Patents by Inventor Alfons Graf

Alfons Graf 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: 11519955
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method for testing a functional integrity of a transistor component, the method includes causing a first change of a charge state of an internal capacitance between control terminals of the transistor component; determining a capacitance value of the internal capacitance based on the first change of the charge state; causing a second change of the charge state of the internal capacitance; and evaluating a resistance value of an internal resistance between the control terminals based on the determined capacitance value and the second change of the charge state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Alfons Graf
  • Publication number: 20210255235
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method for testing a functional integrity of a transistor component, the method includes causing a first change of a charge state of an internal capacitance between control terminals of the transistor component; determining a capacitance value of the internal capacitance based on the first change of the charge state; causing a second change of the charge state of the internal capacitance; and evaluating a resistance value of an internal resistance between the control terminals based on the determined capacitance value and the second change of the charge state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventor: Alfons Graf
  • Patent number: 10985744
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an electronic switch, a drive unit for driving the electronic switch, a diagnosis unit for determining a current through the electronic switch, a memory for storing a protection profile. The drive unit is configured such that the electronic switch is driven on the basis of the current through the electronic switch determined by the diagnosis unit and on the basis of the protection profile. Furthermore, a method is specified for driving an electronic switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventor: Alfons Graf
  • Patent number: 10559952
    Abstract: A line protection device includes terminals to connect the line protection device in series with an electric line. A current sensor of the line protection device senses a value of electric current through the electric line. A digital filter circuit of the line protection device performs digital filtering of the value of electric current. Depending on the digitally filtered value of the electric current, a switch control circuit of the line protection device controls a switch to interrupt flow of the electric current through the line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Michael Asam, Alfons Graf
  • Patent number: 10498131
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic circuit and a method. The electronic circuit includes a plurality of electronic switches each including a load path and a control node, wherein the load paths are connected in parallel between a first load node and a second load node of the electronic circuit; a current sense circuit configured to sense a load current between the first load node and the second load node and to generate a current sense signal representing the load current; a drive circuit configured to drive the plurality of electronic switches based on at least one input signal; and an overload detector. The overload detector is configured to receive the current sense signal and a select information, and generate an overload signal dependent on the current sense signal and the select information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Alfons Graf
  • Publication number: 20190052074
    Abstract: A line protection device includes terminals to connect the line protection device in series with an electric line. A current sensor of the line protection device senses a value of electric current through the electric line. A digital filter circuit of the line protection device performs digital filtering of the value of electric current. Depending on the digitally filtered value of the electric current, a switch control circuit of the line protection device controls a switch to interrupt flow of the electric current through the line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Asam, Alfons Graf
  • Patent number: 10119727
    Abstract: A circuit comprises a mechanical relay and a solid-state relay. The mechanical relay is configured to switch a first supply current of the first heating element on a first supply line. The solid-state relay is configured to switch a second supply current of a second heating element on a second supply line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Alfons Graf, Thomas Klug
  • Patent number: 10069493
    Abstract: A circuit includes an electronic switch with an isolated gate, a measuring device for determining a charge at the isolated gate, and an energy supply for providing charge to the isolated gate based on the charge determined by the measuring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Rainald Sander, Veli Kartal, Alfons Graf
  • Publication number: 20180191147
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic circuit and a method. The electronic circuit includes a plurality of electronic switches each including a load path and a control node, wherein the load paths are connected in parallel between a first load node and a second load node of the electronic circuit; a current sense circuit configured to sense a load current between the first load node and the second load node and to generate a current sense signal representing the load current; a drive circuit configured to drive the plurality of electronic switches based on at least one input signal; and an overload detector. The overload detector is configured to receive the current sense signal and a select information, and generate an overload signal dependent on the current sense signal and the select information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventor: Alfons Graf
  • Publication number: 20170163255
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an electronic switch, a drive unit for driving the electronic switch, a diagnosis unit for determining a current through the electronic switch, a memory for storing a protection profile. The drive unit is configured such that the electronic switch is driven on the basis of the current through the electronic switch determined by the diagnosis unit and on the basis of the protection profile. Furthermore, a method is specified for driving an electronic switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventor: Alfons Graf
  • Publication number: 20170041000
    Abstract: A circuit includes an electronic switch with an isolated gate, a measuring device for determining a charge at the isolated gate, and an energy supply for providing charge to the isolated gate based on the charge determined by the measuring device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Rainald Sander, Veli Kartal, Alfons Graf
  • Publication number: 20160325602
    Abstract: A circuit comprises a mechanical relay and a solid-state relay. The mechanical relay is configured to switch a first supply current of the first heating element on a first supply line. The solid-state relay is configured to switch a second supply current of a second heating element on a second supply line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Alfons Graf, Thomas Klug
  • Patent number: 9479163
    Abstract: A circuit includes an electronic switch with an isolated gate, a measuring device for determining a charge at the isolated gate, and an energy supply for providing charge to the isolated gate based on the charge determined by the measuring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Rainald Sander, Veli Kartal, Alfons Graf
  • Patent number: 9397652
    Abstract: A circuitry is suggested, in particular a power switch, comprising a first electronic switch with an isolated gate; a second electronic switch with an isolated gate; a measuring device for determining a charge at the isolated gate of the first electronic switch and at the isolated gate of the second electronic switch; an energy supply for providing charge to the isolated gate of the first electronic switch and to the isolated gate of the second electronic switch based on the charge determined by the measuring device; a logic unit for activating either the first electronic switch, both or none of the electronic switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Fang Lu-Ruhbach, Veli Kartal, Alfons Graf
  • Patent number: 9302637
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a vehicle voltage supply having a vehicle battery, a load with two voltage supply connections, a fuse in a path between the vehicle battery and one of the voltage supply connections of the load, and a clamping circuit transistor. The clamping circuit transistor can be switched in such a manner that the clamping circuit transistor produces a short circuit between voltage supply connections of the load in order to activate the fuse. An energy store is set up to store the energy needed to drive the clamping circuit transistor when producing the short circuit, and a charging circuit is set up to charge the energy store at least during the time in which the clamping circuit transistor does not produce a short circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Alfons Graf, Wolfgang Troeger
  • Publication number: 20150155856
    Abstract: A circuitry is suggested, in particular a power switch, comprising a first electronic switch with an isolated gate; a second electronic switch with an isolated gate; a measuring device for determining a charge at the isolated gate of the first electronic switch and at the isolated gate of the second electronic switch; an energy supply for providing charge to the isolated gate of the first electronic switch and to the isolated gate of the second electronic switch based on the charge determined by the measuring device; a logic unit for activating either the first electronic switch, both or none of the electronic switches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies, AG
    Inventors: Fang LU-RUHBACH, Veli KARTAL, Alfons GRAF
  • Patent number: 9041244
    Abstract: The system includes a first and a second power supply terminal configured to have at least one of a battery and a generator connected thereto, a first external terminal coupled to the first power supply terminal, and a second external terminal coupled to the second power supply terminal, and a protection unit connected between the first external terminal and the first power supply terminal. The protection unit includes a semiconductor switching unit having a load path and a control terminal, the load path connected between the first external terminal and the first power supply terminal, and a control circuit coupled to the control terminal of the semiconductor switching unit and configured to switch the switching unit on and off dependent on at least one electrical parameter in the on-board power supply system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Alfons Graf
  • Patent number: 8953294
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement includes a semiconductor switch having a control terminal and a load path. A drive circuit is coupled to the control terminal of the semiconductor switch. The drive circuit has a current measuring arrangement for determining a load current flowing through the load path and is designed to prevent the semiconductor switch from being driven in the off state if the load current exceeds a predetermined load current threshold value. A fuse is coupled in series with the load path of the semiconductor switch triggers if a triggering condition dependent at least on the load current is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Alfons Graf, Christian Arndt
  • Publication number: 20150035385
    Abstract: A circuit includes an electronic switch with an isolated gate, a measuring device for determining a charge at the isolated gate, and an energy supply for providing charge to the isolated gate based on the charge determined by the measuring device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Rainald SANDER, Veli KARTAL, Alfons GRAF
  • Publication number: 20140035359
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a vehicle voltage supply having a vehicle battery, a load with two voltage supply connections, a fuse in a path between the vehicle battery and one of the voltage supply connections of the load, and a clamping circuit transistor. The clamping circuit transistor can be switched in such a manner that the clamping circuit transistor produces a short circuit between voltage supply connections of the load in order to activate the fuse. An energy store is set up to store the energy needed to drive the clamping circuit transistor when producing the short circuit, and a charging circuit is set up to charge the energy store at least during the time in which the clamping circuit transistor does not produce a short circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Inventors: Alfons Graf, Wolfgang Troeger