Patents by Inventor Horst Münzel
Horst Münzel 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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Patent number: 8245571Abstract: A component having an acceleration sensor having at least one freely oscillatory mass, and a resonator having at least one resonating structure, in which the at least one freely oscillatory mass of the acceleration sensor and the at least one resonating structure of the resonator are disposed on and/or in one chip. A corresponding production method for a component is also described.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2009Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Thorsten Pannek, Udo-Martin Gomez, Horst Muenzel
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Publication number: 20100144261Abstract: The invention relates to a device for controlling a ventilation device for a motor vehicle interior (36), comprising at least one air quality sensor (46) for generating an air quality signal of the air supplied to the air quality sensor (46), an actuator for adjusting an air damper (20a, 20b) of the ventilation device as a function of the air quality signal, and a ventilator (14) for transporting the air through the ventilation device into the motor vehicle interior (36). The air quality sensor (46) and the ventilator (14) form a structural unit (44).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2008Publication date: June 10, 2010Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBHInventors: Dubravko Barkic, Reinhold Weible, Wolfram Breitling, Maximilian Sauer, Michael Arndt, Dirk Taffe, Horst Muenzel, Matthias Ludwig
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Publication number: 20100116043Abstract: A component having an acceleration sensor having at least one freely oscillatory mass, and a resonator having at least one resonating structure, in which the at least one freely oscillatory mass of the acceleration sensor and the at least one resonating structure of the resonator are disposed on and/or in one chip. A corresponding production method for a component is also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2009Publication date: May 13, 2010Inventors: Thorsten PANNEK, Udo-Martin GOMEZ, Horst MUENZEL
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Patent number: 7394349Abstract: A device to detect the presence of a living being in a motor vehicle includes a carbon dioxide sensor to measure a concentration value representing the carbon dioxide concentration in the motor vehicle, an analysis unit to compare the concentration value or a change value representing the change in the concentration value over time to a threshold, a transmitting device activated when the concentration value or the change value exceeds the threshold and emitting radiated signals by way of an antenna and a receiving device that activates an indicator device when these radiated signals are received by way of an additional antenna.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2005Date of Patent: July 1, 2008Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Jiri Marek, Horst Muenzel, Michael Arndt
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Publication number: 20060016995Abstract: A microstructured infrared sensor includes: a sensor chip having a diaphragm; a cavity formed underneath the diaphragm; a thermopile structure formed on the diaphragm and having bonded printed conductors; an absorber layer formed on the thermopile structure for absorbing infrared radiation; and a cap chip attached to the sensor chip. A sensor space is formed between the cap chip and the sensor chip, and the sensor space accommodates the thermopile structure. The infrared sensor also includes a convex lens area for focusing incident infrared radiation onto the absorber layer. The lens area may be formed on the top of the cap chip or on a lens chip attached to the cap chip. The lens area may be formed by drying a dispensed lacquer droplet, or by a softened, structured lacquer cylinder, or by subsequent etching of the dried lacquer droplet and the surrounding substrate material.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2005Publication date: January 26, 2006Inventors: Nils Kummer, Roland Mueller-Fiedler, Stefan Finkbeiner, Andre Mueller, Horst Muenzel, Dieter Maurer, Stefan Hiemer, Jurgen Perthold
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Publication number: 20050280515Abstract: A device to detect the presence of a living being in a motor vehicle includes a carbon dioxide sensor to measure a concentration value representing the carbon dioxide concentration in the motor vehicle, an analysis unit to compare the concentration value or a change value representing the change in the concentration value over time to a threshold, a transmitting device activated when the concentration value or the change value exceeds the threshold and emitting radiated signals by way of an antenna and a receiving device that activates an indicator device when these radiated signals are received by way of an additional antenna.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2005Publication date: December 22, 2005Inventors: Jiri Marek, Horst Muenzel, Michael Arndt
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Publication number: 20050275502Abstract: Proposed is a method for manufacturing a thin-layer component, in particular a thin-layer, high-pressure sensor, as well as a thin-layer component, where a resistive layer for forming measuring elements, in particular strain gauges, is deposited on an electrically non-conductive surface of a diaphragm layer, a contact-layer system for electrically contacting the measuring elements being deposited on the measuring elements in such a manner, that regions of the measuring elements are situated between each region of the contact-layer system and the diaphragm layer. This is used to provide, in particular, a high-pressure sensor, in which the capacitances of the contacts of the contact-layer system are designed to be symmetric.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2005Publication date: December 15, 2005Inventors: Herbert Goebel, Harald Wanka, Andre Kretschmann, Ralf Henn, Joachim Gluck, Horst Muenzel
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Publication number: 20040026367Abstract: Proposed is a method for manufacturing a thin-layer component, in particular a thin-layer, high-pressure sensor, as well as a thin-layer component, where a resistive layer for forming measuring elements, in particular strain gauges (30), is deposited on an electrically non-conductive surface of a diaphragm layer (10, 20), a contact-layer system (41) for electrically contacting the measuring elements being deposited on the measuring elements in such a manner, that regions of the measuring elements (30) are situated between each region of the contact-layer system and the diaphragm layer (10, 20). This is used to provide, in particular, a high-pressure sensor, in which the capacitances of the contacts of the contact-layer system are designed to be symmetric.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2003Publication date: February 12, 2004Inventors: Herbert Goebel, Harald Wanka, Andre Kretschmann, Ralf Henn, Joachim Gluck, Horst Muenzel
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Patent number: 6656368Abstract: A method for manufacturing micromechanical components, and a micromechanical component, in which a movable element is produced on a sacrificial layer. In a subsequent step the sacrificial layer beneath the movable element is removed so that the movable element becomes movable. After removal of the sacrificial layer, a protective layer is deposited on a surface of the movable element. Silicon oxide and/or silicon nitride is used for the protective layer.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2000Date of Patent: December 2, 2003Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Martin Schoefthaler, Peter Hein, Helmut Skapa, Horst Muenzel
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Publication number: 20030139040Abstract: The invention proposes a method for manufacturing micromechanical components, and a micromechanical component, in which a movable element (4) is produced on a sacrificial layer (2). In a subsequent step the sacrificial layer (2) beneath the movable element (4) is removed so that the movable element (4) becomes movable. After removal of the sacrificial layer (2), a protective layer (7) is deposited on a surface of the movable element (4). Silicon oxide and/or silicon nitride is used for the protective layer (7).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2000Publication date: July 24, 2003Inventors: MARTIN SCHOEFTHALER, PETER HEIN, HELMUT SKAPA, HORST MUENZEL
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Patent number: 6465854Abstract: A device, having at least one micromechanical surface structure patterned on a silicon substrate and a cap wafer covering the at least one surface structure. The cap wafer is formed from a glass wafer.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2000Date of Patent: October 15, 2002Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Horst Muenzel, Helmut Baumann, Eckhard Graf
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Patent number: 6318175Abstract: A micromechanical sensor includes a support of silicon substrate having an epitaxial layer of silicon applied on the silicon substrate. A part of the epitaxial layer is laid bare to form at least one micromechanical deflection part by an etching process. The bared deflection part is made of polycrystalline silicon which has grown in polycrystalline form during the epitaxial process over a silicon-oxide layer which has been removed by etching. In the support region and/or at the connection to the silicon substrate, the exposed deflection part passes into single crystal silicon. By large layer thicknesses, a large working capacity of the sensor is possible. The sensor structure provides enhanced mechanical stability, processability, and possibilities of shaping, and it can be integrated, in particular, in a bipolar process or mixed process (bipolar-CMOS, bipolar-CMOS-DMOS).Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2000Date of Patent: November 20, 2001Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Joerg Muchow, Horst Muenzel, Michael Offenberg, Winfried Waldvogel
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Patent number: 6268232Abstract: A method for fabricating a micromechanical component, in particular a surface-micromechanical acceleration sensor, involves preparing a substrate and providing an insulation layer on the substrate, in which a patterned circuit trace layer is buried. A conductive layer, including a first region and a second region, is provided on the insulation layer, and a movable element is configured in the first region by forming a first plurality of trenches and by using an etching agent to remove at least one portion of the insulation layer from underneath the conductive layer. A contact element is formed and electrically connected to the circuit trace layer in the second region by configuring a second plurality of trenches, and the resultant movable element is encapsulated in the first region. The second plurality of trenches for forming the contact element in the second region is first formed after the encapsulation of the movable element formed in the first region.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 1999Date of Patent: July 31, 2001Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Helmut Skapa, Horst Muenzel, Franz Laermer, Michael Offenberg, Heinz-Georg Vossenberg
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Patent number: 6214243Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a Coriolis rate-of-rotation sensor with oscillatory support masses spring-suspended on a substrate as well as driving means for the excitation of the planar oscillation of the oscillating masses and evaluation means for the determination of a Coriolis acceleration. Oscillating masses, driving means and integrated stops are structured in a common operation by means of plasma etching from a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 1998Date of Patent: April 10, 2001Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Horst Muenzel, Franz Laermer, Michael Offenberg, Andrea Schilp, Markus Lutz
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Patent number: 6189205Abstract: A method for manufacturing pressure sensing elements which have a metal membrane and a resistive thin film arranged thereon, in which a blind opening is introduced into a base element, and the resistive thin film is applied on a side of the base element facing away from the blind opening. Provision is made for a plurality of pressure sensing elements to be manufactured simultaneously in one panel, and after application of the resistive thin film onto the panel, the panel is sectioned to yield the pressure sensing elements.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 1999Date of Patent: February 20, 2001Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Thomas Mölkner, Martin Mast, Jörg Wolf, Horst Münzel
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Patent number: 6140709Abstract: A bonding pad structure, in particular for a micromechanical sensor, includes a substrate, an electrically insulating sacrificial layer provided on the substrate, a patterned conductor path layer buried in the sacrificial layer, a contact hole provided in the sacrificial layer, and a bonding pad base, composed of an electrically conductive material. The bonding pad base has a first region extending over the sacrificial layer, and a second layer in contact with the conductor path region and extending through the contact hole. A protective layer is provided at least temporarily on the sacrificial layer in a specific region beneath and around the bonding pad base to prevent underetching of the sacrificial layer beneath the bonding pad base during etching of the sacrificial layer in such a way that the substrate and/or the conductor path is exposed.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 1999Date of Patent: October 31, 2000Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Horst Muenzel, Michael Offenberg, Udo Bischof, Eckhard Graf, Markus Lutz
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Patent number: 6117701Abstract: A rate-of-rotation sensor includes a three-layer system. The rate-of-rotation sensor and the conductor traces are patterned out of the third layer. The conductor traces are electrically insulated (isolated) by cutouts from other regions of the third layer and by a second electrically insulating layer from a first layer. Thus, a simple electrical contacting (configuration) is achieved that is patterned out of a three-layer system. Since the same etching process is used for the first and the third layer, an especially efficient manufacturing is possible.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 1997Date of Patent: September 12, 2000Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Nicholas Buchan, Horst Muenzel, Franz Laermer, Michael Offenberg, Udo Bischof, Markus Lutz
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Patent number: 6106735Abstract: A wafer stack with sensor elements hermetically sealed in caverns and a method of fabricating the sensors permitting a reduction in the size of the sensors formed after cutting the wafer stack and also yielding considerable savings in chip area in the manufacture of the wafer stack. The wafer stack includes bonding strips arranged between the individual sensor elements. The wafer stack is diced to form individual sensors by sawing in the middle through the bonding strips.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 1998Date of Patent: August 22, 2000Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Jurgen Kurle, Kurt Weiblen, Stefan Pinter, Horst Muenzel, Helmut Baumann, Dietrich Schubert, Karl Bender, Markus Lutz
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Patent number: 6076404Abstract: A micromechanical sensor includes a support of silicon substrate having an epitaxial layer of silicon applied on the silicon substrate. A part of the epitaxial layer is laid bare to form at least one micromechanical deflection part by an etching process. The bared deflection part is made of polycrystalline silicon which has grown in polycrystalline form during the epitaxial process over a silicon-oxide layer which has been removed by etching. In the support region and/or at the connection to the silicon substrate, the exposed deflection part passes into single crystal silicon. By large layer thicknesses, a large working capacity of the sensor is possible. The sensor structure provides enhanced mechanical stability, processability, and possibilities of shaping, and it can be integrated, in particular, in a bipolar process or mixed process (bipolar-CMOS, bipolar-CMOS-DMOS).Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 1997Date of Patent: June 20, 2000Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Joerg Muchow, Horst Muenzel, Michael Offenberg, Winfried Waldvogel
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Patent number: 6055858Abstract: An acceleration sensor is composed of a three-layer system. The acceleration sensor and conductor tracks are patterned out of the third layer. The conductor tracks are electrically isolated from other regions of the third layer by recesses and electrically insulated from a first layer by a second electrically insulating layer. In this manner, a simple electrical contacting is achieved, which is configured out of a three-layer system. One exemplary application of the acceleration sensor includes mounting the acceleration sensor on a vibrational system of an rpm (rate-of-rotation sensor). This simplifies the manufacturing of an rpm sensor, since the vibrational system and the acceleration sensor are configured out of a three-layer system, wherein the conductor tracks are run into the frame of the rpm sensor in which the vibrational system is suspended, so as to allow excursion.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 1999Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Horst Muenzel, Dietrich Schubert, Alexandra Boehringer, Michael Offenberg, Klaus Heyers, Markus Lutz