Patents Assigned to IMEC
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Patent number: 11971385Abstract: A cyclic capillary electrophoresis device includes a capillary channel that forms a closed loop. The capillary channel comprises an inner half facing toward a space enclosed by the loop, where the inner half having an inner wall of first charge density, and an outer half facing away from the space enclosed by the loop, where the outer half having an inner wall surface of second charge density. A difference between the first and the second charge densities exists or can be turned on. The difference is configured to create a smaller average electroosmotic flow velocity in the inner half than in the outer half.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2020Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignees: Imec vzw, Katholieke Universiteit LeuvenInventors: Koen Martens, Chengxun Liu, Camila Dalben Madeira Campos, Rita Vos
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Publication number: 20240133016Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for etching a molybdenum feature, comprising the steps of: a) oxidizing a thickness portion of the molybdenum feature using a thermal oxidation process to form a thermal molybdenum oxide layer, and b) dissolving the thermal molybdenum oxide layer using a wet chemistry.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2021Publication date: April 25, 2024Applicants: IMEC VZW, SCREEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.Inventors: Antoine Pacco, Nakano Teppei
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Patent number: 11968596Abstract: A method for estimating movements of a crowd between a first and second subregion in an area are monitored by a wireless sensor network. The wireless sensor network includes nodes configured to exchange a radio frequency signal through a first respective second link. The first respective second link crosses the first respective second subregion. The method includes the steps of exchanging radio frequency signals over the first and second link; and measuring respective first and second attenuations of the exchanged radio frequency signals over the first respective second link; and estimating based on a change in the attenuations a flow of the crowd between the first and second subregion. The estimating further includes estimating based on the first and second attenuations a density of the crowd in the first respective second subregion; and estimating based thereon a flux of the crowd between the first and second subregion.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2020Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignees: IMEC VZW, UNIVERSITEIT ANTWERPENInventors: Ben Bellekens, Rafael Berkvens, Stijn Denis, Maarten Weyn
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Patent number: 11968841Abstract: A ferroelectric device, for instance, a metal-ferroelectric-metal (MFM) capacitor, a ferroelectric random access memory (Fe-RAM), or a ferroelectric field effect transistor (FeFET), is provided. In one aspect, the ferroelectric device is based on hafnium zirconate (HZO). The ferroelectric device can include a first electrode and a second electrode, and a doped HZO layer, which is arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode. The doped HZO layer can include a ferroelectric layer and at least two non-zero remnant polarization charge states. The doped HZO layer can be doped with at least two different elements selected from the lanthanide series, or with a combination of at least one element selected from the lanthanide series and at least one rare earth element.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2022Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: IMEC vzwInventors: Mihaela Ioana Popovici, Amey Mahadev Walke, Jan Van Houdt
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Patent number: 11957443Abstract: A system for electrical impedance tomography comprises: a plurality of electrodes; a plurality of impedance measurement units, each being associated with two or more electrodes, and wherein each impedance measurement unit comprises a current generator for generating a stimulation current between the electrodes and an amplifier for amplifying a measurement voltage between the electrodes; wherein the system is configured to perform a plurality of impedance measurements, wherein, for each impedance measurement, one impedance measurement unit is set in a stimulation mode for providing a stimulation current into the object, and wherein the impedance measurement unit being set in the stimulation mode is switched among the plurality of impedance measurement units, and wherein each impedance measurement unit is configured to be set in a calibration mode during at least one of the plurality of impedance measurements.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2021Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: Stichting IMEC NederlandInventors: Seulki Lee, Mario Konijnenburg, Gijs Van Gestel, Nahm Il Koo
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Patent number: 11955368Abstract: According to one aspect, a reconditioning wafer can include a carrier substrate that supports at least one array of regularly spaced protrusions configured to form indentations in a support surface of a wafer holding stage. The protrusions within the same array can have substantially the same shape and dimensions, thereby enabling a more reliable reconditioning process compared to prior art solutions. The protrusions may have the form of pyramids or pillars or other similar shapes with at least the tip of the protrusions formed of a material suitable to make the indentations. The reconditioning wafer can be obtainable by a molding technique wherein an array of molds can be created in a mold substrate. The molds can be filled with an indentation material such as diamond, and can be bonded to the carrier substrate. The mold substrate can be removed by thinning and wet etching.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2020Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: IMEC VZWInventor: Thomas Hantschel
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Patent number: 11953451Abstract: A method is provided for inspection of an item comprising acquiring a projection image of the item using a radiation imaging system and obtaining a plurality of simulated projection images of the item or a component thereof, based on a simulation of a numerical three-dimensional model. A relative orientation of the item with respect to the imaging system is determined by comparing the projection image to the plurality of simulated images, and at least one angle of rotation is determined by taking into account a viewing angle and the relative orientation. The method further comprises moving the item and/or the imaging system in accordance with the at least one angle of rotation and acquiring a further projection image of the item.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2019Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignees: UNIVERSITEIT ANTWERPEN, IMEC VZWInventors: Jan De Beenhouwer, Jan Sijbers
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Patent number: 11953612Abstract: A method of ranging between a first and a second radio signal transceiver comprises calculating a preliminary estimate of a value proportional to a one-way frequency domain channel response, for a frequency of a plurality of frequencies and for each of a first antenna combination and a second antenna combination of a plurality of antenna combinations; calculating a comparison value for the preliminary estimate, for the frequency and for each of the first antenna combination and the second antenna combination; determining, for the frequency and the first antenna combination, a corrected estimate of the value proportional to the one-way frequency domain channel response based on the preliminary estimate and the comparison value, for the first antenna combination and the second antenna combination; and performing a ranging calculation between the first and the second radio signal transceiver based on a plurality of such corrected estimates.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2021Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: Stichting IMEC NederlandInventors: Lichen Yao, Pepijn Boer, Jac Romme
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Patent number: 11944965Abstract: A microfluidic device, a diagnostic device including the microfluidic device and a method for making the microfluidic device are provided. The microfluidic device includes: (i) a transparent substrate comprising a cavity, the cavity opening up to a top of the transparent substrate; (ii) a transparent layer covering the cavity, and (iii) a semiconductor substrate over the transparent layer and the transparent substrate, wherein the semiconductor substrate comprises a through hole overlaying the cavity and exposing the transparent layer.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2020Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: Imec vzwInventors: Giuseppe Fiorentino, Simone Severi, Aurelie Humbert
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Patent number: 11946850Abstract: A device for detecting particles in air; said device comprising: a receiver for receiving a flow of air comprising particles; a particle capturing arrangement configured to transfer the particles from the flow of air to a liquid for collection of a set of particles in the liquid; a flow channel configured to pass a flow of the liquid comprising the set of particles through the flow channel; a light source configured to illuminate the set of particles in the flow channel, such that an interference pattern is formed by interference between light being scattered by the set of particles and non-scattered light from the light source; and an image sensor comprising a plurality of photo-sensitive elements configured to detect incident light, the image sensor being configured to detect the interference pattern.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2020Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: IMEC VZWInventors: Geert Vanmeerbeeck, Ziduo Lin, Abdulkadir Yurt, Richard Stahl, Andy Lambrechts
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Patent number: 11946849Abstract: A differentiation system for differentiating cells includes an input device configured to receive holographic image data of a microscopic particle in suspension, holographic image data processing logic for converting the holographic image data to the frequency domain by performing a Fourier transform of the holographic image data, and a recognizer configured to determine characterization features of the holographic image data of the microscopic particle in the frequency domain for characterization of the microscopic particle, the characterization features comprising rotationally invariant features.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2018Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignees: IMEC VZW, Vrije Universiteit BrusselInventors: Bruno Cornelis, David Blinder, Peter Schelkens, Bart Jansen
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Patent number: 11931160Abstract: A brain interaction apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises a plurality of filaments; and a brain invasive launcher having a plurality of launching channels extending in a longitudinal direction between a proximal end and a distal end thereof. Each launching channel is configured for holding one of the plurality of filaments moveably arranged therein. At least one of the plurality of filaments is provided with a steering tip affixed to a distal end thereof. The steering tip comprises a portion tapering in a longitudinal direction of the at least one of the plurality of filaments thereby narrowing toward a distal end of the steering tip. The tapered portion is rotationally asymmetrical about a longitudinal axis of the at least one of the plurality of filaments.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2018Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignees: Imec vzw, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, VIBInventors: Sebastian Haesler, Luis Diego Leon Hoffman
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Patent number: 11927479Abstract: A smart contact lens (400) for detecting a ratiometric change in an incident light (126) intensity is provided, including one or more, preferably concentric, rings (410-1, 410-2, . . . , 410-N) of a liquid crystal display, LCD, type, each ring being operable between a state having a lower attenuation of light and a state having a higher attenuation of light; a circuit (420, 100, 101) for detecting a ratiometric change in an incident light intensity; and a controller (430) configured to operate the one or more rings based on an intensity of an incident light and to, as a response to the circuit (420, 100, 10 101) detecting a ratiometric change in the intensity of the incident light from a higher intensity state to a lower intensity state indicating that at least a beginning of a blinking of an eye of a user has occurred, initiate a re-polarization of the one or more rings. A method of operating the smart contact lens and various uses of the circuit are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2020Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignees: IMEC VZW, STICHTING IMEC NEDERLANDInventors: Chris Van Liempd, Andres Felipe Vasquez Quintero, Herbert De Smet
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Patent number: 11927586Abstract: A method and system for inspection of an item, and a use thereof, are presented. The method comprises acquiring a plurality of projection images of an item at a plurality of projection angles for performing a tomographic reconstruction of the item. A plurality of objects are detected in the tomographic reconstruction and each object has a generic shape described by a parametric three-dimensional numerical model. Said detection comprises determining initial estimates of position and/or orientation of each object and at least one geometrical parameter of the three-dimensional model for each object. The initial estimates are iteratively refining by using a projection-matching approach, in which forward projection images are simulated for the objects according to operating parameters of the radiation imaging device and a difference metric between acquired projection images and simulated forward projection images is reduced at each iteration step.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2019Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignees: UNIVERSITEIT ANTWERPEN, IMEC VZWInventors: Jan De Beenhouwer, Jan Sijbers
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Patent number: 11929385Abstract: A method for forming a pixelated optoelectronic stack comprises forming a stacked layer structure that comprises a bottom electrode layer, an optoelectronic layer over the bottom electrode layer, and a patterned hard-mask comprising a pattern over the optoelectronic layer. The method comprises replicating the pattern into the optoelectronic layer and the bottom electrode layer, thereby forming a first intermediate pixelated stack comprising at least two islands of stack separated from one another by stack-free areas; providing an electrically insulating layer on the first intermediate pixelated stack; removing a top portion of the electrically insulating layer and removing any remaining hard-mask so that a top surface of the electrically insulating layer is coplanar with an exposed top surface of the first intermediate pixelated stack, yielding a second intermediate pixelated stack; and forming a top transparent electrode layer over the second intermediate pixelated stack.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2021Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: Imec vzwInventors: Yunlong Li, Stefano Guerrieri, Ming Mao, Luis Moreno Hagelsieb
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Patent number: 11923198Abstract: In a first aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for forming a patterning mask over a layer to be patterned, the method comprising: (a) providing a first layer over a substrate, the substrate comprising the layer to be patterned, the first layer being capable to bond with a monolayer comprising a compound comprising a functional group for bonding to the first layer and a removable organic group, (b) bonding the monolayer to the first layer, (c) exposing the monolayer to an energy beam, thereby forming a pattern comprising a first area comprising the compound with the removable organic group and a second area comprising the compound not having the removable organic group, and (d) selectively depositing an amorphous carbon layer on top of the first area.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2021Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignees: IMEC VZW, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, KU LEUVEN R&DInventors: Mikhail Krishtab, Silvia Armini
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Patent number: 11911136Abstract: A device for calculating a subject's cardiac pulse transit or arrival time information is configured to receive an electronic audio signal with information indicative of a human voice signal and a primary cardiac pulse signal; generate a power spectral profile of a section of the electronic audio signal, and detect a fundamental frequency (F0) of the generated power spectral profile; generate a denoised audio signal; generate a time-domain intermediate signal that captures frequency, amplitude and/or phase of the denoised audio signal; detect at least one intermediate signal fiducial point, within a human cardiac band, in the intermediate signal; detect at least one primary cardiac pulse fiducial point, within a human cardiac band, in the primary cardiac pulse signal; calculate pulse transit time or pulse arrival time information between the at least one detected primary cardiac signal fiducial point and the at least one detected intermediate signal fiducial point.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2020Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: IMEC NederlandInventors: Carlos Agell, Evelien Hermeling, Vojkan Mihajlovic
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Patent number: 11910725Abstract: The present disclosure relates to magnetic devices. In particular, the disclosure relates to magnetic memory and logic devices that employ the voltage control of magnetic anisotropy (VCMA) effect for magnetization switching. The present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing a magnetic structure for such a magnetic device. The method comprising the following steps: providing a bottom electrode layer, forming a SrTiO3 (STO) stack on the bottom electrode layer by atomic layer deposition (ALD) of at least two different STO nanolaminates, forming a magnetic layer on the STO stack, and forming a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) promoting layer on the magnetic layer, the PMA promoting layer being configured to promote PMA in the magnetic layer.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2020Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignees: IMEC VZW, Katholieke Universiteit LeuvenInventors: Bart Vermeulen, Mihaela Ioana Popovici, Koen Martens, Gouri Sankar Kar
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Patent number: 11900987Abstract: The disclosed technology relates to a non-volatile (NV) static random-access memory (SRAM) device, and to a method of operating the same. The NV-SRAM device includes a plurality of bit-cells, wherein each bit-cell comprises: an SRAM bit-cell; a first bit-line connected via a first access element to the SRAM bit-cell; a NV bit-cell connected via a switch to the SRAM bit-cell; and a second bit-line connected via a second access element to the NV bit-cell. The NV-SRAM device is configured to independently write data from the first bit-line into the SRAM bit-cell through the first access element, and respectively from the second bit-line into the NV bit-cell through the second access element.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2020Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignees: IMEC vzw, Katholieke Universiteit LeuvenInventors: Mohit Gupta, Manu Komalan Perumkunnil
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Patent number: 11898958Abstract: A spot on a layer of a 2D semiconductor material deposited on a substrate is irradiated so as to generate excitons, so that photons are emitted from the layer. The photoluminescence spectrum is recorded for different values of the charge carrier concentration in the layer. The modulation of the charge carrier concentration may be realized by modulating the output power of the light source used to irradiate the sample. The relation is recorded between the ratio of the photoluminescence intensity of a first peak in the spectrum related to radiative recombination from indirect bandgaps to the intensity of a second peak in the spectrum related to radiative recombination from direct bandgaps, and the carrier concentration. This relation is fitted to a model of the ratio that takes into account multiple recombination mechanisms, radiative and non-radiative. From this process, the trap density within the bandgap is derived.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2021Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignees: IMEC VZW, Katholieke UniversitietInventors: Alessandra Leonhardt, Cesar Javier Lockhart De La Rosa, Stefan De Gendt, Cedric Huyghebaert, Steven Brems, Thomas Nuytten