Patents by Inventor Dirk Hammerschmidt

Dirk Hammerschmidt 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: 11982526
    Abstract: In some implementations, an angle sensor may determine an angular position of an object based on first sensor values received from a first set of sensing elements. The first sensor values include a first x-component of a magnetic field and a first y-component of the magnetic field. The angle sensor may determine the angular position of the object based on second sensor values received from a second set of sensing elements. The second sensor values include a second x-component of the magnetic field and a second y-component of the magnetic field. The angle sensor may perform a set of safety checks, including performing an x-component check based on the first x-component and the second x-component and performing a y-component check based on the first y-component and the second y-component. The angle sensor may provide an indication of a result of the set of safety checks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Dirk Hammerschmidt
  • Publication number: 20240129367
    Abstract: A monitoring system includes: a sensor configured to generate a sensor signal based on a measured property; a controller configured to communicate with the sensor; and a communication channel electrically coupled to the sensor and the controller for carrying electrical communications therebetween. The sensor includes a transmitter configured to transmit an electrical signal on the communication channel to the controller. The controller includes a processing circuit configured to receive the electrical signal, measure an actual signal function response of the electrical signal, correlate the actual signal function response with a reference signal function response to generate a correlation value, compare the correlation value and a correlation threshold to produce a comparison result, and detect a fault based on the comparison result indicating that the correlation value satisfies the correlation threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Veit KLEEBERGER, Rafael ZALMAN, Dirk HAMMERSCHMIDT
  • Patent number: 11914007
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor package includes a sensor housing; a first sensor chip having an integrated first differential magnetic field sensor circuit, the first sensor chip being arranged in the sensor housing; a second sensor chip having an integrated second differential magnetic field sensor circuit, the second sensor chip being arranged in the sensor housing; a common leadframe arranged in the sensor housing and interposed between the first sensor chip and the second sensor chip; and an insulating layer arranged in the sensor housing interposed between the first sensor chip and the common leadframe. The first sensor chip is coupled to the common leadframe via the insulating layer. Additionally, the insulating layer electrically insulates the first sensor chip from the common leadframe such that the first sensor chip and the second sensor chip are galvanically decoupled from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Dirk Hammerschmidt, Helmut Koeck, Andrea Monterastelli, Tobias Werth
  • Patent number: 11859971
    Abstract: In some implementations, an angle sensor may receive a first x-component value and a first y-component value from a first set sensing elements and a second x-component value and a second y-component value from a second set of angle sensing elements. The angle sensor may perform a safety check including determining a first range of angles associated with a target object based on a relationship between a magnitude of the first x-component value and a magnitude of the first y-component value; determining a second range of angles associated with the target object based on a relationship between a magnitude of the second x-component value and a magnitude of the second y-component value; and determining whether the second range of angles is a subset of the first range of angles. The angle sensor may output an indication of a result of the safety check.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Dirk Hammerschmidt
  • Publication number: 20230400372
    Abstract: A sensor system includes a first metamaterial track mechanically coupled to a rotational shaft configured to rotate about a rotational axis, wherein the first metamaterial track is arranged at least partially around the rotational axis, and wherein the first metamaterial track includes a first array of elementary structures; at least one transmitter configured to transmit a first continuous wave towards the first metamaterial track, wherein the first metamaterial track is configured to convert the first continuous wave into a first receive signal based on a rotational parameter of the rotational shaft; and at least one quadrature continuous-wave receiver configured to receive the first receive signal, acquire a first measurement of a first property of the first receive signal, and determine a measurement value for the rotational parameter of the rotational shaft based on the first measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: Alexander SCHOSSMANN, Alexander BERGMANN, Dirk HAMMERSCHMIDT, Christof MICHENTHALER
  • Patent number: 11821935
    Abstract: In some examples, this disclosure describes a method of operating a circuit. The method may comprise performing a circuit function under normal operating conditions, wherein performing the circuit function under the normal operating conditions includes performing at least a portion of the circuit functions via a characteristic circuit, performing at least the portion of the circuit function under enhanced stress conditions via a characteristic circuit replica, and predicting a potential future problem with the circuit function under the normal conditions based on an evaluation of operation of the characteristic circuit relative to operation of the characteristic circuit replica.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Dirk Hammerschmidt, Bernhard Gstoettenbauer, Rafael Zalman, Thomas Zettler, Georg Georgakos, Ludwig Rossmeier, Veit Kleeberger
  • Patent number: 11821760
    Abstract: By a relative movement between an arrangement of at least three magnetic field sensors and a magnetic field generator, different discrete positional relationships can be produced between the same. A first signal is calculated as a first linear combination using at least two of three sensor signals. It is checked whether the first signal uniquely indicates one of the different discrete positional relationships. If yes, it is determined that the arrangement is located in the one discrete positional relationship. If no, a second signal is calculated as a second linear combination using at least two of the three sensor signals, at least one of which differs from the sensor signals used in the calculation of the first signal, and at least the second signal is used to determine in which of the different discrete positional relationships the arrangement is located relative to the magnetic field generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Dirk Hammerschmidt, Robert Hermann
  • Patent number: 11804951
    Abstract: The described techniques facilitate the secure transmission of sensor measurement data to an ECU by implementing an authentication procedure. The authentication procedure includes an integrated circuit (IC) generating authentication tags by encrypting portions of sensor measurement data. These authentication tags are then transmitted together with the sensor measurement data as authenticated sensor measurement data. The ECU may then use the authentication tags to authenticate the sensor measurement data based upon a comparison of the portions of the sensor measurement data sensor measurement data to the authentication tag that is expected to be generated for those portions of sensor measurement data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Friedrich Rasbornig, Hans-Joerg Wagner, Dirk Hammerschmidt, Tobias Werth
  • Patent number: 11788910
    Abstract: A sensor system includes a first metamaterial track mechanically coupled to a rotational shaft configured to rotate about a rotational axis, wherein the first metamaterial track is arranged at least partially around the rotational axis, and wherein the first metamaterial track includes a first array of elementary structures; at least one transmitter configured to transmit a first continuous wave towards the first metamaterial track, wherein the first metamaterial track is configured to convert the first continuous wave into a first receive signal based on a rotational parameter of the rotational shaft; and at least one quadrature continuous-wave receiver configured to receive the first receive signal, acquire a first measurement of a first property of the first receive signal, and determine a measurement value for the rotational parameter of the rotational shaft based on the first measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Alexander Schossmann, Alexander Bergmann, Dirk Hammerschmidt, Christof Michenthaler
  • Patent number: 11789097
    Abstract: A method for generating a closed flux magnetization pattern of a predetermined rotational direction in a magnetic reference layer of a magnetic layer stack is provided. The method includes applying an external magnetic field in a predetermined direction to the magnetic layer stack causing magnetic saturation of the magnetic reference layer and of a pinned layer of the magnetic layer stack; and reducing the external magnetic field to form a first closed flux magnetization pattern in the magnetic reference layer and a second closed flux magnetization pattern in the pinned layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Dirk Hammerschmidt, Armin Satz, Juergen Zimmer
  • Publication number: 20230328073
    Abstract: A sensor device, having a sensor apparatus configured to measure a measurement parameter in order to obtain a measurement result, a transmission apparatus for transmitting an analog signal indicative of the measurement result and a digital signal indicative of at least part of the same measurement result to an evaluation device, and a protection apparatus for protecting the digital signal prior to transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventor: Dirk HAMMERSCHMIDT
  • Publication number: 20230305048
    Abstract: Some described techniques address issues of latency and lengthy processing times associated with conventional redundant sensor measurement systems that rely upon digital transmission protocols by implementing a diverse analog sensor interface architecture. Additional described techniques provide a redundant signaling solution to achieve signaling diversity using a combination of analog and digital sensor interface architectures. The described architectures may advantageously use a number of sensor measurement paths that may be independent of one another or share any suitable number of common components to provide varying levels of redundancy. When redundant analog sensor interface architectures are implemented, the analog interfaces may also provide signal diversity with respect to the use of different types of analog transmission protocols, which may include different signaling interfaces (e.g. differential versus single-ended), different transmission interfaces (e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Friedrich Rasbornig, Dirk Hammerschmidt, Bernhard Schaffer, Hans-Jörg Wagner
  • Patent number: 11733288
    Abstract: In some examples, a method of operating a circuit may comprise performing a circuit function under normal conditions, performing the circuit function under aggravated conditions, predicting a potential future problem with the circuit function under the normal conditions based on an output of the circuit function under the aggravated conditions, and outputting a predictive alert based on predicting the potential future problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Gstoettenbauer, Georg Georgakos, Dirk Hammerschmidt, Veit Kleeberger, Ludwig Rossmeier, Rafael Zalman, Thomas Zettler
  • Patent number: 11733260
    Abstract: A sensor device is provided with a magnetic field sensitive element being positioned in a magnetic field of a magnet. The magnetic field sensitive element is configured to sense an orientation angle of the magnetic field in the range between 0° and 360° and generate a sensing signal. The electronic circuitry is configured to receive and process the sensing signal from the magnetic field sensitive element to generate an angle signal indicating the orientation angle of the magnetic field and an angular speed of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Helmut Koeck, Leo Aichriedler, Dirk Hammerschmidt, Andrea Monterastelli, Friedrich Rasbornig, Peter Slama, Dietmar Spitzer, Tobias Werth, Harald Witschnig
  • Publication number: 20230243635
    Abstract: An absolute position measurement system includes a multipole magnet including alternating magnetic poles extending along a multipole extension direction, the multipole magnet has a linear changing configuration relative to a linear path and produces a magnetic field having a field strength that undergoes a sinusoidal change along the linear path due to the alternating magnetic poles and a linear change along the linear path according to the linear changing configuration relative to the linear path; and a magnetic sensor configured to move along the linear path. The magnetic sensor includes a first sensor element arrangement configured to generate a first sensor signal, a second sensor element arrangement configured to generate a second sensor signal that is phase shifted with respect to the first sensor signal, and a processing circuit configured to calculate an absolute position of the magnetic sensor based on the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Joo ll PARK, Gernot BINDER, Dirk HAMMERSCHMIDT, Christoph OSWALD, Armin SATZ
  • Patent number: 11698311
    Abstract: A torque measurement system includes an outer rotational shaft and an inner rotational shaft both configured to rotate about a rotational axis. A rotation of the inner rotational shaft causes a rotation of the outer rotational shaft via a coupling structure. At least one torque applied to the inner rotational shaft is translated into a first torque-dependent angular shift between the shafts. A first metamaterial track is coupled to the outer rotational shaft and configured to co-rotate with the outer rotational shaft. A second metamaterial track is coupled to the inner rotational shaft and configured to co-rotate with the inner rotational shaft. The tracks are configured to convert an electro-magnetic transmit signal into a first electro-magnetic receive signal based on the first torque-dependent angular shift and a receiver is configured to receive the electro-magnetic receive signal and measure the at least one torque based on the electro-magnetic receive signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Alexander Schossmann, Alexander Bergmann, Franz Michael Darrer, Dirk Hammerschmidt, Christof Michenthaler
  • Patent number: 11698631
    Abstract: A crash sensor device may include multiple sensor components positioned along one or more data paths to a communication interface of the crash sensor device. The crash sensor device may include a test control unit. The test control unit may receive a test command from an electronic control unit during operation of a vehicle. The test control unit may perform a test of one or more sensor components, of the multiple sensor components, during operation of the vehicle based on the test command. The test control unit may output a test result to the electronic control unit based on performing the test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Dirk Hammerschmidt
  • Patent number: 11689326
    Abstract: The described techniques address the issues of latency and lengthy processing times associated with conventional redundant sensor measurement systems that rely upon digital transmission protocols by implementing a diverse analog sensor interface architecture. The described architecture may advantageously use a number of sensor measurement paths that may be independent of one another or share any suitable number of common components to provide varying levels of redundancy. The analog interfaces may provide signal diversity with respect to the use of different types of analog transmission protocols, which may include different signaling interfaces (e.g. differential versus single-ended), different transmission interfaces (e.g. voltage versus current interfaces), and/or the use of different signalization schemes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Friedrich Rasbornig, Bernhard Schaffer, Hans-Joerg Wagner, Dirk Hammerschmidt
  • Patent number: 11674791
    Abstract: A magnetic angle sensor system includes a first magnetic sensor configured to generate a first sensor signal, a second magnetic sensor configured to generate a second sensor signal, and at least one signal processor configured to: generate an angle signal including an angular value corresponding to an orientation of a magnetic field based on the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal; generate a vector length signal comprising a plurality of vector lengths corresponding to the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal; and extract at least one spectral component of the vector length signal, the at least one spectral component being indicative of a vector length variance between at least two consecutively sampled vector lengths of the plurality of vector lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Dirk Hammerschmidt
  • Publication number: 20230179223
    Abstract: A sigma delta (SD) pulse-width modulation (PWM) loop includes a loop filter implementing a linear transfer function to generate a loop filter signal, wherein the loop filter is configured to receive an input signal and a first feedback signal and generate the loop filter signal based on the input signal, the first feedback signal, and the linear transfer function; and a hysteresis comparator coupled to an output of the loop filter, the hysteresis comparator configured to receive the loop filter signal and generate a sigma delta PWM signal based on the loop filter signal, wherein the first feedback signal is derived from the sigma delta PWM signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2023
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Dirk HAMMERSCHMIDT