Patents by Inventor Markus Köpfer

Markus Köpfer 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: 20250189055
    Abstract: A valve element can selectively seal or open two ports. The valve element includes a base plate, first and second actuators operated by SMA wires to selectively move sealing elements via deflection of return elements such as leaf springs. The valve element can used in a lift elements or actuators in components of vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2024
    Publication date: June 12, 2025
    Inventors: Erich Dörfler, Markus Köpfer
  • Patent number: 12085064
    Abstract: The present invention is inherent to an actuator subassembly (100) controlled by shape memory alloy wires (130, 130?), to a system comprising a plurality of such subassemblies and to a control method for such system, wherein the shape memory alloy wires (130, 130?) are in the so-called antagonistic configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Markus Köpfer
  • Publication number: 20240263622
    Abstract: The present invention is inherent to an actuator subassembly (100) controlled by shape memory alloy wires (130, 130?), to a system comprising a plurality of such subassemblies and to a control method for such system, wherein the shape memory alloy wires (130, 130?) are in the so-called antagonistic configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2022
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Applicant: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Markus KÖPFER
  • Patent number: 11927180
    Abstract: Multi-stable SMA actuator comprising two shape memory alloy wires (1, 2) in antagonistic configuration that allow to define multiple stable positions of a movable element (12), said positions being maintained by movable stoppers to lock the movable element, that do not require power and are disengaged by the shape memory alloy wires (1, 2) upon actuation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Arif Kazi, Markus Köpfer, Markus Bäuml, Neven Bobic, Michael Honold
  • Patent number: 11746761
    Abstract: The present invention is inherent to a shape memory alloy actuated fluidic subassembly (10) and to an equipment incorporating it as dispensing device, wherein actuation of the shape memory alloy wires (16, 16?) causes a fluid-tight reservoir (17?) to e compressed by a lid (18) so as to reduce its volume from a maximum volume Vo to a minimum volume V1, this reduction resulting in a pressure increase that causes the opening of an outlet flap (13?) and the dispensing of a fluid through an outlet channel (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Markus Köpfer
  • Publication number: 20230193882
    Abstract: The present invention is inherent to a shape memory alloy actuated fluidic subassembly (10) and to an equipment incorporating it as dispensing device, wherein actuation of the shape memory alloy wires (16, 16?) causes a fluid-tight reservoir (17?) to be compressed by a lid (18) so as to reduce its volume from a maximum volume Vo to a minimum volume V1, this reduction resulting in a pressure increase that causes the opening of an outlet flap (13?) and the dispensing of a fluid through an outlet channel (13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Markus KÖPFER
  • Patent number: 11578709
    Abstract: The present application relates to a stepwise discrete actuator (10) with two shape memory alloy wires (15, 15?) used in an antagonistic configuration to drive a slider (13) that moves a toothed element (12) through tooth-engaging fingers (131, 132) that are spaced at rest by a distance F that is shorter than the distance T between adjacent teeth by an amount sufficient for a stationary finger lifter (14) to lift that of the slider fingers (131, 132) that does not engage the movable toothed element (12) such that it clears the teeth of the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Köpfer, Matthias Peterreins, Markus Kagerer
  • Publication number: 20220412325
    Abstract: The present application relates to a stepwise discrete actuator (10) with two shape memory alloy wires (15, 15?) used in an antagonistic configuration to drive a slider (13) that moves a toothed element (12) through tooth-engaging fingers (131, 132) that are spaced at rest by a distance F that is shorter than the distance T between adjacent teeth by an amount sufficient for a stationary finger lifter (14) to lift that of the slider fingers (131, 132) that does not engage the movable toothed element (12) such that it clears the teeth of the latter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Markus KÖPFER, Matthias PETERREINS, Markus KAGERER
  • Publication number: 20220136488
    Abstract: Multi-stable SMA actuator comprising two shape memory alloy wires (1, 2) in antagonistic configuration that allow to define multiple stable positions of a movable element (12), said positions being maintained by movable stoppers to lock the movable element, that do not require power and are disengaged by the shape memory alloy wires (1, 2) upon actuation thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Arif KAZI, Markus KÖPFER, Markus BÄUML, Neven BOBIC, Michael HONOLD
  • Patent number: 11073675
    Abstract: Camera module autofocus actuator comprising a movable lens carrier, one or more shape memory alloy wires, a first return elastic element, a second return elastic element substantially identical to the and symmetric to the first return elastic element, wherein one end of the one or more shape memory alloy is mounted to the first return elastic element and the other end to another return elastic element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Markus Köpfer
  • Patent number: 10900471
    Abstract: A SMA-driven rotary actuator comprises as actuating elements two U-shaped SMA wires (3) connected in an antagonistic configuration to a rotating input member (1) coupled to an oppositely rotating output member (2), preferably through a geared coupling, which is connected to a shaft (4) of a user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Köpfer, Markus Bäuml
  • Publication number: 20200378370
    Abstract: A SMA-driven rotary actuator comprises as actuating elements two U-shaped SMA wires (3) connected in an antagonistic configuration to a rotating input member (1) coupled to an oppositely rotating output member (2), preferably through a geared coupling, which is connected to a shaft (4) of a user device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Markus KÖPFER, Markus BÄUML
  • Patent number: 10816103
    Abstract: A valve includes a housing enclosing a pressure chamber. At least one media opening is closeable via a valve element activated by a wire-shaped SMA element connected at its ends to a printed circuit board and at its middle to the valve element. The wire-shaped SMA element extends in a plane parallel to a direction of movement of the valve element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: ALFMEIER PRÄZISION SE
    Inventors: Markus Gebhardt, Markus Köpfer
  • Patent number: 10609193
    Abstract: A mechanism for releasing a SIM card locked into an electronic device by a spring-loaded mechanical restraint (4, 5) includes a SIM card holder comprising a rectangular frame (1), a SMA wire actuator (10) mounted on said frame (1) so as to deform it upon activation in order to release said mechanical restraint (4, 5), and springs (8) for the ejection of the SIM card holder upon release of the mechanical restraint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Markus Köpfer
  • Publication number: 20200041872
    Abstract: Camera module autofocus actuator comprising a movable lens carrier, one or more shape memory alloy wires, a first return elastic element, a second return elastic element substantially identical to the and symmetric to the first return elastic element, wherein one end of the one or more shape memory alloy is mounted to the first return elastic element and the other end to another return elastic element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Markus KÖPFER
  • Patent number: 10514593
    Abstract: An Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS) system comprises three stacked frames (11, 12, 13) carrying an imaging system (14), the reciprocal movements of said frames (11, 12, 13) being translational movements orthogonal to each other and to the optical axis of the imaging system (14) and achieved and controlled by two couples of antagonistic shape memory alloy wires (16, 17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Markus Köpfer
  • Publication number: 20190379774
    Abstract: A mechanism for releasing a SIM card locked into an electronic device by a spring-loaded mechanical restraint (4, 5) includes a SIM card holder comprising a rectangular frame (1), a SMA wire actuator (10) mounted on said frame (1) so as to deform it upon activation in order to release said mechanical restraint (4, 5), and springs (8) for the ejection of the SIM card holder upon release of the mechanical restraint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Applicant: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Markus KÖPFER
  • Publication number: 20190243216
    Abstract: An Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS) system comprises three stacked frames (11, 12, 13) carrying an imaging system (14), the reciprocal movements of said frames (11, 12, 13) being translational movements orthogonal to each other and to the optical axis of the imaging system (14) and achieved and controlled by two couples of antagonistic shape memory alloy wires (16, 17).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Applicant: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Markus KÖPFER
  • Publication number: 20190049031
    Abstract: A valve includes a housing enclosing a pressure chamber. At least one media opening is closeable via a valve element activated by a wire-shaped SMA element connected at its ends to a printed circuit board and at its middle to the valve element. The wire-shaped SMA element extends in a plane parallel to a direction of movement of the valve element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: Markus Gebhardt, Markus Köpfer
  • Patent number: 9419348
    Abstract: The connection refers to a connecting arrangement with a crimp connector (2) and a wire (3) fixed in place to the crimp connector. The crimp connector encompasses two clamping plates (4, 5) executed as one piece that, in a mounted state, clamp the wire (3) between them and while doing, so fix the wire (3) firmly in place with a force acting in longitudinal axial load direction (B). At least in the mounted state, the inner surfaces of the clamping plates face one another and are at least partially executed as level clamping surfaces (4a, 5a). In the mounted state, the clamping surfaces (4a, 5a) of the clamping plates (4, 5) make contact with one another, whereby an area of the wire section (3?) is pressed partially inside the one clamping plate and partially inside the other clamping plate (4, 5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Actuator Solutions GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Krach, Markus Köpfer