Patents by Inventor Stefan Zimmermann

Stefan Zimmermann 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: 9098976
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a game played on a gaming device that displays a randomly selected array of symbols, where the symbols across one or more paylines are evaluated by circuitry to determine an award to be granted. A trigger event, such as the occurrence of a certain plurality of special symbols, initiates a series of free games. The number of free games and an award multiplier associated with each free game are dependent on the particular type of special symbols making up the trigger event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: GTECH Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 9095932
    Abstract: In various embodiments, protective layers are bonded to a steel layer, overlapped, and at least partially covered by a layer of unmelted metal powder produced by cold spray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: H.C. Starck Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A. Miller, Leonid N. Shekhter, Stefan Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20150034477
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a sputtering target initially formed by ingot metallurgy or powder metallurgy and rejuvenated by, e.g., cold spray, is utilized in sputtering processes to produce metallic thin films.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Steven A. Miller, Prabhat Kumar, Richard Wu, Shuwei Sun, Stefan Zimmermann, Olaf Schmidt-Park
  • Publication number: 20150004337
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cold sprayed layer of tungsten, molybdenum, titanium, zirconium, or of mixtures of two or more of tungsten, molybdenum, titanium and zirconium, or of alloys of two or more of tungsten, molybdenum, titanium and zirconium, or of alloys of tungsten, molybdenum, titanium, zirconium with other metals, wherein the cold spayed layer has an oxygen content of below 1,000 ppm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: STEFAN ZIMMERMANN, UWE PAPP, HEINRICH KREYE, TOBIAS SCHMIDT
  • Patent number: 8883250
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a sputtering target initially formed by ingot metallurgy or powder metallurgy and comprising a sputtering-target material is provided, the sputtering-target material (i) comprising a metal, (ii) defining a recessed furrow therein, and (iii) having a first grain size and a first crystalline microstructure. A powder is spray-deposited within the furrow to form a layer therein, the layer (i) comprising the metal, (ii) having a second grain size finer than the first grain size, and (iii) having a second crystalline microstructure more random than the first crystalline microstructure. Spray-depositing the powder within the furrow forms a distinct boundary line between the layer and the sputtering-target material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignees: H.C. Starck Inc., H.C. Starck GmbH
    Inventors: Steven A. Miller, Prabhat Kumar, Rong-chein Richard Wu, Shuwei Sun, Stefan Zimmermann, Olaf Schmidt-Park
  • Publication number: 20140311669
    Abstract: In various embodiments, protective layers are bonded to a steel layer, overlapped, and at least partially covered by a layer of unmelted metal powder produced by cold spray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Steven A. Miller, Leonid N. Shekhter, Stefan Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20140234548
    Abstract: A cermet powder includes a) from 50 to 90 wt-% of at least one hard material, and b) from 10 to 50 wt-% of a matrix metal composition. The wt.-% for a) and b) are based on a total weight of the cermet powder. The matrix metal composition comprises i) from 40 to 75 wt-% of iron and nickel, ii) from 18 to 35 wt-% of chromium, iii) from 3 to 20 wt.-% of molybdenum, and iv) from 0.5 to 4 wt-% of copper. The wt-% for i) to iv) are based in each case on a total weight of the matrix metal composition. A weight ratio of iron to nickel is from 3:1 to 1:3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: H.C. STARCK GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Zimmermann, Benno Gries
  • Patent number: 8802191
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the reprocessing or production of a sputter target or an X-ray anode wherein a gas flow forms a gas/powder mixture with a powder of a material chosen from the group consisting of niobium, tantalum, tungsten, molybdenum, titanium, zirconium, mixtures of two or more thereof and alloys thereof with at least two thereof or with other metals, the powder has a particle size of 0.5 to 150 ?m, wherein a supersonic speed is imparted to the gas flow and the jet of supersonic speed is directed on to the surface of the object to be reprocessed or produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: H. C. Starck GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Zimmermann, Uwe Papp, Heinrich Kreye, Tobias Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8777090
    Abstract: In various embodiments, protective layers are bonded to a steel layer and connected by a layer of unmelted metal powder produced by cold spray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: H.C. Starck Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A. Miller, Leonid N. Shekhter, Stefan Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 8761418
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical loudspeaker array includes a plurality of microelectromechanical loudspeaker elements each having a diaphragm element configured to be deflected from a neutral position into at least one deflection position to produce a sound pulse. The array further includes an actuation device which is configured to put the diaphragm element into the at least one deflection position from the neutral position on the basis of drive signals. The array further includes a control device coupled to the plurality of loudspeaker elements. The control device is configured to send, in each case at a driving time, (i) a first drive signal configured to produce a sound pulse by actuating the diaphragm element, and (ii) a respective second drive signal configured to relax the diaphragm element into the neutral position during a predetermined period of time after the driving time to the actuation device of at least one of the loudspeaker elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ando Feyh, Stefan Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 8734896
    Abstract: A joined sputtering target comprising a sputtering material is formed by disposing two discrete sputtering-target tiles comprising the sputtering material proximate each other, thereby forming an interface between the tiles, the interface comprising at least one of an interlocking joint therein or a recess in a top surface thereof, and spray-depositing a spray material over at least a portion of the interface, thereby joining the tiles to form the joined sputtering target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: H.C. Starck Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Jeffrey Volchko, Stefan Zimmermann, Steven A. Miller, Michael Thomas Stawovy
  • Patent number: 8667786
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a converter comprising a pump which is driven directly or indirectly by a natural force such as a water swell, it being possible for a hydraulic machine to be driven by the pump. The hydraulic machine is force-coupled to an electrical machine which may function as a generator or a motor. According to the present invention, the force acting on the pump is regulated via a control loop as a function of oscillation parameters of the natural force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Zimmermann, Christian Langenstein, Nik Scharmann, Louis Verdegem
  • Publication number: 20130337159
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a sputtering target initially formed by ingot metallurgy or powder metallurgy and comprising a sputtering-target material is provided, the sputtering-target material (i) comprising a metal, (ii) defining a recessed furrow therein, and (iii) having a first grain size and a first crystalline microstructure. A powder is spray-deposited within the furrow to form a layer therein, the layer (i) comprising the metal, (ii) having a second grain size finer than the first grain size, and (iii) having a second crystalline microstructure more random than the first crystalline microstructure. Spray-depositing the powder within the furrow forms a distinct boundary line between the layer and the sputtering-target material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: H.C. Starck Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A. Miller, Prabhat Kumar, Richard Wu, Shuwei Sun, Stefan Zimmermann, Olaf Schmidt-Park
  • Publication number: 20130287232
    Abstract: A piezoelectric sound transducer using a piezoelectric plastic material is developed from a substrate layer and a layer of a piezoelectric plastic material deposited thereon, the piezoelectric plastic layer covering the substrate layer not completely but having openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Steffen Polster, Andre Gerlach, Claudia Arnold, Stefan Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20130264013
    Abstract: In various embodiments, protective layers are bonded to a steel layer and connected by a layer of unmelted metal powder produced by cold spray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventors: Steven A. Miller, Leonid N. Shekhter, Stefan Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20130195654
    Abstract: A device for reducing loads in a drive train of a wind turbine includes a machine support. The wind turbine includes a sensor means, a controllable damper means, an actuating means. The sensor means is configured to detect at least one variable characterizing vibrations and/or misalignments in the drive train. The controllable damper means is configured to produce at least one adjusting torque which compensates at least one torque associated with the load in the drive train. The actuating means is configured to actuate the damping means based on the at least one variable detected by the sensor means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Guenter Berger, Stefan Zimmermann, Joachim Breidert, Boris Buchtala, Bernd Schnurr, Sebastian Schmidt, Volker Knoblauch
  • Patent number: 8342178
    Abstract: A device provided for taking and continuously analyzing and monitoring breathing gas samples from defined, current phases of breathing of a patient is equipped with a breathing gas line (1) and with a sensor (2) for recognizing the current phases of breathing. A sampling line (3) is provided from the breathing gas line (1). The sampling line (3) is connected to a first gas delivery device (44) via a sample gas loop (4); with a measuring line (8) from the sampling line (3) to a sensor system (6) with a second gas delivery device (66) for the analysis of breathing gas samples; with a valve (5) in the sampling line (3) for controlling the breathing gas sample flow from defined, current phases of breathing into the sensor system (6) and into the sample gas loop (4), and with a control unit (7), which is connected at least to the gas delivery device (44) and to the valve (5), so that a continuous volume flow of breathing gas samples can be fed to the sensor system (6) from the defined, current phases of breathing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Dräger Medical GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Hengstenberg, Stefan Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20120251714
    Abstract: In various embodiments, sputtering targets are refurbished by spray-depositing a powder within a furrow in the sputtering target to form a layer therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Steven A. Miller, Olaf Schmidt-Park, Prabhat Kumar, Richard Wu, Shuwei Sun, Stefan Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 8197894
    Abstract: In various embodiments, sputter-target formation includes application of a layer having an intermediate coefficient of thermal expansion between the backing plate and the target material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignees: H.C. Starck GmbH, H.C. Starck Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A. Miller, Olaf Schmidt-Park, Prabhat Kumar, Richard Wu, Shuwei Sun, Stefan Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 7985198
    Abstract: A process and device for metering different solutions is provided with which a high rate of repetition of drugs to be metered is possible. To accomplish the object, provisions are made for taking fluid volumes in the range of 50 nL to 50 ?L from a fluid source (2, 3, 4, 5) in rapid succession in time according to the time multiplex method and for introducing them into a collecting channel (10) without mixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Dräger Medical GmbH
    Inventors: Tilman von Blumenthal, Stefan Zimmermann, Götz Kullik