Patents by Inventor Wolfgang Küchler

Wolfgang Küchler 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).

  • Publication number: 20110056815
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cap (1) for a display and/or control element, comprising a cap member (2) for covering a light source and/or actuating a switch of an associated control element. A luminous area or projection area is embodied in the cap member (2) in such a way that a symbol (5) represented on or through the luminous area or projection area becomes visible for an operator of the control element by irradiating the symbol (5) by means of a light source located on the switch side. The cap (1) is characterized in that the luminous area or projection area encompasses a light-permeable metal coating (4) which is preferably applied using a PVD process. The invention further relates to an associated production method, a display or control element comprising said cap, and a use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Inventors: Matthias Lust, Martin Jeitner, Wolfgang Kuechler
  • Patent number: 7841768
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement is provided for determining an interior temperature in a motor vehicle, which sensor arrangement is at least one part of an air-conditioning operating part, comprising a closed housing having at least one front wall and one rear wall, wherein the front wall is manufactured from a material which ensures satisfactory thermal transfer and the housing and is filled with a thermally insulating means, further comprising a first temperature sensor which is fastened to a rear side of the front wall and a second temperature sensor which interacts with the first temperature sensor at least in relation to an evaluation of the interior temperature, wherein the at least second temperature sensor is fastened on an inner side of the rear wall which faces the rear side of the front wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: PREH GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Regensburger, Georg Bauer, Andreas Kramlich, Michael Reiser, Wolfgang Kuechler
  • Patent number: 7629562
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement is provided that includes at least one sun sensor in a motor vehicle, wherein the sun sensor is used in the region of the outside surface of the motor vehicle, and the sun sensor is mounted in the area of at least one exterior mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: PRKH GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Kuechler
  • Publication number: 20090286072
    Abstract: A control element is provided that includes a plastic base body and a coating that is applied to the entire surface of the plastic base body facing the control element and that can be transilluminated. The coating, which can be a metallic coating, can be applied by a PVD method and can be applied directly and uniformly to the plastic base body and can have a layer thickness of between 5 nm and 100 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Wolfgang Küchler, Matthias Lust
  • Publication number: 20090097529
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement is provided for determining an interior temperature in a motor vehicle, which sensor arrangement is at least one part of an air-conditioning operating part, comprising a closed housing having at least one front wall and one rear wall, wherein the front wall is manufactured from a material which ensures satisfactory thermal transfer and the housing and is filled with a thermally insulating means, further comprising a first temperature sensor which is fastened to a rear side of the front wall and a second temperature sensor which interacts with the first temperature sensor at least in relation to an evaluation of the interior temperature, wherein the at least second temperature sensor is fastened on an inner side of the rear wall which faces the rear side of the front wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: Johann Regensburger, Georg Bauer, Andreas Kramlich, Michael Reiser, Wolfgang Kuechler
  • Publication number: 20080087490
    Abstract: A control element is provided for a motor vehicle having a rotary control which is held in a panel and is designed to be rotatable about its center axis and can move horizontally from the center axis into distinguishable switch positions as well as vertically, and by which a parameter of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit of the motor vehicle can be adjusted in each switch position or displaced position wherein the rotary control can be moved in any desired direction within a gate to distinguishable switch positions, and the rotary control is provided with a first coupling element, and in each switch position the first coupling element is connected to another coupling element associated with the switch position, so that an adjustment of the parameters of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system is made possible by the rotary control in the relevant switch position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Inventors: Wolfgang Kuechler, Rocco Mertsching
  • Publication number: 20080042053
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement is provided that includes at least one sun sensor in a motor vehicle, wherein the sun sensor is used in the region of the outside surface of the motor vehicle, and the sun sensor is mounted in the area of at least one exterior mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventor: Wolfgang Kuechler
  • Patent number: 7032726
    Abstract: A system is provided that operates on the magnetorheological principle as a detent or wiper element and/or for electrical detection of direction of rotation. The system includes a gear pump, a rotary knob, and at least one gear. The gears is mechanically driven by the rotation of the rotary knob. A magnetorheological fluid is moved and/or pumped within a channel or ring. The viscosity of the fluid is changed by a pulsed magnetic field at a first coil that is provided on the channel, and thereby a change in the torque or the detent is produced. A second coil that is provided on the channel senses a direction of rotation of the rotary knob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Preh-Werke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Kuechler, Stefan Schuberth
  • Publication number: 20040107784
    Abstract: A system is provided that operates on the magnetorheological principle as a detent or wiper element and/or for electrical detection of direction of rotation. The system includes a gear pump, a rotary knob, and at least one gear. The gears is mechanically driven by the rotation of the rotary knob. A magnetorheological fluid is moved and/or pumped within a channel or ring. The viscosity of the fluid is changed by a pulsed magnetic field at a first coil that is provided on the channel, and thereby a change in the torque or the detent is produced. A second coil that is provided on the channel senses a direction of rotation of the rotary knob.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Wolfgang Kuechler, Stefan Schuberth
  • Patent number: 6294906
    Abstract: A control element for switching and controlling an electrical appliance having a cover panel includes a support (4) for receiving a top part, which can be attached and removed. The support can be glued onto the front panel (2), which need have no openings. Elements (14, 15, 16, 17) are in the top part for causing an indirect control transmission through the front panel, with sensors (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 21, 22) behind the front panel (2) electrically sensing the indirect control transmissions and carrying out operational functions of the electrical appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Preh-Werke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Kuechler
  • Patent number: 5995877
    Abstract: A control unit (1) for switching and controlling functions (6) of household appliances has a continuous control surface (2) with operational areas (3) and a printed film (5). Several piezosensors (4) are arranged on a back of a plate forming the control surface (2), connected firmly and rigidly to the plate. The piezosensors (4) can be located in a film packet (9), for example, through which the piezosensors (4) are electrically connected to a processor (12). Through an offset arrangement of the piezosensors (4) in a matrix pattern direct illumination or back lighting of the printed film (5) can be achieved, thereby improving an operator's visual recognition while permitting accurate recognition of a function by the processor (12). An input filter (15) prevents operator error due to unintentional actuation of the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Preh-Werke Gmbh & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ulrich Brueggemann, Gerhard Hochgesang, Wolfgang Kuechler, Klaus Schmoeger