Patents by Inventor Peter Schmollngruber

Peter Schmollngruber 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: 11940345
    Abstract: A micromechanical component for a capacitive pressure sensor device includes a substrate; a frame structure that frames a partial surface; a membrane that is tensioned by the frame structure such that a self-supporting region of the membrane extends over the framed partial surface and an internal volume with a reference pressure therein is sealed in an airtight fashion, the self-supporting region of the membrane being deformable by a physical pressure on an external side of the self-supporting region that not equal to the reference pressure; a measurement electrode situated on the framed partial surface; and a reference measurement electrode that is situated on the framed partial surface and is electrically insulated from the measurement electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Friedrich, Christoph Hermes, Hans Artmann, Heribert Weber, Peter Schmollngruber, Volkmar Senz
  • Patent number: 11933689
    Abstract: A sensor device having a first counter electrode extending under an intermediate carrier, and having a first distance between the intermediate carrier and the first counter electrode being modifiable by the pressure on the movable region, and the first counter electrode encompassing, under the intermediate carrier, at least one electrically separated region that is disposed below a spacing element and includes at least a lateral extent of the spacing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Heribert Weber, Christoph Hermes, Hans Artmann, Peter Schmollngruber, Thomas Friedrich, Volkmar Senz
  • Patent number: 11912563
    Abstract: A micromechanical component, whose diaphragm is supported and has support structures on its inner diaphragm side. Each of the support structures includes a first and second edge element structure, and at least one intermediate element structure positioned between the first and second edge element structures. For each of the support structures, a plane of symmetry is definable, with respect to which at least the first edge element structure of the respective support structure and the second edge element structure of the respective support structure are specularly symmetric. In each of support structures, a first maximum dimension of its first edge element structure perpendicular to its plane of symmetry and a second maximum dimension of its second edge element structure perpendicular to its plane of symmetry are greater than the maximum dimension of its intermediate element structure perpendicular to its plane of symmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Hans Artmann, Christoph Hermes, Heribert Weber, Jochen Reinmuth, Peter Schmollngruber, Thomas Friedrich
  • Patent number: 11905166
    Abstract: A production method for a micromechanical component for a sensor or microphone device. The method includes: patterning a plurality of first trenches through a substrate surface of a monocrystalline substrate made of at least one semiconductor material using anisotropic etching, covering the lateral walls of the plurality of first trenches with a passivation layer, while bottom areas of the plurality of first trenches are kept free or are freed of the passivation layer, etching at least one first cavity, into which the plurality of first trenches opens, into the monocrystalline substrate using an isotropic etching method, in which an etching medium of the isotropic etching method is conducted through the plurality of first trenches, and by covering the plurality of first trenches by epitaxially growing a monocrystalline sealing layer on the substrate surface of the monocrystalline substrate made of the at least one identical semiconductor material as the monocrystalline substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Heribert Weber, Peter Schmollngruber, Thomas Friedrich, Andreas Scheurle, Joachim Fritz, Sophielouise Mach
  • Publication number: 20230416079
    Abstract: A micromechanical component for a sensor and/or microphone device. The component has an adjustable first actuator electrode suspended on a regionally deformable first layer, a first stator electrode fastened so that a first measuring signal is able to be tapped with regard to a first voltage or capacitance applied between the first actuator electrode and the first stator electrode, and a second actuator electrode, so that a second measuring signal is able to be tapped with regard to a second voltage or capacitance applied between the second actuator electrode and the first stator electrode or between the second actuator electrode and the second stator electrode. The second actuator electrode is situated in an adjustable manner on a side of the first actuator electrode facing away from the first layer in that the second actuator electrode is suspended on the first actuator electrode and/or an at least regionally deformable second layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Heribert Weber, Peter Schmollngruber
  • Patent number: 11851324
    Abstract: A method for sealing entries in a MEMS element. The method includes: providing a functional layer having a functional region; producing a cavity underneath the functional region of the functional layer with the aid of a first entry outside of the functional region of the functional layer; sealing the first entry; producing a second entry to the cavity outside of the functional region of the functional layer; melting sealing material in the region of the second entry; and cooling off the melted sealing material to seal the second entry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Christoph Hermes, Hans Artmann, Heribert Weber, Peter Schmollngruber, Thomas Friedrich, Tobias Joachim Menold, Mawuli Ametowobla
  • Publication number: 20230375424
    Abstract: A sensor device. The sensor device includes a housing component with a gas-tight internal volume, at least one electrode structure arranged in the internal volume in an adjustable and/or bendable manner, at least one counter electrode fixedly disposed on and/or in the housing component, and an electronic device configured to apply an electrical excitation voltage signal between the electrode structure and the counter electrode such that the at least one electrode structure is set in an oscillating motion relative to the housing component. The electronic device is configured to detect and/or determine the internal pressure in the internal volume and/or a change in the internal pressure while taking into consideration at least one sensor signal, which is dependent on an electric voltage or capacitance between the electrode structure and the counter electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Heribert Weber, Andreas Scheurle, Peter Schmollngruber, Thomas Friedrich
  • Publication number: 20230357001
    Abstract: A production method for a micromechanical component for a sensor device or microphone device. The method includes: forming a supporting structure composed of a first sacrificial material on a substrate surface of a substrate with a first sacrificial material layer, a plurality of etching holes structured through the first sacrificial material layer, and a plurality of supporting posts projecting into the substrate; etching into the substrate surface at least one cavity spanned by the supporting structure; forming a diaphragm composed of at least one semiconductor material on or over the first sacrificial material layer of the supporting structure; depositing a layer stack comprising at least one sacrificial layer and at least one counter electrode; and exposing the diaphragm by at least partially removing at least the supporting structure and the at least one sacrificial layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Heribert Weber, Andreas Scheurle, Hans Artmann, Peter Schmollngruber, Thomas Friedrich, Uwe Schiller
  • Publication number: 20230339745
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a micromechanical sensor. The method includes: applying a first oxide sacrificial layer onto a substrate; removing material of the substrate through openings in the first oxide sacrificial layer; closing the openings in the first oxide sacrificial layer by applying a second oxide sacrificial layer; forming a sensing area on a carrier structure, the sensing area and the carrier structure being formed on the oxide sacrificial layers and the sensing area and/or the carrier structure being connected to the substrate via at least one attachment area, which forms a flexible structure; and at least partially removing the oxide sacrificial layers between the carrier structure and the substrate with the aid of an etching process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Heribert Weber, Andreas Scheurle, Christoph Hermes, Peter Schmollngruber, Thomas Friedrich
  • Patent number: 11788912
    Abstract: A micromechanical pressure sensor device and a corresponding manufacturing method. The micromechanical pressure sensor device is equipped with a sensor substrate; a diaphragm system that is anchored in the sensor substrate and that includes a first diaphragm and a second diaphragm situated spaced apart therefrom, which are circumferentially connected to one another in an edge area and enclose a reference pressure in an interior space formed in between; and a plate-shaped electrode that is suspended in the interior space and that is situated spaced apart from the first diaphragm and from the second diaphragm and forms a first capacitor with the first diaphragm and forms a second capacitor with the second diaphragm. The first diaphragm and the second diaphragm are designed in such a way that they are deformable toward one another when acted on by an external pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Heribert Weber, Peter Schmollngruber
  • Publication number: 20230304881
    Abstract: A micromechanical component. The micromechanical component includes: a membrane; the membrane includes at least one reinforcement structure of a geometrically defined shape, which reinforces the membrane in a defined manner, in the region of at least one anchor structure and/or in the region of at least one connecting structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Heribert Weber, Andreas Scheurle, Joachim Fritz, Peter Schmollngruber, Sophielouise Mach, Thomas Friedrich
  • Publication number: 20230242393
    Abstract: A micromechanical component for a sensor or microphone device. An electrode surface of a first electrode structure is aligned with a second electrode structure. A substructure of the first electrode structure is entirely made of at least one electrically conductive material. The electrode surface and an opposite surface of the first electrode structure are outer surfaces of the substructure. A stop structure protruding from the electrode surface towards the second electrode structure is formed on the first electrode structure. The first electrode structure includes an insulating region which extends from the electrode surface to the opposite surface of the first electrode structure. The stop structure is formed either as a projection of the at least one insulating region protruding from the electrode surface towards the second electrode structure or is bordered by the at least one insulating region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Heribert Weber, Andreas Scheurle, Peter Schmollngruber, Thomas Friedrich
  • Publication number: 20220396477
    Abstract: A micromechanical component for a sensor device or microphone device. The micromechanical component includes a diaphragm with a diaphragm inner side to which an electrode structure is directly or indirectly connected; and a cavity that is formed at least in a volume that is exposed by at least one removed area of at least one sacrificial layer. At least one residual area made of at least one electrically insulating sacrificial layer material of the at least one sacrificial layer is also present at the micromechanical component, and including at least one insulation area made of at least one electrically insulating material that is not the same as the electrically insulating sacrificial layer material. The electrode structure is electrically insulated from the diaphragm, and/or the at least one residual area of the at least one sacrificial layer is delimited from the cavity, using the at least one insulation area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Inventors: Heribert Weber, Andreas Scheurle, Christoph Hermes, Peter Schmollngruber, Thomas Friedrich
  • Publication number: 20220390311
    Abstract: A micromechanical component for a sensor device, including a substrate, at least one first counter-electrode, at least one first electrode adjustably situated on a side of the at least one first counter-electrode facing away from the substrate, and a capacitor sealing structure, which seals gas-tight an interior volume, including the at least one first counter-electrode present therein and the at least one first electrode present therein. The at least one first counter-electrode is fastened directly or indirectly to a frame structure fastened directly or indirectly to the substrate, and the frame structure framing a cavity, and the at least one first counter-electrode at least partially spanning the cavity in such a way that at least one gas is transferable between the cavity and the interior volume via at least one opening formed at and/or in the at least one first counter-electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Heribert Weber, Peter Schmollngruber
  • Publication number: 20220328258
    Abstract: A MEMS switch that includes a substrate with a first insulating layer and a silicon layer thereabove, a fixed portion and a movable switching portion being formed in the silicon layer. A first metal layer is situated in recesses in the silicon layer at a side of the silicon layer facing away from the substrate, the first metal layer forming at least one switchable electrical contact between the fixed portion and the switching portion. A method for manufacturing a MEMS switch including at least one embedded metal contact is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Jochen Reinmuth, Matthew Lewis, Peter Schmollngruber
  • Patent number: 11418885
    Abstract: A micromechanical component for a sensor device or microphone device. The component includes a diaphragm support structure with a diaphragm, a cavity formed in the diaphragm support structure and adjoined by a diaphragm inner side, and a separating trench structured through the surface of the diaphragm support structure and extends to the cavity and completely frames the diaphragm, and that is sealed off media-tight and/or air-tight using at least one separating trench closure material. An etching channel is formed in the diaphragm support structure, separately from the separating trench, and extends from its first etching channel end section to its second etching channel end section. The first etching channel end section opens into the cavity, and the second etching channel end section is sealed off media-tight and/or air-tight using at least one etching channel closure structure formed on an outer partial surface of the surface of the diaphragm support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Heribert Weber, Andreas Scheurle, Christoph Hermes, Peter Schmollngruber, Thomas Friedrich
  • Publication number: 20220231652
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a piezoelectric resonator. The method includes: depositing a piezoelectric layer and forming a recess in a lateral area in such a way that a silicon functional layer is exposed inside the recess, forming a silicide layer on a surface of the silicon functional layer exposed inside the recess, forming a diffusion barrier layer on the silicide layer, depositing and structuring a first and second metallization layer in such a way that a supply line and two connection elements are formed, forming the oscillating structure by structuring the silicon functional layer, the silicon functional layer of the oscillating structure being able to be electrically contacted via the first connection element and forming a lower electrode of the resonator, the first metallization layer of the oscillating structure being able to be electrically contacted via the second connection element and forming an upper electrode of the resonator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Friedjof Heuck, Marcus Pritschow, Markus Kuhnke, Peter Schmollngruber, Ricardo Zamora, Sebastien Loiseau, Stefan Majoni, Stefan Krause, Viktor Morosow
  • Publication number: 20220172981
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a polysilicon SOI substrate including a cavity. The method includes: providing a silicon substrate including a sacrificial layer thereon; producing a first polysilicon layer on the sacrificial layer; depositing a structuring layer on the first polysilicon layer; introducing trenches through the structuring layer, the first polysilicon layer, and the sacrificial layer up to the silicon substrate; producing a cavity in the silicon substrate by etching, an etching medium being conducted thereto through the trenches; producing a second polysilicon layer on the first polysilicon layer, the trenches being thereby closed. A micromechanical device is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Jochen Reinmuth, Peter Schmollngruber
  • Publication number: 20220090975
    Abstract: A sensor device. The sensor device includes: a substrate; an electrical insulation layer on the substrate; an edge structure disposed on the electrical insulation layer and that delimits an internal region above the substrate; a membrane anchored on the edge structure and at least partly spanning the internal region, the membrane encompassing in the internal region a region movable by a pressure; a first intermediate carrier that extends in the movable region below the membrane and is electrically and mechanically connected to the membrane by contact points, and encompasses at least one spacing element that extends from the intermediate carrier toward the substrate; and a first counter electrode on the electrical insulation layer, the first counter electrode extending under the intermediate carrier, and a first distance between the intermediate carrier and the first counter electrode being modifiable by the pressure on the movable region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Heribert Weber, Christoph Hermes, Hans Artmann, Peter Schmollngruber, Thomas Friedrich, Volkmar Senz
  • Publication number: 20220081285
    Abstract: A production method for a micromechanical component for a sensor or microphone device. The method includes: patterning a plurality of first trenches through a substrate surface of a monocrystalline substrate made of at least one semiconductor material using anisotropic etching, covering the lateral walls of the plurality of first trenches with a passivation layer, while bottom areas of the plurality of first trenches are kept free or are freed of the passivation layer, etching at least one first cavity, into which the plurality of first trenches opens, into the monocrystalline substrate using an isotropic etching method, in which an etching medium of the isotropic etching method is conducted through the plurality of first trenches, and by covering the plurality of first trenches by epitaxially growing a monocrystalline sealing layer on the substrate surface of the monocrystalline substrate made of the at least one identical semiconductor material as the monocrystalline substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Heribert Weber, Peter Schmollngruber, Thomas Friedrich, Andreas Scheurle, Joachim Fritz, Sophielouise Mach