Patents by Inventor Stephan Heimgartner

Stephan Heimgartner 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: 10741613
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes optical element stack assemblies that include multiple substrates stacked one over another. At least one of the substrates includes an optical element, such as a DOE, on its surface. The stack assemblies can be fabricated, for example, in wafer-level processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: ams Sensors Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Stephan Heimgartner, Alexander Bietsch, Peter Riel
  • Patent number: 10444477
    Abstract: The wafer stack (100) comprises a first wafer (OW1) referred to as optics wafer and a second wafer (SW) referred to as spacer wafer, said optics wafer (OW1) having manufacturing irregularities. The spacer wafer (SW) is structured such that it at least partially compensates for said manufacturing irregularities. The corresponding method for manufacturing a device, which in particular can be an optical device, comprises carrying out a correction step for at least partially compensating for manufacturing irregularities. Such a correction step comprises providing a wafer (SW) referred to as spacer wafer, wherein that spacer wafer is structured for at least partially compensating for said manufacturing irregularities. Those manufacturing irregularities may comprise a deviation from a nominal value, e.g., a irregularities in focal length. The invention can allow to mass produce high-precision devices at a high yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: AMS SENSORS SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Hartmut Rudmann, Matthias Maluck, Alexander Bietsch, Peter Roentgen, Stephan Heimgartner
  • Patent number: 10437005
    Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, an apparatus comprising a beam shaping element (lens) is provided. The apparatus comprises a substrate; a beam shaping element; and an elastic intermediate layer disposed between, and in contact with, the substrate and the beam shaping element, wherein the elastic intermediate layer has a Young's Modulus in a range of 2-600 MPa and a Poisson's ratio in a range of 0.2-0.5. Techniques for reducing thermal distortion of lens are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: AMS SENSORS SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Markus Rossi, Stephan Heimgartner
  • Patent number: 10373996
    Abstract: Fabricating optical devices can include mounting a plurality of singulated lens systems over a substrate, adjusting a thickness of the substrate below at least some of the lens systems to provide respective focal length corrections for the lens systems, and subsequently separating the substrate into a plurality of optical modules, each of which includes one of the lens systems mounted over a portion of the substrate. Adjusting a thickness of the substrate can include, for example, micro-machining the substrate to form respective holes below at least some of the lens systems or adding one or more layers below at least some of the lens systems so as to correct for variations in the focal lengths of the lens systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: ams Sensors Singapore Pte. Ltd
    Inventors: Stephan Heimgartner, Ville Kettunen, Nicola Spring, Alexander Bietsch, Mario Cesana, Hartmut Rudmann, Jukka Alasirnio, Robert Lenart
  • Patent number: 10236314
    Abstract: The optical device comprises a first substrate comprising at least one optical structure comprising a main portion and a surrounding portion at least partially surrounding said main portion. The device furthermore comprises non-transparent material applied onto said surrounding portion. The opto-electronic module comprises a plurality of these optical devices comprised in said first substrate. The method for manufacturing an optical device comprises the steps of a) providing a first substrate comprising at least one optical structure comprising a main portion and a surrounding portion at least partially surrounding said main portion; and b) applying a non-transparent material onto at least said surrounding portion. Said non-transparent material is present on at least said surrounding portion still in the finished optical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: ams Sensors Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Markus Rossi, Hartmut Rudmann, Stephan Heimgartner, Alexander Bietsch, Robert Lenart
  • Patent number: 10199426
    Abstract: Various optoelectronic modules are described that include an optoelectronic device (e.g., a light emitting or light detecting element) and a transparent cover. Non-transparent material is provided on the sidewalls of the transparent cover, which, in some implementations, can help reduce light leakage from the sides of the transparent cover or can help prevent stray light from entering the module. Fabrication techniques for making the modules also are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Heptagon Micro Optics Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Hartmut Rudmann, Simon Gubser, Susanne Westenhöfer, Stephan Heimgartner, Jens Geiger, Sonja Hanselmann, Christoph Friese, Xu Yi, Thng Chong Kim, John A. Vidallon, Ji Wang, Qi Chuan Yu, Kam Wah Leong
  • Patent number: 10186540
    Abstract: Optoelectronic modules include an optoelectronic device and a transparent cover. A non-transparent material is provided on the sidewalls of the transparent cover, which can help reduce light leakage from the sides of the transparent cover or can help reduce stray light from entering the module. The modules can be fabricated, for example, in wafer-level processes. In some implementations, openings such as trenches are formed in a transparent wafer. The trenches then can be filled with a non-transparent material using, for example, a vacuum injection tool. When a wafer-stack including the trench-filled transparent wafer subsequently is separated into individual modules, the result is that each module can include a transparent cover having sidewalls that are covered by the non-transparent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Heptagon Micro Optics Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Hartmut Rudmann, Simon Gubser, Susanne Westenhöfer, Stephan Heimgartner, Jens Geiger, Xu Yi, Thng Chong Kim, John A. Vidallon, Ji Wang, Qi Chuan Yu, Kam Wah Leong
  • Patent number: 10101555
    Abstract: Camera modules include a lens, a lens stack and/or an array of lenses. One or more of the lenses have a non-circular shape, which in some cases can provide greater flexibility in the dimensions of the module and can result in a very small camera module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Heptagon Micro Optics Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jukka Alasirnio, Hartmut Rudmann, Mario Cesana, Stephan Heimgartner
  • Patent number: 10096644
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing one or more optical devices, each comprising a first member and a second member, and a spacer arranged between the first and second members. The method includes manufacturing a spacer wafer including a multitude of the spacers. Manufacturing the spacer wafer includes providing a replication tool having spacer replication sections; bringing the replication tool in contact with a first surface of another wafer; bringing a vacuum sealing chuck into contact with a second surface of the other wafer while the other wafer remains in contact with the replication tool; and injecting a liquid, viscous or plastically deformable material through an inlet of the vacuum sealing chuck so as to substantially fill the spacer replication sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Heptagon Micro Optics Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Stephan Heimgartner, Alexander Bietsch, Hartmut Rudmann, Markus Rossi, Simon Gubser
  • Patent number: 9977153
    Abstract: Various stacks of arrays of beam shaping elements are described. Each array of beam shaping elements can be formed, for example, as part of a monolithic piece that includes a body portion as well as the beam shaping elements. In some implementations, the monolithic pieces may be formed, for example, as integrally formed molded pieces. The monolithic pieces can include one or more features to facilitate stacking, aligning and/or centering of the arrays with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Heptagon Micro Optics Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Hartmut Rudmann, Markus Rossi, Mario Cesana, Ohad Meitav, Peter Roentgen, Jukka Alasirniö, Stephan Heimgartner, Kai Engelhardt
  • Publication number: 20180102394
    Abstract: Various optoelectronic modules are described that include an optoelectronic device (e.g., a light emitting or light detecting element) and a transparent cover. Non-transparent material is provided on the sidewalls of the transparent cover, which, in some implementations, can help reduce light leakage from the sides of the transparent cover or can help prevent stray light from entering the module. Fabrication techniques for making the modules also are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Applicant: Heptagon Micro Optics Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Hartmut Rudmann, Simon Gubser, Susanne Westenhöfer, Stephan Heimgartner, Jens Geiger, Sonja Hanselmann, Christoph Friese, Xu Yi, Thng Chong Kim, John A. Vidallon, Ji Wang, Qi Chuan Yu, Kam Wah Leong
  • Patent number: 9899251
    Abstract: Techniques are described for holding a wafer or wafer sub-stack to facilitate further processing of the wafer of sub-stack. In some implementations, a wafer or wafer sub-stack is held by a vacuum chuck in a manner that can help reduce bending of the wafer or wafer sub-stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Heptagon Micro Optics Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Hartmut Rudmann, Stephan Heimgartner, John A. Vidallon
  • Publication number: 20180005864
    Abstract: Techniques are described for holding a wafer or wafer sub-stack to facilitate further processing of the wafer of sub-stack. In some implementations, a wafer or wafer sub-stack is held by a vacuum chuck in a manner that can help reduce bending of the wafer or wafer sub-stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Applicant: Heptagon Micro Optics Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Hartmut Rudmann, Stephan Heimgartner, John A. Vidallon
  • Patent number: 9859327
    Abstract: Various optoelectronic modules are described that include an optoelectronic device (e.g., a light emitting or light detecting element) and a transparent cover. Non-transparent material is provided on the sidewalls of the transparent cover, which, in some implementations, can help reduce light leakage from the sides of the transparent cover or can help prevent stray light from entering the module. Fabrication techniques for making the modules also are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Heptagon Micro Optics Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Hartmut Rudmann, Simon Gubser, Susanne Westenhöfer, Stephan Heimgartner, Jens Geiger, Sonja Hanselmann, Christoph Friese, Xu Yi, Thng Chong Kim, John A. Vidallon, Ji Wang, Qi Chuan Yu, Kam Wah Leong
  • Patent number: 9826131
    Abstract: Compact camera module can include auxiliary spacers to facilitate use of dam-and-fill encapsulation techniques. An encapsulant disposed on side edges of the auxiliary spacer can close off a gap between the auxiliary spacer and a support on which an image sensor is mounted so as to substantially seal off an area in which bond wires or other components are located. In some cases, the thickness of a transmissive substrate in the module can be reduced near its periphery to provide more head room for the bond wires, which can result in a smaller overall footprint for the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Heptagon Micro Optics Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jukka Alasirniö, Stephan Heimgartner
  • Publication number: 20170317126
    Abstract: Fabricating optical devices can include mounting a plurality of singulated lens systems over a substrate, adjusting a thickness of the substrate below at least some of the lens systems to provide respective focal length corrections for the lens systems, and subsequently separating the substrate into a plurality of optical modules, each of which includes one of the lens systems mounted over a portion of the substrate. Adjusting a thickness of the substrate can include, for example, micro-machining the substrate to form respective holes below at least some of the lens systems or adding one or more layers below at least some of the lens systems so as to correct for variations in the focal lengths of the lens systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Applicant: Heptagon Micro Optics Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Stephan Heimgartner, Ville Kettunen, Nicola Spring, Alexander Bietsch, Mario Cesana, Hartmut Rudmann, Jukka Alasirnio, Robert Lenart
  • Publication number: 20170309685
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes optical element stack assemblies that include multiple substrates stacked one over another. At least one of the substrates includes an optical element, such as a DOE, on its surface. The stack assemblies can be fabricated, for example, in wafer-level processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Stephan Heimgartner, Alexander Bietsch, Peter Riel
  • Patent number: 9793152
    Abstract: Techniques are described for holding a wafer or wafer sub-stack to facilitate further processing of the wafer of sub-stack. In some implementations, a wafer or wafer sub-stack is held by a vacuum chuck in a manner that can help reduce bending of the wafer or wafer sub-stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Heptagon Micro Optics Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Hartmut Rudmann, Stephan Heimgartner, John A. Vidallon
  • Patent number: 9748297
    Abstract: Fabricating optical devices can include mounting a plurality of singulated lens systems over a substrate, adjusting a thickness of the substrate below at least some of the lens systems to provide respective focal length corrections for the lens systems, and subsequently separating the substrate into a plurality of optical modules, each of which includes one of the lens systems mounted over a portion of the substrate. Adjusting a thickness of the substrate can include, for example, micro-machining the substrate to form respective holes below at least some of the lens systems or adding one or more layers below at least some of the lens systems so as to correct for variations in the focal lengths of the lens systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Heptagon Micro Optics Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Stephan Heimgartner, Ville Kettunen, Nicola Spring, Alexander Bietsch, Mario Cesana, Hartmut Rudmann, Jukka Alasirnio, Robert Lenart
  • Publication number: 20170221961
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing one or more optical devices, each comprising a first member and a second member, and a spacer arranged between the first and second members. The method includes manufacturing a spacer wafer including a multitude of the spacers. Manufacturing the spacer wafer includes providing a replication tool having spacer replication sections; bringing the replication tool in contact with a first surface of another wafer; bringing a vacuum sealing chuck into contact with a second surface of the other wafer while the other wafer remains in contact with the replication tool; and injecting a liquid, viscous or plastically deformable material through an inlet of the vacuum sealing chuck so as to substantially fill the spacer replication sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: Heptagon Micro Optics Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Stephan Heimgartner, Alexander Bietsch, Hartmut Rudmann, Markus Rossi, Simon Gubser