Patents by Inventor Eric Monnin

Eric Monnin 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: 11946888
    Abstract: A thermal sensor device is configured to determine a fluid parameter of a fluid based on the heat transfer behavior of the fluid. The sensor device comprises one or more heaters and means for determining a response of the sensor device to heater power being supplied to the heaters. For detecting sensor faults, the sensor device is operated in two different modes of operation. First and second values (cstatic, cdynamic) of the same fluid parameter are determined in the two modes. A fault indicator value (F) is derived by comparing the first and second values. The first mode of operation may be a steady-state mode, the first value (cstatic) being based on a steady-state response of the sensor device to heater power being supplied to the heaters, and the second mode of operation may be a dynamic mode, the second value (cstatic) being based on a transient response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Sensirion AG
    Inventors: Eric Monnin, David Kiliani, Andreas Rüegg, Mark Hornung
  • Patent number: 11703470
    Abstract: A sensor device for determining at least one heat transfer parameter of a gas comprises a sensor unit (10) comprising at least one heater element and at least one temperature sensor. A first (inner) housing (20) receives the sensor unit. The first housing comprises a first membrane (22) allowing a diffusive gas exchange between the exterior and the interior of the first housing. The first housing is received in a second (outer) housing (30). The second housing comprises a second membrane (32) allowing a diffusive gas exchange between the exterior of the second housing and the exterior of the first housing. Thereby temperature gradients inside the first housing are reduced. The second housing can be made of metal and can be disposed on a support plate (40), taking the form of a cap. An auxiliary sensor (50) can be arranged in the space between the first and second housings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Sensirion AG
    Inventors: Mark Hornung, Eric Monnin
  • Publication number: 20220178855
    Abstract: A thermal sensor device is configured to determine a fluid parameter of a fluid based on the heat transfer behavior of the fluid. The sensor device comprises one or more heaters and means for determining a response of the sensor device to heater power being supplied to the heaters. For detecting sensor faults, the sensor device is operated in two different modes of operation. First and second values (cstatic, cdynamic) of the same fluid parameter are determined in the two modes. A fault indicator value (F) is derived by comparing the first and second values. The first mode of operation may be a steady-state mode, the first value (cstatic) being based on a steady-state response of the sensor device to heater power being supplied to the heaters, and the second mode of operation may be a dynamic mode, the second value (cstatic) being based on a transient response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Eric MONNIN, David KILIANI, Andreas RÜEGG, Mark HORNUNG
  • Publication number: 20210396696
    Abstract: A sensor device for determining at least one heat transfer parameter of a gas comprises a sensor unit (10) comprising at least one heater element and at least one temperature sensor. A first (inner) housing (20) receives the sensor unit. The first housing comprises a first membrane (22) allowing a diffusive gas exchange between the exterior and the interior of the first housing. The first housing is received in a second (outer) housing (30). The second housing comprises a second membrane (32) allowing a diffusive gas exchange between the exterior of the second housing and the exterior of the first housing. Thereby temperature gradients inside the first housing are reduced. The second housing can be made of metal and can be disposed on a support plate (40), taking the form of a cap. An auxiliary sensor (50) can be arranged in the space between the first and second housings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicant: Sensirion AG
    Inventors: Mark HORNUNG, Eric MONNIN
  • Publication number: 20210388985
    Abstract: A regulation device for regulating a mixing ratio (x) of a gas mixture comprises a first conduit (1) for carrying a flow of a first gas (e.g., air) and a second conduit (2) for carrying a flow of a second gas (e.g., a fuel gas). The first and second conduits (1, 2) open out into a common conduit (3) in a mixing region (M) to form the gas mixture. A first sensor (S1) is configured to determine at least one thermal parameter of the gas mixture downstream from the mixing region. A control device (10) is configured to receive, from the first sensor, sensor signals indicative of the at least one thermal parameter of the gas mixture and to derive control signals for adjusting device (V1) acting to adjust the mixing ratio, based on the at least one thermal parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Applicant: Sensirion AG
    Inventors: Mark HORNUNG, Andreas RÜEGG, Eric MONNIN, David KILIANI, Samuel WEHRLI, Daniel TRAEUTLEIN
  • Patent number: 10151612
    Abstract: A flow sensor package comprises a chip comprising a sensitive structure for sensing the flow of a fluid and an encapsulation at least partly encapsulating the chip. A recess in the encapsulation contributes to a flow channel for guiding the fluid, which recess exposes at least the sensitive structure of the chip from the encapsulation, and which recess extends beyond an edge of the chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Sensirion AG
    Inventors: Werner Hunziker, Mark Hornung, Eric Monnin
  • Publication number: 20180031159
    Abstract: Adaptor device comprising a base body with a first reception for receiving the first hose coupling nozzle and with a second reception for receiving a second hose coupling nozzle. The adaptor device has a first connecting nipple and a second connecting nipple for receiving hoses and has at least one first fastening structure for connecting the adaptor device to a further device. The adaptor device is configured to be connected to the further device to receive in the first and second receptions, respectively, upon connection with the further device, first and second hose coupling nozzles of the further device. A distance between the first and second receptions is smaller than a distance between muzzle openings of the first and second connecting nipples.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: Sensirion AG
    Inventors: Eric MONNIN, Andries BOSMA, Marvin MULLER, Mark HORNUNG
  • Publication number: 20160161314
    Abstract: A flow sensor package comprises a chip comprising a sensitive structure for sensing the flow of a fluid and an encapsulation at least partly encapsulating the chip. A recess in the encapsulation contributes to a flow channel for guiding the fluid, which recess exposes at least the sensitive structure of the chip from the encapsulation, and which recess extends beyond an edge of the chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Werner HUNZIKER, Mark HORNUNG, Eric MONNIN
  • Patent number: 7757553
    Abstract: A flow detector has a housing (1) with tongues (8), which allow to anchor it to a support to withstand pulling forces. The housing further comprises pegs (41) provided to mate with openings or recesses in the same support, which allow to secure it against lateral forces. The tongues (8) and pegs (41) are mounted to a hull (7) of a housing (1) of the detector, which carries on its opposite side an inlet (4a) and an outlet (4b) for the fluid to be measured. Connectors (5) are provided on the same side as the tongues (8) and the pegs (41) for connecting the detector to an external system. This design is robust and allows to mount the detector to the support in quick and secure manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Sensirion AG
    Inventors: Lorenz Meier, Mark Hornung, Eric Monnin, Felix Mayer
  • Publication number: 20090249869
    Abstract: A flow detector has a housing (1) with tongues (8), which allow to anchor it to a support to withstand pulling forces. The housing further comprises pegs (41) provided to mate with openings or recesses in the same support, which allow to secure it against lateral forces. The tongues (8) and pegs (41) are mounted to a hull (7) of a housing (1) of the detector, which carries on its opposite side an inlet (4a) and an outlet (4b) for the fluid to be measured. Connectors (5) are provided on the same side as the tongues (8) and the pegs (41) for connecting the detector to an external system. This design is robust and allows to mount the detector to the support in quick and secure manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventors: Lorenz Meier, Mark Hornung, Eric Monnin, Felix Mayer