Patents by Inventor Simon Hainz
Simon Hainz 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).
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Patent number: 10732194Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes a first bridge circuit including a plurality of magnetic field sensor elements, each configured to generate a sensor signal in response to the magnetic field impinging thereon. The first bridge circuit is configured to generate a first differential signal based on sensor signals generated by the plurality of magnetic field sensor elements. The plurality of magnetic field sensor elements include a first, second, and third pair of sensor elements. The first pair are arranged at center region of the magnetic sensor, the second pair are arranged at a first side region of the magnetic sensor and are displaced a first distance from the first pair, and the third pair are arranged at a second side region of the magnetic sensor, opposite to the first side region, and are displaced a second distance from the first pair that is substantially equal to the first distance.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2018Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Simon Hainz, Johannes Guettinger
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Patent number: 10718827Abstract: Magnetic field sensors and sensing methods are provided. A magnetic sensor configured to measure a magnetic field whose magnitude oscillates between a first extrema and a second extrema. The magnetic sensor includes a plurality of magnetic field sensor elements, each configured to generate a sensor signal in response to the magnetic field impinging thereon. The plurality of sensor elements are grouped into a first group from which a first measurement signal is derived and a second group from which a second measurement signal is derived, and the first measurement signal and the second measurement signal having phase difference of 90°. The magnetic sensor further includes a sensor circuit configured to receive the first measurement signal and the second measurement signal, and apply a signal conversion algorithm thereto to generate a converted measurement signal having an increased frequency with respect to the first measurement signal and the second measurement signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2017Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Helmut Koeck, Simon Hainz, Dirk Hammerschmidt
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Patent number: 10677615Abstract: A magnetic sensor may determine information, associated with a magnet wheel, that is associated with a rotational speed of the magnet wheel or a rotational direction of the magnet wheel. The magnetic sensor may determine information, associated with the magnetic sensor, that is associated with a property of the magnetic sensor. The magnetic sensor may provide a signal including the information associated with the magnet wheel and the information associated with the magnetic sensor. The signal may be provided using a pulse width modulation technique associated with at least three signal levels and at least two signal thresholds. A period of time during which the information associated with the magnetic sensor is provided may at least partially overlap a period of time during which the information associated with the magnet wheel is provided, or may be provided without a time offset from the information associated with the magnet wheel.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2017Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Simon Hainz, Lorenzo Coceani, Tobias Werth
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Patent number: 10663507Abstract: A sensor system having a current interface includes a supply and current interface, an electronic control unit and an enhanced initialization sensor. The supply and current interface is configured to receive a supply voltage. The electronic control unit is coupled to the supply and current interface. The enhanced initialization sensor is coupled to the supply and current interface. The enhanced initialization sensor is configured to initialize the supply and current interface at a suitable current level to mitigate erroneous information. measurement system.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2017Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Christoph Schroers, Christof Bodner, Simon Hainz
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Patent number: 10634519Abstract: A magnetic sensor may include one or more sensor components to detect a system-level error, associated with a sensor system that includes the magnetic sensor, based on a set of signal characteristics of a waveform corresponding to a magnetic field present at the magnetic sensor. The one or more sensor components may provide an indication of the system-level error in an output signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2017Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventor: Simon Hainz
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Patent number: 10571296Abstract: A circuit for obtaining information on a physical quantity according to an embodiment includes a sensor arrangement sensitive to the physical quantity, at least one further sensor element sensitive to the physical quantity and a supply circuit configured to provide the sensor arrangement with a supply signal comprising a supply voltage controlled by the supply circuit in a closed-loop configuration. The supply circuit is further configured to provide the at least one further sensor element with a further supply signal comprising a further supply current such that a magnitude of the further supply current fulfills a predetermined relationship with a magnitude of a supply current of the supply signal. As a consequence, it may be possible to improve a trade-off between an improved compensation of variations, simplifying an implementation, simplifying the manufacturing, simplifying the sensing and providing stable sensing conditions.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2016Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Alessandro Michelutti, Bernhard Schaffer, Wolfgang Horn, Simon Hainz
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Publication number: 20200049530Abstract: A magnetic sensor may detect a system-level error, associated with a sensor system that includes the magnetic sensor, based on one or more physical parameters as determined at the magnetic sensor. The magnetic sensor may provide an indication of the system-level error in an output signal. The one or more physical parameters may include a temperature at the magnetic sensor, a temperature drift of the magnetic sensor, a supply voltage at the magnetic sensor, an amount of humidity at the magnetic sensor, or an amount of pressure at the magnetic sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2019Publication date: February 13, 2020Inventor: Simon HAINZ
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Publication number: 20200003849Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes a bridge circuit including a plurality of magnetic field sensor elements, each configured to generate a sensor signal in response to the magnetic field impinging thereon, where the bridge circuit is configured to generate a differential signal based on sensor signals generated by the plurality of magnetic field sensor elements. The bridge circuit further includes a plurality of resistors, where at least one resistor of the plurality of resistors is coupled in parallel to each of the plurality of magnetic field sensor elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2018Publication date: January 2, 2020Applicant: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Johannes GUETTINGER, Simon HAINZ, Armin SATZ
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Publication number: 20190339340Abstract: Magnetic sensors, sensor modules, and methods thereof are provided. A magnetic sensor includes a sensor arrangement including a plurality of magnetic field sensor elements electrically arranged in an asymmetrical bridge circuit, where a first total resistance of a first pair of sensor elements provided on a first side of the asymmetrical bridge circuit is different from a second total resistance of a second pair of sensor elements provided on a second side of the asymmetrical bridge circuit, and the asymmetrical bridge circuit is configured to generate a differential signal based on sensor signals generated by the plurality of magnetic field sensor elements in response to a magnetic field impinging thereon.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2018Publication date: November 7, 2019Applicant: Infineon Technologies AGInventor: Simon HAINZ
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Publication number: 20190277874Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes a first bridge circuit including a plurality of magnetic field sensor elements, each configured to generate a sensor signal in response to the magnetic field impinging thereon. The first bridge circuit is configured to generate a first differential signal based on sensor signals generated by the plurality of magnetic field sensor elements. The plurality of magnetic field sensor elements include a first, second, and third pair of sensor elements. The first pair are arranged at center region of the magnetic sensor, the second pair are arranged at a first side region of the magnetic sensor and are displaced a first distance from the first pair, and the third pair are arranged at a second side region of the magnetic sensor, opposite to the first side region, and are displaced a second distance from the first pair that is substantially equal to the first distance.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2018Publication date: September 12, 2019Applicant: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Simon HAINZ, Johannes GUETTINGER
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Patent number: 10379530Abstract: In systems, such as sensor systems, an output signal of the system (e.g. output of the sensor corresponding to a sensed characteristic) can be generated and provided. In response to a detected error, the output signal can be adjusted to generate an error indication signal pulse to indicate that an error has been detected. The output signal can then be adjusted to return to a signal level corresponding to the sensed characteristic. In response to the error being resolved, an error resolution signal pulse can be generated.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2017Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Simon Hainz, Robert Hermann
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Patent number: 10323962Abstract: A magnetic circuit may include a magnetic sensor. The magnetic sensor may determine an adjustment factor associated with calculating a variable switching threshold. The variable switching threshold may be a configurable switching threshold based on which the magnetic sensor provides outputs associated with a speed signal corresponding to a rotation of a tooth wheel. The magnetic sensor may provide an output, associated with the speed signal, based on the variable switching threshold.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2016Date of Patent: June 18, 2019Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Klaus Grambichler, Tobias Werth, Simon Hainz
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Patent number: 10250241Abstract: An apparatus and corresponding method for outputting a protocol pulse based on a speed signal representing speed of an object. The apparatus includes a zero-crossing circuit, and a delay circuit. The zero-crossing circuit is configured to output the protocol pulse at a zero-crossing of the speed signal. The delay circuit is coupled to the output of the zero-crossing circuit and configured to delay the protocol pulse. A first edge of the protocol pulse is asynchronous with a clock, and a second edge of the protocol pulse is synchronous with the clock.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2015Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Simon Hainz, Theodor Kranz, Hubert Fischer, Tobias Werth
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Patent number: 10243724Abstract: A sensor device includes a memory circuit and a transmission circuit. The transmission circuit sends a first data signal to an external receiver in a first state of a read-out-mode of the sensor device, if an oscillation period of the oscillating quantity is longer than a period threshold. Further, the transmission circuit sends a second data signal to the external receiver in a second state of the read-out-mode, if the oscillation period of the oscillating quantity is shorter than the period threshold. The second data signal contains information on at least one of a first local extremum sensor data value and a succeeding second local extremum sensor data value.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2017Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Klaus Grambichler, Simon Hainz, Catalina-Petruta Juglan
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Publication number: 20190072416Abstract: A magnetic sensor may include one or more sensor components to detect a system-level error, associated with a sensor system that includes the magnetic sensor, based on a set of signal characteristics of a waveform corresponding to a magnetic field present at the magnetic sensor. The one or more sensor components may provide an indication of the system-level error in an output signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2017Publication date: March 7, 2019Inventor: Simon HAINZ
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Publication number: 20190064287Abstract: Magnetic field sensors and sensing methods are provided. A magnetic sensor configured to measure a magnetic field whose magnitude oscillates between a first extrema and a second extrema. The magnetic sensor includes a plurality of magnetic field sensor elements, each configured to generate a sensor signal in response to the magnetic field impinging thereon. The plurality of sensor elements are grouped into a first group from which a first measurement signal is derived and a second group from which a second measurement signal is derived, and the first measurement signal and the second measurement signal having phase difference of 90°. The magnetic sensor further includes a sensor circuit configured to receive the first measurement signal and the second measurement signal, and apply a signal conversion algorithm thereto to generate a converted measurement signal having an increased frequency with respect to the first measurement signal and the second measurement signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2017Publication date: February 28, 2019Applicant: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Helmut KOECK, Simon HAINZ, Dirk HAMMERSCHMIDT
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Publication number: 20190011292Abstract: A magnetic sensor may determine information, associated with a magnet wheel, that is associated with a rotational speed of the magnet wheel or a rotational direction of the magnet wheel. The magnetic sensor may determine information, associated with the magnetic sensor, that is associated with a property of the magnetic sensor. The magnetic sensor may provide a signal including the information associated with the magnet wheel and the information associated with the magnetic sensor. The signal may be provided using a pulse width modulation technique associated with at least three signal levels and at least two signal thresholds. A period of time during which the information associated with the magnetic sensor is provided may at least partially overlap a period of time during which the information associated with the magnet wheel is provided, or may be provided without a time offset from the information associated with the magnet wheel.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2017Publication date: January 10, 2019Inventors: Simon HAINZ, Lorenzo COCEANI, Tobias WERTH
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Publication number: 20180174441Abstract: A signal encoder for encoding a wheel speed sensor signal includes an input interface. The input interface is configured to receive a wheel speed sensor signal providing speed information and additional information. Furthermore, the signal encoder includes a signal processing circuit. The signal processing circuit is configured to generate a first and a second speed pulse. A time interval between the first and the second speed pulse corresponds to the speed information. Additionally, the signal processing circuit is configured to generate a data pulse between the first and the second speed pulse based on the additional information. The generation of the data pulse is in in accordance with a modulation scheme having a modulation order of at least three. Furthermore, the signal encoder includes an output interface. The output interface is configured to sequentially output the first speed pulse, the data pulse, and the second speed pulse.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2017Publication date: June 21, 2018Inventors: Simon Hainz, Robert Hermann
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Patent number: 9973835Abstract: A signal generator comprises a signal provider and a signal processing unit. The signal provider is configured to provide a sensor signal indicating a repeatedly detected event, occurring within differing time intervals. The signal processing unit is configured to generate a transmit signal based on the sensor signal. The transmit signal comprises event information representing the temporal occurrence of the event and additional information representing additional data. The event information comprises pulses associated to detected events, wherein the pulses are temporarily separated within the transmit signal according to the differing time intervals of detected events so that each time interval of the differing time intervals comprises one pulse associated to a detected event. Further, the additional data comprises at least one frame comprising a predefined number of additional data bits.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2016Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Simon Hainz, Tobias Werth, Michael Westpfahl, Robert Hermann, Lorenzo Coceani, Dirk Hammerschmidt
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Publication number: 20180129196Abstract: In systems, such as sensor systems, an output signal of the system (e.g. output of the sensor corresponding to a sensed characteristic) can be generated and provided. In response to a detected error, the output signal can be adjusted to generate an error indication signal pulse to indicate that an error has been detected. The output signal can then be adjusted to return to a signal level corresponding to the sensed characteristic. In response to the error being resolved, an error resolution signal pulse can be generated.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2017Publication date: May 10, 2018Applicant: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Simon Hainz, Robert Hermann