| Stichting IMEC Nederland Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120095361 | MULTI-CHANNEL BIOPOTENTIAL SIGNAL ACQUISITION SYSTEMS - A multi-channel biopotential signal acquisition system is disclosed. In the system, a plurality of biopotential channels is corrected for common-mode interference. In one aspect, each biopotential channel includes an electrode for providing a biopotential input signal and an associated amplifier for amplifying the biopotential input signal and providing a biopotential output signal. The output signal is processed in a processor. Each biopotential output signal is passed to a common-mode feedback system, which determines an average common-mode signal and feeds that signal back to each of the amplifiers in each of the biopotential channels to enhance common-mode rejection ratio of the system. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120077019 | HUMIDITY BARRIER - A humidity barrier comprises a mixed matrix membrane, wherein the mixed matrix membrane comprises a polymer matrix with at least a hydrophobic surface, in which polymer matrix porous hydrophilic filler particles are dispersed. The hydrophobic surface may be formed either by hydrophobic polymer material itself or a hydrophobic coating may be provided on top of non-hydrophobic polymer material. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120075634 | Sensor, Method for Detecting The Presence and/or Concentration of an Analyte Using the Sensor, and Use of the Method - Methods and sensors for detecting the presence and/or concentration of an analyte are disclosed. In one aspect, a sensing element for use in a sensor is disclosed. The sensing element comprises a resonant cavity device configured to emit optical radiation at an initial power level, a sensing layer exhibiting an initial refractive index, and a detector. The sensing layer is configured to absorb or adsorb an analyte and, in response to absorbing or adsorbing the analyte, exhibit a modified refractive index that differs from the initial refractive index. The resonant cavity device is further configured to, in response to the sensing layer absorbing or adsorbing the analyte, emit optical radiation at a modified power level based on the modified refractive index. The detector is configured to detect the modified power level. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120071730 | Adaptive Processing of Ambulatory Electrocardiogram Signals - Disclosed are methods and systems for adaptive processing of ambulatory electrocardiogram signals. In one embodiment, the method comprises acquiring a plurality of electrocardiogram (ECG) signals and transforming the ECG signals to a component space, thereby producing a set of components representing the ECG signals in the component space. The method further includes evaluating the set of components, adaptively selecting from the set of components a subset of components, and processing the subset of components to identify at least one property of the ECG signals. In some embodiments, the method further includes acquiring non-ECG signals, and adaptively selecting the subset of components comprises adaptively selecting the subset of components based on at least the non-ECG signals. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120063252 | VARIABILITY RESILIENT SENSE AMPLIFIER WITH REDUCED ENERGY CONSUMPTION - An ultra low power sense amplifier circuit for amplifying a low swing input signal to a full swing output signal is disclosed. In one aspect, the amplifier circuit includes a first amplifier stage for pre-amplifying the input signal to an intermediate signal on its internal nodes, a second amplifier stage for amplifying the intermediate signal to the output signal, and a control circuit for sequentially activating the first and second amplifier. The first amplifier has a capacitor for limiting energy consumption and two upsized PMOS transistors without NMOS transistors. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120063211 | METHOD FOR IMPROVING WRITABILITY OF SRAM MEMORY - A method for improving writability of an SRAM cell is disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes applying a first voltage higher than the global ground voltage and a third voltage higher than the global supply voltage to the ground supply nodes of the invertors of the SRAM cell, pre-charging one of the complementary bitlines to the global ground voltage, and applying a second voltage higher than the global supply voltage to the access transistors during a write operation to the SRAM cell. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120062244 | READOUT SYSTEM FOR MEMS-BASED CAPACITIVE ACCELEROMETERS AND STRAIN SENSORS, AND METHOD FOR READING - A method and an electronic readout circuit for measuring a capacitance of a MEMS sensor are disclosed. In one aspect, the readout circuit includes: an input stage for receiving a first signal from the sensor and for presenting a second signal; a charge amplifier stage for amplifying and integrating the second signal; and a control logic for controlling the readout circuit according to a predefined timing relation synchronized to actuation voltages applied to the sensor for generating the first signal. The readout circuit may further includes a first switching unit for applying a first reference voltage to the sensor and a second switching unit for applying the second signal to the charge amplifier stage, wherein the first and the second switching units are controlled according to the predefined timing relation such that a plurality of the second signals are accumulated. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120030486 | POWER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR WIRELESS AUTONOMOUS TRANSDUCER SOLUTIONS - An autonomous transducer system is disclosed. In one aspect, the system includes an energy scavenging module, energy storage module, a load circuit having at least one functional block providing a given functionality, and a power management module arranged for providing power supplied by the energy scavenging module to the load circuit or for exchanging power with the energy storage module. The power management module may further include a tuning module configured to tune the at least one functional block of the load circuit according to a given configuration scheme. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120007469 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR VIBRATION HARVESTING VIA GASFLOW - A method and device for gasflow, e.g. airflow, energy harvesting is disclosed. In one aspect, the device includes a cavity resonator such as a Helmholtz resonator which has a membrane for converting gasflow in vibration. The device may further include a vibrational energy harvester for converting the converted vibration into electrical energy. The device for gasflow energy harvesting is adapted such that the movement of the vibrational energy harvester is decoupled from the movement of the membrane. This allows to obtain a good output power of e.g. more than about 10 μW. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20110316386 | MICRORESONATOR, RESONATOR SENSOR WITH SUCH MICRORESONATOR, AND SENSOR ARRAY COMPRISING AT LEAST TWO SUCH MICRORESONATORS - A microresonator for use as a resonator in a detector is disclosed. In one aspect, the microresonator has a first predetermined resonance mode. The microresonator has an integrated electronic transducer for measuring deformation of the microresonator in the first predetermined resonance mode of the microresonator. The transducer is located at a local deformation of the predetermined resonance mode to measure the deformation of the microresonator at such location. The first predetermined resonance mode may be one of higher order resonance modes. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110305099 | HIERARCHICAL BUFFERED SEGMENTED BIT-LINES BASED SRAM - A semiconductor memory device is disclosed. In one aspect, the device includes memory blocks with memory cells connected to a local bit-line, each local bit-line being connectable to a global bit-line for memory readout. There are also pre-charging circuitry for pre-charging the bit-lines and a read buffer for discharging the global bit-line during a read operation. The local bit-lines are pre-charged to a predetermined first voltage substantially lower than the supply voltage (VDD) of the memory device. A segment buffer is provided between each local bit-line and an input node of the respective read buffer. The segment buffer activates the read buffer during the read operation upon occurrence of a discharge on the connected local bit-line. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110285568 | ASYNCHRONOUS DIGITAL SLOPE ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER AND METHOD THEREOF - The present invention is related to an analog to digital converter circuit. The circuit comprises at least one input node for applying an analog input voltage signal (V | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110263036 | AMORPHOUS THIN FILM FOR SENSING - An apparatus and method for low-power sensing, for example, sensing of chemical or biochemical analytes in a gas or liquid phase are disclosed. One aspect relates to the use of a thin continuous film without grain boundaries as a sensing layer in devices for sensing a predetermined analyte and to low power devices having such sensing layer. The sensing layer has a surface exposed to the analyte. The electrical impedance of the sensing layer changes upon adsorption of the predetermined analyte on the exposed surface of the sensing layer. The sensing layer may have a thickness in the range between about 1 nm and 100 nm, such as between about 1 nm and 30 nm. The sensing layer may be an amorphous layer. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110228832 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SEARCHING SELECTED FREQUENCY CHANNELS - A device and method for selecting a frequency channel of given bandwidth in a cognitive radio application is disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes evaluating, at one of a plurality of frequency bins, a function indicative of the frequency occupancy. If the evaluation result indicates free spectrum at the considered frequency bin, the previous step is repeated for a frequency bin adjacent to the considered frequency bin until the free frequency bins constitute a frequency channel of the given bandwidth. Otherwise, the method moves to select a next frequency bin to be considered. It is selected by calculating a measure of the left and right derivative of the function at the considered frequency bin, taking the measure of the left or right derivative as gradient approximation, and determining the next frequency bin by shifting the considered frequency bin over a frequency shift inversely proportional to the gradient approximation. | 09-22-2011 |
| 20110222066 | Assembly With Absorbing Sensor Layer - The invention relates to an assembly for detecting the presence of a target based on a detection of a resonance associated to surface polaritons, such as long-range surface exciton polaritons (LRSEP). The invention relates to an assembly to be used in connection with a bio-sensor. The assembly comprising a carrier substrate ( | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110205543 | Gas Sensor, Method for Optically Measuring the Presence of a Gas Using the Gas Sensor, and Gas Sensing System - The present disclosure relates to a gas sensor including a first layer and a second layer superimposed on each other along an interface between the two layers. The first layer includes an array of nanoparticles along the interface, the nanoparticles provided so as to allow, upon illumination with electromagnetic radiation, long range diffractive coupling of surface plasmon resonances resulting in a surface lattice resonance condition. The second layer includes a material that, when exposed to at least one predetermined gas, detectably affects the surface lattice resonance condition. The material of the second layer preferably has a porosity of at least 10%. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110192720 | MICROFABRICATED LIQUID-JUNCTION REFERENCE ELECTRODE - Micromachined reference electrodes for use in miniaturized electrochemical sensors, and methods for fabricating such reference electrodes and electrochemical sensors, for example, as a part of a microfluidic system, are disclosed. Electrochemical measurements allow for inexpensive detection of a wide variety of (bio-)chemical compounds in solution. The reference electrode is one of the main parts of an electrochemical cell. The reference electrode, from which no current is drawn, has a stable, constant potential. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110170103 | NANOANTENNA AND USES THEREOF FOR BIOSENSING - A metal nanoantenna for use in a biosensing device is disclosed. The metal nanoantenna is arranged to exhibit at least two particle plasmon resonances or surface plasmon resonances (SPRs). The nanoantenna is for use in a sensor and allows detection at low concentration of biological components. In one aspect, the nanoantenna can have an asymmetric structural configuration and spectrally separated resonances. In one aspect, there is a location in its structure providing local electromagnetic field enhancement at all of the SPRs. The metal nanoantenna can be used for background free measuring of a quantity of a biological component. | 07-14-2011 |
| 20110154558 | Method for Manufacturing a Thermoelectric Generator, a Wearable Thermoelectric Generator and a Garment Comprising the Same - The invention relates to method for manufacturing a thermoelectric generator, comprising the steps of replicating a structure into a flexible substrate ( | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110152701 | Heart Pulse Rate Monitor - Disclosed herein are methods and devices for monitoring a heartbeat. In one embodiment, the device may comprise a sensor package mountable over a pulse location of a user. The sensor package may include a first sensor element configured to sense at least one signal at the pulse location and to provide a first output signal comprising a heart pulse signal and a first set of noise artefacts, a second sensor element configured to sense at least one signal at the pulse location and to provide a second output signal indicative of a second set of noise artefacts, and a mechanically isolating material located between the first sensor element and the second sensor element. The device may further comprise processing circuitry connected to the sensor package and configured to extract the heart pulse signal from the first output signal based on the first output signal and the second output signal. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110150044 | Methods for Fast and Low-Power UWB IR Baseband Receiver Synchronization - The invention relates to methods for synchronising a device to a signal containing a train of pulses representing a programmable number of repetitions of a predetermined code. Pulse position and code phase are searched for. In a first aspect, a programmable number of samples is taken per pulse frame in function of the available number of repetitions of said predetermined code. In a second aspect, the method comprises a signal detection stage from which, after performing a confirmation stage, information can be kept for a subsequent stage. In a third aspect, only a limited number of rotated versions of the predetermined code are checked, using a presumed code phase which is kept from a preceding stage. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110148527 | Dual-Loop Feedback Amplifying Circuit - An amplifying circuit arranged for converting an input signal into an amplified output signal comprising: an input node ( | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110122925 | Method for Selecting Transmission Signal Power Level and Transmitter Device Implementing Same - Disclosed is a method for generating a pulsed transmission signal. The method includes the steps of generating a plurality of transmission bursts by encoding data with a predetermined spreading code, each of the bursts including a train of pulses defining a burst length of the burst; and sizing the transmission bursts to a peak power level within a predetermined limit, thereby forming the transmission signal. The sizing of the transmission bursts includes the step of modifying the amplitude of the pulses of the burst on the basis of a predetermined relationship between the burst length and the peak/average transmission power level. Also disclosed is a transmitter device implementing the method. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110092834 | ANALOGUE SIGNAL PROCESSORS - An analogue signal processor (ASP) application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) is disclosed. The ACIS can be used for remotely monitoring ECG signals of a subject that has reduced power consumption. In one aspect, the ASIC performs the functions of: ECG signal extraction with high resolution using ECG readout channel, feature extraction using a band-power extraction channel, adaptive sampling the ECG signals using an adaptive sampling analogue-to-digital converter, and impedance monitoring for signal integrity using an impedance monitoring channel. These functions enable the development of wireless ECG monitoring systems that have significantly lower power consumption but are more efficient that predecessor systems. In one embodiment, the ASP ASIC consumes 30 μW from a 2V supply with compression provided by adaptive sampling providing large reductions in power consumption of a wireless ECG monitoring system of which the ASP ASIC forms a part. | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110074247 | Systems and Methods for Resonance Frequency Tuning of Micromachined Structures - A microstructure according to embodiments of the present invention comprises a substrate, and a resonant structure having a resonance frequency and comprising a seismic mass and suspension elements for suspending the seismic mass at two opposite sides onto the substrate. The substrate is adapted for functioning as a tuning actuator adapted for applying stress onto the suspension elements, thus changing the stiffness of the suspension elements. This way, the resonance frequency of the microstructure may be adapted to input vibration frequencies which may vary over time or may initially be unknown. By adapting the resonance frequency of the resonant structure, a suitable power may be generated, even in circumstances of variable input frequencies. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110063934 | MEMORY CIRCUIT WITH MULTI-SIZED SENSE AMPLIFIER REDUNDANCY - A memory circuit with multi-sized sense amplifier redundancy is disclosed. In one aspect, the circuit includes sense amplifiers connected to differential bit-lines and configured to amplify a voltage difference sensed on the differential bit-lines. The sense amplifiers include a first set of smaller sense amplifiers and a second set of larger sense amplifiers redundantly arranged to the first set to form redundant groups which each contain one smaller sense amplifiers and one larger sense amplifiers. The larger sense amplifiers have a failure rate lower than the smaller sense amplifiers. The circuit also includes calibration circuitry connected to enable and disable nodes of each of the sense amplifiers and configured to select for each redundant group either the smaller sense amplifier of the first set or, if the smaller sense amplifier fails, the larger sense amplifier of the second set. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110057823 | Asynchronous SAR ADC - An asynchronous analog to digital convertor for converting an analog input signal into a digital output is presented. According to an embodiment, the analog to digital convertor comprises a clock input operable to receive an external clock signal having a clock period, a comparator operable to compare the analog input signal to a reference signal, a digital to analog converter operable to generate the reference signal corresponding to a state of a successive approximation register, and a control block connected to the comparator and to the digital to analog converter. The control block is operable to generate and receive a sequence of control signals according to a successive approximation algorithm, to perform a plurality of comparisons, and to update the state of the successive approximation register thereby generating the digital output. | 03-10-2011 |
| 20110021160 | RF TRANSMITTER DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE SAME - A radio frequency (RF) transmitter device arranged for supplying RF energy is disclosed. In one aspect, the RF transmitter device has a reception unit for receiving information on detected living beings. The RF transmitter device is arranged for adapting its transmit power according to the received information. A method for adapting the transmit power of the RF transmitter device while it is supplying energy to a sensor network is also disclosed. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20100264333 | Gas Sensing Device - The present invention relates to a gas sensing device comprising a nanoparticle layer ( | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100211594 | METHOD OF AND SYSTEM FOR SENSOR SIGNAL DATA ANALYSIS - A method and system for sensor signal data analysis are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes acquiring sensor signal data from a plurality of sensors. Signal processing is performed on the sensor signal data to extract one or more features of the sensor signal data. The features are signal extracts that are distinguishable among and reproducible along the sensor signal data. With at least one of the features, a plurality of information attributes is associated, and information evaluation is performed on the plurality of information attributes. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100195601 | ACCESS METHOD AND DATA FRAME STRUCTURE FOR USE IN BODY AREA NETWORKS - A method for performing, for a plurality of applications, data communication on a wireless medium accessible for a plurality of nodes used by the applications is disclosed. Each application is assigned to one of a plurality of application classes. In one aspect, the method includes sending, at one of the plurality of nodes, a resource request for an application via a control channel dedicated to the application class which the application is assigned to, wherein the resource request is sent employing an access method available for the application class. The method also includes taking a decision on allocating resource on the wireless medium for the application. The method also includes performing data communication for the application via a conflict-free data channel, the data channel being separated in time from the dedicated control channel. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100187835 | Electromagnetic Energy Scavenger Based on Moving Permanent Magnets - An electromagnetic energy scavenger ( | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100176822 | NANOWIRE SENSOR - An analyte sensing device is disclosed. In one aspect, the device includes at least one sensing module on a substrate. The sensing module has at least one nanowire including a bottom, an intermediate part and a top, the bottom being closer to the substrate than the top. The module has a surrounding electrode surrounding the bottom and at least part of the intermediate part of each nanowire in height direction and being electrically isolated from the nanowire. There is a gap between each nanowire and the corresponding surrounding electrode allowing penetration of an analyte to be detected between the nanowire and the surrounding electrode. A measurement circuitry is electrically connected to each nanowire and the surrounding electrode for detecting a change in an electrical property as a result of the penetration of the analyte into the gap. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100000292 | SENSING DEVICE - A sensing device for detecting an analyte is disclosed. In one aspect, the device includes at least one geometrical structure and at least two clamps provided for clamping the at least one geometrical structure on at least two ends of the geometrical structure. The at least one geometrical structure has at least one chemical responsive layer being absorbent or adsorbent for the analyte, and a support structure provided for at least partly supporting the at least one chemical responsive layer. The at least one chemical responsive layer has a varying effective spring constant which changes upon absorption or adsorption of the analyte. | 01-07-2010 |
| 20090293929 | Hybrid Energy Scavenger Comprising Thermopile Unit and Photovoltaic Cells - A hybrid energy scavenger comprising a thermopile unit and photovoltaic cells is provided, wherein the hybrid energy scavenger may generate a good output power when operating in conditions of small temperature difference between a heat source and a heat sink, and/or either receiving the heat from a heat source with high thermal resistance or dissipating it into a heat sink with high thermal resistance such as a human body or a body of any other endotherm, or a fluid such as air, and wherein the photovoltaic cells are part of a heat dissipating structure for connection to the heat sink. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090292335 | Thermoelectric Generator for Implants and Embedded Devices - The present invention provides a TEG device comprising a first unit comprising a thermopile unit and a second unit comprising a cold plate and/or a radiator. One of the first and second units is adapted for being embedded or implanted into a body, while the other of the first and second units is adapted for being placed at the outer surface of the body, i.e. in a fluid. The first and second units are adapted for being thermally connected to each other through the surface between the body and the fluid when in use. | 11-26-2009 |
| 20090284102 | System and Method for Resonance Frequency Tuning of Resonant Devices - Tunable vibration energy scavengers and methods of operating the same are disclosed. The disclosed energy scavengers comprise a beam with a main body, wherein the beam comprises at least one flap and means for changing a shape of the at least one flap, wherein the at least one flap is physically attached to the main body along a longitudinal side of the main body. The disclosed methods comprise tuning the shape of the at least one flap, thereby tuning the stiffness of the structure. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090259421 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTIMATING REMAINING RUN-TIME OF AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS BY INDIRECT MEASUREMENT - A system and method for estimating remaining run-time of an autonomous system by indirect measure is disclosed. In one aspect, the system includes a load circuit, an energy storage system (ESS) and an energy storage management system (ESM). The load circuit includes functional blocks. The ESS stores electric energy and is connected to the load circuit and configured to supply the varying electric current to the load circuit. The ESM is configured to estimate a remaining run-time of the autonomous system. The ESM includes an input connected to one of the functional blocks of the load circuit from which a first parameter being an indirect measure for the varying electric current supplied from the energy storage system to the load circuit is received. The ESM determines the remaining run-time from this first parameter. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090140443 | Microstructure with Enlarged Mass and Electrode Area for Kinetic to Electrical Energy Conversion - A microstructure has a substrate, a fixed electrode having a plurality of fixed fingers fixed to the substrate, a movable electrode having a body ( | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090129952 | Microfluidic Device - A microfluidic device is described. The microfluidic device comprises at least one transport channel and at least one working chamber, wherein the at least one transport channel and the at least one working chamber are separated from each other by a common deformable wall. The at least one transport channel is for containing a transport fluid and the at least one working chamber is for containing a working fluid. The microfluidic device comprises at least one pair of electrodes for changing the pressure on the working fluid such that when the pressure on the working fluid is changed, the deformable wall deforms, resulting in a change of the cross-section of the at least one transport channel. The working chamber comprises a flexible wall different from the common deformable wall and at least one electrode of the at least one pair of electrodes is provided on the flexible wall. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090128386 | ANALOGUE-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER AND METHOD FOR USING THE SAME - The present disclosure is related to an analogue-to-digital (A/D) converter ( | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090085071 | SENSOR DEVICE COMPRISING ELONGATED NANOSTRUCTURES - A sensor device is provided for determining the presence and/or amount of at least one component in a fluid. The sensor device comprises at least one sensor unit, the at least one sensor unit comprising at least one elongated nanostructure and a dielectric material surrounding the at least one elongated nanostructure. The dielectric material is such that it is selectively permeable for one of the at least one component and is capable of sensing the component permeated through the dielectric material. The sensor device according to preferred embodiments shows good sensitivity and good mechanical strength. The present invention furthermore provides a method for manufacturing such a sensor device and a method for determining the presence and/or amount of at least one component in a fluid using such a sensor device. | 04-02-2009 |
| 20090049319 | Electronic Power Conversion Circuit - An electronic power conversion circuit is presented for converting an input power to an output power. The circuit comprises at least one conversion block and a clock generator. Each conversion block comprises an input, an output and a plurality of charge storage elements and switches between the input and output. Each block is alternately switchable between a first state in which electric charge is loaded from the input and a second state in which electric charge is supplied as converted power to the output. The clock generator generates clock signals for controlling the switches and thereby switches between the first and second states. The circuit is characterized in that the clock generator comprises at least one input node for receiving at least one input parameter and in that the clock generator is provided for varying the frequency of the clock signals in relation to the at least one input parameter. | 02-19-2009 |
| 20080314429 | Method for Thermal Matching of a Thermoelectric Generator with a Heat Source Having High Thermal Resistance and Thermoelectric Generator thus Obtained - The present disclosure relates to thermoelectric generators (TEGs) and more specifically to TEGs operated with a heat source having a high thermal resistance, more specifically to TEGs operated under conditions of non-constant heat flow and non-constant temperature difference between a hot plate and a cold plate. A thermoelectric generator for connection between a heat source and a heat sink comprises a thermopile unit, the thermopile unit comprising at least one thermopile stage, each thermopile stage comprising a number of thermocouples each having a couple of thermocouple legs, the thermocouple legs being provided in between a hot junction plane and a cold junction plane. The number of thermocouples in the thermoelectric generator is such that the thermal resistance (R | 12-25-2008 |
| 20080271772 | Method for Manufacturing a Thermopile on a Membrane and a Membrane-less Thermopile, the Thermopile thus Obtained and a Thermoelectric Generator Comprising Such Thermopiles - A method for manufacturing thermopile carrier chips comprises forming first type thermocouple legs and second type thermocouple legs on a first surface of a substrate and afterwards removing part of the substrate form a second surface opposite to the first surface, thereby forming a carrier frame from the substrate and at least partially releasing the thermocouple legs from the substrate, wherein the thermocouple legs are attached between parts of the carrier frame. First type thermocouple legs and second type thermocouple lets may be formed on the same substrate or on a separate substrate. In the latter approach both types of thermocouple legs may be optimised independently. The thermocouple legs may be self-supporting or they may be supported by a thin membrane layer. After mounting the thermopile carrier chips in a thermopile unit or in a thermoelectric generator, the sides of the carrier frame to which no thermocouple legs are attached are removed. A thermoelectric generator according to the present disclosure may be used for generating electrical power, for example for powering an electrical device such as a watch. It may be used with a heat source and/or heat sink with high thermal resistance, such as a human body. | 11-06-2008 |
