Patents by Inventor Andreas Volke
Andreas Volke 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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Patent number: 11932123Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 14, 2022Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.Inventors: Christoph Dustert, Andreas Volke, Klaus Harmann
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Publication number: 20230158896Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2022Publication date: May 25, 2023Applicant: Power Integrations, Inc.Inventors: Christoph Dustert, Andreas Volke, Klaus Harmann
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Publication number: 20220263404Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for active discharge of 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, a dc/dc converter configured to generate an internal supply voltage that is regulated with respect to a voltage on a rail , and a gate drive channel configured to drive the first power switch into conductance by applying a relatively high voltage difference during operation of the vehicle and to continue the driving of the first power switch with a relatively lower voltage difference after a signal indicating shut-down or fault. The dc/dc converter is configured to generate the internal supply voltage to have either a relatively high voltage difference with respect to the voltage on the rail or a relatively lower voltage difference with respect to the voltage on the rail.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2022Publication date: August 18, 2022Applicant: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.Inventors: ANDREAS VOLKE, VINZENZ MAURER, SALEM ABID, DOUGLAS ARNOLD ERIK ANDERSSON HAGGLUND, MICHAEL HORNKAMP, MATTHIAS PETER
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Publication number: 20220258610Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2022Publication date: August 18, 2022Applicant: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.Inventors: ANDREAS VOLKE, CHRISTOPH DUSTERT
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Patent number: 10461733Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 14, 2016Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.Inventors: Karsten Fink, Christoph Dustert, Andreas Volke, Michael Hornkamp, Martin Ulbrich
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Patent number: 10224920Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 26, 2018Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.Inventors: Andreas Volke, Karsten Fink
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Publication number: 20180309433Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2018Publication date: October 25, 2018Inventors: Andreas Volke, Karsten Fink
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Patent number: 10038434Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 26, 2017Date of Patent: July 31, 2018Assignee: Power Integrations Switzerland GmbHInventors: Andreas Volke, Karsten Fink
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Publication number: 20180123579Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2016Publication date: May 3, 2018Inventors: Karsten Fink, Christoph Dustert, Andreas Volke, Michael Hornkamp, Martin Ulbrich
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Publication number: 20170294907Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2017Publication date: October 12, 2017Inventors: Andreas Volke, Karsten Fink
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Publication number: 20140299725Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2014Publication date: October 9, 2014Inventors: Andreas Volke, Günther Volke
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Patent number: 8757580Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 9, 2010Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Tever Technik GmbH & Co. KG.Inventors: Andreas Volke, Günther Volke
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Publication number: 20120112035Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2010Publication date: May 10, 2012Applicant: Tever Technik Vertriebs-und Beteiligungs-GmbH & Co. Beratungs KGInventors: Andreas Volke, Günther Volke
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Patent number: 7940503Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 27, 2008Date of Patent: May 10, 2011Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventor: Andreas Volke
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Publication number: 20090296291Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2008Publication date: December 3, 2009Applicant: Infineon Technologies AGInventor: Andreas Volke