Patents by Inventor Tsjerk H. Hoekstra

Tsjerk H. Hoekstra 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: 20170332178
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a micro-electrical-mechanical system (MEMS) transducer comprises the steps of forming a membrane on a substrate, and forming a back-volume in the substrate. The step of forming a back-volume in the substrate comprises the steps of forming a first back-volume portion and a second back-volume portion, the first back-volume portion being separated from the second back-volume portion by a step in a sidewall of the back-volume. The cross-sectional area of the second back-volume portion can be made greater than the cross-sectional area of the membrane, thereby enabling the back-volume to be increased without being constrained by the cross-sectional area of the membrane. The back-volume may comprise a third back-volume portion. The third back-volume portion enables the effective diameter of the membrane to be formed more accurately.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Anthony Bernard Traynor, Richard Ian Laming, Tsjerk H. Hoekstra
  • Patent number: 9756430
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a micro-electrical-mechanical system (MEMS) transducer comprises the steps of forming a membrane on a substrate, and forming a back-volume in the substrate. The step of forming a back-volume in the substrate comprises the steps of forming a first back-volume portion and a second back-volume portion, the first back-volume portion being separated from the second back-volume portion by a step in a sidewall of the back-volume. The cross-sectional area of the second back-volume portion can be made greater than the cross-sectional area of the membrane, thereby enabling the back-volume to be increased without being constrained by the cross-sectional area of the membrane. The back-volume may comprise a third back-volume portion. The third back-volume portion enables the effective diameter of the membrane to be formed more accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Bernard Traynor, Richard Ian Laming, Tsjerk H. Hoekstra
  • Publication number: 20160255442
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a micro-electrical-mechanical system (MEMS) transducer comprises the steps of forming a membrane on a substrate, and forming a back-volume in the substrate. The step of forming a back-volume in the substrate comprises the steps of forming a first back-volume portion and a second back-volume portion, the first back-volume portion being separated from the second back-volume portion by a step in a sidewall of the back-volume. The cross-sectional area of the second back-volume portion can be made greater than the cross-sectional area of the membrane, thereby enabling the back-volume to be increased without being constrained by the cross-sectional area of the membrane. The back-volume may comprise a third back-volume portion. The third back-volume portion enables the effective diameter of the membrane to be formed more accurately.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Anthony Bernard Traynor, Richard Ian Laming, Tsjerk H. Hoekstra
  • Patent number: 9363610
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a micro-electrical-mechanical system (MEMS) transducer comprises the steps of forming a membrane on a substrate, and forming a back-volume in the substrate. The step of forming a back-volume in the substrate comprises the steps of forming a first back-volume portion and a second back-volume portion, the first back-volume portion being separated from the second back-volume portion by a step in a sidewall of the back-volume. The cross-sectional area of the second back-volume portion can be made greater than the cross-sectional area of the membrane, thereby enabling the back-volume to be increased without being constrained by the cross-sectional area of the membrane. The back-volume may comprise a third back-volume portion. The third back-volume portion enables the effective diameter of the membrane to be formed more accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Bernard Traynor, Richard Ian Laming, Tsjerk H. Hoekstra
  • Publication number: 20140341402
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a micro-electrical-mechanical system (MEMS) transducer comprises the steps of forming a membrane on a substrate, and forming a back-volume in the substrate. The step of forming a back-volume in the substrate comprises the steps of forming a first back-volume portion and a second back-volume portion, the first back-volume portion being separated from the second back-volume portion by a step in a sidewall of the back-volume. The cross-sectional area of the second back-volume portion can be made greater than the cross-sectional area of the membrane, thereby enabling the back-volume to be increased without being constrained by the cross-sectional area of the membrane. The back-volume may comprise a third back-volume portion. The third back-volume portion enables the effective diameter of the membrane to be formed more accurately.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Anthony Bernard Traynor, Richard Ian Laming, Tsjerk H. Hoekstra
  • Patent number: 8803261
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a micro-electrical-mechanical system (MEMS) transducer comprises the steps of forming a membrane on a substrate, and forming a back-volume in the substrate. The step of forming a back-volume in the substrate comprises the steps of forming a first back-volume portion and a second back-volume portion, the first back-volume portion being separated from the second back-volume portion by a step in a sidewall of the back-volume. The cross-sectional area of the second back-volume portion can be made greater than the cross-sectional area of the membrane, thereby enabling the back-volume to be increased without being constrained by the cross-sectional area of the membrane. The back-volume may comprise a third back-volume portion. The third back-volume portion enables the effective diameter of the membrane to be formed more accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Wolfson Microelectronics plc
    Inventors: Anthony Bernard Traynor, Richard Ian Laming, Tsjerk H. Hoekstra
  • Publication number: 20140191344
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a micro-electrical-mechanical system (MEMS) transducer comprises the steps of forming a membrane on a substrate, and forming a back-volume in the substrate. The step of forming a back-volume in the substrate comprises the steps of forming a first back-volume portion and a second back-volume portion, the first back-volume portion being separated from the second back-volume portion by a step in a sidewall of the back-volume. The cross-sectional area of the second back-volume portion can be made greater than the cross-sectional area of the membrane, thereby enabling the back-volume to be increased without being constrained by the cross-sectional area of the membrane . The back-volume may comprise a third back-volume portion. The third back-volume portion enables the effective diameter of the membrane to be formed more accurately.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Wolfson Microelectronics plc
    Inventors: Anthony Bernard Traynor, Richard Ian Laming, Tsjerk H. Hoekstra