Patents by Inventor Stefan Dietrich

Stefan Dietrich 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: 6480024
    Abstract: A circuit configuration includes two signal path sections that are used to program the delay of a signal path, in particular in DRAMs. The two signal path sections have different delays and can be driven in parallel at the input end. The two signal path sections can be connected to an output terminal via a multiplexer. A selection circuit includes two signal path sections which are connected between supply voltage potentials. The selection circuit has two complimentary transistors which are connected in series and has source-end programmable elements. These transistors can be driven by complimentary control signals. This permits the delay to be programmed flexibly with little expenditure on circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Stefan Dietrich, Thomas Hein, Patrick Heyne, Michael Markert, Thilo Marx, Torsten Partsch, Sabine Schöniger Kieser, Peter Schrögmeier, Michael Sommer, Christian Weis
  • Publication number: 20020145923
    Abstract: The circuit configuration has a memory array, a memory access controller, a control unit, and an input/output circuit. The control unit outputs a control signal simultaneously to the memory access controller and to the input/output circuit. When the control signal is received, the input/output circuit outputs data to the memory access controller via the data bus. When the control signal is received, the memory access controller stores the data present on the data bus in memory cells of the memory array. Owing to different geometric arrangements and different electrical capacitances, differences in propagation time of the control signals may occur on the path from the control unit to the memory access controller and from the control unit to the input/output circuit. For this purpose, a delay circuit or delay line is provided on the signal path to the memory access controller which brings about a delay of the control signal. This enables precise synchronization of the writing of data into the memory array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventors: Stefan Dietrich, Peter Schrogmeier, Sabine Kieser, Christian Weis
  • Publication number: 20020141279
    Abstract: An integrated memory is described which has a memory cell array with column lines and row lines. A row access controller serves for activating one of the row lines and for controlling a deactivation operation. An input of a control unit is connected to a signal terminal for a signal that, in the event of a read access to one of the memory cells, defines the beginning of data outputting to a point outside the memory cell array. The data output is synchronized with a clock signal. In this case, the signal is adjustable depending on an operating frequency of the memory. An output signal of the control unit serves for triggering the deactivation operation of one of the row lines after a write access. Therefore, in the event of a write access, a comparatively high data throughput is possible even at different operating frequencies of the integrated memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventors: Stefan Dietrich, Thomas Hein, Patrick Heyne, Thilo Marx, Torsten Partsch, Sabine Kieser, Peter Schroegmeier, Michael Sommer, Christian Weis
  • Publication number: 20020136243
    Abstract: Data transfer is effected on an internal and/or on an external transfer path with or in a semiconductor component, such as a semiconductor memory. A first multiplexer/demultiplexer codes a data sequence by defining a current level and a voltage level for a data signal. The coded sequence is then transferred on the transfer path synchronously with a clock signal and is decoded in a second multiplexer/demultiplexer by evaluation of the received current level and of the received voltage level. From this, the transferred data sequence is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Inventors: Stefan Dietrich, Peter Schrogmeier, Sabine Kieser, Christian Weis
  • Publication number: 20020133750
    Abstract: Integrated circuits, in particular memory chips of the DDR SDRAM type, are tested in a parallel manner. In order to prevent the circuits from being driven relative to one another during a test operation, an input terminal that is already connected to a channel of an automatic test machine anyway is connected to a switching device, by which the output drivers can be turned off in a manner dependent on the control signal that can be fed in at the input terminal. The switching device preferably contains a demultiplexer and also a multiplexer. The demultiplexer can be driven by a test control signal that is additionally generated besides the test control signal. The input terminal is connected to a tester channel anyway during test operation, with the result that no additional external outlay arises.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventors: Stefan Dietrich, Patrick Heyne, Thilo Marx, Sabine Kieser, Michael Sommer, Thomas Hein, Michael Markert, Torsten Partsch, Peter Schroegmeier, Christian Weis
  • Patent number: 6437410
    Abstract: The integrated memory has a first address path, via which the address terminals are connected to first selection lines of a first group and which has corresponding first lines and a first decoder circuit. In addition, the integrated memory has a second address path, via which the address terminals are connected to first selection lines of a second group and which has corresponding second lines and a second decoder circuit. The first decoder circuit is faster than the second decoder circuit. The first lines have a longer signal propagation time than the second lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Stefan Dietrich, Musa Saglam, Peter Schrögmeier, Michael Markert, Sabine Schöniger, Christian Weis
  • Patent number: 6423929
    Abstract: A workpiece, designed as a printed circuit board for example, can be moved by means of a transport device under a laser unit in such a way that a region to be machined of the workpiece passes into the deflecting region of the laser beam. The workpiece is set between clamping jaws to a vertical position in which the laser beam is focused exactly on that surface of the workpiece which is to be machined. As a result, the machining accuracy can be considerably increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Lothar Müller, Daniel Metz, Stefan Dietrich
  • Patent number: 6412622
    Abstract: Workpieces in the shape of plates can be transported from an input station to a workstation and from there to an output station by means of two manipulation device in a working plane. A gripper of one of the manipulation means can be displaced between the input station and the workstation. The gripper of the other manipulation device can be displaced between the workstation and the output station, whereby the displacement ranges overlap. As the first half of the processing time has been approximately completed in the workstation, the workpiece r is transferred from the gripper on the input side to the gripper on the output side. Meanwhile, the respectively free gripper returns to its station and to the workstation, so that the processing can be carried out almost without any interruption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Werner Jung, Birgit Haase, Daniel Metz, Stefan Dietrich
  • Publication number: 20020079925
    Abstract: A circuit configuration includes two signal path sections that are used to program the delay of a signal path, in particular in DRAMs. The two signal path sections have different delays and can be driven in parallel at the input end. The two signal path sections can be connected to an output terminal via a multiplexer. A selection circuit includes two signal path sections which are connected between supply voltage potentials. The selection circuit has two complimentary transistors which are connected in series and has source-end programmable elements. These transistors can be driven by complimentary control signals. This permits the delay to be programmed flexibly with little expenditure on circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: Stefan Dietrich, Thomas Hein, Patrick Heyne, Michael Markert, Thilo Marx, Torsten Partsch, Sabine Kieser, Peter Schrogmeier, Michael Sommer, Christian Weis
  • Publication number: 20020075707
    Abstract: The voltage pump for generating a boosted output voltage has a switch-on control circuit. The switch-on control includes a transistor that is connected between a terminal for feeding in a supply voltage and the terminal for tapping off the boosted output voltage. After the voltage pump has started to operate, the boosted output voltage is decoupled from the supply voltage by the transistor. A changeover switch forwards the respective higher of the output voltage or supply voltage to the substrate terminal and gate terminal of the transistor. The switch-on control enables early provision of a boosted output voltage in conjunction with reliable start-up operation of the voltage pump, while the additional outlay on circuitry is minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: Stefan Dietrich, Patrick Heyne, Thilo Marx, Sabine Kieser, Michael Sommer, Thomas Hein, Michael Markert, Torsten Partsch, Peter Schrogmeier, Christian Weis
  • Patent number: 6404699
    Abstract: The integrated circuit has an activation decoder whose outputs are connected to the inputs of a command decoder. When an activation signal is at a first logic level, the activation decoder produces at its outputs a command supplied to it from command inputs. When the activation signal is at a second logic level, the activation decoder produces a deactivation command at its outputs irrespective of the command supplied to it from the command inputs. The command decoder does not activate any of its outputs when the deactivation command is being supplied to its inputs. The command decoder activates one of its outputs in each case when a different command is supplied to its inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Peter Schrögmeier, Stefan Dietrich, Sabine Schöniger, Christian Weis
  • Patent number: 6401224
    Abstract: A test method suitable for testing at least one integrated circuit which, on a main area, has contact areas that serve to transfer signals during a first operating mode of the circuit. Only some of the contact areas are contact-connected to test contacts of a test apparatus and the circuit is put into a second operating mode in which the signals which are transferred via at least one of the non-contact-connected contact areas in the first operating mode are transferred via at least one of the contact-connected contact areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Sabine Schöniger, Peter Schrögmeier, Thomas Hein, Stefan Dietrich
  • Patent number: 6396755
    Abstract: An integrated memory has memory cells which are each connected to a row line to select one of the memory cells and to a column line to read or write a data signal. A row access controller is used to activate one of the row lines to select one of the memory cells and to control a precharging operation to precharge one of the row lines. A precharge command initiates a precharging operation. The precharging operation for an activated row line is triggered by the row access controller when the reading or writing of a data signal has been finished and when a defined time interval, during which the row line must at least be activated, has elapsed since the activation. As a result, a precharging operation of the activated row line is controlled in a self-adjusting manner. A method of operating an integrated memory is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Stefan Dietrich, Sabine Schöniger, Peter Schrögmeier, Christian Weis
  • Patent number: 6388944
    Abstract: A memory chip with a short data access time limits the propagation time of a bit on local data line strips which are far away from output amplifiers by centering switches with respect to a center of the cell array strips, wherein the switches are junction points between local data lines and main data lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Peter Schrögmeier, Stefan Dietrich, Torsten Partsch, Thomas Hein, Patrick Heyne, Thilo Marx
  • Patent number: 6385123
    Abstract: The integrated circuit has a first decoder unit and a second decoder unit D2 connected in parallel with the latter, which decode the input signals fed to them in a different way in each case. The inputs of the second decoder unit D2 are connected to a respective one of the inputs of the first decoder unit D1. n lines L1 to be selected are each connected to a respective one of the outputs of the two decoder units D1, D2. Via their outputs, the first decoder unit D1 and the second decoder unit D2 determine, in a first operating mode and in a second operating mode, respectively, the potentials of the lines L1 to be selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Stefan Dietrich, Peter Schrögmeier, Sabine Schöniger, Christian Weis
  • Patent number: 6367320
    Abstract: A process for monitoring the operation of a system for the aftertreatment of exhaust gas utilizes respective temperature sensors assigned to catalysts in the exhaust gas system. In addition, a sensor for detecting the NOx content in the exhaust gas is assigned to a reduction catalyst. The detected values, or functions thereof, are in each case compared with the definable reference values and when these definable limit values are exceeded, a corresponding defect information is triggered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignees: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengellschaft, AUDi AG, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft, DaimlerChrysler AG, Volkswagon AG
    Inventors: Paul Kueper, Stefan Dietrich Peter, Michael Illek, Jens Mueller, Christian Goerigk, Stefan Wessels
  • Patent number: 6359832
    Abstract: A read-write mode control method is described in which a waiting time during a reading process can be shortened by conducting a read instruction with auto-precharging in a first circuit part. The first circuit part is separate from a second circuit part used for conducting the write instruction, since a memory controller does not need to insert any wait cycles between a write instruction and an associated activate signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Stefan Dietrich, Sabine Schöniger, Peter Schrögmeier, Christian Weis
  • Patent number: 6351419
    Abstract: An integrated memory has a first operating mode, in which, during each write access, only one of the two global amplifiers is active and transmits a datum via one of the local amplifiers to the corresponding bit line. Moreover, the memory has a second operating mode, in which, during each write access, both global amplifiers are simultaneously active and transmit a common datum via in each case at least one of the local amplifiers to the corresponding bit lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Stefan Dietrich, Peter Schrögmeier, Sabine Schöniger, Christian Weis
  • Publication number: 20010046172
    Abstract: An integrated memory has memory cells which are each connected to a row line to select one of the memory cells and to a column line to read or write a data signal. A row access controller is used to activate one of the row lines to select one of the memory cells and to control a precharging operation to precharge one of the row lines. A precharge command initiates a precharging operation. The precharging operation for an activated row line is triggered by the row access controller when the reading or writing of a data signal has been finished and when a defined time interval, during which the row line must at least be activated, has elapsed since the activation. As a result, a precharging operation of the activated row line is controlled in a self-adjusting manner. A method of operating an integrated memory is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Publication date: November 29, 2001
    Inventors: Stefan Dietrich, Sabine Schoniger, Peter Schrogmeier, Christian Weis
  • Publication number: 20010043503
    Abstract: A read-write mode control method is described in which a waiting time during a reading process can be shortened by conducting a read instruction with auto-precharging in a first circuit part. The first circuit part is separate from a second circuit part used for conducting the write instruction, since a memory controller does not need to insert any wait cycles between a write instruction and an associated activate signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Inventors: Stefan Dietrich, Sabine Schoniger, Peter Schrogmeier, Christian Weis