Patents by Inventor Boris Kaufmann

Boris Kaufmann 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: 8212431
    Abstract: A safety switching apparatus for the failsafe disconnection of an electrical load has a first and a second terminal for supplying a first and a second signal from a signaling device, such as an emergency-off button. The safety switching apparatus also has a first and a second switching element which together produce a redundant output switching signal for disconnecting the load. The first switching element has a first control circuit to which the first signal is supplied. The second switching element has a second control circuit to which the second signal is supplied. The safety switching apparatus further has circuitry providing a first current path, an alternative second current path and at least one further switching element. The at least one further switching element is designed to select either the first or the second current path, depending on a polarity of the second signal, in order to route the second signal to the second control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Pilz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Nitsche, Boris Kaufmann, Johannes Hopp, Rolf Dickhoff
  • Publication number: 20110133574
    Abstract: A safety switching apparatus for the failsafe disconnection of an electrical load has a first and a second terminal for supplying a first and a second signal from a signaling device, such as an emergency-off button. The safety switching apparatus also has a first and a second switching element which together produce a redundant output switching signal for disconnecting the load. The first switching element has a first control circuit to which the first signal is supplied. The second switching element has a second control circuit to which the second signal is supplied. The safety switching apparatus further has circuitry providing a first current path, an alternative second current path and at least one further switching element. The at least one further switching element is designed to select either the first or the second current path, depending on a polarity of the second signal, in order to route the second signal to the second control circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas NITSCHE, Boris KAUFMANN, Johannes HOPP, Rolf DICKHOFF
  • Patent number: 7948121
    Abstract: A safety switching apparatus for the failsafe disconnection of an electrical load has a first and a second terminal for supplying a first and a second signal from a signaling device, such as an emergency-off button. The safety switching apparatus also has a first and a second switching element which together produce a redundant output switching signal for disconnecting the load. The first switching element has a first control circuit to which the first signal is supplied. The second switching element has a second control circuit to which the second signal is supplied. The safety switching apparatus further has circuitry providing a first current path, an alternative second current path and at least one further switching element. The at least one further switching element is designed to select either the first or the second current path, depending on a polarity of the second signal, in order to route the second signal to the second control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Pilz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Nitsche, Boris Kaufmann, Johannes Hopp, Rolf Dickhoff
  • Publication number: 20090073628
    Abstract: A safety switching apparatus for the failsafe disconnection of an electrical load has a first and a second terminal for supplying a first and a second signal from a signaling device, such as an emergency-off button. The safety switching apparatus also has a first and a second switching element which together produce a redundant output switching signal for disconnecting the load. The first switching element has a first control circuit to which the first signal is supplied. The second switching element has a second control circuit to which the second signal is supplied. The safety switching apparatus further has circuitry providing a first current path, an alternative second current path and at least one further switching element. The at least one further switching element is designed to select either the first or the second current path, depending on a polarity of the second signal, in order to route the second signal to the second control circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas NITSCHE, Boris Kaufmann, Johannes Hopp, Rolf Dickhoff
  • Patent number: 6825579
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a safety switching apparatus having a first and a second input switch, whose respective switch settings define an input-side manipulated variable redundantly with respect to one another. The safety switching apparatus furthermore has at least one output switching element which is arranged in an output circuit. In addition, an evaluation and control unit is provided, which drives the at least one output switching element as a function of the defined manipulated variable. Switching contacts of the first and of the second input switch are coupled with one another, in terms of their switch positions, via a common actuating member. According to one aspect of the invention, the switching contacts of the first and of the second input switch are spatially arranged in one plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Pilz GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Gerhard Ehrlich, Boris Kaufmann
  • Publication number: 20030057069
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a safety switching apparatus having a first and a second input switch, whose respective switch settings define an input-side manipulated variable redundantly with respect to one another. The safety switching apparatus furthermore has at least one output switching element which is arranged in an output circuit. In addition, an evaluation and control unit is provided, which drives the at least one output switching element as a function of the defined manipulated variable. Switching contacts of the first and of the second input switch are coupled with one another, in terms of their switch positions, via a common actuating member. According to one aspect of the invention, the switching contacts of the first and of the second input switch are spatially arranged in one plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Gerhard Ehrlich, Boris Kaufmann