Patents by Inventor Thomas Sauerwein
Thomas Sauerwein 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: 9682724Abstract: A steering angle sensor, equipped for installation in a steering arrangement of a motor vehicle, is provided. The steering angle sensor comprises a rotatably mounted first gearwheel which upon actuation of the steering arrangement rotates about an axis and at least one rotatably mounted second gearwheel which is in engagement with the first gearwheel and is carried along with a rotary movement of the first gearwheel, so that with reference to a rotary movement of the second gearwheel a steering angle of the steering arrangement can be determined. The teeth of at least one of the gearwheels are tapered in axial direction along the tooth width such that a respective tooth of the one gearwheel, which is tapered along the tooth width, with wedge action can be fitted into a tooth gap of the gearwheel in engagement therewith.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2015Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: TAKATA AGInventors: Axel Schnieders, Markus Stollberg, Stefan Geppert, Thomas Sauerwein, Andreas Langheinrich
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Patent number: 9403497Abstract: In one form, the invention relates to a transmission device for transmitting an electric current to a component of a steering wheel of a motor vehicle, including a rotor which is to be arranged on the steering wheel such that it is rotatable along with the steering wheel; a stator which is to be arranged on a component of the vehicle that is stationary as compared to a rotary movement of the steering wheel; at least one conductor element by which the rotor is electrically connected with the stator; and a temperature determination device for determining the temperature of the conductor element or in the region of the conductor element. In another form, the invention also relates to a method for transmitting an electric current to a component of a steering wheel of a motor vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2011Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: TAKATA-PETRI AGInventors: Thomas Sauerwein, Uwe Speck, Jürgen Bender, Markus Stollberg, Michael Bischoff
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Publication number: 20150251698Abstract: A steering angle sensor, equipped for installation in a steering arrangement of a motor vehicle, is provided. The steering angle sensor comprises a rotatably mounted first gearwheel which upon actuation of the steering arrangement rotates about an axis and at least one rotatably mounted second gearwheel which is in engagement with the first gearwheel and is carried along with a rotary movement of the first gearwheel, so that with reference to a rotary movement of the second gearwheel a steering angle of the steering arrangement can be determined. The teeth of at least one of the gearwheels are tapered in axial direction along the tooth width such that a respective tooth of the one gearwheel, which is tapered along the tooth width, with wedge action can be fitted into a tooth gap of the gearwheel in engagement therewith.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2015Publication date: September 10, 2015Inventors: Axel SCHNIEDERS, Markus STOLLBERG, Stefan GEPPERT, Thomas SAUERWEIN, Andreas LANGHEINRICH
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Patent number: 8466578Abstract: A steering wheel arrangement for a motor vehicle is provided including a steering wheel, which can be arranged in a rotationally displaceable manner in the motor vehicle, a stationary module which defines a steering axle, whereon the steering wheel is rotationally mounted about the steering axle, and first actuation elements which are arranged on the steering wheel in order to actuate functional elements of the motor vehicle which are arranged in or on the motor vehicle. The arrangement also includes at least one second actuation element which is arranged on the stationary module and which is used to actuate functional elements of the motor vehicle which can be arranged in or on the motor vehicle. According to one form of the invention, a central electronic control element is arranged in the steering wheel, which is fitted in order to control first actuation elements and also in order to control at least one second actuation element.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2008Date of Patent: June 18, 2013Assignee: Takata-Petri AGInventors: Holger Ackert, Jürgen Bender, Michael Bischoff, Michael Germuth-Löffler, Horst Müller, Thomas Sauerwein, Klaus Volz
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Publication number: 20120286580Abstract: In one form, the invention relates to a transmission device for transmitting an electric current to a component of a steering wheel of a motor vehicle, including a rotor which is to be arranged on the steering wheel such that it is rotatable along with the steering wheel; a stator which is to be arranged on a component of the vehicle that is stationary as compared to a rotary movement of the steering wheel; at least one conductor element by which the rotor is electrically connected with the stator; and a temperature determination device for determining the temperature of the conductor element or in the region of the conductor element. In another form, the invention also relates to a method for transmitting an electric current to a component of a steering wheel of a motor vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2011Publication date: November 15, 2012Inventors: Thomas Sauerwein, Uwe Speck, Jürgen Bender, Markus Stollberg, Michael Bischoff
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Patent number: 8131425Abstract: An optical steering angle sensor for determining the absolute value of the steering angle even when a steering wheel has been revolved several times is provided, having a stator, a rotor with a barcode and evaluation electronics. In one form, the invention provides for the rotor to have a track groove which is arranged in the form of a worm in order to determine the number of revolutions, which track groove has an associated driver finger on the stator, which engages in the track groove and is arranged in a bearing such that it can pivot, and has a holder for a magnet which can pivot with the driver finger and which driver finger has an associated stationary Hall sensor, which is provided in an evaluation circuit.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2007Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Takata-Petri AGInventors: Horst Müller, Holger Franz, Thomas Sauerwein, Markus Stollberg
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Publication number: 20100023219Abstract: An optical steering angle sensor for determining the absolute value of the steering angle even when a steering wheel has been revolved several times is provided, having a stator, a rotor with a barcode and evaluation electronics. In one form, the invention provides for the rotor to have a track groove which is arranged in the form of a worm in order to determine the number of revolutions, which track groove has an associated driver finger on the stator, which engages in the track groove and is arranged in a bearing such that it can pivot, and has a holder for a magnet which can pivot with the driver finger and which driver finger has an associated stationary Hall sensor, which is provided in an evaluation circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2007Publication date: January 28, 2010Applicant: TAKATA-PETRI AGInventors: Horst Müller, Holger Franz, Thomas Sauerwein, Markus Stollberg
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Publication number: 20080173127Abstract: A steering wheel arrangement for a motor vehicle is provided including a steering wheel, which can be arranged in a rotationally displaceable manner in the motor vehicle, a stationary module which defines a steering axle, whereon the steering wheel is rotationally mounted about the steering axle, and first actuation elements which are arranged on the steering wheel in order to actuate functional elements of the motor vehicle which are arranged in or on the motor vehicle. The arrangement also includes at least one second actuation element which is arranged on the stationary module and which is used to actuate functional elements of the motor vehicle which can be arranged in or on the motor vehicle. According to one form of the invention, a central electronic control element is arranged in the steering wheel, which is fitted in order to control first actuation elements and also in order to control at least one second actuation element.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2008Publication date: July 24, 2008Applicant: TAKATA-PETRI AGInventors: Holger Ackert, Jurgen Bender, Michael Bischoff, Michael Germuth-Loffler, Horst Muller, Thomas Sauerwein, Klaus Volz