Prof. Dr. Klaus Thelen

Klaus Thelen studied Electrical Engineering (specialising in Communications Engineering) at RWTH Aachen and completed his diploma thesis in 1990 on the generation of high pulsed magnetic fields at the Max Planck Institute in Grenoble.

He then conducted research on the development of optoelectronic integrated circuits based on GaAs and earned his doctorate in 1993 at ETH Zurich (Institute for Field Theory and High-Frequency Technology).

Subsequently, he worked for Philips Semiconductors (now NXP) in Zurich. His work focused on optimising CMOS analogue and digital circuits for telecommunications. In 1989, he moved to semiconductor manufacturing in Nijmegen (Netherlands), where he held various management positions. His key areas included the development of test structures for embedded flash memory chips, reduction of quiescent current in CMOS circuits, and yield improvement of integrated circuits for automotive and consumer applications.

In 2004, he took over the management of hardware development at Helbako GmbH in Heiligenhaus, a medium-sized automotive supplier specialising in electronic control units for comfort, safety, and efficiency improvements.

In 2011, he accepted a professorship at Hochschule Ruhr West for Analogue and Digital Circuits, Microcontroller Technology, and Automotive Electronics.

From 2012 to 2016, he led the Institute of Measurement and Sensor Technology and developed and has been directing the Bachelor’s programme in Vehicle Electronics and Electromobility, which has been offered at HRW since the winter semester 2017.

• Automotive control units for improving occupant safety
• Radar sensors for automotive safety applications
• Radiothermometric temperature measurement of weakly conductive bodies in enclosed cavities
• Dynamic modelling and correction of temperature measurement errors caused by self-heating in smart home control consoles
• Optimisation of eddy current-based liquid heaters for automotive applications using analytical mathematical models
• Optimisation of heat dissipation structures in electronic assemblies for automotive applications through analytical solutions of the heat conduction equation
• Optimisation of heat dissipation structures in electronic assemblies for automotive applications through analytical solutions of the heat conduction equation

Publications and Patents since 2012

Smart Sensor-Based Rear Seat Monitoring System to Prevent Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke, 2024 IEEE 67th International Midwest Symposium on Circuits and Systems (MWSCAS), August 2024, L. Sharara, J. Gillner, R. Taylor, K. Thelen, L. Alazzawi, M. Ismail DOI: 10.1109/MWSCAS60917.2024.10658737

Radar-based Breathing Sensor for Child Presence Detection in Automotive Applications, 2024 IEEE 67th International Midwest Symposium on Circuits and Systems (MWSCAS), August 2024, J. Gillner, R. Taylor, K. Thelen, DOI: 10.1109/MWSCAS60917.2024.10658809

De-Embedding Method for Determining Impedance Values of Striplines in a Self-Calibrating Radiometer, Sensorica 2024, 10^th International Workshop at the MST Institute Ruhr West of Applied Science June 2024, F. Ströder, K. Thelen

An Intelligent Sensor-Based Back Seat Monitoring System for Preventing Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke, IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Vehicles, June 2024 L. Sharara, K. Thelen, J. Gillner, J. Wolf, H. Syed, H. Syed, R. Taylor, L. Shankar, M. Berger, D. Forta, S. Rogowski, I. Hornung, L. Alazzawi, M. Ismail DOI: 10.1109/TIV.2024.3408842

Design of a Self-Calibrating Wide-Band Radiometer, International Workshop on Impedance Spectroscopy (IWIS) Sep 2023, Fabian Ströder, Klaus Thelen DOI: 10.1109/IWIS61214.2023.10302770

A Real-Time Automotive Safety System Based on Advanced AI Facial Detection Algorithms, IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Vehicles ( Volume: 9, Issue: 6, June 2024) L. Sharara, A. Politis, H. Syed, E. Kronell, D. Dunsmore, T. Thierfelder, J. Wolf, J. Süß, L. Mansour, K. Thelen, L. Alazzawi, M. Ismail, DOI: 10.1109/TIV.2023.3272304

In-situ Correction of Impedance Mismatch of a Microwave Radio Thermometer IEEE Int. Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conf. (I2MTC 2020), pp. 67–1-3, D. Xu, F. Ströder D. Erni, J. Himmel, K. Thelen

Determination of Measurement Errors Using Radio Thermometry in Closed Cavities Caused by finite Wall Conductivity, F. Ströder, D. Xu, J. Himmel, K. Thelen, IEEE Workshop Sensorica 2019, HRW, Mülheim an der Ruhr, June 2019

Non-contact Radiative Temperature Measurement of an Object in a Closed Cavity, European Microwave Conference (EuMC), October 2017, Dawei Xu, Dirk Rüter, Joerg Himmel, Daniel Erni, Klaus Thelen DOI: 10.23919/EuMC.2017.8230983

IEEE Workshop on Industrial and Medical Measurement and Sensor Technology – SENSORICA 2019 Himmel, Jörg, Erni, Daniel, Fischerauer, Alice, Kanoun, Olfa, Seeger, Thomas and Thelen, Klaus. tm - Technisches Messen, vol. 87, no. 5, 2020, pp. 303-303. https://doi.org/10.1515/teme-2020-0004

IEEE Workshop on Industrial and Medical Measurement and Sensor Technology – SENSORICA 2017, tm - Technisches Messen, vol. 85, no. 5, 2018, pp. 291-291. Himmel, Jörg, Erni, Daniel, Fischerauer, Alice, Kanoun, Olfa, Seeger, Thomas and Thelen, Klaus. https://doi.org/10.1515/teme-2018-0013

IEEE Workshop on Industrial and Medical Measurement and Sensor Technology – SENSORICA 2016, Himmel, Jörg, Kanoun, Olfa, Seeger, Thomas and Thelen, Klaus. tm - Technisches Messen, vol. 84, no. 1, 2017, pp. 1-1. https://doi.org/10.1515/teme-2016-0065

Temperature Measurement of an Object Using Blackbody Radiation with Compensation of Impedance Mismatch IEEE Workshop & SENSORICA June 2017, Dawei Xu, Klaus Thelen, Jörg Himmel, Daniel Erni

3-D Potential Distribution Measurement in Electrosurgery by a Flexible Multielectrode System, C. Knopf, J. Himmel, S. Klöckner, K.Thelen, and O. Kanoun: IEEE transactions on instrumentation and measurement vol. pp issue 99 2014, DOI: 10.1109/TIM.2014.2310112

Power loss density distribution in biological tissue to analyse processes in electrosurgery, Knopf, C. ; Himmel, J. ; Hochgeschurz, F. ; Klockner, S. ; Thelen, K. ; Kanoun, O. Multi-Conference on Systems, Signals & Devices (SSD), 2014 11th International, 2014, DOI: 10.1109/SSD.2014.6808854

Workshop „Industrielle Messtechnik und Kraftfahrzeugsensorik, Himmel, Jörg, Kanoun, Olfa and Thelen, Klaus. tm - Technisches Messen, vol. 81, no. 11, 2014, pp. 535-536. https://doi.org/10.1515/teme-2014-9011

Workshop Medizinische Messtechnik an der Hochschule Ruhr West in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Himmel, Jörg, Kanoun, Olfa and Thelen, Klaus. tm – Technisches Messen, vol. 80, no. 11, 2013, pp. 353-354. https://doi.org/10.1524/teme.2013.9011

Magnetic Field Topologies for Fast Impedance Mapping of Biological Tissue, Heidary, Maral ; Kanoun, Olfa; Rüter, Dirk ; Thelen, Klaus ; Weidenmüller, Jens ; Himmel, Jörg: Int. Workshop on Impedance Spectroscopy, 26.-28. Sep 2012, Chemnitz

Patents

DE102016113216B3 Tils, Schreiner, Merker, Maas, Waitz, Thelen, Rüter, Xu „Verfahren zur berührungslosen Bestimmung der Temperatur eines Garguts in einem Gargerät sowie Gargerät“ 18.7.2016

• Project Work: Introduction to Vehicle Electronics (1st semester: Vehicle Electronics and Electromobility)
• Electrical Engineering II (2nd semester: Electrical and Information Technologies, Vehicle Electronics and Electromobility, Mechatronics)
• Digital Systems – Microcontroller Technology (3rd semester: Vehicle Electronics and Electromobility, Electrical and Information Technologies)
• Project Work: Vehicle Electronics and Sensor Technology (4th semester: Vehicle Electronics and Electromobility)
• Simulation of Electronic Systems (5th semester: Vehicle Electronics and Electromobility)
• Vehicle Electronics and Electromobility (5th semester: Vehicle Electronics and Electromobility)
• Electrodynamics (Master’s in Systems Engineering)

• 2012–2016: Dean / Pro-Dean, Head of the Institute of Measurement and Sensor Technology
• Development of university cooperation with the Chinese-German Technical Faculty (CDTF) at Qingdao University of Science and Technology (QUST) (in collaboration with colleagues Prof. Himmel, Prof. Kempen, Prof. Paschen)
• Design and leadership of the degree programme “Vehicle Electronics and Electromobility”
• 2012–2021: Member of the Faculty Council (Faculty 4)
• 2014–2021: Head of the Commission for Quality Improvement Measures (Faculty 4)
• Since 2021: University cooperation with Wayne State University (WSU), Detroit, USA. Conducting annual joint learning and research projects with student exchange
• VDE Liaison Lecturer

Klaus Thelen studied electrical engineering (specializing in communications engineering) at RWTH Aachen University and completed his studies in 1990 with a diploma thesis on the generation of high pulsed magnetic fields at the Max Planck Institute in Grenoble.

He then researched the development of optoelectronic integrated circuits based on GaAs and obtained his doctorate in 1993 at the ETH Zurich (Institute for Field Theory and High Frequency Technology)

Subsequently He was in charge of for Philips Semiconductors (NXP) in Zurich, focusing on the optimization of CMOS analog and digital circuits for the telecommunications sector. In 1989 he moved to semiconductor manufacturing in Nijmegen (NL) where he held various management positions. His work focused on the development of test structures for embedded flash memory devices, quiescent current reduction of CMOS circuits and yield improvement of integrated circuits for automotive and consumer applications.

In 2004, he took over the management of hardware development at Helbako GmbH- Heiligenhaus, a medium-sized automotive supplier for electronic control units in the area of comfort, safety and efficiency improvement.

In 2011, he was appointed Professor of Analog and Digital Circuits, Microcontroller Technology and Automotive Electronics at Ruhr-West University of Applied Sciences.

From 2012 to 2016, he headed the Institute of Measurement and Sensor Technology and developed and directed the Bachelor's degree program “Vehicle Electronics and Electric Mobility”, which has been offered at the HRW since the winter semester 2017.

• Automotive electronic control units improving occupant safety
• Radar sensors for automotive safety applications
• Radiothermometric temperature measurement of weakly conductive bodies in closed cavities
• Dynamic modeling and correction of temperature measurement deviation caused by self-heating in smart home control consoles
• Optimization of eddy current based liquid heaters for automotive applications using analytical mathematical models
• Optimization of heat dissipation structures of electronic assemblies in automotive applications using analytical solution of the heat conduction equation
• Analytical calculation of the field strength distribution of permanent magnet arrangements

Publications since 2012

Smart Sensor-Based Rear Seat Monitoring System to Prevent Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke, 2024 IEEE 67th International Midwest Symposium on Circuits and Systems (MWSCAS), August 2024, L. Sharara, J. Gillner, R. Taylor, K. Thelen, L. Alazzawi, M. Ismail DOI: 10.1109/MWSCAS60917.2024.10658737

Radar-based Breathing Sensor for Child Presence Detection in Automotive Applications, 2024 IEEE 67th International Midwest Symposium on Circuits and Systems (MWSCAS), August 2024, J. Gillner, R. Taylor, K. Thelen, DOI: 10.1109/MWSCAS60917.2024.10658809

De-Embedding Method for Determining Impedance Values of Striplines in a Self-Calibrating Radiometer, Sensorica 2024, 10^th International Workshop at the MST Institute Ruhr West of Applied Science June 2024, F. Ströder, K. Thelen

An Intelligent Sensor-Based Back Seat Monitoring System for Preventing Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke, IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Vehicles, June 2024 L. Sharara, K. Thelen, J. Gillner, J. Wolf, H. Syed, H. Syed, R. Taylor, L. Shankar, M. Berger, D. Forta, S. Rogowski, I. Hornung, L. Alazzawi, M. Ismail DOI: 10.1109/TIV.2024.3408842

Design of a Self-Calibrating Wide-Band Radiometer, International Workshop on Impedance Spectroscopy (IWIS) Sep 2023, Fabian Ströder, Klaus Thelen DOI: 10.1109/IWIS61214.2023.10302770

A Real-Time Automotive Safety System Based on Advanced AI Facial Detection Algorithms, IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Vehicles ( Volume: 9, Issue: 6, June 2024) L. Sharara, A. Politis, H. Syed, E. Kronell, D. Dunsmore, T. Thierfelder, J. Wolf, J. Süß, L. Mansour, K. Thelen, L. Alazzawi, M. Ismail, DOI: 10.1109/TIV.2023.3272304

In-situ Correction of Impedance Mismatch of a Microwave Radio Thermometer IEEE Int. Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conf. (I2MTC 2020), pp. 67–1-3, D. Xu, F. Ströder D. Erni, J. Himmel, K. Thelen

Determination of Measurement Errors Using Radio Thermometry in Closed Cavities Caused by finite Wall Conductivity, F. Ströder, D. Xu, J. Himmel, K. Thelen, IEEE Workshop Sensorica 2019, HRW, Mülheim an der Ruhr, June 2019

Non-contact Radiative Temperature Measurement of an Object in a Closed Cavity, European Microwave Conference (EuMC), October 2017, Dawei Xu, Dirk Rüter, Joerg Himmel, Daniel Erni, Klaus Thelen DOI: 10.23919/EuMC.2017.8230983

IEEE Workshop on Industrial and Medical Measurement and Sensor Technology – SENSORICA 2019 Himmel, Jörg, Erni, Daniel, Fischerauer, Alice, Kanoun, Olfa, Seeger, Thomas and Thelen, Klaus. tm - Technisches Messen, vol. 87, no. 5, 2020, pp. 303-303. https://doi.org/10.1515/teme-2020-0004

IEEE Workshop on Industrial and Medical Measurement and Sensor Technology – SENSORICA 2017, tm - Technisches Messen, vol. 85, no. 5, 2018, pp. 291-291. Himmel, Jörg, Erni, Daniel, Fischerauer, Alice, Kanoun, Olfa, Seeger, Thomas and Thelen, Klaus. https://doi.org/10.1515/teme-2018-0013

IEEE Workshop on Industrial and Medical Measurement and Sensor Technology – SENSORICA 2016, Himmel, Jörg, Kanoun, Olfa, Seeger, Thomas and Thelen, Klaus. tm - Technisches Messen, vol. 84, no. 1, 2017, pp. 1-1. https://doi.org/10.1515/teme-2016-0065

Temperature Measurement of an Object Using Blackbody Radiation with Compensation of Impedance Mismatch IEEE Workshop & SENSORICA June 2017, Dawei Xu, Klaus Thelen, Jörg Himmel, Daniel Erni

3-D Potential Distribution Measurement in Electrosurgery by a Flexible Multielectrode System, C. Knopf, J. Himmel, S. Klöckner, K.Thelen, and O. Kanoun: IEEE transactions on instrumentation and measurement vol. pp issue 99 2014, DOI: 10.1109/TIM.2014.2310112

Power loss density distribution in biological tissue to analyse processes in electrosurgery, Knopf, C. ; Himmel, J. ; Hochgeschurz, F. ; Klockner, S. ; Thelen, K. ; Kanoun, O. Multi-Conference on Systems, Signals & Devices (SSD), 2014 11th International, 2014, DOI: 10.1109/SSD.2014.6808854

Workshop „Industrielle Messtechnik und Kraftfahrzeugsensorik, Himmel, Jörg, Kanoun, Olfa and Thelen, Klaus. tm - Technisches Messen, vol. 81, no. 11, 2014, pp. 535-536. https://doi.org/10.1515/teme-2014-9011

Workshop Medizinische Messtechnik an der Hochschule Ruhr West in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Himmel, Jörg, Kanoun, Olfa and Thelen, Klaus. tm – Technisches Messen, vol. 80, no. 11, 2013, pp. 353-354. https://doi.org/10.1524/teme.2013.9011

Magnetic Field Topologies for Fast Impedance Mapping of Biological Tissue, Heidary, Maral ; Kanoun, Olfa; Rüter, Dirk ; Thelen, Klaus ; Weidenmüller, Jens ; Himmel, Jörg: Int. Workshop on Impedance Spectroscopy, 26.-28. Sep 2012, Chemnitz

Patents

DE102016113216B3 Tils, Schreiner, Merker, Maas, Waitz, Thelen, Rüter, Xu „Verfahren zur berührungslosen Bestimmung der Temperatur eines Garguts in einem Gargerät sowie Gargerät“ 18.7.2016

• Project work Introduction to automotive electronics (1st semester: Automotive Electronics and Electric Mobility)
• Electrical Engineering II (2nd semester: Electrical and Computer Engineering, Automotive Electronics and Electric Mobility, Mechatronics)
• Digital systems - microcontroller technology (3rd semester: Automotive Electronics and Electric Mobility, Electrical and Computer Engineering)
• Project work on Automotive Electronics and Sensors (4th semester: Automotive Electronics and Electric Mobility)
• Simulation of electronic systems (5th semester: Automotive Electronics and Electric Mobility)
• Automotive Electronics and Electric Mobility (5th semester Automotive Electronics and Electric Mobility)
• Electrodynamics (Master Systems Engineering)

2012-2016 Dean/Pro Dean: Head of the Institute of Measurement and Sensor Technology

Establishment of university cooperation with the Chinese-German Technical Faculty (CDTF) of Qingdao University of Science and Technology (QUST) (together with colleagues Profes. Himmel, Kempen, Paschen)

Conception and management of the study program “Automotive Electronics and Electric Mobility”

2012-2021 Member of the Faculty Council (FB4)

2014-2021 Head of the Commission for Quality Improvement Measures (FB4)

Since 2021 University cooperation with Wayne State University (WSU) Detroit, USA. Implementation of annual joint learning and research projects with student exchanges (COIL)

Contact lecturer VDE (association of german electrical engineers)