Patents by Inventor Wolfgang Ehrfeld

Wolfgang Ehrfeld 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: 20040125689
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for mixing at least two fluids, wherein the fluids are introduced as adjacent fluid lamellae into a swirl chamber, forming a fluid spiral flowing inward. Removal of the resulting mixture is carried out from the center of the fluid spiral. The static micromixer has a mixing chamber in the form of a swirl chamber (6), in which the inlet channels (15a, b, 16a, b) discharge in such a way that the fluid lamellae enter in the form of fluid jets forming a fluid spiral (50) flowing inward. At least one outlet (25) is fluidically connected to the swirl chamber (6) for removing the resulting mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ehrfeld, Steffen Hardt
  • Patent number: 6700278
    Abstract: The invention relates to a disk motor with an armature disk, which is rotatably mounted and provided with permanent magnets, and with a stator which comprises a stator plate which is equipped with coils. The aim of the invention is to provide a disk motor that is as flat as possible and that is characterized by an improved smoothness of running. To this end, an annular soft-magnetic prestressing device is arranged concentrically on the stator plate in such a manner that at least one section of the prestressing device is located below the coil window of the coils in the axial direction. The armature disk may support an annular flux-return element opposite which the annular prestressing device is located in the radial direction. Said prestressing device has a cross-sectional contour that guides the magnetic lines of electric flux from the annular flux-return element to the coil window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Institute fur Mikrotechnik Mainz GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ehrfeld, Hans-Dieter Stölting, Frank Michel, Matthias Nienhaus, Stephan Kleen
  • Publication number: 20030157751
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method to simplify the handling of micro-components (1, 18), wherein a micro-component (1, 18) is initially produced on a micro-component base plate (2). At least the open side surfaces of the micro-component (1, 18) are then cast using a hardening moulding material (4) whereupon the base plate (2) and/or the moulding material (4) covering the micro-component (1, 18) is removed. The magazine (5) for at least one micro-component (1, 18) comprises of a disk-shaped plate (5a) encompassing the micro-component (1,18) at least one its side surfaces (1c) is positive fit. The assembly method for micro-components (1, 18) includes a magazine (5) which is configured in the form of a disk-shaped plate containing at least one micro-component (1, 18) which encompasses at least on one of its sides in positive fit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Applicant: Institut fur Mikrotechnik Mainz GMBH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ehrfeld, Heinz Lehr, Lutz Weber
  • Publication number: 20030088966
    Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly device for microcomponents that are disposed in a magazine. The inventive assembly device does not require any optical systems and allows for an exact positioning of the microcomponents. The assembly will also be unaffected by any position changes of the microcomponents casued by wastage. The assembly device is provided with mechanical alignment devices that engage with or act upon adjustment structures (42a-d, 44a-d, 45a-d) of the magazine (4). The assembly device further comprises clamping devices for fixing the magazine and at least one plunger (2a, b) for ejecting at least one microcomponent (3a, b) from the magazine (4). An assembly platform (8) is provided in the upper tool (101) or in the lower tool (102) of the assembly device and receives the microcomponents in a defined position. The invention further relates to a method for assembling microcomponents and to a corresponding magazine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ehrfeld, Matthias Nienhaus, Udo Berg, Felix Schmitz, Marc Begemann, Yannick Ansel
  • Publication number: 20030051339
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for assembling cassette-loaded microcomponents (11,21,31), requiring only a small number of component-specific ejector tools and capable of being implemented more quickly. According to the inventive method, at least two cassettes (10,30) provided with component carriers are used, whereby each cassette has at least one type of component and the positions of the components are adapted to each other. At least one cassette (30) acts as a base plate cassette wherein the microcomponents (31) are arranged on a base plate acting as a component carrier. At least one joint assembly step is carried out, wherein two cassettes (10,30) are respectively placed opposite each other and all microcomponents (11,31) in the joined cassettes are simultaneously assembled to form sub-assemblies or component units. The component carriers of the cassettes are subsequently withdrawn. During assembly, the microcomponents can also be held in a rotationally secure position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ehrfeld, Udo Berg
  • Patent number: 6531080
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method to simplify the handling of micro-components, wherein a micro-component is initially produced on a micro-component base plate. At least the open side surfaces of the micro-component are then cast using a hardening moulding material whereupon the base plate and/or the moulding material covering the micro-component is removed. The magazine for at least one micro-component comprises of a disk-shaped plate encompassing the micro-component at least one its lateral surfaces is positive joint. The assembly method for micro-components includes a magazine which is configured in the form of a disk-shaped plate containing at least one micro-component which encompasses at least on one of its sides in positive fit. Said magazine is held and maintained by a retaining device, whereupon the micro-component which is to be assembled is squeezed out of the magazine and simultaneously positioned in a specific location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Institut fur Mikrotechnik Mainz GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ehrfeld, Heinz Lehr, Lutz Weber
  • Publication number: 20030039169
    Abstract: Micromixers constitute a main component of microreactors that have three-dimensional microstructures in a fixed matrix, in which chemical reactions take place. In said micromixer, fluids from their respective supply chambers are divided into spatially separated fluid streams using a network of microchannels allocated to the respective streams. Said streams then emerge as jets with identical volumetric flows for each fluid into a mixing chamber. The invention aims to ensure that identical volumetric flows are achieved for each fluid at the respective microchannel outflow and to produce a micromixer with a simple, compact construction. Wedge-shaped plates can be used as the supply elements (2a-d). Said plates can be assembled to form at least one ring sector which surrounds the mixing chamber (5) in the form of a curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ehrfeld, Volker Hessel
  • Patent number: 6484582
    Abstract: A rolling bearing which has as rolling bearing components one bearing race with a first running surface, a second bearing race with a second running surface opposed to the first surface, and rolling elements arranged between the running surfaces. At least one sensing unit is integrated into the rolling bearing components. The sensing unit can be interrogated by radio via antennas or can be connected to an interrogator by a cable. The sensing unit uses at least one component operating on the SAW or BAW principle to sense changes in length and/or changes in temperature in the material of the rolling bearing component and sends the result of the measurement after the arrival of a radio signal via the antenna or via a cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignees: FAG OEM und Handel AG, Institut fur Mikrotechnik Mainz GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ehrfeld, Volker Graeff, Frank Michel, Sven Gempper, Jens Heim, Joachim Hering, Horst Masuch, Edgar Streit, Vasilis Hassiotis, Henri Van Der Knokke
  • Publication number: 20020062694
    Abstract: A rolling bearing which has as rolling bearing components one bearing race with a first running surface, a second bearing race with a second running surface opposed to the first surface, and rolling elements arranged between the running surfaces. At least one sensing unit is integrated into the rolling bearing components. The sensing unit can be interrogated by radio via antennas or can be connected to an interrogator by a cable. The sensing unit uses at least one component operating on the SAW or BAW principle to sense changes in length and/or changes in temperature in the material of the rolling bearing component and sends the result of the measurement after the arrival of a radio signal via the antenna or via a cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Applicant: FAG OEM und Handel AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ehrfeld, Volker Graeff, Frank Michel, Sven Gempper, Jens Heim, Joachim Hering, Horst Masuch, Edgar Streit, Vasilis Hassiotis, Henri Van Der Knokke
  • Patent number: 6256429
    Abstract: The invention relates to a matrix switch for optical fibers, exhibiting slides (S1(n)) arranged in lines, to each of which an input optical fiber (LWL1(n)) is fixed, and slides (S2(m)) arranged in columns to each of which an output optical fiber (LWL2(m)) is fixed. The slides with the optical fibers are arranged on two planes in such a way that the input optical fibers can be optically coupled to the output optical fibers by displacing the output and input slides. A device (1) with stops (2) arranged in lines and columns is provided to position the slides (S1(n)), (S21(m)) to which the input or output optical fibers (LWL1(n)), (LWL1(n)) are fixed. The positioning device (1) enables the advancement of the output slides (S2(m)) to be limited in such a way that the output slides are secured in an exact position in which the input optical fibers can be coupled to the output optical fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Institut fur Mikrotechnik Mainz GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ehrfeld, Heinz Lehr, Antoni Picard
  • Patent number: 6230408
    Abstract: A method for fabrication of micro heat exchangers, which enable an efficient heat transfer between two flowing media. In a first processing step, a plastic layer is structurized by means of photolithography, x-ray deep lithography, or laser ablation. This plastic structure is galvanically molded in a second processing step, preserving the structural properties. The resulting metallic microstructure, which is the inverse of the original structure, is used as a shaping insert to produce the individual layers from which the micro heat exchanger is assembled. The method according to the invention makes it possible to cheaply produce large numbers of micro heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Institut Für Mikrotechnik Mainz GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ehrfeld, Lutz Weber, Thomas Richter, Frank Michel
  • Patent number: 5698485
    Abstract: A process for producing a ceramic having a microstructured surface with a surface profile depth of less than 1 micron, measured by the atomic force microscopy, comprising preparing a polymeric precursor material, shaping the precursor material into a structured mold insert of an inherently stable mold insert material having a structured surface geometry corresponding with the microstructured surface of the ceramic to form a shaped precursor material, the shaped precursor material being rendered infusible by chemical crosslinking, and wherein the inherently stable mold insert material is selected from materials having sufficient strength for structuring and high molding accuracy, and pyrolyzing the shaped precursor material, whereby the ceramic having the microstructured surface is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignees: Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft, Institut Fuer Mikrotechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Bruck, Tilo Vaahs, Wolfgang Bocker, Wolfgang Ehrfeld, Manfred Lacher, Ludwig Giebel
  • Patent number: 5502567
    Abstract: A micropolarimeter comprises an analyzer (1) and a detector (3), which is typically a photodetector array. The detector has a circular configuration of a number N of sectors. Analyzer (1) and detector (3) form a unit with the analyzer assigning different polarization values to the sectors. Analyzer and the detector contain no moving parts. Three different embodiments are proposed for the analyzer: a glass cone, covered with a polarizing thin film stack, a metal grid polarizing array, and an array of polarizing waveguides. The micropolarimeter (14) is used preferably in a microellipsometer system which can serve as a tool for film diagnostics, especially optical characterization of thin films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Pokrowsky, Eckehard Kiefer, Michael Abraham, Bernd Stenkamp, Wolfgang Ehrfeld, Thomas Zetterer
  • Patent number: 5376506
    Abstract: A method to produce nonlinear optical microcomponents is described which makes it possible to employ material combinations not yet used to date. By means of X-ray depth lithography not only waveguide structures, but also microcell structures are produced, into which subsequently material of nonlinear optical properties is placed. By means of X-ray depth lithography and micromolding techniques a mold insert with a waveguide structure is produced as a positive mold, and the waveguide structure is impressed into a polymer base material by means of the mold insert. Then the impressed waveguide structure is filled with optically linear material, and after the filling operation at least one microcell structure is produced, at least in the areas of the optically linear material, into which microcell structure optically nonlinear material is placed. The microcell structure may also be impressed by means of another mold insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: IMM, Institut fur Mikrotechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ehrfeld, Herbert O. Moser, Klaus Mullen, Christoph Bubeck, Hans-Dieter Bauer
  • Patent number: 5376507
    Abstract: A method to produce nonlinear optical microcomponents is described which employs hitherto not yet used material combinations. Not only waveguide structures are produced by means of X-ray depth lithography, but also microcell structures, into which materials having nonlinear optical properties are introduced. The microstructure is produced as a positive mold part, from which there is subsequently generated, by means of electroforming, a mold insert, a negative of which is made using a polymer material. After the molding operation the microstructure is applied to a substrate, and nonlinear optical material, covered by a cover plate if needed or desired, is introduced into the microcell structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: IMM, Institut fur Mikrotechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ehrfeld, Herbert O. Moser, Klaus Mullen, Christoph Bubeck, Hans-Dieter Bauer
  • Patent number: 5194402
    Abstract: In the process described, the electronic circuits (2) for the signal processing and the sensor structures to which they are coupled are manufactured side by side on the common substrate (1). The process is characterized by the following steps: manufacture of the electronic circuits on the substrate (1) by known semiconductor techniques; application to the surface of the substrate (1) of a galvanic electrode layer (7), which may or may not be structured; application on the substrate surface containing the electrode layer of an X-ray resist layer (8), the thickness of which corresponds to a characteristic height of the sensor structures to be produced; production of negatives (10, 11) of the sensor structures in this resist layer (8) by X-ray lithography: galvanic deposition of a metal (12, 13) or a metal alloy in the negatives (10, 11) of the sensor structures using the galvanic electrode layer; division of the substrate with the sensor structures applied thereto into separate functional units or chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ehrfeld, Friedrich Gotz, Werner Schelb, Dirk Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5126035
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an electrochemical measuring cell for detecting gaseous components with an electrolyte which is disposed between a counter electrode and a measuring electrode provided with gas permeable pores. The pores are configured as channels partially or completely filled with the electrolyte and these channels have a diameter which does not exceed 10 micrometers with a channel length of up to 300 micrometers and a web thickness of not more than 5 micrometers. With this configuration, drift and memory effects are suppressed and the measuring sensitivity is increased and, on the other hand, the response time and the residual current are reduced. When the measuring cell is used as a dosimeter, the counter electrode and the measuring electrode are decoupled with respect to a mass transport in the electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Assignee: Dragerwerk Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Herbert Kiesele, Jurgen Tewes, Wolfgang Ehrfeld, Dirk Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5096643
    Abstract: The plate-like valve elements (10 and 20) of the microvalve are provided with a plurality of valve seats and, respectively, corresponding valve members. The sealing surfaces of a secondary valve element (10) are respectively formed by molding to copy the sealing faces of a primary valve element (20) so that the sealing surfaces of both valve elements are completely complementary to each other. The sealing surfaces need no further processing such as machining. Despite liberal tolerances of manufacture a high precision register of the valve elements in relation to each other is ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignees: Burkert GmbH Werk Ingelfingen, Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Kowanz, Dirk Schmidt, Wolfgang Ehrfeld
  • Patent number: 5054522
    Abstract: A valve plate (14) provided with slot-like valve ports (16) is able to slide between two stationary valve plates (10 and 12) which are joined with each other and are provided with corresponding slot-like valve ports (16). A electrostatic drive is integrated in the valve plates (10, 12 and 14). It consists of strip-like electrodes (20 and 22) which are arranged opposite to corresponding electrodes of another valve plate. By the application of suitable actuating potentials with the same or opposite polarity to the electrodes of different valve plates the actuating forces may be produced, which are needed for moving the movable valve plate (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignees: Burkert GmbH Werk Ingelfingen, Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Kowanz, Dirk Schmidt, Wolfgang Ehrfeld
  • Patent number: 4990827
    Abstract: A micro secondary electron multiplier or an array thereof employs discrete dynodes which are microstructured and applied to an insulating substrate plate. The substrate plate is provided with electrical conductor paths for the connection of the dynodes. The dynodes can be made using a technique such as X-ray depth lithography-galvanoplasty (the LIGA technique). The micro secondary electron multiplier or an array of such multipliers is extremely small and sensitive, and has a high time resolution. Furthermore there is considerable flexibility in positioning the multipliers of an array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ehrfeld, Herbert Moser, Dietrich Munchmeyer