Patents by Inventor Guenter Hofer
Guenter Hofer 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: 11956097Abstract: A method, in particular for a battery management system, is described. According to one exemplary embodiment, the method comprises providing a digital message which comprises a multiplicity of frames, wherein the multiplicity of frames comprises an ID frame, at least one data frame and a checksum frame. The checksum frame includes a checksum value which has been calculated based on the data included in the other frames. The method further comprises generating a CAN message, wherein the data included in the data frame(s) and the checksum frame are inserted into a data field of the CAN message and wherein an identifier included in the ID frame is inserted into an ID field of the CAN message. The method further comprises transmitting the CAN message via a CAN bus line and receiving the CAN message and reconstructing the digital message.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2021Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventor: Guenter Hofer
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Patent number: 11552338Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes receiving, by at least one of a plurality of battery monitoring circuits a frequency synchronization signal and measurement frequency information from a host controller, wherein the at least one of the plurality of battery monitoring circuits is connected to at least one of a plurality of battery blocks; generating, by the at least one of the plurality of battery monitoring circuits, a periodic signal based on a clock signal having a clock frequency, the measurement frequency information, and the frequency synchronization signal; obtaining, by the at least one of the plurality of battery monitoring circuits, at least one measurement value of the at least one of the plurality of battery blocks using the periodic signal; and transmitting, by the at least one of the plurality of battery monitoring circuits, the at least one measurement value to the host controller.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2021Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Stefano Marsili, Andreas Berger, Klaus Hoermaier, Guenter Hofer, Christoph Sandner
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Patent number: 11543461Abstract: A method for measuring a complex impedance of a plurality of battery cells in a battery pack comprises controlling an excitation current through the plurality of battery cells in the battery pack; receiving, in a single common measurement circuit, a plurality of voltage signals corresponding to the plurality of battery cells; measuring the excitation current; and calculating a complex impedance of each of the battery cells in the plurality of battery cells based on the plurality of voltage signals and the measured excitation current in a single measurement cycle using either one analog-to-digital converter (ADC) per battery cell or two matched ADCs per battery cell.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2020Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Andreas Berger, Klaus Hoermaier, Guenter Hofer, Stefano Marsili, Akshay Misra, Matthias Rose, Christian Winkler
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Publication number: 20220348110Abstract: Monitoring devices for battery systems, battery systems and corresponding methods are provided. A monitoring device can communicate via a first interface with a control device. The monitoring device can communicate with a security device via a second interface in a first operating mode, and can communicate with a temperature sensor in a second operating mode of the second interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2022Publication date: November 3, 2022Inventors: Guenter Hofer, Marko Cehovski
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Patent number: 11280844Abstract: Various examples relate to techniques of monitoring a reliability of a cell-impedance measurement of a battery cell. In one example, a device includes a first interface configured to inject an AC excitation current into a battery cell and a shunt resistor coupled in parallel to the battery cell. The device also includes a second interface configured to inject an AC test current into the shunt resistor. The device also includes analog-to-digital converters configured to measure a cell voltage across the battery cell associated with the AC excitation current, a shunt voltage across the shunt resistor associated with the AC excitation current and the shunt voltage across the shunt resistor associated with the AC test current.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2020Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Klaus Hoermaier, Guenter Hofer, Stefano Marsili
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Publication number: 20220052872Abstract: A method, in particular for a battery management system, is described. According to one exemplary embodiment, the method comprises providing a digital message which comprises a multiplicity of frames, wherein the multiplicity of frames comprises an ID frame, at least one data frame and a checksum frame. The checksum frame includes a checksum value which has been calculated based on the data included in the other frames. The method further comprises generating a CAN message, wherein the data included in the data frame(s) and the checksum frame are inserted into a data field of the CAN message and wherein an identifier included in the ID frame is inserted into an ID field of the CAN message. The method further comprises transmitting the CAN message via a CAN bus line and receiving the CAN message and reconstructing the digital message.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2021Publication date: February 17, 2022Inventor: Guenter Hofer
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Patent number: 11233406Abstract: A battery management system is described that includes a controller configured to control electrical charging and discharging of a plurality of blocks of a battery. The battery management system also includes an inter-block communication network including a master node and a plurality of slave nodes arranged in a ring-type daisy-chain configuration with the master node. The master node is coupled to the controller and configured to initiate all command messages sent through the inter-block communication network and terminate all reply messages sent through the inter-block communication network. The plurality of slave nodes is bounded by an initial node coupled to the master node and a last node coupled to the master node.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2019Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Clemens Kain, Guenter Hofer, Jesus Ruiz Sevillano
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Patent number: 11108499Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method of transferring data includes determining, by a first device, a data check field of a data frame based on a predetermined identification field and a plurality of data bits, wherein the predetermined identification field represents at least one of a content, source or target of the plurality of data bits; and transmitting, by the first device to a second device, the data frame comprising the plurality of data bits and the data check field without directly transmitting the predetermined identification field.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2020Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AGInventors: Klaus Hoermaier, Jens Barrenscheen, Christian Heiling, Guenter Hofer
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Publication number: 20210223327Abstract: A method for measuring a complex impedance of a plurality of battery cells in a battery pack comprises controlling an excitation current through the plurality of battery cells in the battery pack; receiving, in a single common measurement circuit, a plurality of voltage signals corresponding to the plurality of battery cells; measuring the excitation current; and calculating a complex impedance of each of the battery cells in the plurality of battery cells based on the plurality of voltage signals and the measured excitation current in a single measurement cycle using either one analog-to-digital converter (ADC) per battery cell or two matched ADCs per battery cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2020Publication date: July 22, 2021Inventors: Andreas Berger, Klaus Hoermaier, Guenter Hofer, Stefano Marsili, Akshay Misra, Matthias Rose, Christian Winkler
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Publication number: 20210151806Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes receiving, by at least one of a plurality of battery monitoring circuits a frequency synchronization signal and measurement frequency information from a host controller, wherein the at least one of the plurality of battery monitoring circuits is connected to at least one of a plurality of battery blocks; generating, by the at least one of the plurality of battery monitoring circuits, a periodic signal based on a clock signal having a clock frequency, the measurement frequency information, and the frequency synchronization signal; obtaining, by the at least one of the plurality of battery monitoring circuits, at least one measurement value of the at least one of the plurality of battery blocks using the periodic signal; and transmitting, by the at least one of the plurality of battery monitoring circuits, the at least one measurement value to the host controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2021Publication date: May 20, 2021Inventors: Stefano Marsili, Andreas Berger, Klaus Hoermaier, Guenter Hofer, Christoph Sandner
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Patent number: 10944133Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes receiving, by at least one of a plurality of battery monitoring circuits a frequency synchronization signal and measurement frequency information from a host controller, wherein the at least one of the plurality of battery monitoring circuits is connected to at least one of a plurality of battery blocks; generating, by the at least one of the plurality of battery monitoring circuits, a periodic signal based on a clock signal having a clock frequency, the measurement frequency information, and the frequency synchronization signal; obtaining, by the at least one of the plurality of battery monitoring circuits, at least one measurement value of the at least one of the plurality of battery blocks using the periodic signal; and transmitting, by the at least one of the plurality of battery monitoring circuits, the at least one measurement value to the host controller.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2019Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AGInventors: Stefano Marsili, Andreas Berger, Klaus Hoermaier, Guenter Hofer, Christoph Sandner
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Publication number: 20210006353Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method of transferring data includes determining, by a first device, a data check field of a data frame based on a predetermined identification field and a plurality of data bits, wherein the predetermined identification field represents at least one of a content, source or target of the plurality of data bits; and transmitting, by the first device to a second device, the data frame comprising the plurality of data bits and the data check field without directly transmitting the predetermined identification field.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2020Publication date: January 7, 2021Inventors: Klaus Hoermaier, Jens Barrenscheen, Christian Heiling, Guenter Hofer
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Patent number: 10841039Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method of transferring data includes determining, by a first device, a data check field of a data frame based on a predetermined identification field and a plurality of data bits, wherein the predetermined identification field represents at least one of a content, source or target of the plurality of data bits; and transmitting, by the first device to a second device, the data frame comprising the plurality of data bits and the data check field without directly transmitting the predetermined identification field.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2018Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AGInventors: Klaus Hoermaier, Jens Barrenscheen, Christian Heiling, Guenter Hofer
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Publication number: 20200256924Abstract: Various examples relate to techniques of monitoring a reliability of a cell-impedance measurement of a battery cell. In one example, a device includes a first interface configured to inject an AC excitation current into a battery cell and a shunt resistor coupled in parallel to the battery cell. The device also includes a second interface configured to inject an AC test current into the shunt resistor. The device also includes analog-to-digital converters configured to measure a cell voltage across the battery cell associated with the AC excitation current, a shunt voltage across the shunt resistor associated with the AC excitation current and the shunt voltage across the shunt resistor associated with the AC test current.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2020Publication date: August 13, 2020Inventors: Klaus Hoermaier, Guenter Hofer, Stefano Marsili
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Publication number: 20200136754Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method of transferring data includes determining, by a first device, a data check field of a data frame based on a predetermined identification field and a plurality of data bits, wherein the predetermined identification field represents at least one of a content, source or target of the plurality of data bits; and transmitting, by the first device to a second device, the data frame comprising the plurality of data bits and the data check field without directly transmitting the predetermined identification field.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2018Publication date: April 30, 2020Inventors: Klaus Hoermaier, Jens Barrenscheen, Christian Heiling, Guenter Hofer
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Publication number: 20200083720Abstract: A battery management system is described that includes a controller configured to control electrical charging and discharging of a plurality of blocks of a battery. The battery management system also includes an inter-block communication network including a master node and a plurality of slave nodes arranged in a ring-type daisy-chain configuration with the master node. The master node is coupled to the controller and configured to initiate all command messages sent through the inter-block communication network and terminate all reply messages sent through the inter-block communication network. The plurality of slave nodes is bounded by an initial node coupled to the master node and a last node coupled to the master node.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2019Publication date: March 12, 2020Inventors: Clemens Kain, Guenter Hofer, Jesus Ruiz Sevillano
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Patent number: 10505374Abstract: A battery management system is described that includes a controller configured to control electrical charging and discharging of a plurality of blocks of a battery. The battery management system also includes an inter-block communication network including a master node and a plurality of slave nodes arranged in a ring-type daisy-chain configuration with the master node. The master node is coupled to the controller and configured to initiate all command messages sent through the inter-block communication network and terminate all reply messages sent through the inter-block communication network. The plurality of slave nodes is bounded by an initial node coupled to the master node and a last node coupled to the master node.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2016Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Clemens Kain, Guenter Hofer, Jesus Ruiz Sevillano
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Patent number: 10436852Abstract: In one example, a circuit includes a first integrated circuit and a second integrated circuit. The first integrated circuit is configured to detect a first battery voltage that is associated with a first battery cell and output a representation of the first battery voltage. The first integrated circuit is further configured to detect a second battery voltage that is associated with a second battery cell that is connected in series with the first battery cell and output a status signal indicating whether the second battery voltage satisfies a first threshold. The second integrated circuit is configured to detect the first battery voltage and output a status signal indicating whether the first battery voltage satisfies a second threshold. The second integrated circuit is further configured detect the second battery voltage and output a representation of the second battery voltage.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2016Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Jesus Ruiz Sevillano, Guenter Hofer
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Publication number: 20190221893Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes receiving, by at least one of a plurality of battery monitoring circuits a frequency synchronization signal and measurement frequency information from a host controller, wherein the at least one of the plurality of battery monitoring circuits is connected to at least one of a plurality of battery blocks; generating, by the at least one of the plurality of battery monitoring circuits, a periodic signal based on a clock signal having a clock frequency, the measurement frequency information, and the frequency synchronization signal; obtaining, by the at least one of the plurality of battery monitoring circuits, at least one measurement value of the at least one of the plurality of battery blocks using the periodic signal; and transmitting, by the at least one of the plurality of battery monitoring circuits, the at least one measurement value to the host controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2019Publication date: July 18, 2019Inventors: Stefano Marsili, Andreas Berger, Klaus Hoermaier, Guenter Hofer, Christoph Sandner
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Patent number: 10313131Abstract: An intermediate servant device connected in a daisy chain configuration with a set of devices is described. The intermediate servant device may be configured to receive, from a previous servant device of the set of servant devices, a request for data, a first response to the request for data, and authentication information for the first response to the request for data. The intermediate servant device may be further configured to generate a second response to the request for data and determine authentication information for the second response based on the authentication information for the first response, the second response, and a key assigned to the intermediate servant device. The intermediate servant device may be further configured to output at least the authentication information for the second response, the first response, and the second response.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2017Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Goran Keser, Phillip Gesien, Guenter Hofer, Marcus Janke