Patents by Inventor Réne Hummel

Réne Hummel 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: 8633047
    Abstract: The present sensor chip comprises a substrate. A plurality of electrode elements is arranged at a first level on the substrate with at least one gap between neighbouring electrode elements. A metal structure is arranged at a second level on the substrate, wherein the second level is different from the first level. The metal structure at least extends over an area of the second level that is defined by a projection of the at least one gap towards the second level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Sensirion AG
    Inventors: Réne Hummel, Ralph Steiner-Vanha, Ulrich Bartsch
  • Publication number: 20130056838
    Abstract: The present sensor chip comprises a substrate. A plurality of electrode elements is arranged at a first level on the substrate with at least one gap between neighbouring electrode elements. A metal structure is arranged at a second level on the substrate, wherein the second level is different from the first level. The metal structure at least extends over an area of the second level that is defined by a projection of the at least one gap towards the second level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventors: Réne Hummel, Ralph Steiner-Vanha, Ulrich Bartsch
  • Patent number: 7901971
    Abstract: A method for packaging a sensor device having a sensitive structure integrated on a semiconductor chip is provided. When molding the device package, an inward extending section of the mold maintains an access opening to the sensor. A buffer layer is arranged on the chip between the inward extending section and the sensitive structure. The buffer layer protects the sensitive structure from damage by the inward extending section and acts as a seal while casting the housing. The buffer layer also covers at least part of the semiconductor electronic components of the circuitry integrated onto the chip. By covering these components, mechanical stress, as it is e.g. caused by different thermal expansion coefficients of the packaging and the chip, can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Sensirion AG
    Inventors: Werner Hunziker, Franziska Brem, René Hummel
  • Patent number: 7900496
    Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for calibrating sensors, which sensors are arranged on semiconductor chips and are e.g. to be used for detecting a substance in a fluid. The sensors are calibrated while they are still assembled on a semiconductor wafer by exposing the wafer to a calibration fluid containing a known amount of the substance to be measured. Hence, rather than first cutting the wafer, the sensors are calibrated at an early stage. For this purpose, they are placed on a chuck below a lid. The calibration fluid with known parameters is introduced between the wafer and the lid. This allows to test and calibrate a large number of sensors quickly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Sensirion AG
    Inventors: Felix Mayer, Mathias Deschler, Urs Rothacher, René Hummel
  • Publication number: 20100117185
    Abstract: A temperature sensor with a bandgap circuit is provided. The bandgap circuit is covered by a buffer layer of photoresist. The device is packaged in a housing. By providing the buffer layer, mechanical stress in the bandgap circuit, as it is e.g. caused by different thermal expansion coefficients of the packaging and the chip, can be reduced. This improves the accuracy of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Werner Hunziker, Franziska Brem, René Hummel, Markus Graf
  • Publication number: 20100055821
    Abstract: A differential pressure sensor comprises a membrane arranged over a cavity on a semiconductor substrate. A lid layer is arranged at the top side of the device and comprises an access opening for providing access to the top side of the membrane. A channel extends laterally from the cavity and intersects with a bore. The bore is formed by laser drilling from the bottom side of the substrate and provides access to the bottom side of the membrane. The bore extends all through the substrate and optionally into the lid layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Johannes Bühler, Felix Mayer, Matthias Streiff, René Hummel, Robert Sunier
  • Publication number: 20100035373
    Abstract: A method for packaging a sensor device having a sensitive structure integrated on a semiconductor chip is provided. When molding the device package, an inward extending section of the mold maintains an access opening to the sensor. A buffer layer is arranged on the chip between the inward extending section and the sensitive structure. The buffer layer protects the sensitive structure from damage by the inward extending section and acts as a seal while casting the housing. The buffer layer also covers at least part of the semiconductor electronic components of the circuitry integrated onto the chip. By covering these components, mechanical stress, as it is e.g. caused by different thermal expansion coefficients of the packaging and the chip, can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventors: Werner Hunziker, Franziska Brem, Rene Hummel
  • Publication number: 20080006076
    Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for calibrating sensors, which sensors are arranged on semiconductor chips and are e.g. to be used for detecting a substance in a fluid. The sensors are calibrated while they are still assembled on a semiconductor wafer by exposing the wafer to a calibration fluid containing a known amount of the substance to be measured. Hence, rather than first cutting the wafer, the sensors are calibrated at an early stage. For this purpose, they are placed on a chuck below a lid. The calibration fluid with known parameters is introduced between the wafer and the lid. This allows to test and calibrate a large number of sensors quickly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Inventors: Felix Mayer, Mathias Deschler, Urs Rothacher, Rene Hummel
  • Patent number: 7281405
    Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for calibrating sensors, which sensors are arranged on semiconductor chips and are e.g. to be used for detecting a substance in a fluid. The sensors are calibrated while they are still assembled on a semiconductor wafer by exposing the wafer to a calibration fluid containing a known amount of the substance to be measured. Hence, rather than first cutting the wafer, the sensors are calibrated at an early stage. For this purpose, they are placed on a chuck below a lid. The calibration fluid with known parameters is introduced between the wafer and the lid. This allows to test and calibrate a large number of sensors quickly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Sensirion AG
    Inventors: Felix Mayer, Mathias Deschler, Urs Rothacher, René Hummel
  • Publication number: 20060053862
    Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for calibrating sensors, which sensors are arranged on semiconductor chips and are e.g. to be used for detecting a substance in a fluid. The sensors are calibrated while they are still assembled on a semiconductor wafer by exposing the wafer to a calibration fluid containing a known amount of the substance to be measured. Hence, rather than first cutting the wafer, the sensors are calibrated at an early stage. For this purpose, they are placed on a chuck below a lid. The calibration fluid with known parameters is introduced between the wafer and the lid. This allows to test and calibrate a large number of sensors quickly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Publication date: March 16, 2006
    Inventors: Felix Mayer, Mathias Deschler, Urs Rothacher, Rene Hummel
  • Publication number: 20040171008
    Abstract: The invention relates to G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) arrays, methods for production of GPCR arrays, primers used in the production of GPCR arrays and kits containing GPCR arrays and further to the use of such GPCR arrays in methods for the determination of expression profiles in biological materials in which there is an interest in the expression of GPCR polynucleotides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Kenneth Thirstrup, Lars Siim Madsen, Jens Bitsch Jensen, Rene Hummel, Bo Skaaning Jensen