Abstract: The invention relates to a device for drug administration and/or monitoring the status of a patient, the device comprising a first and a second measuring means, and the time for using the second measuring means being set in accordance with the data of the first measuring means.

Abstract: The invention relates to a capacitive sensor device 100. The capacitive sensor device (100) comprises a substrate (401), a first electrode (101) coupled to the substrate (401, a second electrode (102) coupled to the substrate (401) and a movable element (103). The movable element (103) is capacitively coupled to the first electrode (101), the moveable element (103) and the first electrode (101) representing a first capacitor (104). The movable element (103) is capacitively coupled to the second electrode (102), the moveable element (103) and the second electrode (102) representing a second capacitor (105). The movable element (103) is movable between the first electrode (101) and the second electrode (102) in such a manner, that an electrical impedance between the first electrode (101) and the second electrode (102) is changeable due to a change of a position of the movable element (103). The movable element (103) is decoupled from the substrate (401), in particular to a signal line.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a micromachined microphone and an accelerometer from a wafer 1 having a first layer 2, the method comprising the steps of dividing the first layer 2 into a microphone layer 5 and into an accelerometer layer 6, covering a front side of the microphone layer 5 and a front side of the accelerometer layer 6 with a continuous second layer 7, covering the second layer 7 with a third layer 8, forming a plurality of trenches 9 in the third layer 8, removing a part 10 of the wafer 1 below a back side of the microphone layer 5, forming at least two wafer trenches 11 in the wafer 1 below a back side of the accelerometer layer 6, and removing a part 12, 13 of the second layer 7 through the plurality of trenches 9 formed in the third layer 8. The micromachined microphone and the accelerometer according to the invention is advantageous over prior art as it allows for body noise cancellation in order to minimize structure borne sound.

Abstract: A capacitive sensor is configured for collapsed mode, e.g. for measuring sound or pressure, wherein the moveable element is partitioned into smaller sections. The capacitive sensor provides increased signal to noise ratio.

Abstract: A MEMS accelerometer uses capacitive sensing between two electrode layers. One of the electrode layers has at least four independent electrodes arranged as two pairs of electrodes, with one pair aligned orthogonally to the other such that tilting of the membrane can be detected as well as normal-direction movement of the membrane. In this way, a three axis accelerometer can be formed from a single suspended mass, and by sensing using a set of capacitor electrodes which are all in the same plane. This means the fabrication is simple and is compatible with other MEMS manufacturing processes, such as MEMS microphones.

Abstract: A microphone and a method for manufacturing the same. The microphones includes a substrate die; and a microphone and an accelerometer formed from the substrate die. The accelerometer is adapted to provide a signal for compensating mechanical vibrations of the substrate die.

Abstract: A wearable electronic device such as a wrist watch (60) is supplied with conventional clock with two pointers (32,33). The device displays a parameter indicative of how “cool” the wearer has been over the past period as a function of time, using the time axis of one of the pointers (32,33). “Coolness” can be based on the measurement of related physiological parameters like heart-rate, body temperature, movement, skin resistance or muscle activity. “Coolness” of a person is understood as being the ability to cope with stress. Therefore, the stability of physiological parameters can be used to derive a signal for the subjective trait called “coolness”. All physiological parameters can be measured by sensors (10) in the watch (60) or in the strap (50). The invention is used as a gadget for self expression and emotional feedback.

Abstract: Proximity sensor, particularly for usage in an electronic mobile device, comprising at least one acoustic transducer adapted for receiving acoustic signals at least in parts of the frequency range of human audible sound and emitting and/or receiving ultrasonic signals for proximity estimation. The acoustic transducer preferably is a Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS) microphone. Further, a method in an electronic device comprising an acoustic transducer is provided comprising the steps of generating at least one electric signal in the frequency range of ultrasonic sound, emitting at least one ultrasonic signal by means of the acoustic transducer; receiving at least one ultrasonic signal by means of the acoustic transducer; deducing from the at least one emitted ultrasonic signal and the at least one received ultrasonic signal at least the delay between emission of the emitted ultrasonic signal and reception of the corresponding ultrasonic signal.

Abstract: A pen which is able to modulate the trace of the pen in response to a sensory signal of the user, such as for example skin conductance or respiration. The sensory signals represent the mood of the user. By changing the trace of the pen, a change in mood of the user can be expressed.

Abstract: A MEMS accelerometer uses capacitive sensing between two electrode layers. One of the electrode layers has at least four independent electrodes arranged as two pairs of electrodes, with one pair aligned orthogonally to the other such that tilting of the membrane can be detected as well as normal-direction movement of the membrane. In this way, a three axis accelerometer can be formed from a single suspended mass, and by sensing using a set of capacitor electrodes which are all in the same plane. This means the fabrication is simple and is compatible with other MEMS manufacturing processes, such as MEMS microphones.

Abstract: A microphone has a membrane (20) mounted to vibrate in response to pressure fluctuations, a backplate (30) facing the membrane and being more rigid than the membrane, and circuitry (95) for sensing the vibrations relative to the backplate, the backplate being prestressed and having a geometry such that a response of the backplate to structure borne vibration matches a corresponding response of the membrane. This can help reduce or minimize relative movement between these surfaces caused by structure borne vibration and hence improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the microphone. The geometry can be a hub and spoke arrangement.

Abstract: A microphone comprises a substrate (20), a microphone membrane (10) defining an acoustic input surface and a backplate (11) supported with respect to the membrane with a fixed spacing between the backplate (11) and the membrane (10). A microphone periphery area comprises parallel corrugations (24) in the membrane (10) and backplate (11). By using the same corrugated suspension for both the membrane and the backplate, the sensitivity to body noise is optimally suppressed.

Abstract: A MEMS transducer (10) for an audio device comprises a substrate (12), a membrane (14) attached to the substrate (12), and a back-electrode (18) attached to the substrate (12), wherein a resonant frequency of the back-electrode (18) is matched to a resonant frequency of the membrane (14). Further, a method of manufacturing a MEMS transducer (19) for an audio device comprises attaching a membrane to a substrate (12), attaching a back-electrode (18) to the substrate (12), matching a resonant frequency of the back-electrode (18) to a resonant frequency of the membrane (14).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a micromachined microphone and an accelerometer from a wafer 1 having a first layer 2, the method comprising the steps of dividing the first layer 2 into a microphone layer 5 and into an accelerometer layer 6, covering a front side of the microphone layer 5 and a front side of the accelerometer layer 6 with a continuous second layer 7, covering the second layer 7 with a third layer 8, forming a plurality of trenches 9 in the third layer 8, removing a part 10 of the wafer 1 below a back side of the microphone layer 5, forming at least two wafer trenches 11 in the wafer 1 below a back side of the accelerometer layer 6, and removing a part 12, 13 of the second layer 7 through the plurality of trenches 9 formed in the third layer 8. The micromachined microphone and the accelerometer according to the invention is advantageous over prior art as it allows for body noise cancellation in order to minimize structure borne sound.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device comprising an ingestible capsule which measures at least one body parameter and starts a drug release program upon predefined changes in the body parameter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a capacitive sensor device 100. The capacitive sensor device (100) comprises a substrate (401), a first electrode (101) coupled to the substrate (401, a second electrode (102) coupled to the substrate (401) and a movable element (103). The movable element (103) is capacitively coupled to the first electrode (101), the moveable element (103) and the first electrode (101) representing a first capacitor (104). The movable element (103) is capacitively coupled to the second electrode (102), the moveable element (103) and the second electrode (102) representing a second capacitor (105). The movable element (103) is movable between the first electrode (101) and the second electrode (102) in such a manner, that an electrical impedance between the first electrode (101) and the second electrode (102) is changeable due to a change of a position of the movable element (103). The movable element (103) is decoupled from the substrate (401), in particular to a signal line.

Abstract: A microphone and a method for manufacturing the same. The microphones includes a substrate die; and a microphone and an accelerometer formed from the substrate die. The accelerometer is adapted to provide a signal for compensating mechanical vibrations of the substrate die.

Abstract: Proximity sensor, particularly for usage in an electronic mobile device, comprising at least one acoustic transducer adapted for receiving acoustic signals at least in parts of the frequency range of human audible sound and emitting and/or receiving ultrasonic signals for proximity estimation. The acoustic transducer preferably is a Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS) microphone. Further, a method in an electronic device comprising an acoustic transducer is provided comprising the steps of generating at least one electric signal in the frequency range of ultrasonic sound, emitting at least one ultrasonic signal by means of the acoustic transducer; receiving at least one ultrasonic signal by means of the acoustic transducer; deducing from the at least one emitted ultrasonic signal and the at least one received ultrasonic signal at least the delay between emission of the emitted ultrasonic signal and reception of the corresponding ultrasonic signal.

Abstract: A proximity sensor arrangement is provided comprising at least one first and at least one second acoustic transducer and at least one comparing means. The acoustic transducers are adapted to receive acoustic signals and convert the received acoustic signals into electric signals. The comparing means are adapted to compare the spectra received by the acoustic transducers. If the device comprising the proximity sensor arrangement is held at a user's ear, the signal received by the covered microphone is low-pass filtered due to human tissue and/or the presence of the human head, resulting in a spectral difference between several microphones. Furthermore a method is provided comprising the steps of receiving an acoustic signal at least two locations distant from each other. In a second step, said received acoustic signals are converted into electric signals. Subsequently, the actual proximity and/or coverage situation is deduced from the spectral difference between the electric signals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing conductive inter-layer connections in a microsystem built by a patterned stack of flexible foils (10). Conductive inter-layer connections (210, 300, 400) made of solder material, sputtered or evaporated material or by means of carbonization of plastic material building the isolating layer (30) of the flexible foils (10) are formed to connect patterned conductive layers (40, 50) separated by means of at least one isolating layer (30) in a conductive way in order to interconnect different parts of the microsystem in an easy way.