Patents by Inventor Hans-Peter Kreuter
Hans-Peter Kreuter 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: 11523484Abstract: A controller circuit for a set of light emitting diodes (LEDs) includes a linear current source, channel circuitry, and supervisor circuitry. The linear current source is configured to regulate a first current from a supply along a first series path to the set of LEDs. The channel circuitry is configured to control a second current from the supply along a second series path to the set of LEDs, the second series path being in parallel with the first series path and the second series path comprising a drop element coupled in series with the supply and the set of LEDs. The supervisor circuitry is configured to regulate a total current supplied to the set of LEDs using the linear current source and the channel circuitry, the total current comprising the first current and the second current.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2020Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Franco Mignoli, Marco Pamato, Maurizio Galvano, Hans-Peter Kreuter
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Publication number: 20220330400Abstract: A control circuit may be configured to control light emitting diode (LED) driver circuits. The control circuit may be configured to generate a multicast of pixel intensity values based on data in memory or data received from a data source, and output the multicast on an interface, which may comprise a one-wire uni-directional interface. In some examples, a plurality of drivers may receive the multicast, and each of the plurality of drivers may drive different sets of LEDs based on the multicast.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2021Publication date: October 13, 2022Inventors: Gernot Unterweger, Mathias Sedner, Andrea Scenini, Hans-Peter Kreuter
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Patent number: 11452190Abstract: This disclosure includes systems, methods, and techniques for detecting one or more short connections in a plurality of light-emitting diode (LED) channels. For example, a circuit includes processing circuitry configured to control a plurality of driving devices in order to cause a pair of LED channels of the plurality of LED channels to operate in a first state during a first period of time and operate in a second state during a second period of time. Additionally, the processing circuitry is configured to compare a first electrical signal corresponding to the first state of the pair of LED channels and a second electrical signal corresponding to the second state of the pair of LED channels and determine, based on the comparison of the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal, if a short connection exists between the pair of LED channels.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2020Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Franco Mignoli, Hans-Peter Kreuter, Alfonso Nasciuti, Marco Pamato, Damiano Sartori
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Patent number: 11324087Abstract: A method for driving a set of light emitting diodes (LEDs) may include receiving a write access frame by a driver via a bus configured for connection with a controller and the driver. The write access frame includes brightness information. The method may further include controlling, by the driver, the set of LEDs based on the brightness information and determining, by the driver, safety information while controlling the set of LEDs based on the brightness information. The method may further include outputting, by the driver and at the bus, the safety information to acknowledge receipt of the write access frame.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2020Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Hans-Peter Kreuter, Christof Michenthaler, Franco Mignoli, Salvatore Sanna, Alfonso Nasciuti, Andrea Scenini
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Publication number: 20220039237Abstract: This disclosure includes systems, methods, and techniques for detecting one or more short connections in a plurality of light-emitting diode (LED) channels. For example, a circuit includes processing circuitry configured to control a plurality of driving devices in order to cause a pair of LED channels of the plurality of LED channels to operate in a first state during a first period of time and operate in a second state during a second period of time. Additionally, the processing circuitry is configured to compare a first electrical signal corresponding to the first state of the pair of LED channels and a second electrical signal corresponding to the second state of the pair of LED channels and determine, based on the comparison of the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal, if a short connection exists between the pair of LED channels.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2020Publication date: February 3, 2022Inventors: Franco Mignoli, Hans-Peter Kreuter, Alfonso Nasciuti, Marco Pamato, Damiano Sartori
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Patent number: 11006507Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a light-emitting diode driver is provided, having: a differential first interface, a single-ended second interface, wherein the light-emitting diode driver is configured to use the first interface to communicate according to a bidirectional differential bus communication protocol as a slave, to use the second interface to communicate according to a single-ended bus protocol and to transpose signals between the first interface and the second interface, and to supply one or more light-emitting diodes with electric power on the basis of signals received via the first interface.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2019Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AGInventors: Hans-Peter Kreuter, Maurizio Galvano, Andrea Logiudice, Franco Mignoli, Andrea Scenini
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Publication number: 20200236762Abstract: A controller circuit for a set of light emitting diodes (LEDs) includes a linear current source, channel circuitry, and supervisor circuitry. The linear current source is configured to regulate a first current from a supply along a first series path to the set of LEDs. The channel circuitry is configured to control a second current from the supply along a second series path to the set of LEDs, the second series path being in parallel with the first series path and the second series path comprising a drop element coupled in series with the supply and the set of LEDs. The supervisor circuitry is configured to regulate a total current supplied to the set of LEDs using the linear current source and the channel circuitry, the total current comprising the first current and the second current.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2020Publication date: July 23, 2020Inventors: Franco Mignoli, Marco Pamato, Maurizio Galvano, Hans-Peter Kreuter
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Patent number: 10542593Abstract: A controller circuit for a set of light emitting diodes (LEDs) includes a linear current source, channel circuitry, and supervisor circuitry. The linear current source is configured to regulate a first current from a supply along a first series path to the set of LEDs. The channel circuitry is configured to control a second current from the supply along a second series path to the set of LEDs, the second series path being in parallel with the first series path and the second series path comprising a drop element coupled in series with the supply and the set of LEDs. The supervisor circuitry is configured to regulate a total current supplied to the set of LEDs using the linear current source and the channel circuitry, the total current comprising the first current and the second current.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2019Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Franco Mignoli, Marco Pamato, Maurizio Galvano, Hans-Peter Kreuter
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Publication number: 20190353336Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a light-emitting diode driver is provided, having: a differential first interface, a single-ended second interface, wherein the light-emitting diode driver is configured to use the first interface to communicate according to a bidirectional differential bus communication protocol as a slave, to use the second interface to communicate according to a single-ended bus protocol and to transpose signals between the first interface and the second interface, and to supply one or more light-emitting diodes with electric power on the basis of signals received via the first interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2019Publication date: November 21, 2019Inventors: Hans-Peter Kreuter, Maurizio Galvano, Andrea Logiudice, Franco Mignoli, Andrea Scenini
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Patent number: 10027110Abstract: In one example, a method includes receiving, by a power switching device and via a connector of the power switching device, a signal that causes the power switching device to transition from a first operating mode to a second operating mode in which the power switching device consumes less current than the first operating mode. In this example, the method also includes, responsive to determining, while the power switching device is in the second operating mode, an occurrence of one or more events, outputting, by the power switching device and via the same connector of the power switching device, a signal that indicates the occurrence of the one or more events.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2015Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Christian Djelassi, Hans-Peter Kreuter, Robert Illing
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Patent number: 9960588Abstract: Devices and methods are provided which comprise detecting an irregular condition at a control terminal of a power switch device.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2015Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Hans-Peter Kreuter, Christian Djelassi, Bernhard Schaffer
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Patent number: 9887532Abstract: Devices and methods comprising a switch and an overload detection are disclosed. When an overload detection is detected, a first retry scheme followed by a second retry scheme different from the first retry scheme may be applied. If the overload condition persists, the switch may be disabled.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2015Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Christian Djelassi, Hans-Peter Kreuter, Robert Illing, Alexander Mayer, Luca Petruzzi, Bernhard Auer, Markus Ladurner, Alberto Zanardi
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Patent number: 9755425Abstract: Power switch devices having an overload limit are provided. The overload limit may be adjusted based on an inductance coupled with the power switch device.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2014Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Hans-Peter Kreuter, Christian Djelassi
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Patent number: 9640972Abstract: A power circuit is described that includes a switch coupled to a resistive-inductive-capacitive load and a driver coupled to the switch. The driver is configured to detect an emergency event within the power circuit. After detecting the emergency event within the power circuit, the driver is further configured to perform a controlled emergency switch-off operation of the switch to minimize the maximum temperature of the switch during the detected emergency event and switch-off operation.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2014Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Hans-Peter Kreuter, Christian Djelassi, Markus Ladurner, Robert Illing
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Publication number: 20160276819Abstract: Devices and methods are provided which comprise detecting an irregular condition at a control terminal of a power switch device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2015Publication date: September 22, 2016Inventors: Hans-Peter Kreuter, Christian Djelassi, Bernhard Schaffer
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Publication number: 20160226236Abstract: In one example, a method includes receiving, by a power switching device and via a connector of the power switching device, a signal that causes the power switching device to transition from a first operating mode to a second operating mode in which the power switching device consumes less current than the first operating mode. In this example, the method also includes, responsive to determining, while the power switching device is in the second operating mode, an occurrence of one or more events, outputting, by the power switching device and via the same connector of the power switching device, a signal that indicates the occurrence of the one or more events.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2015Publication date: August 4, 2016Inventors: Christian Djelassi, Hans-Peter Kreuter, Robert Illing
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Publication number: 20160204593Abstract: Devices and methods comprising a switch and an overload detection are disclosed. When an overload detection is detected, a first retry scheme followed by a second retry scheme different from the first retry scheme may be applied. If the overload condition persists, the switch may be disabled.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2015Publication date: July 14, 2016Inventors: Christian Djelassi, Hans-Peter Kreuter, Robert Illing, Alexander Mayer, Luca Petruzzi, Bernhard Auer, Markus Ladurner, Alberto Zanardi
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Patent number: 9184744Abstract: A gate signal is generated by summation of multiple signal profiles. The gate signal is applied to a switching device to switch the switching device between an off state and an on state. While the gate signal is applied to the switching device, at least an n-th order derivative of a load signal of the switching device is detected, with n being an integer which is equal to or larger than 2. Depending on the detected n-th order derivative, one or more of the signal profiles are adapted.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Hans-Peter Kreuter, Mathias Blank, Tobias Glueck, Andreas Kugi
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Publication number: 20150280425Abstract: Power switch devices having an overload limit are provided. The overload limit may be adjusted based on an inductance coupled with the power switch device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2014Publication date: October 1, 2015Applicant: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Hans-Peter Kreuter, Christian Djelassi
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Publication number: 20150280416Abstract: A power circuit is described that includes a switch coupled to a resistive-inductive-capacitive load and a driver coupled to the switch. The driver is configured to detect an emergency event within the power circuit. After detecting the emergency event within the power circuit, the driver is further configured to perform a controlled emergency switch-off operation of the switch to minimize the maximum temperature of the switch during the detected emergency event and switch-off operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2014Publication date: October 1, 2015Applicant: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Hans-Peter Kreuter, Christian Djelassi, Markus Ladurner, Robert Illing