Patents by Inventor Tim Kaulmann

Tim Kaulmann 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: 12289022
    Abstract: A planar drive system comprises a stator and a rotor. The stator comprises a plurality of energizable stator conductors. The rotor comprises a magnet device having at least one rotor magnet. A magnetic interaction can be produced between energized stator conductors of the stator and the magnet device in order to drive the rotor. The stator is configured to carry out energization of the stator conductors so that an alternating magnetic field can be generated via the energized stator conductors. The rotor comprises at least one rotor coil in which an alternating voltage can be induced due to the alternating magnetic field. The planar drive system is configured to transmit data from the rotor to the stator, and the rotor is configured to temporarily load the at least one rotor coil to temporarily cause increased current consumption of the energized stator conductors of the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Lukas Bentfeld, Rolf Brinkmann, Patrick Jebramcik, Tim Kaulmann
  • Patent number: 12212191
    Abstract: A planar drive system comprises a stator and a rotor. The stator comprises a plurality of stator conductors. The rotor comprises a magnet device comprising at least one rotor magnet. The stator is configured to energize the stator conductors. A magnetic interaction can be produced between energized stator conductors of the stator and the magnet device of the rotor in order to drive the rotor. The stator is configured to carry out the energizing of the stator conductors by a current control based on a pulse-width modulation. Due to the current control, a ripple current in energized stator conductors of the stator and thereby an alternating magnetic field can be generated. The rotor comprises at least one rotor coil in which an alternating voltage can be induced due to the alternating magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Lukas Bentfeld, Rolf Brinkmann, Patrick Jebramcik, Tim Kaulmann
  • Patent number: 12212433
    Abstract: A method is provided for communicating between passive subscribers of a bus system. A first passive subscriber encodes an original static pattern in a first transmit SERDES element and encodes original user data in a time-synchronized manner with the original static pattern in a second transmit SERDES element. The second passive subscriber receives the encoded static pattern and user data, and generates a sampling clock having a first phase offset and a clock synchronous with a transmit-receive clock having a second phase offset, from the encoded static pattern. The second passive subscriber decodes the encoded static pattern using a first receive SERDES element and the encoded user data, using a second receive SERDES element to obtain a receive data word. The first receive SERDES element and the second receive SERDES element are operated based on the sampling clock, and the receive data word is output synchronously with the synchronous clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Tim Kaulmann, Erik Vonnahme
  • Patent number: 12160141
    Abstract: A method for controlling a planar drive system includes determining values of magnetic stator fields for different energizing currents and spatial regions in a two-dimensional array of magnetic field sensors, generating at least one magnetic stator field by applying energizing currents to stator conductors to electrically control a rotor, determining measured values of a total magnetic field via the magnetic field sensors for a plurality of the spatial regions to determine a position of the rotor, compensating contributions of the magnetic stator fields to the measured values of the total magnetic field determined by the magnetic field sensors, generating measured values of the magnetic field determined by the respective magnetic field sensors for the respective space regions, and determining a position of the rotor based on the generated measured values of the magnetic fields. The planar drive system includes at least a controller, a stator module, and a rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Lukas Bentfeld, Klaus Neumann, Keir Maguire, Dominik Sensen, Tim Kaulmann
  • Patent number: 12119774
    Abstract: A planar drive system comprises a stator and a rotor. The stator comprises a plurality of energizable stator conductors. The rotor comprises a magnet device having at least one rotor magnet. A magnetic interaction can be produced between energized stator conductors of the stator and the magnet device to drive the rotor. The stator is configured to carry out energization of the stator conductors so that an alternating magnetic field can be generated via the energized stator conductors. The rotor comprises at least one rotor coil in which an alternating voltage can be induced due to the alternating magnetic field. The planar drive system is configured to transmit data from the stator to the rotor, and the stator is configured to temporarily influence the energization of the stator conductors in order to temporarily cause a change with respect to the alternating voltage induced in the at least one rotor coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Lukas Bentfeld, Rolf Brinkmann, Patrick Jebramcik, Tim Kaulmann
  • Patent number: 12088168
    Abstract: A method for controlling a planar drive system includes generating a position allocating function, in an allocation generating step; measuring a plurality of measuring values of the magnetic rotor field by magnetic field sensors for a position of the rotor relative to the stator module, in a magnetic rotor field determining step; applying the position determination function to the plurality of measuring values of the magnetic rotor field of the plurality of magnetic field sensors, in a measuring value analysis step; and determining the position of the rotor relative to the stator module on the basis of the measurements of the magnetic rotor field measured by the plurality of magnetic field sensors and based on the allocations of the position allocating function, in a position determining step. The application further relates to such a planar drive system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Neumann, Lukas Bentfeld, Keir Maguire, Tim Kaulmann, Benjamin Jurke
  • Publication number: 20230208335
    Abstract: A stator module of a linear transport system includes a plurality of drive coils, which are energizable and form part of a stator of a linear motor. The stator module also includes actuation electronics, where the drive coils are actuatable by the actuation electronics. The actuation electronics includes at least an actuation element, which is arranged to energize a number of drive coils. The actuation element has a number of half bridges, each comprising a first half-bridge connection, a second half-bridge connection, and a half-bridge center. The first half-bridge connections of the half bridges are connected to one another, and the second half-bridge connections of the half bridges are connected to one another. The half bridges and the drive coils form a chain, with the half-bridge centers and drive coils arranged alternately within the chain, at least one half-bridge center being connected to two drive coils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Tim Kaulmann, Dirk Otterpohl, Marc Hegselmann
  • Publication number: 20230208677
    Abstract: A method is provided for communicating between passive subscribers of a bus system. A first passive subscriber encodes an original static pattern in a first transmit SERDES element and encodes original user data in a time-synchronized manner with the original static pattern in a second transmit SERDES element. The second passive subscriber receives the encoded static pattern and user data, and generates a sampling clock having a first phase offset and a clock synchronous with a transmit-receive clock having a second phase offset, from the encoded static pattern. The second passive subscriber decodes the encoded static pattern using a first receive SERDES element and the encoded user data, using a second receive SERDES element to obtain a receive data word. The first receive SERDES element and the second receive SERDES element are operated based on the sampling clock, and the receive data word is output synchronously with the synchronous clock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Tim Kaulmann, Erik Vonnahme
  • Publication number: 20230072018
    Abstract: A planar drive system comprises a stator and a rotor. The stator comprises a plurality of energizable stator conductors. The rotor comprises a magnet device having at least one rotor magnet. A magnetic interaction can be produced between energized stator conductors of the stator and the magnet device in order to drive the rotor. The stator is configured to carry out energization of the stator conductors so that an alternating magnetic field can be generated via the energized stator conductors. The rotor comprises at least one rotor coil in which an alternating voltage can be induced due to the alternating magnetic field. The planar drive system is configured to transmit data from the rotor to the stator, and the rotor is configured to temporarily load the at least one rotor coil to temporarily cause increased current consumption of the energized stator conductors of the stator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Lukas Bentfeld, Rolf Brinkmann, Patrick Jebramcik, Tim Kaulmann
  • Publication number: 20230071070
    Abstract: A planar drive system comprises a stator and a rotor. The stator comprises a plurality of energizable stator conductors. The rotor comprises a magnet device having at least one rotor magnet. A magnetic interaction can be produced between energized stator conductors of the stator and the magnet device to drive the rotor. The stator is configured to carry out energization of the stator conductors so that an alternating magnetic field can be generated via the energized stator conductors. The rotor comprises at least one rotor coil in which an alternating voltage can be induced due to the alternating magnetic field. The planar drive system is configured to transmit data from the stator to the rotor, and the stator is configured to temporarily influence the energization of the stator conductors in order to temporarily cause a change with respect to the alternating voltage induced in the at least one rotor coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Lukas Bentfeld, Rolf Brinkmann, Patrick Jebramcik, Tim Kaulmann
  • Publication number: 20230006517
    Abstract: A method for controlling a planar drive system includes determining values of magnetic stator fields for different energizing currents and spatial regions in a two-dimensional array of magnetic field sensors, generating at least one magnetic stator field by applying energizing currents to stator conductors to electrically control a rotor, determining measured values of a total magnetic field via the magnetic field sensors for a plurality of the spatial regions to determine a position of the rotor, compensating contributions of the magnetic stator fields to the measured values of the total magnetic field determined by the magnetic field sensors, generating measured values of the magnetic field determined by the respective magnetic field sensors for the respective space regions, and determining a position of the rotor based on the generated measured values of the magnetic fields. The planar drive system includes at least a controller, a stator module, and a rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Lukas Bentfeld, Klaus Neumann, Keir Maguire, Dominik Sensen, Tim Kaulmann
  • Publication number: 20230006530
    Abstract: A method for controlling a planar drive system includes generating a position allocating function, in an allocation generating step; measuring a plurality of measuring values of the magnetic rotor field by magnetic field sensors for a position of the rotor relative to the stator module, in a magnetic rotor field determining step; applying the position determination function to the plurality of measuring values of the magnetic rotor field of the plurality of magnetic field sensors, in a measuring value analysis step; and determining the position of the rotor relative to the stator module on the basis of the measurements of the magnetic rotor field measured by the plurality of magnetic field sensors and based on the allocations of the position allocating function, in a position determining step. The application further relates to such a planar drive system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Klaus Neumann, Lukas Bentfeld, Keir Maguire, Tim Kaulmann, Benjamin Jurke
  • Publication number: 20220393555
    Abstract: A planar drive system comprises a stator and a rotor. The stator comprises a plurality of stator conductors. The rotor comprises a magnet device comprising at least one rotor magnet. The stator is configured to energize the stator conductors. A magnetic interaction can be produced between energized stator conductors of the stator and the magnet device of the rotor in order to drive the rotor. The stator is configured to carry out the energizing of the stator conductors by a current control based on a pulse-width modulation. Due to the current control, a ripple current in energized stator conductors of the stator and thereby an alternating magnetic field can be generated. The rotor comprises at least one rotor coil in which an alternating voltage can be induced due to the alternating magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Lukas Bentfeld, Rolf Brinkmann, Patrick Jebramcik, Tim Kaulmann
  • Patent number: 10734912
    Abstract: A linear motor comprises a stator, the stator comprising multiple drive coils and an intermediate circuit electrically conductively connected to each drive coil, the intermediate circuit being configured to exchange energy with each drive coil. The drive coils are arranged along the running rail, where at least one slide comprising a magnet acting as a rotor of the linear motor is movably arranged on the running rail. A controller is configured to independently control each drive coil, so that electrical energy is fed from the intermediate circuit into the drive coils, if a measured intermediate circuit voltage is greater or equal to a predetermined intermediate circuit voltage threshold value, where those drive coils are excluded from the feed-in of the electrical energy which are instantaneously being used for driving or braking the at least one slide and/or have a thermal load which exceeds a predetermined thermal load threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Tim Kaulmann, Uwe Pruessmeier, Thomas Vorbohle
  • Publication number: 20180062535
    Abstract: A linear motor comprises a stator, the stator comprising multiple drive coils and an intermediate circuit electrically conductively connected to each drive coil, the intermediate circuit being configured to exchange energy with each drive coil. The drive coils are arranged along the running rail, where at least one slide comprising a magnet acting as a rotor of the linear motor is movably arranged on the running rail. A controller is configured to independently control each drive coil, so that electrical energy is fed from the intermediate circuit into the drive coils, if a measured intermediate circuit voltage is greater or equal to a predetermined intermediate circuit voltage threshold value, where those drive coils are excluded from the feed-in of the electrical energy which are instantaneously being used for driving or braking the at least one slide and/or have a thermal load which exceeds a predetermined thermal load threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Tim Kaulmann, Uwe Pruessmeier, Thomas Vorbohle
  • Patent number: 9188421
    Abstract: A method for detecting a position of a movable element of a drive apparatus by means of a position detection apparatus comprising at least one field coil and at least one secondary coil associated with the field coil, wherein an electrical excitation pulse is applied to the field coil in order to induce an electrical voltage in the secondary coil, a secondary coil voltage is measured and the position of the movable element is determined on the basis of the measured secondary coil voltage. The invention also relates to a position detection apparatus and/or a drive apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: BECKHOFF AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventors: Uwe Prüssmeier, Jan Achterberg, Tim Kaulmann, Manuel Bettenworth, Jan-Hendrik Bade
  • Publication number: 20130328516
    Abstract: A method for detecting a position of a movable element of a drive apparatus by means of a position detection apparatus comprising at least one field coil and at least one secondary coil associated with the field coil, wherein an electrical excitation pulse is applied to the field coil in order to induce an electrical voltage in the secondary coil, a secondary coil voltage is measured and the position of the movable element is determined on the basis of the measured secondary coil voltage. The invention also relates to a position detection apparatus and/or a drive apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Prüssmeier, Jan Achterberg, Tim Kaulmann, Manuel Bettenworth, Jan-Hendrik Bade