Patents Assigned to Actuator Solutions GmbH
  • Patent number: 11927180
    Abstract: Multi-stable SMA actuator comprising two shape memory alloy wires (1, 2) in antagonistic configuration that allow to define multiple stable positions of a movable element (12), said positions being maintained by movable stoppers to lock the movable element, that do not require power and are disengaged by the shape memory alloy wires (1, 2) upon actuation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Arif Kazi, Markus Köpfer, Markus Bäuml, Neven Bobic, Michael Honold
  • Patent number: 11746761
    Abstract: The present invention is inherent to a shape memory alloy actuated fluidic subassembly (10) and to an equipment incorporating it as dispensing device, wherein actuation of the shape memory alloy wires (16, 16?) causes a fluid-tight reservoir (17?) to e compressed by a lid (18) so as to reduce its volume from a maximum volume Vo to a minimum volume V1, this reduction resulting in a pressure increase that causes the opening of an outlet flap (13?) and the dispensing of a fluid through an outlet channel (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Markus Köpfer
  • Publication number: 20230193882
    Abstract: The present invention is inherent to a shape memory alloy actuated fluidic subassembly (10) and to an equipment incorporating it as dispensing device, wherein actuation of the shape memory alloy wires (16, 16?) causes a fluid-tight reservoir (17?) to be compressed by a lid (18) so as to reduce its volume from a maximum volume Vo to a minimum volume V1, this reduction resulting in a pressure increase that causes the opening of an outlet flap (13?) and the dispensing of a fluid through an outlet channel (13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Markus KÖPFER
  • Patent number: 11578709
    Abstract: The present application relates to a stepwise discrete actuator (10) with two shape memory alloy wires (15, 15?) used in an antagonistic configuration to drive a slider (13) that moves a toothed element (12) through tooth-engaging fingers (131, 132) that are spaced at rest by a distance F that is shorter than the distance T between adjacent teeth by an amount sufficient for a stationary finger lifter (14) to lift that of the slider fingers (131, 132) that does not engage the movable toothed element (12) such that it clears the teeth of the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Köpfer, Matthias Peterreins, Markus Kagerer
  • Patent number: 11555485
    Abstract: The present invention is inherent to an actuator subassembly comprising at least one bendable slender structure (12) mounted on a stationary body base (11) and carrying on a first surface an installation feature (17) and a plug (16) in its distal portion, the bending of the slender structure (12) being controlled by a shape memory alloy wire (13) through coupling means (15) located in its distal portion on a second surface opposite to the first surface. The invention also concerns a fluidic valve incorporating such an actuator subassembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignees: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH, ALFMEIER PRÄZISION SE
    Inventors: Markus Koepfer, Erich Doerfler
  • Publication number: 20220412325
    Abstract: The present application relates to a stepwise discrete actuator (10) with two shape memory alloy wires (15, 15?) used in an antagonistic configuration to drive a slider (13) that moves a toothed element (12) through tooth-engaging fingers (131, 132) that are spaced at rest by a distance F that is shorter than the distance T between adjacent teeth by an amount sufficient for a stationary finger lifter (14) to lift that of the slider fingers (131, 132) that does not engage the movable toothed element (12) such that it clears the teeth of the latter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Markus KÖPFER, Matthias PETERREINS, Markus KAGERER
  • Patent number: 11513310
    Abstract: A cylindrical actuator sub-assembly (100, 200, 300) comprising: an element (14, 24, 34) movable along a longitudinal axis (A), at least one actuating member and a guidance mechanism suitable for guiding the element, wherein aid guidance mechanism includes a first ring-shaped lever (11, 21, 31) and a second ring-shaped lever (11?, 21?, 31?) that are parallel to each other, at least two straight axial flexures (12, 12?; 22, 22?; 32, 32?), at least two flexures (16, 16?; 27, 27?; 36, 36?) and at least two bases (13, 13?; 23, 23?; 33, 33?), a first base carrying the movable element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Neven Bobic, Tobias Schumm
  • Publication number: 20220342277
    Abstract: A cylindrical actuator sub-assembly (100, 200, 300) comprising: an element (14, 24, 34) movable along a longitudinal axis (A), at least one actuating member and a guidance mechanism suitable for guiding the element, wherein aid guidance mechanism includes a first ring-shaped lever (11, 21, 31) and a second ring-shaped lever (11?, 21?, 31?) that are parallel to each other, at least two straight axial flexures (12, 12?; 22, 22?; 32, 32?), at least two flexures (16, 16?; 27, 27?; 36, 36?) and at least two bases (13, 13?; 23, 23?; 33, 33?), a first base carrying the movable element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Applicant: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Neven BOBIC, Tobias SCHUMM
  • Publication number: 20220136488
    Abstract: Multi-stable SMA actuator comprising two shape memory alloy wires (1, 2) in antagonistic configuration that allow to define multiple stable positions of a movable element (12), said positions being maintained by movable stoppers to lock the movable element, that do not require power and are disengaged by the shape memory alloy wires (1, 2) upon actuation thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Arif KAZI, Markus KÖPFER, Markus BÄUML, Neven BOBIC, Michael HONOLD
  • Publication number: 20220074394
    Abstract: The present invention is inherent to an actuator subassembly comprising at least one bendable slender structure (12) mounted on a stationary body base (11) and carrying on a first surface an installation feature (17) and a plug (16) in its distal portion, the bending of the slender structure (12) being controlled by a shape memory alloy wire (13) through coupling means (15) located in its distal portion on a second surface opposite to the first surface. The invention also concerns a fluidic valve incorporating such an actuator subassembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicants: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH, ALFMEIER PRÄZISION SE
    Inventors: Markus KOEPFER, Erich DOERFLER
  • Patent number: 11073675
    Abstract: Camera module autofocus actuator comprising a movable lens carrier, one or more shape memory alloy wires, a first return elastic element, a second return elastic element substantially identical to the and symmetric to the first return elastic element, wherein one end of the one or more shape memory alloy is mounted to the first return elastic element and the other end to another return elastic element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Markus Köpfer
  • Patent number: 10908479
    Abstract: An aperture device actuated by a shape memory alloy wire controls two overlapping shuttering surfaces. The two shuttering surfaces control the amount of light transmitted through a lens assembly. The shape memory alloy wire is actuated by a flexible printed circuit which controls a lever slotted to both shuttering surfaces. By Joule heating, the electric current controls the shape of the wire, actuating the aperture device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Yusuke Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10900471
    Abstract: A SMA-driven rotary actuator comprises as actuating elements two U-shaped SMA wires (3) connected in an antagonistic configuration to a rotating input member (1) coupled to an oppositely rotating output member (2), preferably through a geared coupling, which is connected to a shaft (4) of a user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Köpfer, Markus Bäuml
  • Patent number: 10901173
    Abstract: Autofocus actuator for camera modules comprising a SMA wire (17) as actuating element and at least six spheres (27) as sliding aids contained in at least three slots (26) formed in a lens carrier (12) and symmetrically arranged around a guide pin (15) mounted on a bottom plate (13), whereby the guide pin (15), slots (26) and spheres (27) form a linear bearing for the sliding axial movement of the lens carrier (12) on the bottom plate (13), whereby two sets of additional spheres, each set comprising at least two spheres, are kept in position by a sphere stopping structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Chi-Wei Chiu, Hung-Chia Lu, Huang-Wei Hsu
  • Patent number: 10871010
    Abstract: The present invention is inherent to a swing-type Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) actuator (10) comprising a stationary frame (11) and a swingable part (12) that are coupled by means of a pivot (13) allowing the swing of the swingable part (12), two SMA wires (14, 14?) being engaged to two connecting elements (15, 15?) present respectively on a left and right portion of the swingable part (12) and vertically separated from the pivot (13), such that the activation of one of the SMA wires (14, 14?) causes the swing of the swingable part (12) in either the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Matthias Peterreins
  • Publication number: 20200393638
    Abstract: Autofocus actuator for camera modules comprising a SMA wire (17) as actuating element and at least six spheres (27) as sliding aids contained in at least three slots (26) formed in a lens carrier (12) and symmetrically arranged around a guide pin (15) mounted on a bottom plate (13), whereby the guide pin (15), slots (26) and spheres (27) form a linear bearing for the sliding axial movement of the lens carrier (12) on the bottom plate (13), whereby two sets of additional spheres, each set comprising at least two spheres, are kept in position by a sphere stopping structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2018
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Applicant: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Chi-Wei CHIU, Hung-Chia LU, Huang-Wei HSU
  • Publication number: 20200378370
    Abstract: A SMA-driven rotary actuator comprises as actuating elements two U-shaped SMA wires (3) connected in an antagonistic configuration to a rotating input member (1) coupled to an oppositely rotating output member (2), preferably through a geared coupling, which is connected to a shaft (4) of a user device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Markus KÖPFER, Markus BÄUML
  • Publication number: 20200319528
    Abstract: An aperture device actuated by a shape memory alloy wire controls two overlapping shuttering surfaces. The two shuttering surfaces control the amount of light transmitted through a lens assembly. The shape memory alloy wire is actuated by a flexible printed circuit which controls a lever slotted to both shuttering surfaces. By Joule heating, the electric current controls the shape of the wire, actuating the aperture device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Applicant: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Yusuke SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20200256090
    Abstract: The present invention is inherent to a swing-type Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) actuator (10) comprising a stationary frame (11) and a swingable part (12) that are coupled by means of a pivot (13) allowing the swing of the swingable part (12), two SMA wires (14, 14?) being engaged to two connecting elements (15, 15?) present respectively on a left and right portion of the swingable part (12) and vertically separated from the pivot (13), such that the activation of one of the SMA wires (14, 14?) causes the swing of the swingable part (12) in either the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Matthias PETERREINS
  • Patent number: 10609193
    Abstract: A mechanism for releasing a SIM card locked into an electronic device by a spring-loaded mechanical restraint (4, 5) includes a SIM card holder comprising a rectangular frame (1), a SMA wire actuator (10) mounted on said frame (1) so as to deform it upon activation in order to release said mechanical restraint (4, 5), and springs (8) for the ejection of the SIM card holder upon release of the mechanical restraint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Markus Köpfer