Patents by Inventor Christian Bretthauer
Christian Bretthauer 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: 20230160732Abstract: A thermoresistive micro sensor device includes a semiconductor chip; a through hole, which runs through the semiconductor chip from an upper side to a lower side; electrically conductive structures, wherein the middle section of each of the electrically conductive structures spans over the through hole at the upper side of the semiconductor chip; an electrically insulating arrangement for electrically insulating the electrically conductive structures and the semiconductor chip from each other, wherein the through hole runs through the electrically insulating arrangement; and a contact arrangement including contacts, wherein each of the contacts is electrically connected to one of the first end sections or one of the second end sections, so that electrical energy is fed to at least one of the electrically conductive structures to heat the respective electrically conductive structure, and so that an electrical resistance of one of the electrically conductive structures is measured at the contact arrangement.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2022Publication date: May 25, 2023Inventors: Martin Seidl, Christian Bretthauer, Wolfgang Klein, Ulrich Krumbein, David Tumpold
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Publication number: 20230114068Abstract: A gas sensor comprises a membrane, a first plate arranged on a first side of the membrane and having through openings for the passage of a gas, a second plate arranged on a second side of the membrane, the second side being situated opposite the first side, and an electronic circuit, which is connected to the membrane, the first plate and the second plate and causes the membrane to emit ultrasonic radiation, and which is configured to determine a resonant frequency of the ultrasonic radiation.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2022Publication date: April 13, 2023Inventors: Matthias EBERL, Christian BRETTHAUER
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Patent number: 11611835Abstract: A MicroElectroMechanical Structure (MEMS) accelerometer includes a piezoelectric membrane including at least one electrode and an inertial mass, the piezoelectric membrane being affixed to a holder; and a circuit for evaluating sums and differences of signals associated with the at least one electrode to determine a three-dimensional acceleration direction, wherein the at least one electrode includes a segmented electrode, and wherein the segmented electrode includes four segmentation zones.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2020Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Christian Bretthauer, Pradyumna Mishra, Daniel Neumaier, David Tumpold
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Publication number: 20220402752Abstract: A MEMS vibration sensor includes a membrane having an inertial mass, the membrane being affixed to a holder of the MEMS vibration sensor; and a segmented backplate spaced apart from the membrane, the segmented backplate being affixed to the holder.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2021Publication date: December 22, 2022Applicants: Infineon Technologies AG, Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Somu Goswami, Christian Bretthauer, Matthias Friedrich Herrmann, Gunar Lorenz
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Patent number: 11530968Abstract: An apparatus for analyzing the particulate matter content of an aerosol includes an aerosol chamber configured to receive an aerosol, the particulate matter content of which should be analyzed, at least one ultrasonic generator configured to produce ultrasonic waves in the aerosol received in the aerosol chamber, an ultrasonic detector configured to detect ultrasonic waves produced by the at least one ultrasonic generator in the aerosol, and an evaluator having a data exchange communication link with the ultrasonic detector and configured to ascertain the matter content on the basis of signals output by the ultrasonic detector. The ultrasonic generator and the ultrasonic detector are positioned relative to one another such that a path length to be traversed by ultrasonic waves between the ultrasonic generator and the ultrasonic detector is less than 1 cm.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2020Date of Patent: December 20, 2022Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AGInventors: Alfons Dehe, Christian Bretthauer
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Patent number: 11353431Abstract: A photoacoustic sensor comprises an emitter for emitting electromagnetic radiation at a first wavelength and electromagnetic radiation at a second wavelength, wherein the first wavelength is for photoacoustically detecting particulate matter in a measurement cavity and the second wavelength is for photoacoustically detecting the particulate matter and at least one target gas in the measurement cavity. The photoacoustic sensor further comprises an acoustic transducer for transducing a first acoustic signal into a first sensor signal depending on an interaction of the electromagnetic radiation at the first wavelength and the particulate matter, and for transducing a second acoustic signal into a second sensor signal depending on an interaction of the electromagnetic radiation at the second wavelength with the particulate matter and the at least one target gas.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2019Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AGInventor: Christian Bretthauer
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Publication number: 20220167095Abstract: A MEMS device includes a MEMS sound transducer, and control circuitry. The control circuitry includes a supply signal provider for providing a high-level supply signal and read-out circuitry for receiving an output signal from the MEMS sound transducer, and a switching arrangement for selectively connecting the MEMS sound transducer to the supply signal provider, and for selectively connecting the MEMS sound transducer to the read-out circuitry based on a control signal. The control circuitry provides the control signal having an ultrasonic actuation pattern to the switching arrangement during a first condition TX of the control signal, wherein the ultrasonic actuation pattern of the control signal triggers the switching arrangement for alternately coupling the high-level supply signal to the MEMS sound transducer.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2021Publication date: May 26, 2022Inventors: Niccoló De Milleri, Christian Bretthauer, Alessandro Caspani, Alessandra Fusco
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Publication number: 20210382085Abstract: A combined MicroElectroMechanical structure (MEMS) includes a first piezoelectric membrane having one or more first electrodes, the first piezoelectric membrane being affixed between a first holder and a second holder; and a second piezoelectric membrane having an inertial mass and one or more second electrodes, the second piezoelectric membrane being affixed between the second holder and a third holder.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2020Publication date: December 9, 2021Inventors: Christian Bretthauer, Pradyumna Mishra, Daniel Neumaier, David Tumpold
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Publication number: 20210385584Abstract: A combined MicroElectroMechanical structure (MEMS) includes a first piezoelectric membrane having one or more first electrodes, the first piezoelectric membrane being affixed between a first holder and a second holder; and a second piezoelectric membrane having an inertial mass and one or more second electrodes, the second piezoelectric membrane being affixed between the second holder and a third holder.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2021Publication date: December 9, 2021Inventors: Somu Goswami, Christian Bretthauer, Matthias Friedrich Herrmann, Gunar Lorenz, Pradyumna Mishra, Daniel Neumaier, David Tumpold
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Publication number: 20210242891Abstract: An apparatus for correcting an input signal is configured for receiving the input signal, the received input signal comprising a series of input values. The apparatus is configured for matching a series of template values to the series of input values by warping the series of template values and the series of input values relatively to each other so as to assign one or more template values to one or more input values, wherein the series of template values represents an approximation of a noise signal that is expected to be comprised in the input signal. The apparatus is configured for obtaining a series of corrected input values based on a mismatch between the input values and their respective assigned template values. The apparatus is configured for providing a corrected signal based on the series of corrected input values.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2021Publication date: August 5, 2021Inventors: Alessandra Fusco, Christian Bretthauer
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Patent number: 11076217Abstract: A portable device includes a microphone structure for converting a received audio signal into an electronic signal representing the received audio signal and for transceiving an ultrasonic wave by transmitting the ultrasonic wave and by receiving a reflection of the ultrasonic wave. The portable device includes a control unit for evaluating the reflection of the ultrasonic wave to obtain an evaluation result and for controlling an operation of the portable device based on the evaluation result.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2020Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AGInventors: Daniel Neumaier, Christian Bretthauer, Dietmar Straeussnigg
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Patent number: 10926999Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a microelectromechanical transducer includes a displaceable membrane having an undulated section comprising at least one undulation trough and at least one undulation peak and a plurality of piezoelectric unit cells. At least one piezoelectric unit cell is provided in each case in at least one undulation trough and at least one undulation peak, where each piezoelectric unit cell has a piezoelectric layer and at least one electrode in electrical contact with the piezoelectric layer. The membrane may be formed as a planar component having a substantially larger extent in a first and a second spatial direction, which are orthogonal to one another, than in a third spatial direction, which is orthogonal to the first and the second spatial direction and defines an axial direction of the membrane.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2019Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AGInventors: Christian Bretthauer, Alfons Dehe, Alfred Sigi
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Publication number: 20210017016Abstract: A MEMS sound transducer element is operable in an audio and an ultrasonic range. The MEMS sound transducer element includes a first electrode structure, wherein a conductive material of the first electrode structure includes a plurality of electrically isolated electrode segments, and a second electrode structure spaced apart from the first electrode structure, wherein the first electrode structure and the second electrode structure are operable as an audio sound transducer. A first subset of the plurality of electrically isolated electrode segments of the first electrode structure is, in conjunction with the second electrode structure, operable as an ultrasonic or audio emitter, and a second subset of the plurality of the electrically isolated electrode segments of the first electrode structure is, in conjunction with the second electrode structure, operable as an ultrasonic or audio receiver.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2020Publication date: January 21, 2021Inventors: Sebastian Anzinger, Christian Bretthauer, Marc Fueldner
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Publication number: 20210014600Abstract: A portable device includes a microphone structure for converting a received audio signal into an electronic signal representing the received audio signal and for transceiving an ultrasonic wave by transmitting the ultrasonic wave and by receiving a reflection of the ultrasonic wave. The portable device includes a control unit for evaluating the reflection of the ultrasonic wave to obtain an evaluation result and for controlling an operation of the portable device based on the evaluation result.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2020Publication date: January 14, 2021Inventors: Daniel Neumaier, Christian Bretthauer, Dietmar Straeussnigg
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Publication number: 20200393277Abstract: A thermoresistive micro sensor device includes a semiconductor chip; a through hole, which runs through the semiconductor chip from an upper side to a lower side; electrically conductive structures, wherein the middle section of each of the electrically conductive structures spans over the through hole at the upper side of the semiconductor chip; an electrically insulating arrangement for electrically insulating the electrically conductive structures and the semiconductor chip from each other, wherein the through hole runs through the electrically insulating arrangement; and a contact arrangement including contacts, wherein each of the contacts is electrically connected to one of the first end sections or one of the second end sections, so that electrical energy is fed to at least one of the electrically conductive structures to heat the respective electrically conductive structure, and so that an electrical resistance of one of the electrically conductive structures is measured at the contact arrangement.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2020Publication date: December 17, 2020Inventors: Martin Seidl, Christian Bretthauer, Wolfgang Klein, Ulrich Krumbein, David Tumpold
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Publication number: 20200340904Abstract: An apparatus for analyzing the particulate matter content of an aerosol includes an aerosol chamber configured to receive an aerosol, the particulate matter content of which should be analyzed, at least one ultrasonic generator configured to produce ultrasonic waves in the aerosol received in the aerosol chamber, an ultrasonic detector configured to detect ultrasonic waves produced by the at least one ultrasonic generator in the aerosol, and an evaluator having a data exchange communication link with the ultrasonic detector and configured to ascertain the matter content on the basis of signals output by the ultrasonic detector. The ultrasonic generator and the ultrasonic detector are positioned relative to one another such that a path length to be traversed by ultrasonic waves between the ultrasonic generator and the ultrasonic detector is less than 1 cm.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2020Publication date: October 29, 2020Inventors: Alfons DEHE, Christian BRETTHAUER
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Patent number: 10766769Abstract: A semiconductor element includes a processed substrate arrangement including a processed semiconductor substrate and a metallization layer arrangement on a main surface of the processed semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor element further includes a passivation layer arranged at an outer border of the processed substrate arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2018Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Christian Bretthauer, Dirk Meinhold
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Patent number: 10761005Abstract: An apparatus for analysing the particulate matter content of an aerosol includes an aerosol chamber configured to receive an aerosol, the particulate matter content of which should be analysed, at least one ultrasonic generator configured to produce ultrasonic waves in the aerosol received in the aerosol chamber, an ultrasonic detector configured to detect ultrasonic waves produced by the at least one ultrasonic generator in the aerosol, and an evaluator having a data exchange communication link with the ultrasonic detector and configured to ascertain the matter content on the basis of signals output by the ultrasonic detector. The ultrasonic generator and the ultrasonic detector are positioned relative to one another such that a path length to be traversed by ultrasonic waves between the ultrasonic generator and the ultrasonic detector is less than 1 cm.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2017Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Alfons Dehe, Christian Bretthauer
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Publication number: 20200256833Abstract: A photoacoustic sensor comprises an emitter for emitting electromagnetic radiation at a first wavelength and electromagnetic radiation at a second wavelength, wherein the first wavelength is for photoacoustically detecting particulate matter in a measurement cavity and the second wavelength is for photoacoustically detecting the particulate matter and at least one target gas in the measurement cavity. The photoacoustic sensor further comprises an acoustic transducer for transducing a first acoustic signal into a first sensor signal depending on an interaction of the electromagnetic radiation at the first wavelength and the particulate matter, and for transducing a second acoustic signal into a second sensor signal depending on an interaction of the electromagnetic radiation at the second wavelength with the particulate matter and the at least one target gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2019Publication date: August 13, 2020Inventor: Christian Bretthauer
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Patent number: 10715926Abstract: A MEMS component includes a MEMS sound transducer having a membrane structure and an assigned counterelectrode structure, and a circuit unit, which is electrically coupled to the MEMS sound transducer and which in a first operating mode of the MEMS sound transducer in the audio frequency range detects an audio output signal of the MEMS sound transducer on the basis of a deflection of the membrane structure relative to the counterelectrode structure, the deflection being brought about by an acoustic sound pressure change, and in a second operating mode of the MEMS sound transducer in the ultrasonic frequency range to drive and read the MEMS sound transducer as an ultrasonic transceiver.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2018Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AGInventors: Christian Bretthauer, Pedro Augusto Borrego Lambin Torres Amaral, Christoph Glacer