Patents Assigned to Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
  • Publication number: 20010015287
    Abstract: A printed circuit board has a conductor path applied to a substrate having an electrically insulating surface, the conductor path preferably being constructed in the shape of a meander and containing connection areas with holes to which small contact plates are applied for the purpose of later bonding with connection leads. The small contact plates are applied in a hard soldering process with the aid of solder paste to the connection areas of the conductor paths and to the surface area of the substrate surface which is made of ceramic and exposed by the holes. It is consequently possible, dispensing with so-called bonding wires, to directly connect connection leads or bonding lugs electrically with the conductor path and mechanically with the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board is preferably designed as a measuring resistor, wherein the conductor path is applied as a resistance layer of platinum or platinum group metal in a thin film process to a small ceramic plate of aluminum oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Publication date: August 23, 2001
    Applicant: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventors: Matthias Muziol, Karlheinz Wienand
  • Patent number: 6277267
    Abstract: A method for measurement of nitrogen oxides using a gas sensor. To reliably measure nitrogen oxides, the sensor has a reference electrode representing a constant oxygen partial pressure, at least two electrode pairs, with common a electrode associated with each pair of electrodes, and solid electrolytes arranged between the two electrodes of an electrode pair directly at the electrodes. The solid electrolyte between a first electrode pair is gas-permeable, while the solid electrolyte between a second electrode pair is gastight, whereby the second electrode pair is adapated for potentiometric or amperometric measurement of nitrogen oxides, and the first electrode pair is adapted for application of a current or a voltage to pump oxygen. The second electrode of the second electrode pair is constructed as a reference electrode on the reference gas side of the solid electrolyte of the second electrode pair. The sensor also has electrical leads for connection and for take-away of electric measurement signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventors: Peter Van Geloven, Silvia Lenaerts, Patrick van de Voorde
  • Publication number: 20010013220
    Abstract: A measuring arrangement is provided with a soot filter for use in flowing, soot particle-bearing gases, as well as a method for monitoring the operability of a soot filter arranged in an exhaust gas conduit, wherein at least one component stream of an exhaust gas stream flows through at least one molded element which is open-pored at least in the flow direction, and wherein the temperature of the molded element is measured with at least one temperature probe. In the measuring arrangement the soot filter is allocated at least one soot sensor, which has at least one molded element which is open-pored at least in the flow direction, at least one electric heating element, and at least one temperature probe. The measuring arrangement and method make possible a monitoring of the operability of a soot filter in a reliable and direct manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Applicant: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventor: Ulrich Schonauer
  • Publication number: 20010003333
    Abstract: A method is provided for processing mineral-insulated conduits, in particular for stripping the insulation from and/or severing mineral-insulated conduits, wherein a mineral-insulated conduit is constructed of at least one wire or band-shaped electrical conductor, a mineral powder and a metallic sheath tube having a wall thickness a. The problem arises, in reference to the known disadvantages of the prior art, to make available an improved method for processing mineral-insulated conduits. This problem is solved by a method where the sheath tube is processed on at least one radial processing line using laser cutting, and starting from the radial processing line, the sheath tube is processed on at least one axial processing line using laser cutting. The mineral-insulated conduit is then treated with ultrasound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Publication date: June 14, 2001
    Applicant: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventor: Lucas Neven
  • Publication number: 20010002756
    Abstract: A connection arrangement is provided for a mineral-insulated conduit with two ends to at least one tube-shaped structure, wherein at least one end is arranged partially overlapping with a tube-shaped structure and is affixed by welding or soldering, and wherein a sheath surface is arranged in the region of the overlap. The problem results of making available a connection arrangement for a mineral-insulated conduit to a tube-shaped structure, which is simple to produce and mechanically stable. The problem is solved in that the sheath surface has a structured surface, the end of the mineral-insulated conduit and the tube-shaped structure contact each other on all sides in the region of the overlap, and the contact surface is smaller than the sheath surface beyond the contact surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Publication date: June 7, 2001
    Applicant: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventors: Christiaan Baerts, Peter van Gerwen, Jean-Paul Jaenen
  • Patent number: 6232618
    Abstract: A temperature-dependent measuring resistor is connected to a reference resistor in series, wherein this series connection is flowed through by a constant impressed current. A connection point located between the two resistors is connected to the N-input of a first feedback differential amplifier, whose P-input is supplied with direct current voltage tapped from a voltage divider. During a temperature increase in the area of the measuring resistor, the potential increases at the output of the first differential amplifier, which delivers the constant impressed current and is connected to the measuring resistor, while the potential at the output of the differential amplifier falls when the temperature falls. The temperature-dependent voltage signal that is output at the differential amplifier is supplied in subtracting connection to the P-input of an after-connected second differential amplifier, whose output is connected to a measurement unit for measuring the voltage characteristic of the temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventors: Karlheinz Wienand, Andreas Müller
  • Patent number: 6226864
    Abstract: A printed circuit board has a conductor path applied to a substrate having an electrically insulating surface, the conductor path preferably being constructed in the shape of a meander and containing connection areas with holes to which small contact plates are applied for the purpose of later bonding with connection leads. The small contact plates are applied in a hard soldering process with the aid of solder paste to the connection areas of the conductor paths and to the surface area of the substrate surface which is made of ceramic and exposed by the holes. It is consequently possible, dispensing with so-called bonding wires, to directly connect connection leads or bonding lugs electrically with the conductor path and mechanically with the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board is preferably designed as a measuring resistor, wherein the conductor path is applied as a resistance layer of platinum or platinum group metal in a thin film process to a small ceramic plate of aluminum oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventors: Matthias Muziol, Karlheinz Wienand
  • Patent number: 6203678
    Abstract: A galvanic solid electrolyte sensor for measuring gaseous anhydrides includes a ceramic solid electrolyte that has a material that conducts electrons, a measuring electrode that includes a pure or doped alkaline or alkaline earth salt and a reference electrode spatially separated from the measuring electrode and sealed off from the anhydride measuring gas by a gas-tight enclosure. The reference electrode is made of a metal material that conducts electrons. The gas-tight enclosure is made of a layer of a glass containing zirconium and lead that covers only the material of the reference electrode, with only a marginal area of this layer abutting the solid electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventors: Volker Leonhard, Ulrich Guth, Hartmut Erdmann, Marianne Ilgenstein, Heidrun Koppen, Dieter Fischer
  • Patent number: 6183620
    Abstract: A process is provided for controlling the AlF3 content in cryolite melts for aluminum reduction, wherein the temperature of the melt is measured. In order to produce a very precise process which makes it possible to perform the aluminum reduction at the lowest posssible temperature, and thus as energy-saving as possible, the liquidus temperature of the cryolite melt is measured and compared with a first target value. AlF3 is added to the bath if the measured liquidus temperature is higher than the first target value. If the measured liquidus temperature is lower than the first target value, the measured liquidus temperature is compared with a second target value which is lower than the first target value. NaF or Na2CO3 is added to the bath if the measured liquidus temperature is lower than the second target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventor: Paul Clement Verstreken
  • Patent number: 6168763
    Abstract: An electrically heatable catalytic converter for the cleaning of exhaust gas from combustion processes, preferably from internal combustion engines, comprising a shell and a carrier located inside the shell, preferably with a multitude of parallel channels through which the exhaust gas being cleaned can flow, where the carrier exhibits at least one layer that is catalytically active in relation to the exhaust gas, and where, furthermore, at least a portion of the surface of the carrier exhibits at least one electrically conductive resistance heating layer with electrical connection areas, which is insulated against the carrier by means of an insulation layer, and with at least one connection element that contacts the resistance heating layer in the electrical connection areas, is easily manufactured and reliable during operation if at least one connection element runs through the resistance heating layer and the insulation layer, as well as the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventors: Uwe Hotz, Ulrich Renz
  • Patent number: 6159386
    Abstract: A temperature-dependent measuring resistance with rapid response time is at least partially arranged on an electrically insulating surface of a ceramic substrate, wherein a portion of the conductor path spans a recess situated in the substrate in a bridge-like manner, and the remaining portion of the conductor path in the edge area of the substrate adjacent to the recess is provided with connection contact fields. The conductor path comprises a platinum or gold layer, wherein the conductor path is partially provided with a cover layer of glass, and wherein the connection contact fields are exposed. In a further embodiment, the conductor path is arranged together with the connection contact fields either on a screen-printed glass membrane or on a thin film membrane applied in a PVD process, which covers the surface of the ceramic substrate and spans the recess. The cover layer is likewise selectively applied by screen printing in case there is a glass membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventors: Karlheinz Wienand, Karlheinz Ullrich, Margit Sander, Stefan Dietmann
  • Patent number: 6158268
    Abstract: A measuring sensor for measuring a fluid includes a longitudinally extending housing having first and second ends and having an inlet opening at the first end for the fluid to be measured, and a sensor chip provided in the housing. The sensor chip has a sensor element provided towards the inlet opening and at least one electrically conducting contact provided towards the second end of the housing. The electrically conducting contact is connected to the exterior by a metal jacket lead having an outer metal tube, at least one internal conductor, and a mineral material for electrically insulating the at least one conductor, the outer metal tubing connected in a fluid-tight manner to the second end of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventors: Edelbert Hafele, Walter Seeger
  • Patent number: 6156174
    Abstract: A process as well as an immersion sensor for measuring an electrochemical activity of a layer lying on a melt is provided, using an electrochemical sensor, which has a measuring cell and a counter electrode. In order to make possible reliably reproducible and accurate measurements in the layer, the measuring cell and counter electrode are first immersed in the melt, wherein the measuring cell and counter electrode are protected from contact with the layer and wherein the measuring cell and counter electrode are brought into contact with the melt and are heated. After that, the measuring cell is pulled up to perform the measurement in the layer, wherein the counter electrode is located in the melt during the measurement. For this purpose, the measuring cell and the counter electrode have a protective cover, and the measuring cell is arranged, in the immersion position of the sensor, above the counter electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventors: Christiaan Baerts, Guido Neyens
  • Patent number: 6109946
    Abstract: There is a connection between on the one hand an electrical power lead made as a metal-clad cable with at least one electrical inner conductor electrically insulated from the metal shroud by a mineral and on the other a device to be electrically connected thereto, especially an electrically heatable catalytic converter, the inner conductor and the device being connected to one another via a detachable terminal connection, one part of which being located on the device and its other part being provided on the free end of the power lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventors: Uwe Hotz, Raffaele Stamerra, Marcus Abele, Hagen Fischer
  • Patent number: 6086948
    Abstract: Porous, ceramic layers, which also have a diffusion-limiting action, are as a rule manufactured by selectively adding pore formers to the ceramic sinter material. The porosity of the layer created in this way lies in the micrometer range. The known processes for manufacturing layers of this type are intended for application to planar substrates. Suitability for spherical surfaces and a porosity of the layer in the nanometer range is provided herein by an oxide ceramic powder having a BET specific surface area in the range of about 5 to 50 m.sup.2 /g and having a mean primary particle size of about 20 to 450 nm. The powder is first pretreated at a temperature of about 800.degree. C. to 1150.degree. C. and then mixed with untreated, oxide ceramic powder. The mixture is then applied to a high temperature-stable base, and burned-in (fired) at a temperatures of about 1000.degree. C. to 1350.degree. C. Optionally, instead of the thermally pretreated oxide ceramic powder, a recrystallized glass powder can be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventors: Barbara Roth, Volker Bruser, Ulrich Guth
  • Patent number: 6085575
    Abstract: According to the state of the art, either two separate sensor elements are generally used to determine the exhaust gas temperature and the air/fuel ratio, lambda, or the temperature and lambda readings are not taken simultaneously, at least at temperatures of less than 250.degree. C. In addition, sufficiently precise simultaneous measurement is only possible during stationary operation. The process according to the invention and the corresponding sensor arrangement now make it possible to obtain a precise temperature and lambda reading at a minimal degree of metrological complexity, especially under non-stationary conditions, in that a heated sensor, which exhibits a temperature-sensitive and oxygen-sensitive element on a carrier element, is used to measure the exhaust gas temperature, even at low temperatures with the heating system switched off, while a lambda reading is obtained simultaneously, with the latter being possible only at higher temperature ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventors: Karlheinz Wienand, Edelbert Hafele
  • Patent number: 6082609
    Abstract: A process is provided for producing a sensor arrangement for measuring temperature with a temperature-sensitive measuring resistance element which has a thin, metallic resistance layer electrically-insulated toward the outside on a ceramic substrate and free-lying contact surfaces, which are connected electrically-conducting and directly mechanically fast with high-temperature-resistant conductor strips, electrically insulated from one another, on a ceramic board. The measuring resistance element is bonded and fastened on one end of the board by laying it on a still moist thick-film conducting paste printed on immediately before outfitting on the board and subsequently burning it in. On the end of the board away from the measuring resistance element, contact surfaces for connection of a plug or cable are arranged. The temperature sensor, a standard component in the form of a flat measuring resistance element, is applied wirelessly as an SMD component on the ceramic board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventors: Karlheinz Wienand, Eva Soll, Matthias Muziol
  • Patent number: 6079265
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement for a film type anemometer which includes a carrier plate; a precision resistor; a planar, elongated heating resistor supplied with an adjustable power supply; and a retaining device. The operational temperature of the heating resistor is increased by a fixed predetermined differential amount versus the temperature determined by the precision resistor. The heating resistor has at least one resistive layer disposed on a substrate. The heating resistor is attached in a bridge-like fashion in a recess of the carrier plate. The retaining device has a low heat transfer and has two opposite attachment areas which retain respective ends of the heating resistor. Each of the attachment areas being directed towards respective ends of the heating resistor and each attachment area having at least a bearing surface, a lateral peripheral surface and a longitudinal peripheral surface which extends in the longitudinal direction of the heating resistor for receiving an end area of the heating resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignees: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V., Pierburg GmbH
    Inventors: Karlheinz Wienand, Stefan Dietmann, Christian Koch, Karl-Heinrich Losing, Peter Witkowski
  • Patent number: 6000218
    Abstract: A system for monitoring the operatibility of catalytic converters and/or lambda probes in exhaust gas detoxification systems. It is characterised in that a pollutant sensor is placed downstream of (in relation to the exhaust gas stream) or in the catalytic converter, in that the lambda value and/or oxygen content of the exhaust gas are altered by a specific amount either by the engine or by a device, and in that the electrical output signal from the pollutant sensor is compared in a comparator circuit to a value curve stored in a storage unit and corresponding to the defined alteration of the lambda value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventor: Edelbert Hafele
  • Patent number: 5989408
    Abstract: A a process as well as an immersion sensor for measuring an electrochemical activity of a layer lying on a melt is provided, using an electrochemical sensor, which has a measuring cell and a counter electrode. In order to make possible reliably reproducible and accurate measurements in the layer, the measuring cell and counter electrode are first immersed in the melt, wherein the measuring cell and counter electrode are protected from contact with the layer and wherein the measuring cell and counter electrode are brought into contact with the melt and are heated. After that, the measuring cell is pulled up to perform the measurement in the layer, wherein the counter electrode is located in the melt during the measurement. For this purpose, the measuring cell and the counter electrode have a protective cover, and the measuring cell is arranged, in the immersion position of the sensor, above the counter electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventors: Christiaan Baerts, Guido Neyens