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).
-
Patent number: 10170685Abstract: 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: March 13, 2014Date of Patent: January 1, 2019Assignees: The Regents of The University of Michigan, Vesper Technologies Inc.Inventors: Karl Grosh, Robert J. Littrell
-
Patent number: 10112047Abstract: A device for implantation into a scalia tympani of a cochlea is disclosed. The device comprises blocks and compliant elements interconnecting the blocks with one of the compliant elements disposed between each pair of adjacent blocks. The compliant elements impart flexibility to the device in a plane of curvature of the cochlea and impart stiffness to the device out of the plane of curvature of the cochlea. The device further comprises piezoelectric elements with at least one of the elements disposed the blocks. Each piezoelectric element comprises at least one piezoelectric sensing unit and at least one electrode for transmitting the electrical signal to the auditory nerve. The device further comprises communication lines for transmitting an electrical signal through the device with one of the communication lines disposed between each pair of blocks and parallel to the compliant element.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2018Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: The Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: Katherine Elizabeth Knisely, Karl Grosh
-
Publication number: 20180200517Abstract: A device for implantation into a scalia tympani of a cochlea is disclosed. The device comprises blocks and compliant elements interconnecting the blocks with one of the compliant elements disposed between each pair of adjacent blocks. The compliant elements impart flexibility to the device in a plane of curvature of the cochlea and impart stiffness to the device out of the plane of curvature of the cochlea. The device further comprises piezoelectric elements with at least one of the elements disposed the blocks. Each piezoelectric element comprises at least one piezoelectric sensing unit and at least one electrode for transmitting the electrical signal to the auditory nerve. The device further comprises communication lines for transmitting an electrical signal through the device with one of the communication lines disposed between each pair of blocks and parallel to the compliant element.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2018Publication date: July 19, 2018Applicant: The Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: Katherine Elizabeth Knisely, Karl Grosh
-
Patent number: 10001391Abstract: An electronic device comprises a sensor comprising first and second electrodes, with the sensor being configured for a first acoustic displacement due to input acoustic pressure; circuitry configured to measure a charge between the first and second electrodes due to the input acoustic pressure and to apply a voltage to cause a second acoustic displacement of the sensor that is out of phase with the first acoustic displacement, with the applied voltage further causing a charge to develop across the sensor, and with the first and second acoustic displacements causing an increase in damping in a resonance frequency of the sensor, relative to damping of the resonance frequency of the sensor prior to applying the voltage; and a passive electronic component configured to cancel out the charge developed across the sensor due to the applied voltage.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2015Date of Patent: June 19, 2018Assignee: Vesper Technologies Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Littrell, Karl Grosh
-
Publication number: 20180138391Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2017Publication date: May 17, 2018Inventors: Karl Grosh, Robert J. Littrell
-
Patent number: 9937345Abstract: A device for implantation into a scalia tympani of a cochlea is disclosed. The device comprises blocks and compliant elements interconnecting the blocks with one of the compliant elements disposed between each pair of adjacent blocks. The compliant elements impart flexibility to the device in a plane of curvature of the cochlea and impart stiffness to the device out of the plane of curvature of the cochlea. The device further comprises piezoelectric elements with at least one of the elements disposed the blocks. Each piezoelectric element comprises at least one piezoelectric sensing unit and at least one electrode for transmitting the electrical signal to the auditory nerve. The device further comprises communication lines for transmitting an electrical signal through the device with one of the communication lines disposed between each pair of blocks and parallel to the compliant element.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2015Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGANInventors: Katherine Elizabeth Knisely, Karl Grosh
-
Patent number: 9853201Abstract: 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: August 5, 2014Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: The Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: Karl Grosh, Robert J. Littrell
-
Publication number: 20150350792Abstract: 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: March 13, 2014Publication date: December 3, 2015Inventors: Karl Grosh, Robert J. Littrell
-
Acoustic Transducer with Gap-Controlling Geometry and Method of Manufacturing an Acoustic Transducer
Publication number: 20150271606Abstract: 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: May 1, 2015Publication date: September 24, 2015Inventors: Karl Grosh, Robert J. Littrell -
Publication number: 20150231394Abstract: A device for implantation into a scalia tympani of a cochlea is disclosed. The device comprises blocks and compliant elements interconnecting the blocks with one of the compliant elements disposed between each pair of adjacent blocks. The compliant elements impart flexibility to the device in a plane of curvature of the cochlea and impart stiffness to the device out of the plane of curvature of the cochlea. The device further comprises piezoelectric elements with at least one of the elements disposed the blocks. Each piezoelectric element comprises at least one piezoelectric sensing unit and at least one electrode for transmitting the electrical signal to the auditory nerve. The device further comprises communication lines for transmitting an electrical signal through the device with one of the communication lines disposed between each pair of blocks and parallel to the compliant element.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2015Publication date: August 20, 2015Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGANInventors: Katherine Elizabeth Knisely, Karl Grosh
-
Acoustic transducer with gap-controlling geometry and method of manufacturing an acoustic transducer
Patent number: 9055372Abstract: 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 16, 2012Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: Vesper Technologies Inc.Inventors: Karl Grosh, Robert John Littrell -
Patent number: 8896184Abstract: 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: August 9, 2013Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: The Regents of The University of MichiganInventors: Karl Grosh, Robert J. Littrell
-
Publication number: 20140339657Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2014Publication date: November 20, 2014Inventors: Karl Grosh, Robert J. Littrell
-
Publication number: 20130329920Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2013Publication date: December 12, 2013Applicant: The Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: Karl Grosh, Robert J. Littrell
-
Patent number: 8531088Abstract: 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: June 30, 2009Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: The Regents of The University of MichiganInventors: Karl Grosh, Robert J. Littrell
-
ACOUSTIC TRANSDUCER WITH GAP-CONTROLLING GEOMETRY AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING AN ACOUSTIC TRANSDUCER
Publication number: 20120250909Abstract: 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 16, 2012Publication date: October 4, 2012Inventors: KARL GROSH, ROBERT JOHN LITTRELL -
Patent number: 8130986Abstract: Silicon and glass micromachined (MEMS) acoustic sensors incorporating trapped-liquid architectures are disclosed. The trapped liquid serves as an acoustic transmission medium allowing the input port to the system to be physically separated from the sensing location. The trapped liquid interacts with a conductive, flexible sensing membrane. Sound pressure waves enter the trapped liquid through an input membrane, travel to the sensing membrane, and excite vibrations of the sensing membrane. The vibrations of the sensing membrane are measured using on-chip capacitive sensing. The capacitive sensing structure is formed by the conductive sensing membrane and a fixed conducting top electrode. As the gap between the conductive sensing membrane and the fixed top electrode varies, the capacitance varies, leading to an electrical signal which is the electrical output of the system.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2007Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: The Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: Robert David White, Karl Grosh
-
Publication number: 20100254547Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2009Publication date: October 7, 2010Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGANInventors: Karl Grosh, Robert J. Littrell
-
Patent number: 7696710Abstract: A method for determining an amount of moisture on a surface of a substrate includes a step of transmitting a transmitter signal to generate a wave. The transmitter signal has a first phase. The wave is propagated to vibrate the surface. Vibrations in the surface are detected and converted into a receiver signal. The receiver signal has a second phase different than the first phase. The method includes the step of sensing the temperature of the substrate. The amount of moisture on the surface is computed based on a phase shift between the transmitter signal and the receiver signal that has been compensated to account for surface temperature.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2006Date of Patent: April 13, 2010Assignee: AGC Automotive Americas R&D, Inc.Inventors: Colin J. Byrne, Brent W. Pankey, Mitchell Max Rohde, Karl Grosh
-
Publication number: 20080099042Abstract: A method for determining an amount of moisture on a surface of a substrate includes a step of transmitting a transmitter signal to generate a wave. The transmitter signal has a first phase. The wave is propagated to vibrate the surface. Vibrations in the surface are detected and converted into a receiver signal. The receiver signal has a second phase different than the first phase. The method includes the step of sensing the temperature of the substrate. The amount of moisture on the surface is computed based on a phase shift between the transmitter signal and the receiver signal that has been compensated to account for surface temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2006Publication date: May 1, 2008Applicant: AGC AUTOMOTIVE AMERICAS R&D, INC.Inventors: Colin J. Byrne, Brent W. Pankey, Mitchell Max Rohde, Karl Grosh