Patents by Inventor Erwin Dotzauer

Erwin Dotzauer 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: 8497741
    Abstract: A device includes an RC oscillator circuit and incorporates various features that individually and in combination can help improve the stability or accuracy of the oscillator output frequency. The oscillator circuit is operable to provide a tunable output frequency and includes a bias circuit switchable between first and second modes of operation. One of the modes has less drift in oscillator bias current relative to the other mode. The device also includes drift compensation circuitry that is operable to compensate for drift in the oscillator output frequency in a closed-loop mode of operation based on a comparison of the oscillator output frequency with a reference frequency. The device further includes a processor operable to compensate for temperature-based drift in the oscillator frequency in an open-loop mode of operation based on a measured temperature value in the vicinity of the oscillator circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Frode Milch Pedersen, Kristoffer Ellersgaard Koch, Ronan Barzic, Erwin Dotzauer
  • Publication number: 20130093522
    Abstract: A device includes an RC oscillator circuit and incorporates various features that individually and in combination can help improve the stability or accuracy of the oscillator output frequency. The oscillator circuit is operable to provide a tunable output frequency and includes a bias circuit switchable between first and second modes of operation. One of the modes has less drift in oscillator bias current relative to the other mode. The device also includes drift compensation circuitry that is operable to compensate for drift in the oscillator output frequency in a closed-loop mode of operation based on a comparison of the oscillator output frequency with a reference frequency. The device further includes a processor operable to compensate for temperature-based drift in the oscillator frequency in an open-loop mode of operation based on a measured temperature value in the vicinity of the oscillator circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: ATMEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Frode Milch Pedersen, Kristoffer Ellersgaard Koch, Ronan Barzic, Erwin Dotzauer
  • Patent number: 7145929
    Abstract: A driver circuit and a method drive an electronic component such as a laser diode with a variable electric current that is controlledly switched between at least two discrete current levels. The driver circuit includes circuit elements that damp ringing or initial transient oscillations that arise when switching the current between the current levels. The driver circuit includes a current mirror having a mirror amplification factor dependent on the frequency of the variable electric current. In order to counteract parasitic capacitances and/or inductances leading to the ringing, an inductance and/or a resistance are connected between the two series circuits making up the current mirror, a capacitance is connected parallel to a reference resistor of one of the series circuits, and/or a capacitance is connected across the voltage supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Atmel Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Guenther Bergmann, Erwin Dotzauer, Holger Vogelmann, Herbert Knotz, Wolfgang Wernig
  • Publication number: 20040257140
    Abstract: A driver circuit and a method drive an electronic component such as a laser diode with a variable electric current that is controlledly switched between at least two discrete current levels. The driver circuit includes circuit elements that damp ringing or initial transient oscillations that arise when switching the current between the current levels. The driver circuit includes a current mirror having a mirror amplification factor dependent on the frequency of the variable electric current. In order to counteract parasitic capacitances and/or inductances leading to the ringing, an inductance and/or a resistance are connected between the two series circuits making up the current mirror, a capacitance is connected parallel to a reference resistor of one of the series circuits, and/or a capacitance is connected across the voltage supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Guenther Bergmann, Erwin Dotzauer, Holger Vogelmann, Herbert Knotz, Wolfgang Wernig