Patents by Inventor Thomas Polzer

Thomas Polzer 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).

  • Patent number: 11218089
    Abstract: A rotary ultrasonic motor includes an ultrasonic actuator, a driven element, an inner casing member and an outer casing member. A piezoelectric or electrostrictive or magnetostrictive material is arranged between an excitation electrode and at least one general electrode. The ultrasonic actuator is between the inner and outer casing members of a casing, and is directly or indirectly in contact with the element to be driven, so that periodic deformations generated in the ultrasonic actuator by electrical excitation are transferable to the drive element. The ultrasonic actuator is mounted by a retaining device arranged on the casing with at least one retaining section which engages in a recess associated with a respective retaining section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: PHYSIK INSTRUMENTE (PI) GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Burhanettin Koc, Thomas Polzer
  • Patent number: 11012005
    Abstract: A hollow-cylindrical ultrasonic actuator is disclosed a central axis, an inner peripheral surface facing the central axis and an outer peripheral surface facing away from the central axis and spaced apart from the inner peripheral surface, a closed inner contour curve, a closed outer contour curve, at least one electrode, and an electromechanical material provided between opposed electrodes. In a non-actuated state of the ultrasonic actuator, a curvature of the inner contour curve or of an outer contour curve includes at least three mutually spaced-apart local maximum points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: PHYSIK INSTRUMENT (PI) GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Thomas Polzer
  • Publication number: 20200228031
    Abstract: A rotary ultrasonic motor includes an ultrasonic actuator, a driven element, an inner casing member and an outer casing member. A piezoelectric or electrostrictive or magnetostrictive material is arranged between an excitation electrode and at least one general electrode. The ultrasonic actuator is between the inner and outer casing members of a casing, and is directly or indirectly in contact with the element to be driven, so that periodic deformations generated in the ultrasonic actuator by electrical excitation are transferable to the drive element. The ultrasonic actuator is mounted by a retaining device arranged on the casing with at least one retaining section which engages in a recess associated with a respective retaining section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicant: PHYSIK INSTRUMENTE (Pl) GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Burhanettin KOC, Thomas POLZER
  • Publication number: 20190312530
    Abstract: A hollow-cylindrical ultrasonic actuator is disclosed a central axis, an inner peripheral surface facing the central axis and an outer peripheral surface facing away from the central axis and spaced apart from the inner peripheral surface, a closed inner contour curve, a closed outer contour curve, at least one electrode, and an electromechanical material provided between opposed electrodes. In a non-actuated state of the ultrasonic actuator, a curvature of the inner contour curve or of an outer contour curve includes at least three mutually spaced-apart local maximum points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: Physik Instrumente (PI) GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Thomas POLZER
  • Patent number: 7716981
    Abstract: A capacitive rain sensor for a motor vehicle is provided that includes a printed circuit board with sensor structures laminated thereon and with electronic components, wherein the sensor structures and the electronic components are arranged on different sides of the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: PRKH GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Michael Schmitt, Martin Blaufuss, Jochen Gans, Thomas Polzer, Maik Rienecker
  • Publication number: 20080258743
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement is provided for attachment to an inside of a windshield in a motor vehicle, including at least a sensor element that determines the relative humidity and a printed circuit board that electrically contacts the sensor element, wherein the sensor element is attached to the printed circuit board in the direction of the windshield, and a compensating film that accommodates the curvature of the window is present at least between the sensor element and the windshield, and the compensating film is an adhesive film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: Hans-Michael Schmitt, Thomas Polzer, Andrej Afanasjevas
  • Publication number: 20080223127
    Abstract: A capacitive rain sensor for a motor vehicle is provided that includes a printed circuit board with sensor structures laminated thereon and with electronic components, wherein the sensor structures and the electronic components are arranged on different sides of the printed circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: Hans-Michael Schmitt, Martin Blaufuss, Jochen Gans, Thomas Polzer, Maik Rienecker
  • Publication number: 20070205348
    Abstract: A retaining frame for a support element of a sensor in a motor vehicle is disclosed. The retaining frame has a flat underside that can be adhered to a window of a motor vehicle, and having an opening with at least one contact surface for the support element in which opening the support element can be positioned flat on the window and against the contact surface, and has a spring element by which a force can be applied to the support element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Inventors: Hans-Michael Schmitt, Juergen Bach, Thomas Polzer, Dirk Erdloff, Rudolf Hartmann, Jochen Gans, Andrejus Afanasjevas
  • Patent number: 6971584
    Abstract: The regulated heating and air conditioning installations normally enable, when controlled, integration of the main factors affecting the comfort of passengers, in particular preventing the windscreen and the other windows from getting clouded. In order to detect incipient mist formation, condensation and moisture sensors generate detection signals, which initiate steps for preventing mist formation when a threshold value is exceeded. Measures are taken for preventing mist formation based on requirements and in a manner adapted to the changing moisture conditions of the glass panes, for example, by using points of intervention stored in a processor. Steps are therefore taken to prevent mist formation, based on moisture variation gradients of the glass panes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Preh Werke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hans-Michael Schmitt, Juergen Bach, Guenther Oennig, Thomas Polzer, Martin Blaufuss
  • Patent number: 6888465
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor unit for detecting the wetting of a window. Signals from the condensation sensor are used to control an air conditioning, heating, and/or ventilation unit. The signals of the rain sensor, on the contrary, are used to control a windshield wiper or washing unit for vehicles. A sensor unit, which comprises two sensors, is placed on the interior of the window. In a preferred variant, both are coupled to a common switchable evaluation unit, so that through mutual evaluation of the two sensors or their signals, both incipient condensation on the interior of a vehicle window and the wetting of the exterior, e.g., by rain, is detected. In an improvement of the invention, both sensors are integrated into a sensor module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Preh-Werke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hans-Michael Schmitt, Juergen Bach, Thomas Polzer, Rudolf Hartmann
  • Patent number: 6809530
    Abstract: As is well known, the influencing variables most important for a sense of comfort are considered during regulation in controlled heating and air conditioning units. Incipient condensation on the windshield or other windows in particular is to be prevented thereby. Sensor modules, inter alia, are employed for this purpose, which have, for example, a capacitative thin-layer sensor. An additional thermopile is provided for determining the window temperature. The present idea eliminates the determination of the window temperature, for which purpose a sensor working capacitatively in the exemplary embodiment is brought directly to the window temperature and a direct thermal coupling of the sensor with the window occurs via a metal plate connected directly to the sensor and a thin adhesive film. The metal plate can thereby form one of the electrodes of the sensor itself or be connected to said electrode in a direct thermal manner. The use of the sensor in the sensor module is a further preferred embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Preh-Werke GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Hans-Michael Schmitt, Juergen Bach, Guenther Oennig, Thomas Polzer, Martin Blaufuss, Rudolf Hartmann
  • Publication number: 20040195343
    Abstract: The regulated heating and air conditioning installations normally enable, when controlled, integration of the main factors affecting the comfort of passengers, in particular preventing the windscreen and the other windows from getting clouded. In order to detect incipient mist formation, condensation and moisture sensors generate detection signals, which initiate steps for preventing mist formation when a threshold value is exceeded. Measures are taken for preventing mist formation based on requirements and in a manner adapted to the changing moisture conditions of the glass panes, for example, by using points of intervention stored in a processor. Steps are therefore taken to prevent mist formation, based on moisture variation gradients of the glass panes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: Hans-Michael Schmitt, Juergen Bach, Guenther Oennig, Thomas Polzer, Martin Blaufuss
  • Publication number: 20030086475
    Abstract: As is well known, the influencing variables most important for a sense of comfort are considered during regulation in controlled heating and air conditioning units. Incipient condensation on the windshield or other windows in particular is to be prevented thereby. Sensor modules, inter alia, are employed for this purpose, which have, for example, a capacitative thin-layer sensor. An additional thermopile is provided for determining the window temperature. The present idea eliminates the determination of the window temperature, for which purpose a sensor working capacitatively in the exemplary embodiment is brought directly to the window temperature and a direct thermal coupling of the sensor with the window occurs via a metal plate connected directly to the sensor and a thin adhesive film. The metal plate can thereby form one of the electrodes of the sensor itself or be connected to said electrode in a direct thermal manner. The use of the sensor in the sensor module is a further preferred embodiment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: Hans-Michael Schmitt, Juergen Bach, Guenther Oenning, Thomas Polzer, Martin Blaufuss, Rudolf Hartmann
  • Publication number: 20030080871
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor unit for detecting the wetting of a window. Signals from the condensation sensor are used to control an air conditioning, heating, and/or ventilation unit. The signals of the rain sensor, on the contrary, are used to control a windshield wiper or washing unit for vehicles. A sensor unit, which comprises two sensors, is placed on the interior of the window. In a preferred variant, both are coupled to a common switchable evaluation unit, so that through mutual evaluation of the two sensors or their signals, both incipient condensation on the interior of a vehicle window and the wetting of the exterior, e.g., by rain, is detected. In an improvement of the invention, both sensors are integrated into a sensor module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: Hans-Michael Schmitt, Juergen Bach, Thomas Polzer, Rudolf Hartmann
  • Patent number: 6259571
    Abstract: An adjustable assembly comprises a base (mount ring 1), an adjustable part (inner ring 3), a lever (tilting lever 5) and a drive (drive element 6). The lever (tilting lever 5) is connected to the base (mount ring 1) and to the adjustable part (inner ring 3) via two elastic solid pivoting joints (7, 8) oriented in parallel. One of the two solid pivoting joints (7) is divided into two pivoting joint parts (7a, 7b), which are arranged such that along their pivoting axis (9) they are offset sideways on either side of the second solid pivoting joint (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
    Inventors: Hubert Holderer, Peter Ruemmer, Michael Trunz, Bernhard Geuppert, Thomas Polzer, Johan Dries, Hugo Timmers, Albert Post