Patents by Inventor Elke Schmidt

Elke Schmidt 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: 9816887
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a pressure measuring cell, which has a ceramic platform and a ceramic measuring membrane, wherein the measuring membrane is joined with the platform pressure tightly by an active hard solder, or braze, wherein the method includes: providing the platform, the measuring membrane and the active hard solder, or braze, positioning the active hard solder, or braze, between the platform and the measuring membrane; melting the active hard solder, or braze, by irradiating the active hard solder, or braze, by a laser, wherein the irradiating of the active hard solder, or braze, occurs through the measuring membrane; and letting the active hard solder, or braze, solidify by cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Andrea Berlinger, Ulfert Drewes, Andreas Rossberg, Elke Schmidt, Thomas Uehlin
  • Patent number: 9759623
    Abstract: A pressure measuring cell includes an elastic measuring membrane which is contactable with a first pressure on a first side and with a second pressure on a second side facing away from the first side. The measuring membrane is deflectable as a function of a difference between the first pressure and the second pressure, wherein the measuring membrane pressure-tightly isolates a first volume, which is facing the first side of the measuring membrane, from a second volume, which is facing the second side of the measuring membrane. The pressure measuring cell further includes a transducer for transducing the pressure dependent deflection of the measuring membrane into an electrical or optical signal. The measuring membrane has in the equilibrium state of the measuring membrane compressive stresses at least at the surface of the measuring membrane at least in a radial edge region, in which in the deflected state of the measuring membrane under pressure loading tensile stress maxima occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Inventors: Ulfert Drewes, Nils Ponath, Andreas Rossberg, Elke Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20170146418
    Abstract: A differential pressure measuring cell comprises a measuring membrane; two opposing bodies; and one converter. The measuring membrane is arranged between the opposing bodies and is connected in a pressure-tight manner to the two opposing bodies, forming in each case one measuring chamber. The opposing bodies each have a pressure duct through which a pressure can be made to act upon the respective measuring chamber. The converter is provided in order to convert a deformation of the measuring membrane, which deformation is dependent upon a difference between the pressures, into an electrical signal; wherein the opposing bodies each have a chamber section oriented toward the measuring membrane and a rear wall section oriented away from the measuring membrane with, between these, a decoupling chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Ulfert Drewes, Michael Hugel, Nils Ponath, Andreas Rossberg, Elke Schmidt, Thomas Uehlin
  • Patent number: 9631995
    Abstract: A ceramic product includes a first ceramic part and a second ceramic part, wherein the first ceramic part is connected with the second ceramic part via a joint, wherein the joint comprises an active hard solder, or braze, characterized in that the joint has an inhomogeneous distribution of the components of the active hard solder, or braze, wherein at least at an interface between the active hard solder, or braze, and the ceramic, the at least one active component of the active hard solder, or braze, is enriched. For manufacture of the product, the active hard solder, or braze, material is provided in such a manner, that at least one surface section of at least one of the ceramic parts is first coated with at least one active component of the active hard solder, or braze, and that on the coated section, an alloy is provided, which, by melting of the alloy during the heating, alloys with the coating and forms a metal joint between the two ceramic parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Andrea Berlinger, Ulfert Drewes, Andreas Roβberg, Detlef Schleiferböck, Elke Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9631994
    Abstract: An assembly, comprising: a first ceramic body and a second ceramic body connected by means of a joint of an active hard solder, or braze, wherein the active hard solder, or braze, averaged over a continuous main volume, which includes at least 50% of the volume of the joint, has an average composition CM with a liquidus temperature Tl(CM). An edge region of the joint, which contacts at least one of the ceramic bodies, has an average composition CE with a liquidus temperature Tl(CE), which lies not less than 20 K, preferably not less than 50 K, and especially preferably not less than 100 K above the liquidus temperature Tl(CM) of the average composition CM of the main volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Nils Ponath, Andreas Rossberg, Elke Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9625335
    Abstract: A pressure measuring cell includes at least one ceramic measuring membrane body; and at least one ceramic platform, wherein the measuring membrane body is connected with the platform along an annular, peripheral joint. The joint is formed as a welded connection between the measuring membrane body and the platform, wherein the measuring membrane body has a pressure-dependently deformable measuring membrane. A pressure sensor includes a pressure measuring cell and a housing, wherein the pressure measuring cell is held by the housing, and wherein the pressure measuring cell closes a housing opening, through which the pressure measuring cell communicates with an environment of the housing. A seal is clamped between a sealing surface surrounding the opening of the housing and a sealing surface of the pressure measuring cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER GMBH + CO. KG
    Inventors: Andrea Berlinger, Ulfert Drewes, Michael Philipps, Andreas Rossberg, Elke Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20170038270
    Abstract: A pressure sensor, including a platform of ceramic, a measuring membrane arranged on the platform, a pressure measuring chamber enclosed in the platform under the measuring membrane, and at least one metal body connected with the platform via a pressure-tight, preferably elastomer free, mechanical connection. Thermomechanical stresses arising from the connection are reduced by features including that the pressure-tight, mechanical connection occurs via an adapting body arranged between the platform and the metal body. The adapting body has a thermal expansion coefficient, which rises in direction (z) extending from the platform to the metal body from a coefficient of expansion corresponding to a thermal coefficient of expansion of the ceramic of the platform to a coefficient of expansion corresponding to the thermal coefficient of expansion of the metal body, and the adapting body is connected by a first joint with the platform and by a second joint with the metal body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Ulfert Drewes, Elke Schmidt, Thomas Uehlin, Andrea Berlinger
  • Publication number: 20160305839
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pressure sensor that can be used at low temperatures—in particular, at temperatures below ?70° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Applicant: ENDRESS+HAUSER GMBH+CO. KG
    Inventors: Raimund Becher, Anh Tuan Tham, Andreas Rossberg, Elke Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9459169
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a pressure sensor, comprising: providing a ceramic platform, a ceramic measuring membrane, and an intermediate ring; providing an active braze material by means of gas phase deposition at least on a first surface section of a first surface and on a second surface section of a second surface. The first surface is a platform surface, which is to be connected with the intermediate ring by means of the active hard solder, or braze, or a surface of the intermediate ring, which is to be connected with the platform by means of the active hard solder, or braze. The second surface is a measuring membrane surface, which is to be connected with the intermediate ring by means of the active hard solder, or braze, or a surface of the intermediate ring, which is to be connected with the measuring membrane by means of the active hard solder, or braze.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER GMBH + CO. KG
    Inventors: Peter Selders, Andreas Rossberg, Elke Schmidt, Andrea Berlinger
  • Publication number: 20160054191
    Abstract: A sintered body comprises a first region which comprises a first material having a first effective coefficient of thermal expansion ?1, a second region which comprises a second material having a second effective coefficient of thermal expansion ?2, a transition region between the first region and the second region in which the effective coefficient of thermal expansion changes from the first effective coefficient of thermal expansion to the second effective coefficient of thermal expansion. The transition region has a sequence of layers with a mixture of at least the first material and the second material, with the mixing ratio of the layers varying in order to achieve a stepwise, in particular monotonic, change in the coefficient of thermal expansion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Andreas Rossberg, Elke Schmidt, Anh Tuan Tham
  • Publication number: 20150377731
    Abstract: method for soldering a connection element to a connection point on an electrically conductive coating that is suitable for soft-soldering on an insulating surface of a base body using a soft-soldering method; as well as sensors manufactured using this method for which a spatial limitation of the wetting of the coating with soft-solder material, during the process of soft-soldering, is effected by providing a groove in the base body which at least partly surrounds the connection point on the outside. At least a part of the area of the external insulating surface of the base body including the connection point is coated with the coating, and soft-solder material is locally applied to the connection point and the connection element is soldered onto the connection point using the applied soft-solder material in a soft-soldering process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Ulfert Drewes, Elke Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20150298264
    Abstract: An assembly comprising: two ceramic bodies, which are joined by means of a joint of an active hard solder, or braze, wherein the active hard solder, or braze, has a continuous core volume, which is spaced, in each case, from the ceramic bodies by at least 1 ?m, and an average composition CK with a liquidus temperature Tl(CK), wherein the composition CK has a coefficient of thermal expansion ?(CK), wherein ?(CK)=m·?(K), wherein m?1.5, especially m?1.3 and preferably m?1.2, wherein ?(K) is the average coefficient of thermal expansion of the ceramic material of the ceramic bodies, wherein the joint has boundary layers, which border on the ceramic body, wherein at least one of the boundary layers, which lies outside of the core volume, has an average composition CB with a liquidus temperature Tl(CB), which lies not less than 50 K, preferably not less than 100 K, and especially preferably not less than 200 K, under the liquidus temperature Tl(CK) of the average composition CK of the core volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: Friedrich-Schiller-Universitat Jena
    Inventors: Andreas Rossberg, Elke Schmidt, Markus Rettenmayr, Peter Siegmund
  • Publication number: 20150300903
    Abstract: A pressure measuring cell includes an elastic measuring membrane which is contactable with a first pressure on a first side and with a second pressure on a second side facing away from the first side. The measuring membrane is deflectable as a function of a difference between the first pressure and the second pressure, wherein the measuring membrane pressure-tightly isolates a first volume, which is facing the first side of the measuring membrane, from a second volume, which is facing the second side of the measuring membrane. The pressure measuring cell further includes a transducer for transducing the pressure dependent deflection of the measuring membrane into an electrical or optical signal. The measuring membrane has in the equilibrium state of the measuring membrane compressive stresses at least at the surface of the measuring membrane at least in a radial edge region, in which in the deflected state of the measuring membrane under pressure loading tensile stress maxima occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Ulfert Drewes, Nils Ponath, Andreas Rossberg, Elke Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20150183061
    Abstract: A method for connecting a component to a support via soldering between a first contact surface of the component and a second contact surface of the support. The method is distinguished by features including that at least one spacer is embodied in such a manner and arranged between the first contact surface and the second contact surface that the first contact surface and the second contact surface are spaced from one another, and that the soldering is executed in such a manner that the component and the support are connected with one another via the first contact surface and the second contact surface. Also claimed is a component connectable with a support via soldering is intended.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: Andreas Rossberg, Elke Schmidt, Dietmar Birgel
  • Publication number: 20150160086
    Abstract: An assembly, comprising: a first ceramic body and a second ceramic body connected by means of a joint of an active hard solder, or braze, wherein the active hard solder, or braze, averaged over a continuous main volume, which includes at least 50% of the volume of the joint, has an average composition CM with a liquidus temperature Tl(CM). An edge region of the joint, which contacts at least one of the ceramic bodies, has an average composition CE with a liquidus temperature Tl(CE), which lies not less than 20 K, preferably not less than 50 K, and especially preferably not less than 100 K above the liquidus temperature Tl(CM) of the average composition CM of the main volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Nils Ponath, Andreas Rossberg, Elke Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20150135844
    Abstract: An assembly, comprising two ceramic bodies, which are connected by means of a joint, which contains an active hard solder, or braze, wherein the active hard solder, or braze, has a continuous core volume, which is spaced from the ceramic bodies, in each case, by at least 1 ?m, especially at least 2 ?m, and wherein the joint has bounding layers, which border on the ceramic body. The the core volume, which includes at least 50% of the volume of the joint, is free of crystalline phases of size greater than 6 ?m, especially greater than 4 ?m, preferably greater than 2 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Nils Ponath, Andreas Rossberg, Elke Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8966989
    Abstract: A capacitive pressure measuring cell, including a ceramic platform and a ceramic measuring membrane, which are connected pressure tightly along a joint to form a reference pressure chamber between them. The measuring membrane has a first electrode facing the platform, and the platform has at least a second electrode facing the measuring membrane. The capacitance between the first and second electrodes depends on the difference between a pressure externally acting on the measuring membrane and a pressure reigning in the reference pressure chamber, wherein the joint has a thickness d, which defines an equilibrium distance between the measuring membrane and the front side of the platform. On the front side of the platform, a support layer is arranged, which comprises an inorganic insulator, wherein the support layer has a thickness of at least 0.2, and wherein the second electrode is arranged on the support layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Ulfert Drewes, Thomas Uehlin, Elke Schmidt, Andreas Rossberg
  • Publication number: 20130327151
    Abstract: A pressure measuring cell includes at least one ceramic measuring membrane body; and at least one ceramic platform, wherein the measuring membrane body is connected with the platform along an annular, peripheral joint. The joint is formed as a welded connection between the measuring membrane body and the platform, wherein the measuring membrane body has a pressure-dependently deformable measuring membrane. A pressure sensor includes a pressure measuring cell and a housing, wherein the pressure measuring cell is held by the housing, and wherein the pressure measuring cell closes a housing opening, through which the pressure measuring cell communicates with an environment of the housing. A seal is clamped between a sealing surface surrounding the opening of the housing and a sealing surface of the pressure measuring cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: Endress _ Hauser GmbH + Co, KG
    Inventors: Andrea Berlinger, Ulfert Drewes, Michael Philipps, Andreas Rossberg, Elke Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20130263670
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a pressure sensor, comprising: providing a ceramic platform, a ceramic measuring membrane, and an intermediate ring; providing an active braze material by means of gas phase deposition at least on a first surface section of a first surface and on a second surface section of a second surface. The first surface is a platform surface, which is to be connected with the intermediate ring by means of the active hard solder, or braze, or a surface of the intermediate ring, which is to be connected with the platform by means of the active hard solder, or braze. The second surface is a measuring membrane surface, which is to be connected with the intermediate ring by means of the active hard solder, or braze, or a surface of the intermediate ring, which is to be connected with the measuring membrane by means of the active hard solder, or braze.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: ENDRESS + HAUSER GMBH + CO. KG
    Inventors: Peter Selders, Andreas Rossberg, Elke Schmidt, Andrea Berlinger
  • Publication number: 20120258322
    Abstract: A ceramic product 1 includes a first ceramic part 2 and a second ceramic part 3, wherein the first ceramic part 2 is connected with the second ceramic part 3 via a joint, wherein the joint comprises an active hard solder, or braze, characterized in that the joint has an inhomogeneous distribution of the components of the active hard solder, or braze, wherein at least at an interface between the active hard solder, or braze, and the ceramic, the at least one active component of the active hard solder, or braze, is enriched. For manufacture of the product, the active hard solder, or braze, material is provided in such a manner, that at least one surface section of at least one of the ceramic parts is first coated with at least one active component of the active hard solder, or braze, and that on the coated section, an alloy is provided, which, by melting of the alloy during the heating, alloys with the coating and forms a metal joint between the two ceramic parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Andrea Berlinger, Ulfert Drewes, Andreas Rossberg, Detlef Schleiferböck, Elke Schmidt