Patents by Inventor Kurt RIEDMUELLER

Kurt RIEDMUELLER 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: 11073408
    Abstract: A rotary sensor arrangement is configured to be used with a rotatable magnetic source and comprises a first and a second pair of magnetic field sensors, each pair arranged symmetrically with respect to rotation axes and providing respective sensor values. An evaluation unit determines a first sum value corresponding to a sum of the sensor values of the first pair, and a second sum value corresponding to a sum of the sensor values of the second pair. The evaluation unit further determines a difference value corresponding to a difference between the first and the second sum value and compares the difference value or a value derived thereof to a threshold value. Based on the comparison result, it is determined whether a failure status of the sensor arrangement is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: AMS AG
    Inventors: Kurt Riedmueller, Simone Sabatelli
  • Publication number: 20190310113
    Abstract: A rotary sensor arrangement is configured to be used with a rotatable magnetic source and comprises a first and a second pair of magnetic field sensors, each pair arranged symmetrically with respect to rotation axes and providing respective sensor values. An evaluation unit determines a first sum value corresponding to a sum of the sensor values of the first pair, and a second sum value corresponding to a sum of the sensor values of the second pair. The evaluation unit further determines a difference value corresponding to a difference between the first and the second sum value and compares the difference value or a value derived thereof to a threshold value. Based on the comparison result, it is determined whether a failure status of the sensor arrangement is present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Kurt Riedmueller, Simone Sabatelli
  • Patent number: 10429208
    Abstract: A position sensor device comprises at least two Hall elements (11, 12) and a signal evaluation circuit (14) that is coupled on its input side to the at least two Hall elements (11, 12) and is designed to provide a digital position signal (ANS). Moreover, the position sensor device (10) comprises a processing unit (15) comprising a loop filter (16) that is coupled on its input side to the signal evaluation unit (14). The processing unit (15) is designed to adaptively control a filter parameter of the loop filter (16) during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: ams AG
    Inventors: Kurt Riedmueller, Gerhard Oberhoffner, Dominik Ruck, Stephan Michelitsch
  • Patent number: 9952065
    Abstract: A position sensor device to determine a position of a moving device comprises a detection unit to detect a signal generated by the moving device and an evaluation unit to determine a first position (?0(t1)) specifying the position of the moving device at a first time (t1). An error distance determination unit determines a velocity of the movement of the moving device and at least one error distance (?err1, ?err2, ?err3) specifying a distance by which the moving device moves on between the first time (t1) and a second time (t2) in dependence on the velocity and a propagation delay time (Tpd). A position correction unit is configured to determine a corrected position (?corr) in dependence on the at least one error distance (?err1, ?err2, ?err3) and the first position (?0(t1)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: AMS AG
    Inventors: Ruggero Leoncavallo, Kurt Riedmueller
  • Publication number: 20170131119
    Abstract: A position sensor device comprises at least two Hall elements (11, 12) and a signal evaluation circuit (14) that is coupled on its input side to the at least two Hall elements (11, 12) and is designed to provide a digital position signal (ANS). Moreover, the position sensor device (10) comprises a processing unit (15) comprising a loop filter (16) that is coupled on its input side to the signal evaluation unit (14). The processing unit (15) is designed to adaptively control a filter parameter of the loop filter (16) during operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Kurt RIEDMUELLER, Gerhard OBERHOFFNER, Dominik RUCK, Stephan MICHELITSCH
  • Publication number: 20160202089
    Abstract: A position sensor device to determine a position of a moving device comprises a detection unit to detect a signal generated by the moving device and an evaluation unit to determine a first position (?0(t1) specifying the position of the moving device at a first time (t1). An error distance determination unit determines a velocity of the movement of the moving device and at least one error distance (?err1, ?err2, ?err3) specifying a distance by which the moving device moves on between the first time (t1) and a second time (t2) in dependence on the velocity and a propagation delay time (Tpd). A position correction unit is configured to determine a corrected position (?corr) in dependence on the at least one error distance (?err1, ?err2, ?err3) and the first position (?0(t1)).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Ruggero LEONCAVALLO, Kurt RIEDMUELLER
  • Patent number: 9366547
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement has a plurality of Hall sensor devices, each configured to provide a sensor voltage in response to a magnetic field intensity. A selection unit is configured to forward either of the sensor voltages in response to a selection signal. A transconductance amplifier is configured to generate a sensing current depending on a forwarded sensor voltage. A filter stage has a resistor and a filter capacitor connected in parallel in a switchable manner in response to a first switching signal. The filter stage is configured to generate a filtered voltage across the filter capacitor depending on a sensing current. A capacitive analog-to-digital converter has an input capacitor being connected to the filter capacitor in a switchable manner in response to a second switching signal. The analog-to-digital converter is configured to generate a digital sensor value based on a filtered voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: ams AG
    Inventors: Richard Forsyth, Gerhard Oberhoffner, Kurt Riedmüller, Davide Maschera
  • Patent number: 9217652
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement comprises at least one magnetic-field sensor (SM1). A signal-processing unit (PROC) is set up to determine a minimum signal (MIN) and a maximum signal (MAX) of the magnetic-field sensor (SM1) over the full scale range (FSR) of the sensor arrangement. An adjustment circuit (DSPL) is set up to generate a correction signal (COR) as a function of the minimum and maximum signals (MIN, MAX). A first combination means (ADD1) couples the first magnetic-field sensor (SM1) on the input side to the adjustment circuit (DSPL) and connects the magnetic-field sensor (SM1) on the output side to a signal output (OUT).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: AMS AG
    Inventors: Kurt Riedmueller, Thomas Oswald
  • Patent number: 9212934
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement comprises at least a first magnetic-field sensor (SM1) and a second magnetic-field sensor (SM2). A signal-processing unit (PROC) is set up to determine a minimum signal (MIN) and a maximum signal (MAX) of the first or second magnetic-field sensor (SM1, SM2) in the full scale range (FSR) of the sensor arrangement The first or second magnetic-field sensor (SM1, SM2) can be selected by means of a selection means (MOV) depending on the minimum and maximum signal (MIN, MAX).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: AMS AG
    Inventors: Kurt Riedmueller, Thomas Oswald
  • Patent number: 8823371
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement comprises a first, a second and a third magnetic field sensor that are arranged along a curved principal direction. A first combination means is connected to the first and second magnetic field sensors and a first channel signal can be derived from the signals of the first and second magnetic field sensors by the first combination means. A second combination means is connected to the first, second and third magnetic field sensors (SM1, SWM2, SM3. A second channel signal is derived by the second combination means from signals of the first, second and third magnetic field sensors. An evaluation unit that is connected to the first and second combination means is set up to derive an end position of a magnetic source movable relative to the sensor arrangement as a function of the first and second channel signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: AMS AG
    Inventors: Kurt Riedmueller, Josef Janisch
  • Patent number: 8089275
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement has a sensor array (SA) with a first, a second, and a third sensor focus (SSP1, SSP2, SSP3), which are located along a main linear direction (L) and in which the third sensor focus (SSP3) is located in the middle between the first and second sensor foci (SSP1, SSP2). Individual sensor devices (SM1, SM2, SM3) with magnetic field sensors that provide a first, second, and third set of sensor signals are correlated with the sensor foci (SSP1, SSP2, SSP3). A first and a second channel signal (CH1, CH2) are derived as a function of the sets of sensor signals in a processing device (PRC) via a first and a second combination device (K1, K2). An evaluation unit (EV) is configured to derive a phase angle as a function of the channel signals (CH1, CH2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: austriamicrosystem AG
    Inventor: Kurt Riedmüller
  • Publication number: 20110273172
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement comprises at least a first magnetic-field sensor (SM1) and a second magnetic-field sensor (SM2). A signal-processing unit (PROC) is set up to determine a minimum signal (MIN) and a maximum signal (MAX) of the first or second magnetic-field sensor (SM1, SM2) in the full scale range (FSR) of the sensor arrangement The first or second magnetic-field sensor (SM1, SM2) can be selected by means of a selection means (MOV) depending on the minimum and maximum signal (MIN, MAX).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: austriamicrosystems AG
    Inventors: Kurt RIEDMUELLER, Thomas OSWALD
  • Publication number: 20110273173
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement comprises at least one magnetic-field sensor (SM1). A signal-processing unit (PROC) is set up to determine a minimum signal (MIN) and a maximum signal (MAX) of the magnetic-field sensor (SM1) over the full scale range (FSR) of the sensor arrangement. An adjustment circuit (DSPL) is set up to generate a correction signal (COR) as a function of the minimum and maximum signals (MIN, MAX). A first combination means (ADD1) couples the first magnetic-field sensor (SM1) on the input side to the adjustment circuit (DSPL) and connects the magnetic-field sensor (SM1) on the output side to a signal output (OUT).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: austriamicrosystems AG
    Inventors: Kurt RIEDMUELLER, Thomas OSWALD
  • Publication number: 20110133723
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement has a plurality of Hall sensor devices, each configured to provide a sensor voltage in response to a magnetic field intensity. A selection unit is configured to forward either of the sensor voltages in response to a selection signal. A transconductance amplifier is configured to generate a sensing current depending on a forwarded sensor voltage. A filter stage has a resistor and a filter capacitor connected in parallel in a switchable manner in response to a first switching signal. The filter stage is configured to generate a filtered voltage across the filter capacitor depending on a sensing current. A capacitive analog-to-digital converter has an input capacitor being connected to the filter capacitor in a switchable manner in response to a second switching signal. The analog-to-digital converter is configured to generate a digital sensor value based on a filtered voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: austriamicrosystems AG
    Inventors: Richard FORSYTH, Gerhard Oberhoffner, Kurt Riedmüller, Davide Maschera