Patents by Inventor Alexander Mayer
Alexander Mayer 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).
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Publication number: 20210028781Abstract: An integrated circuit may include a power transistor coupled between a supply pin and an output pin; a current sensing circuit configured to sense a load current passing through the power transistor and to provide a respective current sense signal; a first configuration pin; a current output circuit configured to provide a diagnosis current at a current output pin; a diagnosis pin for receiving a diagnosis request signal; and a control circuit configured to: select a characteristic curve representing a current versus time characteristic dependent on a external circuit connected to the first configuration pin; generate a drive signal for the power transistor dependent on the selected characteristic curve and the current sense signal; and control—dependent on a pulse pattern of the diagnosis request signal—the current output circuit to set the value of the diagnosis current such that it represents the load current or the selected characteristic curve.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2020Publication date: January 28, 2021Inventors: Alexander Mayer, Robert Illing, Marco Faricelli
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Publication number: 20210021269Abstract: A current sensing circuit includes load transistors having a current path coupled between a power terminal and corresponding load terminals, sense transistors having a current path coupled between the power terminal and corresponding sense terminals, each sense transistor being coupled to a respective load transistor, N-channel transistors having a current path coupled between a respective sense transistor and a respective sense terminal, an amplifier for selectively equalizing the voltages across one of the load transistors and one of the sense transistors, and bypass circuits coupled to a bulk terminal of the N-channel transistors.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2019Publication date: January 21, 2021Inventors: Ioan-Alexandru Tranca, Florian Brugger, Alexander Mayer
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Patent number: 10845428Abstract: A driver circuit associated with a power electronic system is disclosed. The driver circuit comprises a gate driver circuit configured to drive a switching circuit comprising a plurality of switches in parallel, each switch comprising a respective source bondwire. The driver circuit further comprises a bondwire fault detection circuit comprising a gate charge estimation circuit configured to measure a parameter of the switching circuit comprising a gate charge of the switching circuit or a parameter indicative of the gate charge associated with the switching circuit. The bondwire fault detection circuit further comprises a detection circuit configured to detect a fault associated with at least one source bondwire of the switching circuit, based on the measured parameter of the switching circuit.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2018Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Andreas Meiser, Benno Koeppl, Marcus Nuebling, Markus Zannoth, Alexander Mayer
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Patent number: 10707856Abstract: A circuit comprises a first metal-oxide semiconductor, MOS, power transistor having a first gate terminal, a first drain terminal, and a first source terminal, a second MOS power transistor having a second gate terminal, a second drain terminal, and a second source terminal, and a switch connected in-between the first gate terminal and the second gate terminal and configured to selectively couple the first gate terminal and the second gate terminal.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2017Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Florian Brugger, Christian Djelassi-Tscheck, Alexander Mayer
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Publication number: 20190369151Abstract: A driver circuit associated with a power electronic system is disclosed. The driver circuit comprises a gate driver circuit configured to drive a switching circuit comprising a plurality of switches in parallel, each switch comprising a respective source bondwire. The driver circuit further comprises a bondwire fault detection circuit comprising a gate charge estimation circuit configured to measure a parameter of the switching circuit comprising a gate charge of the switching circuit or a parameter indicative of the gate charge associated with the switching circuit. The bondwire fault detection circuit further comprises a detection circuit configured to detect a fault associated with at least one source bondwire of the switching circuit, based on the measured parameter of the switching circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2018Publication date: December 5, 2019Inventors: Andreas Meiser, Benno Koeppl, Marcus Nuebling, Markus Zannoth, Alexander Mayer
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Patent number: 10454469Abstract: An embodiment method includes detecting an inverse current condition at a switch, and driving a node associated with a switch driver driving the switch to a predetermined voltage in response to the detection of an inverse current condition at the switch. An embodiment switch device includes a switch driver configured to be coupled to a control terminal of a switch, an inverse current detector configured to detect an inverse current condition at the first and second load terminals of the switch, and a voltage driver configured to drive a node associated with the switch driver to a predetermined voltage in response to the inverse current detector detecting an inverse current condition.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2017Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Francesca Romano, Alexander Mayer, Luca Petruzzi
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Patent number: 10381823Abstract: A device comprises a solid-state power switch and a control configured to operate the power switch if at least one of a plurality of fault conditions of the device is triggered. An interface is configured to output a signal having a value selectively indicative of the triggered at least one fault condition in response to the at least one fault condition being triggered.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2016Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Christian Djelassi, Alexander Mayer
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Patent number: 10381821Abstract: Power switch devices and methods are provided where an undervoltage event in a supply voltage is detected. Information regarding the undervoltage event is stored in a memory element. The memory element is supplied by a control signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2016Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Christian Djelassi, Alexander Mayer
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Publication number: 20190199342Abstract: A method includes monitoring a load path voltage and an operating parameter of the transistor device; operating the transistor device in a normal mode when the operating parameter is below a threshold associated with the operating parameter, where operating the transistor device in the normal mode includes operating the transistor device in one of an on-state or an off-state based on a drive signal; and operating the transistor device in a fault mode upon detecting a fault based on comparing the operating parameter with the threshold. Operating the transistor device in the fault mode includes switching off the transistor device, operating the transistor device in the on-state includes adjusting the threshold in accordance with a first characteristic curve dependent on the load path voltage, and operating the transistor device in the off-state includes adjusting the threshold according to a second characteristic curve different from the first characteristic curve.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2018Publication date: June 27, 2019Inventors: Robert Illing, Christian Djelassi-Tscheck, Alexander Mayer
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Publication number: 20190089343Abstract: A circuit comprises a first metal-oxide semiconductor, MOS, power transistor having a first gate terminal, a first drain terminal, and a first source terminal, a second MOS power transistor having a second gate terminal, a second drain terminal, and a second source terminal, and a switch connected in-between the first gate terminal and the second gate terminal and configured to selectively couple the first gate terminal and the second gate terminal.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2017Publication date: March 21, 2019Inventors: Florian Brugger, Christian Djelassi, Alexander Mayer
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Patent number: 10120398Abstract: In one example, a method includes determining, by a temperature sensor, a temperature of a device that controls an amount of current flowing to a load, and determining, based on the temperature of the device, a threshold current. The method also includes, in response to determining that the amount of current flowing to the load is greater than the threshold current, adjusting the amount of current flowing to the load.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2014Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Robert Illing, Alexander Mayer
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Publication number: 20180175855Abstract: Devices and methods related to switches are discussed. An inverse current condition may be detected, and a voltage at a node associated with a switch driver may be driven to a predetermined voltage in case of detection of an inverse current condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2017Publication date: June 21, 2018Inventors: Francesca Romano, Alexander Mayer, Luca Petruzzi
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Patent number: 9966943Abstract: A system and method for a high-side power switch includes a gate driver configured to be coupled to a power switch, a voltage measurement circuit configured to be coupled directly to the power switch, a switch monitoring circuit configured to be coupled to the power switch, the switch monitoring circuit configured to measure an output current of the power switch, a current limitation circuit coupled to the gate driver and the switch monitoring circuit, the current limitation circuit configured to regulate gate-source voltage of the gate driver when the output current exceeds a threshold value, and a controller coupled to the current limitation circuit and the voltage measurement circuit, the controller configured to determine a mode of operation according to a startup voltage measured by the voltage measurement circuit during a startup sequence, the controller further configured to provide the threshold value to the current limitation circuit according to the mode of operation and a switch voltage measured byType: GrantFiled: March 31, 2016Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AGInventors: Christian Djelassi, Alexander Mayer, Robert Illing
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Publication number: 20180090924Abstract: Power switch devices and methods are provided where an undervoltage event in a supply voltage is detected. Information regarding the undervoltage event is stored in a memory element. The memory element is supplied by a control signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2016Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventors: Christian Djelassi, Alexander Mayer
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Patent number: 9887532Abstract: Devices and methods comprising a switch and an overload detection are disclosed. When an overload detection is detected, a first retry scheme followed by a second retry scheme different from the first retry scheme may be applied. If the overload condition persists, the switch may be disabled.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2015Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Christian Djelassi, Hans-Peter Kreuter, Robert Illing, Alexander Mayer, Luca Petruzzi, Bernhard Auer, Markus Ladurner, Alberto Zanardi
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Patent number: 9870011Abstract: According to various embodiments, a circuit arrangement may be provided, comprising a driver circuit configured to deliver a switching signal to a power switch such that the power switch controls a load current, a gate-back regulation circuit selectively connected to the driver circuit and the load current, and a diagnostic circuit configured to provide an enabling signal, which allows the gate-back regulation circuit to become active; and wherein the enabling signal is dependent at least in part on a condition independent of the load current.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2015Date of Patent: January 16, 2018Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AGInventors: Robert Illing, Alexander Mayer
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Publication number: 20170338646Abstract: A device comprises a solid-state power switch and a control configured to operate the power switch if at least one of a plurality of fault conditions of the device is triggered. An interface is configured to output a signal having a value selectively indicative of the triggered at least one fault condition in response to the at least one fault condition being triggered.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2016Publication date: November 23, 2017Inventors: Christian Djelassi, Alexander Mayer
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Publication number: 20170294772Abstract: An embodiment electronic circuit includes an electronic switch comprising a load path, and a control circuit configured to drive the electronic switch. The control circuit is configured to operate in one of at least two operation modes. The at least two operation modes comprise a first operation mode and a second operation mode. The control circuit, in the second operation mode, is configured to perform a set of basic functions and, in the first operation mode, is configured to perform the set of basic functions and at least one additional function. The at least one additional function comprises generating a first protection signal based on a current-time-characteristic of a load current of the electronic switch and driving the electronic switch based on the first protection signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2016Publication date: October 12, 2017Applicant: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Robert Illing, Christian Djelassi, Markus Ladurner, David Jansson, Mario Tripolt, Bernhard Marinelli, Alexander Mayer
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Publication number: 20170288662Abstract: A system and method for a high-side power switch includes a gate driver configured to be coupled to a power switch, a voltage measurement circuit configured to be coupled directly to the power switch, a switch monitoring circuit configured to be coupled to the power switch, the switch monitoring circuit configured to measure an output current of the power switch, a current limitation circuit coupled to the gate driver and the switch monitoring circuit, the current limitation circuit configured to regulate gate-source voltage of the gate driver when the output current exceeds a threshold value, and a controller coupled to the current limitation circuit and the voltage measurement circuit, the controller configured to determine a mode of operation according to a startup voltage measured by the voltage measurement circuit during a startup sequence, the controller further configured to provide the threshold value to the current limitation circuit according to the mode of operation and a switch voltage measured byType: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2016Publication date: October 5, 2017Inventors: Christian Djelassi, Alexander Mayer, Robert Illing
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Patent number: D899242Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2019Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Inventor: Michael Alexander Mayer