Patents by Inventor Thorsten Alexander Kern
Thorsten Alexander Kern 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: 11733514Abstract: The disclosure relates to an optical waveguide for a display device and to a method for controlling such an optical waveguide. The optical waveguide has a switchable input coupling hologram and an electrode for switching the switchable input coupling hologram. The electrode is designed as an electrode array having a pixel matrix. The pixels of the pixel matrix can be switched individually. For this purpose, the pixels can be connected to a voltage source. Controlling the pixels is performed by a control unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2020Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventor: Thorsten Alexander Kern
-
Publication number: 20210141224Abstract: The disclosure relates to an optical waveguide for a display device and to a method for controlling such an optical waveguide. The optical waveguide has a switchable input coupling hologram and an electrode for switching the switchable input coupling hologram. The electrode is designed as an electrode array having a pixel matrix. The pixels of the pixel matrix can be switched individually. For this purpose, the pixels can be connected to a voltage source. Controlling the pixels is performed by a control unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2020Publication date: May 13, 2021Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBHInventor: Thorsten Alexander Kern
-
Publication number: 20210132542Abstract: The disclosure relates to an optical waveguide for a display device and to a method for producing such an optical waveguide. The optical waveguide has a substrate on which a hologram layer is arranged. A cover layer includes a light-transmissive material that has been subjected to a curing process is arranged on the hologram layer. The substrate can consist of glass. Alternatively, the substrate likewise consists of a light-transmissive material that has been subjected to a curing process.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2020Publication date: May 6, 2021Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBHInventors: Thorsten Alexander Kern, Felicitas Wille
-
Publication number: 20210096364Abstract: The disclosure relates to an optical waveguide for a display device and to a device for generating a virtual image using such an optical waveguide. The optical waveguide has two or more partial optical waveguides adapted to different wavelengths. At least one of the partial optical waveguides in this case has an optical filter. The optical filter is adapted to the wavelengths used.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2020Publication date: April 1, 2021Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBHInventor: Thorsten Alexander Kern
-
Patent number: 10043589Abstract: A display device has a scale in the shape of a circular arc. On an axis driving an indicator axis, a rotatably mounted gear wheel is arranged in a rotatably fixed manner, in the teeth of which the toothing of a wobble gear ring partially engages. The wobble gear ring is mounted about the axis of the rotatably mounted gear wheel such that the wobble gear ring can wobble, is acted upon by spring forces distributed around the periphery of the wobble gear ring in the direction of engagement of the toothing of the wobble gear ring in the teeth of the rotatably mounted gear wheel, and is fixedly connected to a ferromagnetic ring extending in the direction of rotation of the wobble gear ring. At least two pole shoes project through independently energizable coils to the outer circumferential surface of the ferromagnetic ring.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2014Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventors: Thorsten Alexander Kern, Robert Wolfgang Kissel, Ingo Zoller
-
Patent number: 9755476Abstract: An operator control device includes: an activation element configured to provide haptic feedback to an operator, the activation element having a touch-sensitive operator control surface, and the activation element being configured to be activatable by an input member of the operator, triggering an activation signal; a pivoting axis to which the activation element is mounted so as to be pivotable about the axis between a position of rest and a switching position; a rotationally mounted magnetically influenceable element; and an electromagnetic actuator configured to be actuatable by the activation signal so as to generate a magnetic field that moves the rotationally mounted magnetically influenceable element from an initial position into a pivoting position. The movement of the magnetically influenceable element results in a torque sufficient to move the activation element out of the position of rest into the switching position being applied directly or indirectly to the activation element.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2012Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventors: Thorsten Alexander Kern, Ingo Zoller
-
Patent number: 9746847Abstract: An operator control device includes an operator control element configured to provide haptic feedback to an operator. The operator control element is activatable by an input member of the operator and has: a first planar component; and a second planar component oriented in parallel with the first planar component, the first and second planar components being movable relative to one another. The first and second planar components are guidable between a position of rest and an activation position while maintaining their parallel orientation with respect to one another. In the activation position the distance between the first and second planar components is smaller than in the position of rest. The first and second planar components are spring loaded in the position of rest.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2012Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventors: Uwe Gutermuth, Thorsten Alexander Kern, Robert Wolfgang Kissel, Sabine Vorberg, Ingo Zoller
-
Publication number: 20160307648Abstract: A display device has a scale in the shape of a circular arc. On an axis driving an indicator axis, a rotatably mounted gear wheel is arranged in a rotatably fixed manner, in the teeth of which the toothing of a wobble gear ring partially engages. The wobble gear ring is mounted about the axis of the rotatably mounted gear wheel such that the wobble gear ring can wobble, is acted upon by spring forces distributed around the periphery of the wobble gear ring in the direction of engagement of the toothing of the wobble gear ring in the teeth of the rotatably mounted gear wheel, and is fixedly connected to a ferromagnetic ring extending in the direction of rotation of the wobble gear ring. At least two pole shoes project through independently energizable coils to the outer circumferential surface of the ferromagnetic ring.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2014Publication date: October 20, 2016Inventors: Thorsten Alexander KERN, Robert Wolfgang KISSEL, Ingo ZOLLER
-
Patent number: 9389686Abstract: An operating device having an operating element with haptic feedback. The operating element can be actuated by an operator by means of an input member, the operating device includes two ferromagnetic planar components and a flat coil. The largest surfaces of the ferromagnetic planar components are oriented toward each other and the components can be moved relative to each other. The flat coil is disposed between the ferromagnetic components and the ferromagnetic planar components can be moved toward each other by energizing the flat coil. The movement of one of the ferromagnetic planar components can be perceptible to the tactile sense of the operator on the operating element either directly or by a coupling device.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2011Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventors: Ingo Zoller, Thorsten Alexander Kern
-
Patent number: 9368263Abstract: A magnet assembly, having a disk-shaped magnet, which is made predominantly of metal material and has a through-hole and, by the through-hole, can be placed onto a region of a shaft made of plastic by a press fit. In the region of the magnet placed onto the shaft, the shaft has a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the through-hole. The shaft has a plurality of radially protruding projections in the region of the magnet placed onto the shaft. The projections are distributed evenly on the circumference of the shaft and, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, having a radius, the double of which is oversized relative to the diameter of the through-hole before the magnet is placed onto the projections of the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2011Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventors: Thorsten Alexander Kern, Andreas Walther
-
Patent number: 9122298Abstract: An operating device includes a handle, a sensor system and an actuator. The handle is configured to be: manually deflectable from an inoperative position relative to an axis, and rotatable about the axis, and/or displaceable axially with respect to the axis, and/or tiltable in relation to the axis, and/or displaceable transversely with respect to the axis. The sensor system is configured to detect the deflection of the handle and has a haptics device by which the handle can be subjected to the action of a haptically detectable effect in correspondence with the deflection of the handle. The actuator, to which the handle is fixedly connected, is configured to drive the handle such that the actuator can be moved alternately in one degree of freedom by a movement distance of <1 mm depending on the deflection of the handle.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2012Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventor: Thorsten Alexander Kern
-
Patent number: 9035753Abstract: An operator control device for an on-board electronics system of a motor vehicle or for a mobile communications device, having an operator control unit arranged in a receptacle of a docking station located in the interior of the motor vehicle and an interface between the operator control unit and the docking station for data interchange of information. The operator control unit has an operator control panel which has a plurality of operator control elements which can be manually operated. The receptacle with the operator control unit accommodated therein can be driven so as to move in an alternating rhythm, which is associated with the respectively operated operator control element, by one or more actuators when one of the operator control elements is operated.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2012Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: Centinental Automotive GmbHInventors: Andreas BrĂ¼ninghaus, Thorsten Alexander Kern, Vitali Kudaschov
-
Publication number: 20140210579Abstract: A magnet assembly, having a disk-shaped magnet, which is made predominantly of metal material and has a through-hole and, by the through-hole, can be placed onto a region of a shaft made of plastic by a press fit. In the region of the magnet placed onto the shaft, the shaft has a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the through-hole. The shaft has a plurality of radially protruding projections in the region of the magnet placed onto the shaft. The projections are distributed evenly on the circumference of the shaft and, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, having a radius, the double of which is oversized relative to the diameter of the through-hole before the magnet is placed onto the projections of the shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2011Publication date: July 31, 2014Inventors: Thorsten Alexander Kern, Andreas Walther
-
Publication number: 20140210283Abstract: An operator control device includes: an activation element configured to provide haptic feedback to an operator, the activation element having a touch-sensitive operator control surface, and the activation element being configured to be activatable by an input member of the operator, triggering an activation signal; a pivoting axis to which the activation element is mounted so as to be pivotable about the axis between a position of rest and a switching position; a rotationally mounted magnetically influenceable element; and an electromagnetic actuator configured to be actuatable by the activation signal so as to generate a magnetic field that moves the rotationally mounted magnetically influenceable element from an initial position into a pivoting position. The movement of the magnetically influenceable element results in a torque sufficient to move the activation element out of the position of rest into the switching position being applied directly or indirectly to the activation element.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2012Publication date: July 31, 2014Inventors: Thorsten Alexander Kern, Ingo Zoller
-
Publication number: 20140207268Abstract: An operator control device includes an operator control element configured to provide haptic feedback to an operator. The operator control element is activatable by an input member of the operator and has: a first planar component; and a second planar component oriented in parallel with the first planar component, the first and second planar components being movable relative to one another. The first and second planar components are guidable between a position of rest and an activation position while maintaining their parallel orientation with respect to one another. In the activation position the distance between the first and second planar components is smaller than in the position of rest. The first and second planar components are spring loaded in the position of rest.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2012Publication date: July 24, 2014Inventors: Uwe Gutermuth, Thorsten Alexander Kern, Robert Wolfgang Kissel, Sabine Vorberg, Ingo Zoller
-
Publication number: 20140150598Abstract: An operating device includes a handle, a sensor system and an actuator. The handle is configured to be: manually deflectable from an inoperative position relative to an axis, and rotatable about the axis, and/or displaceable axially with respect to the axis, and/or tiltable in relation to the axis, and/or displaceable transversely with respect to the axis. The sensor system is configured to detect the deflection of the handle and has a haptics device by which the handle can be subjected to the action of a haptically detectable effect in correspondence with the deflection of the handle. The actuator, to which the handle is fixedly connected, is configured to drive the handle such that the actuator can be moved alternately in one degree of freedom by a movement distance of <1 mm depending on the deflection of the handle.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2012Publication date: June 5, 2014Inventor: Thorsten Alexander Kern
-
Publication number: 20130328670Abstract: An operator control device for an on-board electronics system of a motor vehicle or for a mobile communications device, having an operator control unit arranged in a receptacle of a docking station located in the interior of the motor vehicle, and an interface between the operator control unit and the docking station for data interchange of information. The operator control unit has an operator control panel which has a plurality of operator control elements which can be manually operated. The receptacle with the operator control unit accommodated therein can be driven so as to move in an alternating rhythm, which is associated with the respectively operated operator control element, by one or more actuators when one of the operator control elements is operated.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2012Publication date: December 12, 2013Inventors: Andreas BrĂ¼ninghaus, Thorsten Alexander Kern, Vitali Kudaschov
-
Publication number: 20120306798Abstract: An operating device having an operating element with haptic feedback. The operating element can be actuated by an operator by means of an input member, the operating device includes two ferromagnetic planar components and a flat coil. The largest surfaces of the ferromagnetic planar components are oriented toward each other and the components can be moved relative to each other. The flat coil is disposed between the ferromagnetic components and the ferromagnetic planar components can be moved toward each other by energizing the flat coil. The movement of one of the ferromagnetic planar components can be perceptible to the tactile sense of the operator on the operating element either directly or by a coupling device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2011Publication date: December 6, 2012Applicant: Contimental Automotive GmbHInventors: Ingo Zoller, Thorsten Alexander Kern