Patents by Inventor Walter Apfelbacher

Walter Apfelbacher 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: 20240087981
    Abstract: A heat sink for a semiconductor switching device. The heat sink has a contact surface for producing planar contact with one or more elements of a power module of the semiconductor switching device that are to be cooled. The heat sink additionally has measures for positioning the power module on and fastening it to the heat sink in a preferred position, and a fastening plate with molded-on mountings for positioning and mounting the heat sink on a carrier device. The heat sink, including the contact surface and the fastening plate, is manufactured in one piece from electrically insulating, thermally conductive plastics material having a thermal conductivity of at least 2 W/(m·K).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventor: Walter Apfelbacher
  • Patent number: 7692293
    Abstract: A semiconductor switching module includes a power semiconductor element that is embodied in planar technology. In at least one embodiment, the power semiconductor element is provided with a base layer, a copper layer, and at least one power semiconductor chip that is mounted on the copper layer, and another electrically conducting layer which covers at least one load terminal of the power semiconductor chip. According to at least one embodiment of the invention, devices are provided for safely connecting the load terminal to a load circuit. The devices are configured such that a contact area thereof presses in a planar manner onto the electrically conducting layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Walter Apfelbacher, Norbert Reichenbach, Johann Seitz
  • Patent number: 7515421
    Abstract: A multi-component housing including a housing shell and a housing lid is disclosed. A support plate that is fitted with at least one power electronics component is disposed on a base plate of the housing shell. The housing lid supports a mounting device for fastening the housing to a cooling body by pressing the support plate to a supporting area of the cooling body. At least one supporting element is provided for transferring a pressing force that is applied in the direction of the base plate from the housing lid to the housing shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Walter Apfelbacher, Thomas Kurbjuweit, Annemarie Lehmeier, Norbert Reichenbach
  • Publication number: 20090008772
    Abstract: A semiconductor switching module includes a power semiconductor element that is embodied in planar technology. In at least one embodiment, the power semiconductor element is provided with a base layer, a copper layer, and at least one power semiconductor chip that is mounted on the copper layer, and another electrically conducting layer which covers at least one load terminal of the power semiconductor chip. According to at least one embodiment of the invention, devices are provided for safely connecting the load terminal to a load circuit. The devices are configured such that a contact area thereof presses in a planar manner onto the electrically conducting layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventors: Walter Apfelbacher, Norbert Reichenbach, Johann Seitz
  • Patent number: 7405550
    Abstract: A control input of an electrical device is disclosed, which is resistant to parasitic currents and which is especially suitable for a large bandwidth of various driving voltages. For this purpose, a control input circuit includes a constant current sink connected to a control line, whose current consumption during the duration of the detection pulse assumes a detection value relative which the power consumption between two successive detection pulses is reduced. The circuit also includes an evaluation module that analyzes the input current flowing in the control line and that indicates a control signal if, during the detection pulse, the input current does not fall below a predetermined switch-on value for a predetermined duty cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Walter Apfelbacher, Norbert Reichenbach, Johann Seitz
  • Patent number: 7405943
    Abstract: An electronic appliance is especially easy to assemble and includes a housing and a circuit carrier which is held in the housing. The circuit carrier is guided in the housing in a displaceable manner and is applied by at least one spring element against a housing abutment which accurately centres the circuit carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Walter Apfelbacher, Annemarie Lehmeier, Johann Seitz
  • Publication number: 20070109704
    Abstract: An aim is to make wiring accessories in distribution boards more compact. The aim is achieved by integrating fuses in switching protective devices that are used for functional switching, interrupting, and overload protection such that switching protective devices including fuses can be produced in a housing while short-circuit protection can be coupled to the interruption function if necessary by isolating one fuse from the contact/s.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Inventors: Walter Apfelbacher, Klaus Busch, Michael Schrock, Johann Seitz
  • Publication number: 20060250222
    Abstract: A control input of an electrical device is disclosed, which is resistant to parasitic currents and which is especially suitable for a large bandwidth of various driving voltages. For this purpose, a control input circuit includes a constant current sink connected to a control line, whose current consumption during the duration of the detection pulse assumes a detection value relative which the power consumption between two successive detection pulses is reduced. The circuit also includes an evaluation module that analyzes the input current flowing in the control line and that indicates a control signal if, during the detection pulse, the input current does not fall below a predetermined switch-on value for a predetermined duty cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Publication date: November 9, 2006
    Inventors: Walter Apfelbacher, Norbert Reichenbach, Johann Seitz
  • Publication number: 20060186494
    Abstract: A semiconductor relay includes an essentially parallelepiped-shaped housing that has a fastening side and four lateral surfaces, which are perpendicular thereto, and has a front side, which is opposite the fastening side. These lateral surfaces and front side serve as connecting sides. At least one electrical connecting element and at least one mechanical connecting element for connecting a functional module, which can be connected to the housing, are provided on a number of connecting sides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Inventors: Walter Apfelbacher, Annernarie Lehmeier, Johann Seitz
  • Publication number: 20060164810
    Abstract: A multi-component housing including a housing shell and a housing lid is disclosed. A support plate that is fitted with at least one power electronics component is disposed on a base plate of the housing shell. The housing lid supports a mounting device for fastening the housing to a cooling body by pressing the support plate to a supporting area of the cooling body. At least one supporting element is provided for transferring a pressing force that is applied in the direction of the base plate from the housing lid to the housing shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Inventors: Walter Apfelbacher, Thomas Kurbjuweit, Annemarie Lehmeier, Norbert Reichenbach
  • Publication number: 20060120057
    Abstract: An electronic appliance is especially easy to assemble and includes a housing and a circuit carrier which is held in the housing. The circuit carrier is guided in the housing in a displaceable manner and is applied by at least one spring element against a housing abutment which accurately centres the circuit carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Inventors: Walter Apfelbacher, Annemarie Lehmeier, Johan Seitz
  • Patent number: 7027303
    Abstract: The inventive electronic power module is provided for effecting the smooth starting of motors. The module essentially includes two semiconductor elements, which are connected in an electrically anti-parallel manner and which are clamped between two metal bars, having a high thermal capacity, e.g. made of copper, by a pressing device. After being intermediately stored in the metal bars, the heat loss of the semiconductor elements is dissipated by cooling bodies placed on the metal bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Walter Apfelbacher, Heinrich Gerstenköper, Ralf Jörke, Elmar Krause, Gerhard Mewissen, Norbert Reichenbach
  • Patent number: 6856503
    Abstract: A control device is for a commercially available switchgear and an electronic power module. Compactness of the device is improved so that it can be used in a switchgear cabinet. To this end, the power module is placed onto the switchgear on the side facing away from its bottom wall and the dimensions of the power module are adapted to the base contour of the switchgear so that the peripheral contour of the power module extends beyond the base contour only slightly, if at all, wherein at least the width of the contactor does not extend beyond it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Walter Apfelbacher, Norbert Reichenbach
  • Publication number: 20050006053
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) and an arrangement (2) for fixing a profiled part (4) to a bearing rail (5) which are simple and economical to manufacture. According to the invention, an adapter-type discrete connecting element (3) is used. Said connecting element comprises fixing means (6) which can be connected to the profiled part (4) and second (6) fixing means (7) which can be connected to the bearing rail (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Inventors: Walter Apfelbacher, Norbert Reichenbach, Johann Seitz
  • Publication number: 20040120096
    Abstract: The inventive electronic power module is provided for effecting the smooth starting of motors. The module essentially includes two semiconductor elements, which are connected in an electrically anti-parallel manner and which are clamped between two metal bars, having a high thermal capacity, e.g. made of copper, by a pressing device. After being intermediately stored in the metal bars, the heat loss of the semiconductor elements is dissipated by cooling bodies placed on the metal bars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Inventors: Walter Apfelbacher, Heinrich Gerstenkoper, Ralf Jorke, Elmar Krause, Gerhard Mewissen, Norbert Reichenbach
  • Publication number: 20040109293
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control device for a commercially available switchgear (2) and an electronic power module (3). The aim the invention is to improve the compactness of such a device so that it can be used in a switchgear cabinet. To this end, the power module (3) is placed onto the switchgear (2) on the side facing away from its bottom wall (5) and the dimensions of the power module (3) are adapted to the base contour of the switchgear (2) so that the peripheral contour of the power module extends beyond the base contour only slightly, if at all, and at least the width b of the contactor does not extend beyond it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Walter Apfelbacher, Norbert Reichenbach
  • Patent number: 4883927
    Abstract: The contactors for a pair of switchgears are coupled via a blocking body in such a way that upon activation of one switchgear the other switchgear, which acts upon the blocking body in a sense opposite to that of the first switchgear is blcoked in its activation motion. To this end, each slide that is guided in a guide housing is rigidly connected with a tappet in the direction of motion via the collar of a collar screw which screwed into the slide. Each of the lobes of the heart-shaped blocking body are essentially rigidly connected with one of the tappets via dogs in the direction of motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1989
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Walter Apfelbacher, Edgar Wiessner, Karl-Hans Barnklau
  • Patent number: D619969
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Walter Apfelbacher, Bertrand Viala