Patents by Inventor Benjamin John

Benjamin John 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).

  • Valve, valve stack, and component with valve and/or valve stack
    Patent number: 11913564
    Abstract: A valve housing (1) has first and third openings (1.1, 1.3), and first and second actuating elements (6.1, 6.2) that are movable along a longitudinal axis of the housing (1). A return element (5) is between the actuating elements (6.1, 6.2), and exerts a force to keep the actuating elements (6.1, 6.2) in a rest position to close or open the first and third openings (1.1. 1.3). First and second wires (4.1, 4.2) are formed from a shape memory alloy. The first wire (4.1) is on the first actuating element (6.1) and the second wire (4.2) is on the second actuating element (6.2). An electric current to the first or second wire (4.1, 4.2) contracts the respective wire (4.1, 4.2) and moves the corresponding actuating element (6.1, 6.2) into an activated position against the force exerted by the return element (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: A Kayser Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Kenny Pagel, Christoph Eppler, Benjamin John, Heiko Freter
  • VALVE, VALVE STACK, AND COMPONENT WITH VALVE AND/OR VALVE STACK
    Publication number: 20230125583
    Abstract: A valve housing (1) has first and third openings (1.1, 1.3), and first and second actuating elements (6.1, 6.2) that are movable along a longitudinal axis of the housing (1). A return element (5) is between the actuating elements (6.1, 6.2), and exerts a force to keep the actuating elements (6.1, 6.2) in a rest position to close or open the first and third openings (1.1. 1.3). First and second wires (4.1, 4.2) are formed from a shape memory alloy. The first wire (4.1) is on the first actuating element (6.1) and the second wire (4.2) is on the second actuating element (6.2). An electric current to the first or second wire (4.1, 4.2) contracts the respective wire (4.1, 4.2) and moves the corresponding actuating element (6.1, 6.2) into an activated position against the force exerted by the return element (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Kenny Pagel, Christoph Eppler, Benjamin John, Heiko Freter
  • Actuator with shape-memory element
    Patent number: 11016261
    Abstract: An actuator for adjusting an element to be moved in a beam path of an optical arrangement contains the element to be moved, a carrier and at least one SM element, the SM element being connected to the element to be moved and designed such that it is supported on the carrier, so that when the dimension of the SM element changes, a directed force effect is produced between the element to be moved and the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: CARL ZEISS MICROSCOPY GMBH
    Inventors: Benjamin John, Michael Schulz
  • Actuator with shape-memory element
    Publication number: 20190285829
    Abstract: An actuator for adjusting an element to be moved in a beam path of an optical arrangement contains the element to be moved, a carrier and at least one SM element, the SM element being connected to the element to be moved and designed such that it is supported on the carrier, so that when the dimension of the SM element changes, a directed force effect is produced between the element to be moved and the carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Benjamin John, Michael Schulz