Patents by Inventor Steve Kummerl

Steve Kummerl 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: 11487381
    Abstract: An integrated force sensing element includes a piezoelectric sensor formed in an integrated circuit (IC) chip and a strain gauge at least partially overlying the piezoelectric sensor, where the piezoelectric sensor is able to flex. A human-machine interface using the integrated force sensing element is also disclosed and may include a conditioning circuit, temperature gauge, FRAM and a processor core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Wei-Yan Shih, Steve Kummerl, Mark Stephen Toth, Alok Lohia, Terry Lee Sculley, Seung Bae Lee, Scott Robert Summerfelt
  • Patent number: 11264369
    Abstract: In described examples, an integrated circuit includes a leadframe structure, which includes electrical conductors. A first coil structure is electrically connected to a first pair of the electrical conductors of the leadframe structure. The first coil structure is partially formed on a semiconductor die structure. A second coil structure is electrically connected to a second pair of the electrical conductors of the leadframe structure. The second coil structure is partially formed on the semiconductor die structure. A molded package structure encloses portions of the leadframe structure. The molded package structure exposes portions of the first and second pairs of the electrical conductors to allow external connection to the first and second coil structures. The molded package structure includes a cavity to magnetically couple portions of the first and second coil structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Barry Jon Male, Benjamin Stassen Cook, Robert Alan Neidorff, Steve Kummerl
  • Publication number: 20200258874
    Abstract: In described examples, an integrated circuit includes a leadframe structure, which includes electrical conductors. A first coil structure is electrically connected to a first pair of the electrical conductors of the leadframe structure. The first coil structure is partially formed on a semiconductor die structure. A second coil structure is electrically connected to a second pair of the electrical conductors of the leadframe structure. The second coil structure is partially formed on the semiconductor die structure. A molded package structure encloses portions of the leadframe structure. The molded package structure exposes portions of the first and second pairs of the electrical conductors to allow external connection to the first and second coil structures. The molded package structure includes a cavity to magnetically couple portions of the first and second coil structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Barry Jon Male, Benjamin Stassen Cook, Robert Alan Neidorff, Steve Kummerl
  • Patent number: 10636778
    Abstract: In described examples, an integrated circuit includes a leadframe structure, which includes electrical conductors. A first coil structure is electrically connected to a first pair of the electrical conductors of the leadframe structure. The first coil structure is partially formed on a semiconductor die structure. A second coil structure is electrically connected to a second pair of the electrical conductors of the leadframe structure. The second coil structure is partially formed on the semiconductor die structure. A molded package structure encloses portions of the leadframe structure. The molded package structure exposes portions of the first and second pairs of the electrical conductors to allow external connection to the first and second coil structures. The molded package structure includes a cavity to magnetically couple portions of the first and second coil structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Barry Jon Male, Benjamin Stassen Cook, Robert Alan Neidorff, Steve Kummerl
  • Publication number: 20190339806
    Abstract: An integrated force sensing element includes a piezoelectric sensor formed in an integrated circuit (IC) chip and a strain gauge at least partially overlying the piezoelectric sensor, where the piezoelectric sensor is able to flex. A human-machine interface using the integrated force sensing element is also disclosed and may include a conditioning circuit, temperature gauge, FRAM and a processor core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Wei-Yan Shih, Steve Kummerl, Mark Stephen Toth, Alok Lohia, Terry Lee Sculley, Seung Bae Lee, Scott Robert Summerfelt
  • Patent number: 10424551
    Abstract: In described examples of forming an integrated circuit wave device, a method includes: (a) affixing an integrated circuit die relative to a substrate; (b) creating a form relative to the integrated circuit die and the substrate; and (c) forming a wave shaping member having a shape conforming at least in part to a shape of the form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Barry Jon Male, Benjamin Cook, Robert Alan Neidorff, Steve Kummerl
  • Patent number: 10353503
    Abstract: An integrated force sensing element includes a piezoelectric sensor formed in an integrated circuit (IC) chip and a strain gauge at least partially overlying the piezoelectric sensor, where the piezoelectric sensor is able to flex. A human-machine interface using the integrated force sensing element may include a conditioning circuit, temperature gauge, FRAM and a processor core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Wei-Yan Shih, Steve Kummerl, Mark Stephen Toth, Alok Lohia, Terry Lee Sculley, Seung Bae Lee, Scott Robert Summerfelt
  • Publication number: 20190144267
    Abstract: Described examples include sensor apparatus and integrated circuits having a package structure with an internal cavity and an opening that connects of the cavity with an ambient condition of an exterior of the package structure, and an electronic sensor structure mechanically supported by wires in the cavity and including a sensing surface exposed to the cavity to sense the ambient condition of an exterior of the package structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Barry Jon Male, Benjamin Cook, Robert Alan Neidorff, Steve Kummerl
  • Patent number: 10179730
    Abstract: Disclosed examples include sensor apparatus and integrated circuits having a package structure with an internal cavity and an opening that connects of the cavity with an ambient condition of an exterior of the package structure, and an electronic sensor structure mechanically supported by wires in the cavity and including a sensing surface exposed to the cavity to sense the ambient condition of an exterior of the package structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Barry Jon Male, Benjamin Cook, Robert Alan Neidorff, Steve Kummerl
  • Publication number: 20190006338
    Abstract: In described examples, an integrated circuit includes a leadframe structure, which includes electrical conductors. A first coil structure is electrically connected to a first pair of the electrical conductors of the leadframe structure. The first coil structure is partially formed on a semiconductor die structure. A second coil structure is electrically connected to a second pair of the electrical conductors of the leadframe structure. The second coil structure is partially formed on the semiconductor die structure. A molded package structure encloses portions of the leadframe structure. The molded package structure exposes portions of the first and second pairs of the electrical conductors to allow external connection to the first and second coil structures. The molded package structure includes a cavity to magnetically couple portions of the first and second coil structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Barry Jon Male, Benjamin Stassen Cook, Robert Alan Neidorff, Steve Kummerl
  • Patent number: 10074639
    Abstract: Disclosed examples include integrated circuits with a leadframe structure, a first circuit structure including a light source configured to generate a light signal along an optical path, a second circuit structure including a light sensor facing the optical path to receive the light signal, and a molded package structure enclosing portions of the leadframe structure, the molded package structure having a cavity defined by an interior surface of the molded package structure, the optical path extending in the cavity between the first and second circuit structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Barry Jon Male, Benjamin Cook, Robert Alan Neidorff, Steve Kummerl
  • Publication number: 20180197830
    Abstract: In described examples of forming an integrated circuit wave device, a method includes: (a) affixing an integrated circuit die relative to a substrate; (b) creating a form relative to the integrated circuit die and the substrate; and (c) forming a wave shaping member having a shape conforming at least in part to a shape of the form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Barry Jon Male, IV, Benjamin Cook, Robert Alan Neidorff, Steve Kummerl
  • Publication number: 20180190628
    Abstract: Disclosed examples include integrated circuits with a leadframe structure, a first circuit structure including a light source configured to generate a light signal along an optical path, a second circuit structure including a light sensor facing the optical path to receive the light signal, and a molded package structure enclosing portions of the leadframe structure, the molded package structure having a cavity defined by an interior surface of the molded package structure, the optical path extending in the cavity between the first and second circuit structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Barry Jon Male, Benjamin Cook, Robert Alan Neidorff, Steve Kummerl
  • Publication number: 20180190556
    Abstract: In a described example, an apparatus includes: an integrated circuit die having multiple terminals; a leadframe having leads for external connections, at least some of the leads electrically coupled to at least one of the multiple terminals of the integrated circuit die; a first electrode having a first end portion; a second electrode having a second end portion positioned proximal to and spaced apart from the first end portion of the first electrode, the first end portion and the second end portion spaced by a spark gap; encapsulation material surrounding the integrated circuit die to form a packaged integrated circuit having a cavity surrounding the first end portion, the second end portion, and the spark gap so that the first end portion of the first electrode, the second end portion of the second electrode and the spark gap are spaced from the encapsulation material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Barry Jon Male, Steve Kummerl, Robert Alan Neidorff, Benjamin Stassen Cook
  • Publication number: 20180162722
    Abstract: Disclosed examples include sensor apparatus and integrated circuits having a package structure with an internal cavity and an opening that connects of the cavity with an ambient condition of an exterior of the package structure, and an electronic sensor structure mechanically supported by wires in the cavity and including a sensing surface exposed to the cavity to sense the ambient condition of an exterior of the package structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Barry Jon Male, Benjamin Cook, Robert Alan Neidorff, Steve Kummerl
  • Patent number: 9929110
    Abstract: A method of forming, and a resulting, an integrated circuit wave device. The method (i) affixes an integrated circuit die relative to a substrate; (ii) creates a form relative to the integrated circuit die and the substrate; and (iii) forms a wave shaping member having a shape conforming at least in part to a shape of the form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Barry Jon Male, Benjamin Cook, Robert Alan Neidorff, Steve Kummerl
  • Patent number: 9865537
    Abstract: In described examples, an apparatus includes: an integrated circuit die having multiple terminals; the integrated circuit die positioned on a die pad portion of a leadframe having leads for external connections, at least some of the leads having an inner portion electrically coupled to at least one terminal of the integrated circuit die; a fuse element coupled between one of the leads of the leadframe and at least one terminal selected from the multiple terminals of the integrated circuit die; and encapsulation material surrounding the integrated circuit die and the leadframe to form a packaged integrated circuit including the integrated circuit die and the fuse element, and having a cavity in the encapsulation material surrounding the fuse element such that the fuse element is spaced from the encapsulation material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Barry Jon Male, Steve Kummerl, Benjamin Stassen Cook
  • Patent number: 9761543
    Abstract: Integrated circuits with a molded package including a cavity and a semiconductor die spaced from an interior surface of the molded package within the cavity. The semiconductor die includes one or more electrical components, a thermal control component to control the temperature of the electrical component, and a driver to provide a current or voltage signal to the thermal control component at least partially according to a setpoint signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Barry Jon Male, Benjamin Cook, Robert Alan Neidorff, Steve Kummerl
  • Publication number: 20170123548
    Abstract: An integrated force sensing element includes a piezoelectric sensor formed in an integrated circuit (IC) chip and a strain gauge at least partially overlying the piezoelectric sensor, where the piezoelectric sensor is able to flex. A human-machine interface using the integrated force sensing element is also disclosed and may include a conditioning circuit, temperature gauge, FRAM and a processor core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Wei-Yan Shih, Steve Kummerl, Mark Stephen Toth, Alok Lohia, Terry Lee Sculley, Seung Bae Lee, Scott Robert Summerfelt
  • Patent number: 8324721
    Abstract: An integrated circuit package that comprises a lead frame 105, an integrated circuit located on the lead frame and a shunt resistor coupled to the integrated circuit. The shunt resistor has a lower temperature coefficient of resistance than the lead frame, and the lead frame has a lower resistivity than the shunt resistor. The shunt resistor has a low-resistance coupling to external leads of the lead frame, or, the shunt resistor has its own integrated external leads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Ubol Udompanyavit, Steve Kummerl