Patents by Inventor Andreas Fitzi

Andreas Fitzi has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11742803
    Abstract: An amplifier circuit includes a circuit path of serially connected complementary type transistors. First and second feedback loops include a loop amplifier, the transistors of the circuit path and a corresponding resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: AMS AG
    Inventors: Carlo Fiocchi, Andreas Fitzi, Andras Mozsary
  • Publication number: 20230006665
    Abstract: A charge sensitive amplifier circuit for sensor frontend comprises an input node to be connected to a sensor to receive an input charge, and an output node to be connected to a charge conversion circuit. The charge sensitive amplifier circuit comprises a first transfer switch located between the input node and the output node to transfer the input charge to the output node. The charge sensitive amplifier circuit further comprises a second transfer switch located in parallel to the first transfer switch between the input node and the output node to transfer the input charge to the output node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: ams International AG
    Inventors: Andreas FITZI, Roger EHRENSPERGER
  • Publication number: 20220321130
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement for charge integration may include an input for applying a signal representing charge pulses, an output for providing an integrated signal, and an integrating circuit connected between the input and the output, comprising a resistive circuit and a capacitor and having an RC time constant which is a function of the resistive circuit and the capacitor. The circuit arrangement may include a feedback control circuit connected at its input, to the output of the circuit arrangement and providing, at its output, a control signal, where at least one of the resistive circuit and the capacitor has a variable value based on the control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventor: Andreas FITZI
  • Publication number: 20220208824
    Abstract: An optoelectronic device comprises a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity having a front side and a backside. A second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity is arranged on the front side of the first semiconductor layer, and further comprises a first semiconductor region and a second semiconductor region forming a photodiode in the second semiconductor layer. A signal path electrically connects the photodiode to a fixed potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Urs DENIER, Andreas FITZI
  • Patent number: 11355547
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a multitude of photodiodes and analog-to-digital converters disposed in adjacent first and second portions of a semiconductor substrate. The photodiodes exhibit X-ray radiation tolerance. An arrangement of several image sensors in adjacent rows can be used for an X-ray detector in a computed tomography apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: AMS INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventor: Andreas Fitzi
  • Publication number: 20220094307
    Abstract: An amplifier circuit includes a circuit path of serially connected complementary type transistors. First and second feedback loops include a loop amplifier, the transistors of the circuit path and a corresponding resistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Carlo FIOCCHI, Andreas FITZI, Andras MOZSARY
  • Patent number: 11139335
    Abstract: The assembly comprises a semiconductor device with an active-pixel array, a readout circuit chip or plurality of readout circuit chips mounted outside the active-pixel array, the readout circuit chip or plurality of readout circuit chips being configured to read out voltages or currents provided by the active-pixel array, and electric connections between the active-pixel array and the readout circuit chip or plurality of readout circuit chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: AMS INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: Thomas Froehlich, Michael Leitner, Thomas Troxler, Josef Pertl, Dominik Hollinger, Thomas Mueller, Andreas Fitzi, Jens Hofrichter
  • Publication number: 20210175275
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a multitude of photodiodes and analog-to-digital converters disposed in adjacent first and second portions of a semiconductor substrate. The photodiodes exhibit X-ray radiation tolerance. An arrangement of several image sensors in adjacent rows can be used for an X-ray detector in a computed tomography apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventor: Andreas FITZI
  • Publication number: 20200168657
    Abstract: The assembly comprises a semiconductor device with an active-pixel array, a readout circuit chip or plurality of readout circuit chips mounted outside the active-pixel array, the readout circuit chip or plurality of readout circuit chips being configured to read out voltages or currents provided by the active-pixel array, and electric connections between the active-pixel array and the readout circuit chip or plurality of readout circuit chips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas Froehlich, Michael Leitner, Thomas Troxler, Josef PERTL, Dominik Hollinger, Thomas Mueller, Andreas Fitzi, Jens Hofrichter
  • Patent number: 10622950
    Abstract: An amplifier arrangement has a first differential stage with a first transistor pair, a second differential stage with a first and a second transistor pair, each pair having a common source connection. The amplifier arrangement further has a first complementary differential stage with a transistor pair having opposite conductivity type, and a second complementary differential stage with a first and a second transistor pair of the complementary conductivity type. The first and the second complementary differential stage are connected symmetrically compared to the first and the second differential stage. The transistors of the second differential stage and the second complementary differential stage are symmetrically connected to form respective first, second, third and fourth current paths. A pair of output terminals is coupled to the first and the fourth current path. Gate terminals of the transistors are coupled to a respective pair of input terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: ams AG
    Inventors: Matthias Steiner, Andreas Fitzi
  • Patent number: 10243017
    Abstract: The sensor chip stack comprises a sensor substrate of a semiconductor material including a sensor, a chip fastened to the sensor substrate, the chip including an integrated circuit, electric interconnections between the sensor substrate and the chip, electric terminals of the chip, the chip being arranged between the electric terminals and the sensor substrate, and a molding material arranged adjacent to the chip, the electric terminals of the chip being free from the molding material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: ams International AG
    Inventors: Georg Parteder, Jochen Kraft, Franz Schrank, Thomas Troxler, Andreas Fitzi
  • Publication number: 20190006998
    Abstract: An amplifier arrangement has a first differential stage with a first transistor pair, a second differential stage with a first and a second transistor pair, each pair having a common source connection. The amplifier arrangement further has a first complementary differential stage with a transistor pair having opposite conductivity type, and a second complementary differential stage with a first and a second transistor pair of the complementary conductivity type. The first and the second complementary differential stage are connected symmetrically compared to the first and the second differential stage. The transistors of the second differential stage and the second complementary differential stage are symmetrically connected to form respective first, second, third and fourth current paths. A pair of output terminals is coupled to the first and the fourth current path. Gate terminals of the transistors are coupled to a respective pair of input terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Matthias STEINER, Andreas FITZI
  • Patent number: 9966912
    Abstract: An amplifier circuit with a differential input and a differential output comprises a first and a second pair of matched transistors having a first threshold voltage and comprising control terminals connected to the differential input. A first and a second pair of triplets of transistors having a second threshold voltage being different from the first threshold voltage is connected to each one of the pairs of matched transistors such that respective current paths are formed with these transistors. The currents are split up to bias current sources and to an output stage such that the current is reused for implementing a class AB operation. Furthermore, a current through bias transistors connected in the current path of the first and the second pair of matched transistors is mirrored to output transistors being arranged in a differential current path of the output stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: ams AG
    Inventors: José Manuel García González, Andreas Fitzi
  • Publication number: 20180006074
    Abstract: The sensor chip stack comprises a sensor substrate of a semiconductor material including a sensor, a chip fastened to the sensor substrate, the chip including an integrated circuit, electric interconnections between the sensor substrate and the chip, electric terminals of the chip, the chip being arranged between the electric terminals and the sensor substrate, and a molding material arranged adjacent to the chip, the electric terminals of the chip being free from the molding material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Georg PARTEDER, Jochen KRAFT, Franz SCHRANK, Thomas TROXLER, Andreas FITZI
  • Patent number: 9813026
    Abstract: An amplifier arrangement is presented, comprising a first differential stage (DS1) comprising at least two transistors (M1, M1?) having a first threshold voltage (Vth1), at least a second differential stage (DS2) comprising at least two transistors (M3, M3?) having a second threshold voltage different from the first threshold voltage, at least one of the transistors of the first and second differential stage (DS1, DS2), respectively, has a control input commonly coupled to an input of the amplifier arrangement, at least one transistor (M1) of the first differential stage and one transistor (M3) of the second differential stage are arranged in a common current path, which is coupled to an output of the amplifier arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: AMS AG
    Inventor: Andreas Fitzi
  • Publication number: 20170310291
    Abstract: An amplifier circuit with a differential input and a differential output comprises a first and a second pair of matched transistors having a first threshold voltage and comprising control terminals connected to the differential input. A first and a second pair of triplets of transistors having a second threshold voltage being different from the first threshold voltage is connected to each one of the pairs of matched transistors such that respective current paths are formed with these transistors. The currents are split up to bias current sources and to an output stage such that the current is reused for implementing a class AB operation. Furthermore, a current through bias transistors connected in the current path of the first and the second pair of matched transistors is mirrored to output transistors being arranged in a differential current path of the output stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Applicant: ams AG
    Inventors: José Manual Garcia GONZÁLEZ, Andreas FITZI
  • Patent number: 9768798
    Abstract: A delta-sigma modulator (10) comprises a modulator loop (11) and a code generator (12). The modulator loop (11) comprises a loop filter (18). The code generator (12) is configured to generate a generator signal (BS) that is realized as an extended Barker code. The code generator (12) comprises a generator output (23) that is coupled to the loop filter (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: AMS AG
    Inventors: Thomas Christen, Thomas Froehlich, Andreas Fitzi, Dusan Prelog
  • Patent number: 9739659
    Abstract: An optical sensor arrangement (10) comprises a photodiode (11) for providing a sensor current (IPD) and an analog-to-digital converter arrangement (12) which is coupled to the photodiode (11) and determines a digital value of the sensor current (IPD) in a charge balancing operation in a first phase (A) and in another conversion operation in a second phase (B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: AMS AG
    Inventors: Gonggui Xu, Andreas Fitzi
  • Patent number: 9735336
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for switching an electrical load having at least one capacitive component and one inductive component in a bridge branch of a bridge circuit comprises a charging of the bridge branch to a first voltage (V1) in a forward switching phase (F), a discharging of the capacitive component of the electrical load in a first open switching phase (O1), a charging of the bridge branch to a second voltage (V2) in a reverse switching phase (R), with the second voltage (V2) being polarized inversely from the first voltage (V1), and a negative charging of the capacitive component of the electrical load in a second open switching phase (O2). A bridge circuit is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: AMS AG
    Inventors: Andreas Fitzi, Stephan Dobretsberger
  • Publication number: 20170077946
    Abstract: A delta-sigma modulator (10) comprises a modulator loop (11) and a code generator (12). The modulator loop (11) comprises a loop filter (18). The code generator (12) is configured to generate a generator signal (BS) that is realized as an extended Barker code. The code generator (12) comprises a generator output (23) that is coupled to the loop filter (18).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas CHRISTEN, Thomas FROEHLICH, Andreas FITZI, Dusan PRELOG