Patents by Inventor Reinout Woltjer

Reinout Woltjer 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: 20220401072
    Abstract: A transducer array for ultrasound applications includes a plurality of transducer elements that are provided with self-aligned connections to a flexible cable. The array is easy to manufacture and suited for wearable, wireless, and other small ultrasound devices. A simple and efficient method of producing a robust transducer array involves at least partially separating the transducer elements after their connection to their respective conductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Applicant: NovioScan B.V.
    Inventors: Reinout Woltjer, Bastianus Theodorus Johannes Alberts
  • Publication number: 20220146461
    Abstract: The present invention relates in a first aspect to an energy efficient simplified analogue phased array transducer for ultrasound beam steering, in a second aspect to a product, such as a small wearable ultrasound device for signalling changes in a human or animal body, such as a liquid volume in a body cavity of a human or an animal, in a third aspect to a use of said device, and in a fourth aspect to a method of operating an ultrasound device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Applicant: NovioScan B.V.
    Inventors: Bastianus Theodorus Johannes Alberts, Reinout Woltjer
  • Patent number: 11064924
    Abstract: A wearable ultrasound device for signalling changes in human or animal body, and use of such a wearable device for signalling over a prolonged period of time. In an example the changes occur in a bladder. Such is especially relevant for elderly persons, women after delivery of a baby, lesion patients, demented people, children, and others, have a difficulty to control functioning of the bladder, and to be at the toilet on time to urinate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: NovioScan B.V.
    Inventors: Reinout Woltjer, Huibert Alexander Tjabbes, Renatus Eligius Van de Vosse, Jan Jacob Koning, Paulus Gerardus Van Leuteren, Pieter Dik, Albert Harald Westra, Leonard Jan Van Schelven
  • Publication number: 20170258386
    Abstract: A wearable ultrasound device for signalling changes in human or animal body, and use of such a wearable device for signalling over a prolonged period of time. In an example the changes occur in a bladder. Such is especially relevant for elderly persons, women after delivery of a baby, lesion patients, demented people, children, and others, have a difficulty to control functioning of the bladder, and to be at the toilet on time to urinate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Reinout Woltjer, Huibert Alexander Tjabbes, Renatus Eligius Van de Vosse, Jan Jacob Koning, Paulus Gerardus Van Leuteren, Pieter Dik, Albert Harald Westra, Leonard Jan Van Schelven
  • Publication number: 20170042507
    Abstract: An improved high voltage MEMS, and a portable ultrasound device comprising such a MEMS, and use of such a portable device for detecting a liquid volume. Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) relate to a technology of very small devices. Piezoelectricity relates at one hand to accumulation of electric charge in certain solid materials in response to an applied mechanical stress.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Jan Jacob Koning, Reinout Woltjer
  • Patent number: 9383282
    Abstract: A MEMS pressure sensor wherein at least one of the electrode arrangements comprises an inner electrode and an outer electrode arranged around the inner electrode. The capacitances associated with the inner electrode and the outer electrode are independently measured and can be differentially measured. This arrangement enables various different read out schemes to be implemented and also enables improved compensation for variations between devices or changes in device characteristics over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: AMS INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: Willem Frederik Adrianus Besling, Klaus Reimann, Peter Steeneken, Olaf Wunnicke, Reinout Woltjer
  • Patent number: 8818265
    Abstract: One or more embodiments provide circuitry for isolation and communication of signals between circuits operating in different voltage domains using capacitive coupling. The embodiments utilize capacitive structures having increased breakdown voltage in comparison to previous parallel plate implementations. The capacitive isolation is provided by parallel plate capacitive structures, each implemented to have parallel plates of different horizontal sizes. Due to the difference in horizontal size, edges of the parallel plates, where electric fields are the strongest, are laterally offset from the region where the parallel plates overlap. As a result, breakdown voltage between the parallel plates is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Peter Gerard Steeneken, Maarten Jacobus Swanenberg, Henk Boezen, Gerhard Koops, Frans Bontekoe, Reinout Woltjer
  • Patent number: 8742517
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor is configured for collapsed mode, e.g. for measuring sound or pressure, wherein the moveable element is partitioned into smaller sections. The capacitive sensor provides increased signal to noise ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: NXP, B.V.
    Inventors: Geert Langereis, Twan Van Lippen, Reinout Woltjer
  • Publication number: 20130281033
    Abstract: One or more embodiments provide circuitry for isolation and communication of signals between circuits operating in different voltage domains using capacitive coupling. The embodiments utilize capacitive structures having increased breakdown voltage in comparison to previous parallel plate implementations. The capacitive isolation is provided by parallel plate capacitive structures, each implemented to have parallel plates of different horizontal sizes. Due to the difference in horizontal size, edges of the parallel plates, where electric fields are the strongest, are laterally offset from the region where the parallel plates overlap. As a result, breakdown voltage between the parallel plates is increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Peter Gerard Steeneken, Maarten Jacobus Swanenberg, Henk Boezen, Gerhard Koops, Frans Bontekoe, Reinout Woltjer
  • Publication number: 20130118265
    Abstract: A MEMS pressure sensor wherein at least one of the electrode arrangements comprises an inner electrode and an outer electrode arranged around the inner electrode. The capacitances associated with the inner electrode and the outer electrode are independently measured and can be differentially measured. This arrangement enables various different read out schemes to be implemented and also enables improved compensation for variations between devices or changes in device characteristics over time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Willem Frederik Adrianus BESLING, Klaus REIMANN, Peter Gerard STEENEKEN, Olaf WUNNICKE, Reinout WOLTJER
  • Publication number: 20120133005
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor is configured for collapsed mode, e.g. for measuring sound or pressure, wherein the moveable element is partitioned into smaller sections. The capacitive sensor provides increased signal to noise ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Geert Langeries, Twan Van Lippen, Reinout Woltjer
  • Patent number: 5502326
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a programmable element having a doped semiconductor region (4) and a conductor region (6) which are separated from one another by at least a portion of an insulating layer (5). The conductor region (6) is of a material suitable for forming a rectifying junction (8) with the material of the semiconductor region (4). To achieve a comparatively high conductivity connection to the semiconductor region (4), the element is further provided with a contact region (3) which has a comparatively low electrical resistance compared with the semiconductor region (4). The contact region (3) is provided at a side of the semiconductor region (4) remote from the insulating layer (5) and is separated from the insulating layer (5) by the semiconductor region (4). Both the semiconductor region (4) and the contact region (5) are laterally bounded by an isolating region (7) at opposing sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Jan W. Slotboom, Pierre H. Woerlee, Reinout Woltjer
  • Patent number: 5416343
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a number of programmable elements arranged in a matrix of rows and columns. The elements each have a doped semiconductor region (10) and a conductor region (20) which are mutually separated by an insulating layer (8). The conductor region (20) can be a material suitable for forming a rectifying junction (35) with the material of the semiconductor region (10). Within a row, the conductor regions of the programmable elements present therein are coupled to a common row conductor (21 . . . 23), and within a column the semiconductor regions of the programmable elements situated therein are connected to a common column conductor (11 . . . 14). To program an element, a programming voltage V.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Jan W. Slotboom, Pierre H. Woerlee, Reinout Woltjer