Patents by Inventor Carsten Hermann

Carsten Hermann 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).

  • Publication number: 20240143010
    Abstract: A voltage regulator circuit for providing a regulated voltage. The voltage regulator circuit includes: a regulator core which includes an operational amplifier having an output, a first input, and a second and third input configured to have the opposite polarity to the first input; and an output stage including a transistor, wherein the output is electrically conductively connected to the control terminal of the transistor, the first input is electrically conductively connected to a second terminal of the switching path of the transistor, and the third input can be electrically conductively connected to a reference voltage source. The second input can be electrically conductively connected to an input voltage source and the second input is electrically conductively connected to the output of a module which is configured to impress a control current into the second input, the level and/or polarization of which is dependent on a predetermined parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventor: Carsten Hermann
  • Patent number: 11829179
    Abstract: A method and an integrated circuit for limiting a switchable load current. The integrated circuit includes a main transistor, through which in the conductive state a load current flows for supplying a load and a mirror transistor, a gate terminal of the mirror transistor being electrically connected to a gate terminal of the main transistor and a source terminal of the mirror transistor being electrically connected to a source terminal of the main transistor. The integrated circuit further includes a coupling circuit, which is configured to track a source drain voltage of the mirror transistor as a function of the source drain voltage of the main transistor. A gate control circuit is further provided, which limits the load current through the main transistor on the basis of a drain current through the mirror transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Carsten Hermann
  • Patent number: 11808809
    Abstract: An electrical circuit for testing primary internal signals of an ASIC. Only test pin is provided via which a selection can be made of a digital or analog signal to be observed. The electrical circuit includes a Schmitt trigger between the test pin and an output terminal of the electrical circuit. A test mode id activated when a switching threshold of the Schmitt trigger is exceeded. At least one sub-circuit is provided for the observation of a digital signal, having a resistor, an NMOS transistor, and an AND gate, at whose first input the digital signal is present. The resistor is between the test pin and the drain terminal of the NMOS transistor. The source terminal is connected to ground, and the gate terminal is connected to the output of the AND gate. The second input of the AND gate being connected to the output terminal of the electrical circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Carsten Hermann
  • Publication number: 20220397928
    Abstract: A method and an integrated circuit for limiting a switchable load current. The integrated circuit includes a main transistor, through which in the conductive state a load current flows for supplying a load and a mirror transistor, a gate terminal of the mirror transistor being electrically connected to a gate terminal of the main transistor and a source terminal of the mirror transistor being electrically connected to a source terminal of the main transistor. The integrated circuit further includes a coupling circuit, which is configured to track a source drain voltage of the mirror transistor as a function of the source drain voltage of the main transistor. A gate control circuit is further provided, which limits the load current through the main transistor on the basis of a drain current through the mirror transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Inventor: Carsten Hermann
  • Patent number: 11262775
    Abstract: An electrical circuit for ensuring safe ramp-up and ramp-down of at least a regulated operating voltage, a reference voltage, and a reset signal for a consumer is described. The electrical circuit includes a voltage reference circuit and a voltage regulator. The voltage regulator is provided in order to furnish a regulated operating voltage, the voltage reference circuit is provided in order to be supplied with the regulated operating voltage furnished by the voltage regulator, and the voltage regulator is provided in order to obtain a reference voltage from the voltage reference circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Carsten Hermann
  • Patent number: 11061426
    Abstract: A voltage reference circuit serves to furnish a reference voltage for an application-specific integrated circuit. The voltage reference circuit includes a voltage input for applying an operating voltage; a ground terminal; a voltage output for furnishing a reference voltage; and a signal output for furnishing a power-on reset signal. The voltage reference circuit includes an IPTAT circuit, connected between the voltage input and ground terminal, for generating a current proportional to the absolute temperature, the voltage reference circuit being embodied to furnish the power-on reset signal only if the reference voltage has reached a target value and if additionally a current is flowing in the IPTAT circuit with a quantity of current that reaches or exceeds a minimum current intensity determined by a voltage value of the operating voltage and by a pull-down resistance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Carsten Hermann
  • Publication number: 20210063483
    Abstract: An electrical circuit for testing primary internal signals of an ASIC. Only test pin is provided via which a selection can be made of a digital or analog signal to be observed. The electrical circuit includes a Schmitt trigger between the test pin and an output terminal of the electrical circuit. A test mode id activated when a switching threshold of the Schmitt trigger is exceeded. At least one sub-circuit is provided for the observation of a digital signal, having a resistor, an NMOS transistor, and an AND gate, at whose first input the digital signal is present. The resistor is between the test pin and the drain terminal of the NMOS transistor. The source terminal is connected to ground, and the gate terminal is connected to the output of the AND gate. The second input of the AND gate being connected to the output terminal of the electrical circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2018
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventor: Carsten Hermann
  • Publication number: 20200387183
    Abstract: An electrical circuit for ensuring safe ramp-up and ramp-down of at least a regulated operating voltage, a reference voltage, and a reset signal for a consumer is described. The electrical circuit includes a voltage reference circuit and a voltage regulator. The voltage regulator is provided in order to furnish a regulated operating voltage, the voltage reference circuit is provided in order to be supplied with the regulated operating voltage furnished by the voltage regulator, and the voltage regulator is provided in order to obtain a reference voltage from the voltage reference circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventor: Carsten HERMANN
  • Publication number: 20200379498
    Abstract: A voltage reference circuit serves to furnish a reference voltage for an application-specific integrated circuit. The voltage reference circuit includes a voltage input for applying an operating voltage; a ground terminal; a voltage output for furnishing a reference voltage; and a signal output for furnishing a power-on reset signal. The voltage reference circuit includes an IPTAT circuit, connected between the voltage input and ground terminal, for generating a current proportional to the absolute temperature, the voltage reference circuit being embodied to furnish the power-on reset signal only if the reference voltage has reached a target value and if additionally a current is flowing in the IPTAT circuit with a quantity of current that reaches or exceeds a minimum current intensity determined by a voltage value of the operating voltage and by a pull-down resistance value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventor: Carsten HERMANN
  • Patent number: 10052960
    Abstract: A circuit for pulse duty factor limitation in a switch mode regulator, having an output stage to which control is applied by a signal, is described, in which circuit a pulse duty factor limiter is connected to the switch mode regulator in order to transfer the signal to the pulse duty factor limiter; the pulse duty factor limiter is configured to generate from the signal a limited signal limited at the top end in terms of pulse duty factor; and the pulse duty factor limiter is connected to the output stage in order to transfer the limited signal to the output stage. Also proposed is a method for operating a switch mode regulator having a downstream circuit to which control is applied by a signal of the switch mode regulator and having a capacitor that becomes charged when the downstream circuit is switched off, in which method the pulse duty factor of the signal is limited at an upper limit value in such a way that a predetermined charging time for the capacitor is available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Carsten Hermann
  • Patent number: 9928979
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement for activating a control device includes: a first switch in a main current path, via which the control device is activated; an alternative current path; and a control logic which compares a voltage present for activating the control device to a threshold voltage and opens the first switch if the threshold voltage falls below so that a higher volume of an interference current effectuated by the present negative voltage flows via the alternative current path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Kaiser, Carsten Hermann, Ralph Bauer, Johannes Kunst
  • Patent number: 9797371
    Abstract: An assembly of rotor blades and hub for a turbine, such as a tidal current turbine. Each rotor blade includes a cavity and at least two ribs extending into the cavity at a radially inward (lower) region of the rotor blade. The hub includes a journal for each blade and the journal extends into the cavity and is supported by the at least two ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Andritz Hydro GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Geromiller, Daniel Plessing, Carsten Hermann
  • Patent number: 9705480
    Abstract: A circuit for generating an output signal having a second pulse duty factor from an input signal having a first pulse duty factor includes a first capacitor and a second capacitor which are each connected to a charge source for periodically charging the capacitors. A voltage across the charged first capacitor is defined as a reference voltage, and the pulse duty factor of the output signal is defined by the charging period of the second capacitor required for reaching the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Carsten Hermann
  • Publication number: 20160207405
    Abstract: A circuit for pulse duty factor limitation in a switch mode regulator, having an output stage to which control is applied by a signal, is described, in which circuit a pulse duty factor limiter is connected to the switch mode regulator in order to transfer the signal to the pulse duty factor limiter; the pulse duty factor limiter is configured to generate from the signal a limited signal limited at the top end in terms of pulse duty factor; and the pulse duty factor limiter is connected to the output stage in order to transfer the limited signal to the output stage. Also proposed is a method for operating a switch mode regulator having a downstream circuit to which control is applied by a signal of the switch mode regulator and having a capacitor that becomes charged when the downstream circuit is switched off, in which method the pulse duty factor of the signal is limited at an upper limit value in such a way that a predetermined charging time for the capacitor is available.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Carsten Hermann
  • Publication number: 20160204769
    Abstract: A circuit for generating an output signal having a second pulse duty factor from an input signal having a first pulse duty factor includes a first capacitor and a second capacitor which are each connected to a charge source for periodically charging the capacitors. A voltage across the charged first capacitor is defined as a reference voltage, and the pulse duty factor of the output signal is defined by the charging period of the second capacitor required for reaching the reference voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventor: Carsten HERMANN
  • Publication number: 20160056002
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement for activating a control device includes: a first switch in a main current path, via which the control device is activated; an alternative current path; and a control logic which compares a voltage present for activating the control device to a threshold voltage and opens the first switch if the threshold voltage falls below so that a higher volume of an interference current effectuated by the present negative voltage flows via the alternative current path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Martin Kaiser, Carsten Hermann, Ralph Bauer, Johannes Kunst
  • Publication number: 20150071784
    Abstract: An assembly of rotor blades and hub for a turbine, such as a tidal current turbine. Each rotor blade includes a cavity and at least two ribs extending into the cavity at a radially inward (lower) region of the rotor blade. The hub includes a journal for each blade and the journal extends into the cavity and is supported by the at least two ribs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Johannes Geromiller, Daniel Plessing, Carsten Hermann