Patents by Inventor Thomas Schäfer

Thomas Schäfer 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: 12265240
    Abstract: A mirror, a mirror substrate, a method for producing are provided. The mirror substrate is made of a material having a coefficient of mean linear thermal expansion of less than or equal to 1*10?6/K. The mirror substrate includes at least one feature selected from a group consisting of: a ratio of a lateral dimension to a maximum thickness of at least 100, a ratio of the lateral dimension to the maximum thickness of at least 150, a ratio of the lateral dimension to the maximum thickness of at least 200, a ratio of the lateral dimension to the maximum thickness of at least 300, a weight per unit area of 100 kg/m2 or less, a weight per unit area of 50 kg/m2 or less, a weight per unit area of 30 kg/m2 or less, a weight per unit area of 15 kg/m2 or less, a mirror surface with a roughness (Ra) of at most 3.5 ?m, and a mirror surface with a roughness (Ra) of less than 1.2 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Martin Schaefer, Marco Weisenburger, Volker Seibert, Thomas Westerhoff
  • Patent number: 12257118
    Abstract: An electric toothbrush having bristle driven pulsation includes a brush head having a bristle holder and bristle tufts attached to the bristle holder. The bristle tufts and corresponding bristles are disposed at a perpendicular and/or a non-perpendicular angle with respect to a mounting surface of the brush head. The electric toothbrush also includes an electric toothbrush handle removably attached to the brush head. The electric toothbrush handle includes a linear motor configured to drive the bristle holder via a gearing structure coupled to the linear motor and the bristle holder. The linear motor causes the bristle holder to rotate clockwise and counterclockwise at a rotation frequency which exceeds a rotation frequency threshold (e.g., 100 Hz, 120 Hz, etc.). The linear motor also causes the brush head to vibrate in a direction toward and away from a contact surface in synchronization with the rotation of the bristles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Karen Lynn Claire-Zimmet, Niclas Altmann, Thomas Fritsch, Norbert Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20250093558
    Abstract: A mirror substrate is made of a material having a coefficient of mean linear thermal expansion of less than or equal to 1*10?6/K. The mirror substrate includes at least one of: a ratio of a lateral dimension to a maximum thickness of at least 100,, a weight per unit area of 100 kg/m2 or less,, and a mirror surface with a roughness (Ra) of at most 3.5 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Applicant: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Martin Schaefer, Marco Weisenburger, Volker Seibert, Thomas Westerhoff
  • Publication number: 20250080627
    Abstract: Systems and methods may be provided for generating and modifying dynamic user experience (UX) applications that may be agile, personalized, quickly delivered, and capable of being seamlessly integrated across an organization. The behavior and functionality of the applications (e.g., user interfaces therein) may be tailored specifically to individual users in response to learned user preferences or tendencies, for example. Consequently, these dynamic UX applications may be rapidly deployed and capable of providing a satisfactory yet pliable user experience across applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2024
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Inventors: John M. VanAntwerp, Dan Kalmes, Victoria Ann Spaulding-Burford, Thomas Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20250057046
    Abstract: The present invention relates to specific compounds, a material, preferably an emitter material, for an organic electroluminescence device comprising said specific compounds, an organic electroluminescence device comprising said specific compounds, an electronic equipment comprising said organic electroluminescence device, a light emitting layer comprising at least one host and at least one dopant, wherein the dopant comprises at least one of said specific compounds, and the use of said compounds in an organic electroluminescence device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2024
    Publication date: February 13, 2025
    Applicant: Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Pierre BOUFFLET, Michelle GROARKE, Yuichi NISHIMAE, Thomas SCHÄFER, Chao-Chen LIN
  • Patent number: 12225198
    Abstract: A block-based decoder is configured to partition a picture of more than one color component and of a color sampling format, according to which each color component is equally sampled, into blocks using a partitioning scheme in which the picture is equally partitioned with respect to each color component. A first color component is decoded in units of the blocks with selecting, for each of intra-predicted first color component blocks, one out of a first set of intra-prediction modes. The first set comprises matrix-based intra prediction modes according to each of which a block inner is predicted by deriving a sample value vector out of neighboring reference samples, computing a matrix-vector product between the sample value vector and a prediction matrix associated with the respective matrix-based intra prediction mode to obtain a prediction vector, and predicting samples in the block inner on the basis of the prediction vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Jonathan Pfaff, Tobias Hinz, Philipp Helle, Philipp Merkle, Björn Stallenberger, Michael Schäfer, Benjamin Bross, Heiko Schwarz, Detlev Marpe, Thomas Wiegand
  • Publication number: 20250031839
    Abstract: A personal hygiene device having a handle and a treatment head pivotably connected to the handle. A sensor for measuring a measurement variable is fixedly secured with respect to one of the handle and the treatment head. A sensor cooperation unit having a sensor permanent magnet for defining or influencing the measurement variable in dependence on the relative position of the sensor and the sensor-cooperation unit. The sensor-cooperation unit is fixedly secured with respect to the other one of the handle and the treatment head. A spring unit defines a rest position of the treatment head when no treatment force is applied on the treatment head. The spring unit has at least a first rod-like spring element with a height and a width and extending along a longitudinal extension direction of the handle. A width-to-height ratio of the at least first rod-like spring element is from 1.0 to 3.33.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2024
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Inventors: Norbert SCHAEFER, Thomas FRITSCH, Andreas KRAMP, Andreas LARSCHEID, Marc KUNZ, Robert SCHÄFER
  • Publication number: 20250030847
    Abstract: Techniques for block wise encoding and decoding may be applied to encoders, decoders, and methods for encoding or decoding and include assigning, based on a first signalization in the data stream, the predetermined block to the first set or the second set, sorting the assigned set of intra-prediction modes according to intra-prediction modes used for neighboring blocks, neighboring the predetermined block, to obtain a list of intra prediction modes, deriving, for the predetermined block, from the data stream, an index into the list of intra prediction modes, predicting the predetermined block using an intra prediction mode onto which the index points. The decoder or encoder, if the assigned set is the first set of intra-prediction modes, in sorting the assigned set, uses a second mapping which maps each intra-prediction mode of the second set of prediction modes onto a representative one in the first set of intra-prediction modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2024
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Inventors: Jonathan PFAFF, Heiko SCHWARZ, Philipp HELLE, Michael SCHÄFER, Roman RISCHKE, Tobias HINZ, Philipp MERKLE, Björn STALLENBERGER, Martin WINKEN, Mischa SIEKMANN, Detlev MARPE, Thomas WIEGAND
  • Publication number: 20250019483
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of polyisocyanates containing iminooxadiazinedione groups, comprising reacting at least one (cyclo)aliphatic diisocyanate in the presence of at least one oligomerization catalyst, and when the reaction has reached a predeterminable degree of conversion, based on the (cyclo)aliphatic diisocyanates, stopping the reaction by addition of at least one catalyst poison for the oligomerization catalyst, wherein the oligomerization catalyst is a salt containing a fluoride or poly(hydrogen)fluoride [F?×(HF)m] as anion and the catalyst poison is a solution containing at least one alcohol comprising at least 6 carbon atoms as solvent and wherein m is a number between 0.01 and 20.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2022
    Publication date: January 16, 2025
    Inventors: Frederic LUCAS, Nico VELING, Kerstin HEINEN, Harald SCHAEFER, Jens SCHEIDEL, Thomas GENGER
  • Patent number: 12146087
    Abstract: A compound represented by the following formula (1), wherein in the formula (1), at least one of R1 to R8 is a group represented by the following formula (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: IDEMITSU KOSAN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoki Kato, Keita Seda, Ryota Takahashi, Hidetsugu Ikeda, Yuki Nakano, Thomas Schaefer, Peter Murer, Carsten Rothe
  • Patent number: 12149602
    Abstract: Systems and methods may be provided for generating and modifying dynamic user experience (UX) applications that may be agile, personalized, quickly delivered, and capable of being seamlessly integrated across an organization. The behavior and functionality of the applications (e.g., user interfaces therein) may be tailored specifically to individual users in response to learned user preferences or tendencies, for example. Consequently, these dynamic UX applications may be rapidly deployed and capable of providing a satisfactory yet pliable user experience across applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
    Inventors: John M. VanAntwerp, Dan Kalmes, Victoria Ann Spaulding-Burford, Thomas Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20240375352
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a 3D printer including: a vat having an at least partially transparent bottom for receiving liquid photoreactive resin for producing a solid component; a building platform for pulling the component layer by layer out of the vat; a projector for projecting the layer geometry onto the transparent bottom; a transport apparatus for moving the building platform at least downward or upward in the vat; and a receiving apparatus for detachably connecting the building platform to the transport apparatus. The receiving apparatus includes a pivoting device for pivotally holding the building platform and is adapted to abut the underside of the building platform parallelly onto the transparent bottom of the vat when lowered by the transport apparatus. The 3D printer is provided without for the ability to completely block the pivotal movement of the pivotably held building platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Applicant: DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas SCHAEFER, Christian STAHL, Christian SCHMIDT, Peter FORNOFF
  • Patent number: 12117233
    Abstract: A refrigeration appliance has an internal container, which has a back wall and side walls, and an air distributor cladding which is arranged on the back wall and bounds an air distributor duct. A visible surface of the air distributor cladding covers a majority of the width of the back wall. Side faces of the air distributor cladding, together with the internal container, bound grooves that run on either side of the air distributor cladding and that are open towards a front side of the internal container. Outlet openings of the air distributor cladding are formed on the side faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Prashantagouda Hosamani, Renate Pradel, Thomas Schaefer, Claudia Weiss
  • Patent number: 12116205
    Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system including at least one autonomous rover for transferring payload within the system and including a communicator, a multilevel storage structure, each level allowing traversal of the at least one autonomous rover, at least one registration station disposed at predetermined locations on each level and being configured to communicate with the communicator to at least receive rover identification information, and a controller in communication with the at least one registration station and configured to receive the at least rover identification information and at least one of register the at least one autonomous rover as being on a level corresponding to a respective one of the at least one registration station or deregister the at least one autonomous rover from the system, where the controller effects induction of the at least one autonomous rover into a predetermined rover space on the level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Symbotic LLC
    Inventors: Forrest Buzan, Edward A. MacDonald, Taylor A. Apgar, Thomas A. Schaefer, Melanie Ziegler, Russell G. Barbour
  • Publication number: 20240323047
    Abstract: A data communication gateway for a construction machine communication system, the gateway comprising a first data interface, a second data interface, and a third data interface arranged to be mutually interconnected, where the mutual interconnect is controlled by a gateway electronic control unit, ECU, wherein the first interface is arranged to be connected to a private network of a construction machine, the second interface is arranged to be connected to an attachment network, and the third interface is arranged to be connected to an auxiliary network, wherein a message forwarding policy comprising one or more message forwarding rules is configured in the gateway ECU, and wherein the gateway ECU is arranged to route messages onto the first second and third data interfaces in accordance with the message forwarding policy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas SCHAEFER, Wontaek OH
  • Patent number: 12091068
    Abstract: In a system and method for operating a system having a rail, a stationary unit, rail-guided mobile parts, and a slotted hollow waveguide, either a first one of the mobile parts or the stationary unit functions as a transmitter, and a second one of the mobile parts functions as a receiver. The transmitter is configured for the simultaneous transmission of an electromagnetic signal and an acoustic signal, e.g., at a first instant. The receiver, which is set apart from the transmitter, is configured to detect the arrival of the electromagnetic signal at a second instant and to detect the arrival of the acoustic signal at a third instant. The second mobile part has an evaluation unit which is configured to determine the distance between the transmitter and the receiver based on the acquired second and third instants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: SEW-EURODRIVE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Zhidong Hua, Jonas Felix Bürgel, Michael Lindenfelser, Andreas Wanjek, Thomas Schäfer, Josef Schmidt
  • Patent number: 12081854
    Abstract: A receiver for a light transmission system includes a camera having an image sensor, and a light-sensitive area of the image sensor includes a plurality of rows of light-sensitive elements. The image sensor is configured such that the light-sensitive area of the image sensor is scanned row by row or column by column. An attachment element is arranged such that light incident on the light-sensitive area of the image sensor passes through the attachment element beforehand. The attachment element has at least one lenticular region and at least one planar region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: SEW-EURODRIVE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Zhidong Hua, Patrick Rech, Thomas Schäfer, Josef Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20240235884
    Abstract: A data communication gateway for a construction machine communication system, including a first, a second, and a third data interface arranged to be mutually interconnected. The first interface is arranged to be connected to a private network of a construction machine, the second interface is arranged to be connected to an attachment network, and the third interface is arranged to be connected to an auxiliary network. A message format table configured in the gateway ECU is indicative of a message formatting relative to a standard message format of the construction machine communication system. The gateway ECU is arranged to receive a message on a source interface out of the first, second, and third interfaces, translate a data content of the message based on the message format table, and forward a message comprising the translated data content onto a destination interface out of the first, second, and third interfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas SCHAEFER, Peter BAUER, Christian BALES
  • Publication number: 20240218972
    Abstract: In a method for operating a technical installation that includes an outer zone, a danger zone, an access zone which provides for access from the outer zone to the danger zone, a light curtain for monitoring the access zone, and at least one mobile system: a protective field is generated and activated in the access zone by the light curtain before entry of the at least one mobile system into the access zone; when the at least one mobile system approaches the access zone, a mobile communication unit of the at least one mobile system transmits a request signal to a stationary communication unit of the light curtain; and after reception of the request signal by the stationary communication unit the protective field is deactivated by the light curtain. A technical apparatus is configured to carry out the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2022
    Publication date: July 4, 2024
    Applicant: SEW-EURODRIVE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Thomas SCHÄFER, Andreas WANJEK
  • Patent number: 11999390
    Abstract: In a rail system with a rail and mobile parts movable along the rail, e.g., rail vehicles, a profiled part is arranged on the rail and includes a cavity, which, e.g., terminates at an opening into the environment. Regions of a mobile part, e.g., regions of each mobile part, at least partially project into the cavity, and at least one transmitter and receiver are situated in the respective region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: SEW-EURODRIVE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Michael Lindenfelser, Andreas Wanjek, Zhidong Hua, Thomas Schäfer