Patents by Inventor Ernesto Romani
Ernesto Romani 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: 10317252Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method of performing a measurement with a capacitive sensor includes generating a periodic excitation signal that includes a series of pulses and smoothing edge transitions of the series of pulses to form a shaped periodic excitation signal that includes a flat region between the smoothed edge transitions. The method further includes providing the shaped periodic excitation signal to a first port of the capacitive sensor and measuring a signal provided by a second port of the capacitive sensor.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2016Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AGInventors: Andreas Wiesbauer, Christian Ebner, Ernesto Romani, Stephan Mechnig, Georgi Panov, Christian Jenkner, Benno Muehlbacher
-
Patent number: 10175130Abstract: An embodiment includes a method of performing a measurement using a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device that includes a plurality of MEMS sensors having different resonant frequencies. The method includes applying an excitation signal to a first port of the MEMS device such that each of the plurality of the MEMS sensors is stimulated by the excitation signal. The method further includes measuring a signal at a second port of the MEMS device and determining a measured value based on the measuring the signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2016Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AGInventors: Athanasios Kollias, Matthias Friedrich Herrmann, Christian Ebner, Ernesto Romani, Stephan Mechnig, Joseph Hufschmitt, Andreas Wiesbauer, Christian Jenkner
-
Patent number: 9976924Abstract: According to an embodiment, a sensor circuit includes a sigma-delta analog to digital converter (ADC), a dithered clock coupled to the sigma-delta ADC, and a supply voltage circuit coupled to the sigma-delta ADC. The sigma-delta ADC is configured to be coupled to a low frequency transducer, and the dithered clock is configured to control of the sigma-delta ADC based on a dithered clock signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2016Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AGInventors: Dietmar Straeussnigg, Christian Ebner, Ernesto Romani, Stephan Mechnig, Andreas Wiesbauer, Christian Jenkner
-
Patent number: 9897504Abstract: A measurement method includes generating, by a sensor, a response signal in response to an excitation signal. The method also includes generating a sampling clock signal in accordance with a pseudo-random jitter, and sampling the response signal in accordance with the sampling clock signal to determine a plurality of digital samples. The method also includes combining the plurality of digital samples to form a measurement sample.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2016Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AGInventors: Andreas Wiesbauer, Christian Ebner, Ernesto Romani, Stephan Mechnig, Joseph Hufschmitt, Christian Jenkner, Francesco Polo
-
Publication number: 20170023429Abstract: According to an embodiment, a sensor circuit includes a sigma-delta analog to digital converter (ADC), a dithered clock coupled to the sigma-delta ADC, and a supply voltage circuit coupled to the sigma-delta ADC. The sigma-delta ADC is configured to be coupled to a low frequency transducer, and the dithered clock is configured to control of the sigma-delta ADC based on a dithered clock signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2016Publication date: January 26, 2017Inventors: Dietmar Straeussnigg, Christian Ebner, Ernesto Romani, Stephan Mechnig, Andreas Wiesbauer, Christian Jenkner
-
Publication number: 20160305997Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method of performing a measurement with a capacitive sensor includes generating a periodic excitation signal that includes a series of pulses and smoothing edge transitions of the series of pulses to form a shaped periodic excitation signal that includes a flat region between the smoothed edge transitions. The method further includes providing the shaped periodic excitation signal to a first port of the capacitive sensor and measuring a signal provided by a second port of the capacitive sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2016Publication date: October 20, 2016Inventors: Andreas Wiesbauer, Christian Ebner, Ernesto Romani, Stephan Mechnig, Georgi Panov, Christian Jenkner, Benno Muehlbacher
-
Publication number: 20160305838Abstract: A measurement method includes generating, by a sensor, a response signal in response to an excitation signal. The method also includes generating a sampling clock signal in accordance with a pseudo-random jitter, and sampling the response signal in accordance with the sampling clock signal to determine a plurality of digital samples. The method also includes combining the plurality of digital samples to form a measurement sample.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2016Publication date: October 20, 2016Inventors: Andreas Wiesbauer, Christian Ebner, Ernesto Romani, Stephan Mechnig, Joseph Hufschmitt, Christian Jenkner, Francesco Polo
-
Publication number: 20160305835Abstract: An embodiment includes a method of performing a measurement using a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device that includes a plurality of MEMS sensors having different resonant frequencies. The method includes applying an excitation signal to a first port of the MEMS device such that each of the plurality of the MEMS sensors is stimulated by the excitation signal. The method further includes measuring a signal at a second port of the MEMS device and determining a measured value based on the measuring the signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2016Publication date: October 20, 2016Inventors: Athanasios Kollias, Matthias Friedrich Herrmann, Christian Ebner, Ernesto Romani, Stephan Mechnig, Joseph Hufschmitt, Andreas Wiesbauer, Christian Jenkner
-
Patent number: 9420391Abstract: A microphone or a microphone sensor system operates with a sensor interface that receives a supply voltage at a supply terminal. The sensor interface detects a command at the supply terminal based on a change in the supply voltage and communicates the command or data related to the command to a component of the sensor system. The supply terminal is a bidirectional terminal that further communicates data related to the sensor system via the supply terminal.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2014Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Andreas Wiesbauer, Christian Jenkner, Johannes Hohl, Ernesto Romani, Christian Ebner, Joseph Hufschmitt
-
Publication number: 20160157036Abstract: A microphone or a microphone sensor system operates with a sensor interface that receives a supply voltage at a supply terminal. The sensor interface detects a command at the supply terminal based on a change in the supply voltage and communicates the command or data related to the command to a component of the sensor system. The supply terminal is a bidirectional terminal that further communicates data related to the sensor system via the supply terminal.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2014Publication date: June 2, 2016Inventors: Andreas Wiesbauer, Christian Jenkner, Johannes Hohl, Ernesto Romani, Christian Ebner, Joseph Hufschmitt
-
Patent number: 7719339Abstract: The invention relates to the field of signal processing. It is an object of the invention to provide for limitation of a signal voltage to a predetermined maximum voltage (Vmax). To this end, an input signal (Vin) is applied to a voltage divider which includes a variable-resistance component (T1) whose resistance is controlled by a control signal. An output signal (Vin?) is picked-up at the variable-resistance component (T1). The control signal is generated as an amplified difference between the output signal (Vin?) and a fixed reference voltage (Vmax/2), so that for an “overvoltage case” in which the value of the input signal (Vin) exceeds that of a predetermined maximum voltage (Vmax) the output signal (Vin?) is kept substantially constant.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2008Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: National Semiconductor Germany AGInventor: Ernesto Romani
-
Publication number: 20080258796Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of signal processing. It is an object of the invention to provide a circuit arrangement (VL) and a method for limiting a signal voltage upstream of a processing stage (A) of a signal processing device, by means of which circuit arrangement and method it becomes possible to reduce signal interference. It is provided a voltage comparison (OPAMP2) within a closed-loop control of an output signal (Vin?), by means of which closed-loop control the value of said output signal (Vin?) is limited to a maximum value (Vmax/2). Thus, it becomes possible to prevent the generation of signal interference during signal processing. The voltage limiting method according to the invention uses as a reference quantity a reference voltage (Vmax/2) to which the output signal (Vin?) is compared in the context of closed-loop control.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2008Publication date: October 23, 2008Applicant: NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR GERMANY AGInventor: ERNESTO ROMANI
-
Patent number: 5511485Abstract: An arrangement for installing a protective layer between a subgrade and a layer of ballast of a track bed includes an excavating unit to remove ballast from underneath the track and a subgrade stabilizing unit by which additives are disposed directly over the exposed subgrade and blended underneath the track with the subgrade for formation of a protective layer following a leveling and compacting process. Removed and cleaned ballast is then laid by a conveyor over the new protective layer.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 1994Date of Patent: April 30, 1996Assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft m.b.H.Inventors: Ernesto Romani, Livio Abbruzzese, Josef Theurer, Herbert Worgotter, Friedrich Oellerer