay time of the measurement signals to determine the filling level of the filling material (2) in the container (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: Roland Muller, Winfried Maier, Wolfgang Lubcke, Thomas Malzahn
  • Patent number: 6266022
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for determining the filling level in a container (4). Moreover, the invention also relates to a method for fastening an input coupling unit (9) on the antenna (7), the antenna (7) being used in the device (1) according to the invention. It is the object of the invention to provide overvoltage protection for an antenna (7), and a method for producing such an antenna (7). The object is achieved by virtue of the fact that the antenna (7) comprises at least two dielectric layers (12, 13). The first dielectric layer (12) has at least one cutout (15) for holding the input coupling unit (9). The second dielectric layer (13) bears an antenna structure (16) on the side facing the first dielectric layer (12) and has a conductive coating (17) with openings (18) on the side averted from the first dielectric layer (12). Contacts (19) are provided in the second dielectric layer (13) and the conductive layer (17) which connect the input coupling unit (9) to the conductive coating (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co.
    Inventors: Roland Müller, Thomas Malzahn, Karl-Peter Hauptvogel, Dietmar Birgel