Patents by Inventor Thor Bakke

Thor Bakke 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: 11240607
    Abstract: An optical microphone assembly comprises a rigid substrate; an interferometric arrangement, a light source, at least one photo detector and an enclosure. The interferometric arrangement comprises a membrane and at least one optical element spaced from the membrane, wherein the at least one optical element comprises a surface of the substrate and/or is disposed on a surface of the substrate. The light source is arranged to provide light to the interferometric arrangement such that a first portion of the light propagates along a first optical path via the interferometric arrangement and a second portion of the light propagates along a second different optical path via the interferometric arrangement, thereby giving rise to an optical path difference between the first and second optical paths which depends on a distance between the membrane and the optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: SINTEF TTO AS
    Inventors: Hallvard Angelskår, Thor Bakke, Ib-Rune Johansen, Matthieu Lacolle, Jakob Vennerød, Andreas Vogl, Dag Wang
  • Publication number: 20210274291
    Abstract: An optical microphone assembly comprises a rigid substrate; an interferometric arrangement, a light source, at least one photo detector and an enclosure. The interferometric arrangement comprises a membrane and at least one optical element spaced from the membrane, wherein the at least one optical element comprises a surface of the substrate and/or is disposed on a surface of the substrate. The light source is arranged to provide light to the interferometric arrangement such that a first portion of the light propagates along a first optical path via the interferometric arrangement and a second portion of the light propagates along a second different optical path via the interferometric arrangement, thereby giving rise to an optical path difference between the first and second optical paths which depends on a distance between the membrane and the optical element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Hallvard Angelskår, Thor Bakke, Ib-Rune Johansen, Matthieu Lacolle, Jakob Vennerød, Andreas Vogl, Dag Wang
  • Patent number: 10677653
    Abstract: This invention relates to a source for emitting radiation in the infrared range comprising a thin membrane including a radiation element made from a semi-conductive material having a chosen dopant, the radiation element being connected to a frame, the frame comprising connector means for connecting to a power source for conducting an electrical current through the substrate, the radiation element being provided with a periodic modulation of the refractive index constituting a photonic crystal having a chosen period, thus defining an optical resonator at one or more chosen wavelengths, and wherein the membrane is mounted to the substrate through a number of conductor beams distributed along the membrane circumference so as to provide an even current distribution and thus even heating over the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: SINTEF TTO AS
    Inventors: Jo Gjessing, Jon Olav Grepstad, Hallvard Angelskår, Aasmund Sudbø, Thor Bakke, Zeljko Skokic
  • Patent number: 10670622
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a displacement sensor device and the system including the device, wherein the device comprises a first at least partially transparent plane surface with a first diffraction pattern and a second plane surface comprising a second reflecting diffraction pattern. The diffractive patterns being adapted to diffract light within a chosen range of wavelengths, the second surface being positioned below and parallel to the first surface constituting a pair wherein said first and second diffractive patterns being essentially equal, the device also comprising displacement means for allowing a movement in a direction parallel to said surfaces, the device thus providing a movement sensitive diffraction pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventors: Ib-Rune Johansen, Matthieu Lacolle, Thor Bakke, Andreas Vogl, Dag Thorstein Wang, Sverre Knudsen, Odd Løvhaugen, Hallvard Angelskår, Zeljko Skokic
  • Patent number: 10514249
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical displacement sensor comprising a first at least partially reflective surface and a second surface having a diffractive pattern, the surfaces being provided on elements having a variable distance between them, each surface pair defining a cavity between them. The sensor also comprising at least one light source transmitting light at least one a chosen wavelength range into said cavities and at least one light detector receiving light from the cavities, wherein said diffractive patterns are adapted to direct light toward at least one detector provided in a known position relative to said diffractive surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Sintef TTO AS
    Inventors: Matthieu Lacolle, Ib-Rune Johansen, Thor Bakke, Ole-Herman Bjor
  • Publication number: 20190154726
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a displacement sensor device and the system including the device, wherein the device comprises a first at least partially transparent plane surface with a first diffraction pattern and a second plane surface comprising a second reflecting diffraction pattern. The diffractive patterns being adapted to diffract light within a chosen range of wavelengths, the second surface being positioned below and parallel to the first surface constituting a pair wherein said first and second diffractive patterns being essentially equal, the device also comprising displacement means for allowing a movement in a direction parallel to said surfaces, the device thus providing a movement sensitive diffraction pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventors: Ib-Rune Johansen, Matthieu Lacolle, Thor Bakke, Andreas Vogl, Dag Thorstein Wang, Sverre Knudsen, Odd Løvhaugen, Hallvard Angelskår, Zeljko Skokic
  • Publication number: 20190107386
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical displacement sensor comprising a first at least partially reflective surface and a second surface having a diffractive pattern, the surfaces being provided on elements having a variable distance between them, each surface pair defining a cavity between them. The sensor also comprising at least one light source transmitting light at least one a chosen wavelength range into said cavities and at least one light detector receiving light from the cavities, wherein said diffractive patterns are adapted to direct light toward at least one detector provided in a known position relative to said diffractive surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Applicant: SINTEF TTO AS
    Inventors: Matthieu LACOLLE, Ib-Rune JOHANSEN, Thor BAKKE, Ole-Herman BJOR
  • Patent number: 10197589
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a displacement sensor device and the system including the device, wherein the device comprises a first at least partially transparent plane surface with a first diffraction pattern and a second plane surface comprising a second reflecting diffraction pattern. The diffractive patterns being adapted to diffract light within a chosen range of wavelengths, the second surface being positioned below and parallel to the first surface constituting a pair wherein said first and second diffractive patterns being essentially equal, the device also comprising displacement means for allowing a movement in a direction parallel to said surfaces, the device thus providing a movement sensitive diffraction pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventors: Ib-Rune Johansen, Matthieu Lacolle, Thor Bakke, Andreas Vogl, Dag Thorstein Wang, Sverre Knudsen, Odd Løvhaugen, Hallvard Angelskår, Zeljko Skokic
  • Patent number: 10190870
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical displacement sensor comprising a first at least partially reflective surface and a second surface having a diffractive pattern, the surfaces being provided on elements having a variable distance between them, each surface pair defining a cavity between them. The sensor also comprising at least one light source transmitting light at least one a chosen wavelength range into said cavities and at least one light detector receiving light from the cavities, wherein said diffractive patterns are adapted to direct light toward at least one detector provided in a known position relative to said diffractive surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Sintef TTO AS
    Inventors: Matthieu Lacolle, Ib-Rune Johansen, Thor Bakke, Ole-Herman Bjor
  • Publication number: 20180335345
    Abstract: This invention relates to a source for emitting radiation in the infrared range comprising a thin membrane including a radiation element made from a semi-conductive material having a chosen dopant, the radiation element being connected to a frame, the frame comprising connector means for connecting to a power source for conducting an electrical current through the substrate, the radiation element being provided with a periodic modulation of the refractive index constituting a photonic crystal having a chosen period, thus defining an optical resonator at one or more chosen wavelengths, and wherein the membrane is mounted to the substrate through a number of conductor beams distributed along the membrane circumference so as to provide an even current distribution and thus even heating over the membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Applicant: SINTEF TTO AS
    Inventors: Jo GJESSING, Jon Olav GREPSTAD, Hallvard ANGELSKÅR, Aasmund SUDBØ, Thor BAKKE, Zeljko SKOKIC
  • Publication number: 20170016931
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a displacement sensor device and the system including the device, wherein the device comprises a first at least partially transparent plane surface with a first diffraction pattern and a second plane surface comprising a second reflecting diffraction pattern. The diffractive patterns being adapted to diffract light within a chosen range of wavelengths, the second surface being positioned below and parallel to the first surface constituting a pair wherein said first and second diffractive patterns being essentially equal, the device also comprising displacement means for allowing u movement in a direction parallel to said surfaces, the device thus providing a movement sensitive diffraction pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Applicant: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventors: Ib-Rune Johansen, Matthieu Lacolle, Thor Bakke, Andreas Vogl, Dag Thorstein Wang, Sverre Knudsen, Odd Løvhaugen, Hallvard Angelskår, Zeljko Skokic
  • Publication number: 20160138906
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical displacement sensor comprising a first at least partially reflective surface and a second surface having a diffractive pattern, the surfaces being provided on elements having a variable distance between them, each surface pair defining a cavity between them. The sensor also comprising at least one light source transmitting light at least one a chosen wavelength range into said cavities and at least one light detector receiving light from the cavities, wherein said diffractive patterns are adapted to direct light toward at least one detector provided in a known position relative to said diffractive surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Applicant: SINTEF TTO AS
    Inventors: MATTHIEU LACOLLE, IB-RUNE JOHANSEN, THOR BAKKE, OLE-HERMANN BJOR
  • Patent number: 9329360
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an actuator for moving a rigid element, e.g. an optical element such as mirror, the element being mechanically coupled to a frame with a bendable coupling, wherein actuator elements are mounted on said coupling between the frame and element, the coupling and actuator elements being adapted to provide a movement to the element when subject to signal from a signal generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: SINTEF
    Inventors: Thor Bakke, Ib-Rune Johansen, Andreas Vogl, Frode Tyholdt, Dag Thorstein Wang
  • Patent number: 9250418
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an actuator for moving a rigid element, e.g. an optical element such as mirror (1), the element being mechanically coupled to a frame (4) with a bendable coupling (2A), wherein actuator elements (3A, 3B) are mounted on said coupling between the frame and element, the coupling and actuator elements being adapted to provide a movement to the element when subject to signal from a signal generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: SINTEF
    Inventors: Thor Bakke, Ib-Rune Johansen, Andreas Vogl, Frode Tyholdt, Dag Thorstein Wang
  • Publication number: 20150109650
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an actuator for moving a rigid element, e.g. an optical element such as minor, the element being mechanically coupled to a frame with a bendable coupling, wherein actuator elements are mounted on said coupling between the frame and element, the coupling and actuator elements being adapted to provide a movement to the element when subject to signal from a signal generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: SINTEF
    Inventors: Thor Bakke, Ib-Rune Johansen, Andreas Vogl, Frode Tyholdt, Dag Thorstein Wang
  • Publication number: 20120243095
    Abstract: The invention relates to a micromechanical unit, in particular, an adjustable optical filter, and also a method to manufacture the unit. The unit comprises a first device layer and a second substrate layer at least partially fastened to each other, where the device layer comprises a number of reflecting elements divided between a number of non movable, fixed reflecting elements, where the fixed elements are connected with the substrate, and where a cavity is defined between the substrate and each movable element and each movable element is set up to produce a spring-loaded movement into the cavity, and where a number of dielectric spacer blocks are placed in the cavities between each movable element and the substrate to avoid electric contact between them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Hakon Sagberg, Ib-Rune Johansen, Sigurd Teodor Moe, Matthieu Lacolle, Thor Bakke, Dag Thorstein Wang, Elisabeth Larsen Rogne, Henrik Rogne
  • Publication number: 20120162664
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an actuator for moving a rigid element, e.g. an optical element such as mirror (1), the element being mechanically coupled to a frame (4) with a bendable coupling (2A), wherein actuator elements (3A, 3B) are mounted on said coupling between the frame and element, the coupling and actuator elements being adapted to provide a movement to the element when subject to signal from a signal generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Thor Bakke, Ib-Rune Johansen, Andreas Vogl, Frode Tyholdt, Dag Thorstein Wang
  • Patent number: 7898071
    Abstract: An apparatus for housing a micromechanical system includes a substrate with a surface on which the micromechanical system is formed, a transparent cover and a dry film layer arrangement between the surface of the substrate and the transparent cover. The dry film layer arrangement has an opening, so that the micromechanical system adjoins the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Faunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Thor Bakke, Thilo Sandner
  • Publication number: 20080164592
    Abstract: An apparatus for housing a micromechanical system includes a substrate with a surface on which the micromechanical system is formed, a transparent cover and a dry film layer arrangement between the surface of the substrate and the transparent cover. The dry film layer arrangement has an opening, so that the micromechanical system adjoins the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Thor BAKKE, Thilo SANDNER
  • Patent number: 7396740
    Abstract: A method of producing a device with a movable portion spaced apart from a support wafer comprises a step of providing the support wafer having a structured surface and a further step of providing a device wafer with a backing layer and a device layer disposed thereon. Further, the method comprises the step of generating a first planarization layer from a first starting material on the support wafer with a first method to fill in the structures of the structured surface of the support wafer, whereby a surface with a first degree of planarization is obtained. Further, the method comprises a step of generating a second planarization layer from a second starting material on the planarized surface of the support wafer with a second method to obtain a surface with a second degree of planarization, which is higher than the first degree of planarization, wherein the first and second planarization layers can be removed together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Frauhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Thor Bakke, Martin Friedrichs, Benjamin Völker, Thomas Haase