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).

  • Publication number: 20120176609
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT
    Inventors: Heikki Seppä, Ville Viikari
  • Patent number: 8136403
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus
    Inventors: Heikki Seppa, Kirsi Tappura, Jussi Tuppurainen, Tomi Mattila, Ari Alastalo, Hannu Helle, Aarne Oja
  • Publication number: 20120046571
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT
    Inventors: Timo Varpula, Aarne Oja, Heikki Seppa, Mika Suhonen
  • Patent number: 8063369
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus
    Inventors: Heikki Seppä, Panu Helistö, Arttu Luukanen
  • Publication number: 20110254959
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus
    Inventors: Heikki Seppa, Panu Helisto, Arttu Luukanen
  • Patent number: 8029722
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus
    Inventors: Tomi Mattila, Ari Alastalo, Mark Allen, Heikki Seppä
  • Publication number: 20110101098
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: Heikki Seppä, Hannu Sipola, Anssi Rautiainen, Panu Helistö
  • Patent number: 7915097
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus
    Inventors: Tomi Mattila, Ari Alastalo, Mark Allen, Heikki Seppä
  • Publication number: 20100275675
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventors: Heikki Seppa, Teuvo Sillanpää
  • Publication number: 20100253477
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Heikki Seppä, Pekka Pursula
  • Patent number: 7808254
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Inventors: Heikki Seppa, Jukka Kyynarainen
  • Patent number: 7759160
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus
    Inventors: Tomi Mattila, Ari Alastalo, Mark Allen, Heikki Seppä
  • Patent number: 7724143
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus
    Inventors: Heikki Seppä, Kaarle Jaakkola
  • Patent number: 7714593
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: UPM-Kymmene Corporation
    Inventors: Timo Varpula, Heikki Seppä, Juha-Matti Saari
  • Patent number: 7675035
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus
    Inventors: Heikki Seppa, Panu Helistö
  • Patent number: 7671721
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskesus
    Inventor: Heikki Seppä
  • Publication number: 20100026459
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: Valtion Teknillinen tutkimuskeskus
    Inventor: Heikki Seppä
  • Publication number: 20090301769
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: Valtion teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus
    Inventors: Heikki Seppä, Mark Allen
  • Publication number: 20090289862
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: Perlos Technology Oy
    Inventor: Heikki Seppä
  • Publication number: 20090277271
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2006
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: VALTION TEKNILLINEN TUTKIMUSKESKUS
    Inventors: Heikki Seppa, Kirsi Tappura, Jussi Tuppurainen, Tomi Mattila, Ari Alastalo, Hannu Helle, Aarne Oja