Patents by Inventor Heikki Seppa
Heikki Seppa 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: 20120176609Abstract: This document describes a wireless sensor comprising a MEMS resonator and an antenna directly matched thereto. Also a method of reading the wireless sensor is described. The method comprises illuminating the wireless sensor with electromagnetic energy at a first and second frequencies and receiving an intermodulation signal emitted by the wireless sensor in response to said electromagnetic energy at the first and second frequencies.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2010Publication date: July 12, 2012Applicant: TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTTInventors: Heikki Seppä, Ville Viikari
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Patent number: 8136403Abstract: The present invention relates to a micromechanical sensor for analyzing liquid samples and an array of such sensors. The invention also concerns a method for sensing liquid samples and the use of longitudinal bulk acoustic waves for analyzing liquid phase samples micromechanically. The sensor comprises a body and a planar wave guide portion spaced from the body. At least one electro-mechanical transducer element are used for excitation of longitudinal bulk acoustic waves to the wave guide portion in response to electrical actuation and for converting acoustic waves into electrical signals. The wave guide portion is provided with a sample-receiving zone onto which the sample can be introduced. By means of the invention, the sensitivity of micromechanical liquid sensors can be improved.Type: GrantFiled: July 4, 2006Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen TutkimuskeskusInventors: Heikki Seppa, Kirsi Tappura, Jussi Tuppurainen, Tomi Mattila, Ari Alastalo, Hannu Helle, Aarne Oja
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Publication number: 20120046571Abstract: The present publication discloses a method for detecting ethanol, in which method the ethanol content of a person is measured. According to the invention, the ethanol content is measured from the person's skin, using a capacitive measurement method.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2010Publication date: February 23, 2012Applicant: Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTTInventors: Timo Varpula, Aarne Oja, Heikki Seppa, Mika Suhonen
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Patent number: 8063369Abstract: The invention relates to a bolometer element, a bolometer cell, a bolometer camera, and a method for reading a bolometer cell. The bolometer cell comprises several bolometer elements. Each bolometer element comprises a first bolometer having a first heating resistance for sensing radiation power acting on the element, and a second bolometer having a second heating resistance, and in each bolometer element the first and second bolometers are electrically connected to each other in such a way that the heating resistance (611) of the first bolometer can be biased with the aid of a voltage through the heating resistance of the second bolometer in order to amplify the radiation power detected with the aid of the connection. With the aid of the invention, it is possible to implement an extremely sensitive bolometer camera.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2008Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen TutkimuskeskusInventors: Heikki Seppä, Panu Helistö, Arttu Luukanen
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Publication number: 20110254959Abstract: The invention relates to a bolometer element, a bolometer cell, a bolometer camera, and a method for reading a bolometer cell. The bolometer cell comprises several bolometer elements. Each bolometer element comprises a first bolometer having a first heating resistance for sensing radiation power acting on the element, and a second bolometer having a second heating resistance, and in each bolometer element the first and second bolometers are electrically connected to each other in such a way that the heating resistance (611) of the first bolometer can be biased with the aid of a voltage through the heating resistance of the second bolometer in order to amplify the radiation power detected with the aid of the connection. With the aid of the invention, it is possible to implement an extremely sensitive bolometer camera.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2008Publication date: October 20, 2011Applicant: Valtion Teknillinen TutkimuskeskusInventors: Heikki Seppa, Panu Helisto, Arttu Luukanen
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Patent number: 8029722Abstract: This publication discloses a method for creating nanoscale formations. According to the method, a filler matrix and first nanoparticles embedded in the filler matrix, and two conductive electrodes are superimposed on the insulating material layer. According to the invention, a voltage is applied between the conductive electrodes, a filler matrix is used and first nanoparticles have substantially different electrical properties in order to induce self-organized localized contact creation when said voltage is applied. Potential applications of the invention include e.g. parallel-plate capacitor structures based on metal-oxide nanoparticles, such as memory cells, and high-permittivity/tunable capacitors.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2008Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen TutkimuskeskusInventors: Tomi Mattila, Ari Alastalo, Mark Allen, Heikki Seppä
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Publication number: 20110101098Abstract: A method and device for reading an electronic code. An alternating electrical signal is brought to the code being measured with the aid of electrodes, and the current or voltage travelling through the electrodes is measured. The real and the imaginary components of the current or correspondingly the voltage are defined. The electrodes, being on an essentially lossless surface, an angle correction is made to the real and imaginary components of the current or the voltage in such a way that substantial changes in the current take place only in the imaginary component of the current or voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2009Publication date: May 5, 2011Inventors: Heikki Seppä, Hannu Sipola, Anssi Rautiainen, Panu Helistö
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Patent number: 7915097Abstract: This publication concerns electronics modules comprising at least one first material zone formed of first material which can be structurally transformed by means of electric interaction in order to increase its conductivity at least locally, the first material having a first transformation threshold, and at least one second material zone in the vicinity of the first material zone. According to the invention, the second material zone is formed from second material, which can also be structurally transformed in order to increase its conductivity, the second material having a second transformation threshold, which is lower than the transformation threshold of the first material zone. With the aid of the invention, post-processing electrical programmability and non-volatility of printable memories can be achieved.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2008Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen TutkimuskeskusInventors: Tomi Mattila, Ari Alastalo, Mark Allen, Heikki Seppä
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Publication number: 20100275675Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor (1) and a method for measuring pressure, variation in sound pressure, a magnetic field, acceleration, vibration, or the composition of a gas. The sensor (1) comprises an ultrasound transmitter (2), and a cavity (4) arranged in connection with it. According to the invention, the sensor (1) comprises a passive sensor element (3, 3?) located at the opposite end of the cavity (4) to the ultrasound transmitter (2), the distance of which from the ultrasound transmitter (2) is selected in such a way that the resonance condition is met at the ultrasound frequency used, the ultrasound transmitter (2) comprises a light-construction diaphragm oscillator (9), which is thus well connected to the surrounding medium, and the sensor includes means for measuring the interaction between the ultrasound transmitter (2) and the cavity (4).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2008Publication date: November 4, 2010Inventors: Heikki Seppa, Teuvo Sillanpää
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Publication number: 20100253477Abstract: The invention relates to an RFID reader and method for it. The reader comprises a transmitter portion, a receiver portion, and an antenna or antenna group connected to them. According to the invention, the transmitter portion comprises a reactive power divider, in which there are at least two reactive branches (La, Lr), one branch for feeding the signal to the antenna and a second branch for a variable resistor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2008Publication date: October 7, 2010Inventors: Heikki Seppä, Pekka Pursula
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Patent number: 7808254Abstract: A micromechanical sensor for measuring millimetric wave or microwave power, which sensor comprises a wave line for conducting the millimetric or microwave power and a part arranged to move and a fixed electrode, in such a way that the capacitance (C) between the part that is arranged to move and the fixed electrode couples to the wave power advancing in the wave line. According to the invention, the capacitance (C) between the part that is arranged to move and the fixed electrode is divided into at least two portions (C/n), which are located at a distance from each other, in such a way that the wave power advancing in the wave line couples to the portions (C/n) of the capacitance (C) consecutively and experiences the inductive load between the portions (C/n) of the capacitance (C). Thus the frequency band of the sensor can be substantially broadened and the reflective coefficient can be kept reasonably small.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2009Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Inventors: Heikki Seppa, Jukka Kyynarainen
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Patent number: 7759160Abstract: This publication discloses a method for forming electrically conducting structures on a substrate. According to the method nanoparticles containing conducting or semiconducting material are applied on the substrate in a dense formation and a voltage is applied over the nanoparticles so as to at least locally increase the conductivity of the formation. According to the invention, the voltage is high enough to cause melting of the nanoparticles in a breakthrough-like manner. With the aid of the invention, small-linewidth structures can be created without high-precision lithography.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2008Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen TutkimuskeskusInventors: Tomi Mattila, Ari Alastalo, Mark Allen, Heikki Seppä
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Patent number: 7724143Abstract: The invention relates to an antenna construction for a double-ended antenna circuit 4. The antenna construction comprises a conductive ground place (6) on a first surface, a transmission line (3) on at least one second surface, connected to the ground plane (6) through a fold (1) in the edge of the antenna construction, so that the fold acts as a primary source of a magnetic field, an insulation layer (7) arranged between the first and the second surfaces, and an electronic component (4), in which there is a double-ended antenna connector, connected to the antenna construction. According to the invention, the electronic component (4) is attached to the second surface of the antenna construction and connected from the first antenna terminal to the transmission line (3) and from the second terminal to either a second transmission line (3) or the fold (1).Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2006Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen TutkimuskeskusInventors: Heikki Seppä, Kaarle Jaakkola
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Patent number: 7714593Abstract: A sensor arrangement for a sensor arrangement remotely readable by radio frequencies. The sensor arrangement includes an LC resonator that includes a capacitor and a coil, and a sensor element coupled to the LC resonator whose properties change as a function of a measurable quantity. A sensor element according to the invention does not form a direct galvanic contact with the LC resonator, rather the coupling is implemented capacitively or inductively.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2004Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: UPM-Kymmene CorporationInventors: Timo Varpula, Heikki Seppä, Juha-Matti Saari
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Patent number: 7675035Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit for transition-edge bolometers, which comprises a resistor element (1) arranged to operate in the transition-edge zone, and an amplifier (5) connected to the resistor element (1). According to the invention, in connection with the amplifier (5) means are arranged for implementing positive (4, 5) and negative (5, 2) feedbacks in the resistance measurement.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2006Date of Patent: March 9, 2010Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen TutkimuskeskusInventors: Heikki Seppa, Panu Helistö
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Patent number: 7671721Abstract: This publication discloses a remote identifier, a reader, and a method for activating a desired remote identifier. The remote identifier (2) includes a microcircuit (7), in which there is a memory and means for processing a radio-frequency signal, an antenna (6) connected to the microcircuit (7), by means of which both the signal and also electric power for the operating voltage of the microcircuit (7) can be received. According to the invention, a component (3), the electrical properties of which change due to the effect of infrared, or visible light, is electrically connected to the microcircuit (7) of the remote identifier and in the microcircuit (7) there are means, by which the combined effect of a change in the radio-frequency signal and the electrical component (3) can be expressed by a correlation method for the signals, in order to activate the remote identifier (2) for two-way data transmission.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2004Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen TutkimuskesusInventor: Heikki Seppä
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Publication number: 20100026459Abstract: The invention relates to an RFID reading device and a method for it. The reading device comprises a transmitter part (1, 30, 31), a receiving part (23, 33), and an antenna (5, 32) or antenna group connected to them. According to the invention, the transmitter part (1, 30, 30) comprises a transformer (10, 34, 35), in which there are at least three coils (11, 12, 13) connecting to the same magnetic field, a first coil (12), a second coil (11), and a third coil (13), of which the antenna or antenna group (5, 32) are fed through the first coil (12), a reference load (17, 18, 19) is connected to the second coil (11) to compensate the effect of the power sent through the first coil (12), and the preamplifier (23, 33) of the receiver is connected to the third coil (13, 36, 37) of the transformer (10, 34, 35).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2007Publication date: February 4, 2010Applicant: Valtion Teknillinen tutkimuskeskusInventor: Heikki Seppä
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Publication number: 20090301769Abstract: The invention relates to a sintering method for manufacturing structures by sintering. In addition, the invention relates to a sintered product, an electronic module, and new uses. In the method, a particle material containing conductive or semiconductive encapsulated nanoparticles is sintered, in order to increase its electrical conductivity, by applying a voltage over the particle material. In the method, a substrate is typically used, one surface of which is at least partly equipped with a layer containing nanoparticles. The method is based on thermal feedback between the voltage feed and the nanoparticles. The invention permits the manufacture of conductive and semiconductive structures and pieces by sintering at room temperature and at normal pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2007Publication date: December 10, 2009Applicant: Valtion teknillinen TutkimuskeskusInventors: Heikki Seppä, Mark Allen
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Publication number: 20090289862Abstract: The invention relates to an antenna system, which comprises a transmitter component (1, 2, 3, 4), a reception component (4, 3, 10, 11, 12), and an antenna (5) connected to these. According to the invention, the antenna (5) is arranged to connect to different connection points (6, 7, 8) of the transmitter (1, 2, 3, 4) or the reception component (4, 3, 10, 11, 12).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2006Publication date: November 26, 2009Applicant: Perlos Technology OyInventor: Heikki Seppä
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Publication number: 20090277271Abstract: The present invention relates to a micromechanical sensor for analyzing liquid samples and an array of such sensors. The invention also concerns a method for sensing liquid samples and the use of longitudinal bulk acoustic waves for analyzing liquid phase samples micromechanically. The sensor comprises a body and a planar wave guide portion spaced from the body. At least one electro-mechanical transducer element are used for excitation of longitudinal bulk acoustic waves to the wave guide portion in response to electrical actuation and for converting acoustic waves into electrical signals. The wave guide portion is provided with a sample-receiving zone onto which the sample can be introduced. By means of the invention, the sensitivity of micromechanical liquid sensors can be improved.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 4, 2006Publication date: November 12, 2009Applicant: VALTION TEKNILLINEN TUTKIMUSKESKUSInventors: Heikki Seppa, Kirsi Tappura, Jussi Tuppurainen, Tomi Mattila, Ari Alastalo, Hannu Helle, Aarne Oja