National Semiconductor Corporation

Foveon, Inc.

Michael Mian

Peter J Hopper

Robert Drury

Peter B Johnson

Kyuwoon Hwang

Vladislav Vashchenko

Philipp Lindorfer

Jim McGinty

James McGinty

The radio frequency (RF) impedance of a metal trace at gigahertz frequencies is reduced by forming the metal trace to have a base region and a number of fins that extend away from the base region. When formed in a spiral configuration having a number of loops, the metal trace forms an inductor with an increased quality factor (Q).

Conductive trace with reduced RF impedance resulting from the skin effect

The loss of photogenerated electrons to surface electron-hole recombination sites is minimized by utilizing a first p-type surface region to form a depletion region that functions as a first barrier that repels photogenerated electrons from the surface recombination sites, and a second p-type surface region that provides a substantial change in the dopant concentration.

Method of forming a photodiode that reduces the effects of surface recombination sites

A pressure sensing system formed in a monolithic semiconductor substrate. The pressure sensing system comprises a pressure sensing device formed on the monolithic semiconductor substrate. The pressure sensing device is adapted to be disposed in an environment for developing an electrical pressure signal corresponding to the pressure in the environment. The system includes driver circuitry formed in the monolithic semiconductor substrate. The driver circuitry is responsive to input electrical signal for generating an output pressure signal. A conductive interconnect structure formed in the monolithic semiconductor substrate to electrically connects the pressure sensing device to the driver circuitry such that electrical pressure signals developed by the pressure sensing device are provided as input electrical signals to the driver circuitry.

MEMS pressure sensing device

A wireless tire pressure sensing system based upon a Schrader valve design is provided. The system includes a valve body, a valve pin and a compression element for sealing engaging the valve body and the valve pin to maintain tire pressure. A pressure sensing device mounted within the valve body and connected to valve pin senses the pressure within the tire and provides its signal to the valve pin. The valve pin is adapted as a component of an antenna that transmits a wireless pressure signal to a remote receiver/transmitter mounted on the vehicle. The receiver/transmitter transmits a corresponding signal to a vehicle control system that generates a warning signal when the tire pressure is below a threshold safety value.

Wireless pressure sensing Schrader valve

The RF impedance of a metal trace at gigahertz frequencies is reduced by forming the metal trace to have a base region and a number of fingers that extend away from the base region. When formed to have a number of loops, the metal trace forms an inductor with an increased Q.

Method of forming a metal trace with reduced RF impedance resulting from the skin effect

The sensitivity of a MEMS microphone is substantially increased by using a portion of the package that holds the MEMS microphone as the diaphragm or a part of the diaphragm. As a result, the diaphragm of the present invention is substantially larger, and thus more sensitive, than the diaphragm in a comparably-sized MEMS microphone die.

MEMS microphone

An inductor-based integrated MEMS microphone and a method of making the microphone is provided. The microphone structure includes a vibrating inductor that is suspended over another stationary inductor such that the magnetic field induced from one inductor induces an electrical potential across the other. The stationary inductor is embedded in a dielectric material that is etched out over the stationary inductor to provide the cavity over which the vibrating inductor is suspended.

Inductor-based MEMS microphone

Method of forming a dual damascene metal trace with reduced RF impedance resulting from the skin effect

A pressure sensing system formed in a monolithic semiconductor substrate. The pressure sensing system comprises a pressure sensing device formed on the monolithic semiconductor substrate. Pressure sensing device is adapted to be disposed in an environment for developing an electrical pressure signal corresponding to the pressure in the environment. The system includes driver circuitry formed in the monolithic semiconductor substrate. The driver circuitry is responsive to input electrical signal for generating an output pressure signal. A conductive interconnect structure formed in the monolithic semiconductor substrate to electrically connects the pressure sensing device to the driver circuitry such that electrical pressure signals developed by the pressure sensing device are provided as input electrical signals to the driver circuitry.

Photodiode that reduces the effects of surface recombination sites

Method of forming an etched metal trace with reduced RF impedance resulting from the skin effect

A photon detector capable of detecting gigahertz frequency optical signals utilizes a layer of photonic material that is formed adjacent to the coil of an inductor. When a pulsed light source is applied to the layer of photonic material, the photonic material generates eddy currents that alter the magnetic flux of the inductor. The signals can then be detected by detecting the change in the magnetic flux.

High-speed photon detector and method of forming the detector

MEMS pressure sensing array with leaking sensor

Spin-based microelectronic devices can be realized by utilizing ferromagnetic structures that make good ohmic contact with silicon, in order to avoid the Schottky barrier problem plaguing existing approaches to spin-based microelectronics, while allowing the devices to be based on silicon substrates, which are well-known and used in the industry. Thin layers of metal silicide, such as CoSiand NiSi, are used as an intermediate layer between ferromagnetic contacts, such as cobalt and nickel contacts, and the silicon substrate. The thin silicide layers provide good ohmic contact between the ferromagnetic contacts and silicon, such that spin-polarized carriers can be injected into the silicon, and detected out of the silicon, without loss of spin polarization.

Method of making spin-injection devices on silicon material for conventional BiCMOS technology

An optical sensor provides information about the burn of the fuel mixture in the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine as well as the timing and waveform of the spark that ignites the fuel mixture in the combustion chamber. The optical sensor can be implemented as a stand-alone device, or incorporated into a spark plug.

Growing community of inventors

Livermore, CA, United States of America

Michael Mian