Patents by Inventor Dirk Hammerschmidt
Dirk Hammerschmidt 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: 12276560Abstract: A torque measurement system includes a first rotatable carrier structure and a second rotatable carrier structure mechanically coupled to a shaft; a first metamaterial track coupled to and configured to co-rotate with the first rotatable carrier structure; a second metamaterial track coupled to and configured to co-rotate with the second rotatable carrier structure; and a low-friction material arranged between the first and the second rotatable carrier structures. The first and the second metamaterial tracks are spaced apart by a predetermined distance and are mutually coupled to each other by a torque-dependent coupling. Responsive to a torque applied to the shaft, the first metamaterial track is configured to undergo a rotational shift relative to the second metamaterial track. The low-friction material provides a low-friction rotational shift between the first rotatable carrier structure and the second rotatable carrier structure such that the predetermined distance is constant during the rotational shift.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2023Date of Patent: April 15, 2025Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Dirk Hammerschmidt, Christof Michenthaler
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Position sensor and position encoder using millimeter-wave metamaterial with a millimeter-wave radar
Patent number: 12270689Abstract: A rotation sensor system includes a rotatable target object configured to rotate about a rotational axis in a rotation direction; a first millimeter-wave (mm-wave) metamaterial track coupled to the rotatable target object, where the first mm-wave metamaterial track is arranged around the rotational axis, and where the first mm-wave metamaterial track includes a first array of elementary structures having at least one first characteristic that changes around a perimeter of the first mm-wave metamaterial track; at least one transmitter configured to transmit a first electro-magnetic transmit signal towards the first mm-wave metamaterial track, where the first mm-wave metamaterial track converts the first electro-magnetic transmit signal into a first electro-magnetic receive signal; at least one receiver configured to receive the first electro-magnetic receive signal; and at least one processor configured to determine a rotational parameter of the rotatable target object based on the received first electro-magneType: GrantFiled: April 3, 2024Date of Patent: April 8, 2025Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Alexander Schossmann, Alexander Bergmann, Dirk Hammerschmidt, Christof Michenthaler -
Patent number: 12267183Abstract: A method and slave devices are disclosed in which an address assignment to slave devices takes place with the aid of a collision detection. The slave device receives an initialization signal, transmits an identifier over a bus in response to the initialization signal, checks whether a collision occurs on the bus when transmitting the identifier, and if a collision occurs, places the slave device into an inactive state, and if no collision occurs, receives an address for the slave device after the transmission of the identifier.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2020Date of Patent: April 1, 2025Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Christof Michenthaler, Leo Aichriedler, Thomas Hafner, Dirk Hammerschmidt
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Patent number: 12254254Abstract: In some examples, a method of operating a circuit is described. The method may include performing a circuit function and estimating a probability of failure of the circuit based on one or more stress origination metrics, one or more stress victim events, and one or more initial state conditions.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2021Date of Patent: March 18, 2025Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Veit Kleeberger, Rafael Zalman, Georg Georgakos, Dirk Hammerschmidt, Bernhard Gstoettenbauer, Ludwig Rossmeier, Thomas Zettler
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Patent number: 12181310Abstract: A method for calibrating a magnetic angle sensor includes measuring, for a plurality of angle positions within a 360° rotation of a measurement object, in each case a first sensor signal for a first magnetic field component and a second sensor signal for a second magnetic field component orthogonal to the first magnetic field component, wherein the first and second sensor signals are in each case 360° periodic and representable as a Fourier series with a Fourier component of a fundamental and a Fourier component of a harmonic; determining the Fourier component of the harmonic for the first and second sensor signals based on a difference between a trajectory defined by the measured first and second sensor signals and a circular path; and correcting the angle positions based on the Fourier component of the harmonic determined for the first and second sensor signals.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2022Date of Patent: December 31, 2024Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventor: Dirk Hammerschmidt
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Patent number: 12176891Abstract: A sensor device includes an output driver configured to: adjust a first time interval of the output signal between a first signal edge of a first type and a first signal edge of a second type based on a first reference value; adjust a second time interval of the output signal between the first signal edge of the second type and a second signal edge of the first type based on a second reference value; adjust a third time interval of the output signal between the second signal edge of the first type and a second signal edge of the second type based on a first data value; and adjust a fourth time interval of the output signal between the second signal edge of the second type and a third signal edge of the first type based on a second data value.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2021Date of Patent: December 24, 2024Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Dirk Hammerschmidt, Michael Strasser
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Patent number: 12176962Abstract: A system includes a movable part that is rotatably movable, the movable part comprising a first portion and a second portion; transceiver circuitry configured to transmit a radio signal towards the movable part and to receive a receive radio signal from the movable part; and evaluation circuitry configured to determine a rotational position of the movable part based on the receive radio signal. The first portion of the movable part has a first electromagnetic reflectivity for the radio signal and the second portion of the movable part has a second electromagnetic reflectivity for the radio signal. The first electromagnetic reflectivity differs from the second electromagnetic reflectivity.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2021Date of Patent: December 24, 2024Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Dirk Hammerschmidt, Erich Kolmhofer, Rudolf Lachner
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Patent number: 12169150Abstract: A sensor system includes a first metamaterial track mechanically coupled to a rotational shaft configured to rotate about a rotational axis, wherein the first metamaterial track is arranged at least partially around the rotational axis, and wherein the first metamaterial track includes a first array of elementary structures; at least one transmitter configured to transmit a first continuous wave towards the first metamaterial track, wherein the first metamaterial track is configured to convert the first continuous wave into a first receive signal based on a rotational parameter of the rotational shaft; and at least one quadrature continuous-wave receiver configured to receive the first receive signal, acquire a first measurement of a first property of the first receive signal, and determine a measurement value for the rotational parameter of the rotational shaft based on the first measurement.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2023Date of Patent: December 17, 2024Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Alexander Schossmann, Alexander Bergmann, Dirk Hammerschmidt, Christof Michenthaler
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Patent number: 12163782Abstract: An angle sensor may include a first angle measurement path to determine an angular position based on sensor values from a first set of sensing elements. The angle sensor may include a second angle measurement path to determine the angular position based on sensor values from a second set of sensing elements. A type of the second set of sensing elements is different from a type of the first set of sensing elements. The angle sensor may include a safety path to perform a set of safety checks, the set of safety checks including a first vector length check associated with the first angle measurement path and a second vector length check associated with the second angle measurement path. The angle sensor may include an output component to provide an indication of a result of the set of safety checks.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2021Date of Patent: December 10, 2024Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Friedrich Rasbornig, Wolfgang Granig, Dirk Hammerschmidt, Benjamin Kollmitzer, Bernhard Schaffer
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Publication number: 20240393198Abstract: A torque measurement system includes a first rotatable carrier structure and a second rotatable carrier structure mechanically coupled to a shaft; a first metamaterial track coupled to and configured to co-rotate with the first rotatable carrier structure; a second metamaterial track coupled to and configured to co-rotate with the second rotatable carrier structure; and a low-friction material arranged between the first and the second rotatable carrier structures. The first and the second metamaterial tracks are spaced apart by a predetermined distance and are mutually coupled to each other by a torque-dependent coupling. Responsive to a torque applied to the shaft, the first metamaterial track is configured to undergo a rotational shift relative to the second metamaterial track. The low-friction material provides a low-friction rotational shift between the first rotatable carrier structure and the second rotatable carrier structure such that the predetermined distance is constant during the rotational shift.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2023Publication date: November 28, 2024Inventors: Dirk HAMMERSCHMIDT, Christof MICHENTHALER
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Patent number: 12143127Abstract: A sigma delta (SD) pulse-width modulation (PWM) loop includes a loop filter implementing a linear transfer function to generate a loop filter signal, wherein the loop filter is configured to receive an input signal and a first feedback signal and generate the loop filter signal based on the input signal, the first feedback signal, and the linear transfer function; and a hysteresis comparator coupled to an output of the loop filter, the hysteresis comparator configured to receive the loop filter signal and generate a sigma delta PWM signal based on the loop filter signal, wherein the first feedback signal is derived from the sigma delta PWM signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2023Date of Patent: November 12, 2024Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AGInventor: Dirk Hammerschmidt
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Patent number: 12140647Abstract: A position sensor system comprises a magnetic strip extending in a readout direction and comprising magnetic poles alternating at a constant pitch along the readout direction. At least a first differential magnetoresistive sensor comprises magnetoresistive sensing elements spaced at the pitch. The magnetic poles of the magnetic strip and the first differential magnetoresistive sensor are movable with respect to each other in the readout direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2022Date of Patent: November 12, 2024Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Gernot Binder, Dirk Hammerschmidt, Christoph Oswald, Joo Il Park, Armin Satz
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Publication number: 20240318948Abstract: An absolute position measurement system includes a multipole magnet comprising alternating magnetic poles extending along a multipole extension direction, the alternating magnetic poles generating a magnetic field. A magnetic sensor includes a first sensor element arrangement configured to generate a first signal in response to a first magnetic field component and a second sensor element arrangement configured to generate a second signal in response to a second magnetic field component. The absolute position measurement system is configured, as a position of the magnetic sensor relative to the multipole magnet changes, to generate a first oscillating sensor signal with decreasing first signal amplitude and to generate a second oscillating sensor signal with decreasing second signal amplitude based on the first and second signals. A processing circuit is configured to calculate an absolute position of the magnetic sensor based on the first oscillating sensor signal and the second oscillating sensor signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2024Publication date: September 26, 2024Inventors: Joo Il PARK, Gernot BINDER, Dirk HAMMERSCHMIDT, Christoph OSWALD, Armin SATZ
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Publication number: 20240310507Abstract: A sensor system includes at least one transmitter; a receiver circuit; and a metamaterial layer having a relative position that is configured to vary relative to the transmitter. The metamaterial layer includes an array of elementary structures arranged within a coordinate system of the metamaterial layer. The array of elementary structures includes a first metamaterial characteristic that changes along a first coordinate variation of the coordinate system and a second metamaterial characteristic, different from the first metamaterial characteristic, that changes along a second coordinate variation of the coordinate system. The at least one transmitter is configured to transmit an electromagnetic transmit wave toward the metamaterial layer. The metamaterial layer is configured to convert the electromagnetic transmit wave into an electromagnetic receive wave based on the relative position.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2024Publication date: September 19, 2024Inventors: Dirk HAMMERSCHMIDT, Christof MICHENTHALER
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Publication number: 20240310157Abstract: An inductive sensor may include a first angle measurement path associated with determining an angular position based on a first set of input signals. The inductive sensor may include a second angle measurement path associated with determining an angular position based on a second set of input signals. The inductive sensor may include an amplitude regulation path associated with regulating amplitudes of a set of output signals. The inductive sensor may include a safety path associated with performing one or more safety checks. Each safety check of the one or more safety checks may be associated with at least one of the first angle measurement path, the second angle measurement path, or the amplitude regulation path.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2024Publication date: September 19, 2024Inventors: Friedrich RASBORNIG, Dirk HAMMERSCHMIDT, Tobias WERTH
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Patent number: 12072211Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for position detection, including a multipole magnet with pole pairs extending along a multipole extension direction, a magnetoresistive sensor including a first sensor bridge sensitive for a first in-plane magnetic field component and a second sensor bridge sensitive for a second in-plane magnetic field component, wherein the first sensor bridge and the second sensor bridge are arranged in-plane and are spaced apart along a sensor axis, wherein the multipole extension direction and the sensor axis are rotated by a rotation angle larger than 20° and less than 70° to each other.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2021Date of Patent: August 27, 2024Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Joo Il Park, Dirk Hammerschmidt, Hyun Jeong Kim
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POSITION SENSOR AND POSITION ENCODER USING MILLIMETER-WAVE METAMATERIAL WITH A MILLIMETER-WAVE RADAR
Publication number: 20240263973Abstract: A rotation sensor system includes a rotatable target object configured to rotate about a rotational axis in a rotation direction; a first millimeter-wave (mm-wave) metamaterial track coupled to the rotatable target object, where the first mm-wave metamaterial track is arranged around the rotational axis, and where the first mm-wave metamaterial track includes a first array of elementary structures having at least one first characteristic that changes around a perimeter of the first mm-wave metamaterial track; at least one transmitter configured to transmit a first electro-magnetic transmit signal towards the first mm-wave metamaterial track, where the first mm-wave metamaterial track converts the first electro-magnetic transmit signal into a first electro-magnetic receive signal; at least one receiver configured to receive the first electro-magnetic receive signal; and at least one processor configured to determine a rotational parameter of the rotatable target object based on the received first electro-magneType: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2024Publication date: August 8, 2024Inventors: Alexander SCHOSSMANN, Alexander BERGMANN, Dirk HAMMERSCHMIDT, Christof MICHENTHALER -
Patent number: 12038307Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for position detection, including a multipole magnet with pole pairs extending along a multipole extension direction, a magnetoresistive sensor including a first sensor bridge sensitive for a first in-plane magnetic field component and a second sensor bridge sensitive for a second in-plane magnetic field component, wherein the first sensor bridge and the second sensor bridge are arranged in-plane and are spaced apart along a sensor axis, wherein the multipole extension direction and the sensor axis are rotated by a rotation angle larger than 20° and less than 70° to each other.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2021Date of Patent: July 16, 2024Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Joo Il Park, Dirk Hammerschmidt, Hyun Jeong Kim
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Patent number: 12013235Abstract: An absolute position measurement system includes a multipole magnet including alternating magnetic poles extending along a multipole extension direction, the multipole magnet has a linear changing configuration relative to a linear path and produces a magnetic field having a field strength that undergoes a sinusoidal change along the linear path due to the alternating magnetic poles and a linear change along the linear path according to the linear changing configuration relative to the linear path; and a magnetic sensor configured to move along the linear path. The magnetic sensor includes a first sensor element arrangement configured to generate a first sensor signal, a second sensor element arrangement configured to generate a second sensor signal that is phase shifted with respect to the first sensor signal, and a processing circuit configured to calculate an absolute position of the magnetic sensor based on the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2022Date of Patent: June 18, 2024Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Joo Il Park, Gernot Binder, Dirk Hammerschmidt, Christoph Oswald, Armin Satz
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Position sensor and position encoder using millimeter-wave metamaterial with a millimeter-wave radar
Patent number: 12000718Abstract: A rotation sensor system includes a rotatable target object configured to rotate about a rotational axis in a rotation direction; a first millimeter-wave (mm-wave) metamaterial track coupled to the rotatable target object, where the first mm-wave metamaterial track is arranged around the rotational axis, and where the first mm-wave metamaterial track includes a first array of elementary structures having at least one first characteristic that changes around a perimeter of the first mm-wave metamaterial track; at least one transmitter configured to transmit a first electro-magnetic transmit signal towards the first mm-wave metamaterial track, where the first mm-wave metamaterial track converts the first electro-magnetic transmit signal into a first electro-magnetic receive signal; at least one receiver configured to receive the first electro-magnetic receive signal; and at least one processor configured to determine a rotational parameter of the rotatable target object based on the received first electro-magneType: GrantFiled: June 28, 2021Date of Patent: June 4, 2024Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Alexander Schossmann, Alexander Bergmann, Dirk Hammerschmidt, Christof Michenthaler