Patents by Inventor Michael Bernhard Sommer

Michael Bernhard Sommer 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: 7961514
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is described. A channel area is arranged in a semiconductor substrate between a first contact area and a second contact area. A first programmable structure includes a first control structure. The first programmable structure is arranged such that a conductivity of a first section of the channel area depends on a voltage applicable to the first control structure of the first programmable structure and on an information value stored in the first programmable structure. A second programmable structure includes a second control structure. The second programmable structure is arranged such that a conductivity of a second section of the channel area depends on a voltage applicable to the second control structure of the second programmable structure and on an information value stored in the second programmable structure. The first section and the second section of the channel area are electrically connected in series between the first contact area and the second contact area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Michael Bernhard Sommer
  • Publication number: 20100172176
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is described. A channel area is arranged in a semiconductor substrate between a first contact area and a second contact area. A first programmable structure includes a first control structure. The first programmable structure is arranged such that a conductivity of a first section of the channel area depends on a voltage applicable to the first control structure of the first programmable structure and on an information value stored in the first programmable structure. A second programmable structure includes a second control structure. The second programmable structure is arranged such that a conductivity of a second section of the channel area depends on a voltage applicable to the second control structure of the second programmable structure and on an information value stored in the second programmable structure. The first section and the second section of the channel area are electrically connected in series between the first contact area and the second contact area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Inventor: Michael Bernhard Sommer
  • Patent number: 7635886
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory is disclosed having an electrically conductive region buried in a substrate, and having an array of first and second cells. The first cells are designed as memory cells each having a selection transistor and a storage capacitor and are connected to word lines and first bit lines. The second cells are designed as switchable contacts each having a selection transistor and a resistance element and are connected to a respective one of the word lines and to a second bit line. The resistance element includes a first electrode and a second electrode, which are conductively connected to one another. The second bit line makes it possible to apply a plate voltage to the buried conductive region in low-impedance fashion via the second cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Qimonda AG
    Inventor: Michael Bernhard Sommer
  • Patent number: 7619924
    Abstract: A device for reading out memory information storable in a memory has an integrator and a comparator. The memory provides, in a hold phase, a leakage current, and in a readout phase, a readout current. The readout current is dependent on the stored memory information. The integrator is adapted to integrate a quantity derived from the leakage current during the hold phase, and to provide a leakage voltage corresponding to an integrated leakage current. The integrator is further adapted to integrate a quantity derived from the readout current during the readout phase, and to provide a readout voltage corresponding to an integrated readout current. The comparator may compare the leakage voltage to the readout voltage and provide, in dependence on the comparison, a readout value corresponding to the memory information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Michael Bollu, Michael Bernhard Sommer
  • Patent number: 7427202
    Abstract: A means of attachment for electrically contacting electronic components is disclosed. The means of attachment includes a carrier element and a number of elongated connecting elements. Each of the connecting elements is arranged on the carrier element and has an elongated body, which protrudes from the carrier element. Each of the connecting elements and the carrier element includes an electrically conductive surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Florian Schamberger, Michael Bernhard Sommer, Andreas Baenisch
  • Patent number: 7393721
    Abstract: A metallization surface (5), which acts as an etching stop layer during the production of openings (4) in a passivation layer (3) applied to its upper face and protects an interconnect structure (6) arranged underneath it, is arranged in an uppermost metallization level (1). A further opening is produced in the metal surface (5), through which a focused ion beam is aimed at the interconnect structure (6) in order to connect interconnects to one another and/or to interrupt at least one interconnect. The wiring of the integrated circuit can thus be varied individually, starting from identically produced semiconductor chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Andreas Huber, Günter Gerstmeier, Michael Bernhard Sommer
  • Patent number: 7355218
    Abstract: The source area (3) is highly doped, like the channel area, for the same conductance type. The drain area (4) is doped for the opposite conductance type. This results in a saving of area since the source connection (S) can at the same time be used as the well connection or substrate connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Rainer Florian Schnabel, Michael Bernhard Sommer
  • Patent number: 7330047
    Abstract: A receiver circuit arrangement includes a receiver circuit an input for receiving an input signal an output for outputting an output signal and an inverter circuit with switching transistors. The input signal is fed to the receiver circuit. At least one control transistor is connected in series with the switching transistors. A control circuit is connected on the input side to a terminal for a reference voltage and on the output side to the control terminal of the control transistor of the inverter circuit. The control circuit is designed such that the control transistor is driven by the regulating switching circuit in the event of deviations of the reference voltage from a voltage value in a reference operating state with a control voltage that deviates with respect to the reference operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Michael Bernhard Sommer
  • Patent number: 7317603
    Abstract: An integrated circuit with electrostatic discharge protection includes a first transistor with a source terminal, a drain terminal and a gate terminal, and a second transistor with a source terminal, a drain terminal and a gate terminal. The gate terminal for each of the first and second transistors is connected to the drain terminal. The first transistor is connected in series with the second transistor by one of the drain and source terminals of the first transistor being connected to one of the drain and source terminals of the second transistor. The series circuit formed by the transistors is connected to an input terminal of the integrated circuit or to a supply terminal and a terminal that applies the reference potential of the integrated circuit. The series circuit of the transistors is dimensioned by the number of transistors and the setting of the channel length and channel width ratios of the transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies, AG
    Inventors: Helmut Fischer, Jürgen Lindolf, Michael Bernhard Sommer
  • Patent number: 7304899
    Abstract: An integrated semiconductor memory includes programmable elements, which are arranged in a continuous region on a chip area of the integrated semiconductor memory. Operating parameters, for example, word line addresses of defective word lines are stored in the programmable elements in a compressed data format during the fabrication process of the integrated semiconductor memory. Upon activation of the integrated semiconductor memory, the compressed data are read out by a read-out circuit and fed to a decompression circuit. The decompression circuit generates, from a bit sequence of the compressed data with the aid of a decompression algorithm, a bit sequence of decompressed data which are evaluated by a control circuit. The storage of the operating parameters in the compressed data format and the arrangement of the programmable elements in a compact region significantly reduce the space requirement on the semiconductor chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Günter Gerstmeier, Michael Bernhard Sommer
  • Patent number: 7283419
    Abstract: An integrated semiconductor memory device includes a first memory zone, a second memory zone, first address connections and a second address connection. A second address signal present at the second address connection specifies the access to the first or second memory zone, whereas it is specified via first address signals at the first address connections which memory cell is accessed within the first or second memory zone. In a first memory configuration, all address connections are driven externally with address signals and the access to a memory cell in the first or second memory zone is controlled. In a second memory configuration, only the first address connections are driven externally whereas a signaling bit in a mode register regulates the access to the first or second memory zone. This provides for access to the second memory zone even if there is no possibility of externally driving the second address connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies, AG
    Inventors: Fabien Funfrock, Jochen Kallscheuer, Michael Bernhard Sommer, Christian Stocken
  • Patent number: 7279881
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a voltage generator with a first controllable resistor and a second controllable resistor, through which a first input terminal that applies a first voltage potential and a second input terminal that applies a second voltage potential can be connected to an output terminal that generates an output voltage. In a manner dependent on the output voltage, a first comparator circuit generates a first control signal to control the first controllable resistor, and a second comparator circuit generates a second control signal to control the second controllable resistor. A control unit evaluates the control signals generated by the comparator circuits and drives the first and second controllable resistors of the voltage generator in such a way that in each case only one of the two controllable resistors has a low-resistance state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon, AG
    Inventors: Günter Gerstmeier, Michael Bernhard Sommer
  • Patent number: 7274218
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first and a second amplifier circuit (10, 20), which are in each case driven by an input signal (Vin) having a high and a low signal level and a reference signal (Vref) having a constant signal level and, on the output side (D11, D21) generate a first control signal (S1) and a second control signal (S2). The control signals (S1, S2) are generated independently of one another and are used to regulate a first controllable resistor (31) and a second controllable resistor (32) of a third amplifier circuit (30). Depending on the resistance value of the first and second controllable resistors (31, 32) of the third amplifier circuit, an output signal (Vout) that is amplified in comparison with the input signal (Vin) can be generated at an output terminal (A). The integrated circuit can be used as an input amplifier of an integrated semiconductor memory and permits an adaptive behavior of the input amplifier with regard to fluctuations of the average absolute input signal level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies, AG
    Inventor: Michael Bernhard Sommer
  • Patent number: 7259607
    Abstract: An integrated semiconductor memory includes a clock generator circuit driven by an external clock signal and a control circuit driven by the external clock signal. The clock generator circuit generates an internal clock signal with a first level if the external clock signal level lies above a sensitivity level of the clock generator circuit for at least the duration of a sensitivity time of the clock generator circuit, and generates the internal clock signal with a second level if the external clock signal level lies below the sensitivity level for at least the duration of the sensitivity time of the clock generator circuit. The control circuit controls the clock generator circuit such that the control circuit selects the sensitivity time of the clock generator circuit in response to characteristics of the external clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Michael Bernhard Sommer
  • Patent number: 7246278
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for testing a memory module (2) suitable for exchanging electrical signals with a motherboard (10) contains a device (8a–8k) suitable for detecting the operating state of at least one semiconductor chip (26a–26m) of the module, which device comprises a first set of signal lines (8a–8k), a microcontroller (3) with a memory device (32) for storing the operating state, said microcontroller being electrically connected to the signal lines (8a–8k), a clock generator (5) suitable for generating an operating clock, said clock generator being electrically connected to the microcontroller (3), and a signal connection (13) suitable for communicating a signal for controlling access to the memory module (2) between the circuit board arrangement (10) and the microcontroller (3) and for communicating to the microcontroller (3) a signal for initiating a process of detecting the operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Christian Stocken, Michael Bernhard Sommer
  • Patent number: 7224214
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first and a second amplifier circuit each driven by an input signal. The first and second amplifier circuits generate a first and a second control signal on the output side. The control signals are generated independently of one another and drive a first and second controllable resistor of a third amplifier circuit for generating a third control signal. The third control signal is fed back to the first and second amplifier circuits. Depending on the resistance value of the first and second controllable resistors of the third amplifier circuit, an output signal amplified with respect to the input signal is generated at an output terminal of the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit is an input amplifier of an integrated semiconductor memory and permits the input signal to be amplified with a gain independent of a level of the DC component of the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Michael Bernhard Sommer
  • Patent number: 7180799
    Abstract: A circuit for setting one of a plurality of organization forms of an integrated circuit includes a detector circuit connected to an external connection of the integrated circuit. The external connection in at least one of the organization forms can be used for external communication of the integrated circuit. A signal can be impressed into a signal path connected to the external connection by the detector circuit. As a consequence, an output signal is generated at an output of the detector circuit. A control circuit sets one of the organization forms and receives the output signal of the detector circuit. One of the organization forms is set by the control circuit depending on the state of the output signal of the detector circuit. A module with a detector circuit can identify that organization form of the organization forms in which it is operated in the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Michael Bernhard Sommer, Fabien Funfrock
  • Patent number: 7154793
    Abstract: An integrated memory includes memory cells arranged in a memory cell array along word lines and bit lines. One of the bit lines can be connected to a data line by a respective one of a plurality of switches. The memory contains column select lines. One of the column select lines in each case connected to a plurality of the switches for driving, in an activated state, in order to connect a number of bit lines to a same number of data lines. An access controller is connected to the column select lines and can be operated in a test operating mode such that a plurality of the column select lines are activated in the event of a memory cell access. The writing of test data to the memory cell array in a test operating mode can thus be optimized in accordance with the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Michael Bernhard Sommer, Fabien Funfrock
  • Patent number: 7126870
    Abstract: An integrated semiconductor memory includes a sense amplifier with a first subamplifier for driving memory cells of a first memory cell array and a second subamplifier for driving memory cells of a second memory cell array. The subamplifiers are connected via continuous lines to bit lines of the first memory cell array and to bit lines of the second memory cell array. The subamplifiers can be operated by applying a single control signal (MUXl, MUXr) in a first operating state for reading in, reading out, and refreshing information of the memory cells and in a second operating state for precharging the bit lines. Reduction of the signal line due to losses is avoided as a result of direct coupling the subamplifiers to the respective memory cell arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Helmut Schneider, Michael Bernhard Sommer
  • Patent number: 7112496
    Abstract: Method for fabricating a semiconductor memory device having auxiliary transistor structures which are required for lithography and etching processes. A protective structure for reducing leakage currents between gate conductor and doped zone is provided. The protective structure is formed as a region doped oppositely to the doped zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Michael Bernhard Sommer