Patents Assigned to Micronas GmbH
  • Publication number: 20170254668
    Abstract: A position determining sensor unit having a number of sensors arranged at predetermined positions along a path, and a transducer. The transducer has a first end which is moveable at least along the entire path, and a length running parallel to the path. Each sensor has a first supply voltage connection, a second supply voltage connection and a switching output, and wherein the switching output is switched into an On-state or an Off-state as a function of the threshold value of a sensor signal being exceeded or undershot. The supply voltage connection of each sensor is connected to a supply voltage, and a first sensor is arranged at a beginning of the path and a last sensor is arranged at an end of the path so that the second supply voltage connection of the first sensor is connected to a reference potential and the first sensor has a power consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: TDK - Micronas GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg FRANKE, Klaus HEBERLE
  • Publication number: 20170254669
    Abstract: A position determining unit is provided that has a number of sensor units arranged at positions along a path, and a transducer. Each sensor unit has a carrier, a first and second supply voltage connection, a switching output, a measuring unit and a bias magnet comprising two poles. The measuring unit is arranged on the carrier and has at least one magnetic field sensor, wherein the switching output is switched into an On or Off-state as a function of a threshold value exceeding or falling short of a sensor signal. The first supply voltage connection of each sensor unit is connected to a supply voltage, wherein a first sensor unit is arranged at a beginning of the path and a last sensor unit is arranged at the end of the path. The second supply voltage connection of the first sensor unit is connected to a reference potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: TDK - Micronas GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg FRANKE, Klaus HEBERLE
  • Patent number: 9746345
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining a rotation angle of a rotor in a motor with the aid of angle sensors by measurement of reference values and correction of the effected computations. The method is used, for example, in a synchronous motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: TDK-Micronas GmbH
    Inventors: Marc Baumann, Redouane Sadeq
  • Patent number: 9739845
    Abstract: A method for testing a signal path of a first IC formed as a monolithically integrated circuit on a semiconductor body together with a magnetic field sensor and has a signal output and a power supply connection and a test mode state and a normal operating state. A power supply of the first IC is switched off, and a signal output is connected with a reference potential, and the power supply of the first IC is switched on and the signal output is disconnected from the reference potential. Subsequently in a test mode state, a self-test is performed in the first IC and a test pattern is configured at the signal output or at the power supply connection and the test pattern is evaluated by the control unit for testing of the signal path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: TDK-Micronas GmbH
    Inventors: David Muthers, Joachim Ritter, Michael Wagner, Markus Von Ehr, Thomas Kauter
  • Patent number: 9739649
    Abstract: A method for increasing a reliability of a transducer is provided. The transducer has a first and a second IC, wherein the two ICs each have substantially the same monolithically integrated circuit components with one sensor apiece, and a signal contact for bidirectional data transmission. A reference contact on each of the two ICs is connected to or disconnected from the signal contact by a controllable switch, and a signal generated as a function of the physical quantity sensed by the relevant sensor is applied to the signal contact. The two ICs are integrated into a common IC package, and a supply voltage contact of the first IC is connected to a first package contact, and the first package contact is connected to a first terminal of a control unit, and the supply voltage contact of the second IC is connected to a second package contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: TDK-Micronas GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Drescher
  • Patent number: 9733105
    Abstract: A magnetic field measuring device having a semiconductor body with a surface parallel to an x-y plane and having a magnet with a flat main extension surface parallel to the x-y plane, the direction of magnetization changes along the main extension surface due to at least two adjacent magnetic poles, the magnet being rotatable relative to the IC package about an axis of rotation extending in a z direction and the z direction being orthogonal to the x-y plane. An imaginary extension of the axis of rotation passes through the magnet. The semiconductor body has three magnetic field sensors spaced apart from one another on the surface, and each of the magnetic field sensors measures the same component of the magnetic field. All magnetic field sensors are located along the imaginary extension of the axis of rotation within the projection of the main extension surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: TDK-Micronas GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Albrecht
  • Publication number: 20170227578
    Abstract: A test matrix adapter device having a plurality of segments arranged in a plane, the respective segments have line-shaped and column-shaped frame sections, and the segments are connected to one another in a form-fitting manner by the frame sections. Semiconductor receiving devices are arranged within the segments, that each have a plurality of first contact surfaces that are spaced apart from one another. The semiconductor receiving device are form-fittingly connected by webs to the frame sections of an assigned segment. The semiconductor receiving device has a bottom side and a base region at least partially enclosed by a frame, and an outer side. The column-shaped frame sections have projections that have second contact surfaces that are connected by conductor tracks to the first contact surfaces. The semiconductor receiving device adapted to receive a packaged semiconductor component with terminal contacts and to connect the terminal contacts to the first contact surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicant: TDK-Micronas GmbH
    Inventors: Timo KAUFMANN, Klaus HEBERLE, Joerg FRANKE, Oliver BREITWIESER
  • Patent number: 9718224
    Abstract: An injection-molded circuit carrier is provided that has an outside and an underside and an inner base region and a frame. The frame has an inside and a cover surface, so that the inner base region is enclosed in the manner of a frame, and multiple printed conductors are provided, which are spaced a distance apart. The printed conductors are guided at least partially from the inside to the underside via the cover surface and via the outside so that at least two metal surfaces are formed on the underside, which are each electrically connected to a printed conductor and are spaced a distance apart. The metal surfaces are designed to be significantly wider than the printed conductors for the purpose of forming a capacitive sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: TDK-Micronas GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Franke, Timo Kaufmann, Oliver Breitwieser, Klaus Heberle
  • Patent number: 9720873
    Abstract: A method for a deterministic selection of a sensor from a plurality of sensors, having a control unit and multiple sensors connected to the control unit by means of a three-wire bus, wherein the sensors are connected to the three-wire bus through at least two lines in parallel to one another, and a protocol frame in conformity with the SENT specification is used between the control unit and the sensors for a data exchange, and a particular sensor is selected within the protocol frame by the control unit through the predefined duration of a selection signal, wherein the duration of the selection signal is determined by the interval between a first falling signal edge and a second falling signal edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: TDK-Micronas GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Drescher
  • Patent number: 9714962
    Abstract: A monitoring device is provided that includes a first line section with a first connection point and a second connection point spaced apart from the first connection point in the direction of the line, and with a control unit and with a first current sensing unit, having a current source. A first switch is inserted into the first connecting line and connects the first current source to the first connection point or disconnects it therefrom. In a first state the first switch is closed and the first current is impressed on the first line section and a first voltage determined by the amplitude of the actual current, and in a second state the first switch is open and a second voltage is determined, and the control unit is configured to ascertain the amplitude of the first actual current from the two voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: TDK-Micronas GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Antonius Albrecht
  • Patent number: 9709639
    Abstract: A Hall effect sensor with multiple Hall effect elements, each of the Hall effect elements having a first contact terminal, a second contact terminal, and a third contact terminal arranged along a straight line. The multiple Hall effect elements are electrically connected in series in a closed circuit. The second contact terminals of the Hall effect elements are supply voltage connections or Hall voltage pickoffs, and the applicable second contact terminal of the Hall effect element is a center contact of the Hall effect element. The Hall effect elements form two pairs, and the Hall effect elements of one pair each measure the same component of a magnetic field and an operating current is impressed on the series circuit in the two Hall effect elements of this one pair, and a supply voltage is applied to the Hall effect elements of the other pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignees: TDK-Micronas GmbH, Albert-Ludwigs-Universitaet Freiburg
    Inventors: Christian Sander, Oliver Paul
  • Patent number: 9689931
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor having a Hall sensor with a first terminal contact and with a second terminal contact and with a third terminal contact and with a fourth terminal contact and with a fifth terminal contact, whereby a first switch with a control input is provided between the first terminal contact and the fifth terminal contact, and the first switch connects or disconnects the first terminal contact to/from the fifth terminal contact, and a control unit is provided and the control unit is connected to the control input of the first switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignees: TDK-Micronas GmbH, Albert-Ludwigs-Universitaet Freiburg
    Inventors: Timo Kaufmann, Patrick Ruther, Roiy Raz, Oliver Paul
  • Publication number: 20170153297
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a magnetic field detector circuit, whereby the magnetic field detector circuit is operated alternately in an active state or in a sleep state and the magnetic field detector circuit has a magnetic field measuring device and a wake-up timer, whereby the magnetic field measuring device comprises a magnetic field sensor. In the active state, the magnetic field measuring device is operated with a supply voltage and an output signal is generated by the magnetic field sensor. The magnetic field detector circuit comprises a wake-up timer, whereby the wake-up timer is operated with the supply voltage in the sleep state and a wake-up signal is generated by the wake-up timer after a predetermined sleep interval, and the magnetic field measuring device changes from the sleep state to the active state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: Micronas GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas KAUTER, David MUTHERS, Joachim RITTER
  • Patent number: 9664633
    Abstract: A resistive hydrogen sensor has at least two electrical connections and at least one resistance layer containing at least one suitable material for incorporating hydrogen, via which the electrical connections are connected to each other. The resistance layer adjoins at least one interface on a contact layer, which contains at least one chemical element from the fourth subgroup of the periodic table and/or carbon. The contact layer connected in series between the electrical connections to the resistance layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Micronas GmbH
    Inventors: Gilbert Erdler, Holger Reinecke, Claas Müller, Mirko Frank
  • Publication number: 20170146614
    Abstract: A method for dynamic noise reduction of magnetic field sensor signals of a magnetic field sensor circuit with a magnetic field sensor and a switching device, wherein the magnetic field sensor provides a sensor signal to a sensor output, and wherein the switching device comprises a signal comparator, a low pass filter and a multiplexer, and wherein the switching device comprises a signal input interconnected with the sensor signal output and a signal output, and wherein the signal comparator has a first input interconnected with the signal input and a second input interconnected with the low pass filter, and a control signal output interconnected with the multiplexer. In a first method step, the sensor signal is compared to the level of a signal of the low pass filter by means of the signal comparator, and the result is compared to a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Applicant: Micronas GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf HAKENES, Stefan KELLER
  • Patent number: 9653451
    Abstract: A semiconductor arrangement (10) with an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit is disclosed. The semiconductor arrangement (10) comprises a first semiconductor chip (20a) with a first integrated circuit (25a) and a second semiconductor chip (20b) with a second integrated circuit (25b). The semiconductor arrangement has an ESD protection circuit (30). The first semiconductor chip (20a) is isolated otherwise form the second semiconductor chip (20b) and the first integrated circuit (25a) is connected to the second integrated circuit (25b) exclusively via the ESD protection circuit (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: TDK-MICRONAS GMBH
    Inventor: Lothar Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9647144
    Abstract: An integrated magnetic field sensor, having a semiconductor body with a surface and a rear surface, and a metal carrier, with a front and a rear, wherein the rear of the semiconductor body is connected to the front of the metal carrier in a non-positive manner, and a Hall sensor, embodied on the surface of the semiconductor body, with a main extension surface, and a magnet with a first magnetic pole embodied along a first surface, which first magnetic pole has a central axis embodied in a perpendicular manner on the first surface, wherein the metal carrier, the magnet and the semiconductor body are arranged in a common housing and precisely one or at least one Hall sensor is arranged in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Micronas GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Heberle
  • Patent number: 9645203
    Abstract: A magnetic field measuring device includes a first semiconductor body having a surface formed in a first x-y plane, the first semiconductor body having two magnetic field sensors, spaced a distance apart on the surface, and the magnetic field sensors each measuring one z component of a magnetic field. A first magnet has a planar main extension surface formed in a second x-y plane, the direction of magnetization changing from a north pole to a south pole along the main extension surface on a symmetry surface of the magnet. One of the two magnetic field sensors being disposed in the vicinity of the north pole and the other of the two magnetic field sensors being situated in the vicinity of the south pole, so that signals having opposite polarities with respect to each other are formed in a z component of the magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Micronas GmbH
    Inventors: Timo Kaufmann, Klaus Heberle, Joerg Franke, Oliver Breitwieser
  • Patent number: 9632148
    Abstract: A sensor device having a first housing with a first semiconductor body and a plurality of metallic terminal contacts for electrical contacting of a first sensor, and a second housing with a second semiconductor body with a plurality of metallic terminal contacts for electrical contacting of a second sensor. A section of the plurality of terminal contacts penetrates the second housing on the face side and the second semiconductor body is arranged with a back surface on a front side of the second metal substrate. The two housings form a module, whereby the two housings are connected form-fittingly to one another in the shape of a stack by a fixing device in a way in which the bottom side of the first housing is joined to the bottom side of the second housing and the plurality of terminal contacts of the two housings point in the same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Micronas GmbH
    Inventor: Camillo Pilla
  • Publication number: 20170102250
    Abstract: A magnetic field measuring device having a semiconductor body with a first surface running in an x-y plane, with a first and second magnetic field sensor disposed on the surface, and an axis of symmetry, which runs perpendicular to the first surface in the z-direction and to which the magnetic field sensors are positioned in a mirrored fashion, first and second magnets, which are spaced apart from one another and in each case have an axis and a polar surface running perpendicular to the axis and facing the semiconductor body. The magnetic polarity changes along the axes on a surface, whereby the axes run in the direction of the axis of symmetry, whereby the axis of symmetry runs between the axes of the magnets, whereby the surfaces of the magnets in each case are spaced apart in the z-direction to the first surface of the semiconductor body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Applicant: Micronas GmbH
    Inventor: Joerg FRANKE