Patents by Inventor Matthias Kroeker

Matthias Kroeker 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: 20170011863
    Abstract: A contact bridge arrangement for an electrical switch, such as a contactor or a relay, is disclosed. The contact bridge arrangement comprises a contact bridge having a contact bridge body, an actuating member on which the contact bridge is held that is movable with respect to the contact bridge along an actuating direction, the actuating member having a stop and a spring base, and a spring disposed between the spring base and the contact bridge body pressing the stop against the contact bridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Kroeker, Peter Sandeck, Udo Gabel, Thomas Haehnel
  • Publication number: 20170011878
    Abstract: An electrical switch comprising a solenoid assembly including a core casing having a first bearing site and a bearing bush having a second bearing site, an armature movably borne in a switching direction at the first bearing site, and an armature shaft fixed to and movable with the armature and movably borne in the switching direction at the second bearing site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Kroeker, Peter Sandeck, Udo Gabel, Thomas Haehnel
  • Patent number: 9449767
    Abstract: The invention relates to a switch contact subassembly (1) having a switch contact bridge (2) and a resilient element (3), for example, for an operating current of a switching element which switches an electric or hybrid motor vehicle. In order to be able to produce the switch contact subassembly (1) in a cost-effective and simple manner, there is provision according to the invention for the switch contact subassembly (1) to have a contact bridge retention member (4), the contact bridge retention member (4) having a securing base (14) for securing to an actuation member (15) for the switching element and at least one retention member (17) for positioning the switch contact bridge (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Haehnel, Udo Gabel, Titus Ziegler, Wolf-Dieter Heine, Peter Sandeck, Matthias Kroeker
  • Publication number: 20160225567
    Abstract: An arrangement for an electrical switching device is disclosed. The arrangement for an electrical switching device comprises a contact spring and a component attached to the contact spring. The component has an edge running in an inclined manner with respect to a longitudinal direction of the contact spring. The component also has at least two switching state positions and a transition phase between the switching state positions, and abuts the contact spring along the edge in the transition phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Applicant: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Katrin Schertler, Andreas Hendler, Uwe Kramer, Matthias Kroeker, Harry Koch, Bernd Rahn, Gerd Marquardt
  • Publication number: 20150380145
    Abstract: A switch assembly has two contacts; a switch having an open position in which the contacts are electrically separated from one another; and a switch status detector positioned remotely from the switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Applicant: Tyco Electronics AMP GmbH
    Inventors: Harry Koch, Matthias Kroeker, Christian Lindner
  • Patent number: 9203230
    Abstract: The invention relates to a line protection switch (1) for protecting an electrical load circuit from an over-current which exceeds a permissible load current. In order to provide a structurally simple, compact and rapidly actuating line protection switch, it is provided with a switching member (6) which can be moved from an operating position into a protection position. Contact elements (2A, 2C) of the line protection switch (1) which can be connected to the load circuit are closed in the operating position and opened in the protection position. The line protection switch (1) according to the invention further has a retention member (10) which produces a magnetic retention field (MH) which is independent of the load current and by means of which the switching member (6) is retained in the operating position, and a counter-force member (14) which is independent of the load current and by means of which the switching member (6) is retained in the protection position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Titus Ziegler, Thomas Haehnel, Matthias Kroeker, Udo Gabel, Peter Sandeck
  • Publication number: 20150084721
    Abstract: The invention relates to a line protection switch (1) for protecting an electrical load circuit from an over-current which exceeds a permissible load current. In order to provide a structurally simple, compact and rapidly actuating line protection switch, it is provided with a switching member (6) which can be moved from an operating position into a protection position. Contact elements (2A, 2C) of the line protection switch (1) which can be connected to the load circuit are closed in the operating position and opened in the protection position. The line protection switch (1) according to the invention further has a retention member (10) which produces a magnetic retention field (MH) which is independent of the load current and by means of which the switching member (6) is retained in the operating position, and a counter-force member (14) which is independent of the load current and by means of which the switching member (6) is retained in the protection position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Titus Ziegler, Thomas Haehnel, Matthias Kroeker, Udo Gabel, Peter Sandeck
  • Patent number: 8946580
    Abstract: The present invention relates to contactors for unidirectional DC operation with permanent magnetic arc extinguishing. In addition to the blow magnets, the contactors are equipped with compensatory permanent magnets for compensating the magnetic field in the vicinity of the contact bridge in order to prevent contact levitation, i.e., an uncontrolled opening of the contacts that is due to a magnetic force generated by a strong current flowing through the contact bridge. To this end, the compensatory permanent magnets are arranged in the vicinity of the contact bridge and polarized in the opposite direction of the blow magnets. The magnetic field of the compensatory magnets and the current flowing through the contact bridge are generating a magnetic force that acts on the contact bridge and tends to keep the electrical contacts closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics AMP GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Hoffmann, Matthias Kroeker
  • Publication number: 20150008105
    Abstract: The invention relates to a switch contact subassembly (1) having a switch contact bridge (2) and a resilient element (3), for example, for an operating current of a switching element which switches an electric or hybrid motor vehicle. In order to be able to produce the switch contact subassembly (1) in a cost-effective and simple manner, there is provision according to the invention for the switch contact subassembly (1) to have a contact bridge retention member (4), the contact bridge retention member (4) having a securing base (14) for securing to an actuation member (15) for the switching element and at least one retention member (17) for positioning the switch contact bridge (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Haenel, Udo Gabel, Titus Ziegler, Wolf-Dieter Heine, Peter Sandeck, Matthias Kroeker
  • Patent number: 8467155
    Abstract: The invention provides a switching device having a contact protection circuit for arcing suppression. The switching device comprises a main relay for interrupting a load path and a dual coil auxiliary having a high resistance coil and a low resistance coil that operate the switching of an auxiliary contact. The auxiliary contact is connected in series with a PTC device and the low resistance coil of the auxiliary relay in a series arrangement. The series arrangement is connected in parallel to the main contact. When the main relay opens, the auxiliary contact is maintained closed during a given time interval due to the magnetic flux generated by the low resistance coil. The given time interval depends on the transition of the PTC device to trip state. In another configuration, the dual coil relay is substituted by two auxiliary relays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics AMP GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Kroeker, Joerg Einhorn, Gilles Gozlan
  • Publication number: 20120013200
    Abstract: The invention provides a switching device having a contact protection circuit for arcing suppression. The switching device comprises a main relay for interrupting a load path and a dual coil auxiliary having a high resistance coil and a low resistance coil that operate the switching of an auxiliary contact. The auxiliary contact is connected in series with a PTC device and the low resistance coil of the auxiliary relay in a series arrangement. The series arrangement is connected in parallel to the main contact. When the main relay opens, the auxiliary contact is maintained closed during a given time interval due to the magnetic flux generated by the low resistance coil. The given time interval depends on the transition of the PTC device to trip state. In another configuration, the dual coil relay is substituted by two auxiliary relays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: Tyco Electronics AMP GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Kroeker, Joerg Einhorn, Gilles Gozlan
  • Publication number: 20110240603
    Abstract: The present invention relates to contactors for unidirectional DC operation with permanent magnetic arc extinguishing. In addition to the blow magnets, the contactors are equipped with compensatory permanent magnets for compensating the magnetic field in the vicinity of the contact bridge in order to prevent contact levitation, i.e., an uncontrolled opening of the contacts that is due to a magnetic force generated by a strong current flowing through the contact bridge. To this end, the compensatory permanent magnets are arranged in the vicinity of the contact bridge and polarized in the opposite direction of the blow magnets. The magnetic field of the compensatory magnets and the current flowing through the contact bridge are generating a magnetic force that acts on the contact bridge and tends to keep the electrical contacts closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: Tyco Electronics AMP GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Hoffmann, Matthias Kroeker
  • Publication number: 20110120844
    Abstract: A switch for switching an electrical load comprises a contact chamber in which a first contact member, a second contact member and a movable contact bridge are arranged. The contact chamber is arranged in a mounting support. The contact chamber comprises a ceramic material and the mounting support comprises a plastics material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: Tyco Electronics Amp GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Hoffmann, Matthias Kroeker, Udo Gabel
  • Patent number: 6943653
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bi-stable electric switch comprising a spring (101) that is configured as a bi-stable snap-action spring and carries contact elements (114, 116) on the carrier strip (104) of the spring and comprising at least one drive element made from shape memory material per switch state for actuating the spring, the spring having a plate (110) that is rigidly fixed at one end (102) and that is subjected to a pressure in the direction of its linear extension and evades this by bulging towards one side into one of two stable final states, the regions of the spring in the stable final states taking up different lateral positions and the drive elements (118, 119) acting upon the free end of the plate and as a result of the tilting of free end (104) cause it to snap into the second stable final state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Amp GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Hanke, Matthias Kroeker, Thomas Haehnel, Joerg Schultheiss
  • Publication number: 20030156006
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bi-stable electric switch comprising a spring (101) that is configured as a bi-stable snap-action spring and carries contact elements (114, 116) on the carrier strip (104) of the spring and comprising at least one drive element made from shape memory material per switch state for actuating the spring, the spring having a plate (110) that is rigidly fixed at one end (102) and that is subjected to a pressure in the direction of its linear extension and evades this by bulging towards one side into one of two stable final states, the regions of the spring in the stable final states taking up different lateral positions and the drive elements (118, 119) acting upon the free end of the plate and as a result of the tilting of free end (104) cause it to snap into the second stable final state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: Martin Hanke, Matthias Kroeker, Thomas Haehnel, Joerg Schultheis
  • Publication number: 20020018332
    Abstract: The arrangement described contains a device by means of which influence is exerted on an arc forming between the contact elements in such a way that the voltage established between the contact elements is increased, and a quenching device is provided which diverts and/or consumes energy supplied to the contact elements once a predetermined voltage is reached. An arrangement of this type makes it possible reliably and simply to prevent the contact elements and/or elements connected to the arrangement from being damaged or destroyed by effects occurring in particular when the contact elements are disengaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventors: Matthias Kroeker, Martin Hanke