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).

  • 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
  • Patent number: 11555485
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignees: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH, ALFMEIER PRÄZISION SE
    Inventors: Markus Koepfer, Erich Doerfler
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20220074394
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicants: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH, ALFMEIER PRÄZISION SE
    Inventors: Markus KOEPFER, Erich DOERFLER
  • 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: 10114272
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Yusuke Suzuki, Markus Koepfer, Romaric Peri, Tom Nicolaisen, Alex Chen
  • Patent number: 9933689
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: ACTUATOR SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Markus Koepfer