Patents by Inventor Thomas Kern

Thomas Kern 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: 20150243333
    Abstract: A method is suggested for determining a state of a cell structure, wherein the cell structure includes several memory cells, the method includes: (i) detecting a first condition in a predetermined number of memory cells; and (ii) determining the state of the cell structure by assigning a second condition to the memory cells that do not show the first condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Loibl, Thomas Kern
  • Publication number: 20150243360
    Abstract: A method for data processing is suggested including: (i) transforming electrical variables for each cell of a data bit of a memory into a time domain; and (ii) determining a predetermined state by comparing the transformed electrical variables of at least two data bits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Loibl, Thomas Kern
  • Publication number: 20150212877
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a processing unit and a memory. The processing unit is configured to encode a plurality of bits to obtain a plurality of encoded bits, the processing unit is configured to determine an inversion decision. When the inversion decision indicates that the subset of the encoded bits shall not be inverted, the processing unit is configured to store, as a stored word, bits of the first codeword into the memory. When the inversion decision indicates that the subset of the encoded bits shall be inverted, the processing unit is configured to invert each encoded bit of a subset of the encoded bits to obtain a second codeword and to store the second codeword into the memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Kern, Karl Hofmann, Michael Goessel
  • Publication number: 20150194192
    Abstract: A sense amplifier of a memory cell having a sense voltage generating circuit configured to generate a sense voltage; and a sensing circuit configured to compare a bitline voltage of the memory cell with the sense voltage, and to output a digital output signal indicating a content of the memory cell, wherein during a sense phase, the sensing circuit is decoupled from a voltage supply which charges a bitline capacitance during a precharge phase, and is coupled to and supplied by the bitline capacitance. The sense voltage generating circuit may be further configured to generate a sense voltage that during a precharge phase is dependent on the voltage supply and during a sense phase is independent of the voltage supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Thomas Kern, Mihail Jefremow
  • Patent number: 9070466
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and systems for reading a memory cell and in particular, an STT MRAM. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a method for reading a memory cell includes combining a cell current from a memory cell with a reference current from a reference source to create an average current, enabling the average current to flow through a first mirror transistor in a sense path and a second mirror transistor in a reference path, storing the current mismatch on a capacitor coupled to the gates of the first mirror transistor and the second mirror transistor, disconnecting the memory cell from the reference path and disconnecting the reference source from the sense path, enabling the cell current only to flow through the sense path, and determining the output level of the memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Mihail Jefremow, Wolf Allers, Jan Otterstedt, Christian Peters, Thomas Kern
  • Publication number: 20150179270
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to system and methods including a plurality of nonvolatile memory elements wherein sets of least two nonvolatile memory elements each share one select element for selecting one of the nonvolatile memory elements of a particular one of the sets of nonvolatile memory elements for a read operation or a program operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Kern, Jens Rosenbusch, Ulrich Backhausen, Thomas Nirschl
  • Publication number: 20150170762
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to systems and methods for performing a word line address scan in a semiconductor memory. More specifically, the disclosure provides a system and method for performing three scans for testing address decoder and word line drive circuits. The first scan determines whether only one word line is selected. The second scan determines whether the word line rise time to a target voltage level is within a specified time. Finally, the third scan determines whether the correct word line was selected. The present disclosure may realize all three scans or a combination of the three scans.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Nirschl, Jens Rosenbusch, Ulrich Backhausen, Thomas Kern, Thomas Liebermann
  • Publication number: 20150170717
    Abstract: An embodiment relates to a method for data processing and comprises determining an electrical variable for each cell of a data bit, transforming each electrical variable into the time domain, and determining a blank state for at least one data bit based on a comparison of the transformed electrical variables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: THOMAS KERN, MIHAIL JEFREMOW
  • Publication number: 20150155777
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to improved regulators for charge pumps. Such regulators selectively activate a charge pump based not only on the voltage output of the charge pump, but also on an series of wake-up pulses that are delivered at predetermined time intervals and which are delivered independently of the voltage output of the charge pump. Hence, these wake-up pulses prevent extended periods of time in which the charge pump is inactive, thereby helping to prevent latch-up in some situations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Kern, Ulrich Loibl
  • Publication number: 20150121016
    Abstract: A method for data processing is disclosed. A blank state is determined for several data bits based on a majority decision. Each data bit is represented by a group of at least two memory cells. The at least two memory cells of this group are complementary cells of a differential read memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Jan Otterstedt, Thomas Kern
  • Publication number: 20150081342
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, an indication of a suggested improvement to an insurance workflow may be received from a submitter's remote insurance processing terminal. A manager associated with the submitter may be automatically identified, and a message may be transmitted to the identified manager, the message including an identification of the submitter and information about the suggested improvement. Supplemental information associated with the suggested improvement may then be received from the manager and stored at a central workflow improvement platform along with the identification of the submitter and the indication of the suggested improvement. The indication of the suggested improvement and the supplemental information may then be automatically forwarded to one or more members comprising a suggestion review council. According to some embodiments, a potential sponsor for the suggested improvement may also be identified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Dawson, Matthew J. Donzella, Elizabeth A. Dreier, Matthew Thomas Kern, Deidre M. Hernandez, Ryan Kyle McKain, Matthew S. Sandberg
  • Patent number: 8981836
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to charge pump regulators to selectively activate a charge pump based not only on the voltage output of the charge pump, but also on a series of wake-up pulses that are delivered at predetermined time intervals and which are delivered independently of the voltage output of the charge pump. Hence, these wake-up pulses prevent extended periods of time in which the charge pump is inactive, thereby helping to prevent latch-up in some situations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Thomas Kern, Ulrich Loibl
  • Patent number: 8966355
    Abstract: An apparatus for comparing pairs of binary words includes an intermediate value determiner and an error detector. The intermediate value determiner determines an intermediate binary word so that the intermediate binary word is equal to a reference binary word for a first pair of equal or inverted binary words, so that the intermediate binary word is equal to the inverted reference binary word for a second pair of equal or inverted binary words and so that the intermediate binary word is unequal to the reference binary word and the inverted reference binary word for a pair of unequal and uninverted binary words, if the intermediate value determiner works faultlessly. Further, the error detector provides an error signal based on the intermediate binary word so that the error signal indicates whether or not the binary words of a pair of binary words are equal or inverted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Thomas Kern, Ulrich Backhausen, Michael Goessel, Thomas Rabenalt
  • Publication number: 20150052387
    Abstract: A memory system having a flexible read reference is disclosed. The system includes a memory partition, a failcount component, and a controller. The memory partition includes a plurality of memory cells. The failcount component is configured to generate failcounts in response to read operations of the memory partition. The controller is configured to calibrate a reference value for the memory partition by utilizing the failcounts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Thomas Kern, Jens Rosenbusch, Ulrich Backhausen, Thomas Nirschl
  • Publication number: 20150039976
    Abstract: A circuitry for error correction includes a plurality of subcircuits for determining intermediate values Zw0, Zw1, Zw2, Zw3 to be used as coefficients in an error correction expression (z1i, z2i, . . . , zmi)=Zw3·?3ji+Zw2·?2ji+Zw1·?ji+Zw0. The intermediate values Zw0, Zw1, Zw2, Zw3 are determined depending on subsyndromes s1, s3, s5 so that in case of a 1-bit, 2-bit, or 3-bit error zi=(z1i, z2i, . . . , zmi)=(0, 0, . . . , 0) when an error occurred in the bit position i, and zi=(z1i, z2i, . . . , zmi)?(0, 0, . . . , 0) when no error occurred in the bit position i. A correction value ?vi= for the bit position i may then be determined on the basis of the error correction expression evaluated for ?ji.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Kern, Michael Goessel, Christian Badack
  • Publication number: 20150039805
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an electronic memory system, and more specifically, to a system to emulate an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, and a method to emulate an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a system to emulate an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory is provided, the system including a first memory section and a second memory section, wherein the first memory section comprises a plurality of storage locations configured to store data partitioned into a plurality of data segments and wherein the second memory section is configured to store information mapping a physical address of a data segment stored in the first memory section to a logical address of the data segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Ulrich Backhausen, Thomas Kern, Thomas Nirschl, Jens Rosenbusch, Xiangting Bi, Edvin Paparisto
  • Patent number: 8947784
    Abstract: A variable focus lens has a housing (1) and an actuator (8) which are mutually displaceable along an optical axis (A) of the lens. A primary membrane (15) is arranged between a first chamber (24, 26) and a second chamber (30, 32), with the first and second chambers being filled with liquids of similar density but different indices of refraction. First and second auxiliary membranes (19, 17) are provided for volume compensation. The first auxiliary membrane (19) forms a wall section of the first chamber (24, 26), and the second auxiliary membrane (17) forms a wall section of the second chamber (30, 32), at least one or both of the auxiliary membranes facing environmental air at its outer side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Optotune AG
    Inventor: Thomas Kern
  • Patent number: 8936281
    Abstract: The press fitting for a tube, particularly for a plastic tube or a plastic/metal compound tube, comprises a fitting body (12) including a support shell (14) for mounting thereon one end of a tube (20) which is to be connected, a press shell (16) which is plastically deformable for pressing against the support shell (14) the end of a tube (20) to be connected that has been mounted on the support shell (14), an abutment element (30) arranged on the press shell (16) and having an abutment face (34) to be abutted by a pressing tool (26) for plastically deforming the press shell (16), and at least one press indication portion (40) projecting from the abutment face (34) of the abutment element (30) and extending externally on the press shell (16) into an acting region (38) within which the pressing tool (26) encloses the press shell (16) during deformation of the press shell (16), the press indication portion (40) being separable from the abutment element (30) by means of the pressing tool (26) during the deformati
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Uponor Innovation Ab
    Inventors: Stefan Beckmann, Thomas Kern, Rainer Dittmar
  • Patent number: 8935590
    Abstract: A circuitry is provided that includes a memory including a plurality of memory cells, wherein at least one of the plurality of memory cells of the memory is configured to take on one of at least three different states. The circuitry also includes a first subcircuit BT configured to generate a plurality of ternary output values based on a sequence of binary values, a second subcircuit LH configured to transform one or more ternary state values into binary auxiliary read values based on the one or more state values, and an encoder configured to generate one or more binary check bits, wherein the encoder is configured to store each of the generated one or more check bits in a different memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Thomas Kern, Michael Goessel
  • Publication number: 20150007001
    Abstract: A circuitry comprising a syndrome generator configured to generate a syndrome based on a parity check matrix and a binary word comprising a first set of bits and a second set of bits is provided. For the first set of bits an error correction of correctable bit errors within the first set is provided by the parity check matrix and for the second set of bits an error detection of a detectable bit errors within the second set is provided by the parity check matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Kern, Ulrich Backhausen, Thomas Rabenalt, Michael Goessel, Klaus Oberlaender, Christian Badack