Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Franke

Thomas A. Franke 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: 11961879
    Abstract: An IC includes a substrate including circuitry configured to provide a receiver or a transmitter circuit. A metal stack is over the semiconductor surface including a top metal layer and a plurality of lower metal layers. An isolation capacitor includes the top metal layer as a top plate that is electrically connected to a first node; and a top dielectric layer on the top plate with a top plate dielectric aperture. One of the plurality of lower metal layers provides a bottom plate that includes a plurality of spaced apart segments. A capacitor dielectric layer is between the top and bottom plate. The segments include a first segment electrically connected to a second node and at least a second segment electrically connected to a third node, with separation regions located between adjacent spaced apart segments. The top plate covers at least a portion of each of the separation regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jeffrey West, Mrinal Das, Byron Williams, Thomas Bonifield, Maxim Franke
  • Publication number: 20240116077
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for producing a multi-layer coating on a substrate including the steps of (i) forming a primer coat layer (P) on a substrate, (ii) forming a silver metal layer (S) onto the surface of the coating layer (P); and (iii) forming one or more clear top coat layers (T) onto the surface of the silver metal layer (S), where the primer coat layer contains one or more particulate components selected from the group consisting of matting agents and structuring agents and where the silver metal layer (S) is formed by reductive deposition from an aqueous alkaline ammoniac solution containing a soluble silver salt, by use of a reducing agent. Further disclosed herein are multi-layer coated substrates obtainable according to the above method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Hendrik Franke, Thomas Koehler
  • Patent number: 11579727
    Abstract: An input device is described which comprises a touch-sensitive surface and a force sensor, wherein the force sensor is adapted to detect a force applied to the touch-sensitive surface. The input device further comprises a vibration sensor and a control unit, wherein the control unit is coupled with the force sensor, the touch-sensitive surface and the vibration sensor. The control unit is adapted to validate a force detected by the force sensor as an input in dependence on a touch of the touch-sensitive surface and in dependence on a vibration detected by the vibration sensor. There is further described a motor vehicle which comprises such an input device. A method of detecting an input at an input device is further described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: E.SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Franke, Thomas Fuessinger, Michael Beck
  • Patent number: 11559806
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the manipulation of species using acoustic waves such as surface acoustic waves. In some aspects, a channel such as a microfluidic channel may be provided having two or more outlets, and acoustic waves applied to species within the channel to determine which outlet the species is directed to. For instance, surface acoustic waves may be applied to a species such as a cell or a particle to deflect it from the channel into a groove or other portion that directs it to a different outlet. In some cases, surprisingly, this deflection of species may be in a different direction than the incident acoustic waves on the channel. Other embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to kits including such systems, techniques for producing such systems, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: David A. Weitz, Warren Lloyd Ung, Thomas Franke
  • Publication number: 20220212194
    Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention relate to the control and manipulation of fluidic species, for example, in microfluidic systems. In one set of embodiments, droplets may be sorted using surface acoustic waves. The droplets may contain cells or other species. In some cases, the surface acoustic waves may be created using a surface acoustic wave generator such as an interdigitated transducer, and/or a material such as a piezoelectric substrate. The piezoelectric substrate may be isolated front the microfluidic substrate except at or proximate the location where the droplets arc sorted, e.g., into first or second microfluidic channels. At such locations, the microfluidic substrate may be coupled to the piezoelectric substrate (or other material) by one or more coupling regions. In some cases, relatively high sorting rates may be achieved, e.g., at rates of at least about 1,000 Hz, at least about 10,000 Hz, or at least about 100,000 Hz, and in some embodiments, with high cell viability after sorting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Applicants: President and Fellows of Harvard College, Universität Augsburg
    Inventors: David A. Weitz, Thomas Franke, Achim Wixforth, Lothar Schmid, Jeremy Agresti, Adam R. Abate
  • Patent number: 11229911
    Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention relate to the control and manipulation of fluidic species, for example, in microfluidic systems. In one set of embodiments, droplets may be sorted using surface acoustic waves. The droplets may contain cells or other species. In some cases, the surface acoustic waves may be created using a surface acoustic wave generator such as an interdigitated transducer, and/or a material such as a piezoelectric substrate. The piezoelectric substrate may be isolated from the microfluidic substrate except at or proximate the location where the droplets are sorted, e.g., into first or second microfluidic channels. At such locations, the microfluidic substrate may be coupled to the piezoelectric substrate (or other material) by one or more coupling regions. In some cases, relatively high sorting rates may be achieved, e.g., at rates of at least about 1,000 Hz, at least about 10,000 Hz, or at least about 100,000 Hz, and in some embodiments, with high cell viability after sorting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignees: President and Fellows of Harvard College, Universität Augsburg
    Inventors: David A. Weitz, Thomas Franke, Achim Wixforth, Lothar Schmid, Jeremy Agresti, Adam R. Abate
  • Publication number: 20210325995
    Abstract: An input device is described which comprises a touch-sensitive surface and a force sensor, wherein the force sensor is adapted to detect a force applied to the touch-sensitive surface. The input device further comprises a vibration sensor and a control unit, wherein the control unit is coupled with the force sensor, the touch-sensitive surface and the vibration sensor. The control unit is adapted to validate a force detected by the force sensor as an input in dependence on a touch of the touch-sensitive surface and in dependence on a vibration detected by the vibration sensor. There is further described a motor vehicle which comprises such an input device. A method of detecting an input at an input device is further described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: THOMAS FRANKE, THOMAS FUESSINGER, MICHAEL BECK
  • Patent number: 11073943
    Abstract: An input device is described which comprises a touch-sensitive surface and a force sensor, wherein the force sensor is adapted to detect a force applied to the touch-sensitive surface. The input device further comprises a vibration sensor and a control unit, wherein the control unit is coupled with the force sensor, the touch-sensitive surface and the vibration sensor. The control unit is adapted to validate a force detected by the force sensor as an input in dependence on a touch of the touch-sensitive surface and in dependence on a vibration detected by the vibration sensor. There is further described a motor vehicle which comprises such an input device. A method of detecting an input at an input device is further described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: E.SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Franke, Thomas Fuessinger, Michael Beck
  • Publication number: 20200125211
    Abstract: An input device is described which comprises a touch-sensitive surface and a force sensor, wherein the force sensor is adapted to detect a force applied to the touch-sensitive surface. The input device further comprises a vibration sensor and a control unit, wherein the control unit is coupled with the force sensor, the touch-sensitive surface and the vibration sensor. The control unit is adapted to validate a force detected by the force sensor as an input in dependence on a touch of the touch-sensitive surface and in dependence on a vibration detected by the vibration sensor. There is further described a motor vehicle which comprises such an input device. A method of detecting an input at an input device is further described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: THOMAS FRANKE, THOMAS FUESSINGER, MICHAEL BECK
  • Patent number: 10570361
    Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention relate to the control and manipulation of fluidic species, for example, in microfluidic systems. In one set of embodiments, droplets may be sorted using surface acoustic waves. The droplets may contain cells or other species. In some cases, the surface acoustic waves may be created using a surface acoustic wave generator such as an interdigitated transducer, and/or a material such as a piezoelectric substrate. The piezoelectric substrate may be isolated from the microfluidic substrate except at or proximate the location where the droplets are sorted, e.g., into first or second microfluidic channels. At such locations, the microfluidic substrate may be coupled to the piezoelectric substrate (or other material) by one or more coupling regions. In some cases, relatively high sorting rates may be achieved, e.g., at rates of at least about 1,000 Hz, at least about 10,000 Hz, or at least about 100,000 Hz, and in some embodiments, with high cell viability after sorting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignees: President and Fellows of Harvard College, Universität Augsburg
    Inventors: David A. Weitz, Thomas Franke, Achim Wixforth, Lothar Schmid, Jeremy Agresti, Adam R. Abate
  • Patent number: 10545613
    Abstract: An input device is described which comprises a touch-sensitive surface and a force sensor, wherein the force sensor is adapted to detect a force applied to the touch-sensitive surface. The input device further comprises a vibration sensor and a control unit, wherein the control unit is coupled with the force sensor, the touch-sensitive surface and the vibration sensor. The control unit is adapted to validate a force detected by the force sensor as an input in dependence on a touch of the touch-sensitive surface and in dependence on a vibration detected by the vibration sensor. There is further described a motor vehicle which comprises such an input device. A method of detecting an input at an input device is further described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: E.SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Franke, Thomas Fuessinger, Michael Beck
  • Patent number: 10354614
    Abstract: A display color management device includes instructions to access color profile data for each display device of a set of display devices. The color profile data is indicative of a relationship between digital color values input into a respective display device and associated physical color values displayed by the respective display device. The color profile data is representative of a color gamut of the respective display device. An overlap color gamut is determined as an overlap of all color gamuts of the set of display devices based on the color profile data. Conversion information for each display device of the set of display devices is determined based on the color profile data and based on the overlap color gamut, wherein the conversion information is configured to convert an input digital color value to dedicated output digital color values for two or more of the display devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: E.SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Christmann, Thomas Franke
  • Patent number: 10354597
    Abstract: An optical device is described. The device has a sensor having a light incident side, wherein the sensor is designed to convert light that is incident upon the light incident side into an electrical signal. In one embodiment, the device further has at least one lens and a liquid crystal device which is arranged in front of the light incident side of the sensor in such a manner that the at least one lens is situated between the liquid crystal device and the sensor, wherein the liquid crystal device comprises at least one region whose light transmission is electronically controllable. There are further described an electronic device, a method of controlling an optical device, and a computer program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: e.solutions GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Christmann, Thomas Franke
  • Publication number: 20190211293
    Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention relate to the control and manipulation of fluidic species, for example, in microfluidic systems. In one set of embodiments, droplets may be sorted using surface acoustic waves. The droplets may contain cells or other species. In some cases, the surface acoustic waves may be created using a surface acoustic wave generator such as an interdigitated transducer, and/or a material such as a piezoelectric substrate. The piezoelectric substrate may be isolated from the microfluidic substrate except at or proximate the location where the droplets are sorted, e.g., into first or second microfluidic channels. At such locations, the microfluidic substrate may be coupled to the piezoelectric substrate (or other material) by one or more coupling regions. In some cases, relatively high sorting rates may be achieved, e.g., at rates of at least about 1,000 Hz, at least about 10,000 Hz, or at least about 100,000 Hz, and in some embodiments, with high cell viability after sorting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Applicants: President and Fellows of Harvard College, Universität Augsburg
    Inventors: David A. Weitz, Thomas Franke, Achim Wixforth, Lothar Schmid, Jeremy Agresti, Adam R. Abate
  • Patent number: 10258987
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the manipulation of fluids using acoustic waves such as surface acoustic waves. In some aspects, one fluid may be introduced into another fluid via application of suitable acoustic waves. For example, a fluid may be added or injected into another fluid by applying acoustic waves where, in the absence of the acoustic waves, the fluid cannot be added or injected, e.g., due to the interface or surface tension between the fluids. Thus, for example, a fluid may be injected into a droplet of another fluid. Other embodiments of the invention are generally directed to systems and methods for making or using such systems, kits involving such systems, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignees: President and Fellows of Harvard College, The University Court of the University of Glasgow
    Inventors: David A. Weitz, Thomas Franke
  • Patent number: 10222861
    Abstract: A touch-sensitive device with haptic feedback is described. In one embodiment, the device comprises a layer sequence which has a translucent cover element with an upper side and a touch-sensitive arrangement which is arranged on a side of the cover element lying opposite the upper side and is designed to detect contact with the upper side of the cover element. In the embodiment, the device comprises at least one first actuator which is designed to transmit a movement impulse to the layer sequence in such a way that a haptically detectable movement of the cover element is brought about, and a second actuator which is designed to generate electrostatic signals which can be detected haptically at the cover element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: E.SOLUTIONS GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Franke, Thomas Fuessinger, Juergen Joos, Stefan Christmann, Jens Bartels
  • Patent number: 10131418
    Abstract: A flow body for an aircraft with a leading edge and a trailing edge includes a first spar, a second spar, and an external skin that spans from the leading edge to the trailing edge and on both sides rests on the spars. At least one of the first spar and the second spar includes a web and two spaced-apart flanges that enclose the web, on which flanges the skin that spans the respective spar is arranged. At least one of the first spar and the second spar includes at least one load introduction fin that forms an integral component with the web and extends outwards by way of one of the flanges and the skin that rests on the spars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Seack, Tamas Havar, Mirko Missbach, Thomas Franke
  • Patent number: 10122142
    Abstract: A substrate for an electric flat cable is disclosed that includes an inner limb, having a first and a second portion spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal extent of the inner limb, at least one outer limb, having a first and a second portion spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal extent of the outer limb, and a connecting web, which extends so as to adjoin the first portions of the inner and the at least one outer limb. The inner limb extends at least substantially parallel to the outer limb, in a first direction. The second portion of the outer limb surrounds the second portion of the inner limb, at least partially, such that at least a cart of the second portion of the outer limb is disposed in the first direction in respect of the second portion of the inner limb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: E.SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Franke, Michael Himmel
  • Publication number: 20180257076
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the manipulation of species using acoustic waves such as surface acoustic waves. In some aspects, a channel such as a microfluidic channel may be provided having two or more outlets, and acoustic waves applied to species within the channel to determine which outlet the species is directed to. For instance, surface acoustic waves may be applied to a species such as a cell or a particle to deflect it from the channel into a groove or other portion that directs it to a different outlet. In some cases, surprisingly, this deflection of species may be in a different direction than the incident acoustic waves on the channel. Other embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to kits including such systems, techniques for producing such systems, or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicant: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: David A. Weitz, Warren Lloyd Ung, Thomas Franke
  • Patent number: 10064487
    Abstract: A pull-out guide for furniture parts that can be moved in relation to each other includes at least two pull-out rails, each having at least one running surface, between which at least one first rolling element and at least one second rolling element are arranged. The rolling elements may be rotatably retained in at least one rolling-element cage. The at least one first rolling element and the at least one second rolling element of the rolling-element cage have an identical nominal diameter. The pull-out guide is distinguished in that at least one of the running surfaces has a free-running segment in which the at least one first rolling element is positioned in a retracted state of the pull-out guide, the running surfaces having a greater distance from each other inside the free-running segment than outside the free-running segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: PAUL HETTICH GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Käthler, Steffen Jaekel, Thomas Franke, Janine Mertens, Reinhard Büscher