Patents by Inventor Kurt Riedmuller

Kurt Riedmuller 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: 9366547
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement has a plurality of Hall sensor devices, each configured to provide a sensor voltage in response to a magnetic field intensity. A selection unit is configured to forward either of the sensor voltages in response to a selection signal. A transconductance amplifier is configured to generate a sensing current depending on a forwarded sensor voltage. A filter stage has a resistor and a filter capacitor connected in parallel in a switchable manner in response to a first switching signal. The filter stage is configured to generate a filtered voltage across the filter capacitor depending on a sensing current. A capacitive analog-to-digital converter has an input capacitor being connected to the filter capacitor in a switchable manner in response to a second switching signal. The analog-to-digital converter is configured to generate a digital sensor value based on a filtered voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: ams AG
    Inventors: Richard Forsyth, Gerhard Oberhoffner, Kurt Riedmüller, Davide Maschera
  • Patent number: 8188731
    Abstract: A controller includes a control circuit. The control circuit includes a forward path that includes an input and an output, a feedback path coupled to the output and to the input, and a sensor that is between the input and the output. The sensor generates a sensor signal based on an input signal applied to the input. The forward path generates an output signal based on the sensor signal. The output signal is sent along the feedback path to the input of the forward path. The controller also includes a detector that obtains an intermediate signal from the forward path between the input and the output. The detector generates a control signal using the intermediate signal. The forward path includes a control device that limits the output signal to a predetermined value. The detector controls the control device using the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Austriamicrosystems AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Oberhoffner, Colin Steele, Kurt Riedmuller
  • Patent number: 8089275
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement has a sensor array (SA) with a first, a second, and a third sensor focus (SSP1, SSP2, SSP3), which are located along a main linear direction (L) and in which the third sensor focus (SSP3) is located in the middle between the first and second sensor foci (SSP1, SSP2). Individual sensor devices (SM1, SM2, SM3) with magnetic field sensors that provide a first, second, and third set of sensor signals are correlated with the sensor foci (SSP1, SSP2, SSP3). A first and a second channel signal (CH1, CH2) are derived as a function of the sets of sensor signals in a processing device (PRC) via a first and a second combination device (K1, K2). An evaluation unit (EV) is configured to derive a phase angle as a function of the channel signals (CH1, CH2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: austriamicrosystem AG
    Inventor: Kurt Riedmüller
  • Publication number: 20110133723
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement has a plurality of Hall sensor devices, each configured to provide a sensor voltage in response to a magnetic field intensity. A selection unit is configured to forward either of the sensor voltages in response to a selection signal. A transconductance amplifier is configured to generate a sensing current depending on a forwarded sensor voltage. A filter stage has a resistor and a filter capacitor connected in parallel in a switchable manner in response to a first switching signal. The filter stage is configured to generate a filtered voltage across the filter capacitor depending on a sensing current. A capacitive analog-to-digital converter has an input capacitor being connected to the filter capacitor in a switchable manner in response to a second switching signal. The analog-to-digital converter is configured to generate a digital sensor value based on a filtered voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: austriamicrosystems AG
    Inventors: Richard FORSYTH, Gerhard Oberhoffner, Kurt Riedmüller, Davide Maschera
  • Publication number: 20090243606
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement has a sensor array (SA) with a first, a second, and a third sensor focus (SSP1, SSP2, SSP3), which are located along a main linear direction (L) and in which the third sensor focus (SSP3) is located in the middle between the first and second sensor foci (SSP1, SSP2). Individual sensor devices (SM1, SM2, SM3) with magnetic field sensors that provide a first, second, and third set of sensor signals are correlated with the sensor foci (SSP1, SSP2, SSP3). A first and a second channel signal (CH1, CH2) are derived as a function of the sets of sensor signals in a processing device (PRC) via a first and a second combination device (K1, K2). An evaluation unit (EV) is configured to derive a phase angle as a function of the channel signals (CH1, CH2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: austriamicrosystems AG
    Inventor: Kurt RIEDMULLER
  • Publication number: 20060164078
    Abstract: The invention provides for a controller with a control circuit, which contains a feedback path coupled back to the feedback input of the control circuit, a sensor (S) that is arranged in the control circuit and emits a sensor signal at its output, which is converted into a feedback signal and routed back to the feedback input of the control circuit, an error signal generator (F), which generates an error signal and injects it into the control circuit, a detector (D), which monitors a measuring signal of the control circuit that sets the output signal (I2) of the control circuit to a predetermined value as a function of the output signal of the detector. Further, the invention relates to a method for operating this controller, with which an overload operation of the device can be detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Inventors: Gerhard Oberhoffner, Colin Steele, Kurt Riedmuller