Patents by Inventor Rolf Scheben

Rolf Scheben 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: 20160280534
    Abstract: Measures for reducing parasitic capacitances in the layer structure of capacitive MEMS sensor elements, in which parasitic capacitances between bond pads for electrically contacting measuring capacitor electrodes and an electrically conductive layer lying underneath are reduced by these measures. The sensor structure having the measuring capacitor electrodes and bond pads of such MEMS components are in a layer structure on a semiconductor substrate. The carrier layer directly underneath the bond pad structure is uninterrupted in the bond pad region, and the layer structure includes at least one insulation layer by which at least one of the bond pads is electrically insulated from an electrically conductive layer lying underneath. At least one layer under the carrier layer is structured in the region of this bond pad, so that hollow spaces are situated in the layer structure underneath this bond pad, by which the parasitic capacitance between this bond pad and the conductive layer lying underneath is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Heiko Stahl, Arnim Hoechst, Bernhard Gehl, Rolf Scheben, Benedikt Stein
  • Patent number: 9369809
    Abstract: A MEMS component for generating pressure pulses is provided, its micromechanical structure including at least three function levels: a first function level in which at least one stationary trench structure is implemented, a second function level, which is implemented above the first function level and includes at least one triggerable displacement element as well as through-openings as pressure outlet openings, the displacement element protruding into the trench structure and being movable in parallel with the function levels, whereby positive and negative pressure pulses are generated, and a third function level, which is implemented above the second function level and includes at least one triggerable cover element for at least one part of the pressure outlet openings in the second function level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen Zoellin, Ricardo Ehrenpfordt, Rolf Scheben
  • Publication number: 20160138666
    Abstract: A micromechanical spring for an inertial sensor, including segments of a monocrystalline base material, the segments having surfaces which are situated at a right angle to one another with respect to a plane of oscillation of the spring and normal to the plane of oscillation of the spring, the segments being manufactured in a crystal-direction-dependent etching process and each having two different orientations normal to the plane of oscillation, in which the spring includes a defined number of segments situated in a defined manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Christian HOEPPNER, Benjamin Schmidt, Mirko Hattass, Odd-Axel Pruetz, Robert Maul, Friedjof Heuck, Rolf Scheben, Torsten Ohms, Reinhard Neul
  • Publication number: 20160112803
    Abstract: A concept is provided which permits the implementation of MEMS microphone elements having a very good SNR, high microphone sensitivity and a large frequency bandwidth. The microphone structure of the MEMS element is implemented in a layer structure and includes at least one sound pressure-sensitive diaphragm (210), an acoustically permeable counter element (220) and a capacitor system for detecting the diaphragm deflections, the diaphragm (210) and the counter element (220) being situated on top of each other and a distance apart from one another in the layer structure and each bring equipped with at least one electrode of the capacitor system. According to the invention, the layer structure of the diaphragm (210) includes at least one thin closed layer (1) and at least one thick structured layer (2), a grid structure (100) covering the entire diaphragm area being provided in the thick layer (2), which determines the stiffness of the diaphragm (210).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventor: Rolf Scheben
  • Publication number: 20160084653
    Abstract: A rotation rate sensor for detecting a rotational movement of the rotation rate sensor about a rotational axis extending within a drive plane of the rotation rate sensor include: a first rotational element, a second rotational element and a drive structure moveable in parallel to the drive plane, the first rotational element being drivable about a first center of rotation to achieve a first rotational vibration in parallel to the drive plane, the second rotational element being drivable about a second center of rotation to achieve a second rotational vibration in parallel to the drive plane, the drive structure being (i) coupled to the first and second rotational elements, and (ii) configured to generate a drive mode in phase opposition of the first and second rotational vibrations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Thorsten Balslink, Rolf Scheben, Benjamin Schmidt, Ralf Ameling, Mirko Hattass, Burkhard Kuhlmann, Robert Maul
  • Publication number: 20160069682
    Abstract: A rotation-rate sensor having a substrate with main extension plane, for detecting a rotation rate, extending in a direction parallel/orthogonal to the main plane; the sensor including a primary/secondary pair of seismic masses; the primary pair having first/second primary masses; the secondary pair having first/second secondary masses; the first/second primary masses being movable relative to the substrate along a primary deflection direction extending parallel to the main plane; the first/second secondary masses being movable relative to the substrate along a secondary deflection direction extending parallel to the main plane; the first/second primary masses and the first/second primary masses being movable antiparallel or parallel to one another corresponding to the deflection direction, essentially extending orthogonally to the secondary deflection direction; and the primary pair and/or secondary pair being drivable so that, based on sensor rotation, the Coriolis force leads to deflection of the first/sec
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Thorsten BALSLINK, Rolf SCHEBEN, Benjamin SCHMIDT, Ralf AMELING, Mirko HATTASS, Burkhard KUHLMANN, Robert MAUL
  • Patent number: 9277329
    Abstract: An implementation for an electret in a capacitive MEMS element including a pressure-sensitive diaphragm, which is produce-able using standard methods of semiconductor technology for easy integration into the manufacturing process of MEMS semiconductor elements. Such MEMS elements include at least one pressure-sensitive diaphragm including at least one deflectable diaphragm electrode of a capacitor system for signal detection and one fixed non-pressure-sensitive counter-element including at least one counter-electrode of this capacitor system, at least one electrode of the capacitor system being provided with an electrically charged electret, so that there is a potential difference between the two electrodes of the capacitor system. The electret includes at least two adjacent layers made from different dielectric materials, electrical charges being stored on their boundary surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Christoph Schelling, Rolf Scheben, Ricardo Ehrenpfordt
  • Patent number: 9255801
    Abstract: A yaw rate sensor, including a substrate and a main extension plane, for detecting a yaw rate around a first direction in parallel to the main extension plane, a first Coriolis mass, and a second Coriolis mass, and a drive device configured to drive the first and second Coriolis masses in parallel to a drive direction perpendicular to the first direction, the first and second Coriolis masses, for a yaw rate around the first direction, experiencing a Coriolis acceleration in parallel to a detection direction, which is perpendicular to the drive and first directions, the first and second Coriolis masses having first/second partial areas and third/fourth partial areas, respectively. The first and third partial areas are farther from the axis of symmetry in parallel to the first direction, and the second and fourth partial areas are closer to the axis of symmetry in parallel to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Burkhard Kuhlmann, Rolf Scheben, Daniel Christoph Meisel, Benjamin Schmidt, Thorsten Balslink
  • Publication number: 20150365751
    Abstract: A micromechanical sensor system combination, and a corresponding manufacturing method, includes an interposer chip including a first front side and a first back side which includes first electrical contacts on the first front side and second electrical contacts on the first back side, the interposer chip having first electrical vias which electrically connect the first electrical contacts to the second electrical contacts; as well as a micromechanical sensor chip system including a second front side a second back side including at least one first sensor device and a second sensor device which are laterally adjacent, the first front side being attached on the second front side so that the first sensor device and the second sensor device are electrically and mechanically connected to the first electrical contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Christoph Schelling, Rolf Scheben, Ricardo Ehrenpfordt
  • Publication number: 20150256917
    Abstract: A concept is provided for the cost-effective and space-saving implementation of multisensor modules having a high-quality acoustic microphone function and having at least one further sensor function which requires a media application. A component of this type includes at least one MEMS microphone element which is mounted inside a housing across at least one sound opening formed in the housing wall so that the sound pressure application of the microphone structure of the MEMS microphone element takes place via this sound opening and the housing interior functions as the back side volume for the microphone structure. At least one leakage path is formed in the microphone structure for a slow pressure equalization between the front side and the back side of the microphone structure. At least one further MEMS sensor element is situated within the housing, whose sensor function requires a media application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Christoph SCHELLING, Benedikt STEIN, Martina REINHARDT, Rolf SCHEBEN, Ricardo EHRENPFORDT
  • Patent number: 9112108
    Abstract: An energy source for supplying an autonomous electrical load system with electrical energy includes a thermogenerator device configured to generate a thermoelectric voltage to be fed to the electrical load system. The thermogenerator device is under the influence of a temperature difference between a warmer first thermal coupling device and a colder second thermal coupling device. The energy source further includes a microfluidic cooling device having a heat-absorption region, a heat-emission region, and a closed microfluidic circulation system configured to circulate a fluid between the heat-absorption region and the heat-emission region. The heat-absorption region has a thermally conductive connection to the second thermal coupling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Scheben, Mirko Hattass
  • Publication number: 20150156591
    Abstract: A capacitive MEMS microphone element is described which may be used optionally for detecting acoustic signals (microphone mode) or for detecting ultrasound signals in a defined frequency range (ultrasound mode). In the layered structure of the MEMS microphone element, at least two carrier elements for the two electrode sides of a capacitor system are formed one above the other and at a distance from one another for signal detection. At least one of the two carrier elements is sound pressure-sensitive and at least one of the two electrode sides includes at least two electrode segments which are electrically contactable independent of one another, which together with the at least one electrode of the other electrode side form partial capacitances which are independent of one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventors: Christoph SCHELLING, Rolf SCHEBEN, Ricardo EHRENPFORDT
  • Patent number: 8997566
    Abstract: A yaw rate sensor is described which includes a drive device, at least one Coriolis element, and a detection device having at least two detection elements which are coupled to one another with the aid of a coupling device, the drive device being connected to the Coriolis element for driving a vibration of the Coriolis element, and an additional coupling device which is connected to the detection device and to the Coriolis element for coupling a deflection in the plane of vibration of the Coriolis element to the detection device in a direction orthogonal to the vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Torsten Ohms, Burkhard Kuhlmann, Daniel Christoph Meisel, Rolf Scheben
  • Publication number: 20150078590
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a micro-electromechanical membrane arrangement with a substrate, which has a multiplicity of recesses on a surface, a first electrically conductive electrode layer, which is arranged on the surface of the substrate and has a multiplicity of first depressions coinciding with the recesses, and an electrically conductive membrane layer, which can be deflected in a direction perpendicular to the active surface of the substrate, is arranged over the first electrode layer and is kept at a distance therefrom by a first distance value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Mike Daley, Rolf Scheben, Christoph Schelling
  • Publication number: 20150063608
    Abstract: An implementation for an electret in a capacitive MEMS element including a pressure-sensitive diaphragm, which is produce-able using standard methods of semiconductor technology for easy integration into the manufacturing process of MEMS semiconductor elements. Such MEMS elements include at least one pressure-sensitive diaphragm including at least one deflectable diaphragm electrode of a capacitor system for signal detection and one fixed non-pressure-sensitive counter-element including at least one counter-electrode of this capacitor system, at least one electrode of the capacitor system being provided with an electrically charged electret, so that there is a potential difference between the two electrodes of the capacitor system. The electret includes at least two adjacent layers made from different dielectric materials, electrical charges being stored on their boundary surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph SCHELLING, Rolf SCHEBEN, Ricardo EHRENPFORDT
  • Publication number: 20150052999
    Abstract: A rotational rate sensor includes a substrate and a seismic mass situated thereon, and configured for detecting a rate of rotation about a rotation axis, the seismic mass having a second mass element coupled to a first mass element, which is drivable to a drive movement along a drive direction perpendicular to the rotation axis, the first and second mass element being deflectable along a detection direction essentially perpendicular to the drive direction and to the rotation axis, the rotational rate sensor having at least one compensating arrangement to produce a compensating force acting on the second mass element, the compensating force being oriented in a compensation direction essentially parallel to the detection direction, the at least one compensating arrangement being the only compensating arrangement and being configured exclusively to produce the compensating force oriented in the compensation direction, the rotational rate sensor being configured such that a quadrature offset force acting on the s
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Scheben, Christoph Gauger, Markus Heitz
  • Patent number: 8943891
    Abstract: A yaw-rate sensor and a method for operating a yaw-rate sensor having a first Coriolis element and a second Coriolis element are proposed, the yaw-rate sensor having a substrate having a main plane of extension, the yaw-rate sensor having a first drive element for driving the first Coriolis element in parallel to a second axis, the yaw-rate sensor having a second drive element for driving the second Coriolis element in parallel to the second axis, the yaw-rate sensor having detection means for detecting deflections of the first Coriolis element and of the second Coriolis element in parallel to a first axis due to a Coriolis force, the second axis being situated perpendicularly to the first axis, the first and second axis being situated in parallel to the main plane of extension, the first and second drive elements being mechanically coupled to each other via a drive coupling element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Torsten Ohms, Burkhard Kuhlmann, Robert Sattler, Rolf Scheben, Daniel Christoph Meisel
  • Patent number: 8875575
    Abstract: A yaw rate sensor includes: at least one Coriolis element; a drive device connected to the Coriolis element and configured to drive a vibration of the Coriolis element; a detection device having at least one rotor; and a coupling device connected to the detection device and to the Coriolis element. The coupling device is configured to couple a deflection in the plane of vibration of the Coriolis element to the detection device in a direction orthogonal to the vibration, so that when the Coriolis element is deflected a torque for driving the at least one rotor is transmitted from the Coriolis element to the at least one rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Torsten Ohms, Burkhard Kuhlmann, Daniel Christoph Meisel, Rolf Scheben
  • Patent number: 8844357
    Abstract: A yaw-rate sensor includes: a substrate having a main extension plane for detecting a yaw rate about a first axis extending parallel to the main extension plane; a first Coriolis element; a second Coriolis element; a third Coriolis element; and a fourth Coriolis element. The first Coriolis element and the fourth Coriolis element are drivable in the same direction parallel to a second axis extending parallel to the main extension plane and perpendicularly to the first axis. The first Coriolis element and the second Coriolis element are drivable in opposite directions parallel to the second axis. The first Coriolis element and the third Coriolis element are drivable in opposite directions parallel to the second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Scheben, Burkhard Kuhlmann, Thorsten Balslink, Daniel Christoph Meisel, Benjamin Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8783105
    Abstract: A yaw-rate sensor is described as having a substrate which has a main plane of extension for detecting a yaw rate about a first axis extending parallel to the main plane of extension is provided, the yaw-rate sensor having a first rotation element and a second rotation element, the first rotation element being drivable about a first axis of rotation, the second rotation element being drivable about a second axis of rotation, the first axis of rotation being situated perpendicularly to the main plane of extension, the second axis of rotation being situated perpendicularly to the main plane of extension, the first rotation element and the second rotation element being drivable in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Burkhard Kuhlmann, Rolf Scheben, Daniel Christoph Meisel, Benjamin Schmidt, Thorsten Balslink