Patents by Inventor Ben Heilmann

Ben Heilmann 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: 7420864
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide methods and apparatuses for updating a temperature measurement. In one embodiment, the temperature measurement is performed by a temperature sensor using one or more reference signals. A signal to update the temperature measurement is received. A determination is made of whether the clocked standby mode signal has changed within a period of time prior to receiving the signal to update the temperature measurement. If the clocked standby mode signal has changed within the period of time, the signal to update the temperature sensor is masked. If the clocked standby mode signal has not changed within the period of time, the temperature measurement is updated using the signal to update the temperature measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Ben Heilmann, David Herbert
  • Patent number: 7345931
    Abstract: A method and circuit for controlling an output reference voltage generated by a reference voltage generator disposed on a memory device are provided. A signal for enabling a clocked standby mode of the memory device is received. If the signal indicates that the memory device is in the clocked standby mode, a first reference voltage is generated as the output reference voltage of the reference voltage generator using a first voltage. If the signal indicates that the memory device is not in the clocked standby mode, a second reference voltage is generated as the output reference voltage of the reference voltage generator using a second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Torsten Partsch, George Alexander, Ben Heilmann, David Herbert
  • Publication number: 20080025120
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide methods and apparatuses for updating a temperature measurement. In one embodiment, the temperature measurement is performed by a temperature sensor using one or more reference signals. A signal to update the temperature measurement is received. A determination is made of whether the clocked standby mode signal has changed within a period of time prior to receiving the signal to update the temperature measurement. If the clocked standby mode signal has changed within the period of time, the signal to update the temperature sensor is masked. If the clocked standby mode signal has not changed within the period of time, the temperature measurement is updated using the signal to update the temperature measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Ben Heilmann, David Herbert
  • Patent number: 7286432
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide methods and apparatuses for updating a temperature measurement. In one embodiment, the temperature measurement is performed by a temperature sensor using one or more reference signals. A signal to update the temperature measurement is received. A determination is made of whether the clocked standby mode signal has changed within a period of time prior to receiving the signal to update the temperature measurement. If the clocked standby mode signal has changed within the period of time, the signal to update the temperature sensor is masked. If the clocked standby mode signal has not changed within the period of time, the temperature measurement is updated using the signal to update the temperature measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Ben Heilmann, David Herbert
  • Patent number: 7205829
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a voltage generator of a memory device are provided. In one embodiment, a first clock signal and a second clock signal are provided. The voltage generator is selectively enabled in conjunction with the first clock signal when a period of the first clock signal is less than a period of the second clock signal and the voltage generator is selectively enabled in conjunction with the second clock signal when the period of the second clock signal is less than the period of the first clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: David Herbert, Ben Heilmann
  • Patent number: 7177219
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a voltage generator of a memory device are provided. A temperature of the memory device is measured. If the measured temperature is outside a threshold temperature range, the memory device is allowed to be placed in a clocked standby mode (CSM), whereby the voltage generator is selectively enabled with a clock signal. If the measured temperature is within a threshold temperature range, the memory device is prevented from being placed in the clocked standby mode (CSM).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: David Herbert, Ben Heilmann, George Alexander, Torsten Partsch
  • Publication number: 20070025163
    Abstract: A method and circuit for controlling an output reference voltage generated by a reference voltage generator disposed on a memory device are provided. A signal for enabling a clocked standby mode of the memory device is received. If the signal indicates that the memory device is in the clocked standby mode, a first reference voltage is generated as the output reference voltage of the reference voltage generator using a first voltage. If the signal indicates that the memory device is not in the clocked standby mode, a second reference voltage is generated as the output reference voltage of the reference voltage generator using a second voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventors: Torsten Partsch, George Alexander, Ben Heilmann, David Herbert
  • Publication number: 20070019489
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a voltage generator of a memory device are provided. A temperature of the memory device is measured. If the measured temperature is outside a threshold temperature range, the memory device is allowed to be placed in a clocked standby mode (CSM), whereby the voltage generator is selectively enabled with a clock signal. If the measured temperature is within a threshold temperature range, the memory device is prevented from being placed in the clocked standby mode (CSM).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Inventors: David Herbert, Ben Heilmann, George Alexander, Torsten Partsch
  • Publication number: 20070019488
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide methods and apparatuses for updating a temperature measurement. In one embodiment, the temperature measurement is performed by a temperature sensor using one or more reference signals. A signal to update the temperature measurement is received. A determination is made of whether the clocked standby mode signal has changed within a period of time prior to receiving the signal to update the temperature measurement. If the clocked standby mode signal has changed within the period of time, the signal to update the temperature sensor is masked. If the clocked standby mode signal has not changed within the period of time, the temperature measurement is updated using the signal to update the temperature measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Inventors: Ben Heilmann, David Herbert
  • Publication number: 20070018715
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a voltage generator of a memory device are provided. In one embodiment, a first clock signal and a second clock signal are provided. The voltage generator is selectively enabled in conjunction with the first clock signal when a period of the first clock signal is less than a period of the second clock signal and the voltage generator is selectively enabled in conjunction with the second clock signal when the period of the second clock signal is less than the period of the first clock signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Inventors: David Herbert, Ben Heilmann