Patents by Inventor Steffen Kurth

Steffen Kurth 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: 8610520
    Abstract: An electrostatically actuated micro-mechanical switching device with movable elements formed in the bulk of a substrate for closing and releasing at least one Ohmic contact by a horizontal movement of the movable elements in a plane of the substrate. The switching device has a drive with comb-shaped electrodes including fixed driving electrodes and movable electrodes. A movable push rod is mechanically connected with the movable electrodes, extends through the electrodes, has a movable contact element at one side, and at least one restoring spring. A signal line has two parts interrupted by a gap. The micro-mechanical switching device is in shunt-configuration with low loss, high isolation in a wide frequency range, low switching time at low actuation voltage and sufficient reliability. The line impedance of the signal line and its variation is as small as possible. The switching device is in shunt-configuration for closing and releasing the Ohmic contact between a ground line and the signal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignees: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V., Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Joerg Froemel, Thomas Gessner, Christian Kaufmann, Stefan Leidich, Markus Nowack, Steffen Kurth, Andreas Bertz, Koichi Ikeda, Akira Akiba
  • Patent number: 8186225
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor element for pressure measurement, having a substrate (5) and at least one mass element (1), which is arranged spaced apart from the substrate (5) and is connected in an oscillating manner to the substrate (5) and/or a support body (6) fixed relative to the substrate (5), so that a gap is formed between the mass element (1) and the substrate (5), the width of which can be varied through oscillations of the mass element (1). At least one recess and/or at least one bushing (4) is located in the surface of the substrate (5) delimiting the gap, which recess is used for reducing the damping of the oscillation of the mass element through the gas or plasma surrounding the mass element (1). The sensor element is used in particular in pressure sensors for measuring pressures in the vacuum range. Through the use of the sensor element according to the invention as a pressure sensor, maximum pressures up to the range of atmospheric air pressure can be recorded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignees: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V., Technische Univeristaet Chemnitz
    Inventors: Steffen Kurth, Dirk Tenholte, Karla Hiller, Christian Kaufmann, Thomas Gessner, Wolfram Doetzel
  • Publication number: 20110303515
    Abstract: An electrostatically actuated micro-mechanical switching device with movable elements formed in the bulk of a substrate for closing and releasing at least one Ohmic contact by a horizontal movement of the movable elements in a plane of the substrate. The switching device has a drive with comb-shaped electrodes including fixed driving electrodes and movable electrodes. A movable push rod is mechanically connected with the movable electrodes, extends through the electrodes, has a movable contact element at one side, and at least one restoring spring. A signal line has two parts interrupted by a gap. The micro-mechanical switching device is in shunt-configuration with low loss, high isolation in a wide frequency range, low switching time at low actuation voltage and sufficient reliability. The line impedance of the signal line and its variation is as small as possible. The switching device is in shunt-configuration for closing and releasing the Ohmic contact between a ground line and the signal line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicants: SONY CORPORATION, Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: JÖERG FRÖEMEL, THOMAS GESSNER, CHRISTIAN KAUFMANN, STEFAN LEIDICH, MARKUS NOWACK, STEFFEN KURTH, ANDREAS BERTZ, KOICHI IKEDA, AKIRA AKIBA
  • Publication number: 20100024562
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor element for pressure measurement, having a substrate (5) and at least one mass element (1), which is arranged spaced apart from the substrate (5) and is connected in an oscillating manner to the substrate (5) and/or a support body (6) fixed relative to the substrate (5), so that a gap is formed between the mass element (1) and the substrate (5), the width of which can be varied through oscillations of the mass element (1). At least one recess and/or at least one bushing (4) is located in the surface of the substrate (5) delimiting the gap, which recess is used for reducing the damping of the oscillation of the mass element through the gas or plasma surrounding the mass element (1). The sensor element is used in particular in pressure sensors for measuring pressures in the vacuum range. Through the use of the sensor element according to the invention as a pressure sensor, maximum pressures up to the range of atmospheric air pressure can be recorded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.,
    Inventors: Steffen Kurth, Dirk Tenholte, Karla Hiller, Christian Kaufmann, Thomas Gessner, Wolfram Doetzel