Patents by Inventor Michael Berner
Michael Berner 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: 10767779Abstract: A valve controller for electrically actuating at least one valve drive, with a control circuit, which is designed to influence an electric energy flow between an electric source and the valve drive and which includes a bus interface for communication with a superordinate control arrangement (2) as well as a sensor means, which is designed to determine physical variable of the energy flow changeable by electrically actuating the valve drive as well as for providing a sensor signal dependent upon the determined physical variable to the control circuit wherein the control circuit is designed to determine a status value for the valve drive based on the sensor signal and at least one characteristic value of a physical variable from the group: energy flow duration, energy flow voltage, energy flow current, fluid pressure and is designed to provide the status value to the bus interface.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2015Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: FESTO SE & Co. KGInventors: Martin Maichl, Michael Berner
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Publication number: 20190085871Abstract: A valve module for mounting to a fluid distribution device, including a main body, which has two mutually opposed interface surfaces, which are designed for connection to a valve module or to a fluid distribution device wherein a distribution device connection for fluid coupling to a distribution device connection of the fluid distribution device or to a distribution device connection of another valve module and a working connection for fluidic coupling to a working connection of the fluid distribution device or a working connection of another valve module, is formed on each of the interface surfaces, wherein the main body is permeated by a fluid channel which extends between the two distribution device connections and the two working connections and to which a valve device is assigned to influence an open fluid channel cross-section.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2016Publication date: March 21, 2019Inventor: Michael Berner
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Publication number: 20190049032Abstract: A valve controller for electrically actuating at least one valve drive, with a control circuit, which is designed to influence an electric energy flow between an electric source and the valve drive and which includes a bus interface for communication with a superordinate control arrangement (2) as well as a sensor means, which is designed to determine physical variable of the energy flow changeable by electrically actuating the valve drive as well as for providing a sensor signal dependent upon the determined physical variable to the control circuit wherein the control circuit is designed to determine a status value for the valve drive based on the sensor signal and at least one characteristic value of a physical variable from the group: energy flow duration, energy flow voltage, energy flow current, fluid pressure and is designed to provide the status value to the bus interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2015Publication date: February 14, 2019Inventors: Martin Maichl, Michael Berner
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Patent number: 9970551Abstract: A valve, which has at least one seal ring arranged in a recess of a valve housing, which seal ring has a seal housing having a U-shaped cross-section, in which seal housing an annular sealing element is arranged. The seal housing has a multi-part design and contains at least one separate housing leg, which is fixed to an annular bottom section of the seal housing in a joining region. The sealing element has a static sealing section, which engages in a sealing groove formed in the bottom section and is suitable for interacting with the two groove flanks of the sealing groove in a sealing manner.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2013Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: FESTO AG & CO. KGInventors: Michael Berner, Falk Rapke
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Patent number: 9886041Abstract: A method for configuring a fluid control unit including the provision of a processing device with information on the fluid control unit, the moving device and fluid control valves, the determination of possible basic states of the moving device for the fluid control valves and/or of possible movement sequences, and the selection of a basic state and/or of a movement sequence by a user, the transmission, of a respective configuration file to the fluid control unit including open- and/or closed-loop control parameters for the selection of the fluid control valves, the use of the open- and/or closed-loop control parameters from the configuration file in the fluid control unit for selecting the fluid control valves for setting the selected basic state and/or for carrying out the selected movement sequence.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2012Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: FESTO AG & CO. KGInventors: Martin Maichl, Michael Berner
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Publication number: 20160153566Abstract: A valve, which has at least one seal ring arranged in a recess of a valve housing, which seal ring has a seal housing having a U-shaped cross-section, in which seal housing an annular sealing element is arranged. The seal housing has a multi-part design and contains at least one separate housing leg, which is fixed to an annular bottom section of the seal housing in a joining region. The sealing element has a static sealing section, which engages in a sealing groove formed in the bottom section and is suitable for interacting with the two groove flanks of the sealing groove in a sealing manner.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2013Publication date: June 2, 2016Inventors: Michael BERNER, Falk RAPKE
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Publication number: 20160131270Abstract: A valve includes at least one seal ring arranged in a recess of a valve housing, which seal ring has a seal housing having a U-shaped cross-section, in which an annular sealing element is arranged. At least one of the two housing legs of the seal housing is designed as a guiding leg, which effects transverse support and linear displacement guidance of a valve slide that passes through the seal ring.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2013Publication date: May 12, 2016Inventors: Michael Berner, Falk Rapke
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Patent number: 9241416Abstract: A module arrangement including a plurality of functional modules lined up in a stacking direction, which are connected to one another for fluidic and electric communication, wherein a functional module includes a plate-shaped base body having two parallel, opposite joining surfaces which are designed to contact joining surfaces of adjacent base bodies, wherein the base body includes a connecting device designed for transferring electric signals and/or electric supply voltages and/or fluid flows between adjacent functional modules along the stacking direction, and wherein several signal lines selectable by the control module extend along the stacking direction of the functional modules for transmitting control signals provided for the direct selection of individual functional modules wherein at least one storage device for detecting, buffering and transferring at least one electric signal of an external component is electrically looped into at least one signal line.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2011Date of Patent: January 19, 2016Assignee: FESTO AG & CO. KGInventors: Michael Berner, Ralf Forcht
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Publication number: 20140336829Abstract: A method for configuring a fluid control unit including the provision of a processing device with information on the fluid control unit, the moving device and fluid control valves, the determination of possible basic states of the moving device for the fluid control valves and/or of possible movement sequences, and the selection of a basic state and/or of a movement sequence by a user, the transmission, of a respective configuration file to the fluid control unit including open- and/or closed-loop control parameters for the selection of the fluid control valves, the use of the open- and/or closed-loop control parameters from the configuration file in the fluid control unit for selecting the fluid control valves for setting the selected basic state and/or for carrying out the selected movement sequence.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2012Publication date: November 13, 2014Applicant: FESTO AG & Co. KGInventors: Martin Maichl, Michael Berner
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Patent number: 8689833Abstract: The invention relates to a valve device for the fluid supply of fluid consumers, comprising several valve modules (2) arranged next to each other in the direction of stacking (3). Said valve modules (2) respectively comprise a plate-shaped channel body (11) provided with a feed channel recess (35) and/or a venting channel recess (36) and four 2/2 distributing valves (41, 42, 45, 46) respectively having a first and a second fluidic connection (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 55, 56). The four 2/2 distributing valves (41, 42, 45, 46) of the valve module (2) are interconnected in a full bridge arrangement. According to the invention, an additional module (6, 7), which is arranged on the connection surface of the channel body, is connected so it communicates with one or both working channels (21, 22) and is designed to control a fluid flow and/or for determining a parameter of the fluid flow from or to the working channel (21, 22).Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2010Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Festo AG & Co. KGInventors: Michael Berner, Rolf Berger
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Publication number: 20130329377Abstract: A module arrangement including a plurality of functional modules lined up in a stacking direction, which are connected to one another for fluidic and electric communication, wherein a functional module includes a plate-shaped base body having two parallel, opposite joining surfaces which are designed to contact joining surfaces of adjacent base bodies, wherein the base body includes a connecting device designed for transferring electric signals and/or electric supply voltages and/or fluid flows between adjacent functional modules along the stacking direction, and wherein several signal lines selectable by the control module extend along the stacking direction of the functional modules for transmitting control signals provided for the direct selection of individual functional modules wherein at least one storage device for detecting, buffering and transferring at least one electric signal of an external component is electrically looped into at least one signal line.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2011Publication date: December 12, 2013Applicant: FESTO AG & CO. KGInventors: Michael Berner, Ralf Forcht
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Publication number: 20120037250Abstract: The invention relates to a valve device for the fluid supply of fluid consumers, comprising several valve modules (2) arranged next to each other in the direction of stacking (3). Said valve modules (2) respectively comprise a plate-shaped channel body (11) provided with a feed channel recess (35) and/or a venting channel recess (36) and four 2/2 distributing valves (41, 42, 45, 46) respectively having a first and a second fluidic connection (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 55, 56). The four 2/2 distributing valves (41, 42, 45, 46) of the valve module (2) are interconnected in a full bridge arrangement. According to the invention, an additional module (6, 7), which is arranged on the connection surface of the channel body, is connected so it communicates with one or both working channels (21, 22) and is designed to control a fluid flow and/or for determining a parameter of the fluid flow from or to the working channel (21, 22).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2010Publication date: February 16, 2012Applicant: FESTO AG & CO. KGInventors: Michael Berner, Rolf Berger
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Patent number: 7607452Abstract: A valve construction kit is provided for the production of valve clusters respectively having several juxtaposed plate-like valve units. Each valve unit comprises a core module having a valve spool and a frame-like encasing element surrounding the core module. The construction kit furthermore comprises several encasing elements differing at least as regards the consistency of the their material and of different types so that it is possible to produce valve units for different applications owing to the selected combination with core modules.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2006Date of Patent: October 27, 2009Assignee: Festo AG & Co.Inventors: Heiko Kühbauch, Michael Berner
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Publication number: 20070178817Abstract: Discontinuous abrasive particle releasing surfaces are disclosed that may be employed in low speed wet grinding, sanding, and polishing operations. The discontinuous abrasive surfaces of the present invention may consist of abrasive containing protrusions attached to rigid or flexible surfaces or alternatively may be comprised of closed cell foam compositions impregnated with abrasive materials such as aluminum oxide. The voids present in the discontinuous abrasive surfaces of the present invention serve to hold water and remove debris. The resulting discontinuous abrasive particle releasing surfaces are long lasting and may be made low in cost.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2006Publication date: August 2, 2007Inventors: Fred N. Miekka, Bola Ajere, Michael Berner
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Publication number: 20070137708Abstract: A valve construction kit is provided for the production of valve clusters respectively having several juxtaposed plate-like valve units. Each valve unit comprises a core module having a valve spool and a frame-like encasing element surrounding the core module. The construction kit furthermore comprises several encasing elements differing at least as regards the consistency of the their material and of different types so that it is possible to produce valve units for different applications owing to the selected combination with core modules.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2006Publication date: June 21, 2007Inventors: Heiko Kühbauch, Michael Berner
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Patent number: 7191800Abstract: A fluid power controller device comprises a plurality of valve modules arranged sequentially in a row direction and collected together as an array-like unit, such modules comprising respectively a principal valve having at least one moving valve member and at least one electrically operated valve drive for the principal valve. At least two of the valve modules placed sequentially in the row direction are spaced from each other with the formation of an intermediate space. In such intermediate space a diagnostic module is placed for the detection of at least one operational state of one or both principal valves.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2003Date of Patent: March 20, 2007Assignee: Festo AG & Co.Inventors: Michael Berner, Grzegorz Bogdanowicz
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Publication number: 20060011240Abstract: A fluid power controller device comprises a plurality of valve modules arranged sequentially in a row direction and collected together as an array-like unit, such modules comprising respectively a principal valve having at least one moving valve member and at least one electrically operated valve drive for the principal valve. At least two of the valve modules placed sequentially in the row direction are spaced from each other with the formation of an intermediate space. In such intermediate space a diagnostic module is placed for the detection of at least one operational state of one or both principal valves.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2003Publication date: January 19, 2006Inventors: Michael Berner, Grzegorz Bogdanowicz
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Patent number: 6935845Abstract: A plurality of vacuum producing units capable of being employed together or independently of each other, each have a housing. The housing is internally provided with at least one ejector receiving means fitted with an ejector insert. The housings have the same transverse dimensions of at least one ejector receiving means. Individual vacuum producing units are fitted with different types of ejector inserts in the ejector receiving means for setting different fluid flow paths.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2001Date of Patent: August 30, 2005Assignee: Festo AG & Co.Inventors: Michael Berner, Jürgen Schnatterer
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Patent number: 6681800Abstract: A control means which possesses an electrical control unit having a bus connection, electronic circuitry and at least one electrical output. On the latter a valve is connection by means of cooperating connection means, said valve serving for the control of fluid flows, the two connection means providing for both electrical contact and also fixation of the valve in place. Furthermore, an electrically actuated valve is provided by the invention, which is held in place exclusively by a single connection means on a control unit and is provided with electrical plug contact means, which render possible connection with such electrical plug contact means of the electronic control unit, whose plug contact elements are arranged in quicunx.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2001Date of Patent: January 27, 2004Assignee: Festo AG & Co.Inventors: Manfred Rüdle, Michael Berner
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Patent number: 6649827Abstract: A radio frequency shield enclosure (100) is mounted on a printed circuit board and is adapted to allow optical checking of the components enclosed by the shield enclosure (100). A cover (402) is removably attached to a frame (102) on the printed circuit board for access to the printed circuit board components therein. Material and spring forces are selected to minimize the forces on the printed circuit board when attaching or removing the shield enclosure cover (402). Any openings or gaps in the radio frequency shield enclosure cover (402) are small enough to prevent radio frequency energy at the highest anticipated frequency from being radiated outside of the radio frequency shield enclosure (100).Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2001Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignees: Siemens Information & Communication Moblie, LLC, Haerter Stanztechnik GmbHInventors: David Owen West, Michael Berner, Kenneth Lawrence Weselake