Patents by Inventor Thomas Borst

Thomas Borst 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: 7486116
    Abstract: The invention relates to a driver device and a method for operating a driver device in particular for a semiconductor device. The driver device includes a signal driver connected to a supply voltage. The driver device also includes a signal driver activating circuit section for activating a further signal driver when the supply voltage lies below a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Jens Egerer, Thomas Borst
  • Patent number: 6919755
    Abstract: The invention relates to a voltage regulating circuit arrangement for converting a first voltage (VEXT) applied to an input of said voltage regulating circuit arrangement into a second voltage (VBLH) that may be tapped at an output of said voltage regulating circuit arrangement, wherein, when said first voltage (VEXT) falls below a threshold value (VEXT_THRESHOLD), the first voltage (VEXT) applied to the input of said voltage regulating circuit arrangement is connected through to said output of said voltage regulating circuit arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Jens Egerer, Thomas Borst
  • Publication number: 20050077929
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a driver device (1), and to a driver device (1), in particular for a semiconductor device, said driver device (1) comprising: a signal driver (6a) connected to a supply voltage (VDDQ), c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h a t the driver device (1) additionally comprises: means (5) for activating a further signal driver (6b) when the supply voltage (VDDQ) lies below a predetermined threshold value (VDDQthreshold, VDDQthreshold1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Publication date: April 14, 2005
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Jens Egerer, Thomas Borst
  • Patent number: 6768693
    Abstract: An integrated dynamic memory contains a control circuit for controlling a refresh mode in which the memory cells undergo refreshing of their contents. A controllable frequency generator serves for setting a refresh frequency. A temperature sensor circuit detects a temperature of the memory and outputs a first reference value, and an externally writable circuit is provided for outputting a second reference value. The temperature sensor circuit and the externally writable circuit are alternatively connectible to the control input of the frequency generator for setting the refresh frequency. If the externally writable circuit has been written, the second reference value, which corresponds to a temperature, is fed to the frequency generator; otherwise, the first reference value is supplied. In this manner, users of the memory that are unable to measure temperature can expediently optimize the power consumption that is necessary for standby mode and reduce it at low temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Robert Feurle, Thomas Borst, Jens Egerer
  • Patent number: 6744686
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory module with a changeover device by which an internal voltage supply circuit can be switched on or off in a simple manner. The changeover device has two evaluation circuits, one evaluation circuit being used for switching on the voltage supply and the second evaluation circuit being used for switching off the voltage supply. In this way, the two evaluation circuits can be optimized with regard to functionality, circuit layout and current consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Thomas Borst
  • Publication number: 20040075421
    Abstract: The invention relates to a voltage regulating circuit arrangement (1, 101) for converting a first voltage (VEXT) applied to an input of said voltage regulating circuit arrangement (1, 101) into a second voltage (VBLH) that may be tapped at an output (10, 110) of said voltage regulating circuit arrangement (1, 101), wherein, when said first voltage (VEXT) falls below a threshold value (VEXT_THRESHOLD), the first voltage (VEXT) applied to the input of said voltage regulating circuit arrangement (1, 101) is connected through to said output (10, 110) of said voltage regulating circuit arrangement (1, 101).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventors: Jens Egerer, Thomas Borst
  • Publication number: 20030156483
    Abstract: An integrated dynamic memory contains a control circuit for controlling a refresh mode in which the memory cells undergo refreshing of their contents. A controllable frequency generator serves for setting a refresh frequency. A temperature sensor circuit detects a temperature of the memory and outputs a first reference value, and an externally writable circuit is provided for outputting a second reference value. The temperature sensor circuit and the externally writable circuit are alternatively connectible to the control input of the frequency generator for setting the refresh frequency. If the externally writable circuit has been written, the second reference value, which corresponds to a temperature, is fed to the frequency generator; otherwise, the first reference value is supplied. In this manner, users of the memory that are unable to measure temperature can expediently optimize the power consumption that is necessary for standby mode and reduce it at low temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: Robert Feurle, Thomas Borst, Jens Egerer
  • Publication number: 20030095460
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory module with a changeover device by which an internal voltage supply circuit can be switched on or off in a simple manner. The changeover device has two evaluation circuits, one evaluation circuit being used for switching on the voltage supply and the second evaluation circuit being used for switching off the voltage supply. In this way, the two evaluation circuits can be optimized with regard to functionality, circuit layout and current consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Inventor: Thomas Borst
  • Patent number: 6417722
    Abstract: A sense amplifier configuration includes a semiconductor substrate, a well having a variable well potential and insulated in the semiconductor substrate, and at least one field-effect transistor in the well. The transistor has a short channel length and an adjustable threshold voltage. Locating the field-effect transistor in an insulated well with a controllable potential allows for compensation of deviations in the threshold voltage with the substrate control effect. The threshold voltage can increase with increasingly larger negative voltage values of the well potential. The threshold voltage has an actual value and a target value, and the well potential can be controlled as a function of a difference between the actual and target threshold voltage values. The well potential can vary from approximately +200 mV to −400 mV, and in steps of approximately 50 mV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Helmut Schneider, Jürgen Lindolf, Thomas Borst, Hermann Ruckerbauer