Patents by Inventor Christoph Hepp

Christoph Hepp 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: 20240361165
    Abstract: A method for detecting bubbles or droplets of a first medium in a fluid second medium flowing through a measuring pipe includes: heating a first heating element and a second heating element, which are each arranged on the measuring pipe and at a distance from each other; simultaneously sensing a first ambient temperature at the first heating element by a first sensor and a second ambient temperature at the second heating element by a second sensor; determining a first variable of the first sensor corresponding to the first ambient temperature and a second variable of the second sensor corresponding to the second ambient temperature; forming a difference between the first variable and the second variable; and comparing an absolute value of the difference with a reference threshold value, wherein the presence of a bubble or droplet is detected when the absolute value at least briefly exceeds the reference threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Inventors: Ralf Emanuel Bernhardsgrütter, Jürgen Dorsch, Christoph Hepp
  • Publication number: 20240219216
    Abstract: A method for operating a thermal sensor, wherein the thermal sensor includes a sensor element and an electronics, the sensor element in thermal contact with a container, in which a measured medium flows with a flow velocity, the sensor element periodically heated by an alternating voltage and, at the same time, a temperature of the sensor element is registered versus time, wherein the electronics determines a measured variable of the measured medium based on a comparison of the third harmonic oscillation of the alternating voltage with the third harmonic oscillation of the temperature, including calculating a phase shift between the third harmonic oscillation of the alternating voltage and the amplitude of the third harmonic oscillation of the temperature, and wherein a frequency of the alternating voltage is selected to achieve a penetration depth of an emitted heat of the sensor element into the measured medium at essentially zero flow velocity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2022
    Publication date: July 4, 2024
    Inventors: Ralf Emanuel Bernhardsgrütter, Christoph Hepp
  • Patent number: 11988535
    Abstract: A method for operating a thermal flow sensor includes: bringing a measuring medium into thermal contact with a sensor element of the flow sensor and periodically heating the medium using an AC voltage introduced into the sensor element; simultaneously detecting a maximum amplitude of a temperature and/or a phase shift between a curve of the AC voltage and the curve of the temperature; adjusting the detected maximum amplitude and/or the detected phase shift using calibration data; determining an isoline using the adjusted maximum amplitude and/or the adjusted phase shift based on model of the flow sensor, wherein the isoline has a plurality of value pairs of thermal conductivity and thermal capacitance of the medium; deriving a medium information from the isoline; and performing a flow measurement by converting signal values from the sensor element into measurement values of an effective flow velocity of the medium using the medium information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Innovator Sensor Technology IST AG
    Inventors: Ralf Emanuel Bernhardsgrütter, Christoph Hepp
  • Publication number: 20240088924
    Abstract: Wireless circuitry can include a processor that generates a baseband signal, an upconversion circuit that upconverts the baseband signals to a radio-frequency signal, and an amplifier that amplifies the radio-frequency signal. A tunable delay circuit can be used to selectively delay generation of the radio-frequency signal or to delay generation of another signal intended for the radio-frequency amplifier. The tunable delay circuit can be controlled using a closed-loop delay adaptation scheme. A feedback receiver that is coupled to an output of the amplifier can be used to generate a demodulated signal. A delay error measurement circuit can be used to receive the demodulated signal, to detect a peak by monitoring when an envelope of the demodulated signal crosses a threshold level, to compute an amount of asymmetry in the detected peak, and to output a signal that is used to control the tunable delay circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Stephan Henzler, Nicholas Preyss, Jochen Schrattenecker, Andreas Langer, Alexander Klinkan, Christoph Hepp, Christoph Angerer
  • Patent number: 11817892
    Abstract: Systems, circuitries, and methods for predistorting a digital signal in a transmit chain based on a predistortion function are provided. A method includes shifting a center frequency of an input signal by an offset to generate an adapted signal; predistorting the adapted signal based on a predistortion function to generate a predistorted adapted signal; reverting the shifting of the center frequency of the predistorted adapted signal by the offset to generate a predistorted signal; and causing transmission of the predistorted signal by a transmit chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Langer, Christoph Hepp, Andreas Menkhoff, Gunther Kraut
  • Patent number: 11777457
    Abstract: A circuit for generating a radio frequency signal is provided. The circuit includes an amplifier configured to generate a radio frequency signal based on a baseband signal. Further, the circuit includes a power supply configured to generate a variable supply voltage based on a control signal indicating a desired supply voltage, and to supply the variable supply voltage to the amplifier. The circuit further includes an envelope tracking circuit configured to generate the control signal based on a bandwidth of the baseband signal, and to supply the control signal to the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Langer, Christoph Hepp
  • Publication number: 20230236052
    Abstract: A method for operating a thermal flow sensor includes: bringing a measuring medium into thermal contact with a sensor element of the flow sensor and periodically heating the medium using an AC voltage introduced into the sensor element; simultaneously detecting a maximum amplitude of a temperature and/or a phase shift between a curve of the AC voltage and the curve of the temperature; adjusting the detected maximum amplitude and/or the detected phase shift using calibration data; determining an isoline using the adjusted maximum amplitude and/or the adjusted phase shift based on model of the flow sensor, wherein the isoline has a plurality of value pairs of thermal conductivity and thermal capacitance of the medium; deriving a medium information from the isoline; and performing a flow measurement by converting signal values from the sensor element into measurement values of an effective flow velocity of the medium using the medium information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Ralf Emanuel Bernhardsgrütter, Christoph Hepp
  • Patent number: 11650088
    Abstract: The invention comprises a thermal flow sensor for determining the temperature and the flow velocity of a flowing measuring medium, comprising: a functional element which is configured to determine the temperature of the measuring medium and to influence the temperature of the measuring medium; and a control and evaluation unit which is configured to determine the temperature of the measuring medium in a first interval of time by means of the functional element and to determine the flow velocity of the measuring medium in a second interval of time following the first interval of time, and a method for determining the temperature and the flow velocity of the measuring medium by means of the thermal flow sensor according to the invention, and a sensor system comprising such a thermal flow sensor and a further sensor type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Innovative Sensor Technology IST AG
    Inventors: Tomasz Ciesla, Christoph Hepp
  • Publication number: 20230034540
    Abstract: Systems, circuitries, and methods for predistorting a digital signal in a transmit chain based on a predistortion function are provided. A method includes shifting a center frequency of an input signal by an offset to generate an adapted signal; predistorting the adapted signal based on a predistortion function to generate a predistorted adapted signal; reverting the shifting of the center frequency of the predistorted adapted signal by the offset to generate a predistorted signal; and causing transmission of the predistorted signal by a transmit chain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Andreas Langer, Christoph Hepp, Andreas Menkhoff, Gunther Kraut
  • Patent number: 11502707
    Abstract: Systems, circuitries, and methods for predistorting a digital signal in a transmit chain based on a predistortion function are provided. A method includes shifting a center frequency of an input signal by an offset to generate an adapted signal; predistorting the adapted signal based on a predistortion function to generate a predistorted adapted signal; reverting the shifting of the center frequency of the predistorted adapted signal by the offset to generate a predistorted signal; and causing transmission of the predistorted signal by a transmit chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Langer, Christoph Hepp, Andreas Menkhoff, Gunther Kraut
  • Publication number: 20220115996
    Abstract: A circuit for generating a radio frequency signal is provided. The circuit includes an amplifier configured to generate a radio frequency signal based on a baseband signal. Further, the circuit includes a power supply configured to generate a variable supply voltage based on a control signal indicating a desired supply voltage, and to supply the variable supply voltage to the amplifier. The circuit further includes an envelope tracking circuit configured to generate the control signal based on a bandwidth of the baseband signal, and to supply the control signal to the power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: Andreas Langer, Christoph Hepp
  • Patent number: 11258640
    Abstract: An apparatus for a mobile communication device adapted for digital pre-distortion that includes a memory and a processor operatively coupled to the memory of the processor. The processor receives a first input signal and also receives a first output signal from a power amplifier that is based on the first input signal. The processor additionally varies compression applied to a second input signal based on the first output signal of the power amplifier, generates a distortion compensation vector for the second input signal based on the first output signal of the power amplifier, and also varies an input excitation signal supplied to the power amplifier based on the first output signal of the power amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Armando Cova, Christoph Hepp, Gunther Kraut, Andreas Langer
  • Patent number: 11218121
    Abstract: A circuit for generating a radio frequency signal is provided. The circuit includes an amplifier configured to generate a radio frequency signal based on a baseband signal. Further, the circuit includes a power supply configured to generate a variable supply voltage based on a control signal indicating a desired supply voltage, and to supply the variable supply voltage to the amplifier. The circuit further includes an envelope tracking circuit configured to generate the control signal based on a bandwidth of the baseband signal, and to supply the control signal to the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Langer, Christoph Hepp
  • Publication number: 20210234564
    Abstract: Systems, circuitries, and methods for predistorting a digital signal in a transmit chain based on a predistortion function are provided. A method includes shifting a center frequency of an input signal by an offset to generate an adapted signal; predistorting the adapted signal based on a predistortion function to generate a predistorted adapted signal; reverting the shifting of the center frequency of the predistorted adapted signal by the offset to generate a predistorted signal; and causing transmission of the predistorted signal by a transmit chain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Andreas Langer, Christoph Hepp, Andreas Menkhoff, Gunther Kraut
  • Patent number: 11012105
    Abstract: Systems, circuitries, and methods for predistorting a digital signal in a transmit chain based on a predistortion function are provided in which the function is determined based on a first digital signal or a first transmit chain state. A method includes: receiving a second digital signal that is input to the transmit chain, wherein the transmit chain is characterized by a present transmit chain state; performing a first operation on the second digital signal to generate an adapted digital signal, wherein the first operation is based on either a relationship between the first digital signal and the second digital signal, or a relationship between the first transmit chain state and the present transmit chain state; predistorting the adapted digital signal based on the predistortion function; and performing a second operation on the predistorted adapted signal, wherein the second operation corresponds to an inverse of the first operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Langer, Christoph Hepp, Andreas Menkhoff, Gunther Kraut
  • Publication number: 20210067386
    Abstract: An apparatus for a mobile communication device adapted for digital pre-distortion that includes a memory and a processor operatively coupled to the memory of the processor. The processor receives a first input signal and also receives a first output signal from a power amplifier that is based on the first input signal. The processor additionally varies compression applied to a second input signal based on the first output signal of the power amplifier, generates a distortion compensation vector for the second input signal based on the first output signal of the power amplifier, and also varies an input excitation signal supplied to the power amplifier based on the first output signal of the power amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Armando Cova, Christoph Hepp, Gunther Kraut, Andreas Langer
  • Publication number: 20200348159
    Abstract: The invention comprises a thermal flow sensor (1) for determining the temperature and the flow velocity of a flowing measuring medium (210), comprising:—a functional element (110) which is configured to determine the temperature of the measuring medium (210) and to influence the temperature of the measuring medium (210); and—a control and evaluation unit (120) which is configured to determine the temperature of the measuring medium (210) in a first interval of time by means of the functional element (110) and to determine the flow velocity of the measuring medium (210) in a second interval of time following the first interval of time, and a method for determining the temperature and the flow velocity of the measuring medium (210) by means of the thermal flow sensor (1) according to the invention, and a sensor system comprising such a thermal flow sensor (1) and a further sensor type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2018
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Tomasz Ciesla, Christoph Hepp
  • Publication number: 20200295790
    Abstract: Systems, circuitries, and methods for predistorting a digital signal in a transmit chain based on a predistortion function are provided in which the function is determined based on a first digital signal or a first transmit chain state. A method includes: receiving a second digital signal that is input to the transmit chain, wherein the transmit chain is characterized by a present transmit chain state; performing a first operation on the second digital signal to generate an adapted digital signal, wherein the first operation is based on either a relationship between the first digital signal and the second digital signal, or a relationship between the first transmit chain state and the present transmit chain state; predistorting the adapted digital signal based on the predistortion function; and performing a second operation on the predistorted adapted signal, wherein the second operation corresponds to an inverse of the first operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Andreas Langer, Christoph Hepp, Andreas Menkhoff, Gunther Kraut
  • Patent number: 10345129
    Abstract: A sensor for determining at least one process variable of a medium, comprising: a metallic substrate which has a recess at least in a first area; a first dielectric layer which is arranged on the metallic substrate at least in the first area, wherein the first dielectric layer forms a membrane; at least one heating structure which is arranged on the first dielectric layer formed as a membrane in the first area, wherein the heating structure heats the medium; at least one temperature sensor element assigned to the first area, which temperature sensor element is arranged so as to be spaced apart from the heating structure on the first dielectric layer and detects the temperature of the medium heated on the heating structure; and at least one protective layer which covers at least the at least one heating structure and the at least one temperature sensor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: INNOVATIVE SENSOR TECHNOLOGY IST AG
    Inventors: Christoph Hepp, Thomas Schonstein, Florian Krogmann
  • Patent number: 10337904
    Abstract: A thermal flow sensor for determining flow of a medium, comprising: a substrate; first and second temperature sensors arranged on the substrate, wherein the first and second temperature sensors are embodied as heatable temperature sensors or as a first non-heatable temperature sensor, which is associated with a first heating element, and as a second non-heatable temperature sensor, which is associated with a second heating element; a power supply unit, which by means of a first signal supplies the first heatable temperature sensor or the first heating element with a first heating power determined earlier during an adjustment operation and by means of a second signal supplies the second heatable temperature sensor or the second heating element with a second heating power determined earlier in the adjustment operation; and an evaluation unit, which in a measurement operation for determining flow of the medium ascertains a temperature difference between the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sen
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: INNOVATIVE SENSOR TECHNOLOGY IST IG
    Inventors: Thomas Schonstein, Roger Schell, Christoph Hepp