Patents by Inventor Steffen Thiele

Steffen Thiele 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: 20230017307
    Abstract: A driver device includes: a voltage terminal; a ground terminal; an output terminal; a first nMOS power transistor having a drain electrically connected to the voltage terminal, a source electrically connected to the output terminal, and a gate; an overvoltage protection circuit configured to limit a gate-to-source voltage of the first nMOS power transistor in a normal operating mode for the driver device; a pulldown circuit configured to force the first nMOS power transistor off in a stress test mode for the driver device; and a blocking circuit configured to block current flow from the output terminal to the ground terminal through the overvoltage protection circuit and the pulldown circuit in the stress test mode. A method of stress testing the driver device is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Carmelo Giunta, Marcus Nuebling, Steffen Thiele
  • Patent number: 11549998
    Abstract: A driver device includes: a voltage terminal; a ground terminal; an output terminal; a first nMOS power transistor having a drain electrically connected to the voltage terminal, a source electrically connected to the output terminal, and a gate; an overvoltage protection circuit configured to limit a gate-to-source voltage of the first nMOS power transistor in a normal operating mode for the driver device; a pulldown circuit configured to force the first nMOS power transistor off in a stress test mode for the driver device; and a blocking circuit configured to block current flow from the output terminal to the ground terminal through the overvoltage protection circuit and the pulldown circuit in the stress test mode. A method of stress testing the driver device is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Carmelo Giunta, Marcus Nuebling, Steffen Thiele
  • Patent number: 10950509
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first chip pad, a power semiconductor chip arranged on the first chip pad and including at least a first and a second power electrode, and a clip connected to the first power electrode. In this case, an integral part of the clip forms a shunt resistor and a first contact finger of the shunt resistor is embodied integrally with the clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Rainald Sander, Thomas Bemmerl, Steffen Thiele
  • Publication number: 20190348333
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a first chip pad, a power semiconductor chip arranged on the first chip pad and comprising at least a first and a second power electrode, and a clip connected to the first power electrode. In this case, an integral part of the clip forms a shunt resistor and a first contact finger of the shunt resistor is embodied integrally with the clip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Rainald Sander, Thomas Bemmerl, Steffen Thiele
  • Patent number: 10451669
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method, a circuit arrangement, and an electronic circuit. The method includes discharging a gate-source capacitance of a transistor device from a first voltage level to a second voltage level with a first resistor connected in parallel with the gate-source capacitance and measuring a first discharging time associated with the discharging, and discharging the gate-source capacitance from the first voltage level to the second voltage level with the first resistor and a second resistor connected in parallel with the gate-source capacitance and measuring a second discharging time associated with the discharging. The method further includes comparing a ratio between the first discharging time and the second discharging time with a predefined threshold, and detecting a fault based on the comparing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Carlos Joao Marques Martins, Aron Theil, Steffen Thiele
  • Publication number: 20190101585
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method, a circuit arrangement, and an electronic circuit. The method includes discharging a gate-source capacitance of a transistor device from a first voltage level to a second voltage level with a first resistor connected in parallel with the gate-source capacitance and measuring a first discharging time associated with the discharging, and discharging the gate-source capacitance from the first voltage level to the second voltage level with the first resistor and a second resistor connected in parallel with the gate-source capacitance and measuring a second discharging time associated with the discharging. The method further includes comparing a ratio between the first discharging time and the second discharging time with a predefined threshold, and detecting a fault based on the comparing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Carlos Joao Marques Martins, Aron Theil, Steffen Thiele
  • Patent number: 10128750
    Abstract: A switched-mode power converter includes an inductive storage element and a cascode circuit. The cascode circuit includes a double-gate field effect transistor. A switchable load path of the double-gate field effect transistor is electrically connected in series with the inductive storage element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Andreas Meiser, Steffen Thiele
  • Patent number: 9960156
    Abstract: An integrated semiconductor device is provided. According to an embodiment, the integrated semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body having a first surface with a normal direction defining a vertical direction, an opposite surface, a first area including a vertical power field-effect transistor structure, a second area including a three-terminal step-down level-shifter, and a third area including a three-terminal step-up level-shifter. A terminal of the vertical power field-effect transistor structure is electrically connected with one of the three-terminal step-down level-shifter and the three-terminal step-up level-shifter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Franz Hirler, Andreas Meiser, Steffen Thiele
  • Patent number: 9829225
    Abstract: The invention relates to a module for a heat pump, comprising an adsorption-desorption region, wherein in the region a bundle of pipes through which fluid can flow is arranged and a housing encloses the pipe bundle and a movable working medium in a sealing manner, wherein a supporting structure forms a mechanical support of a wall of the housing against the action of an external pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignees: MAHLE Behr GmbH & Co. KG, MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Schiehlen, Steffen Thiele, Thomas Wolff, Eberhard Zwittig, Hans-Heinrich Angermann, Roland Burk, Holger Schroth, Stefan Felber, Steffen Brunner
  • Publication number: 20170257025
    Abstract: A switched-mode power converter includes an inductive storage element and a cascode circuit. The cascode circuit includes a double-gate field effect transistor. A switchable load path of the double-gate field effect transistor is electrically connected in series with the inductive storage element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Andreas Meiser, Steffen Thiele
  • Patent number: 9728580
    Abstract: A power transistor has a semiconductor body with a bottom side and top side spaced distant from the bottom side in a vertical direction. The semiconductor body includes a plurality of transistor cells, a source zone of a first conduction type, a body zone of a second conduction type, a drift zone of the first conduction type, a drain zone, and a temperature sensor diode having a pn-junction between an n-doped cathode zone and a p-doped anode zone. The power transistor also has a drain contact terminal on the top side, a source contact terminal on the bottom side, a gate contact terminal, and a temperature sense contact terminal on the top side. Depending on the first and second conduction types the anode or cathode zone is electrically connected to the source contact terminal and the other diode zone is electrically connected to the temperature sense contact terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Andreas Meiser, Steffen Thiele
  • Patent number: 9488674
    Abstract: A testing device in accordance with various embodiments may include: a plurality of first terminals configured to be connected to a plurality of devices-under-test, wherein each first terminal of the plurality of first terminals may be configured to be connected to a respective device-under-test of the plurality of devices-under-test; a signal interface configured to be connected to a tester; and a circuit configured to exchange an identical first signal with each device-under-test of the plurality of devices-under-test through a respective first terminal of the plurality of first terminals, and to exchange at least one interface signal with the tester through the signal interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Carlos Marques Martins, Steffen Thiele, Aron Theil
  • Patent number: 9372212
    Abstract: A circuit is provided, including a first resistor, a second resistor which may have an adjustable resistance, and a control unit. The control unit may be configured to adjust the second resistor to have a first resistance at which a voltage due to a first current flowing through the first resistor is equal to a voltage due to a second current flowing through the second resistor. The control unit may be further configured to adjust the second resistor to have a second resistance at which a voltage due to another first current different from the first current and flowing through the first resistor is equal to the voltage due to the second current flowing through the second resistor. The control unit may be further configured to adjust the second resistor to have a third resistance based on at least a difference of the first resistance and the second resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventor: Steffen Thiele
  • Publication number: 20160164279
    Abstract: Circuits, switches with over-current protection and methods for measuring a current are described herein. A circuit configured to provide a current from a supply voltage to a load includes a first transistor, a second transistor, and a detecting circuit. The first transistor has a larger active area than the second transistor. The detecting circuit is configured to detect a current through the second transistor. A same voltage is applied between a control terminal of the first transistor and a first controlled terminal of the first transistor and is applied between a control terminal of the second transistor and a first controlled terminal of the second transistor. The detecting circuit is coupled to the second controlled terminal of the second transistor and is coupled to the supply voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Michael Asam, Andreas Meiser, Steffen Thiele
  • Patent number: 9291374
    Abstract: An adsorber structure for a heat pump, having at least one pipe, through which a heat-transfer fluid can flow, and an adsorption medium, wherein a working medium can be adsorbed and desorbed on the adsorption medium and the adsorption medium is in thermal connection with the pipe, wherein the adsorption medium is designed as at least one, in particular several, molded bodies, which is/are directly adjacent to a pipe wall of one of the pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Burk, Hans-Heinrich Angermann, Thomas Schiehlen, Eberhard Zwittig, Steffen Thiele, Thomas Wolff, Holger Schroth, Stefan Felber, Steffen Brunner
  • Publication number: 20160011232
    Abstract: A testing device in accordance with various embodiments may include: a plurality of first terminals configured to be connected to a plurality of devices-under-test, wherein each first terminal of the plurality of first terminals may be configured to be connected to a respective device-under-test of the plurality of devices-under-test; a signal interface configured to be connected to a tester; and a circuit configured to exchange an identical first signal with each device-under-test of the plurality of devices-under-test through a respective first terminal of the plurality of first terminals, and to exchange at least one interface signal with the tester through the signal interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Carlos Marques Martins, Steffen Thiele, Aron Theil
  • Publication number: 20150311196
    Abstract: An integrated semiconductor device is provided. According to an embodiment, the integrated semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body having a first surface with a normal direction defining a vertical direction, an opposite surface, a first area including a vertical power field-effect transistor structure, a second area including a three-terminal step-down level-shifter, and a third area including a three-terminal step-up level-shifter. A terminal of the vertical power field-effect transistor structure is electrically connected with one of the three-terminal step-down level-shifter and the three-terminal step-up level-shifter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventors: Franz Hirler, Andreas Meiser, Steffen Thiele
  • Patent number: 9111764
    Abstract: A bridge circuit is provided. The bridge circuit includes a first integrated semiconductor device having a high-side switch, a second integrated semiconductor device having a low-side switch electrically connected with the high-side switch, a first level-shifter electrically connected with the high-side switch and integrated in one of the first integrated semiconductor device and the second integrated semiconductor device, and a second level-shifter electrically connected with the low-side switch and integrated in one of the first integrated semiconductor device and the second integrated semiconductor device. Further, an integrated semiconductor device is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Franz Hirler, Andreas Meiser, Steffen Thiele
  • Patent number: 9087829
    Abstract: A semiconductor arrangement includes a first and second controllable vertical n-channel semiconductor chip. Each of the controllable vertical n-channel semiconductor chips has a front side, a rear side opposite the front side, a front side main contact arranged on the front side, a rear side main contact arranged on the rear side, and a gate contact arranged on the front side for controlling an electric current between the front side main contact and the rear side main contact. The rear side contacts of the first and second semiconductor chips are electrically connected to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Stefan Macheiner, Andreas Peter Meiser, Steffen Thiele
  • Patent number: 9082773
    Abstract: An integrated circuit including a semiconductor device has a power component including a plurality of trenches in a cell array, the plurality of trenches running in a first direction, and a sensor component integrated into the cell array of the power component and including a sensor cell having an area which is smaller than an area of the cell array of the power component. The integrated circuit further includes isolation trenches disposed between the sensor component and the power component, an insulating material being disposed in the isolation trenches. The isolation trenches run in a second direction that is different from the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Andreas Meiser, Markus Zundel, Steffen Thiele