Patents by Inventor Ulrich Hofmann
Ulrich Hofmann 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).
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Publication number: 20140339658Abstract: The invention relates to an MEMS structure with a stack made of different layers and a spring-and-mass system varying in its thickness which is formed of the stack, and wherein, starting from a back side of the stack and the substrate, at laterally different positions, the substrate while leaving the first semiconductor layer, or the substrate, the first etch-stop layer and the first semiconductor layer are removed, and to a method for manufacturing such a structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2014Publication date: November 20, 2014Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.Inventors: Shanshan GU-STOPPEL, Hans Joachim QUENZER, Ulrich HOFMANN
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Publication number: 20140333980Abstract: A microactuator arrangement for the deflection of electromagnetic radiation, with a mirror plate which is suspended on a drive frame in a movable manner about a first rotation axis via spring elements, wherein the drive frame is suspended on a chip frame in a movable manner about a second rotation axis via spring elements, wherein the drive frame is not closed and comprises a recess adjacent to the mirror plate and wherein the chip frame at least in the region of the recess of the drive frame is not closed, in a manner such that a deflected and/or incident beam is not inhibited by the drive frame and the chip frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2014Publication date: November 13, 2014Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.Inventor: Ulrich Hofmann
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Publication number: 20140275443Abstract: In one embodiment, a tool, comprising: a tool stationary portion comprising a nozzle and a film gate; and a tool movable portion comprising a shut off pin opposite the nozzle and the film gate; wherein the shut off pin prevents polymer melt in the nozzle from leaking into a cavity of the tool after injection of polymer into the tool.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: SABIC INNOVATIVE PLASTICS IP B.V.Inventors: Ulrich Hofmann, Richard Schouwenaar
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Publication number: 20140159827Abstract: The invention relates to a micromechanical resonator arrangement, in particular micro-mirror scanner with an inner actuator, which comprises an oscillation body capable of oscillation about at least one axis, and with an outer actuator with an oscillating part. The inner and outer actuator form a coupled oscillation system, and the outer actuator is driven by an external drive whose drive frequency is selected in a manner such that the oscillation body of the inner actuator oscillates with one of its eigenmodes or close to this eigenmode. The inner actuator is at least one vacuum-encapsulated micro-actuator chip which is fastened on the oscillating part of the outer actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2013Publication date: June 12, 2014Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.Inventors: Ulrich Hofmann, Joachim Janes
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Patent number: 8711456Abstract: A deflection device for a scanner with Lissajous scanning includes a micromirror that oscillates in at least two deflection axes and that includes a frame and a mirror plate that is movably arranged via a suspension mount. The deflection device also includes a control device for generating control signals for a resonant operation of the micromirror in the at least two deflection axes. The suspension mount includes at least one spring connected at one end to the mirror plate and at the other end to the frame. The frequencies of the control signals for the resonant operation of the micromirror are substantially equal in the at least two deflection axes, but differ at least in terms of the predefined scanning repetition rate. The levels of the resonance frequencies of the deflection axes and control signals are determined by a predefined scanning resolution and a predefined scanning repetition rate.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2012Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.Inventors: Ulrich Hofmann, Manfred Weiss
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Patent number: 8526098Abstract: The invention relates to a microsystem having at least one micromirror (1) and at least one micromirror actuator (2) for pivoting the at least one micromirror (1) about at least one axis from a relaxed resting position, comprising a frame chip and a transparent cover (3) disposed on the frame chip, wherein the frame chip has a chip frame (10), on which the at least one micromirror (1) is articulated in an elastically pivoting manner, wherein the at least one micromirror (1) is further disposed within the chip frame (10) and in a cavity (11) that is formed between the transparent cover (3) and a carrier layer.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2008Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.Inventors: Ulrich Hofmann, Hans-Joachim Quenzer, Marten Oldsen
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Patent number: 8517545Abstract: The cover according to the invention serves to encapsulate microsystems, wherein the cover comprises or is made of one or more cover units, and at least one cover unit comprises at least one first recess caused by deformation and bounded at least partially by at least one optical window, the quadratic surface roughness thereof being less than or equal to 25 nm. The invention further relates to a method for producing optical components, wherein the method is particularly also suitable for producing a cover according to the invention allowing encapsulation at the wafer level.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2009Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerferung der angewandten Forschung e.V.Inventors: Hans Joachim Quenzer, Marten Oldsen, Ulrich Hofmann
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Publication number: 20120320379Abstract: A deflection device for a scanner with Lissajous scanning includes a micromirror that oscillates in at least two deflection axes and that includes a frame and a mirror plate that is movably arranged via a suspension mount. The deflection device also includes a control device for generating control signals for a resonant operation of the micromirror in the at least two deflection axes. The suspension mount includes at least one spring connected at one end to the mirror plate and at the other end to the frame. The frequencies of the control signals for the resonant operation of the micromirror are substantially equal in the at least two deflection axes, but differ at least in terms of the predefined scanning repetition rate. The levels of the resonance frequencies of the deflection axes and control signals are determined by a predefined scanning resolution and a predefined scanning repetition rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2012Publication date: December 20, 2012Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.Inventors: Ulrich Hofmann, Manfred Weiss
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Publication number: 20120307211Abstract: The invention relates to a deflection device for a projection apparatus for projecting Lissajous figures onto an observation field which is made to deflect a light beam about at least one first and one second deflection axis for generating Lissajous figures having a deflection unit for producing oscillations about the deflection axes and having a control apparatus for producing control signals for the deflection unit having a first and second control frequency which substantially corresponds to the resonant frequencies of the deflection unit, wherein the deflection unit has a quality factor of >3,000 and the control apparatus includes a feedback loop which is configured to regulate the first and/or second control frequencies in dependence on a measured phasing of the oscillations of the deflection unit so that the maximum amplitude of the oscillations remains in the resonant range of the deflection unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2010Publication date: December 6, 2012Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.Inventors: Ulrich Hofmann, Lars Ratzmann, Joachim Janes, Manfred Weiss, Sascha Mühlmann
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Publication number: 20120280134Abstract: A monitoring device has a first flame detector, to receive a first batch of radiation, which is emitted by the first flame, a second flame detector, to receive a second batch of radiation, which is emitted by the second flame, a voltage supplying device to apply an alternating voltage with a first half wave and a second half wave to the two flame detectors and an evaluation circuit that is connected to the two flame detectors via a signal input. A first measurement signal that is present at the common signal input during the first half wave is indicative of the intensity of the first batch of radiation. A second measurement signal that is present at the common signal input during the second half wave is indicative of the intensity of the second batch of radiation. The evaluation circuit independently evaluates the first measurement signal and the second measurement signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2012Publication date: November 8, 2012Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Alexander DIEBOLD, Ulrich Hofmann, Erik Lang, Josef Lelle
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Patent number: 8213066Abstract: The invention relates to a micromechanical actuator, especially a micro-mirror scanner, comprising an actuator unit in an outer frame which unit is suspended in the outer frame via two torsion elements, and electrostatic tilt drives from intermeshing first and second comb-type electrodes which are off-set from each other vertically. The first electrodes are rigidly connected to the outer frame and the second electrodes to the outer frame via an outer connecting element and to the actuator unit via an inner connecting element. The inner connecting element has a spring which extends in parallel to the outer tilting axis, which is connected to the same in a section of the actuator unit close the outer tilting axis, and which is designed and arranged to be rigid in the vertical direction and flexible at a right angle to the vertical direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2009Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.Inventors: Ulrich Hofmann, Marten Oldsen, Bernd Wagner
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Patent number: 8201452Abstract: The present invention relates to a housing for one or more micromechanical and/or micro-optic components, wherein the housing exhibits a supporting substrate having at least one micromechanical and/or micro-optic component and at least one cap substrate, which is joined to the supporting substrate. The supporting substrate and the at least one cap substrate form at least one cavity, which at least partially encloses the at least one micromechanical and/or micro-optic component, wherein the side of at least one cap substrate facing the at least one micromechanical and/or micro-optic component exhibits at least one optical window and at least one mechanical stop. Furthermore, the object of the present invention is a method for producing such a housing, wherein the method is particularly usable for encapsulation at the wafer level.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2008Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.Inventors: Marten Oldsen, Ulrich Hofmann
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Patent number: 8169678Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a micro-mirror actuator and the corresponding actuator. In the method, the actuator is generated from a layered construction made of at least three main layers (101, 103, 107), which are at least sectionally electrically insulated from one another via intermediate layers (102, 104, 106). The layers are structured to form the micro-mirror element and the electrodes, the structuring being performed in such a way that a closed frame (310) is formed from at least the uppermost layer (107) around the inner area of the actuator, which allows a hermetic encapsulation of the inner area by application of a cover plate onto the frame.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2007Date of Patent: May 1, 2012Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.Inventors: Ulrich Hofmann, Marten Oldsen
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Publication number: 20120075685Abstract: The invention relates to a micromechanical actuator, especially a micro-mirror scanner, comprising an actuator unit in an outer frame which unit is suspended in the outer frame via two torsion elements, and electrostatic tilt drives from intermeshing first and second comb-type electrodes which are off-set from each other vertically. The first electrodes are rigidly connected to the outer frame and the second electrodes to the outer frame via an outer connecting element and to the actuator unit via an inner connecting element. The inner connecting element has a spring which extends in parallel to the outer tilting axis, which is connected to the same in a section of the actuator unit close the outer tilting axis, and which is designed and arranged to be rigid in the vertical direction and flexible at a right angle to the vertical direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2009Publication date: March 29, 2012Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.Inventors: Ulrich Hofmann, Marten Oldsen, Bernd Wagner
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Publication number: 20100330332Abstract: The cover according to the invention serves to encapsulate microsystems, wherein the cover comprises or is made of one or more cover units, and at least one cover unit comprises at least one first recess caused by deformation and bounded at least partially by at least one optical window, the quadratic surface roughness thereof being less than or equal to 25 nm. The invention further relates to a method for producing optical components, wherein the method is particularly also suitable for producing a cover according to the invention allowing encapsulation at the wafer level.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2009Publication date: December 30, 2010Inventors: Hans Joachim Quenzer, Marten Oldsen, Ulrich Hofmann
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Publication number: 20100296151Abstract: The invention relates to a microsystem having at least one micromirror (1) and at least one micromirror actuator (2) for pivoting the at least one micromirror (1) about at least one axis from a relaxed resting position, comprising a frame chip and a transparent cover (3) disposed on the frame chip, wherein the frame chip has a chip frame (10), on which the at least one micromirror (1) is articulated in an elastically pivoting manner, wherein the at least one micromirror (1) is further disposed within the chip frame (10) and in a cavity (11) that is formed between the transparent cover (3) and a carrier layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2008Publication date: November 25, 2010Applicant: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FÕRDERUNG DER ANGEWANDInventors: Ulrich Hofmann, Hans-Joachim Quenzer, Marten Oldsen
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Publication number: 20100277782Abstract: A micromechanical apparatus includes a moving element which comprises a controllable heating apparatus for introduction of a defined amount of heat into the moving element, wherein the apparatus furthermore has a control unit which is designed to control the heating apparatus as a function of an instantaneous temperature and/or of an instantaneous amount of heat that is introduced. The apparatus can be designed to project electromagnetic radiation when the moving element is in the form of a beam deflection unit for deflection of radiation, which originates from a radiation source, onto a projection surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2008Publication date: November 4, 2010Inventors: Hans-Joachim Quenzer, Ulrich Hofmann, Marten Oldsen
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Publication number: 20100085622Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a micro-mirror actuator and the corresponding actuator. In the method, the actuator is generated from a layered construction made of at least three main layers (101, 103, 107), which are at least sectionally electrically insulated from one another via intermediate layers (102, 104, 106). The layers are structured to form the micro-mirror element and the electrodes, the structuring being performed in such a way that a closed frame (310) is formed from at least the uppermost layer (107) around the inner area of the actuator, which allows a hermetic encapsulation of the inner area by application of a cover plate onto the frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2007Publication date: April 8, 2010Inventors: Ulrich Hofmann, Marten Oldsen
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Publication number: 20100061073Abstract: The present invention relates to a housing for one or more micromechanical and/or micro-optic components, wherein the housing exhibits a supporting substrate having at least one micromechanical and/or micro-optic component and at least one cap substrate, which is joined to the supporting substrate. The supporting substrate and the at least one cap substrate form at least one cavity, which at least partially encloses the at least one micromechanical and/or micro-optic component, wherein the side of at least one cap substrate facing the at least one micromechanical and/or micro-optic component exhibits at least one optical window and at least one mechanical stop. Furthermore, the object of the present invention is a method for producing such a housing, wherein the method is particularly usable for encapsulation at the wafer level.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2008Publication date: March 11, 2010Inventors: Marten Oldsen, Ulrich Hofmann
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Patent number: 7296020Abstract: A computerized method and system of document analysis. The method and system categorise documents according to a taxonomy. This is accomplished by rating training documents on a lower level by associating either of the following predicates to a training document: either correct, inbound, outbound, or unassigned, Rating categories are established on a lower level by determining precision/recall values for each category, and generating higher level category rating attributes from the lower-level rating steps. This is done by associating one or more of: aa) weak category, bb) existing source/sink relationship between categories, cc) close categories to the categories, and deriving an overall quality measure for the training base from the lower-level and higher-level rating step. The lower-level and higher-level evaluation results are stored.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2003Date of Patent: November 13, 2007Assignee: International Business Machines CorpInventors: Peter Gerstl, Ulrich Hofmann, Alexander Lang