Patents by Inventor Ulrich Friedrich

Ulrich Friedrich 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: 8477017
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method may include receiving, at one of a plurality of remote units, a command from a control unit. The method may also include determining a random number specifying a time slot of a first series of time slots for transmitting a second data sequence to the control unit, and, in response to a determination that the random number specifies the first time slot in the first series of time slots, determining a new random number. The method may further include transmitting, in the first time slot in the first series of time slots, a first data sequence to the control unit. The method may further include receiving a control signal. The control signal having been transmitted by the control unit upon detection of an at least partially simultaneous transmission of first data sequences by more than one of the remote units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventor: Ulrich Friedrich
  • Patent number: 8368516
    Abstract: A method includes transmitting, from a base station, a first request and receiving, from a transponder, a first code transmitted responsive to the first request. The method includes transmitting, from the base station, first encoded transmission information comprising a base station code encoded using the first code and a first identification. The base station transmits a second request, and a second code, transmitted by the transponder responsive to receiving the second request and encoded using a base station code extracted from the first encoded transmission information using the first code and the first identification, is received. Second encoded transmission information, including a second identification encoded using the second code, is transmitted from the base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Fischer, Ulrich Friedrich, Jens Masuch, Michael Pangels, Dirk Ziebertz
  • Publication number: 20120320797
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a transponder comprises a transceiver configured to receive a forward link having a forward-link header comprising at least one symbol for configuring a setting of the transponder. The transponder may be configured to transmit a return link having a return-link header comprising information based on one or more characteristics of the transponder, and to receive a modified subsequent symbol of the forward-link header. The modified subsequent symbol of the forward link header generated by analyzing the return-link header to determine adjusted information for configuring the setting of the transponder and modifying the subsequent symbol of the forward-link header in accordance with the adjusted information for configuring the setting of the transponder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventor: Ulrich Friedrich
  • Patent number: 8315276
    Abstract: In particular embodiments, an error correction during the transmission of the data word is made possible through the change of the modulation state at pre-defined time points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventor: Ulrich Friedrich
  • Patent number: 8296852
    Abstract: A transponder is provided, in particular a passive and/or backscatter-based transponder, for an RFID system, wherein at least one first piece of information can be stored in a first memory area on the transponder that is accessible in clear text only by a read access internal to the transponder, and a second piece of information can be stored in a second memory area that is accessible in clear text through an air interface for read access, and the second piece of information is generated from the first piece of information using an asymmetric encryption method. The invention further relates to an RFID system for wireless data exchange comprising a transponder and a base station, and a method for requesting write and/or read access to a transponder, in particular a passive and/or backscatter-based transponder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventor: Ulrich Friedrich
  • Patent number: 8284030
    Abstract: A method for recognizing time-variable functional states, e.g., in the course of a programming process, in RFID systems is disclosed, which includes at least one transponder or remote sensor and at least one base station, which transmits data and/or power to the transponder or sensor by a carrier signal. According to the invention, after a specified process state is attained at least one confirmation symbol is transmitted by the transponder or sensor to the base station. As a result, no unfavorable “worst case” scenario has to be provided for chronologically controlling time-variable processes because the base station is able to clearly recognize the beginning and end of the process, as well as the state thereof. RFID systems or remote sensor systems can thus be controlled more quickly and more reliably, resulting especially in reduced costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventor: Ulrich Friedrich
  • Patent number: 8274370
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, an apparatus includes a rectifier and a switch. The rectifier is configured to modulate a received carrier signal. The switch is coupled to at least one node of the rectifier. The switch is configured to modify an impedance of the rectifier to modulate the received carrier signal by providing a potential to the at least one node of the rectifier based on a field strength of the received carrier signal and a modulation-control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Ulrich Friedrich, Martin Fischer, Michael Pangels
  • Patent number: 8254841
    Abstract: A method and system for data communication between a base station and at least one transponder via a high-frequency electromagnetic carrier signal onto which information packets are modulated. Each information packet has a header section, a middle section, and a trailer section. The header section can be provided in a forward link of a data communication between the base station and the transponders for controlling data communication. The header section is used in a return link of a data communication in order to transmit information from the transponder to the base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventor: Ulrich Friedrich
  • Patent number: 8244786
    Abstract: A method and a device are provided, in particular a transponder, for generating a random number by a linear feedback shift register, wherein a first seed is generated by means of a first automaton, a second seed is generated by means of a second automaton, the first and second automata operate using different functional principles, so that the first and second seeds have different properties, and the shift register is reloaded with the first and/or second seed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Fischer, Ulrich Friedrich, Kim Kueter, Jens Masuch, Michael Pangels, Dirk Ziebertz
  • Publication number: 20120176229
    Abstract: A method may include generating by a transponder a first code and transmitting the first code to a base station. The base station may generate first transmission information, encoding a base station code with a first identification and a first random number code, and may transmit the first transmission information to the transponder. The transponder may extract the base station code. A second code may be generated by the transponder and transmitted to the base station upon an associated request from the base station. Before transmission to the base station, the second code may be encoded with the extracted base station code. Second encoded transmission information comprising a second identification may be generated by the base station using the second code and transmitted to the transponder. A memory region of the transponder may be released for read and/or write access after the second identification was verified as valid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventors: Martin Fischer, Ulrich Friedrich, Jens Masuch, Michael Pangels, Dirk Ziebertz
  • Publication number: 20120126952
    Abstract: A method for communicating between a control unit and a plurality of remote units located in the response area of the control unit is provided. The remote units are prompted to transmit a data sequence to the control unit upon receipt of a command sent by the control unit. The control unit transmits a control signal to the remote units substantially simultaneously with the transmission of the data sequence as a function of a communication state, such as the absence of a transmission of the data sequence by at least one remote unit or an at least partially simultaneous transmission of the data sequence by more than one remote unit. In this way, communication methods can be shortened, in particular in terms of time, without adversely affecting communication reliability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventor: Ulrich FRIEDRICH
  • Patent number: 8183983
    Abstract: A method for the at least temporary activation of bidirectional communication between a transponder having a nonvolatile memory area and a base station, whereby the transponder in an at least partial mute state receives messages, but no information-related data from the nonvolatile memory area are transmitted and for activation a data stream is transmitted to the transponder by the base station, wherein the data stream for a transmission is linked with a symmetric password, the enable signal is extracted by the transponder with the symmetric password from the received data stream, and the transponder is activated at least temporarily after the enable signal has been verified as valid. The invention relates further to a transponder having means for carrying out this type of procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventor: Ulrich Friedrich
  • Patent number: 8160253
    Abstract: A method for wireless data transmission between a base station and a transponder is provided, whereby a message, comprising at least one command and one data sequence, is transmitted by the base station, the message is received and evaluated by the transponder, at least one key is provided in the transponder after receipt of the command and before complete receipt of the message and the key is transmitted to the base station, the key is detected by the base station, and parts of the message, still to be transmitted, and/or subsequent messages are encoded by the base station with the key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Fischer, Ulrich Friedrich, Jens Masuch, Michael Pangels, Dirk Ziebertz
  • Patent number: 8138889
    Abstract: A method for data exchange is provided, whereby a first code is generated by a transponder, which is transmitted to a base station, a first transmission information is generated by the base station by encoding a base station code with a first identification and the first random number code, the first transmission information is transmitted to the transponder and the base station code is extracted by the transponder, a second code is generated by the transponder, which is transmitted to the base station upon an associated request from the base station, whereby before a transmission to the base station the second code is encoded with the extracted base station code, a second encoded transmission information comprising a second identification is generated by the base station with use of the second code and transmitted to the transponder, and at least one memory region of the transponder is released for read and/or write access after the second identification was verified as valid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Fischer, Ulrich Friedrich, Jens Masuch, Michael Pangels, Dirk Ziebertz
  • Patent number: 8111672
    Abstract: A method for wireless data communication between a base station and at least one transponder by a high-frequency electromagnetic carrier signal, onto which information packets are modulated, wherein each information packet has a header section, a middle section, and a terminating end section, wherein the middle section has a data field, which contains the data necessary for the data communication, wherein at least one additional control field is inserted into the data field by which the structure of the information packets can be variably adjusted within the region of the data field. The invention relates further to a transponder, a base station, and a data communication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventor: Ulrich Friedrich
  • Patent number: 8054162
    Abstract: A method for communicating between a control unit and a plurality of remote units located in the response area of the control unit is provided. The remote units are prompted to transmit a data sequence to the control unit upon receipt of a command sent by the control unit. The control unit transmits a control signal to the remote units substantially simultaneously with the transmission of the data sequence as a function of a communication state, such as the absence of a transmission of the data sequence by at least one remote unit or an at least partially simultaneous transmission of the data sequence by more than one remote unit. In this way, communication methods can be shortened, in particular in terms of time, without adversely affecting communication reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventor: Ulrich Friedrich
  • Publication number: 20110217924
    Abstract: In particular embodiments, an error correction during the transmission of the data word is made possible through the change of the modulation state at pre-defined time points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: ATMEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ulrich Friedrich
  • Patent number: 8013716
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for wireless data transmission is provided between a base station and a backscatter-based transponder, in which the transponder generates a presence signal after initialization or at predetermined time intervals, independent of data transmitted by the base station. The presence signal is generated by phase modulation and backscattering of a carrier signal transmitted by the base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Fischer, Ulrich Friedrich, Dirk Ziebertz
  • Patent number: 7999659
    Abstract: A method for access control to at least one memory area of a passive and/or backscatter-based transponder is provided. In the method for access control, depending on an identification selection criterion, a first or at least one second identification within the transponder is activated, the activated identification upon an appropriate request by reader unit is transmitted to said unit, the at least one memory area of the transponder is divided into memory blocks with a settable size, access control information is assigned to a respective memory block, and read and/or write access to a specific memory block is released or blocked depending on the associated access control information and the identification selection criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventor: Ulrich Friedrich
  • Patent number: 7994921
    Abstract: A method for wireless data transmission, for example for RFID systems, between a base station and a transponder is provided. For wireless data transmission between a base station and a transponder, data are wirelessly and bidirectionally transmitted between the base station and the transponder through a first interface of a first interface type using a first data transmission protocol, and data are wirelessly and bidirectionally transmitted between the base station and the transponder through at least one second interface of a second interface type using a second data transmission protocol. The first data transmission protocol and the second data transmission protocol correspond at least in part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Fischer, Ulrich Friedrich, Jens Masuch, Michael Pangels, Dirk Ziebertz