Patents by Inventor Erwan Hemon
Erwan Hemon 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: 9176179Abstract: A method of measuring a capacitor value comprises the steps of loading the capacitor up to a given voltage value; obtaining a first measure of a time for discharging the capacitor by a fixed voltage drop, the discharge of the capacitor being caused by a first current; reloading the capacitor up to the given voltage value; obtaining a second measure of a time for discharging the capacitor by the fixed voltage drop, the discharge of the capacitor being caused by the first current and by a second current of known value added to said first current; and determining the capacitor value from the difference between the first measure and the second measure, based on the given voltage drop or the given time, respectively, and based further on the known value of the given second current.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2011Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Erwan Hemon, Hamada Ahmed, Pierre Turpin
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Patent number: 9157955Abstract: A chip damage detection device is provided that includes at least one bi-stable circuit having a first conductive line passing through an observed area of a semiconductor integrated circuit chip for damage monitoring of the observed area. The at least one bi-stable circuit is arranged to flip from a first stable state into a second stable state when a potential difference between a first end and a second end of the first conductive line changes or when a leakage current overdrives a state keeping current at the first conductive line. Further, a semiconductor integrated circuit device that includes the chip damage detection device and a safety critical system that includes the semiconductor integrated circuit device or the chip damage detection circuit is provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2010Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Erwan Hemon, Philippe Lance, Kurt Neugebauer
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Patent number: 9145104Abstract: An airbag apparatus connected with a battery includes activation circuits each of which has a squib and a high-side switching element, a safing switching element connected between the battery and the activation circuits, a safing switch control circuit controlling the safing switching element to provide a target voltage to the activation circuits, a terminal voltage acquiring circuit that acquires a terminal voltage of each squib, and a target voltage setting circuit that sets the target voltage. When a maximum-terminal voltage is lower than a reference voltage, the target voltage setting circuit sets the target voltage to be equal to the reference voltage. When the maximum-terminal voltage is higher than the reference voltage, the target voltage setting circuit sets the target voltage to correspond to the maximum-terminal voltage so that a reverse current is avoided in the high-side switching element.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2014Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Masahiko Ito, Pierre Turpin, Erwan Hemon, Ahmed Hamada
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Publication number: 20140277949Abstract: An airbag apparatus connected with a battery includes activation circuits each of which has a squib and a high-side switching element, a safing switching element connected between the battery and the activation circuits, a safing switch control circuit controlling the safing switching element to provide a target voltage to the activation circuits, a terminal voltage acquiring circuit that acquires a terminal voltage of each squib, and a target voltage setting circuit that sets the target voltage. When a maximum-terminal voltage is lower than a reference voltage, the target voltage setting circuit sets the target voltage to be equal to the reference voltage. When the maximum-terminal voltage is higher than the reference voltage, the target voltage setting circuit sets the target voltage to correspond to the maximum-terminal voltage so that a reverse current is avoided in the high-side switching element.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Masahiko Ito, Pierre Turpin, Erwan Hemon, Ahmed Hamada
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Publication number: 20140043034Abstract: A method of measuring a capacitor value comprises the steps of loading the capacitor up to a given voltage value; obtaining a first measure of a time for discharging the capacitor by a fixed voltage drop, the discharge of the capacitor being caused by a first current; reloading the capacitor up to the given voltage value; obtaining a second measure of a time for discharging the capacitor by the fixed voltage drop, the discharge of the capacitor being caused by the first current and by a second current of known value added to said first current; and determining the capacitor value from the difference between the first measure and the second measure, based on the given voltage drop or the given time, respectively, and based further on the known value of the given second current.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2011Publication date: February 13, 2014Applicant: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Erwan Hemon, Hamada Ahmed, Pierre Turpin
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Patent number: 8456783Abstract: An integrated circuit comprises electro-static discharge (ESD) protection circuitry arranged to provide ESD protection to one or more external connector(s) of the integrated circuit. The ESD protection circuitry comprises at least one ESD protection component coupled to the one or more external connectors for providing ESD protection thereto. The ESD protection circuitry further comprises an ESD connector coupled to the one or more external connector(s), arranged to couple supplementary ESD protection to the one or more external connector(s).Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2007Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Patrice Besse, Erwan Hemon, Philippe Lance
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Patent number: 8384313Abstract: A circuit for improving the control of a change in state of a signal in an electronic device between a first state and a second state, wherein a first change in state occurs when the state changes from the second state to the first state and a second change in state occurs when the state changes from the first state to the second state and wherein the first and second changes in state have associated therewith a first and a second time delay over which each change in state occurs, characterized in that said circuit comprises a determining unit for measuring the first time delay and a calculator for calculating a common delay to replace one or more of the first and second delays to thereby improve the control of the change in state of the signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2007Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Kamel Abouda, Murielle Delage, Erwan Hemon, Pierre Turpin
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Publication number: 20120286269Abstract: A chip damage detection device is provided that includes at least one bi-stable circuit having a first conductive line passing through an observed area of a semiconductor integrated circuit chip for damage monitoring of the observed area. The at least one bi-stable circuit is arranged to flip from a first stable state into a second stable state when a potential difference between a first end and a second end of the first conductive line changes or when a leakage current overdrives a state keeping current at the first conductive line. Further, a semiconductor integrated circuit device that includes the chip damage detection device and a safety critical system that includes the semiconductor integrated circuit device or the chip damage detection circuit is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2010Publication date: November 15, 2012Applicant: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Erwan Hemon, Lance Philippe, Kurt Neugebauer
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Patent number: 8243405Abstract: A circuit comprises an inductive load. The circuit further comprises an energy-absorbing component operably coupled to the inductive load and arranged to absorb energy generated by the inductive load.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2007Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.Inventor: Erwan Hemon
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Patent number: 8203822Abstract: A driving circuit for generating a required firing current for a safety device comprising an arrangement of a first transistor (M2) connected in series with a second transistor (M3); and a power control transistor (M1) connected in series with the first transistor; characterised in that the first and second transistors operate in fully switched on mode (Rds(on)) and the required firing current (I(squib)) is generated by means of varying the voltage (Vc) across the gate source of power control transistor and the first and second transistors in a predetermined manner.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2007Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Erwan Hemon, Philippe Lance
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Patent number: 8009744Abstract: A communication system comprises a twisted pair communication link operably coupled to at least two driver stages for providing at least two independent input signals on the twisted pair communication link. The at least two independent input signals on the twisted pair communication link are summed and input to a comparator arranged to compare the summed signal to a reference value. The output of the comparator is input to the at least two driver stages. The outputs from the at least two driver stages are summed and fed back and summed with one or more of the independent input signals. In this manner, adverse effects due to non-ideal symmetry between components in a twisted pair communication link, such as a Controller Area Network system, are reduced.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2005Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.Inventor: Erwan Hemon
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Patent number: 7940513Abstract: A switch arrangement for providing a drive signal at an output comprises a drive switch coupled to the output of the switch arrangement and a regulating element coupled in series between the drive switch and a power supply input of the switch arrangement. The drive switch is operable to provide the drive signal at the output. The switch arrangement is characterized in that the regulating element is coupled in a cascode arrangement with the drive switch such that in operation the regulating element limits the voltage drop across the drive switch to a predetermined level.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2005Date of Patent: May 10, 2011Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Erwan Hemon, Thierry Laplagne, Pierre Turpin
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Publication number: 20100244714Abstract: A circuit for improving the control of a change in state of a signal in an electronic device between a first state and a second state, wherein a first change in state occurs when the state changes from the second state to the first state and a second change in state occurs when the state changes from the first state to the second state and wherein the first and second changes in state have associated therewith a first and a second time delay over which the or each change in state occurs, characterized in that said circuit comprises a determining unit for measuring the first time delay and a calculator for calculating a common delay to replace one or more of the first and second delays to thereby improve the control of the change in state of the signalType: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2007Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: Freeescale Semiconductor IN.cInventors: Kamel Abouda, Murielle Delage, Erwan Hemon, Pierre Turpin
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Patent number: 7777364Abstract: A drive arrangement for activating a car safety device activation element, such as an air bag, comprises a drive circuit, which is coupled to the car safety device activation element. The drive circuit generates an activation signal which activates the car safety device. The arrangement includes a power supply transistor which is coupled in series with a power supply input of the drive circuit and an energy reservoir such as a capacitor. The arrangement further comprises control means which controls the supply voltage to the drive circuit by controlling the power supply transistor to operate in an active region to provide a voltage drop during activation of the car safety device activation element. Hence, a significant voltage drop and thus energy dissipation may be moved from the drive circuit to the power supply transistor. The drive circuit may therefore be reduced in size and the power supply transistor may be implemented in a cheap technology suitable for energy dissipation.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2008Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Erwan Hemon, Thierry Laplagne, Pierre Turpin
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Publication number: 20100165538Abstract: A driving circuit for generating a required firing current for a safety device comprising an arrangement of a first transistor (M2) connected in series with a second transistor (M3); and a power control transistor (M1) connected in series with the first transistor; characterised in that the first and second transistors operate in fully switched on mode (Rds(on)) and the required firing current (I(squib)) is generated by means of varying the voltage (Vc) across the gate source of power control transistor and the first and second transistors in a predetermined manner.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2007Publication date: July 1, 2010Inventors: Erwan Hemon, Philippe Lance
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Publication number: 20100128402Abstract: An integrated circuit comprises electro-static discharge (ESD) protection circuitry arranged to provide ESD protection to one or more external connector(s) of the integrated circuit. The ESD protection circuitry comprises at least one ESD protection component coupled to the one or more external connectors for providing ESD protection thereto. The ESD protection circuitry further comprises an ESD connector, coupled to the one or more external connector(s), arranged to couple supplementary ESD protection to the one or more external connector(s).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2007Publication date: May 27, 2010Applicant: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Patrice Besse, Erwan Hemon, Philippe Lance
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Publication number: 20100109623Abstract: A circuit comprises an inductive load. The circuit further comprises an energy-absorbing component operably coupled to the inductive load and arranged to absorb energy generated by the inductive load.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2007Publication date: May 6, 2010Inventor: Erwan Hemon
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Patent number: 7667940Abstract: Power switching apparatus comprising switch means having a control terminal and output terminals for connection in series between a power supply and a load. The switch means is responsive to a control signal applied to the control terminal to switch between an ON-state in which it supplies power supply current from the power supply through the output terminals to the load and an OFF-state in which it interrupts the supply of power through the output terminals to the load.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2004Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Pierre Turpin, Laurent Guillott, Erwan Hemon, Uli Joos, Josef Schnell
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Publication number: 20090115489Abstract: A switch arrangement for providing a drive signal at an output comprises a drive switch coupled to the output of the switch arrangement and a regulating element coupled in series between the drive switch and a power supply input of the switch arrangement. The drive switch is operable to provide the drive signal at the output. The switch arrangement is characterised in that the regulating element is coupled in a cascode arrangement with the drive switch such that in operation the regulating element limits the voltage drop across the drive switch to a predetermined level.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2005Publication date: May 7, 2009Applicant: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Erwan Hemon, Thierry Laplagne, Pierre Turpin
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Publication number: 20080259515Abstract: Power switching apparatus comprising switch means having a control terminal and output terminals for connection in series between a power supply and a load. The switch means is responsive to a control signal applied to the control terminal to switch between an ON-state in which it supplies power supply current from the power supply through the output terminals to the load and an OFF-state in which it interrupts the supply of power through the output terminals to the load.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2004Publication date: October 23, 2008Applicants: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC., CONTI TEMIC MICROELECTRONIC GMBHInventors: Pierre Turpin, Laurent Guillot, Erwan Hemon, Uli Joos, Josef Schnell