Patents by Inventor Holger Conrad

Holger Conrad 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: 20240083109
    Abstract: The invention describes a laser printing system (100) for illuminating an object moving relative to a laser module of the laser printing system (100) in a working plane (180), the laser module comprising at least two laser arrays of semiconductor lasers and at least one optical element, wherein the optical element is adapted to image laser light emitted by the laser arrays, such that laser light of semiconductor lasers of one laser array is imaged to one pixel in the working plane of the laser printing system, and wherein the laser printing system is a 3D printing system for additive manufacturing and wherein two, three, four or a multitude of laser modules (201, 202) are provided, which are arranged in columns (c1, c2) perpendicular to a direction of movement (250) of the object in the working plane (180), and wherein the columns are staggered with respect to each other such that a first laser module (201) of a first column of laser modules (c1) is adapted to illuminate a first area (y1) of the object and a
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: EOS GmbH Electro Optical Systems
    Inventors: Thomas Mattes, Stefan Paternoster, Gerd Cantzler, Jochen Philippi, Stephan Gronenborn, Gero Heusler, Holger Moench, Ralf Conrads
  • Patent number: 11927188
    Abstract: A gerotor device for a pump apparatus is disclosed. The gerotor device includes at least two gerotor stages that respectively include an inner rotor rotating during operation about an inner axis with teeth projecting radially outside, and an outer rotor rotating during operation about an outer axis radially offset relative to the inner axis with radially inner open tooth gaps, in which the teeth of the inner rotor engage. A rotor body rotating during operation about a rotor axis includes radially open tooth gaps of a first gerotor stage of the at least two gerotor stages and teeth projecting radially outside of a second gerotor stage of the at least two gerotor stages. The tooth gaps of the at least two gerotor stages are fluidically sealed at least one of against one another and relative to a surrounding area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Conrad, Torsten Klein
  • Publication number: 20230416076
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to drives for microelectromechanical acoustic pressure-generating device, which may be implemented in a microelectromechanical system (MEMS). In some embodiments of the invention, the microelectromechanical acoustic pressure-generating device is implemented in a chip/die, e.g. in form of a System-on-Chip (SoC) or a System-in-Package (SiP). Further embodiments of the invention relate to the use of such acoustic pressure-generating device in a microelectromechanical loudspeaker system, for example, headphones, hearing-aids, or the like. Embodiments of the invention relate to the miniaturization of the device. Some of the embodiments focus on countermeasures that reduce the pull-in force, which can facilitate further miniaturization of the microelectromechanical acoustic pressure-generating device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Holger Conrad, Anartz Unamuno
  • Patent number: 11770659
    Abstract: Proposed is a MEMS device comprising a layer stack having at least one second layer formed between a first layer and a third layer. A cavity is formed in the second layer. The MEMS device further comprises two laterally deflectable elements arranged laterally spaced apart in the cavity. Each of the two laterally deflectable elements comprises a respective end connected to a side wall of the cavity. Additionally, the MEMS device comprises a connecting element connected to the two laterally deflectable elements to couple the movement of the two laterally deflectable elements. A plurality of first fingers are arranged discretely spaced between the two laterally deflectable elements on the side wall of the cavity. Further, a plurality of second fingers are arranged discretely spaced between the two laterally deflectable elements on the connecting element. The plurality of second fingers interdigitate with the plurality of first fingers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e. V.
    Inventors: Bert Kaiser, Jorge Mario Monsalve Guaracao, Holger Conrad
  • Publication number: 20230287884
    Abstract: A gerotor device for a pump apparatus is disclosed. The gerotor device includes at least two gerotor stages that respectively include an inner rotor rotating during operation about an inner axis with teeth projecting radially outside, and an outer rotor rotating during operation about an outer axis radially offset relative to the inner axis with radially inner open tooth gaps, in which the teeth of the inner rotor engage. A rotor body rotating during operation about a rotor axis includes radially open tooth gaps of a first gerotor stage of the at least two gerotor stages and teeth projecting radially outside of a second gerotor stage of the at least two gerotor stages. The tooth gaps of the at least two gerotor stages are fluidically sealed at least one of against one another and relative to a surrounding area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Holger Conrad, Torsten Klein
  • Patent number: 11639718
    Abstract: A planar micromechanical actuator suspended on opposing suspension zones including a neutral axis between the opposing suspension zones, first to fourth segments into which the planar micromechanical actuator is segmented between the opposing suspension zones, each including a first electrode and a second electrode which form a capacitor and are isolatedly affixed to each other at opposite ends of the respective segment along a direction between the opposing suspension zones so as to form a gap between the first and second electrode along a thickness direction, the gap being offset to the neutral axis along the thickness direction, and wherein the first to fourth segments are configured such that the planar micromechanical actuator deflects into the thickness direction by the first and fourth segment bending into the thickness direction and the second and third segments bending contrary to the thickness direction upon a voltage being applied to the first and second electrodes of the first to fourth segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Holger Conrad, Matthieu Gaudet, Harald Schenk, Sebastian Uhlig
  • Publication number: 20230128393
    Abstract: A suction device may include a suction channel, a first valve, and a second valve. The suction channel may include a first suction portion and a second suction portion disposed opposite one another in a transverse direction. The first valve may be arranged in the first suction portion. The first valve may include a first valve seat and a moveable first valve body. The second valve may be arranged in the second suction portion. The second valve may include a second valve seat and a moveable second valve body. When a transverse acceleration is equal to or greater than a predefined transverse acceleration, one of the first valve and the second valve may close while the other one of the first valve and the second valve remains open. When the transverse acceleration is less than the predefined transverse acceleration, the first valve and the second valve may both be open.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Holger Conrad, Anna Eichner, Hans-Martin Ruppert, Andreas Widmaier, Patrick Wieler
  • Patent number: 11554950
    Abstract: A MEMS transducer for interacting with a volume flow of a fluid includes a substrate which includes a layer stack having a plurality of layers which form a plurality of substrate planes, and which includes a cavity within the layer stack. The MEMS transducer includes an electromechanical transducer connected to the substrate within the cavity and including an element which is deformable within at least one plane of movement of the plurality of substrate planes, deformation of the deformable element within the plane of movement and the volume flow of the fluid being causally correlated. The MEMS transducer includes an electronic circuit arranged within a layer of the layer stack, the electronic circuit being connected to the electromechanical transducer and being configured to provide a conversion between a deformation of the deformable element and an electric signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FÖRDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.
    Inventors: Harald Schenk, Holger Conrad
  • Publication number: 20220380201
    Abstract: The invention relates to a microelectromechanical drive for moving an object, having electrostatic bending actuators, wherein each electrostatic bending actuator has a cantilever having at least one active element which has a layer stack forming at least one capacitor positioned offset to a center-of-gravity-plane of the cantilever which leads alongside a longitudinal axis of the cantilever from a supported end of the cantilever to a loose end, which is averted from the supported end of the cantilever and which has a contact area for engaging with the object. The microelectromechanical drive can be used to displace any target objects from nanoscopic to macroscopic sizes that are within the force-displacement configurations of the electrostatic bending actuators. The microelectromechanical drive is suited to act as an inchworm drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Bert KAISER, Holger CONRAD, Shashank SHASHANK, Keyvan NARIMANI, Matthieu GAUDET, Sergiu LANGA
  • Publication number: 20220286785
    Abstract: Proposed is a MEMS device comprising a layer stack having at least one second layer formed between a first layer and a third layer. A cavity is formed in the second layer. The MEMS device further comprises two laterally deflectable elements arranged laterally spaced apart in the cavity. Each of the two laterally deflectable elements comprises a respective end connected to a side wall of the cavity. Additionally, the MEMS device comprises a connecting element connected to the two laterally deflectable elements to couple the movement of the two laterally deflectable elements. A plurality of first fingers are arranged discretely spaced between the two laterally deflectable elements on the side wall of the cavity. Further, a plurality of second fingers are arranged discretely spaced between the two laterally deflectable elements on the connecting element. The plurality of second fingers interdigitate with the plurality of first fingers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Bert KAISER, Jorge Mario MONSALVE GUARACAO, Holger CONRAD
  • Publication number: 20220002143
    Abstract: An MEMS includes a substrate having a cavity. The MEMS includes a movable layer arrangement arranged in the cavity including a first beam, a second beam and a third beam that is arranged between the first beam and the second beam and that is fixed at discrete areas electrically insulated from the same. The movable layer arrangement is configured to perform a movement along a direction of movement in a substrate plane in response to an electrical potential between a first beam and a third beam or in response to an electrical potential between the second beam and the third beam. The first, second and third beams are part of a first layer of the movable layer arrangement. The movable layer arrangement includes a second layer arranged adjacent to the first layer along a direction perpendicular to the substrate plane. The second layer is arranged movably along the direction of movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Sergiu LANGA, Holger CONRAD, Bert KAISER
  • Patent number: 11186478
    Abstract: A MEMS includes a substrate having a cavity, and a moveable element arranged in the cavity, the moveable element including a first electrode, a second electrode and a third electrode that is arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode and is fixed in an electrically insulated manner from the same at discrete areas. The moveable element is configured to perform a movement along a movement direction in a substrate plan in response to an electric potential between the first electrode and the third electrode or in response to an electric potential between the second electrode and the third electrode. A dimension of the third electrode perpendicular to the substrate plane is lower than a dimension of the first electrode and a dimension of the second electrode perpendicular to the substrate plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FÖRDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.
    Inventors: Sergiu Langa, Holger Conrad, Klaus Schimmanz
  • Publication number: 20200087138
    Abstract: A MEMS transducer for interacting with a volume flow of a fluid includes a substrate which includes a layer stack having a plurality of layers which form a plurality of substrate planes, and which includes a cavity within the layer stack. The MEMS transducer includes an electromechanical transducer connected to the substrate within the cavity and including an element which is deformable within at least one plane of movement of the plurality of substrate planes, deformation of the deformable element within the plane of movement and the volume flow of the fluid being causally correlated. The MEMS transducer includes an electronic circuit arranged within a layer of the layer stack, the electronic circuit being connected to the electromechanical transducer and being configured to provide a conversion between a deformation of the deformable element and an electric signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Harald SCHENK, Holger CONRAD
  • Publication number: 20190382257
    Abstract: A MEMS includes a substrate having a cavity, and a moveable element arranged in the cavity, the moveable element including a first electrode, a second electrode and a third electrode that is arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode and is fixed in an electrically insulated manner from the same at discrete areas. The moveable element is configured to perform a movement along a movement direction in a substrate plan in response to an electric potential between the first electrode and the third electrode or in response to an electric potential between the second electrode and the third electrode. A dimension of the third electrode perpendicular to the substrate plane is lower than a dimension of the first electrode and a dimension of the second electrode perpendicular to the substrate plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Sergiu LANGA, Holger CONRAD, Klaus SCHIMMANZ
  • Patent number: 10483876
    Abstract: A micromechanical device with electrostatically caused deflection by a plate capacitor extending along and spaced apart from the neutral fiber of the deflectable element is improved with regard to its manufacturing complexity and/or with regard to its operating characteristics, such as, for example, maximum voltage applicable or deflectability, by using a continuous insulation layer between the distal and proximal electrodes of the plate capacitor, or else the proximal electrode is structured so as to have gaps at the segment boundaries where the distal electrode is mechanically fixed so as to be laterally spaced apart from the distal electrode. Both procedures avoid the problems of generating a roughness of the surface of the proximal electrode facing the distal electrode, as would otherwise be necessitated by etching an insulation layer for providing spacers between the distal and proximal electrodes at the segment boundaries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Sergiu Langa, Holger Conrad, Harald Schenk, Michael Stolz
  • Publication number: 20190337798
    Abstract: A planar micromechanical actuator suspended on opposing suspension zones including a neutral axis between the opposing suspension zones, first to fourth segments into which the planar micromechanical actuator is segmented between the opposing suspension zones, each including a first electrode and a second electrode which form a capacitor and are isolatedly affixed to each other at opposite ends of the respective segment along a direction between the opposing suspension zones so as to form a gap between the first and second electrode along a thickness direction, the gap being offset to the neutral axis along the thickness direction, and wherein the first to fourth segments are configured such that the planar micromechanical actuator deflects into the thickness direction by the first and fourth segment bending into the thickness direction and the second and third segments bending contrary to the thickness direction upon a voltage being applied to the first and second electrodes of the first to fourth segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Holger CONRAD, Matthieu GAUDET, Harald SCHENK, Sebastian UHLIG
  • Patent number: 10457544
    Abstract: A MEMS transducer for interacting with a volume flow of a fluid includes a substrate including a cavity, and an electromechanical transducer connected to the substrate in the cavity and including an element deformable along a lateral movement direction, wherein a deformation of the deformable element along the lateral movement direction and the volume flow of the fluid are causally related.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Harald Schenk, Holger Conrad, Matthieu Gaudet, Klaus Schimmanz, Sergiu Langa, Bert Kaiser
  • Publication number: 20180179048
    Abstract: A MEMS transducer for interacting with a volume flow of a fluid includes a substrate including a cavity, and an electromechanical transducer connected to the substrate in the cavity and including an element deformable along a lateral movement direction, wherein a deformation of the deformable element along the lateral movement direction and the volume flow of the fluid are causally related.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Harald SCHENK, Holger CONRAD, Matthieu GAUDET, Klaus SCHIMMANZ, Sergiu LANGA, Bert KAISER
  • Patent number: 9676607
    Abstract: Micromechanical devices include actively deflectable elements. The activation is performed by a layer stack which causes the deflection responsive to attractive forces acting upon the layers of the layer stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Matthieu Gaudet, Klaus Schimmanz, Michael Stolz, Sergiu Langa, Holger Conrad, Bert Kaiser
  • Publication number: 20160304333
    Abstract: Micromechanical devices include actively deflectable elements. The activation is performed by a layer stack which causes the deflection responsive to attractive forces acting upon the layers of the layer stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Matthieu Gaudet, Klaus Schimmanz, Michael Stolz, Sergiu Langa, Holger Conrad, Bert Kaiser