Patents by Inventor Kirk Herfurth

Kirk Herfurth 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: 11068008
    Abstract: A supply circuit is provided including a supply generation circuit coupled to a supply terminal. A voltage deviation detection circuit is adapted to detect a voltage deviation in an internal supply voltage. A current limiter arrangement is adapted to limit a current through the supply generation circuit to a predefined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Kirk Herfurth
  • Publication number: 20190332133
    Abstract: A supply circuit is provided including a supply generation circuit coupled to a supply terminal. A voltage deviation detection circuit is adapted to detect a voltage deviation in an internal supply voltage. A current limiter arrangement is adapted to limit a current through the supply generation circuit to a predefined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventor: Kirk Herfurth
  • Patent number: 10452092
    Abstract: A supply circuit is provided including a supply generation circuit coupled to a supply terminal. A voltage deviation detection circuit is adapted to detect a voltage deviation in an internal supply voltage. A current limiter arrangement is adapted to limit a current through the supply generation circuit to a predefined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Kirk Herfurth
  • Patent number: 10229805
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided which facilitate detecting of a disturbance parameter being outside a predetermined range. Such disturbance parameter may for example cause dependent failures in redundant circuits, for example redundant circuits being arranged on a same substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Thomas Zettler, Kirk Herfurth
  • Patent number: 9805525
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing an error signal for a control unit, the error signal indicating a malfunction of a sensor unit. The apparatus includes an input module configured to receive a sensor signal from the sensor unit, the sensor signal being a periodic signal between an upper level and a lower level of a physical quantity. Further, the apparatus includes a determination module configured to determine the malfunction of the sensor unit and an output module configured to provide the error signal indicating the malfunction for the control unit. The error signal comprises a predetermined level of the physical quantity which differs from the upper level and from the lower level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Peter Slama, Friedrich Rasbornig, Simon Hainz, Kirk Herfurth, Robert Hermann
  • Patent number: 9678138
    Abstract: A monitoring unit (100; 800) for monitoring an integrity of a signal path (200; 620) configured to receive an input signal (210, 802) and further configured to provide an output (220) in response to the input signal (210, 802), comprises a signal monitor (110; 801) configured to extract a first signal (112; 630) from the signal path (200; 620) corresponding to the input signal (210, 802) in at least a first characteristic. The monitoring unit (100; 800) further comprises a signal interface (120; 803) configured to extract a second signal (122; 631) corresponding to the output (220) in at least a second characteristic from the signal path (200; 620); and an evaluator (130) configured to determine, whether the at least first characteristic of the first signal (112; 630) corresponds to the at least second characteristic of the second signal (122; 631) according to a predefined relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Forster, Kirk Herfurth, Mihai Alexandru Ionescu, Friedrich Rasbornig, Christoph Schroers
  • Publication number: 20170092024
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing an error signal for a control unit, the error signal indicating a malfunction of a sensor unit. The apparatus includes an input module configured to receive a sensor signal from the sensor unit, the sensor signal being a periodic signal between an upper level and a lower level of a physical quantity. Further, the apparatus includes a determination module configured to determine the malfunction of the sensor unit and an output module configured to provide the error signal indicating the malfunction for the control unit. The error signal comprises a predetermined level of the physical quantity which differs from the upper level and from the lower level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Peter Slama, Friedrich Rasbornig, Simon Hainz, Kirk Herfurth, Robert Hermann
  • Publication number: 20160365213
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided which facilitate detecting of a disturbance parameter being outside a predetermined range. Such disturbance parameter may for example cause dependent failures in redundant circuits, for example redundant circuits being arranged on a same substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas Zettler, Kirk Herfurth
  • Patent number: 9465683
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing an error signal for a control unit, the error signal indicating a malfunction of a sensor unit. The apparatus includes an input module configured to receive a sensor signal from the sensor unit, the sensor signal being a periodic signal between an upper level and a lower level of a physical quantity. Further, the apparatus includes a determination module configured to determine the malfunction of the sensor unit and an output module configured to provide the error signal indicating the malfunction for the control unit. The error signal comprises a predetermined level of the physical quantity which differs from the upper level and from the lower level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Peter Slama, Friedrich Rasbornig, Simon Hainz, Kirk Herfurth
  • Publication number: 20160179123
    Abstract: A supply circuit is provided including a supply generation circuit coupled to a supply terminal. A voltage deviation detection circuit is adapted to detect a voltage deviation in an internal supply voltage. A current limiter arrangement is adapted to limit a current through the supply generation circuit to a predefined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventor: Kirk Herfurth
  • Publication number: 20160131696
    Abstract: A monitoring unit (100; 800) for monitoring an integrity of a signal path (200; 620) configured to receive an input signal (210, 802) and further configured to provide an output (220) in response to the input signal (210, 802), comprises a signal monitor (110; 801) configured to extract a first signal (112; 630) from the signal path (200; 620) corresponding to the input signal (210, 802) in at least a first characteristic. The monitoring unit (100; 800) further comprises a signal interface (120; 803) configured to extract a second signal (122; 631) corresponding to the output (220) in at least a second characteristic from the signal path (200; 620); and an evaluator (130) configured to determine, whether the at least first characteristic of the first signal (112; 630) corresponds to the at least second characteristic of the second signal (122; 631) according to a predefined relation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Bernhard Forster, Kirk Herfurth, Mihai Alexandru Ionescu, Friedrich Rasbornig, Christoph Schroers
  • Publication number: 20160004585
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing an error signal for a control unit, the error signal indicating a malfunction of a sensor unit. The apparatus includes an input module configured to receive a sensor signal from the sensor unit, the sensor signal being a periodic signal between an upper level and a lower level of a physical quantity. Further, the apparatus includes a determination module configured to determine the malfunction of the sensor unit and an output module configured to provide the error signal indicating the malfunction for the control unit. The error signal comprises a predetermined level of the physical quantity which differs from the upper level and from the lower level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Peter Slama, Friedrich Rasbornig, Simon Hainz, Kirk Herfurth