Patents by Inventor Thomas Wilhelm

Thomas Wilhelm 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: 12571760
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a sensor element for a potentiometric sensor includes: forming a glass layer made of an electrically insulating glass on a surface of a base body, in particular a base body made from an electrically insulating material; arranging a substrate made of copper or a copper-based alloy having a mass fraction of at least 60% copper on the glass layer; covering the substrate arranged on the glass layer with a glass body, for example a glass plate, made of an ion-selective, in particular pH-selective, glass; and subsequently controlling the temperature of the arrangement of the base body, substrate and glass body thus formed in such a way that the substrate is integrally bonded to the glass body made of the ion-selective glass and the glass layer on the surface of the base body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2026
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Conducta GmbH+Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthäus Speck, Hans Wagler, Thomas Wilhelm
  • Patent number: 12546740
    Abstract: A sensor for measuring a pH value of a measuring liquid includes: a sensor element including a surface adapted to the measuring liquid; a radiation source configured to emit electromagnetic transmission radiation to the sensor element, wherein at least a portion of the transmission radiation is converted into measurement radiation by reflection and/or scattering in a region of the surface; a radiation receiver configured to receive the measurement radiation and convert it into electrical signals; and a measuring circuit configured to determine the pH value from signals, wherein a wavelength of at least a portion of the transmission radiation generates charge carriers in at least a surface region or a near-surface region of the surface of the sensor element as to effect a photoelectrochemical reaction with formation of hydrogen at the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2026
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Conducta GmbH+Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Wilhelm, Andreas Löbbert, Matthäus Speck
  • Publication number: 20250369918
    Abstract: A sensor includes a sensor unit including a sensor element, a reference electrode, evaluation electronics, an electrical connection to connect the evaluation electronics to the sensor element and to the reference electrode, and a first connection unit. The sensor unit is configured to detect a potential difference between the sensor element and the reference electrode. The sensor further includes a cable unit having a second connection unit and further having a permanent magnet on the medium-facing side of the cable unit. The sensor unit and the cable unit are designed to be electrically and mechanically connected to one another via an interface. The electrical connection comprises a reed switch that is designed to assume an electrically conductive state in the presence of the permanent magnet and an electrically non-conductive state when the magnetic field strength at the reed switch falls below a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2025
    Publication date: December 4, 2025
    Inventors: Stefan Paul, Matthäus Speck, Stefan Pilz, Thomas Wilhelm
  • Publication number: 20250264124
    Abstract: Clamping ring (100), in particular for clamping a sleeve (200) on a shaft, having a receiver (3) for a tensioning screw (33), a radial clamping gap (5) and at least two, and/or a maximum of four, radial elevations (1a-c), wherein the receiver for the tensioning screw and the clamping gap are arranged in one of the radial elevations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2025
    Publication date: August 21, 2025
    Applicant: WITTENSTEIN SE
    Inventors: Michael Schmidt, Nikolai Seitz, Finn Fellhölter, Thomas Wilhelm
  • Publication number: 20250208087
    Abstract: A method for producing a break-resistant glass component of an analyte-sensitive sensor includes providing at least one glass component of a sensor, which consists of a sodium-containing and/or lithium-containing glass, such as a sodium silicate and/or lithium silicate glass, and bringing the at least one glass component into contact with a melt or solution containing potassium nitrate. The glass component includes an inner shaft tube and an outer shaft tube surrounding the inner shaft tube and is connected in a material-locking manner to the inner shaft tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2024
    Publication date: June 26, 2025
    Inventors: Matthäus Speck, Thomas Wilhelm
  • Publication number: 20240201122
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a sensor element for a potentiometric sensor includes: forming a glass layer made of an electrically insulating glass on a surface of a base body, in particular a base body made from an electrically insulating material; arranging a substrate made of copper or a copper-based alloy having a mass fraction of at least 60% copper on the glass layer; covering the substrate arranged on the glass layer with a glass body, for example a glass plate, made of an ion-selective, in particular pH-selective, glass; and subsequently controlling the temperature of the arrangement of the base body, substrate and glass body thus formed in such a way that the substrate is integrally bonded to the glass body made of the ion-selective glass and the glass layer on the surface of the base body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2023
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Inventors: Matthäus Speck, Hans Wagler, Thomas Wilhelm
  • Patent number: 11953437
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for measuring a first analyte concentration and a second analyte concentration in a measuring medium, the device including: a sample cell; a first light source unit; a first detector unit; a functional element; a second light source unit; a second detector unit; and a control unit adapted to analyze a detected first light for determining a first value representing the concentration of the first analyte in the measuring medium and adapted to analyze a detected third light for determining a second value representing the concentration of the second analyte in the measuring medium. A method of using the device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Optical Analysis, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Winter, Xiang Liu, Thomas Wilhelm
  • Patent number: 11940409
    Abstract: Disclosed is a digital pH sensor for measuring the pH, comprising an electronics unit, sensor housing having a first half-cell and a second half-cell adapted to form a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode if the digital pH sensor is in contact with a measurement medium, wherein the electronics unit is adapted for converting the potential difference into a digital voltage value or a digital pH value, wherein the first electrolyte, the first electrode, the second electrolyte, and/or the second electrode are selected such that, at a pH value of 7 and a temperature of 25° C. in the measurement medium, the potential difference of the two electrodes is not equal to 0 mV, and wherein the electronics unit converts the potential difference into the digital measured pH value of 7 or a digital measured voltage value of 0 mV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Conducta GmbH+Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Wilhelm, Michael Hanko
  • Patent number: 11906452
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a pH-sensor for determining and/or monitoring a pH value of a medium, having a sensor unit with a wall in contact with the medium, and at least one pH-sensitive material, which has at least one spin state that changes as a function of a pH value. The at least one pH-sensitive material is arranged in or on a region of the wall in such a way that the at least one spin state is subjected to a change in the pH value of the medium. The pH-sensor also includes a spin-sensitive unit, which is configured to detect a variable associated with the at least one spin state, wherein the spin-sensitive unit is arranged in an environment of the at least one pH-sensitive material such that the spin-sensitive unit is subjected to a change in the spin state of the at least one pH-sensitive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Conducta GmbH+Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Wilhelm, Mohammad Sadegh Ebrahimi, Raphael Kuhnen, Matthäus Speck
  • Patent number: 11753710
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing an ion-selective sensor element for a potentiometric sensor, the sensor element having a sensor element body and at least one glass layer arranged on the sensor element body, the method comprising applying the at least one glass layer to the sensor element body by means of a thermal spraying method, in which a powder of glass particles is sprayed onto the sensor element body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Conducta GmbH+Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Wilhelm, Matthäus Speck
  • Patent number: 11692961
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a sensor element for a potentiometric sensor, comprising a substrate formed from a metal alloy and an ion-selective enamel layer arranged on the substrate, wherein the metal alloy comprises at least one transition metal and wherein the ion-selective enamel layer contains a proportion of an oxide of the transition metal, and wherein an electrically conductive transition zone is arranged between the substrate and the enamel layer and contains the transition metal in a plurality of different oxidation states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Conducta GmbH+Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Wilhelm, Matthäus Speck, Michael Hanko
  • Publication number: 20230118150
    Abstract: A sensor for measuring a pH value of a measuring liquid includes: a sensor element including a surface adapted to the measuring liquid; a radiation source configured to emit electromagnetic transmission radiation to the sensor element, wherein at least a portion of the transmission radiation is converted into measurement radiation by reflection and/or scattering in a region of the surface; a radiation receiver configured to receive the measurement radiation and convert it into electrical signals; and a measuring circuit configured to determine the pH value from signals, wherein a wavelength of at least a portion of the transmission radiation generates charge carriers in at least a surface region or a near-surface region of the surface of the sensor element as to effect a photoelectrochemical reaction with formation of hydrogen at the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas Wilhelm, Andreas Löbbert, Matthäus Speck
  • Publication number: 20230122644
    Abstract: A sensor for measuring a pH value of a measuring liquid includes: a sensor element comprising a surface adapted to contact the measuring liquid; a radiation source configured to emit electromagnetic transmission radiation reaching the sensor element, wherein at least a portion of the transmission radiation is converted into measuring radiation by reflection and/or scattering in the region of the surface; a radiation receiver configured to receive the measuring radiation and convert it into electrical signals; and a measuring circuit connected to the radiation receiver and configured to determine a measured value representing the pH value of the measuring liquid from signals of the radiation receiver, wherein the surface adapted to contact the measuring liquid includes a pH-sensitive component and a SERS-active component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas Wilhelm, Andreas Löbbert, Matthäus Speck
  • Publication number: 20230065553
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for measuring a first analyte concentration and a second analyte concentration in a measuring medium, the device including: a sample cell; a first light source unit; a first detector unit; a functional element; a second light source unit; a second detector unit; and a control unit adapted to analyze a detected first light for determining a first value representing the concentration of the first analyte in the measuring medium and adapted to analyze a detected third light for determining a second value representing the concentration of the second analyte in the measuring medium. A method of using the device is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Marc Winter, Xiang Liu, Thomas Wilhelm
  • Patent number: 11585780
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a potentiometric probe for measuring a measured variable that represents an ion concentration in a measuring medium, including a probe base including a sensor circuit, and two electrochemical half-cells arranged such that one of the half-cells surrounds at least one portion of the other half-cell, wherein at least one of the half-cells is configured as a module which is connected to the probe base via a mechanical and electrical interface. In another embodiment, one of the half-cells is a measuring half-cell including an ion-selective membrane and a terminal lead which electrically contacts the ion-selective membrane. The other half-cell is a reference half-cell, wherein the measuring half-cell and/or the reference half-cell are each configured as a module which is connected to the probe base via a mechanical and electrical interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Conducta GmbH+Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Hanko, Thomas Wilhelm, Matthäus Speck, Detlev Wittmer, Manfred Jagiella
  • Patent number: 11543277
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sensor arrangement on a process installation comprising at least two sensor tiles, wherein each sensor tile comprises a support and a plurality of sensors arranged on the support for determining a physical or chemical variable of a measuring medium, a process characteristic of the measuring medium, and/or a state of the process installation. A first sensor tile comprises a control unit having a transmit and receive module for data exchange with a control unit of a second sensor tile. The first control unit of the first sensor tile and/or a second control unit allocated to the sensor arrangement is designed to weight the values determined by each sensor tile. Weighting may be a function of the measured value variations of the sensor tile, the position of the sensor tile in the process installation, and/or the function of the sensor tile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Thomas Wilhelm, Wolfgang Drahm, Alfred Rieder, Peter Klöfer, Thomas Moore
  • Publication number: 20220373487
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a pH-sensor for determining and/or monitoring a pH value of a medium, having a sensor unit with a wall in contact with the medium, and at least one pH-sensitive material, which has at least one spin state that changes as a function of a pH value. The at least one pH-sensitive material is arranged in or on a region of the wall in such a way that the at least one spin state is subjected to a change in the pH value of the medium. The pH-sensor also includes a spin-sensitive unit, which is configured to detect a variable associated with the at least one spin state, wherein the spin-sensitive unit is arranged in an environment of the at least one pH-sensitive material such that the spin-sensitive unit is subjected to a change in the spin state of the at least one pH-sensitive material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas Wilhelm, Mohammad Sadegh Ebrahimi, Raphael Kuhnen, Matthäus Speck
  • Patent number: 11467119
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an ion-selective electrode for an electrochemical sensor for determining a measurand representing a concentration of an analyte in a measuring medium, including a probe body made of a first material and a sensor element including a base body made of a second material different from the first material and an ion-selective layer arranged on the base body. The probe body is connected to the base body by way of a liquid-tight joint, where the joint is formed by a receptacle, serving as a first joining partner, and a joining section protruding into the receptacle, serving as a second joining partner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: ENDRESS+HAUSER CONDUCTA GMBH+CO. KG
    Inventors: Michael Hanko, Thomas Wilhelm, Matthäus Speck, Lothar Auerswald
  • Patent number: 11467010
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a method for determining the necessity of a measure and/or the success of a measure in the case of a sensor in a retractable assembly, comprising the steps: moving the sensor in the direction of a service chamber of the retractable assembly; analyzing an attribute associated with the sensor, wherein the attribute is a state of at least a portion of the surface of the sensor and/or composition of a medium in the service chamber; and deriving measures from the analysis. The present disclosure also includes a system comprising a retractable assembly having a sensor and a corresponding analysis device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Analytik Jena AG
    Inventors: Thomas Wilhelm, Thomas Moore, Detlev Wittmer, Ulrich Hoefer
  • Patent number: 11391688
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a sensor element for a potentiometric sensor including a substrate, and a potentiometric sensor layer disposed on the substrate, wherein the substrate includes at least one region electrically conductively connected to the sensor layer, and wherein at least the region of the substrate electrically conductively connected to the sensor layer is a mixed-conducting ceramic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: ENDRESS+HAUSER CONDUCTA GMBH+CO. KG
    Inventor: Thomas Wilhelm