Patents by Inventor Matthias König

Matthias König 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: 20240118229
    Abstract: A gas sensor with improved sensitivity. The gas sensor comprises an active sensor unit, a reference sensor unit and a temperature control circuit. The active sensor unit has an active detector. The reference sensor unit has a reference detector. The temperature control circuit is provided and configured to keep a detector at a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventor: Matthias König
  • Patent number: 11927582
    Abstract: A method for testing a gas sensor and a gas sensor are disclosed. In an embodiment a method for testing at least one gas sensor includes exposing in a first measurement the gas sensor to a test gas under first gas conditions including a first pressure and exposing in a second measurement the gas sensor to the test gas under second gas conditions including a second pressure, the second gas conditions being different from the first gas conditions, wherein the second pressure is different from the first pressure, and/or wherein the gas sensor is exposed to an intermediate pressure different from the first pressure between the first measurement and the second measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Matthias König
  • Patent number: 11898979
    Abstract: A gas sensor with improved sensitivity. The gas sensor comprises an active sensor unit, a reference sensor unit and a temperature control circuit. The active sensor unit has an active detector. The reference sensor unit has a reference detector. The temperature control circuit is provided and configured to keep a detector at a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Matthias König
  • Publication number: 20230349877
    Abstract: A method of analysing a variation in a gas concentration signal and setting up an error correction function to compensate for the temperature-change-rate-dependent gas concentration signal is provided. The method includes variating a change rate of the temperature, and measuring a resulting variation in a gas concentration signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventor: Matthias König
  • Patent number: 11740175
    Abstract: In an embodiment a method for compensating a temperature gradient effect for gas concentration sensors includes variating a temperature gradient, measuring a variation of gas concentration depending on the variation of the temperature gradient, analysing a dependence of the gas concentration and the temperature gradient for setting up an error correction function and applying the error correction function to correct measured values of the gas concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Matthias König
  • Patent number: 11680932
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a multi-gas sensor are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method includes providing at least one calibration input comprising sensor design data of the multi-gas sensor, which varies dependent on production process parameters, and/or sensor production process parameter data of the multi-gas sensor, and/or measurement results of the multi-gas sensor captured when the multi-gas sensor is exposed to one of the gases or a gas mixture to be detected and/or sensed by the multi-gas sensor; providing a trained neural network including an input layer with K input nodes, an output layer with L output nodes and at least one hidden layer; storing each calibration input as a fixed input to a corresponding input node of the trained neural network; and providing a multi-gas sensor output for at least a part of the gases to be detected and/or sensed by the multi-gas sensor dependent on the trained neural network and actual measured sensor values from the sensor elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Matthias Koenig
  • Patent number: 11635401
    Abstract: In an embodiment a sensor device includes a substrate with a first membrane and a first cover layer, the first membrane and the first cover layer being monolithically integrated into the substrate and a first pellistor element including a heater element and a temperature sensor element, the heater element and/or the temperature sensor element being arranged in or on the first membrane, wherein the first cover layer is arranged over or under the first membrane, and wherein the first membrane, the first cover layer and a part of the substrate surround a first cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Matthias König
  • Patent number: 11597647
    Abstract: In an embodiment A package includes a casing having an opening and enclosing a cavity, a die accommodated in the cavity and a membrane attached to the casing, the membrane being air-permeable, covering and sealing the opening, wherein the membrane is configured to allow only a lateral gas flow, and wherein a blocking member is configured to block a vertical gas flow through the membrane into the cavity, the blocking member tightly covering a surface of the membrane at least in an area comprising the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andreas Barbul, Matthias Schmidt, Matthias König
  • Patent number: 11598752
    Abstract: A photoacoustic measurement setup having an infrared radiator that is suitable for radiating broadband light with periodically modulated energy/intensity. The infrared radiator is configured to change an excitation spectra of a radiated broadband light, and a gas volume is heated by the radiated broadband light to generate an acoustic wave within the gas volume. The photoacoustic measurement setup also includes an acoustic sensor, which is suitable for measuring the acoustic wave generated in the gas volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Matthias König
  • Patent number: 11549901
    Abstract: A sensor component and a mobile communication device including a sensor component are disclosed. In an embodiment a sensor component includes a subcomponent configured to sense a gas level including a resistive heater and a gas sensitive element disposed on the resistive heater; a package enclosing a cavity and accommodating the subcomponent, the package including a first opening in a position facing the gas sensitive element of the subcomponent and a second opening configured to allow a flow of gas to enter the package through the first opening and exit the package through the second opening; and an evaluation circuit configured to generate an output signal indicative of a speed of the flow of gas in response to electrical power to be supplied to the resistive heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andreas Barbul, Matthias Koenig
  • Patent number: 11543381
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a gas sensor are disclosed. In an embodiment a method for operating a gas sensor includes providing, by at least one gas sensor element, a sensing signal and correcting, by a neural network, the sensing signal, wherein the neural network comprises an input layer, an output layer and at least one hidden layer, wherein the input layer comprises a given number k>1 of input neurons for each gas sensor element, and wherein a respective gas sensor element provides its sensing signal to one of the corresponding input neurons dependent on a measurement parameter applied to the at least one gas sensor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Andreas Barbul, Matthias König
  • Patent number: 11480538
    Abstract: A MEMS gas sensor is disclosed. In an embodiment a MEMS gas sensor includes a carrier having a recess, a gas sensitive element arranged in the recess and a shielding layer at least partially covering the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Matthias König
  • Patent number: 11467110
    Abstract: A method for operating a sensor device for measuring a concentration of a gas species in a gas is disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes recording a set of data points by performing a plurality of measurements of a temperature sensor element reading, wherein each of the measurements is performed with a different heater setting of the first pellistor element and each of the measurements results in a data point of the set of data points, performing a curve fit of an evaluation function to the set of data points, wherein the evaluation function comprises a first function and a second function, wherein the first function is based on an ideal behavior of the first pellistor element, and wherein the second function is a temperature-dependent steadily rising or steadily falling function and determining the concentration of the gas species in the gas from the curve fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Matthias König
  • Publication number: 20220316958
    Abstract: In an embodiment a sensor system includes a first sensor having a first thermistor configured to sense a change in heat flow and a first heater configured to heat the first thermistor and a second sensor having a second thermistor configured to sense a change in heat flow and a second heater configured to heat the second thermistor, wherein a heat conduction path between the first heater and the first thermistor has a higher thermal conductivity than a heat conduction path between the second heater and the second thermistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Andreas Barbul, Matthias König
  • Publication number: 20220299461
    Abstract: A heat meander is disclosed. In an embodiment a heater meander includes a meander structure, wherein central meander lines of the meander structure are thicker than meander lines in an outer area of the meander structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Andreas Barbul, Matthias König
  • Patent number: 11448532
    Abstract: A sensor device, a method for operating a sensor device and an electronic assembly comprising a sensor device are disclosed. In an embodiment a sensor device includes a first sensor unit and a second sensor unit in a common housing, wherein each of the first and second sensor units comprises a heater element and a temperature sensor element, wherein the housing comprises a cover element having an opening, the cover element covering the first sensor unit, and wherein the opening is arranged over the second sensor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Matthias König
  • Patent number: 11327061
    Abstract: A method for testing a plurality of sensor devices, a panel and a sensor component are disclosed. In an embodiment a method includes providing the plurality of sensor devices, each sensor device including a sensor element configured to sense an ambient condition, a heating element to heat the sensor element, connection terminals for a supply voltage and at least one connection terminal for a sense signal indicative of a state of the sensor element, providing a panel including a plurality of groups of connection pads, the connection pads of each one of the groups configured to be connected to the connection terminals of one of the sensor devices, mounting the sensor devices to the groups of connection pads, applying a supply voltage to the sensor devices and concurrently heating the heating elements of the sensor devices to an elevated temperature and calibrating the sensor devices at least one after another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Matthias König
  • Publication number: 20220120666
    Abstract: In an embodiment a method for compensating a temperature gradient effect for gas concentration sensors includes variating a temperature gradient, measuring a variation of gas concentration depending on the variation of the temperature gradient, analysing a dependence of the gas concentration and the temperature gradient for setting up an error correction function and applying the error correction function to correct measured values of the gas concentration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventor: Matthias König
  • Publication number: 20210349056
    Abstract: A photoacoustic measurement setup having an infrared radiator that is suitable for radiating broadband light with periodically modulated energy/intensity. The infrared radiator is configured to change an excitation spectra of a radiated broadband light, and a gas volume is heated by the radiated broadband light to generate an acoustic wave within the gas volume. The photoacoustic measurement setup also includes an acoustic sensor, which is suitable for measuring the acoustic wave generated in the gas volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventor: Matthias König
  • Patent number: 11105760
    Abstract: A fluid sensor comprises a sensor material configured to come into contact at a surface region of same with a fluid and to obtain a first temporal change of a resistance value of the sensor material on the basis of the contact in a first sensor configuration and to obtain a second temporal change of the resistance value of the sensor material on the basis of the contact in a second sensor configuration. The fluid sensor comprises an output element configured to provide a sensor signal on the basis of the first and second temporal change of the resistance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Matthias Koenig, Guenther Ruhl