Patents by Inventor Stefan Barzen

Stefan Barzen 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: 20200216309
    Abstract: In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, a production method for a double-membrane MEMS component comprises the following steps: providing a layer arrangement on a carrier substrate, wherein the layer arrangement has a first and second membrane structure spaced apart from one another and a counterelectrode structure arranged therebetween, wherein a sacrificial material is arranged in an intermediate region between the counterelectrode structure and the first and second membrane structures respectively spaced apart therefrom, and wherein the first membrane structure has an opening structure to the intermediate region with the sacrificial material and partly removing the sacrificial material from the intermediate region in order to obtain a mechanical connection structure comprising the sacrificial material between the first and second membrane structures, which mechanical connection structure is mechanically coupled between the first and second membrane structures and is mechanically decoupled from the cou
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Marc Fueldner, Stefan Barzen, Alfons Dehe, Gunar Lorenz
  • Patent number: 10689250
    Abstract: In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, a production method for a double-membrane MEMS component comprises the following steps: providing a layer arrangement on a carrier substrate, wherein the layer arrangement has a first and second membrane structure spaced apart from one another and a counterelectrode structure arranged therebetween, wherein a sacrificial material is arranged in an intermediate region between the counterelectrode structure and the first and second membrane structures respectively spaced apart therefrom, and wherein the first membrane structure has an opening structure to the intermediate region with the sacrificial material and partly removing the sacrificial material from the intermediate region in order to obtain a mechanical connection structure comprising the sacrificial material between the first and second membrane structures, which mechanical connection structure is mechanically coupled between the first and second membrane structures and is mechanically decoupled from the cou
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Marc Fueldner, Stefan Barzen, Alfons Dehe, Gunar Lorenz
  • Publication number: 20200169819
    Abstract: For manufacturing a sound transducer structure, membrane support material is applied on a first main surface of a membrane carrier material and membrane material is applied in a sound transducing region and an edge region on a surface of the membrane support material. In addition, counter electrode support material is applied on a surface of the membrane material and recesses are formed in the sound transducing region of the membrane material. Counter electrode material is applied to the counter electrode support material and membrane carrier material and membrane support material are removed in the sound transducing region to the membrane material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Alfons Dehe, Stefan Barzen, Marc Fueldner
  • Patent number: 10602290
    Abstract: A MEMS device includes a backplate electrode and a membrane disposed spaced apart from the backplate electrode. The membrane includes a displaceable portion and a fixed portion. The backplate electrode and the membrane are arranged such that an overlapping area of the fixed portion of the membrane with the backplate electrode is less than maximum overlapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Alfons Dehe, Stefan Barzen
  • Patent number: 10567886
    Abstract: For manufacturing a sound transducer structure, membrane support material is applied on a first main surface of a membrane carrier material and membrane material is applied in a sound transducing region and an edge region on a surface of the membrane support material. In addition, counter electrode support material is applied on a surface of the membrane material and recesses are formed in the sound transducing region of the membrane material. Counter electrode material is applied to the counter electrode support material and membrane carrier material and membrane support material are removed in the sound transducing region to the membrane material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Alfons Dehe, Stefan Barzen, Marc Fueldner
  • Patent number: 10469958
    Abstract: An MEMS sound transducer comprises a first and a second backplate, as well as a diaphragm, which is arranged between the first and the second backplate and is held by an edge fastening between the first and the second backplate. The MEMS sound transducer comprises a clamping structure, which is configured to provide fixing for the diaphragm when an electrostatic force acting in an operating state is applied between the first and the second backplate and at a distance from the edge fastening, and to release the fixing in absence of the electrostatic force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Stefan Barzen
  • Patent number: 10464807
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is proposed. The semiconductor device comprises a membrane structure having an opening. Furthermore, the semiconductor device comprises a first backplate structure, which is arranged on a first side of the membrane structure, and a second backplate structure, which is arranged on a second side of the membrane structure. The semiconductor device furthermore comprises a vertical connection structure, which connects the first backplate structure to the second backplate structure. In this case, the vertical connection structure extends through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Stefan Barzen, Wolfgang Friza, Marc Fueldner
  • Patent number: 10462579
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a MEMS transducer includes a stator, a rotor spaced apart from the stator, and a multi-electrode structure including electrodes with different polarities. The multi-electrode structure is formed on one of the rotor and the stator and is configured to generate a repulsive electrostatic force between the stator and the rotor. Other embodiments include corresponding systems and apparatus, each configured to perform corresponding embodiment methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventor: Stefan Barzen
  • Publication number: 20190297441
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes oxidizing a substrate to form local oxide regions that extend above a top surface of the substrate. A membrane layer is formed over the local oxide regions and the top surface of the substrate. A portion of the substrate under the membrane layer is removed. The local oxide regions under the membrane layer are removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Alfons Dehe, Stefan Barzen, Wolfgang Friza, Wolfgang Klein
  • Patent number: 10405118
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes oxidizing a substrate to form local oxide regions that extend above a top surface of the substrate. A membrane layer is formed over the local oxide regions and the top surface of the substrate. A portion of the substrate under the membrane layer is removed. The local oxide regions under the membrane layer is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Alfons Dehe, Stefan Barzen, Wolfgang Friza, Wolfgang Klein
  • Publication number: 20190174229
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a microspeaker includes an acoustic micropump structure configured to pump at a first frequency above an upper audible frequency limit. The acoustic micropump structure is further configured to generate an acoustic signal having a second frequency by adjusting the pumping. Adjusting the pumping includes adjusting a direction of pumping for the acoustic micropump structure according to the second frequency. Adjusting the direction of pumping includes changing a direction of flow of an elastic medium through the acoustic micropump structure from a first direction to a second direction. The second frequency is below the upper audible frequency limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventor: Stefan Barzen
  • Publication number: 20190098424
    Abstract: A MEMS device includes a backplate electrode and a membrane disposed spaced apart from the backplate electrode. The membrane includes a displaceable portion and a fixed portion. The backplate electrode and the membrane are arranged such that an overlapping area of the fixed portion of the membrane with the backplate electrode is less than maximum overlapping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Alfons Dehe, Stefan Barzen
  • Patent number: 10244316
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a method of operating a speaker with an acoustic pump includes generating a carrier signal having a first frequency by exciting the acoustic pump at the first frequency and generating an acoustic signal having a second frequency by adjusting the carrier signal. In such embodiments, the first frequency is outside an audible frequency range and the second frequency is inside the audible frequency range. Adjusting the carrier signal includes performing adjustments to the carrier signal at the second frequency. Other embodiments include corresponding systems and apparatus, each configured to perform corresponding embodiment methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Stefan Barzen
  • Publication number: 20190023562
    Abstract: In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, a production method for a double-membrane MEMS component comprises the following steps: providing a layer arrangement on a carrier substrate, wherein the layer arrangement has a first and second membrane structure spaced apart from one another and a counterelectrode structure arranged therebetween, wherein a sacrificial material is arranged in an intermediate region between the counterelectrode structure and the first and second membrane structures respectively spaced apart therefrom, and wherein the first membrane structure has an opening structure to the intermediate region with the sacrificial material and partly removing the sacrificial material from the intermediate region in order to obtain a mechanical connection structure comprising the sacrificial material between the first and second membrane structures, which mechanical connection structure is mechanically coupled between the first and second membrane structures and is mechanically decoupled from the cou
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Marc Fueldner, Stefan Barzen, Alfons Dehe, Gunar Lorenz
  • Patent number: 10171925
    Abstract: A MEMS device includes a backplate electrode and a membrane disposed spaced apart from the backplate electrode. The membrane includes a displaceable portion and a fixed portion. The backplate electrode and the membrane are arranged such that an overlapping area of the fixed portion of the membrane with the backplate electrode is less than maximum overlapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Alfons Dehe, Stefan Barzen
  • Publication number: 20180262844
    Abstract: An MEMS sound transducer comprises a first and a second backplate, as well as a diaphragm, which is arranged between the first and the second backplate and is held by an edge fastening between the first and the second backplate. The MEMS sound transducer comprises a clamping structure, which is configured to provide fixing for the diaphragm when an electrostatic force acting in an operating state is applied between the first and the second backplate and at a distance from the edge fastening, and to release the fixing in absence of the electrostatic force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventor: Stefan Barzen
  • Publication number: 20180262843
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a MEMS transducer includes a stator, a rotor spaced apart from the stator, and a multi-electrode structure including electrodes with different polarities. The multi-electrode structure is formed on one of the rotor and the stator and is configured to generate a repulsive electrostatic force between the stator and the rotor. Other embodiments include corresponding systems and apparatus, each configured to perform corresponding embodiment methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventor: Stefan Barzen
  • Patent number: 10034100
    Abstract: A sound transducer structure includes a membrane and a counter electrode. The membrane includes a first main surface in a sound transducing region made of a membrane material, and an edge region. The counter electrode includes a second main surface arranged in parallel to the first main surface of the membrane on a side of a free volume opposite the first main surface of the membrane. A plurality of elevations extend in the sound transducing region from the second main surface of the counter electrode into the free volume. The membrane and the counter electrode are arranged to provide a capacity therebetween. The membrane comprises a corrugation groove extending in the sound transducing region from the first main surface of the membrane into the free volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Alfons Dehe, Stefan Barzen, Marc Fueldner
  • Publication number: 20180170745
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is proposed. The semiconductor device comprises a membrane structure having an opening. Furthermore, the semiconductor device comprises a first backplate structure, which is arranged on a first side of the membrane structure, and a second backplate structure, which is arranged on a second side of the membrane structure. The semiconductor device furthermore comprises a vertical connection structure, which connects the first backplate structure to the second backplate structure. In this case, the vertical connection structure extends through the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Stefan Barzen, Wolfgang Friza, Marc Fueldner
  • Patent number: 10003889
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a MEMS transducer includes a stator, a rotor spaced apart from the stator, and a multi-electrode structure including electrodes with different polarities. The multi-electrode structure is formed on one of the rotor and the stator and is configured to generate a repulsive electrostatic force between the stator and the rotor. Other embodiments include corresponding systems and apparatus, each configured to perform corresponding embodiment methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventor: Stefan Barzen