Patents by Inventor Otmar Kruppa

Otmar Kruppa 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: 8988912
    Abstract: A system and method for emulating an ideal diode for use in a power control device is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a circuit for emulating an ideal diode, the circuit including at least one field effect transistor including a source, a drain, a gate, and a body diode, an input; an output coupled to the drain, a control circuit including a current sensor coupled between the input and the source, and a control circuit output coupled to the gate, wherein the control circuit is configured to activate the at least one field effect transistor based on whether the current flowing into the source is greater than a predetermined threshold, and wherein the body diode comprises an anode coupled to the source and a cathode coupled to the drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Leach International Corporation
    Inventors: Farshid Tofigh, Otmar Kruppa
  • Patent number: 8412966
    Abstract: Solid state power controllers are described that include a switch controlled by a microcontroller and communication contacts. In one aspect of the invention, the microcontroller is galvanically isolated from the communication contacts using magnetoresistive isolation. In another aspect of the invention a number of solid state power controllers are connected to an external microcontroller to form a power distribution array. In addition, messages exchanged between the external microcontroller and the solid state power controllers can be used to configure the solid state power controllers and provide a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Leach International Corporation
    Inventors: Farshid Tofigh, Otmar Kruppa, Imtiaz Khan, Iraj Ghahramani, David Lawton, Kent Policky
  • Publication number: 20120206844
    Abstract: Solid state power controllers are described that include a switch controlled by a microcontroller and communication contacts. In one aspect of the invention, the microcontroller is galvanically isolated from the communication contacts using magnetoresistive isolation. In another aspect of the invention a number of solid state power controllers are connected to an external microcontroller to form a power distribution array. In addition, messages exchanged between the external microcontroller and the solid state power controllers can be used to configure the solid state power controllers and provide a user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: Farshid Tofigh, Otmar Kruppa, Imtiaz Khan, Iraj Ghahramani, David Lawton, Kent Policky
  • Patent number: 8190934
    Abstract: Solid state power controllers in various configurations are provided. One such solid state power controller includes a power connector, a load connector and at least one communication connector, a solid state switch electrically connectable between the power connector and the load connector, where the switch includes an input, a microcontroller coupled to the input of the solid state switch, and current sensing circuitry coupled to the microcontroller and configured to sense a current flowing through the solid state switch, the current sensing circuitry including an amplifier having an offset error, where the current sensing circuitry is configured to generate a signal indicative of the current flowing through the solid state switch, and bias the generated signal to a predetermined level to substantially eliminate the offset error in the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Leach International Corporation
    Inventors: Farshid Tofigh, Otmar Kruppa, Imtiaz Khan, Iraj Ghahramani, David Lawton, Kent Policky
  • Patent number: 7995320
    Abstract: A system and method for protecting a coil structure in a controlled switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Leach International Corporation
    Inventors: Farshid Tofigh, Otmar Kruppa
  • Publication number: 20100214703
    Abstract: Solid state power controllers are described that include a switch controlled by a microcontroller and communication contacts. In one aspect of the invention, the microcontroller is galvanically isolated from the communication contacts using magnetoresistive isolation. In another aspect of the invention a number of solid state power controllers are connected to an external microcontroller to form a power distribution array. In addition, messages exchanged between the external microcontroller and the solid state power controllers can be used to configure the solid state power controllers and provide a user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: Farshid Tofigh, Otmar Kruppa, Imtiaz Khan, Iraj Ghahramani, David Lawton, Kent Policky
  • Patent number: 7760482
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a power control system with a fusible link. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a power control system, having a device possessing an output, a fusible link connected to the output of the device, a heating element controller, and at least one heating element connected to the heating element controller, where the heating element controller is configured to control the flow of current through the heating element, where the heating element controller is configured to monitor activity of the device, and where the heating element is configured to generate sufficient heat to fuse the fusible link within a predetermined time period when current flows through the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Leach International Corporation
    Inventors: Farshid Tofigh, Otmar Kruppa, Jesse Thomas Chen
  • Patent number: 7747879
    Abstract: Solid state power controllers are described that include a switch controlled by a microcontroller and communication contacts. In one aspect of the invention, the microcontroller is galvanically isolated from the communication contacts using magnetoresistive isolation. In another aspect of the invention a number of solid state power controllers are connected to an external microcontroller to form a power distribution array. In addition, messages exchanged between the external microcontroller and the solid state power controllers can be used to configure the solid state power controllers and provide a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Leach International Corporation
    Inventors: Farshid Tofigh, Otmar Kruppa, Imtiaz Khan, Iraj Ghahramani, David Lawton, Kent Policky
  • Publication number: 20100103709
    Abstract: A system and method for emulating an ideal diode for use in a power control device is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a circuit for emulating an ideal diode, the circuit including at least one field effect transistor including a source, a drain, a gate, and a body diode, an input; an output coupled to the drain, a control circuit including a current sensor coupled between the input and the source, and a control circuit output coupled to the gate, wherein the control circuit is configured to activate the at least one field effect transistor based on whether the current flowing into the source is greater than a predetermined threshold, and wherein the body diode comprises an anode coupled to the source and a cathode coupled to the drain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Farshid Tofigh, Otmar Kruppa
  • Publication number: 20090128979
    Abstract: A system and method for protecting a coil structure in a controlled switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Farshid TOFIGH, Otmar Kruppa
  • Publication number: 20080100411
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a power control system with a fusible link. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a power control system, having a device possessing an output, a fusible link connected to the output of the device, a heating element controller, and at least one heating element connected to the heating element controller, where the heating element controller is configured to control the flow of current through the heating element, where the heating element controller is configured to monitor activity of the device, and where the heating element is configured to generate sufficient heat to fuse the fusible link within a predetermined time period when current flows through the heating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventors: Farshid Tofigh, Otmar Kruppa, Jesse Thomas Chen
  • Publication number: 20060200688
    Abstract: Solid state power controllers are described that include a switch controlled by a microcontroller and communication contacts. In one aspect of the invention, the microcontroller is galvanically isolated from the communication contacts using magnetoresistive isolation. In another aspect of the invention a number of solid state power controllers are connected to an external microcontroller to form a power distribution array. In addition, messages exchanged between the external microcontroller and the solid state power controllers can be used to configure the solid state power controllers and provide a user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Publication date: September 7, 2006
    Inventors: Farshid Tofigh, Otmar Kruppa, Imtiaz Khan, Iraj Ghahramani, David Lawton, Kent Policky
  • Patent number: 6106140
    Abstract: A lighting arrangement for a space or compartment (2) which can be closed off, with a fire-proofing ceiling (3), in particular for receiving freight in passenger aircraft, comprising lighting units (6) arranged in the fire-proofing ceiling (3), which for the purposes of static load relief of the fire-proofing ceiling (3) and at the same time for a better lighting effect for the space or compartment (2), has the following features: a plurality of through openings (19) are arranged in distributed fashion in the fire-proofing ceiling (3), fire-resistant light coupling-out elements (16) are arranged in the through openings (19) in such a way that their light cones (9) intersect in the space or compartment (2) and the light coupling-out elements (16) are connected by way of optical waveguides (14) to at least one common light source (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Diehl Stiftung & Co.
    Inventors: Thomas Krummer, Otmar Kruppa