Patents by Inventor Astrid WALDNER

Astrid WALDNER 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: 12406836
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for plasma generation in a wide pressure range. The device comprises a first plasma source (1) in a first discharge chamber (2) in order to generate a first plasma in a low-pressure range, a second plasma source (3) in a second discharge chamber (4) in order to generate a second plasma in a high-pressure range, a first coupling element (5) for coupling the device to a system, in order to guide gas out of the system, and a second coupling element (6) for coupling the device to an optical sensor (12). The first discharge chamber (2) has a first optical connection with at least one optical lens (7, 8) to the second coupling element (6) and the second discharge chamber (4) has a second optical connection with at least one optical lens (8) to the second coupling element (6). This invention further relates to a system for optical gas analysis or gas detection and corresponding methods for plasma generation and for operating the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2025
    Assignee: INFICON AG
    Inventors: Astrid Waldner, Bernhard Andreaus, Urs Wälchli, Stefan Kaiser
  • Publication number: 20250046589
    Abstract: A chamber, for bounding a plasma generation area in a vacuum pressure sensor, includes an electrically conductive casing element located radially on an outside relative to a central axis. The chamber includes electrically conductive wall elements arranged substantially perpendicular to the central axis and connected to the electrically conductive casing element. At least one of the wall elements has a first opening, through which the central axis extends. The electrically conductive casing element comprises at least a first and a second region. The first region is located closer to the central axis than the second region. The electrically conductive casing element is conical at least in part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2024
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Applicant: INFICON AG
    Inventors: Urs WÄLCHLI, Stefan KAISER, Bernhard ANDREAUS, Martin WÜEST, Astrid WALDNER, Michael TREFZER
  • Patent number: 12154771
    Abstract: Chamber (11, 12, 13) for bounding a plasma generation area (42) in a vacuum pressure sensor (40), wherein the chamber comprises an electrically conductive casing element (1, 1?, 1?) located radially on the outside relative to a central axis, wherein the chamber comprises electrically conductive wall elements (2, 2?, 2?) arranged substantially perpendicular to the central axis and connected to the casing element, wherein at least one of the wall elements has a first opening (3), through which the central axis extends, wherein the casing element comprises at least a first (B1) and a second region (B2), wherein the first region is located closer to the central axis than the second region. The invention further relates to a vacuum pressure sensor comprising the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2024
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: INFICON AG
    Inventors: Urs Wälchli, Stefan Kaiser, Bernhard Andreaus, Martin Wüest, Astrid Waldner, Michael Trefzer
  • Patent number: 12096545
    Abstract: A vacuum feedthrough (10) which is constructed in radial layers comprises the following elements (from inwards to outwards): —a lens element (11), —a first ring (12) made of glass, —a first hollow cylinder (13) made of a first dielectric material, —a first electrically conductive layer (18), —a second hollow cylinder (14) made of glass, —a third hollow cylinder (15) made of ceramic, —a second ring made of glass (16), and—a frame (17) made of metal. On the basis of the vacuum feedthrough, the invention additionally relates to an electrode assembly, to a device for generating a DBD plasma discharge, to a measuring device for characterizing a pressure and/or a gas composition, and to a method for operating the measuring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: INFICON AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Andreaus, Astrid Waldner
  • Publication number: 20240196508
    Abstract: A vacuum feedthrough (10) which is constructed in radial layers comprises the following elements (from inwards to outwards): —a lens element (11), —a first ring (12) made of glass, —a first hollow cylinder (13) made of a first dielectric material, —a first electrically conductive layer (18), —a second hollow cylinder (14) made of glass, —a third hollow cylinder (15) made of ceramic, —a second ring made of glass (16), and—a frame (17) made of metal. On the basis of the vacuum feedthrough, the invention additionally relates to an electrode assembly, to a device for generating a DBD plasma discharge, to a measuring device for characterizing a pressure and/or a gas composition, and to a method for operating the measuring device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Inventors: Bernhard ANDREAUS, Astrid WALDNER
  • Publication number: 20240194465
    Abstract: Chamber (11, 12, 13) for bounding a plasma generation area (42) in a vacuum pressure sensor (40), wherein the chamber comprises an electrically conductive casing element (1, 1?, 1?) located radially on the outside relative to a central axis, wherein the chamber comprises electrically conductive wall elements (2, 2?, 2?) arranged substantially perpendicular to the central axis and connected to the casing element, wherein at least one of the wall elements has a first opening (3), through which the central axis extends, wherein the casing element comprises at least a first (B1) and a second region (B2), wherein the first region is located closer to the central axis than the second region. The invention further relates to a vacuum pressure sensor comprising the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2024
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Inventors: Urs WÄLCHLI, Stefan KAISER, Bernhard ANDREAUS, Martin WÜEST, Astrid WALDNER, Michael TREFZER
  • Publication number: 20240177979
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for plasma generation in a wide pressure range. The device comprises a first plasma source (1) in a first discharge chamber (2) in order to generate a first plasma in a low-pressure range, a second plasma source (3) in a second discharge chamber (4) in order to generate a second plasma in a high-pressure range, a first coupling element (5) for coupling the device to a system, in order to guide gas out of the system, and a second coupling element (6) for coupling the device to an optical sensor (12). The first discharge chamber (2) has a first optical connection with at least one optical lens (7, 8) to the second coupling element (6) and the second discharge chamber (4) has a second optical connection with at least one optical lens (8) to the second coupling element (6). This invention further relates to a system for optical gas analysis or gas detection and corresponding methods for plasma generation and for operating the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Publication date: May 30, 2024
    Inventors: Astrid WALDNER, Bernhard ANDREAUS, Urs WÄLCHLI, Stefan KAISER