Patents by Inventor Bernhard Wolfgang Ruck

Bernhard Wolfgang Ruck 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: 20240128851
    Abstract: A driver includes a low-resistance charging path between a supply voltage rail and a first output node, a high-resistance charging path between the supply voltage rail and the first output node, an inverter coupled to the first output node and configured to enable and disable the low-resistance charging path, and a high-resistance discharging path between the first output node and a second output node. The first output node is coupled to a control terminal of a pass gate transistor in some implementations. The low-resistance charging path charges a voltage on the first output node to a threshold voltage of the pass gate transistor, and the high-resistance charging path charges the voltage on the first output node greater than the threshold voltage of the pass gate transistor. The high-resistance discharging path discharges the voltage on the first output node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Bernhard Wolfgang RUCK, Ruediger KUHN, Oliver NEHRIG
  • Patent number: 11901803
    Abstract: A driver includes a low-resistance charging path between a supply voltage rail and a first output node, a high-resistance charging path between the supply voltage rail and the first output node, an inverter coupled to the first output node and configured to enable and disable the low-resistance charging path, and a high-resistance discharging path between the first output node and a second output node. The first output node is coupled to a control terminal of a pass gate transistor in some implementations. The low-resistance charging path charges a voltage on the first output node to a threshold voltage of the pass gate transistor, and the high-resistance charging path charges the voltage on the first output node greater than the threshold voltage of the pass gate transistor. The high-resistance discharging path discharges the voltage on the first output node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Bernhard Wolfgang Ruck, Ruediger Kuhn, Oliver Nehrig
  • Publication number: 20230208291
    Abstract: A driver includes a low-resistance charging path between a supply voltage rail and a first output node, a high-resistance charging path between the supply voltage rail and the first output node, an inverter coupled to the first output node and configured to enable and disable the low-resistance charging path, and a high-resistance discharging path between the first output node and a second output node. The first output node is coupled to a control terminal of a pass gate transistor in some implementations. The low-resistance charging path charges a voltage on the first output node to a threshold voltage of the pass gate transistor, and the high-resistance charging path charges the voltage on the first output node greater than the threshold voltage of the pass gate transistor. The high-resistance discharging path discharges the voltage on the first output node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Bernhard Wolfgang RUCK, Ruediger KUHN, Oliver NEHRIG
  • Publication number: 20220374035
    Abstract: A system includes a digital controller in a voltage regulator. The system also includes a passgate array including two or more passgate transistors, where the passgate array is configured to provide a load current to a load, and where the digital controller is configured to activate and deactivate each passgate transistor in the passgate array. The system also includes a feedback loop configured to provide an error signal to the digital controller, the error signal based on a difference between an output voltage of the voltage regulator and a programmed voltage for the voltage regulator. The digital controller is configured to activate or deactivate a passgate transistor based at least in part on the error signal. The digital controller is also configured to activate at least one passgate transistor and deactivate at least one passgate transistor responsive to a clock cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Johannes GERBER, Asif QAIYUM, Fraj GHARIB, Christian Josef SICHERT, Ruediger KUHN, Frank DORNSEIFER, Bernhard Wolfgang RUCK
  • Patent number: 10560112
    Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) includes a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that has a configurable capacitor array. Based on measurements of differential nonlinearity (DNL) and/or integral nonlinearity (INL) error by an external test computer system, an order for use of the DAC's capacitors can be determined so as to reduce DNL error aggregation, also called INL. The DAC includes a switch matrix that can be programmed by programming data supplied by the test computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Thomas Fuchs, Rudiger Kuhn, Bernhard Wolfgang Ruck
  • Publication number: 20190229743
    Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) includes a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that has a configurable capacitor array. Based on measurements of differential nonlinearity (DNL) and/or integral nonlinearity (INL) error by an external test computer system, an order for use of the DAC's capacitors can be determined so as to reduce DNL error aggregation, also called INL. The DAC includes a switch matrix that can be programmed by programming data supplied by the test computer system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas Fuchs, Rudiger Kuhn, Bernhard Wolfgang Ruck
  • Patent number: 10298250
    Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) includes a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that has a configurable capacitor array. Based on measurements of differential nonlinearity (DNL) and/or integral nonlinearity (INL) error by an external test computer system, an order for use of the DAC's capacitors can be determined so as to reduce DNL error aggregation, also called INL. The DAC includes a switch matrix that can be programmed by programming data supplied by the test computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Thomas Fuchs, Rudiger Kuhn, Bernhard Wolfgang Ruck
  • Publication number: 20170250699
    Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) includes a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that has a configurable capacitor array. Based on measurements of differential nonlinearity (DNL) and/or integral nonlinearity (INL) error by an external test computer system, an order for use of the DAC's capacitors can be determined so as to reduce DNL error aggregation, also called INL. The DAC includes a switch matrix that can be programmed by programming data supplied by the test computer system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas Fuchs, Rudiger Kuhn, Bernhard Wolfgang Ruck
  • Patent number: 9654131
    Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) includes a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that has a configurable capacitor array. Based on measurements of differential nonlinearity (DNL) and/or integral nonlinearity (INL) error by an external test computer system, an order for use of the DAC's capacitors can be determined so as to reduce DNL error aggregation, also called INL. The DAC includes a switch matrix that can be programmed by programming data supplied by the test computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Fuchs, RĂ¼diger Kuhn, Bernhard Wolfgang Ruck
  • Patent number: 8373459
    Abstract: An integrated circuit provides a power on reset signal with respect to a supply voltage level supplying the electronic device. The integrated circuit comprises a bias current generating stage having a first current mirror and an output stage having first, second and third series connected MOS transistors. A connection between the second MOS transistor and the third MOS transistor forms a POR output node. A gate of the second MOS transistor and a gate of the third MOS transistor are coupled to each other and to the first current mirror. This allows a current through the third MOS transistor when the supply voltage is higher than a first MOS transistor threshold and a current through the second MOS transistor only when the supply voltage is greater than or equal to the sum of the first MOS transistor threshold and a second MOS transistor threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Santiago Iriarte Garcia, Johannes Gerber, Bernhard Wolfgang Ruck
  • Publication number: 20120286833
    Abstract: An integrated circuit provides a power on reset signal with respect to a supply voltage level supplying the electronic device. The integrated circuit comprises a bias current generating stage having a first current mirror and an output stage having first, second and third series connected MOS transistors. A connection between the second MOS transistor and the third MOS transistor forms a POR output node. A gate of the second MOS transistor and a gate of the third MOS transistor are coupled to each other and to the first current mirror. This allows a current through the third MOS transistor when the supply voltage is higher than a first MOS transistor threshold and a current through the second MOS transistor only when the supply voltage is greater than or equal to the sum of the first MOS transistor threshold and a second MOS transistor threshold voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Santiago Iriarte Garcia, Johannes Gerber, Bernhard Wolfgang Ruck
  • Patent number: 7893734
    Abstract: An integrated circuit provides a power on reset signal with respect to a supply voltage level supplying the electronic device. The integrated circuit comprises a bias current generating stage having a first current mirror and an output stage having first, second and third series connected MOS transistors. A connection between the second MOS transistor and the third MOS transistor forms a POR output node. A gate of the second MOS transistor and a gate of the third MOS transistor are coupled to each other and to the first current mirror. This allows a current through the third MOS transistor when the supply voltage is higher than a first MOS transistor threshold and a current through the second MOS transistor only when the supply voltage is greater than or equal to the sum of the first MOS transistor threshold and a second MOS transistor threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Santiago Iriarte Garcia, Johannes Gerber, Bernhard Wolfgang Ruck
  • Patent number: 7786920
    Abstract: A method for controlling a successive approximation register analog to digital converter comprising connecting a first side of a capacitor to a first comparator input, during a sampling phase connecting the first side of a capacitor to an input and connecting a second side of the capacitor to a mid-voltage, following the sampling phase disconnecting the first side of the capacitor from the input and disconnecting the second side of the capacitor from the mid-voltage and autozeroing the comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Johannes Gerber, Bernhard Wolfgang Ruck
  • Publication number: 20090121754
    Abstract: An integrated circuit provides a power on reset signal with respect to a supply voltage level supplying the electronic device. The integrated circuit comprises a bias current generating stage having a first current mirror and an output stage having first, second and third series connected MOS transistors. A connection between the second MOS transistor and the third MOS transistor forms a POR output node. A gate of the second MOS transistor and a gate of the third MOS transistor are coupled to each other and to the first current mirror. This allows a current through the third MOS transistor when the supply voltage is higher than a first MOS transistor threshold and a current through the second MOS transistor only when the supply voltage is greater than or equal to the sum of the first MOS transistor threshold and a second MOS transistor threshold voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Santiago Iriarte Garcia, Johannes Gerber, Bernhard Wolfgang Ruck
  • Publication number: 20090066556
    Abstract: A method for controlling a successive approximation register analog to digital converter comprising connecting a first side of a capacitor to a first comparator input, during a sampling phase connecting the first side of a capacitor to an input and connecting a second side of the capacitor to a mid-voltage, following the sampling phase disconnecting the first side of the capacitor from the input and disconnecting the second side of the capacitor from the mid-voltage and autozeroing the comparator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Johannes Gerber, Bernhard Wolfgang Ruck
  • Publication number: 20090058493
    Abstract: An electronic device with a supply voltage level converter converts a signal from a first low supply voltage level to a second high supply voltage level includes; a first pair of cross coupled MOS transistors compliant with the second supply voltage level, each having a source coupled to the second supply voltage level and providing complementary output signals at respective drains; driven by a second pair of common gate MOS transistors compliant with the second supply voltage; driven by a third pair of common gate MOS transistors compliant with the first voltage level; and driven by first and second inverters coupled in a chain and supplied by the first supply voltage level, each having an output connected to the source of a transistor in a third pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Matthias Arnold, Johannes Gerber, Bernhard Wolfgang Ruck
  • Publication number: 20080272831
    Abstract: A charge pump CMOS circuit comprises a differential input stage with two parallel circuit branches. Each of the parallel circuit branches has a diode-connected MOS transistor connected in series with a complementary input MOS transistor. There is a common tail current source for both circuit branches. The diode-connected MOS transistors each have their gate/drain node connected to corresponding current sources. The charge pump CMOS circuit is suitable for use in an oscillator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Bernhard Wolfgang Ruck, Johannes Gerber