Abstract: A measurement bridge circuit includes a first branch and a second branch. The first branch contains a first resistor which is sensitive to measured variables and an invariable resistor connected in series. A first tap point is located between the first resistor and the invariable resistor. The second branch contains a second resistor which is sensitive to measured variables and a variable resistor arrangement connected in series. The variable resistor arrangement includes a first component having an invariable electrical resistance value and a second component having a variable electrical resistance value. The second component is connected in parallel with the first component in order to vary a total electrical resistance value for the variable resistor arrangement. A second tap point is located between the second resistor and the variable resistor arrangement.

Abstract: A measurement bridge circuit includes a first branch and a second branch. The first branch contains a first resistor which is sensitive to measured variables and an invariable resistor connected in series. A first tap point is located between the first resistor and the invariable resistor. The second branch contains a second resistor which is sensitive to measured variables and a variable resistor arrangement connected in series. The variable resistor arrangement includes a first component having an invariable electrical resistance value and a second component having a variable electrical resistance value. The second component is connected in parallel with the first component in order to vary a total electrical resistance value for the variable resistor arrangement. A second tap point is located between the second resistor and the variable resistor arrangement.

Abstract: A component is provided for an impedance change in a coplanar waveguide which includes two grounding conductors and a signal line lying between the grounding conductors, as well as a conducting connecting element, which has a covering surface for the two grounding conductors and the signal line, and is electrically insulated, so that in each case a capacitor is formed. The connecting element and the lines are situated and arranged so that the respective capacitor between the grounding conductors and the connecting element has an invariable capacitance, but the capacitor between the connecting element and the signal line has a variable capacitance. A structure is also provided in which in an exactly opposite way, the respective capacitor between the grounding conductors and the connecting element has a variable capacitance, but the capacitor between the connecting element and the signal line has an invariable capacitance. Furthermore, a method for producing such a component is also provided.

Abstract: A micromechanical sensor and a method for manufacturing a micromechanical sensor which has at least one membrane are provided. The membrane is made of a first material which is accommodated in a surrounding second material, and the membrane is configured for sensing a medium surrounding it. The membrane is reinforced, at least partly, by a third material at break-sensitive points on the membrane rim. Reinforcement of the membrane rim increases the stability and thus also the service life of the membrane and the sensor.

Abstract: A component is provided for an impedance change in a coplanar waveguide which includes two grounding conductors and a signal line lying between the grounding conductors, as well as a conducting connecting element, which has a covering surface for the two grounding conductors and the signal line, and is electrically insulated, so that in each case a capacitor is formed. The connecting element and the lines are situated and arranged so that the respective capacitor between the grounding conductors and the connecting element has an invariable capacitance, but the capacitor between the connecting element and the signal line has a variable capacitance. A structure is also provided in which in an exactly opposite way, the respective capacitor between the grounding conductors and the connecting element has a variable capacitance, but the capacitor between the connecting element and the signal line has an invariable capacitance. Furthermore, a method for producing such a component is also provided.

Abstract: A microstructured infrared sensor includes: a sensor chip having a diaphragm; a cavity formed underneath the diaphragm; a thermopile structure formed on the diaphragm and having bonded printed conductors; an absorber layer formed on the thermopile structure for absorbing infrared radiation; and a cap chip attached to the sensor chip. A sensor space is formed between the cap chip and the sensor chip, and the sensor space accommodates the thermopile structure. The infrared sensor also includes a convex lens area for focusing incident infrared radiation onto the absorber layer. The lens area may be formed on the top of the cap chip or on a lens chip attached to the cap chip. The lens area may be formed by drying a dispensed lacquer droplet, or by a softened, structured lacquer cylinder, or by subsequent etching of the dried lacquer droplet and the surrounding substrate material.

Abstract: A method and a system for detecting the spatial movement state of moving objects, e.g., vehicles. Due to a, for example, non-cartesian arrangement of four rotational rate sensors and/or acceleration sensors, it is also possible to obtain a redundant signal in addition to the desired useful signal indicating the spatial movement state, e.g., the rotational movement and/or acceleration in space; if this redundant signal is large enough in comparison with the rotational rate actually applied, it may be used for detection of the size of the error and the defective sensor. The four sensors are mounted, for example, on a sensor platform forming a three-sided truncated pyramid so that all possible three-way combinations of sensors are mutually linearly independent. The accuracy about the vertical axis is defined by the angle of inclination of the side faces of the truncated pyramid.

Abstract: A capacitor with alterable capacitance for changing the impedance of a section of a coplanar waveguide, which may be used in particular as a high-frequency microswitch, is provided. A ground lead and a signal lead interrupted by an electroconductive connection which is self-supporting at least in some areas are provided, the capacitor including the electroconductive connection and an additional electroconductive connection connected to the ground lead. A structure connected to the electroconductive connection is provided, which is designed in such a manner that it reduces mechanical stresses which occurs in the electroconductive connection. An exemplary embodiment of the device provides for the electroconductive connection to be made of a material having coefficients of thermal expansion similar to that of silicon and a high modulus of elasticity compared to metals, in particular of molybdenum, tantalum or tungsten. The two exemplary embodiments may be combined.

Abstract: A bridge igniter having a resistance layer which has a given electrical resistance and which can be heated by an electrical current, an electrical insulating layer that is disposed on the resistance layer and has a given thermal conductivity, a reactive layer that is disposed on the insulating layer, the insulating layer transmitting the heat that is produced in the resistance layer to the reactive layer, thereby causing the latter to undergo an exothermic reaction, and a pyrotechnic layer that is disposed on or above the reactive layer and that may be set off by the exothermic reaction of the reactive layer.

Abstract: A device including a capacitor system for varying the impedance of a section of a coplanar waveguide. The capacitance of the capacitor system is variable. The capacitor system includes a first electrically conductive connection, a second electrically conductive connection, and a third electrically conductive connection at least partially. The signal line of the section of the waveguide is interrupted over a predetermined length, the first connection connecting the ground lines of the waveguide, the second connection connecting the ground lines of the waveguide, and the third connection connecting the two parts of the interrupted signal line.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing electromagnetic radiation with local resolution for image-producing sensors that can be economically produced and installed is decribed. This is achieved, in that a micromechanically producible optical imaging system is provided.

Abstract: A device having a capacitor for changing the impedance of a section of a coplanar waveguide is provided, the capacitance of the capacitor being changeable, the signal line of the section of the waveguide being interrupted for a predefined length, a first connection connecting the ground lines of the waveguide, and the second connection connecting both parts of the interrupted signal line.

Abstract: An optical sensor for detecting wetting of a surface (11), In particular of a vehicle window, has at least one transmitter (13) and at least one receiver (15) for electromagnetic waves, the surface being located in a sensor region (16) between the at least one transmitter (13) and the at least one receiver (15). The development of wetting on the sensor region (16) of the surface (11) causes a signal change. The optical sensor has a light-carrying element (18), in which the electromagnetic waves are guided bidirectionally into the sensor region (16) and out of the sensor region (16), and a retroreflector (10) is disposed in the sensor region (16) in such a way that it returns the electromagnetic waves, reflected before the surface (11), back to the surface (11) and from there to the light-carrying element (18).

Abstract: A method is proposed for producing three-dimensional structures, especially microlenses, in a substrate using an etching process, at least one original shape having a known original surface shape being present initially on the substrate in a plurality of places. The etching process has at least one first etching removal rate a1 and a second etching removal rate a2 which are material-dependent, and of which at least one is changeable as a function of time. The original shape is converted to a target shape by the etching process, the original surface shape of the original shape and the target surface shape of the target shape to be reached being known before the beginning of the etching process. In order to achieve the target surface shape, at least one of the etching rates a2 or a1 is set by a change of at least one etching parameter calculated before the beginning of the etching process as a function of the etching time.

Abstract: An optical waveguide is described which has a core and a sheath, each of which is made of a fully fluorinated fluorocarbon material. In particular, a fully fluorinated Teflon material such as Teflon AF 1600 or Teflon AF 2400, or a mixture thereof, is suitable as the fully fluorinated fluorocarbon. The optical waveguide is optically transparent around the 1300 nm and/or 1550 nm wave band. Furthermore, the core of the optical waveguide may have a refractive index that is higher than the refractive index of the sheath. The optical waveguide is suitable for use as, for example, an integrated optical waveguide for transmitting information in optical telecommunications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bridge igniter 1 having: a resistance layer 3 which has a given electrical resistance and which can be heated by an electrical current; an electrical insulating layer 4 that is disposed on the resistance layer 3 and has a given thermal conductivity; a reactive layer that is disposed on the insulating layer, the insulating layer 4 transmitting the heat that is produced in the resistance layer 3 to the reactive layer 5, thereby causing the latter to undergo an exothermic reaction; and a pyrotechnic layer 7 that is disposed on or above the reactive layer 5 and that may be set off by the exothermic reaction of the reactive layer 5.

Abstract: A method and a system for detecting the spatial movement state of moving objects, e.g., vehicles. Due to a, for example, non-cartesian arrangement of four rotational rate sensors and/or acceleration sensors, it is also possible to obtain a redundant signal in addition to the desired useful signal indicating the spatial movement state, e.g., the rotational movement and/or acceleration in space; if this redundant signal is large enough in comparison with the rotational rate actually applied, it may be used for detection of the size of the error and the defective sensor. The four sensors are mounted, for example, on a sensor platform forming a three-sided truncated pyramid so that all possible three-way combinations of sensors are mutually linearly independent. The accuracy about the vertical axis is defined by the angle of inclination of the side faces of the truncated pyramid.

Abstract: A device is described having a capacitor (200) with alterable capacitance C(U) for changing the impedance of a section of a coplanar waveguide, which may be used in particular as a high-frequency microswitch. A ground lead (110, 111) and a signal lead (120) interrupted by an electroconductive connection (121) which is self-supporting at least in some areas are provided, the capacitor (200) including the electroconductive connection (121) and an additional electroconductive connection (130) connected to the ground lead (110, 111). In addition a structure (150) connected to the electroconductive connection (121) is provided, which is designed in such a way that it reduces mechanical stresses which occur in the electroconductive connection (121).

Abstract: A device including a capacitor system for varying the impedance of a section of a coplanar waveguide. The capacitance of the capacitor system is variable. The capacitor system includes a first electrically conductive connection, a second electrically conductive connection, and a third electrically conductive connection at least partially. The signal line of the section of the waveguide is interrupted over a predetermined length, the first connection connecting the ground lines of the waveguide, the second connection connecting the ground lines of the waveguide, and the third connection connecting the two parts of the interrupted signal line.

Abstract: A device having a capacitor (200) for changing the impedance of a section of a coplanar waveguide is proposed, the capacitance of the capacitor (200) being changeable, the signal line (120) of the section of the waveguide being interrupted for a predefined length (122), a first connection (130) connecting the ground lines (110, 111) of the waveguide, and the second connection (121) connecting both parts of the interrupted signal line (120).