Albert-ludwigs-universitat Freiburg

Infineon Technologies Ag

Continental Teves, Ag and Company Ohg

Micronas Gmbh

Albert-ludwigs-universitaet Freiburg

Neuroloop Gmbh

Albert-ludwigs-university of Freiburg

Universitätsklinikum Freiburg

Hahn-schickard-gesellschaft Fur Angewandte Forschung E.v.

Yiannos Manoli

Matthias Kuhl

Michael Maurer

Maximilian Marx

Daniel De Dorigo

Alexander Buhmann

Thomas Northemann

Natalie Butz

Andreas Kugi

Dennis Plachta

Gilbert Alexander Erdler

Thomas Stieglitz

Maurits Ortmanns

Claas Müller

Friedel Gerfers

Rainer Schmelzeisen

Florian Mair

Markus Egretzberger

Sebastian Nessler

Hagen Graf

Christian Moranz

Jan Kollmitz

Xavier Cuignet

Oscar Cota

Christian Peters

Lucas Spohn

Armin Taschwer

Lin He

Dominic Maurath

Daniel Schillinger

Stefan Rombach

Wolfram Schock

Dirk Spreemann

Natalie Muller

Ralf Gutwald

In an embodiment a tactile sensor includes a plurality of stress sensors and at least one contact body, wherein the stress sensors are configured to detect a load pattern applied on a detection surface of the contact body.

Tactile sensor including a memory with a classification scheme and method for operating a tactile sensor

A sensor array includes a base for providing a probe signal and a plurality of modular recording sites. Each modular recording site of the plurality of modular recording sites is configured for receiving a signal, for converting the signal into a digital sensor signal and to provide the digital sensor signal to the base. The base is configured for receiving a plurality of digital sensor signals from the plurality of modular recording sites and to process the plurality of digital sensor signals so as to provide the probe signal.

Sensor arrays, method for operating a sensor array and a computer program for performing a method for operating a sensor array

A method adapts a resonant frequency of a first filter of a closed control loop to a given frequency. The method includes feeding an output signal of a delta sigma modulator of the closed control loop into a frequency adaptation circuit and determining a first noise spectrum of the output signal in a first frequency band and a second noise spectrum of the output signal in a second frequency band. The first frequency band and the second frequency band are arranged symmetrically with respect to the given frequency. The method includes comparing the first noise spectrum with the second noise spectrum, generating an adaptation signal that causes a frequency adaptation of the resonant frequency if the first noise spectrum differs from the second noise spectrum, and outputting the adaptation signal from the frequency adaptation circuit to a control input of the first filter for adapting the resonant frequency.

Method for automatic frequency adaptation of a filter in a closed loop

The present invention relates to a circuit arrangement and a method for reading a capacitive vibratory gyroscope with an at least primary mass and at least one secondary mass that is connected to the primary mass, wherein the primary mass is excited to a primary vibration during operation, and wherein the secondary mass is deflected out of a resting position in a direction that is transversal to the primary vibration when the vibratory gyro-scope rotates around a sensitive axis. The circuit arrangement comprises a delta-sigma modulator with at least one control loop to perform a force feedback that resets the secondary mass into its resting state by applying a reset signal, wherein the reset signal forms a modulator output signal of the delta-sigma modulator, a correction unit that receives the modulator output signal and that is operated to generate a corrected modulator output signal that corresponds to an actually acting feedback force, a demodulator that is connected to the correction unit for demodulation of the corrected modulator output signal, and a filter arrangement to filter the demodulated signals and to output a rotary rate signal.

Circuit arrangement and method for the digital correction of modulation effects in electromechanical delta-sigma modulators

A charge balancing circuit is adapted to be connected to an electrode and to a stimulation source. The charge balancing circuit has an electrode terminal for receiving an electrode voltage, an amplifier coupled to the electrode terminal and adapted to amplify and invert the electrode voltage for generating an intermediate voltage and a compensation stage. The compensation stage is adapted to generate an output current if the electrode voltage lies outside a specified safety range and to generate the output current depending on the intermediate voltage. The compensation stage is further adapted to supply the output current to the electrode terminal for driving the electrode voltage towards and/or into the safety range.

Charge balancing circuit, stimulator circuit and method for charge balancing

A biocompatible recording system includes a number of input channels for acquiring electronic information from the neural system of a living being. The recording system includes a preamplifier and further amplifier stages. An input of a second amplifier stage is coupled to an output of the preamplifier. A low-pass filter having a capacitance multiplier is connected to the second amplifier stage. The preamplifier of the recording system is designed using P-MOS technology.

Digital biopotential acquisition system having 8 channels

A converter circuit arrangement and a method for operating a converter circuit arrangement are disclosed. In an embodiment an arrangement includes a switched-mode input converter sub-stage comprising a step-up converter configured to convert a rectified input voltage on an input side into an intermediate voltage higher than the rectified input voltage, a switched-mode output converter sub-stage configured to convert the intermediate voltage into a direct output voltage at an output side, a switch configured to switch both the switched-mode input converter sub-stage and the switched-mode output converter sub-stage and a control circuit configured to control the switched-mode output converter sub-stage to a power demand at the output side independent of the switched-mode input converter sub-stage by operating the switch with a controlled duty cycle, wherein the control circuit is connected to the switched-mode output converter sub-stage and the output side and configured to apply a first control parameter based on a sensed output voltage and/or a sensed output current and to apply a second control parameter based on a sensed current and/or a sensed voltage of the switched-mode output converter sub-stage.

AC-DC converter circuit arrangement and method for operating a respective AC-DC converter circuit arrangement

The present invention relates to a circuit arrangement and a method for reading a capacitive vibratory gyroscope with an at least primary mass and at least one secondary mass that is connected to the primary mass, wherein the primary mass is excited to a primary vibration during operation, and wherein the secondary mass is deflected out of a resting position in a direction that is transversal to the primary vibration when the vibratory gyroscope rotates around a sensitive axis. The circuit arrangement comprises a delta-sigma modulator with at least one control loop to perform a force feedback that resets the secondary mass into its resting state by applying a reset signal, wherein the reset signal forms a modulator output signal of the delta-sigma modulator, a correction unit that receives the modulator output signal and that is operated to generate a corrected modulator output signal that corresponds to an actually acting feedback force, a demodulator that is connected to the correction unit for demodulation of the corrected modulator output signal, and a filter arrangement to filter the demodulated signals and to output a rotary rate signal.

Circular system and method for the digital correction of modulation effects in eletromechanical delta-sigma modulators

A method for adjusting the resonance frequency of a loop filter in a delta-sigma modulator includes input of a filter input signal of a loop filter into a frequency adjustment circuit and determination of a noise spectrum of the filter input signal in a first frequency band and a second frequency band. The first frequency band and the second frequency band are arranged symmetrically around the predetermined frequency. The method includes comparison of the noise spectra and creation of an adjustment signal that leads to a frequency adjustment when the noise spectra deviate from one another. The method also includes feedback of the adjustment signal of the frequency adjustment circuit to a control input of the loop filter for setting the filter frequency in response to the comparative result.

Method for automatic frequency adaptation of filters during operation in closed control loops

The invention relates to a detection circuit for reading out at least one position signal of a micromechanical capacitive sensor having at least one oscillating element that can be excited so as to move in an oscillating manner. In particular, the invention relates to a sensor that is operated in a closed control loop by using the detection circuit according to the invention. The invention further relates to a method for operating such a sensor. During operation, a first input connection of the detection circuit () is connected to an output connection of the capacitive sensor () and an output connection of the detection circuit () is connected to a loop filter of a control loop (), wherein the control loop feeds back a feedback voltage for providing a restoring force in dependence on an output voltage of the control loop () to a second input connection of the detection circuit (). The detection circuit () comprises at least one further feedback branch (R, C), and the output voltage of the control loop () is modulated onto an in-phase input voltage of the detection circuit.

Method and circuit for the time-continuous detection of the position of the sensor mass with simultaneous feedback for capacitive sensors

A circuit for activating a capacitive MEMS structure is provided, with the capacitive MEMS structure having an oscillator element and an electrostatic excitation unit with a first input connection and a second input connection. The circuit includes a high voltage generator, a first pump capacitor, a second pump capacitor, a control unit, and a low voltage operation amplifier. The high voltage generator generates a high voltage and connects to the first input connection and the second input connection. The first pump capacitor is connected to the high voltage generator and includes a first connection connected to the first input connection. The second pump capacitor connects to the high voltage generator and includes a first connection connected to the second input connection. The control unit connects to a second connection of the first pump capacitor and a second connection of the second pump capacitor. The low voltage operation amplifier connects to the control unit.

Drive and compensation circuit for capacitive MEMs structures

A method for the precise measuring operating of a micro-mechanical rotation rate sensor, including at least one seismic mass, at least one drive device for driving the seismic mass in the primary mode (q) and at least three trimming electrode elements which are jointly associated directly or indirectly with the seismic mass. An electric trimming voltage (u, u, u, u) is set respectively between the trimming electrode elements and the seismic mass. Each of the electric trimming voltages (u, u, u, u) are adjusted in accordance with a resonance frequency variable (&#x169;, &#x168;), a quadrature variable (&#x169;, &#x168;) and a restoring variable (&#x169;).

Method for the decoupled control of the quadrature and the resonance frequency of a micro-mechanical rotation rate sensor by means of sigma-delta-modulation

An apparatus for impedance matching of an electrical load to a generator has input connections for connection to the generator and output connections for connection to the load. The apparatus has a converter which connects the input connections to the output connections. An input voltage which is applied between the input connections can be converted into an output voltage. The converter has energy storage means connected to one of the output connections by an active diode, a controllable switching device, and an actuation device. The switching device can be moved to a first and a second switching state so that energy from the generator is stored in the energy storage means in the first switching state. Energy which is stored can be output to the load in the second switching state. A detector is connected to the input connections for detecting a measurement signal for the impedance matching. The actuation device has an activation signal and can be moved to a first and a second operating state. The energy which is output by the generator is temporarily stored in an input capacitor.

Apparatus for impedance matching

A measuring device has a micro-electromechanical capacitive sensor which has electrodes which move toward and away from each other for measurement of a mechanical deflection of a test mass. The measuring device has a charge integrator which has an operating amplifier which has at least one amplifier input connected to the sensor and an amplifier output which is fed back to the amplifier input via an integration capacitor. The amplifier input is connected via a high-resistance electrical resistor to a terminal for an electrical common-mode reference potential. In addition to the amplifier input, the operating amplifier has an auxiliary input. The amplifier output is connected to the auxiliary input via a deep pass.

Measuring device with a micro-electromechanical capacitive sensor

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Freiburg, Germany

Yiannos Manoli