Imec

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Ku Leuven R&d

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

Karl Storz-gmbh & Co. Kg

Stichting Imec Nederland

Imec Vzw

Albert-ludwigs-universitat Freiburg

Robert Puers

Eric Beyne

Klaus M Irion

Arianna Menciassi

Patrick Ruther

Chris Van Hoof

Martijn Goedbloed

Fritz Hensler

Alberto Arena

Geert Altena

Heinz-Gerhard Graf

Christine Harendt

Christ Glorieux

Mehmet Akif Erismis

David Turgis

Bert Lenaerts

Johan Blanckaert

Vassilis Kodogiannis

Arno Aarts

Tom Sterken

Hercules Pereira Neves

Michael Kraft

Sina Sadeghpour Shamsabadi

An ultrasonic transducer multilayer structure, including: a semiconductor layer stack defining a diode, a micro-machined ultrasonic transducer, MUT, layer stack being electrically in series with said diode and comprising a first electrically conductive layer disposed at least partly on the diode, a cavity extending over a region comprising at least a portion of the semiconductor layer stack and the first electrically conductive layer, wherein the MUT layer stack comprises a membrane extending at least partly over said region. The ultrasonic transducer multilayer structure may be used in a sensor apparatus for measuring at least one characteristic of an object. The sensor apparatus is used for medical imaging, such as cardiac imaging, obstetrics, gynecology, abdominal imaging, intravascular imaging, and mammography, or non-destructive testing (NDA), fingerprint sensors, range finders, gesture recognition, ultrasonic haptic feedback, ultrasonic communication or MEMs speakers.

Ultrasonic transducer array device

The present invention relates generally to the restoration or improvement of the quality of human vision and, more particularly to a self-adapting system and method for achieving automatic sharp vision by the human eye of objects for instance at distances between 25 cm and more than 10 meters away. The invention can be situated in at least four technological domains: 1. ophthalmology, in particular the implantation of intraocular lenses. 2. Non-contact biometric signal recording and processing. 3. Electro-optic control of refractive lens power. 4. Wireless energy transfer.

Bionic eye lens

The invention relates to an intracorporeal probe (), for example preferably for examining hollow organs or natural or artificially created body cavities in the human or animal body, the probe () being designed in the form of a capsule that can be introduced into the body without external connecting elements, comprising an elongate housing () and an image pickup unit () inside the housing () that is designed for optically recording a region (pickup region) outside the probe (). The image pickup unit () is held in a fashion capable of moving inside the housing () in order to vary the pickup region by means of such a movement (FIG.).

Intracorporeal videocapsule with swiveling image pickup

The present disclosure is related to a method for sharpening the tip of a microprobe, in particular a neural probe or an array of neuroprobes having a common base portion. The probes have a constant thickness and a chisel-shaped tip portion. The probes are attached to the slanted side of a wedge-shaped carrier, with the probe tips placed in close proximity to the edge of the carrier, for example extending over said edge. The base of the carrier is then subjected to a grinding step, possibly followed by a polishing step, so that the probe tips of the probes are ground to form a sharp pointed tip shape.

Method for sharpening microprobe tips

A method for fabricating an out-of-plane variable overlap MEMS capacitor comprises: providing a substrate () comprising a first layer (), a second layer (), and a third layer () stacked on top of one another; and etching a plurality of first trenches () through the third layer (), through the second layer (), and into the first layer () using a single etching mask. Etching the plurality of first trenches () defines a plurality of first fingers () in the third layer () and a plurality of second fingers () in the first layer (). By using a single mask, the process is self-aligned. The method further comprises removing the second layer () in a first region where the plurality of first trenches () are provided, thereby forming a spacing or gap between the plurality of first fingers () and the plurality of second fingers ().

Method for forming MEMS variable capacitors

The current invention provides a stepping actuator, achieving large range up to &#xb1;35 &#x3bc;m with low operating voltages of 15V or lower and large output forces of up to &#xb1;110 &#x3bc;N. The actuator has an in-plane-angular deflection conversion which allows achieving step sizes varying from few nanometers to few micrometers with a minor change in the design. According to certain embodiments of the invention, the stepping actuator comprises a geometrical structure with a displacement magnification ratio of between 0.15 and 2 at operating voltages of 15V or lower. The present invention also provides a method for forming such stepping actuators.

Low-voltage, large displacement stepping actuator and method for fabricating the same

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Blanden, Belgium

Robert Puers