Patents by Inventor Michiel Steyaert

Michiel Steyaert 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).

  • Publication number: 20140091838
    Abstract: A driver circuit suitable for outputting a signal onto an output line affected by conducted EMI, has a slope control circuit and an output circuit, (op-amp, Mo, M13 to M21). It can be used for driving a LIN network. The slope control circuit outputs a slope controlled version of the input signal to the output circuit, which (M6,M7) is arranged to reduce an amount of conducted EMI induced DC shift in the output circuit. This can involve clipping a feedback signal, and regulating an output stage of the op-amp to prevent the DC shift. Having a separate output circuit can help shield the slope control circuit from the EMI on the output line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Vladimir Redouté, Michiel Steyaert
  • Patent number: 8487663
    Abstract: A driver circuit suitable for outputting a signal onto an output line affected by conducted EMI, has a slope control circuit and an output circuit, (op-amp, Mo, M13 to M21). It can be used for driving a LIN network. The slope control circuit outputs a slope controlled version of the input signal to the output circuit, which (M6,M7) is arranged to reduce an amount of conducted EMI induced DC shift in the output circuit. This can involve clipping a feedback signal, and regulating an output stage of the op-amp to prevent the DC shift. Having a separate output circuit can help shield the slope control circuit from the EMI on the output line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Vladimir Redouté, Michiel Steyaert
  • Patent number: 8081101
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided which has a first analog input and a second analog input. In a particular implementation, the first analog input is coupled to a first controllable oscillator and the second analog input is coupled to a second controllable oscillator. First and second digital output signals generated based on output oscillations from the first controllable oscillator and the second controllable oscillator are combined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Jorg Daniels, Wim Dehaene, Andreas Wiesbauer, Michiel Steyaert
  • Publication number: 20110193731
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided which has a first analog input and a second analog input. In a particular implementation, the first analog input is coupled to a first controllable oscillator and the second analog input is coupled to a second controllable oscillator. First and second digital output signals generated based on output oscillations from the first controllable oscillator and the second controllable oscillator are combined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventors: Jorg Daniels, Wim Dehaene, Andreas Wiesbauer, Michiel Steyaert
  • Publication number: 20090115462
    Abstract: A driver circuit suitable for outputting a signal onto an output line affected by conducted EMI, has a slope control circuit and an output circuit, (op-amp, Mo, M13 to M21). It can be used for driving a LIN network. The slope control circuit outputs a slope controlled version of the input signal to the output circuit, which (M6,M7) is arranged to reduce an amount of conducted EMI induced DC shift in the output circuit. This can involve clipping a feedback signal, and regulating an output stage of the op-amp to prevent the DC shift. Having a separate output circuit can help shield the slope control circuit from the EMI on the output line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: AMI Semiconductor Belgium BVBA
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Redoute, Michiel Steyaert
  • Patent number: 7427854
    Abstract: A DC current regulator circuit comprises a first circuit node (32) which is operable to receive an external input voltage. A transistor (M1) has an input, a first leg and a second leg. The first leg of the transistor is isolated from the first circuit node (32). An amplifier (10) has an output connected to the input of the transistor (M1), a first amplifier input for receiving a reference voltage (VREF) and a second amplifier input connected to the first circuit node (32). A low-pass filter (33) connects between the output of the amplifier and the first circuit node (32). A current mirror (36) connects in series with the second leg of the transistor (M1) and has a first branch (38) for providing a regulated output current and a second branch (37) which connects to the first circuit node (32). The current regulator has reduced sensitivity to conducted EMI received at the first circuit node (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: AMI Semiconductor Belgium BVBA
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Vladimir Redouté, Michiel Steyaert
  • Publication number: 20080042696
    Abstract: A driver circuit suitable for outputting a signal onto an output line affected by conducted EMI, has a slope control circuit and an output circuit, (op-amp, Mo, M13 to M21). It can be used for driving a LIN network. The slope control circuit outputs a slope controlled version of the input signal to the output circuit, which (M6,M7) is arranged to reduce an amount of conducted EMI induced DC shift in the output circuit. This can involve clipping a feedback signal, and regulating an output stage of the op-amp to prevent the DC shift. Having a separate output circuit can help shield the slope control circuit from the EMI on the output line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Applicant: AMI Semiconductor Belgium BVBA
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Redoute, Michiel Steyaert
  • Publication number: 20070216484
    Abstract: A DC current regulator circuit comprises a first circuit node (32) which is operable to receive an external input voltage. A transistor (M1) has an input, a first leg and a second leg. The first leg of the transistor is isolated from the first circuit node (32). An amplifier (10) has an output connected to the input of the transistor (M1), a first amplifier input for receiving a reference voltage (VREF) and a second amplifier input connected to the first circuit node (32). A low-pass filter (33) connects between the output of the amplifier and the first circuit node (32). A current mirror (36) connects in series with the second leg of the transistor (M1) and has a first branch (38) for providing a regulated output current and a second branch (37) which connects to the first circuit node (32). The current regulator has reduced sensitivity to conducted EMI received at the first circuit node (32).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Redoute, Michiel Steyaert
  • Publication number: 20020171480
    Abstract: A power amplifier includes a comparator (COMP) to which an input signal is applied , a digital buffer (BUF) coupled via a feedback low-pass filter (LPFB) to a second input terminal (Cin2) of said comparator (COMP). An unstable loop is thereby created with an oscillation frequency related to the bandwidth of the feedback low-pass filter. In the presence of an input signal this self-oscillation frequency linearizes the system resulting in a power amplifier with excellent power efficiency. In a differential version two of these self-oscillating loops are provided . The coupling of the two loops thereby withhelds the high-frequency self-oscillation from the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Applicant: ALCATEL
    Inventors: Tim Piessens, Michiel Steyaert