Patents by Inventor Ralf Föster

Ralf Föster 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: 7956626
    Abstract: A circuit with switchable functionality has a first integrated circuit, which has, in a first operating mode, full functionality and which has, in at least one other operating mode, a functionality which is reduced in comparison with the full functionality. The circuit further has an output terminal to which a coupling element can be coupled, an identification device which identifies whether a first supply potential has been applied to the output terminal via the coupling element and in this case produces a status signal with a first value and otherwise produces a status signal with a second value, a setting device, which sets the full or reduced functionality as a function of the value of the status signal in the first integrated circuit. The invention also relates to an electronic component having such a circuit arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Frohnhöfer, Ralf Föster, Dieter Saβ