Patents by Inventor Markus Laufenberg
Markus Laufenberg 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: 11990263Abstract: A small appliance device, in particular a body-care appliance device, in particular a shaving apparatus device, beard-trimming device, hair-trimming device, epilating appliance device, tattooing appliance device, toothbrush device or the like, has a drive unit which comprises at least one drive element, wherein the drive element comprises at least one magnetically shape-shiftable material.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2018Date of Patent: May 21, 2024Assignee: ETO MAGNETIC GmbHInventors: Markus Laufenberg, Thomas Schiepp, René Schnetzler, Harald Eckhardt, Anton Blank
-
Patent number: 11367586Abstract: An overcurrent protection device for a circuit to be monitored, includes at least one trigger unit, which is configured for an interruption of the circuit in at least one trigger situation and which comprises at least one conductor section, which is configured for a conduction of a current to be monitored, at least one trigger element, which comprises at least one magnetically and thermally shape-shiftable material and is, in the trigger situation, configured for a thermally-induced and/or magnetically-induced deformation in dependence on a current that flows through the conductor section, and at least one actuation element, which is operatively connected with the trigger element and is configured for a transmission of at least one actuation movement and/or at least one actuation force to at least one interrupter switch.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2018Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: ETO MAGNETIC GmbHInventors: Maximilian Schautzgy, Thomas Schiepp, Markus Laufenberg
-
Patent number: 11177062Abstract: An actuator device has at least one actuator element which at least in part is composed of a magnetically shape-shiftable material, and has a magnet unit which comprises at least one first magnetic element that is implemented as a coil unit and at least one second magnetic element that is implemented as a permanent magnet, at least the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element are configured for interacting in at least one operating state so as to cause a local deformation of the actuator element in a partial region of the actuator element.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2017Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: ETO MAGNETIC GmbHInventors: Markus Laufenberg, Thomas Schiepp
-
Publication number: 20210246891Abstract: A positive-displacement pump device has at least one shape-memory unit including at least one magnetic shape-memory element, which is configured to convey at least one medium along at least one transport direction, wherein the positive-displacement pump device includes at least one deformation unit, which is configured, for the purpose of providing a transport volume, to deform the magnetic shape-memory element, at least in an idle state in which the positive-displacement pump device is free of a current and/or voltage supply, by a pressure force and/or traction force acting in the transport direction such that the magnetic shape-memory element includes at least one first partial region and at least one second partial region which differ from one another at least by their magnetic orientations.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2019Publication date: August 12, 2021Inventors: Maximilian SCHAUTZGY, Thomas SCHIEPP, Markus LAUFENBERG
-
Patent number: 10928625Abstract: An actuator device includes at least one stationary unit, with at least one electromagnetic actuator element which is movable relative to the stationary unit, and with at least one shape-memory element which is implemented at least partly of a shape-shiftable shape-memory material, wherein the shape-memory element is configured, in at least one operation state, to at least partly hinder a movement of the actuator element in a first movement direction and in a second movement direction that differs from the first movement direction, at least via a mechanical deformation.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2017Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: ETO MAGNETIC GmbHInventors: Thomas Schiepp, Markus Laufenberg
-
Publication number: 20210005372Abstract: A small appliance device, in particular a body-care appliance device, in particular a shaving apparatus device, beard-trimming device, hair-trimming device, epilating appliance device, tattooing appliance device, toothbrush device or the like, has a drive unit which comprises at least one drive element, wherein the drive element comprises at least one magnetically shape-shiftable material.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2018Publication date: January 7, 2021Inventors: Markus LAUFENBERG, Thomas SCHIEPP, René SCHNETZLER, Harald ECKHARDT, Anton BLANK
-
Patent number: 10695914Abstract: A gripper device (16; 30; 56; 90; 120) which is designed so as to be movable along a movement path, and which serves for grasping and holding a workpiece (70) and for moving the workpiece along the movement path, with at least one first contact section (18; 38; 66) which, to produce an operative pairing with the workpiece that effects the gripping or holding action, can be driven relative to a second contact section (20; 40; 68), which first contact section is assigned actuator means (22; 44; 54; 128), which are designed to exert a drive force in reaction to the application of a magnetic field, and which are composed of a magnetic shape-memory alloy material, wherein the actuator means for magnetic interaction are formed, for the application of a magnetic field, with magnetic field generating means that are static at one position of the movement path (52; 80; 86; 88), and/or with magnetic field generating means that are provided so as to be movable independently of the gripper device.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2015Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: ETO Magnetic GmbHInventors: Thomas Schiepp, Markus Laufenberg, Markus Raab, Bernhard Ernst
-
Publication number: 20200111633Abstract: An overcurrent protection device for a circuit to be monitored, includes at least one trigger unit, which is configured for an interruption of the circuit in at least one trigger situation and which comprises at least one conductor section, which is configured for a conduction of a current to be monitored, at least one trigger element, which comprises at least one magnetically and thermally shape-shiftable material and is, in the trigger situation, configured for a thermally-induced and/or magnetically-induced deformation in dependence on a current that flows through the conductor section, and at least one actuation element, which is operatively connected with the trigger element and is configured for a transmission of at least one actuation movement and/or at least one actuation force to at least one interrupter switch.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2018Publication date: April 9, 2020Inventors: Maximilian SCHAUTZGY, Thomas SCHIEPP, Markus LAUFENBERG
-
Publication number: 20190304651Abstract: An actuator device has at least one actuator element which at least in part is composed of a magnetically shape-shiftable material, and has a magnet unit which comprises at least one first magnetic element that is implemented as a coil unit and at least one second magnetic element that is implemented as a permanent magnet, at least the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element are configured for interacting in at least one operating state so as to cause a local deformation of the actuator element in a partial region of the actuator element.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2017Publication date: October 3, 2019Applicant: ETO MAGNETIC GmbHInventors: Markus LAUFENBERG, Thomas SCHIEPP
-
Patent number: 10424717Abstract: An actuator device having an expansion unit, which has a magnetic shape memory alloy material (MSM), is configured to interact with a preferably non-magnetic ram unit and executes an expansion movement in an actuating direction as a reaction to an introduced magnetic flow, the expansion unit being oriented towards the ram unit along a longitudinal axis defined by the expansion direction, and being intended to exert an actuating force on said ram unit, wherein the ram unit is guided on the casing side in an associated housing section of the actuator unit, wherein an end section of the expansion unit and/or end section of the ram unit, the end section being realized in a transition region between the expansion unit and the ram unit, is configured such that, at least during the exertion of the actuating force along the longitudinal axis, an overlap that effects a form- and/or force-fit transversely to the longitudinal axis arises in the transition region.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2014Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: ETO MAGNETIC GMBHInventors: Thomas Schiepp, Markus Laufenberg
-
Patent number: 10381954Abstract: An MSM actuator system, comprising at least one expansion unit (22) having a magnetic shape memory material (MSM); coil means (27) for creating the magnetic flux; and flux-conducting means (10 to 16) made from a magnetically conductive material, the flux-conducting means constructed for enclosing by means of the coil means and magnetically flux-conducting contacting of the expansion unit by means of mutually opposite end sections (18, 20).Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2014Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: ETO MAGNETIC GmbHInventors: Thomas Schiepp, Markus Laufenberg
-
Publication number: 20190121120Abstract: An actuator device includes at least one stationary unit, with at least one electromagnetic actuator element which is movable relative to the stationary unit, and with at least one shape-memory element which is implemented at least partly of a shape-shiftable shape-memory material, wherein the shape-memory element is configured, in at least one operation state, to at least partly hinder a movement of the actuator element in a first movement direction and in a second movement direction that differs from the first movement direction, at least via a mechanical deformation.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2017Publication date: April 25, 2019Applicant: ETO MAGNETIC GmbHInventors: Thomas SCHIEPP, Markus LAUFENBERG
-
Patent number: 9847160Abstract: An actuator device for bidirectional adjustment of an adjusting body constructed for interaction with an adjustment partner and preferably realized as a tappet (14), having first adjustment means (10), which have expansion means having a magnetically effective shape-memory alloy material (12) and exerting an adjustment force, particularly a pushing force, on the adjusting body for moving the same along a first adjustment direction, which carry out an expansion generating the adjustment force as a reaction to a first energizing of first coil means (16), and second adjustment means (20; 20?, 34) assigned to the adjusting body and provided separately from the expansion means and the first coil unit, which are constructed for moving the adjusting body in a second adjustment direction opposite to the first adjustment direction, characterized in that the second adjustment means have an electromagnetically or electromotively driven actuator and therefore for moving the adjusting body in the second adjustment directiType: GrantFiled: May 16, 2014Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: ETO Magnetic GmbHInventors: Thomas Schiepp, Markus Laufenberg
-
Patent number: 9812632Abstract: An actuator device having an expansion unit (10), which comprises a magnetically active shape memory alloy material (12) and which carries out an expansion movement from a starting position along an expansion direction as a reaction to an energization of a coil device (30) and interacts with restoring means which exert on the expansion unit (10) a restoring force opposite to the expansion direction, wherein the restoring force has permanent magnets which act or are seated on a section of the expansion unit (10) such that the restoring force generated magnetically by the permanent magnets changes with increasing expansion stroke in the expansion direction, wherein the permanent magnets (16, 34, 40, 52, 54) are embodied and/or designed such that the expansion unit (10) can contract into the starting position along the expansion stroke when the coil device (30) is not energized.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2013Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: ETO Magnetic GmbHInventors: Markus Laufenberg, Thomas Schiepp
-
Publication number: 20170225338Abstract: A gripper device (16; 30; 56; 90; 120) which is designed so as to be movable along a movement path, and which serves for grasping and holding a workpiece (70) and for moving the workpiece along the movement path, with at least one first contact section (18; 38; 66) which, to produce an operative pairing with the workpiece that effects the gripping or holding action, can be driven relative to a second contact section (20; 40; 68), which first contact section is assigned actuator means (22; 44; 54; 128), which are designed to exert a drive force in reaction to the application of a magnetic field, and which are composed of a magnetic shape-memory alloy material, wherein the actuator means for magnetic interaction are formed, for the application of a magnetic field, with magnetic field generating means that are static at one position of the movement path (52; 80; 86; 88), and/or with magnetic field generating means that are provided so as to be movable independently of the gripper device.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2015Publication date: August 10, 2017Applicant: ETO Magnetic GmbHInventors: Thomas Schiepp, Markus Laufenberg, Markus Raab, Bernhard Ernst
-
Patent number: 9450170Abstract: An actuator having a drive element made of a magnetic shape memory material is driven responsive to electrical control of a plurality of coil apparatuses and carries out an expansion movement in response to the control. The coil apparatuses are magnetically connected to the drive element via flux-concentrating apparatus having a flux-concentrating section associated with the coil apparatuses for interaction with the drive element. Each flux-concentrating apparatus has a core section and connecting section, which conducts a magnetic flux to the drive element, such that a magnetic flux-concentrating circuit for each of the coil apparatuses is formed by the common drive element. The flux-concentrating circuits are magnetically connected in parallel with one another, based on the common drive element, and/or a magnetic flux direction of a magnetic flux in the particular flux-concentrating circuit in the drive element has the same orientation.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2012Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: ETO Magnetic GmbHInventors: Thomas Schiepp, Markus Laufenberg
-
Patent number: 9418764Abstract: Actuator device having an expansion unit, which includes a magnetic shape memory alloy material, and a spring unit which interacts therewith in a restoring manner, wherein at least one spring of the spring unit is assigned to the expansion unit, which is designed to perform an expansion movement along an expansion direction, in such a way that the spring can exert a restoring spring force counter to the expansion direction on the expansion unit, and wherein the spring is set up and/or predetermined in its spring characteristic curve properties in such a way that a spring force profile of the spring unit along a stroke range, determined by an expansion force profile of the expansion unit and a restoring spring force profile, of the expansion movement does not form a continuously rising curve, and/or the spring force profile, with respect to a continuously rising curve, extends and/or increases the stroke range.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2012Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: ETO Magnetic GmbHInventors: Markus Laufenberg, Thomas Schiepp
-
Publication number: 20160233408Abstract: An actuator device having an expansion unit, which has a magnetic shape memory alloy material (MSM), is configured to interact with a preferably non-magnetic ram unit and executes an expansion movement in an actuating direction as a reaction to an introduced magnetic flow, the expansion unit being oriented towards the ram unit along a longitudinal axis defined by the expansion direction, and being intended to exert an actuating force on said ram unit, wherein the ram unit is guided on the casing side in an associated housing section of the actuator unit, wherein an end section of the expansion unit and/or end section of the ram unit, the end section being realized in a transition region between the expansion unit and the ram unit, is configured such that, at least during the exertion of the actuating force along the longitudinal axis, an overlap that effects a form- and/or force-fit transversely to the longitudinal axis arises in the transition region.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2014Publication date: August 11, 2016Applicant: ETO MAGNETIC GMBHInventors: Thomas SCHIEPP, Markus LAUFENBERG
-
Publication number: 20160148736Abstract: An actuator device for bidirectional adjustment of an adjusting body constructed for interaction with an adjustment partner and preferably realised as a tappet (14), having first adjustment means (10), which have expansion means having a magnetically effective shape-memory alloy material (12) and exerting an adjustment force, particularly a pushing force, on the adjusting body for moving the same along a first adjustment direction, which carry out an expansion generating the adjustment force as a reaction to a first energising of first coil means (16), and second adjustment means (20; 20?, 34) assigned to the adjusting body and provided separately from the expansion means and the first coil unit, which are constructed for moving the adjusting body in a second adjustment direction opposite to the first adjustment direction, characterised in that the second adjustment means have an electromagnetically or electromotively driven actuator and therefore for moving the adjusting body in the second adjustment directiType: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2014Publication date: May 26, 2016Applicant: ETO Magnetic GmbHInventors: Thomas Schiepp, Markus Laufenberg
-
Patent number: 9214267Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator device, comprising a coil unit, which surrounds a first yoke section of a stationary yoke unit and is activated by energizing the coil unit, and armature elements, which are guided so as to be movable relative to the yoke unit and which interact with an output-side actuating partner and are driven in order to perform an actuating movement, the armature elements interact with at least one second yoke section of the yoke unit to form an air gap lying outside of the first yoke section for a magnetic flux produced by the activated coil unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2012Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: ETO Magnetic GmbHInventors: Raphael Bory, Jonas Boll, Daniela Haerter, Robert Steyer, Philipp Terhorst, Thomas Schiepp, Markus Laufenberg