Patents by Inventor Andreas Volk

Andreas Volk 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).

  • Publication number: 20250112633
    Abstract: A power switching system includes a plurality of power switching units each including a respective power switch, a communication system configured to convey a system-wide switching command to the power switching units along a communication channel, and circuitry, included in each of the power switching units, that is configured to delay execution of the system-wide switching command by a delay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2024
    Publication date: April 3, 2025
    Inventors: Vikram Balakrishnan, Michael Anton Brumann, Matthias Peter, Andreas Volke
  • Patent number: 12227086
    Abstract: An electric drive system for a vehicle includes an inverter having at least one phase leg, wherein a first of the phase legs includes a first power switch; an internal voltage supply configured to generate an internal supply voltage regulated with respect to a voltage on a rail and a second voltage, wherein the internal voltage supply is configured to reduce a voltage difference between the internal supply voltage and the second voltage in response to a signal indicating a shut-down or a fault; and a gate drive channel configured to drive the first power switch into conductance by applying the voltage difference between the internal supply voltage and the second voltage between a control terminal and a main terminal of the power switch, gate drive channel configured to continue the driving of the first power switch for a time duration after the signal indicating the shut-down or the fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Andreas Volke, Christoph Dustert
  • Patent number: 11932123
    Abstract: Discharge systems for electric vehicles and electric vehicles having discharge systems. In one implementation, a discharge system for an electric vehicle includes a step-down power converter configured to step down an input voltage to an output voltage; discharge circuitry coupled to the output of the step-down power converter, wherein the discharge circuitry is reversibly driveable to load the step-down power converter; an input component configured to receive input that originated from a human user or a sensor of the electric vehicle, wherein the input indicates that the electric vehicle is to shutdown; and discharge drive circuitry configured to drive the discharge circuitry to load the step-down power converter in response to the indication that the electric vehicle is to shutdown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Christoph Dustert, Andreas Volke, Klaus Harmann
  • Publication number: 20230158896
    Abstract: Discharge systems for electric vehicles and electric vehicles having discharge systems. In one implementation, a discharge system for an electric vehicle includes a step-down power converter configured to step down an input voltage to an output voltage; discharge circuitry coupled to the output of the step-down power converter, wherein the discharge circuitry is reversibly driveable to load the step-down power converter; an input component configured to receive input that originated from a human user or a sensor of the electric vehicle, wherein the input indicates that the electric vehicle is to shutdown; and discharge drive circuitry configured to drive the discharge circuitry to load the step-down power converter in response to the indication that the electric vehicle is to shutdown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Applicant: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Dustert, Andreas Volke, Klaus Harmann
  • Patent number: 10461733
    Abstract: In one aspect, a device includes a first power switch having a first gate, a second power switch paralleled with the first power switch and having a second gate, a gate driver to output a gate drive signal to drive both the first gate and the second gate, a first conduction path to couple the gate drive signal to the first gate, a second conduction path to couple the gate drive signal to the second gate, and a distribution choke to distribute the gate drive signal to the first and second power switches. The distribution choke has a first winding disposed in the first conduction path and a second winding disposed in the second conduction path. The distribution choke is coupled in a differential mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Karsten Fink, Christoph Dustert, Andreas Volke, Michael Hornkamp, Martin Ulbrich
  • Patent number: 10265557
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fire fighting system, in particular for a railway vehicle, with a supply line for supplying at least one extinguishing nozzle with extinguishing fluid, wherein at least one section valve is arranged between the extinguishing nozzle and the supply line, wherein the section valve includes a signal processing means for controlling an adjustment means of the section valve, wherein the signal processing means can be electrically connected via a data communication network to a central control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: FOGTEC Brandschutz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Volk, Roger Dirksmeier
  • Patent number: 10224920
    Abstract: Circuitry for soft shutdown of a power switch and a power converters that includes circuitry for soft shutdown are described. In one aspect, circuitry for soft shutdown of a power switch includes a sense input to be coupled to a power switch receive a signal representative of current passing through the power switch, a comparator to compare the signal with an overcurrent threshold indicative of an overcurrent condition of the power switch and to output a triggering signal in response to the comparison indicating the overcurrent condition, and a gating transistor to be coupled to a control terminal of the power switch, the gating transistor configured to divert a portion of a drive signal away from the control terminal of the power switch in response to the triggering signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Volke, Karsten Fink
  • Publication number: 20180309433
    Abstract: Circuitry for soft shutdown of a power switch and a power converters that includes circuitry for soft shutdown are described. In one aspect, circuitry for soft shutdown of a power switch includes a sense input to be coupled to a power switch receive a signal representative of current passing through the power switch, a comparator to compare the signal with an overcurrent threshold indicative of an overcurrent condition of the power switch and to output a triggering signal in response to the comparison indicating the overcurrent condition, and a gating transistor to be coupled to a control terminal of the power switch, the gating transistor configured to divert a portion of a drive signal away from the control terminal of the power switch in response to the triggering signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Andreas Volke, Karsten Fink
  • Patent number: 10038434
    Abstract: Circuitry for soft shutdown of a power switch and a power converters that includes circuitry for soft shutdown are described. In one aspect, circuitry for soft shutdown of a power switch includes a sense input to be coupled to a power switch receive a signal representative of current passing through the power switch, a comparator to compare the signal with an overcurrent threshold indicative of an overcurrent condition of the power switch and to output a triggering signal in response to the comparison indicating the overcurrent condition, and a gating transistor to be coupled to a control terminal of the power switch, the gating transistor configured to divert a portion of a drive signal away from the control terminal of the power switch in response to the triggering signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Power Integrations Switzerland GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Volke, Karsten Fink
  • Publication number: 20180123579
    Abstract: In one aspect, a device includes a first power switch having a first gate, a second power switch paralleled with the first power switch and having a second gate, a gate driver to output a gate drive signal to drive both the first gate and the second gate, a first conduction path to couple the gate drive signal to the first gate, a second conduction path to couple the gate drive signal to the second gate, and a distribution choke to distribute the gate drive signal to the first and second power switches. The distribution choke has a first winding disposed in the first conduction path and a second winding disposed in the second conduction path. The distribution choke is coupled in a differential mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Karsten Fink, Christoph Dustert, Andreas Volke, Michael Hornkamp, Martin Ulbrich
  • Publication number: 20170294907
    Abstract: Circuitry for soft shutdown of a power switch and a power converters that includes circuitry for soft shutdown are described. In one aspect, circuitry for soft shutdown of a power switch includes a sense input to be coupled to a power switch receive a signal representative of current passing through the power switch, a comparator to compare the signal with an overcurrent threshold indicative of an overcurrent condition of the power switch and to output a triggering signal in response to the comparison indicating the overcurrent condition, and a gating transistor to be coupled to a control terminal of the power switch, the gating transistor configured to divert a portion of a drive signal away from the control terminal of the power switch in response to the triggering signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: Andreas Volke, Karsten Fink
  • Publication number: 20140299725
    Abstract: The invention relates to a height-adjustable pedestal comprising a height adjustable pedestal platform, a spring device that provides a spring force according to a corresponding spring characteristic, and a lever mechanism that is interconnected between the spring device and the pedestal platform in such a way that the spring force is transferred by the lever mechanism to the pedestal platform in the form of a lifting force that counteracts the weight force of the pedestal platform, in order to facilitate the height-adjustment of the pedestal platform, wherein the lever mechanism is configured such that it at least partially compensates for a variation of the spring force that occurs according to the spring characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Andreas Volke, Günther Volke
  • Patent number: 8757580
    Abstract: The invention relates to a height-adjustable pedestal comprising a height adjustable pedestal platform, a spring device that provides a spring force according to a corresponding spring characteristic, and a lever mechanism that is interconnected between the spring device and the pedestal platform in such a way that the spring force is transferred by the lever mechanism to the pedestal platform in the form of a lifting force that counteracts the weight force of the pedestal platform, in order to facilitate the height-adjustment of the pedestal platform, wherein the lever mechanism is configured such that it at least partially compensates for a variation of the spring force that occurs according to the spring characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Tever Technik GmbH & Co. KG.
    Inventors: Andreas Volke, Günther Volke
  • Publication number: 20120267126
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fire fighting system, in particular for a railway vehicle, with a supply line for supplying at least one extinguishing nozzle with extinguishing fluid, wherein at least one section valve is arranged between the extinguishing nozzle and the supply line, wherein the section valve includes a signal processing means for controlling an adjustment means of the section valve, wherein the signal processing means can be electrically connected via a data communication network to a central control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: FOGTEC BRANDSCHUTZ GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Volk, Roger Dirksmeier
  • Publication number: 20120112035
    Abstract: The invention relates to a height-adjustable pedestal comprising a height adjustable pedestal platform, a spring device that provides a spring force according to a corresponding spring characteristic, and a lever mechanism that is interconnected between the spring device and the pedestal platform in such a way that the spring force is transferred by the lever mechanism to the pedestal platform in the form of a lifting force that counteracts the weight force of the pedestal platform, in order to facilitate the height-adjustment of the pedestal platform, wherein the lever mechanism is configured such that it at least partially compensates for a variation of the spring force that occurs according to the spring characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: Tever Technik Vertriebs-und Beteiligungs-GmbH & Co. Beratungs KG
    Inventors: Andreas Volke, Günther Volke
  • Patent number: 7940503
    Abstract: A power semiconductor arrangement including conditional active clamping (CAC). One embodiment includes a power semiconductor arrangement. A controllable power semiconductor switch includes a load path. A driver unit for switching the load path to either an ON-state or an OFF-state. An active clamping (AC) unit configured to switch the load path in the ON-state if the voltage affecting the controllable power semiconductor switch is higher than or equal to an allowable voltage. A switching unit includes a control input, and configured to activate and/or to deactivate the AC unit dependent on a signal applied to the control input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Andreas Volke
  • Publication number: 20090296291
    Abstract: A power semiconductor arrangement including conditional active clamping (CAC). One embodiment includes a power semiconductor arrangement. A controllable power semiconductor switch includes a load path. A driver unit for switching the load path to either an ON-state or an OFF-state. An active clamping (AC) unit configured to switch the load path in the ON-state if the voltage affecting the controllable power semiconductor switch is higher than or equal to an allowable voltage. A switching unit includes a control input, and configured to activate and/or to deactivate the AC unit dependent on a signal applied to the control input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Andreas Volke