Patents by Inventor Armin Prohaska
Armin Prohaska 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: 10684733Abstract: An apparatus includes an integrator circuit, a compensation circuit, and a sense circuit. The compensation circuit applies a positive charge and a negative charge to the integrator circuit during a first time period and a second time period respectively. The integrator circuit integrates a signal and the positive charge to produce a first sense signal. The signal is based on a charge at an electrode of a touch sensor. The integrator circuit integrates the signal and the negative charge to produce a second sense signal. The sense circuit detects a touch based on the first sense signal and the second sense signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2018Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: Atmel CorporationInventors: Trond Jarle Pedersen, Armin Prohaska, Torgeir Fenheim, Peter Kolb
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Publication number: 20190034005Abstract: An apparatus includes an integrator circuit, a compensation circuit, and a sense circuit. The compensation circuit applies a positive charge and a negative charge to the integrator circuit during a first time period and a second time period respectively. The integrator circuit integrates a signal and the positive charge to produce a first sense signal. The signal is based on a charge at an electrode of a touch sensor. The integrator circuit integrates the signal and the negative charge to produce a second sense signal. The sense circuit detects a touch based on the first sense signal and the second sense signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2018Publication date: January 31, 2019Inventors: Trond Jarle Pedersen, Armin Prohaska, Torgeir Fenheim, Peter Kolb
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Patent number: 10120513Abstract: An apparatus includes an integrator circuit, a compensation circuit, and a sense circuit. The compensation circuit applies a positive charge and a negative charge to the integrator circuit during a first time period and a second time period respectively. The integrator circuit integrates a signal and the positive charge to produce a first sense signal. The signal is based on a charge at an electrode of a touch sensor. The integrator circuit integrates the signal and the negative charge to produce a second sense signal. The sense circuit detects a touch based on the first sense signal and the second sense signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2016Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: Atmel CorporationInventors: Trond Jarle Pedersen, Armin Prohaska, Torgeir Fenheim, Peter Kolb
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Publication number: 20170344144Abstract: An apparatus includes an integrator circuit, a compensation circuit, and a sense circuit. The compensation circuit applies a positive charge and a negative charge to the integrator circuit during a first time period and a second time period respectively. The integrator circuit integrates a signal and the positive charge to produce a first sense signal. The signal is based on a charge at an electrode of a touch sensor. The integrator circuit integrates the signal and the negative charge to produce a second sense signal. The sense circuit detects a touch based on the first sense signal and the second sense signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2016Publication date: November 30, 2017Inventors: Trond Jarle Pedersen, Armin Prohaska, Torgeir Fenheim, Peter Kolb
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Patent number: 8760227Abstract: A circuit and a method for correcting an offset is provided that includes a current amplifier and an adjusting circuit for correcting an offset of an output current of the current amplifier. Wherein the adjusting circuit has a controlled current source, an output of the controlled current source is connected to the current amplifier for impressing an output current of the controlled current source in the current amplifier, an input of the controlled current source to form a regulation element of a control loop is connected by a first switching device of the adjusting circuit to an output of the current amplifier and to form a holding element is disconnected from the output of the current amplifier by the first switching device.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2012Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Atmel CorporationInventors: Armin Prohaska, Terje Saether, Holger Vogelmann
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Patent number: 8558581Abstract: According to a novel aspect, operating an analog rail-to-rail comparator circuit with common mode detection of differential input signals includes generating a hysteresis current for the comparator circuit based on a common mode voltage used for the common mode detection. The hysteresis current is added to a differential output of a comparator in the comparator circuit, such that a hysteresis voltage at an output of the comparator circuit is substantially independent of the common mode voltage.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2011Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Atmel CorporationInventors: Armin Prohaska, Holger Vogelmann
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Publication number: 20130120046Abstract: According to a novel aspect, operating an analog rail-to-rail comparator circuit with common mode detection of differential input signals includes generating a hysteresis current for the comparator circuit based on a common mode voltage used for the common mode detection. The hysteresis current is added to a differential output of a comparator in the comparator circuit, such that a hysteresis voltage at an output of the comparator circuit is substantially independent of the common mode voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2011Publication date: May 16, 2013Applicant: ATMEL CORPORATIONInventors: Armin Prohaska, Holger Vogelmann
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Publication number: 20130043952Abstract: A circuit and a method for correcting an offset is provided that includes a current amplifier and an adjusting circuit for correcting an offset of an output current of the current amplifier. Wherein the adjusting circuit has a controlled current source, an output of the controlled current source is connected to the current amplifier for impressing an output current of the controlled current source in the current amplifier, an input of the controlled current source to form a regulation element of a control loop is connected by a first switching device of the adjusting circuit to an output of the current amplifier and to form a holding element is disconnected from the output of the current amplifier by the first switching device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2012Publication date: February 21, 2013Inventors: Armin Prohaska, Terje Saether, Holger Vogelmann
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Patent number: 8289082Abstract: A circuit and a method for correcting an offset is provided that includes a current amplifier and an adjusting circuit for correcting an offset of an output current of the current amplifier. Wherein the adjusting circuit has a controlled current source, an output of the controlled current source is connected to the current amplifier for impressing an output current of the controlled current source in the current amplifier, an input of the controlled current source to form a regulation element of a control loop is connected by a first switching device of the adjusting circuit to an output of the current amplifier and to form a holding element is disconnected from the output of the current amplifier by the first switching device.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2010Date of Patent: October 16, 2012Assignee: Atmel CorporationInventors: Armin Prohaska, Terje Saether, Holger Vogelmann
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Patent number: 8101900Abstract: A circuit and method for operating a circuit with a terminal for connecting a photodiode to output an output current dependent on the photocurrent of the photodiode, with a resistance device for generating a voltage drop dependent on a photocurrent of the photodiode, with a control loop connected to the resistance device for generating the output current dependent on the photocurrent, with a switching means connected to the terminal with first switch positions for a first operating mode for operating the photodiode in the reversed bias and with second switch positions for a second operating mode for operating the photodiode in the photovoltaic mode, wherein in the first operating mode in the first switch positions of the switching means, the resistance device and the control loop are bridged and/or are not connected, and in the second operating mode in the second switch positions of the switching means, the terminal is connected to the resistance device.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2009Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: Atmel CorporationInventors: Guenther Bergmann, Herbert Knotz, Peter Kolb, Armin Prohaska, Holger Vogelmann
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Publication number: 20110148380Abstract: A circuit and a method for correcting an offset is provided that includes a current amplifier and an adjusting circuit for correcting an offset of an output current of the current amplifier. Wherein the adjusting circuit has a controlled current source, an output of the controlled current source is connected to the current amplifier for impressing an output current of the controlled current source in the current amplifier, an input of the controlled current source to form a regulation element of a control loop is connected by a first switching device of the adjusting circuit to an output of the current amplifier and to form a holding element is disconnected from the output of the current amplifier by the first switching device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2010Publication date: June 23, 2011Inventors: Armin Prohaska, Terje Saether, Holger Vogelmann
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Publication number: 20100102208Abstract: A circuit and method for operating a circuit with a terminal for connecting a photodiode to output an output current dependent on the photocurrent of the photodiode, with a resistance device for generating a voltage drop dependent on a photocurrent of the photodiode, with a control loop connected to the resistance device for generating the output current dependent on the photocurrent, with a switching means connected to the terminal with first switch positions for a first operating mode for operating the photodiode in the reversed bias and with second switch positions for a second operating mode for operating the photodiode in the photovoltaic mode, wherein in the first operating mode in the first switch positions of the switching means, the resistance device and the control loop are bridged and/or are not connected, and in the second operating mode in the second switch positions of the switching means, the terminal is connected to the resistance device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2009Publication date: April 29, 2010Inventors: Guenther Bergmann, Herbert Knotz, Peter Kolb, Armin Prohaska, Holger Vogelmann
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Patent number: 7345513Abstract: A driver circuit is provided, which includes a differential amplifier whose output signal controls the driving input signal, a reference signal generator that supplies a reference input of the differential amplifier, an external feedback that applies a signal, which is dependent on the output signal, to a feedback input of the differential amplifier, an adapter circuit, and an internal feedback activated in a compensation mode as an alternative to the external feedback, which internal feedback provides a signal to both the feedback input and the adapter circuit even for input signals that do not exceed the first threshold. The adaptor circuit generates and stores a compensation signal that compensates an offset signal acting alone at the reference input when the reference signal generator is switched off, and feeds the stored compensation signal, together with a reference signal, to the reference input or feedback input when the external feedback is activated.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2005Date of Patent: March 18, 2008Assignee: Atmel Germany GmbHInventors: Karl-Josef Gropper, Herbert Knotz, Michael Offenwanger, Armin Prohaska
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Publication number: 20060139237Abstract: A driver circuit that provides a driver pulse sequence with different adjustable driver pulse heights in different time segments is provided. The driver circuit includes n pulse generators that supply pulse height contributions to a summing node, wherein the supplying can be controlled by switching elements individual to the pulse generators, and further includes a control unit that controls at least some of the switching elements as a function of adjustable parameters. The driver circuit also includes a switching matrix with matrix elements, each one of which is associated with a pair having at least one of the time segments and at least one control parameter, and issues a control signal for exactly one switching element of one of the n pulse generators.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2005Publication date: June 29, 2006Applicant: ATMEL GERMANY GMBHInventors: Herbert Knotz, Armin Prohaska, Stefan Schabel
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Publication number: 20060114036Abstract: A driver circuit is provided, which in an operating mode drives a component that only supplies output power when a driving input signal exceeds a first threshold value. The driver circuit includes a differential amplifier whose output signal controls the driving input signal, a reference signal generator that supplies a reference input of the differential amplifier, and an external feedback that applies a signal, which is dependent on the output signal, to a feedback input of the differential amplifier. The driver circuit also has an adapter circuit and an internal feedback that can be activated in a compensation mode as an alternative to the external feedback, which internal feedback provides a signal to both the feedback input and the adapter circuit even for input signals that do not exceed the first threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2005Publication date: June 1, 2006Applicant: ATMEL GERMANY GMBHInventors: Karl-Josef Gropper, Herbert Knotz, Michael Offenwanger, Armin Prohaska
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Patent number: 6420062Abstract: The invention relates to a double layer cathode for molten carbonate fuel cells, containing a first layer (2a) consisting of a first cathode material, preferably lithium-treated nickel oxide, and a second layer (2b) consisting of cerium-activated lithium cobaltite. The inventive double layer cathode is characterised in that the polarization resistance is less dependent on temperature and in that it has a longer life. The double layer cathode is especially suitable for operating a fuel cell at less than 650° C. The material for the second cathode layer (2b) is produced by activating cobalt oxide by co-precipitation with cerium and treating it with lithium carbonate to form a suspension. Said suspension is then applied to the first cathode layer (2a) as a second cathode (2b), dried and sintered at a high temperature.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2000Date of Patent: July 16, 2002Assignee: MTU Motoren-und Turbinen-Union Friedrichshafen GmbHInventors: Armin Prohaska, Manfred Bischoff, Bernd Rohland, Vojtech Plzak