Patents by Inventor Karl Grosh
Karl Grosh 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: 20250178883Abstract: A sensor, such as a piezoelectric MEMS vibration sensor, includes a frame, a beam array comprising a plurality of beams, and a plurality of masses. Each beam of the plurality of beams has an anchored end and an unanchored end, with each beam being coupled to the frame at the anchored end. The unanchored end of each beam is coupled to a respective mass of the plurality of masses. Each beam of the plurality of beams can be configured to minimize a variation in a voltage output for a limited frequency range. In some implementations, the resonant frequency of each beam corresponds to a sensitivity peak in a limited frequency range.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2025Publication date: June 5, 2025Inventors: Alison HAKE, Karl GROSH
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Patent number: 12215017Abstract: A sensor, such as a piezoelectric MEMS vibration sensor, includes a frame, a beam array comprising a plurality of beams, and a plurality of masses. Each beam of the plurality of beams has an anchored end and an unanchored end, with each beam being coupled to the frame at the anchored end. The unanchored end of each beam is coupled to a respective mass of the plurality of masses. Each beam of the plurality of beams can be configured to minimize a variation in a voltage output for a limited frequency range. In some implementations, the resonant frequency of each beam corresponds to a sensitivity peak in a limited frequency range.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2020Date of Patent: February 4, 2025Assignee: The Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: Alison Hake, Karl Grosh
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Patent number: 12058939Abstract: A microphone including a casing having a front wall, a back wall, and a side wall joining the front wall to the back wall, a transducer mounted to the front wall, the transducer including a substrate and a transducing element, the transducing element having a transducer acoustic compliance dependent on the transducing element dimensions, a back cavity cooperatively defined between the back wall, the side wall, and the transducer, the back cavity having a back cavity acoustic compliance. The transducing element is dimensioned such that the transducing element length matches a predetermined resonant frequency and the transducing element width, thickness, and elasticity produces a transducer acoustic compliance within a given range of the back cavity acoustic compliance.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2023Date of Patent: August 6, 2024Assignees: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, QUALCOMM TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Karl Grosh, Robert J. Littrell
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Acoustic transducer with gap-controlling geometry and method of manufacturing an acoustic transducer
Patent number: 11950052Abstract: A transducer of the preferred embodiment including a transducer and a plurality of adjacent, tapered cantilevered beams. Each of the beams define a beam base, a beam tip, and a beam body disposed between the beam base and the beam tip. The beams are arranged such that each of the beam tips extends toward a common area. Each beam is joined to the substrate along the beam base and is free from the substrate along the beam body. A preferred method of manufacturing a transducer can include: depositing alternating layers of piezoelectric and electrode onto the substrate in block, processing the deposited layers to define cantilever geometry in block, depositing metal traces in block, and releasing the cantilevered beams from the substrate in block.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2022Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: QUALCOMM Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Karl Grosh, Robert J. Littrell -
Patent number: 11871664Abstract: A transducer comprising: at least one piezoelectric layer; a first patterned conductive layer that is patterned with a first opening; a second patterned conductive layer that is patterned with a second opening; wherein at least one piezoelectric layer is between the first and the second patterned conductive layers in a stack; and wherein a position of the first opening is staggered relative to a position of the second opening in the stack to mitigate an occurrence of crack propagation through the layers.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2020Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: QUALCOMM Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Littrell, Karl Grosh
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Publication number: 20230337544Abstract: A microphone including a casing having a front wall, a back wall, and a side wall joining the front wall to the back wall, a transducer mounted to the front wall, the transducer including a substrate and a transducing element, the transducing element having a transducer acoustic compliance dependent on the transducing element dimensions, a back cavity cooperatively defined between the back wall, the side wall, and the transducer, the back cavity having a back cavity acoustic compliance. The transducing element is dimensioned such that the transducing element length matches a predetermined resonant frequency and the transducing element width, thickness, and elasticity produces a transducer acoustic compliance within a given range of the back cavity acoustic compliance.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2023Publication date: October 19, 2023Inventors: Karl Grosh, Robert J. Littrell
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Publication number: 20230308808Abstract: A device comprising: a sensor; and a first circuit configured to detect when an input stimulus to the sensor satisfies one or more detection criteria, and further configured to produce a signal upon detection that causes adjustment of performance of the device; and a second circuit for processing input following detection, wherein the second circuit is configured to increase its power level following detection, relative to a power level of the second circuit prior to detection.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2023Publication date: September 28, 2023Inventors: Robert John LITTRELL, Ronald GAGNON, Karl GROSH
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Patent number: 11665968Abstract: A microphone including a casing having a front wall, a back wall, and a side wall joining the front wall to the back wall, a transducer mounted to the front wall, the transducer including a substrate and a transducing element, the transducing element having a transducer acoustic compliance dependent on the transducing element dimensions, a back cavity cooperatively defined between the back wall, the side wall, and the transducer, the back cavity having a back cavity acoustic compliance. The transducing element is dimensioned such that the transducing element length matches a predetermined resonant frequency and the transducing element width, thickness, and elasticity produces a transducer acoustic compliance within a given range of the back cavity acoustic compliance.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2021Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: The Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: Karl Grosh, Robert J. Littrell
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Patent number: 11617041Abstract: A device comprising: a sensor; and a first circuit configured to detect when an input stimulus to the sensor satisfies one or more detection criteria, and further configured to produce a signal upon detection that causes adjustment of performance of the device; and a second circuit for processing input following detection, wherein the second circuit is configured to increase its power level following detection, relative to a power level of the second circuit prior to detection.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2020Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Robert J. Littrell, Ronald Gagnon, Karl Grosh
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Acoustic Transducer with Gap-Controlling Geometry and Method of Manufacturing an Acoustic Transducer
Publication number: 20220248145Abstract: A transducer of the preferred embodiment including a transducer and a plurality of adjacent, tapered cantilevered beams. Each of the beams define a beam base, a beam tip, and a beam body disposed between the beam base and the beam tip. The beams are arranged such that each of the beam tips extends toward a common area. Each beam is joined to the substrate along the beam base and is free from the substrate along the beam body. A preferred method of manufacturing a transducer can include: depositing alternating layers of piezoelectric and electrode onto the substrate in block, processing the deposited layers to define cantilever geometry in block, depositing metal traces in block, and releasing the cantilevered beams from the substrate in block.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2022Publication date: August 4, 2022Inventors: Karl Grosh, Robert J. Littrell -
Publication number: 20220212918Abstract: A sensor, such as a piezoelectric MEMS vibration sensor, includes a frame, a beam array comprising a plurality of beams, and a plurality of masses. Each beam of the plurality of beams has an anchored end and an unanchored end, with each beam being coupled to the frame at the anchored end. The unanchored end of each beam is coupled to a respective mass of the plurality of masses. Each beam of the plurality of beams can be configured to minimize a variation in a voltage output for a limited frequency range. In some implementations, the resonant frequency of each beam corresponds to a sensitivity peak in a limited frequency range.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2020Publication date: July 7, 2022Inventors: Alison HAKE, Karl GROSH
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Acoustic transducer with gap-controlling geometry and method of manufacturing an acoustic transducer
Patent number: 11259124Abstract: A transducer of the preferred embodiment including a transducer and a plurality of adjacent, tapered cantilevered beams. Each of the beams define a beam base, a beam tip, and a beam body disposed between the beam base and the beam tip. The beams are arranged such that each of the beam tips extends toward a common area. Each beam is joined to the substrate along the beam base and is free from the substrate along the beam body. A preferred method of manufacturing a transducer can include: depositing alternating layers of piezoelectric and electrode onto the substrate in block, processing the deposited layers to define cantilever geometry in block, depositing metal traces in block, and releasing the cantilevered beams from the substrate in block.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2019Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: Vesper Technologies Inc.Inventors: Karl Grosh, Robert J. Littrell -
Publication number: 20210273152Abstract: A microphone including a casing having a front wall, a back wall, and a side wall joining the front wall to the back wall, a transducer mounted to the front wall, the transducer including a substrate and a transducing element, the transducing element having a transducer acoustic compliance dependent on the transducing element dimensions, a back cavity cooperatively defined between the back wall, the side wall, and the transducer, the back cavity having a back cavity acoustic compliance. The transducing element is dimensioned such that the transducing element length matches a predetermined resonant frequency and the transducing element width, thickness, and elasticity produces a transducer acoustic compliance within a given range of the back cavity acoustic compliance.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2021Publication date: September 2, 2021Inventors: Karl Grosh, Robert J. Littrell
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Patent number: 11088315Abstract: A piezoelectric MEMS microphone comprising a multi-layer sensor that includes at least one piezoelectric layer between two electrode layers, with the sensor being dimensioned such that it provides a near maximized ratio of output energy to sensor area, as determined by an optimization parameter that accounts for input pressure, bandwidth, and characteristics of the piezoelectric and electrode materials. The sensor can be formed from single or stacked cantilevered beams separated from each other by a small gap, or can be a stress-relieved diaphragm that is formed by deposition onto a silicon substrate, with the diaphragm then being stress relieved by substantial detachment of the diaphragm from the substrate, and then followed by reattachment of the now stress relieved diaphragm.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2017Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGANInventors: Karl Grosh, Robert J. Littrell
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Patent number: 10964880Abstract: A microphone including a casing having a front wall, a back wall, and a side wall joining the front wall to the back wall, a transducer mounted to the front wall, the transducer including a substrate and a transducing element, the transducing element having a transducer acoustic compliance dependent on the transducing element dimensions, a back cavity cooperatively defined between the back wall, the side wall, and the transducer, the back cavity having a back cavity acoustic compliance. The transducing element is dimensioned such that the transducing element length matches a predetermined resonant frequency and the transducing element width, thickness, and elasticity produces a transducer acoustic compliance within a given range of the back cavity acoustic compliance.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2018Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignees: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, VESPER TECHNOLOGIES INC.Inventors: Karl Grosh, Robert J. Littrell
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Patent number: 10825982Abstract: A piezoelectric Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) device comprising: a physical element; and a piezoelectric sensor element, with the physical element positioned in proximity to a moving portion of the piezoelectric sensor element, and with proximity of the physical element to the moving portion reducing a probability of breakage of the piezoelectric sensor element by limiting an excursion of the piezoelectric sensor element, relative to a probability of breakage of the piezoelectric sensor element in another piezoelectric MEMS device without the physical element.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2015Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: Vesper Technologies Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Littrell, Karl Grosh, Craig Core, Yu Hui, Wang Kyung Sung
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Publication number: 20200344555Abstract: A device comprising: a sensor; and a first circuit configured to detect when an input stimulus to the sensor satisfies one or more detection criteria, and further configured to produce a signal upon detection that causes adjustment of performance of the device; and a second circuit for processing input following detection, wherein the second circuit is configured to increase its power level following detection, relative to a power level of the second circuit prior to detection.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2020Publication date: October 29, 2020Inventors: Robert J. Littrell, Ronald Gagnon, Karl Grosh
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Patent number: 10715922Abstract: A device comprising: a sensor; and a first circuit configured to detect when an input stimulus to the sensor satisfies one or more detection criteria, and further configured to produce a signal upon detection that causes adjustment of performance of the device; and a second circuit for processing input following detection, wherein the second circuit is configured to increase its power level following detection, relative to a power level of the second circuit prior to detection.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2017Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: Vesper Technologies Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Littrell, Ronald Gagnon, Karl Grosh
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Publication number: 20200148532Abstract: A microphone including a casing having a front wall, a back wall, and a side wall joining the front wall to the back wall, a transducer mounted to the front wall, the transducer including a substrate and a transducing element, the transducing element having a transducer acoustic compliance dependent on the transducing element dimensions, a back cavity cooperatively defined between the back wall, the side wall, and the transducer, the back cavity having a back cavity acoustic compliance. The transducing element is dimensioned such that the transducing element length matches a predetermined resonant frequency and the transducing element width, thickness, and elasticity produces a transducer acoustic compliance within a given range of the back cavity acoustic compliance.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2018Publication date: May 14, 2020Inventors: Karl Grosh, Robert J. Littrell
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Patent number: 10566517Abstract: A transducer comprising: at least one piezoelectric layer; a first patterned conductive layer that is patterned with a first opening; a second patterned conductive layer that is patterned with a second opening; wherein at least one piezoelectric layer is between the first and the second patterned conductive layers in a stack; and wherein a position of the first opening is staggered relative to a position of the second opening in the stack to mitigate an occurrence of crack propagation through the layers.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2015Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: Vesper Technologies Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Littrell, Karl Grosh