Patents by Inventor Clemens Kain

Clemens Kain 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: 11848430
    Abstract: A battery management circuit may be configured to monitor a plurality of battery cells. The battery management circuit may comprise a battery monitoring circuit, and a supply circuit configured to supply the battery monitoring circuit based on the plurality of battery cells. The supply circuit may comprise a DC/DC power converter and a regulator, and wherein the DC/DC power converter is configurable based on a number of monitored battery cells in the plurality of battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Clemens Kain, Mario Fuchs
  • Publication number: 20220223929
    Abstract: A battery management circuit may be configured to monitor a plurality of battery cells. The battery management circuit may comprise a battery monitoring circuit, and a supply circuit configured to supply the battery monitoring circuit based on the plurality of battery cells. The supply circuit may comprise a DC/DC power converter and a regulator, and wherein the DC/DC power converter is configurable based on a number of monitored battery cells in the plurality of battery cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Clemens Kain, Mario Fuchs
  • Patent number: 11233406
    Abstract: A battery management system is described that includes a controller configured to control electrical charging and discharging of a plurality of blocks of a battery. The battery management system also includes an inter-block communication network including a master node and a plurality of slave nodes arranged in a ring-type daisy-chain configuration with the master node. The master node is coupled to the controller and configured to initiate all command messages sent through the inter-block communication network and terminate all reply messages sent through the inter-block communication network. The plurality of slave nodes is bounded by an initial node coupled to the master node and a last node coupled to the master node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Clemens Kain, Guenter Hofer, Jesus Ruiz Sevillano
  • Patent number: 10819382
    Abstract: A transceiver circuit includes a first port and second port configured to be coupled to a first and second transmission channel, respectively; a supply port configured to receive a supply voltage; a first transceiver and a second transceiver having signal ports connected to the first port and second port, respectively; and a control circuit coupled to the first and second transceivers. Each of the first and second transceivers is connected to the supply port. At least one of the first and second transceivers includes a first half-bridge and a second half-bridge connected to the supply port and to the signal port at least one of the first and second transceivers, and a transceiver output circuit configured to generate a transceiver output signal based on a voltages across a low-side switches of the first and second half-bridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventor: Clemens Kain
  • Publication number: 20200083720
    Abstract: A battery management system is described that includes a controller configured to control electrical charging and discharging of a plurality of blocks of a battery. The battery management system also includes an inter-block communication network including a master node and a plurality of slave nodes arranged in a ring-type daisy-chain configuration with the master node. The master node is coupled to the controller and configured to initiate all command messages sent through the inter-block communication network and terminate all reply messages sent through the inter-block communication network. The plurality of slave nodes is bounded by an initial node coupled to the master node and a last node coupled to the master node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Clemens Kain, Guenter Hofer, Jesus Ruiz Sevillano
  • Patent number: 10505374
    Abstract: A battery management system is described that includes a controller configured to control electrical charging and discharging of a plurality of blocks of a battery. The battery management system also includes an inter-block communication network including a master node and a plurality of slave nodes arranged in a ring-type daisy-chain configuration with the master node. The master node is coupled to the controller and configured to initiate all command messages sent through the inter-block communication network and terminate all reply messages sent through the inter-block communication network. The plurality of slave nodes is bounded by an initial node coupled to the master node and a last node coupled to the master node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Clemens Kain, Guenter Hofer, Jesus Ruiz Sevillano
  • Publication number: 20190123777
    Abstract: A transceiver circuit includes a first port and second port configured to be coupled to a first and second transmission channel, respectively; a supply port configured to receive a supply voltage; a first transceiver and a second transceiver having signal ports connected to the first port and second port, respectively; and a control circuit coupled to the first and second transceivers. Each of the first and second transceivers is connected to the supply port. At least one of the first and second transceivers includes a first half-bridge and a second half-bridge connected to the supply port and to the signal port at least one of the first and second transceivers, and a transceiver output circuit configured to generate a transceiver output signal based on a voltages across a low-side switches of the first and second half-bridges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventor: Clemens Kain
  • Patent number: 10236765
    Abstract: A switched-capacitor circuit is described herein. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment the switched-capacitor circuit includes a first input node and a second input node and an input switch unit. The input switch is connected to the first input node and the second input node and has a first output node and a second output node. A first capacitor is coupled to the first output node of the input switch unit, and a second capacitor is coupled to the second output node of the input switch unit. The input switch unit includes a plurality of switches configured to con-nect and disconnect one of the first and second input nodes and one of the first capacitor and the second capacitor. The input switch unit further includes a first charge pump coupled to the first input node and a second charge pump coupled to the second input node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Clemens Kain
  • Publication number: 20180219476
    Abstract: A switched-capacitor circuit is described herein. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment the switched-capacitor circuit includes a first input node and a second input node and an input switch unit. The input switch is connected to the first input node and the second input node and has a first output node and a second output node. A first capacitor is coupled to the first output node of the input switch unit, and a second capacitor is coupled to the second output node of the input switch unit. The input switch unit includes a plurality of switches configured to con-nect and disconnect one of the first and second input nodes and one of the first capacitor and the second capacitor. The input switch unit further includes a first charge pump coupled to the first input node and a second charge pump coupled to the second input node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventor: Clemens Kain
  • Publication number: 20170346308
    Abstract: A battery management system is described that includes a controller configured to control electrical charging and discharging of a plurality of blocks of a battery. The battery management system also includes an inter-block communication network including a master node and a plurality of slave nodes arranged in a ring-type daisy-chain configuration with the master node. The master node is coupled to the controller and configured to initiate all command messages sent through the inter-block communication network and terminate all reply messages sent through the inter-block communication network. The plurality of slave nodes is bounded by an initial node coupled to the master node and a last node coupled to the master node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Clemens Kain, Guenter Hofer, Jesus Ruiz Sevillano
  • Patent number: 9423450
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for charge balancing in a charge storage arrangement having a plurality of charge storage cells connected in series, and a charge balancing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Clemens Kain
  • Patent number: 9322885
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a method for evaluating a cell of a battery is provided. The method may include: balancing a voltage of at least one cell of the battery using charge pulses, wherein the charge pulses are modulated with an oscillating test signal; measuring a current flow through the cell and measuring a voltage across the cell; demodulating the measured current and the measured voltage; and determining an impedance based on the demodulated current and the demodulated voltage. Further, in various embodiments, a circuit is provided, including a balancing circuit configured to inductively transfer charges between cells in a battery using current pulses, and a control unit configured to control the balancing circuit to provide the current pulses, wherein an average value of the current pulses oscillates over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventor: Clemens Kain
  • Patent number: 9157939
    Abstract: A method and to a system can be used for measuring electric voltages in batteries with a number of battery cells. A measuring circuit includes at least one digital analog converter that constitutes, in combination with a number of comparators, an analog digital converter to determine the electric voltages of the battery cells. The comparators compare a reference voltage generated by the digital analog converter with the electric voltage of the battery cells over a number of separate measuring channels to the individual battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Clemens Kain, Guenter Gross
  • Publication number: 20150145520
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a method for evaluating a cell of a battery is provided. The method may include: balancing a voltage of at least one cell of the battery using charge pulses, wherein the charge pulses are modulated with an oscillating test signal; measuring a current flow through the cell and measuring a voltage across the cell; demodulating the measured current and the measured voltage; and determining an impedance based on the demodulated current and the demodulated voltage. Further, in various embodiments, a circuit is provided, including a balancing circuit configured to inductively transfer charges between cells in a battery using current pulses, and a control unit configured to control the balancing circuit to provide the current pulses, wherein an average value of the current pulses oscillates over time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Clemens Kain
  • Patent number: 8994563
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method for operating a signal converter includes converting an analog input signal to a digital output signal, comprising by comparing the analog input signal to an analog comparison signal, and detecting whether the analog input signal exceeds a predetermined maximum or minimum threshold by comparing the analog input signal to an analog threshold signal. The analog comparison signal and the analog threshold signal are generated by a same digital-to-analog converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Heimo Hartlieb, Clemens Kain, Michael Hausmann
  • Publication number: 20150048958
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method for operating a signal converter includes converting an analog input signal to a digital output signal, comprising by comparing the analog input signal to an analog comparison signal, and detecting whether the analog input signal exceeds a predetermined maximum or minimum threshold by comparing the analog input signal to an analog threshold signal. The analog comparison signal and the analog threshold signal are generated by a same digital-to-analog converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Heimo Hartlieb, Clemens Kain, Michael Hausmann
  • Publication number: 20140333266
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for charge balancing in a charge storage arrangement having a plurality of charge storage cells connected in series, and a charge balancing circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventor: Clemens Kain
  • Patent number: 8791667
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for charge balancing in a charge storage arrangement having a plurality of charge storage cells connected in series, and a charge balancing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Clemens Kain
  • Publication number: 20140043031
    Abstract: A method and to a system can be used for measuring electric voltages in batteries with a number of battery cells. A measuring circuit includes at least one digital analog converter that constitutes, in combination with a number of comparators, an analog digital converter to determine the electric voltages of the battery cells. The comparators compare a reference voltage generated by the digital analog converter with the electric voltage of the battery cells over a number of separate measuring channels to the individual battery cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Clemens Kain, Guenter Gross
  • Publication number: 20120194134
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for charge balancing in a charge storage arrangement having a plurality of charge storage cells connected in series, and a charge balancing circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Clemens Kain