Patents by Inventor Thomas Grasshoff

Thomas Grasshoff 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: 11454803
    Abstract: A micromechanical mirror device has: a plate-shaped mirror having a reflecting surface for reflecting light, the reflecting surface being configured to be planar; a closed frame structure supporting the plate-shaped mirror and completely framing an edge of the plate-shaped mirror; a spring arrangement having at least two spring structures arranged mirror-symmetrically and connecting the closed frame structure to a stationary support structure, the spring arrangement being configured such that the closed frame structure and the plate-shaped mirror can be brought into a resonant vibrational state with respect to the support structure; and a connecting arrangement having at least four connecting spring structures arranged mirror-symmetrically and each connecting the plate-shaped mirror to the closed frame structure; the connecting spring structures being configured to be elastically deformable and arranged such that they deform back and forth in the resonant vibrational state so that the plate-shaped mirror is p
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventor: Thomas Grasshoff
  • Publication number: 20200049976
    Abstract: A micromechanical mirror device has: a plate-shaped mirror having a reflecting surface for reflecting light, the reflecting surface being configured to be planar; a closed frame structure supporting the plate-shaped mirror and completely framing an edge of the plate-shaped mirror; a spring arrangement having at least two spring structures arranged mirror-symmetrically and connecting the closed frame structure to a stationary support structure, the spring arrangement being configured such that the closed frame structure and the plate-shaped mirror can be brought into a resonant vibrational state with respect to the support structure; and a connecting arrangement having at least four connecting spring structures arranged mirror-symmetrically and each connecting the plate-shaped mirror to the closed frame structure; the connecting spring structures being configured to be elastically deformable and arranged such that they deform back and forth in the resonant vibrational state so that the plate-shaped mirror is p
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventor: Thomas GRASSHOFF
  • Patent number: 8873128
    Abstract: A micromechanical mirror arrangement comprising a mirror plate (1) which forms a translation mirror, which is connected via at least one holding element (2), preferably two or more holding elements, to a frame structure (3) and is movable in translation relative to this frame structure, characterized in that the connection region (4) of at least one holding element (2), preferably of all holding elements, with the mirror plate (1) is arranged inwardly offset, viewed from the outer margin (5) of the mirror plate toward to the center (6) of the mirror plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignees: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V., Technische Universitaet Dresden
    Inventors: Holger Conrad, Thomas Grasshoff, Denis Jung, Thilo Sandner
  • Patent number: 8379283
    Abstract: A micromechanical element includes a movable functional element, a first retaining element, a second retaining element, a third retaining element, and a fourth retaining element. The first retaining element and the functional element are connected at a first junction, the second retaining element and the functional element are connected at a second junction, the third retaining element and the functional element are connected at a third junction, and the fourth retaining element and the functional element are connected at a fourth junction. In addition, the first retaining element and the second retaining element each include a piezoelectric driving element, the driving element of the first retaining element and the driving element of the second retaining element being configured to move the functional element in accordance with electric excitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Thomas Klose, Thomas Grasshoff, Holger Conrad
  • Publication number: 20120099175
    Abstract: A micromechanical mirror arrangement comprising a mirror plate (1) which forms a translation mirror, which is connected via at least one holding element (2), preferably two or more holding elements, to a frame structure (3) and is movable in translation relative to this frame structure, characterized in that the connection region (4) of at least one holding element (2), preferably of all holding elements, with the mirror plate (1) is arranged inwardly offset, viewed from the outer margin (5) of the mirror plate toward to the center (6) of the mirror plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventors: Holger Conrad, Thomas Grasshoff, Denis Jung, Thilo Sandner
  • Patent number: 7830577
    Abstract: A micromechanical device described has an oscillation system with an oscillation body and an elastic suspension, by which the oscillation body is oscillatorily suspended. The elastic suspension has at least two spring beams. An adjuster for adjusting a resonant frequency of the oscillation system by changing the position of the at least two spring beams of the elastic suspension towards each other is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Thomas Grasshoff, Thomas Klose, Thilo Sandner
  • Publication number: 20100097681
    Abstract: A micromechanical element includes a movable functional element, a first retaining element, a second retaining element, a third retaining element, and a fourth retaining element. The first retaining element and the functional element are connected at a first junction, the second retaining element and the functional element are connected at a second junction, the third retaining element and the functional element are connected at a third junction, and the fourth retaining element and the functional element are connected at a fourth junction. In addition, the first retaining element and the second retaining element each include a piezoelectric driving element, the driving element of the first retaining element and the driving element of the second retaining element being configured to move the functional element in accordance with electric excitation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas KLOSE, Thomas Grasshoff, Holger Conrad
  • Publication number: 20080278785
    Abstract: A micromechanical device has a layer; at least a first slot formed in the layer to define a first oscillation element oscillatably suspended via a first spring portion of the layer; and at least a second slot formed in the layer to define a second oscillation element oscillatably suspended via a second spring portion of the layer, wherein a trench is formed in the spring portion pair in a main surface of the layer, wherein a resonance frequency of the first oscillation element is different from that of the second oscillation element, and the first and second spring portions and the trench are formed such that, in an anisotropic lateral material removal and/or addition of the first and second spring portions, a ratio of a relative change of the resonance frequency of the second oscillation element to that of the first oscillation element ranges from 0.8 to 1.2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Thomas Klose, Thomas Grasshoff
  • Publication number: 20080165403
    Abstract: A micromechanical device described has an oscillation system with an oscillation body and an elastic suspension, by which the oscillation body is oscillatorily suspended. The elastic suspension has at least two spring beams. An adjuster for adjusting a resonant frequency of the oscillation system by changing the position of the at least two spring beams of the elastic suspension towards each other is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Thomas GRASSHOFF, Thomas KLOSE, Thilo SANDNER