Patents by Inventor Christoph Leifer

Christoph Leifer 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: 20230299522
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing signals transmitted between a controller and one field device or multiple field devices includes: a carrier having a control interface, a field interface, and one slot or multiple slots, the control interface being for connection of one electrical line channel or multiple electrical line channels of the controller, the field interface being for connection of input and/or output signal lines, I/O signal lines, of the one field device or the multiple field devices, and the one slot is, or each of the multiple slots are, for the releasable mechanical connection of a module in a plug-in direction and, in the mechanically connected state, for the electrical connection of the respective module to the line channel or one of the line channels and to the I/O signal lines of the field device or one of the field devices; and at least one module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Elmar Schaper, Carsten Thoerner, Christoph Leifer, Felix Schulte, Benjamin Klimmek
  • Patent number: 9715981
    Abstract: A multiple relay arrangement having a plurality of relay sockets which are arranged next to each other and a plurality of relays. The relay sockets contain additional plug connections with which the relays are controlled by the system cabling. The system cabling contains a distribution section having cable sections and plug connectors and allows the plurality of relays to be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Markus Becker, Heinrich Heise, Christoph Leifer, Andreas Woehrmeier
  • Patent number: 9231317
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for removably fixing a conductor (10) to a current transformer housing (12), comprising a fixing element (18) which runs through a retaining element (16) lying on the current transformer housing (12) and which sits at least partly against the surface of the conductor (10) when the conductor (10) is fixed on the current transformer housing (12). The invention is characterized in that the fixing element (18) runs around the circumferential surface of the conductor (10) in a looped manner when fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Christoph Leifer, Carsten Thörner, Dat-Minh Trinh
  • Patent number: 9165709
    Abstract: A current measuring transducer for measuring the current flowing through an electrical cable, with a ring probe, a sensor and an evaluation device for recording the current value obtained by the ring probe and the sensor, wherein the ring probe has an annular core, wherein the ring probe is divided into a basic ring section and at least one movable ring section, wherein the movable ring section defines an open and a closed state, wherein in the open state, a radial cable insert opening is opened, and wherein a circularly closed arrangement is created in the closed state of the movable ring section in which the annular core surrounds the cable, wherein the radial insertion of a cable extending axially relative to the current measuring transducer into the inside area of the ring probe transfers the ring section from one to the other state, and measurement of the current in the cable inserted into the inside area is made possible in the closed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co KG
    Inventors: Carsten Thorner, Christoph Leifer
  • Publication number: 20150187523
    Abstract: A multiple relay arrangement having a plurality of relay sockets which are arranged next to each other and a plurality of relays. The relay sockets contain additional plug connections with which the relays are controlled by the system cabling. The system cabling contains a distribution section having cable sections and plug connectors and allows the plurality of relays to be controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Markus Becker, Heinrich Heise, Christoph Leifer, Andreas Woehrmeier
  • Patent number: 9006577
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detachable attachment of an electrical conductor to current transformer housing are disclosed. An illustrative device may [comprise] includes a current transformer housing, a holding element which is passed through the current transformer housing, and an attachment element which passes through the holding element, with the attachment element and/or the holding element resting at least partially on the surface of the electrical conductor when the electrical conductor is attached to the apparatus, the attachment element being rotatable about its longitudinal axis for attaching or releasing the electrical conductor. Moreover, the holding element may be rotatable about its longitudinal axis such that, in a first position, the holding element can be moved along its longitudinal axis for attaching or releasing the electrical conductor and, in a second position, the holding element cannot be moved along its longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christoph Leifer, Carsten Thorner, Dat-Minh Trinh
  • Patent number: 8963009
    Abstract: A device for detachably fastening a current conductor to a current transformer housing includes the current transformer housing, a retaining element that is guided through the current transformer housing, a fastening element that is guided through the retaining element, and a clamping element. The fastening element and/or the retaining element are seated against at least some regions of the surface of the current conductor when the current conductor is fastened to the current transformer housing. The fastening element can be rotated about the longitudinal axis thereof so as to fasten and/or detach the current conductor. The clamping element is arranged movably on the current transformer housing so that, in a first position, it allows a translatory displacement of the retaining element along the longitudinal axis. In a second position, the clamping element prevents the transtatory displacement of the retaining element along the longitudinal axis thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christoph Leifer, Carsten Thoerner, Dat-Minh Trinh
  • Patent number: 8766757
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for detachably fastening a current conductor (10) to a current transformer housing (12) comprising a fastening element (16, 32), wherein the fastening element (16, 32) can be guided such that the fastening element (16, 32) at least partially contacts the surface of the current conductor (10) in a fastening state of the current conductor (10) on the current transformer housing (12). The invention is characterized in that the fastening element (16, 32) is implemented such that it performs a translatory displacement in the direction of the current conductor (10) when transitioning from an unfastened state to the fastened state of the current conductor (10) to the current transformer housing (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG.
    Inventors: Christoph Leifer, Carsten Thörner, Dat-Minh Trinh
  • Patent number: 8724333
    Abstract: An electronic expansion module which has at least one circuit board, that has a contact region with contacts for mechanical and electrical contact-making with mating contacts connected to the circuit board of the expansion module and a circuit board recess formed such that, with the expansion module inserted into an opening formed on a side of the housing of an electrical field device for use in industrial control, the circuit board of the expansion module does not have any conductive connection to the electrical field device except in the contact region so that reliable electrical isolation between the interior of the device and the user is ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christoph Leifer, Andre Korrek
  • Publication number: 20140097924
    Abstract: A current measuring transducer for measuring the current flowing through an electrical cable, with a ring probe, a sensor and an evaluation device for recording the current value obtained by the ring probe and the sensor, wherein the ring probe has an annular core, wherein the ring probe is divided into a basic ring section and at least one movable ring section, wherein the movable ring section defines an open and a closed state, wherein in the open state, a radial cable insert opening is opened, and wherein a circularly closed arrangement is created in the closed state of the movable ring section in which the annular core surrounds the cable, wherein the radial insertion of a cable extending axially relative to the current measuring transducer into the inside area of the ring probe transfers the ring section from one to the other state, and measurement of the current in the cable inserted into the inside area is made possible in the closed state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO KG
    Inventors: Carsten Thorner, Christoph Leifer
  • Publication number: 20140035369
    Abstract: The object of the invention is a power supply device (12) having a control and/or regulating unit (22), a reference potential connection (26), at least one voltage potential connection (28), and a ground connection (30) for grounding the power supply device (12). It is provided that the power supply device has a permanent or switchable device internal short-circuit current path (40) between the reference potential connection (26) and the ground connection (30), a detection device (44) for the continuous or quasi-continuous detection of a current flowing through the short-circuit current path (46), which connects the detection device (44) with the control and/or regulating unit (22) in a signal technical manner. The invention further relates to a respective power supply system (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Gerhard Wolff, Christoph Leifer
  • Publication number: 20130292151
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detachable attachment of an electrical conductor to a current transformer housing are disclosed. An illustrative device may comprise a current transformer housing, a holding element which is passed through the current transformer housing, and an attachment element which passes through the holding element, with the attachment element and/or the holding element resting at least partially on the surface of the electrical conductor when the electrical conductor is attached to the apparatus, the attachment element being rotatable about its longitudinal axis for attaching or releasing the electrical conductor. Moreover, the holding element may be rotatable about its longitudinal axis such that, in a first position, the holding element can be moved along its longitudinal axis for attaching or releasing the electrical conductor and, in a second position, the holding element cannot be moved along its longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH CO. & KG
    Inventors: Christoph Leifer, Carsten Thorner
  • Publication number: 20130240248
    Abstract: A device for detachably fastening a current conductor to a current transformer housing, comprising the current transformer housing, a retaining element that is guided through the current transformer housing, a fastening element that is guided through the retaining element, and a clamping element (5). The fastening element and/or the retaining element are seated against at least some regions of the surface of the current conductor when the current conductor is fastened to the current transformer housing. The fastening element can be rotated about the longitudinal axis thereof so as to fasten and/or detach the current conductor. The clamping element is arranged movably on the current transformer housing so that, in a first position it allows a translatory displacement of the retaining element along the longitudinal axis. In a second position, the clamping element prevents the translatory displacement of the retaining element along the longitudinal axis thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Christoph Leifer, Carsten Thörner
  • Publication number: 20130234514
    Abstract: The object of the invention is a power supply device (12) having a control and/or regulating unit (22), a reference potential connection (26), at least one voltage potential connection (28), and a ground connection (30) for grounding the power supply device (12). It is provided that the power supply device has a permanent or switchable device internal short-circuit current path (40) between the reference potential connection (26) and the ground connection (30), a detection device (44) for the continuous or quasi-continuous detection of a current flowing through the short-circuit current path (46), which connects the detection device (44) with the control and/or regulating unit (22) in a signal technical manner. The invention further relates to a respective power supply system (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Gerhard Wolff, Christoph Leifer
  • Publication number: 20130015934
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for detachably fastening a current conductor (10) to a current transformer housing (12) comprising a fastening element (16, 32), wherein the fastening element (16, 32) can be guided such that the fastening element (16, 32) at least partially contacts the surface of the current conductor (10) in a fastening state of the current conductor (10) on the current transformer housing (12). The invention is characterized in that the fastening element (16, 32) is implemented such that it performs a translatory displacement in the direction of the current conductor (10) when transitioning from an unfastened state to the fastened state of the current conductor (10) to the current transformer housing (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Christoph Leifer, Carsten Thorner
  • Publication number: 20120326823
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for removably fixing a conductor (10) to a current transformer housing (12), comprising a fixing element (18) which runs through a retaining element (16) lying on the current transformer housing (12) and which sits at least partly against the surface of the conductor (10) when the conductor (10) is fixed on the current transformer housing (12). The invention is characterized in that the fixing element (18) runs around the circumferential surface of the conductor (10) in a looped manner when fixed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christoph Leifer, Carsten Thörner, Dat-Minh Trinh
  • Publication number: 20120315778
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for removably fixing a conductor (10) to a current transformer housing (12), comprising a fixing element (16) which runs through a retaining element (14) lying on the current transformer housing (12) and which at least partly sits against the surface of the conductor (10) when the conductor (10) is fixed on the current transformer housing (12). According to the invention, the fixing element (16) is designed such that when the conductor (10) is brought from an unfixed state and fixed on the current transformer housing (12), the fixing element (16) carries out a translational movement within the retaining element (14) along the longitudinal axis (54) of said fixing element in the direction of the conductor (10) and subsequently a rotational movement about the longitudinal axis (54) of said fixing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Christoph Leifer, Carsten Thorner, Dat-Minh Trinh
  • Publication number: 20110255248
    Abstract: An electronic expansion module which has at least one circuit board, that has a contact region with contacts for mechanical and electrical contact-making with mating contacts connected to the circuit board of the expansion module and a circuit board recess formed such that, with the expansion module inserted into an opening formed on a side of the housing of an electrical field device for use in industrial control, the circuit board of the expansion module does not have any conductive connection to the electrical field device except in the contact region so that reliable electrical isolation between the interior of the device and the user is ensured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Christoph LEIFER, Andre KORREK
  • Patent number: 7983049
    Abstract: An electrical field device for use in industrial control with a housing, with at least one input, at least one output and an electronic circuit with a microcontroller, a memory and a circuit board. The electrical field device is easily adapted to different functions and conditions of use in that an opening is formed on one side of the housing for insertion of an electronic expansion module which has at least one circuit board, and in that the circuit board has a contact region with contacts for mechanical and electrical contact-making with mating contacts connected to the circuit board of the expansion, module and a circuit board recess formed such that an inserted expansion module does not have any conductive connection to the field device except in the contact region so that reliable electrical isolation between the interior of the device and the user is ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christoph Leifer, Andre Korrek
  • Publication number: 20070222302
    Abstract: An electrical field device for use in industrial control with a housing, with at least one input, at least one output and an electronic circuit with a microcontroller, a memory and a circuit board. The electrical field device is easily adapted to different functions and conditions of use in that an opening is formed on one side of the housing for insertion of an electronic expansion module which has at least one circuit board, and in that the circuit board has a contact region with contacts for mechanical and electrical contact-making with mating contacts connected to the circuit board of the expansion, module and a circuit board recess formed such that an inserted expansion module does not have any conductive connection to the field device except in the contact region so that reliable electrical isolation between the interior of the device and the user is ensured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Applicant: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Christoph LEIFER, Andre KORREK