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).

  • Patent number: 10895512
    Abstract: A pressure measuring arrangement is proposed. The pressure measuring arrangement includes a first MEMS pressure sensor arranged on a carrier, and also a second MEMS pressure sensor arranged on the carrier. Furthermore, the pressure measuring arrangement includes an integrated circuit arranged on the carrier, the integrated circuit being coupled to the first MEMS pressure sensor and the second MEMS pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Inventor: Dirk Hammerschmidt
  • Patent number: 10884118
    Abstract: A radar system for a vehicle includes an antenna element installable at an outer shell of the vehicle, a dielectric waveguide, and a radar circuit configured to communicate with the antenna element via the dielectric waveguide. A vehicle includes a plurality of radar radio heads arranged at an outer shell of the vehicle, a plurality of waveguides, and a radar circuit configured to generate a common local oscillator signal and simultaneously provide respective radio frequency signal derived from the common local oscillator signal to the plurality of radar radio heads via the plurality of waveguides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Dirk Hammerschmidt, Herbert Jaeger, Rudolf Lachner
  • Publication number: 20200400462
    Abstract: By a relative movement between an arrangement of at least three magnetic field sensors and a magnetic field generator, different discrete positional relationships can be produced between the same. A first signal is calculated as a first linear combination using at least two of three sensor signals. It is checked whether the first signal uniquely indicates one of the different discrete positional relationships. If yes, it is determined that the arrangement is located in the one discrete positional relationship. If no, a second signal is calculated as a second linear combination using at least two of the three sensor signals, at least one of which differs from the sensor signals used in the calculation of the first signal, and at least the second signal is used to determine in which of the different discrete positional relationships the arrangement is located relative to the magnetic field generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Dirk HAMMERSCHMIDT, Robert HERMANN
  • Patent number: 10866152
    Abstract: A concept for torque measurement on a shaft is described. To that end, millimeter waves are transmitted in the direction of a first encoder structure, which is coupled to a first shaft section of the shaft for conjoint rotation and is arranged around the shaft, and in the direction of a second encoder structure, which is coupled to a second shaft section of the shaft for conjoint rotation and is arranged around the shaft. The first encoder structure and the second encoder structure are rotatable relative to one another in the case of a torque to be transmitted via the shaft. At least one reception signal is generated on the basis of millimeter waves reflected or transmitted by the first and second encoder structures. A torque transmitted using the shaft is determined on the basis of the at least one reception signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Dirk Hammerschmidt, Christof Michenthaler
  • Publication number: 20200386576
    Abstract: A sensor device comprises at least one test magnet which is designed to provide a magnetic test field, a first sensor element which is designed to capture a magnetic field and to provide a first sensor signal, wherein the first sensor signal comprises a first signal contribution on the basis of the magnetic test field, a second sensor element which is designed to capture a magnetic field and to provide a second sensor signal, wherein the second sensor signal comprises a second signal contribution on the basis of the magnetic test field, wherein the magnetic test field at the location of the first sensor element differs from the magnetic test field at the location of the second sensor element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventor: Dirk HAMMERSCHMIDT
  • Patent number: 10859638
    Abstract: Leakage current detection systems and detection methods are provided. A leakage current detection system includes a passive bridge circuit disposed on a circuit substrate, the passive bridge circuit including a first branch having a first output and a second branch having a second output; a leakage surge structure disposed on the circuit substrate, where the leakage surge structure is electrically connected to a common node at which the first branch and the second branch are connected and is configured to draw a leakage current thereto from the passive bridge circuit; and a processing device configured to monitor for the leakage current, including summing a first output value at the first output with a second output value at the second output to determine a summed value, performing a common mode test using the summed value, and outputting a monitored result based on the common mode test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Inventors: Dirk Hammerschmidt, Manfred Steiner
  • Patent number: 10845210
    Abstract: A sensor interface operates to communicate a sensed quantity along one or more processing pathways and in different data representations. The signal representations can be swapped along one or more locations of the signal processing branches. These branches are independent from one another and combined at an interface component for transmission along a single path or node for a control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Christian Reidl, Wolfgang Granig, Harald Witschnig, Dirk Hammerschmidt
  • Publication number: 20200341024
    Abstract: A method of sensing a rotation speed of an encoder includes generating measurement values by a plurality of sensor elements in response to sensing a magnetic field, where the plurality of sensor elements are grouped into a first shifted pair, a central pair, and a second shifted pair; generating a first shifted differential measurement signal based on the measurement values generated by the first shifted pair, a central differential measurement signal based on the measurement values generated by the central pair, and a second shifted differential measurement signal based on the measurement values generated by the second shifted pair; and generating an output signal based on detecting the first shifted differential measurement signal, the central differential measurement signal, and the second shifted differential measurement signal crossing at least one threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Dirk HAMMERSCHMIDT
  • Patent number: 10802133
    Abstract: A system may include a magnetic sensor to measure a magnetic field that is influenced by a magnetic property of a target object, and determine first characteristic information, associated with the target object, based on the magnetic field. The system may include a radar sensor to measure a radar signal that is influenced by a radar property of the target object, and determine second characteristic information, associated with the target object, based on the radar signal. The system may include a controller to determine a characteristic of the target object based on the first characteristic information and the second characteristic information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Dirk Hammerschmidt, Robert Hermann
  • Publication number: 20200321256
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip including a substrate having a first surface and a second surface arranged opposite to the first surface; and a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) element, including a sensitive area, disposed at the first surface of the substrate. The semiconductor device further includes at least one electrical interconnect structure electrically connected to the first surface of the substrate, and a flexible carrier electrically connected to the at least one electrical interconnect structure, where the flexible carrier wraps around the semiconductor chip and extends over the second surface of the substrate such that a folded cavity is formed around the semiconductor chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Dirk HAMMERSCHMIDT
  • Publication number: 20200319271
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor is configured to measure a magnetic field whose magnitude oscillates between a first extrema and a second extrema. The magnetic sensor includes a plurality of magnetic field sensor elements, each configured to generate a sensor signal in response to the magnetic field impinging thereon. The plurality of sensor elements are grouped into a first group from which a first measurement signal is derived and a second group from which a second measurement signal is derived, and the first measurement signal and the second measurement signal having a phase difference based on different phases. The magnetic sensor further includes a sensor circuit configured to receive the first measurement signal and the second measurement signal, and apply a signal conversion algorithm thereto to generate a converted measurement signal having an increased frequency with respect to the first measurement signal and the second measurement signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Helmut KOECK, Simon HAINZ, Dirk HAMMERSCHMIDT
  • Patent number: 10777474
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip including a substrate having a first surface and a second surface arranged opposite to the first surface; and a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) element, including a sensitive area, disposed at the first surface of the substrate. The semiconductor device further includes at least one electrical interconnect structure electrically connected to the first surface of the substrate, and a flexible carrier electrically connected to the at least one electrical interconnect structure, where the flexible carrier wraps around the semiconductor chip and extends over the second surface of the substrate such that a folded cavity is formed around the semiconductor chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Dirk Hammerschmidt
  • Publication number: 20200283287
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip including a substrate having a first surface and a second surface arranged opposite to the first surface; and a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) element, including a sensitive area, disposed at the first surface of the substrate. The semiconductor device further includes at least one electrical interconnect structure electrically connected to the first surface of the substrate, and a flexible carrier electrically connected to the at least one electrical interconnect structure, where the flexible carrier wraps around the semiconductor chip and extends over the second surface of the substrate such that a folded cavity is formed around the semiconductor chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Dirk HAMMERSCHMIDT
  • Publication number: 20200284615
    Abstract: A off-axis angle sensor may receive a set of output signals including a first output signal, a second output signal, and a third output signal. The off-axis angle sensor may determine, based on the set of output signals, a set of delta signals including a first delta signal, a second delta signal, and a third delta signal. The off-axis angle sensor may identify a set of functional safety checks, from a plurality of functional safety checks configured on the off-axis angle sensor, for selective performance in association with determining functional safety of the off-axis angle sensor. Each of the plurality of functional safety checks may be performed independently of each of the other functional safety checks. The off-axis angle sensor may perform one or more functional safety checks based at least in part on at least one of: the set of output signals or the set of delta signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventors: Dirk Hammerschmidt, Thomas Hafner, Peter Slama
  • Publication number: 20200264596
    Abstract: A crash sensor device may include multiple sensor components positioned along one or more data paths to a communication interface of the crash sensor device. The crash sensor device may include a test control unit. The test control unit may receive a test command from an electronic control unit during operation of a vehicle. The test control unit may perform a test of one or more sensor components, of the multiple sensor components, during operation of the vehicle based on the test command. The test control unit may output a test result to the electronic control unit based on performing the test.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventor: Dirk HAMMERSCHMIDT
  • Patent number: 10739368
    Abstract: Magnetic sensor modules, systems and methods are provided, configured to detect a rotation speed of an object. A magnetic sensor module includes a plurality of sensor elements configured to generate measurement values in response to sensing a magnetic field, the plurality of sensor elements being grouped into three pairs; and a sensor circuit configured to generate a first shifted differential measurement signal based on the measurement values received from a first shifted pair of sensor elements, a central differential measurement signal based on the measurement values received from a central pair of sensor elements, and a second shifted differential measurement signal based on the measurement values received from a second shifted pair of sensor elements, and generate an output signal based on detecting the first shifted differential measurement signal, the central differential measurement signal, and the second shifted differential measurement signal crossing at least one threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Dirk Hammerschmidt
  • Publication number: 20200252078
    Abstract: A receiver includes a receiver circuit to receive a first transition in a first direction, a second transition in a second, different direction after the first transition and a third transition in the first transition after the second transition of a signal. A first time period between the first and third transitions is indicative of a datum to be received. The receiver circuit is also configured to determine a second time period between the first transition and a second transition and to determine an additional datum to be received based at least on the determined second time period between the first and second transitions. Using the determined second time period allows for more information to be received in a reliable manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventor: Dirk Hammerschmidt
  • Patent number: 10732007
    Abstract: A magnetic speed sensor may comprise a digital component configured to estimate a zero crossing event based on a plurality of sensor signal samples. The digital component may output, to a control unit, a speed signal that is based on the estimated zero crossing event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Dirk Hammerschmidt, Muhammad Adnan
  • Patent number: 10718827
    Abstract: Magnetic field sensors and sensing methods are provided. A magnetic sensor configured to measure a magnetic field whose magnitude oscillates between a first extrema and a second extrema. The magnetic sensor includes a plurality of magnetic field sensor elements, each configured to generate a sensor signal in response to the magnetic field impinging thereon. The plurality of sensor elements are grouped into a first group from which a first measurement signal is derived and a second group from which a second measurement signal is derived, and the first measurement signal and the second measurement signal having phase difference of 90°. The magnetic sensor further includes a sensor circuit configured to receive the first measurement signal and the second measurement signal, and apply a signal conversion algorithm thereto to generate a converted measurement signal having an increased frequency with respect to the first measurement signal and the second measurement signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Helmut Koeck, Simon Hainz, Dirk Hammerschmidt
  • Publication number: 20200220656
    Abstract: A sensor system is configured to communicate at least partially protected sensor data over a communication interface. The sensor system includes a sensor element and a communication interface communicatively coupled to the sensor element. The sensor element is configured to provide sensor data in the digital domain. The communication interface is configured to generate a data package for transmission over the communication interface from the sensor data. The data package includes a data grouping comprising one or more nibbles related to the sensor data. The data package further includes a nibble indicia based on at least a portion of selected nibbles within the data grouping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Dirk Hammerschmidt, Wolfgang Scherr