Patents by Inventor Bernhard Helmut Engl

Bernhard Helmut Engl 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: 10641837
    Abstract: A ripple monitoring circuit may generate information indicative of a failing component in a power supply. At least one input may receive a ripple signal from the power supply that has a ripple component. A quantization circuit may repeatedly quantize the amplitude of the ripple component. A ripple amplitude statistics counter bank may count and store the number of times that different quantized amplitudes or different ranges of quantized amplitudes of the ripple component occurred. A ripple monitoring circuit may generate information about a power supply. At least one input may receive a ripple signal from the power supply that has a ripple component. A ripple measurement circuit may measure a characteristic of the ripple component. A storage circuit may store information about the measurement. A comparison circuit may compare information stored in the storage circuit with a threshold value and indicate when the stored information meets or exceeds this threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Bernhard Helmut Engl, Robert Chiacchia, Robert C. Dobkin
  • Publication number: 20170153296
    Abstract: A ripple monitoring circuit may generate information indicative of a failing component in a power supply. At least one input may receive a ripple signal from the power supply that has a ripple component. A quantization circuit may repeatedly quantize the amplitude of the ripple component. A ripple amplitude statistics counter bank may count and store the number of times that different quantized amplitudes or different ranges of quantized amplitudes of the ripple component occurred. A ripple monitoring circuit may generate information about a power supply. At least one input may receive a ripple signal from the power supply that has a ripple component. A ripple measurement circuit may measure a characteristic of the ripple component. A storage circuit may store information about the measurement. A comparison circuit may compare information stored in the storage circuit with a threshold value and indicate when the stored information meets or exceeds this threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bernhard Helmut Engl, Robert Chiacchia, Robert C. Dobkin
  • Patent number: 8947101
    Abstract: Method and system for measuring the resistance of a resistive structure having at least three nodes. A first calibration signal is determined by measuring a voltage at an output of the resistance structure when no calibration current is injected into a third node between the first and second nodes of the structure. A calibration current is then injected into the third node and a second calibration signal is determined. The absolute value of the difference between the first calibration signal and the second calibration signal is determined, the absolute value being proportional to a product of the resistance of the resistive structure and the calibration current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Bernhard Helmut Engl
  • Patent number: 8909841
    Abstract: Method and system for configuring a serial interface. The system includes one or more input nodes each coupled to a corresponding serial bus. One or more output nodes are coupled to a respective serial bus, each output node having a respective driver. A voltage detection circuit determines the voltage at a configuration node. Mode of serial bus operation is based on the voltage level detected at the configuration node. In at least one mode of serial bus operation, the configuration node is used as a mode select input and power source for at least one output driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Bernhard Helmut Engl
  • Publication number: 20140191768
    Abstract: Method and system for measuring the resistance of a resistive structure having at least three nodes. A first calibration signal is determined by measuring a voltage at an output of the resistance structure when no calibration current is injected into a third node between the first and second nodes of the structure. A calibration current is then injected into the third node and a second calibration signal is determined. The absolute value of the difference between the first calibration signal and the second calibration signal is determined, the absolute value being proportional to a product of the resistance of the resistive structure and the calibration current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Bernhard Helmut ENGL
  • Publication number: 20140101349
    Abstract: Method and system for configuring a serial interface. The system includes one or more input nodes each coupled to a corresponding serial bus. One or more output nodes are coupled to a respective serial bus, each output node having a respective driver. A voltage detection circuit determines the voltage at a configuration node. Mode of serial bus operation is based on the voltage level detected at the configuration node. In at least one mode of serial bus operation, the configuration node is used as a mode select input and power source for at least one output driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Bernhard Helmut ENGL
  • Patent number: 8390363
    Abstract: A temperature compensation circuit for generating a temperature compensating reference voltage (VREF) may include a Bandgap reference circuit configured to generate a Bandgap reference voltage (VBGR) that is substantially temperature independent and a proportional-to-absolute-temperature reference voltage (VPTAT) that varies substantially in proportion to absolute temperature. The circuit may also include an operational amplifier that is connected to the Bandgap reference circuit and that has an output on which VREF is based. The circuit may also include a feedback circuit that is connected to the operational amplifier and to the Bandgap reference circuit and that is configured so as to cause VREF to be substantially equal to VPTAT times a constant k1, minus VBGR times a constant k2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Bernhard Helmut Engl
  • Publication number: 20110068854
    Abstract: A temperature compensation circuit for generating a temperature compensating reference voltage (VREF) may include a Bandgap reference circuit configured to generate a Bandgap reference voltage (VBGR) that is substantially temperature independent and a proportional-to-absolute-temperature reference voltage (VPTAT) that varies substantially in proportion to absolute temperature. The circuit may also include an operational amplifier that is connected to the Bandgap reference circuit and that has an output on which VREF is based. The circuit may also include a feedback circuit that is connected to the operational amplifier and to the Bandgap reference circuit and that is configured so as to cause VREF to be substantially equal to VPTAT times a constant k1, minus VBGR times a constant k2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventor: Bernhard Helmut Engl