Patents by Inventor Friedrich-Eckhard Brand

Friedrich-Eckhard Brand 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: 9825697
    Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a collective remote signaling device for a plurality of serially-arranged devices, wherein each of the devices has an optical signaling unit, with the devices being arranged on a mounting rail, wherein the collective remote signaling device (FM) is likewise arranged on the mounting rail, with the collective remote signaling device having an optical sensor, wherein the optical sensor is connected to the optical signaling units of the devices via an optical waveguide, wherein a state which is displayed by means of one of the optical signaling units at one of the devices is relayed via the optical waveguide to the optical sensor, and is detected in the collective remote signaling device and signaled, with the collective remote signaling device having an optical transmitter, with the optical transmitter being connected to the optical signaling units of the devices via the optical waveguide and light is provided at least for a time to the optical signaling units, whereupon th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Friedrich-Eckhard Brand
  • Publication number: 20170170892
    Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a collective remote signaling device for a plurality of serially-arranged devices, wherein each of the devices has an optical signaling unit, with the devices being arranged on a mounting rail, wherein the collective remote signaling device (FM) is likewise arranged on the mounting rail, with the collective remote signaling device having an optical sensor, wherein the optical sensor is connected to the optical signaling units of the devices via an optical waveguide, wherein a state which is displayed by means of one of the optical signaling units at one of the devices is relayed via the optical waveguide to the optical sensor, and is detected in the collective remote signaling device and signaled), with the collective remote signaling device having an optical transmitter, with the optical transmitter being connected to the optical signaling units of the devices via the optical waveguide and light is provided at least for a time to the optical signaling units, whereupon t
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Applicant: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO.KG
    Inventor: Friedrich-Eckhard BRAND
  • Patent number: 9514865
    Abstract: The object of the invention is a multi-contact element for a varistor wherein the multi-contact element has a sandwich structure, wherein the sandwich structure has two or more contact elements in a lowermost layer, and wherein the sandwich structure has at least one common connection electrode in an uppermost layer, wherein a first intermediate layer made of an electrically insulating layer of material is provided at least in segments between the lowermost layer (US) and the uppermost layer, wherein fuses are located in the first intermediate layer that are configured such that they are capable of sustaining a specified surge current, the specified surge current per fuse being less than the specified surge current of the varistor, wherein the fuses are embodied as vias within the first intermediate layer, wherein the fuses in the first intermediate layer are in direct electrical contact with the common connection electrode, wherein each of the fuses is in direct or indirect electrical contact with a subset o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GMBH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jan-Erik Schmutz, Friedrich-Eckhard Brand
  • Patent number: 9312679
    Abstract: Systems and methods for overvoltage protection are disclosed. According to one illustrative implementation, an overvoltage protection device is provided having one or more overvoltage protection elements and a measuring device for monitoring the overvoltage protection elements. Further, the measuring device may include an evaluation device, which is designed to count pulse-like overvoltage events which are arrested by the overvoltage protection element, wherein the evaluation device is connected to the overvoltage protection element via a light-measuring device and/or a device for identifying a current flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Meyer, Steffen Pfortner, Andrei Siegel, Friedrich-Eckhard Brand
  • Patent number: 9118175
    Abstract: An overvoltage protector having a housing and at least one overvoltage limiter arranged in the housing, especially a gas-filled surge arrester (1), a suppressor diode (2) or a varistor. The functional ability and the state of the overvoltage protector can be controlled during operation by associating a monitoring component with the overvoltage limiter which detects a current (i) flowing over the overvoltage limiter component, and by providing an evaluation unit that evaluates the signal of the monitoring component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Friedrich-Eckhard Brand, Steffen Pförtner, Bernd Pötzsch
  • Patent number: 9083174
    Abstract: The object of the invention is a thermal overload protection device (22) for protecting an electric component (10), in particular an electronic component, wherein the overload protection device (22) has a short-circuit unit (24) for short-circuiting connections (12, 14) of the component (10), and an actuating member (26) actuating the short-circuit unit (24) in a temperature sensitive manner. According to the invention it is provided that the short-circuit unit (24) is attached to a circuit path support (16) in at least one area (28), and is supported in at least another area (30) on the component (10) disposed on the circuit path support (16) via the actuating unit (26), and/or at least one of the circuit paths (18, 20) contacting one of the connections (12, 14) to be short-circuited. The invention further relates to a respective arrangement (36) having a circuit path support (16), at least one component (10) disposed thereupon, and at least one assigned overload protection device (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Meyer, Steffen Pförtner, Friedrich-Eckhard Brand, Bernd Pötzsch
  • Publication number: 20150170806
    Abstract: The object of the invention is a multi-contact element for a varistor wherein the multi-contact element has a sandwich structure, wherein the sandwich structure has two or more contact elements in a lowermost layer, and wherein the sandwich structure has at least one common connection electrode in an uppermost layer, wherein a first intermediate layer made of an electrically insulating layer of material is provided at least in segments between the lowermost layer (US) and the uppermost layer, wherein fuses are located in the first intermediate layer that are configured such that they are capable of sustaining a specified surge current, the specified surge current per fuse being less than the specified surge current of the varistor, wherein the fuses are embodied as vias within the first intermediate layer, wherein the fuses in the first intermediate layer are in direct electrical contact with the common connection electrode, wherein each of the fuses is in direct or indirect electrical contact with a subset o
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Jan-Erik SCHMUTZ, Friedrich-Eckhard BRAND
  • Patent number: 8908346
    Abstract: An overvoltage protection device for protecting electrical low-voltage installations, having a lower device part and at least one upper device part, wherein the lower device part has input and output terminals for the electrical conductors to be connected and contact elements connected to the input and output terminals. The upper device part has at least one overvoltage protection element. An intermediate device part is additionally provided which can be fitted onto the lower device part and onto which the upper device part can be fitted. The intermediate device part has mating contact elements corresponding to the contact elements of the lower device part and also has contact elements connected to the mating contact elements. The intermediate part has at least one longitudinal element connected between two mating contact elements, and the upper device part has mating contact elements corresponding to the contact elements of the intermediate device part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christian Birkholz, Steffen Pfoertner, Friedrich-Eckhard Brand
  • Publication number: 20140218201
    Abstract: Systems and methods for overvoltage protection are disclosed. According to one illustrative implementation, an overvoltage protection device is provided having one or more overvoltage protection elements and a measuring device for monitoring the overvoltage protection elements. Further, the measuring device may include an evaluation device, which is designed to count pulse-like overvoltage events which are arrested by the overvoltage protection element, wherein the evaluation device is connected to the overvoltage protection element via a light-measuring device and/or a device for identifying a current flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Meyer, Steffen Pfortner, Andrei Siegel, Friedrich-Eckhard Brand
  • Publication number: 20140092513
    Abstract: An overvoltage protector having a housing and at least one overvoltage limiter arranged in the housing, especially a gas-filled surge arrester (1), a suppressor diode (2) or a varistor. The functional ability and the state of the overvoltage protector can be controlled during operation by associating a monitoring component with the overvoltage limiter which detects a current (i) flowing over the overvoltage limiter component, and by providing an evaluation unit that evaluates the signal of the monitoring component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Friedrich-Eckhard BRAND, Steffen PFÖRTNER, Bernd PÖTZSCH
  • Patent number: 8634176
    Abstract: An overvoltage protector having a housing and at least one overvoltage limiter arranged in the housing, especially a gas-filled surge arrester (1), a suppressor diode (2) or a varistor. The functional ability and the state of the overvoltage protector can be controlled during operation by associating a monitoring component with the overvoltage limiter which detects a current (i) flowing over the overvoltage limiter component, and by providing an evaluation unit that evaluates the signal of the monitoring component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH Co. KG
    Inventors: Friedrich-Eckhard Brand, Steffen Pfoertner, Bernd Pötzsch
  • Publication number: 20130194710
    Abstract: The object of the invention is a thermal overload protection device (22) for protecting an electric component (10), in particular an electronic component, wherein the overload protection device (22) has a short-circuit unit (24) for short-circuiting connections (12, 14) of the component (10), and an actuating member (26) actuating the short-circuit unit (24) in a temperature sensitive manner. According to the invention it is provided that the short-circuit unit (24) is attached to a circuit path support (16) in at least one area (28), and is supported in at least another area (30) on the component (10) disposed on the circuit path support (16) via the actuating unit (26), and/or at least one of the circuit paths (18, 20) contacting one of the connections (12, 14) to be short-circuited. The invention further relates to a respective arrangement (36) having a circuit path support (16), at least one component (10) disposed thereupon, and at least one assigned overload protection device (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: Phoenix Contact GMBH & CO. KG.
    Inventors: Thomas Meyer, Steffen Pförtner, Friedrich-Eckhard Brand, Bernd Pötzsch
  • Publication number: 20130010395
    Abstract: An overvoltage protection device for protecting electrical low-voltage installations, having a lower device part and at least one upper device part, wherein the lower device part has input and output terminals for the electrical conductors to be connected and contact elements connected to the input and output terminals. The upper device part has at least one overvoltage protection element. An intermediate device part is additionally provided which can be fitted onto the lower device part and onto which the upper device part can be fitted. The intermediate device part has mating contact elements corresponding to the contact elements of the lower device part and also has contact elements connected to the mating contact elements. The intermediate part has at least one longitudinal element connected between two mating contact elements, and the upper device part has mating contact elements corresponding to the contact elements of the intermediate device part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Christian Birkholz, Steffen Pfoertner, Friedrich-Eckhard Brand
  • Publication number: 20120223803
    Abstract: A thermal overload protection device includes a first and a second current-carrying element which are electrically connected to one another via at least one soldered joint that is configured to melt in an event of an overload. At least one of the current-carrying elements is an inherently resilient current-carrying element which, via the at least one soldered joint, is kept in a first form corresponding to at least one of a non-stable state and a metastable state of the inherently resilient current-carrying element. The inherently resilient current-carrying element is deformable into a second form corresponding to a stable state of the inherently resilient current-carrying element via the at least one soldered joint melting. The first and second current-carrying elements are electrically disconnected from one another with the inherently resilient current-carrying element in the second form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Martin Striewe, Friedrich-Eckhard Brand, Joachim Wosgien
  • Publication number: 20110267730
    Abstract: An overvoltage protector having a housing and at least one overvoltage limiter arranged in the housing, especially a gas-filled surge arrester (1), a suppressor diode (2) or a varistor. The functional ability and the state of the overvoltage protector can be controlled during operation by associating a monitoring component with the overvoltage limiter which detects a current (i) flowing over the overvoltage limiter component, and by providing an evaluation unit that evaluates the signal of the monitoring component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Friedrich-Eckhard Brand, Steffen Pfoertner
  • Patent number: 7826194
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tunable ?/4-filter subassembly whose frequency response can be adjusted. For this purpose, the ?/4-filter subassembly has a signal-conducting electrical conductor and an electrically conductive element that is at a reference potential. Furthermore, at least one short-circuit device is provided that electrically contacts the electrical conductor. An electrical coupling device is provided that couples the short-circuit device at a settable contact position to the electrically conductive element, wherein the electrical coupling device and the short-circuit device are movable relative to each other in order to set the length of the short-circuit device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Friedrich-Eckhard Brand
  • Publication number: 20090002103
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tunable ?/4-filter subassembly (10) whose frequency response can be adjusted. For this purpose, the ?/4-filter subassembly (10) has a signal-conducting electrical conductor (20) and an electrically conductive element (30) that is at a reference potential. Furthermore, at least one short-circuit device (40; 140) is provided that electrically contacts the electrical conductor (20; 120). An electrical coupling device (70; 170) is provided that couples the short-circuit device (40; 140) at a settable contact position (80; 180) to the electrically conductive element (30; 130), wherein the electrical coupling device (70; 170) and the short-circuit device (40; 140) are movable relative to each other in order to set the length of the short-circuit device (40; 140).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Friedrich-Eckhard Brand