Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Neil Steinberg
  • Patent number: 7227432
    Abstract: A plurality of mechanically coupled MEMS resonators that are arranged in an N×M MEMS array structure. Each MEMS resonators includes a plurality of straight (or substantially straight) elongated beam sections that are connected by curved/rounded sections. Each elongated beam section is connected to another elongated beam section at a distal end via the curved/rounded sections thereby forming a geometric shape (e.g., a rounded square). Further, each resonator is mechanically coupled to at least one other adjacent resonator of the array via a resonator coupling section. The resonator coupling sections may be disposed between elongated beam sections of adjacent resonators. The resonators, when induced, oscillate at the same or substantially the same frequency. The resonators oscillate in a combined elongating (or breathing) mode and bending mode; that is, the beam sections exhibit an elongating-like (or breathing-like) motion and a bending-like motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Lutz, Aaron Partridge, Zhiyu Pan
  • Patent number: 7226414
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a glucose sensing device for implantation within subcutaneous tissue of an animal body. In one embodiment, the glucose sensing device includes a first chamber containing first magnetic particles and a hydrocolloid solution (for example, ConA-dextran hydrocolloid) wherein the first magnetic particles are dispersed in the hydrocolloid solution. In operation, glucose within the animal may enter and exit the first chamber and the hydrocolloid solution changes in response to the presence or concentration of glucose within the first chamber. The sensing device also includes a reference chamber containing second magnetic particles and a reference solution wherein the second magnetic particles are dispersed in the reference solution. The reference solution (for example, oil or alcohol compounds) includes a known or fixed viscosity. The reference solution may also be a hydrocolloid solution (for example, ConA-dextran hydrocolloid).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: BioTex, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Ballerstadt, Roger McNichols, Ashok Gowda
  • Patent number: 7224236
    Abstract: There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a compensated microelectromechanical oscillator, having a microelectromechanical resonator that generates an output signal and frequency adjustment circuitry, coupled to the microelectromechanical resonator to receive the output signal of the microelectromechanical resonator and, in response to a set of values, to generate an output signal having second frequency. In one embodiment, the values may be determined using the frequency of the output signal of the microelectromechanical resonator, which depends on the operating temperature of the microelectromechanical resonator and/or manufacturing variations of the microelectromechanical resonator. In one embodiment, the frequency adjustment circuitry may include frequency multiplier circuitry, for example, PLLs, DLLs, digital/frequency synthesizers and/or FLLs, as well as any combinations and permutations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Aaron Partridge, Markus Lutz
  • Patent number: 7221241
    Abstract: There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. These inventions are directed to a method of fabricating a microelectromechanical resonator having an output frequency that may be adjusted, tuned, set, defined and/or selected whether before and/or after final packaging. In one aspect, the method of the present invention adjusts, tunes, sets, defines and/or selects the frequency of the microelectromechanical resonator by changing and/or removing material from the mechanical structure of the resonator by resistively heating (in a selective or non-selective manner) one or more elements and/or beams of the mechanical structure (for example, the moveable or expandable electrodes and/or frequency adjustment structures).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Lutz, Aaron Partridge
  • Patent number: 7221033
    Abstract: In one aspect, there is described a thin film or wafer encapsulated electromechanical device. In one embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the electromechanical device comprises a substrate, a mechanical structure disposed over the substrate wherein an anti-stiction layer is disposed on at least a portion of the mechanical structure, a wafer bonded encapsulation structure, disposed over the mechanical structure, to seal a chamber, an anti-stiction channel, etched into the substrate, to provide access to at least a portion of the mechanical structure disposed in the chamber, and an anti-stiction plug, disposed over or in the anti-stiction channel, to re-seal the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Lutz, Aaron Partridge
  • Patent number: 7221230
    Abstract: There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a compensated microelectromechanical oscillator, having a microelectromechanical resonator that generates an output signal and frequency adjustment circuitry, coupled to the microelectromechanical resonator to receive the output signal of the microelectromechanical resonator and, in response to a set of values, to generate an output signal having second frequency. In one embodiment, the values may be determined using the frequency of the output signal of the microelectromechanical resonator, which depends on the operating temperature of the microelectromechanical resonator and/or manufacturing variations of the microelectromechanical resonator. In one embodiment, the frequency adjustment circuitry may include frequency multiplier circuitry, for example, PLLs, DLLs, digital/frequency synthesizers and/or FLLs, as well as any combinations and permutations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Aaron Partridge, Markus Lutz
  • Patent number: 7205867
    Abstract: A micromechanical resonator structure including a plurality of straight or substantially straight beam sections that are connected by curved or rounded sections. Each elongated beam section is connected to another elongated beam section at a distal end via the curved or rounded sections thereby forming a geometric shape having at least two elongated beam sections that are interconnected via curved or rounded sections (for example, a rounded triangle shape, rounded square or rectangle shape). The structure includes one or more nodal points or areas (i.e., portions of the resonator structure that are stationary, experience little movement, and/or are substantially stationary during oscillation of the resonator structure) in one or more portions or areas of the curved sections of the structure. The nodal points are suitable and/or preferable locations to anchor the resonator structure to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Lutz, Aaron Partridge
  • Patent number: 7202761
    Abstract: Thermally induced frequency variations in a micromechanical resonator are actively or passively mitigated by application of a compensating stiffness, or a compressive/tensile strain. Various composition materials may be selected according to their thermal expansion coefficient and used to form resonator components on a substrate. When exposed to temperature variations, the relative expansion of these composition materials creates a compensating stiffness, or a compressive/tensile strain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Lutz, Aaron Partridge
  • Patent number: 7187581
    Abstract: There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In a first aspect, the present invention is directed to a memory device and technique of reading data from and writing data into memory cells of the memory device. In this regard, in one embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the memory device and technique for operating that device that minimizes, reduces and/or eliminates the debilitating affects of the charge pumping phenomenon. This embodiment of the present invention employs control signals that minimize, reduce and/or eliminate transitions of the amplitudes and/or polarities. In another embodiment, the present invention is a semiconductor memory device including a memory array comprising a plurality of semiconductor dynamic random access memory cells arranged in a matrix of rows and columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Innovative Silicon S.A.
    Inventors: Richard Ferrant, Serguei Okhonin, Eric Carman, Michel Bron
  • Patent number: 7184298
    Abstract: There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a memory cell, architecture, and/or array and/or technique of writing or programming data into the memory cell (for example, a technique to write or program a logic low or State “0” in a memory cell employing an electrically floating body transistor. In this regard, the present invention programs a logic low or State “0” in the memory cell while the electrically floating body transistor is in the “OFF” state or substantially “OFF” state (for example, when the device has no (or practically no) channel and/or channel current between the source and drain). In this way, the memory cell may be programmed whereby there is little to no current/power consumption by the electrically floating body transistor and/or from memory array having a plurality of electrically floating body transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Innovative Silicon S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Fazan, Serguei Okhonin
  • Patent number: 7181720
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process and a corresponding device for circuit design by means of high-level synthesis in which a register-transfer description is determined from a system description of a circuit to be designed with an aim of designing the circuit with as little power consumption as possible. Particularly, in order to sufficiently take into account the more and more sharply increasing percentage of power consumption due to connecting wires, an iterative process is proposed in which, immediately after modification of an initial register-transfer description, a modified floorplan is also developed in which it can be recognized immediately whether or not the modification of the initial register-transfer description has brought with it a reduction of the power consumption of the connecting wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Inventor: Ansgar Stammermann
  • Patent number: 7177175
    Abstract: There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a memory cell, architecture, and/or array and/or technique of writing or programming data into the memory cell (for example, a technique to write or program a logic low or State “0” in a memory cell employing an electrically floating body transistor. In this regard, the present invention programs a logic low or State “0” in the memory cell while the electrically floating body transistor is in the “OFF” state or substantially “OFF” state (for example, when the device has no (or practically no) channel and/or channel current between the source and drain). In this way, the memory cell may be programmed whereby there is little to no current/power consumption by the electrically floating body transistor and/or from memory array having a plurality of electrically floating body transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Innovative Silicon S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Fazan, Serguei Okhonin
  • Patent number: 7170807
    Abstract: A data storage device such as a DRAM memory having a plurality of data storage cells 10 is disclosed. Each data storage cell 10 has a physical parameter which varies with time and represents one of two binary logic states. A selection circuit 16, writing circuits 18 and a refreshing circuit 22 apply input signals to the data storage cells to reverse the variation of the physical parameter with time of at least those cells representing one of the binary logic states by causing a different variation in the physical parameter of cells in one of said states than in the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Innovative Silicon S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Fazan, Serguei Okhonin
  • Patent number: 7166985
    Abstract: A fuel cell power module is provided. The module comprises (a) power production unit, (b) a power conditioning and protection unit, and (c) a control unit, each unit being modules and integrated into a module for independent removal. Multiple modules are networked so that each module is connected to a master controller so that if one module is removed from operation, the other is able to continue operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Jadoo Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Muralidharan P. Arikara, Lawrence R. Bawden, Jr., William Jackson Berger, Barbara H. Van Fleet
  • Patent number: 7165941
    Abstract: One aspect of the present invention concerns a process for mounting rotor blades to a rotor hub of a wind power installation in situ. In order to avoid high torques in the mechanical train of the wind power installation in the operation of mounting the rotor blades, a process according to one aspect of the invention includes the following steps: mounting a weight to at least one flange of the rotor hub; mounting the rotor blade in the installation situation; rotating the rotor hub into a predeterminable position; and exchanging the weight arranged on the flange of the rotor hub for a rotor blade by removing the weight and then mounting the rotor blade to the rotor hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Inventor: Aloys Wobben
  • Patent number: 7166458
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention is a system, a device and a method for sensing the concentration of an analyte in a fluid or matrix. The analyte may be glucose or any other chemical of interest. The fluid or matrix may be, for example, the fluid in a bioreactor, a food or agricultural product, any fluid or matrix in the body of an animal, or any other fluid or matrix whose concentration of an analyte is under investigation. In one embodiment, the analyte sensing device includes a housing having an interior space. Contained within the housing and in the interior space is one or more analyte sensing component(s). The analyte sensing component, in one embodiment, includes one or more radiation converting element(s), for example, converting chromophores. The radiation converting element(s) are capable of converting or modifying radiation of one or more wavelengths into radiation of one or more different wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Bio Tex, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Ballerstadt, Roger McNichols, Ashok Gowda
  • Patent number: 7124631
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an apparatus for monitoring a wind power installation, with at least one sensor for detecting measurement values, and also a method of monitoring a wind power installation, in which: (i) a measurement value is detected with at least one sensor, (ii) the measurement value is converted into a signal representative of the measurement value, and (iii) the signal is stored and/or processed in accordance with a predetermined method. In one aspect, in order to provide an apparatus and a method which permit reliable detection of the loading on the pylon of the wind power installation, there is provided at least one sensor for detecting the loading on the pylon, the sensor being arranged in the region of the base of the pylon. In addition, the instantaneous loading on the wind power installation is ascertained from the signal representative of the measurement value ascertained by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Inventor: Aloys Wobben
  • Patent number: 7120895
    Abstract: There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a technique of, and system for simulating, verifying, inspecting, characterizing, determining and/or evaluating the lithographic designs, techniques and/or systems, and/or individual functions performed thereby or components used therein. In one embodiment, the present invention is a system and method that accelerates lithography simulation, inspection, characterization and/or evaluation of the optical characteristics and/or properties, as well as the effects and/or interactions of lithographic systems and processing techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Brion Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Ye, Yen-Wen Lu, Yu Cao, Luoqi Chen, Xun Chen
  • Patent number: 7115436
    Abstract: There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In one aspect, present invention is directed to a thin film encapsulated MEMS, and technique of fabricating or manufacturing a thin film encapsulated MEMS including an integrated getter area and/or an increased chamber volume, which causes little to no increase in overall dimension(s) from the perspective of the mechanical structure and chamber. The integrated getter area is disposed within the chamber and is capable of (i) “capturing” impurities, atoms and/or molecules that are out-gassed from surrounding materials and/or (ii) reducing and/or minimizing the adverse impact of such impurities, atoms and/or molecules (for example, reducing the probability of adding mass to a resonator which would thereby change the resonator's frequency).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Lutz, Aaron Partridge
  • Patent number: 7117477
    Abstract: There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a technique of, and system for simulating, verifying, inspecting, characterizing, determining and/or evaluating the lithographic designs, techniques and/or systems, and/or individual functions performed thereby or components used therein. In one embodiment, the present invention is a system and method that accelerates lithography simulation, inspection, characterization and/or evaluation of the optical characteristics and/or properties, as well as the effects and/or interactions of lithographic systems and processing techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Brion Tecnologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Ye, Yen-Wen Lu, Yu Cao, Luoqi Chen, Xun Chen