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).
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Patent number: 11927180Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 10, 2020Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBHInventors: Arif Kazi, Markus Köpfer, Markus Bäuml, Neven Bobic, Michael Honold
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Patent number: 11746761Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 27, 2022Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBHInventor: Markus Köpfer
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Publication number: 20230193882Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2022Publication date: June 22, 2023Applicant: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBHInventor: Markus KÖPFER
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Patent number: 11578709Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 18, 2020Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBHInventors: Markus Köpfer, Matthias Peterreins, Markus Kagerer
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Patent number: 11555485Abstract: The present invention is inherent to an actuator subassembly comprising at least one bendable slender structure (12) mounted on a stationary body base (11) and carrying on a first surface an installation feature (17) and a plug (16) in its distal portion, the bending of the slender structure (12) being controlled by a shape memory alloy wire (13) through coupling means (15) located in its distal portion on a second surface opposite to the first surface. The invention also concerns a fluidic valve incorporating such an actuator subassembly.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2019Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignees: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH, ALFMEIER PRÄZISION SEInventors: Markus Koepfer, Erich Doerfler
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Publication number: 20220412325Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2020Publication date: December 29, 2022Applicant: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBHInventors: Markus KÖPFER, Matthias PETERREINS, Markus KAGERER
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Publication number: 20220136488Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2020Publication date: May 5, 2022Applicant: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBHInventors: Arif KAZI, Markus KÖPFER, Markus BÄUML, Neven BOBIC, Michael HONOLD
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Publication number: 20220074394Abstract: The present invention is inherent to an actuator subassembly comprising at least one bendable slender structure (12) mounted on a stationary body base (11) and carrying on a first surface an installation feature (17) and a plug (16) in its distal portion, the bending of the slender structure (12) being controlled by a shape memory alloy wire (13) through coupling means (15) located in its distal portion on a second surface opposite to the first surface. The invention also concerns a fluidic valve incorporating such an actuator subassembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2019Publication date: March 10, 2022Applicants: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH, ALFMEIER PRÄZISION SEInventors: Markus KOEPFER, Erich DOERFLER
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Patent number: 11073675Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 20, 2018Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBHInventor: Markus Köpfer
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Patent number: 10900471Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 15, 2018Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBHInventors: Markus Köpfer, Markus Bäuml
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Publication number: 20200378370Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2018Publication date: December 3, 2020Applicant: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBHInventors: Markus KÖPFER, Markus BÄUML
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Patent number: 10816103Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 9, 2018Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: ALFMEIER PRÄZISION SEInventors: Markus Gebhardt, Markus Köpfer
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Patent number: 10609193Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 6, 2018Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBHInventor: Markus Köpfer
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Publication number: 20200041872Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2018Publication date: February 6, 2020Applicant: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBHInventor: Markus KÖPFER
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Patent number: 10514593Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 12, 2017Date of Patent: December 24, 2019Assignee: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBHInventor: Markus Köpfer
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Publication number: 20190379774Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2018Publication date: December 12, 2019Applicant: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBHInventor: Markus KÖPFER
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Publication number: 20190243216Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2017Publication date: August 8, 2019Applicant: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBHInventor: Markus KÖPFER
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Publication number: 20190049031Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2018Publication date: February 14, 2019Inventors: Markus Gebhardt, Markus Köpfer
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Patent number: 10114272Abstract: An autofocus actuator for camera modules and control method thereof, the autofocus actuator incorporating a shape memory alloy wire as actuating element, at least 4 spheres as sliding aids, and including a return elastic element mounted between an autofocus housing and a lens carrier and exerting a force only in the optical axis direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2015Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBHInventors: Yusuke Suzuki, Markus Koepfer, Romaric Peri, Tom Nicolaisen, Alex Chen
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Patent number: 9933689Abstract: A tilt module subassembly comprising a cage essentially made of elastic material and shape memory alloy wires. An optical positioning system for microstructures using the tilt module subassembly is also described. The optical positioning system for microstructures is an optical image stabilizer.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2016Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Assignee: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBHInventor: Markus Koepfer