Patents by Inventor Thomas Pichler

Thomas Pichler 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: 12601316
    Abstract: A method and device for diagnosing a leak in an evaporation system and in a tank ventilation line of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The method includes diagnosing the entire evaporation system using a fresh-air shut-off valve of the evaporation system and a pressure sensor system of the evaporation system. During the check on whether there is a leak in the evaporation system of the internal combustion engine, a separate check of different diagnosis regions of the evaporation system is undertaken, where one of these diagnosis regions is a tank region of the internal combustion engine and a further diagnosis region is a filter region of the internal combustion engine. During the diagnosis of the tank ventilation line, the flow through the tank ventilation line is checked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2026
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Pichler, Tobias Hirthammer, Thomas Koenig
  • Patent number: 12455205
    Abstract: A method and a device for pressure sensor diagnosis in a tank venting system of a motor vehicle operated by an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The tank venting system includes an activated carbon filter, a purge line arranged between the activated carbon filter, and an intake tract of the motor vehicle. A tank venting valve is arranged in the purge line and a pressure sensor is arranged in the purge line. The method includes measuring a pressure prevailing in the purge line by way of the pressure sensor to determine a starting pressure, classifying the starting pressure into one of a plurality of pressure ranges depending on the amplitude of the starting pressure, and carrying out a pressure sensor diagnosis using a diagnosis algorithm which is associated with the pressure range in which the starting pressure lies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2025
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Pichler
  • Patent number: 12372992
    Abstract: A voltage limiter for a radio-frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC) for an RFID tag and a method for operating a voltage limiter is disclosed. The RFID IC includes a radio-frequency (RF) rectifier. The voltage limiter comprises: a current sink device coupled between an output of the RF rectifier and ground; a reference generator having an output for providing a reference voltage (Vlim) for controlling a current through the current sink device to limit a voltage (Vrec) at the output of the RF rectifier to values below a predefined voltage level; and feedback circuitry arranged to provide a feedback current to the reference generator to vary the reference voltage (Vlim), the feedback current being dependent on the current through the current sink device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Thomas Pichler, Ivan Jesus Rebollo Pimentel
  • Patent number: 12293247
    Abstract: It is described an RF communication device comprising: i) an RF antenna functionality; ii) at least one antenna pad connected to the RF antenna functionality; iii) a further functionality which is not an RF antenna functionality; and iv) at least one non-antenna pad electrically connected to the further functionality. The antenna pad and the non-antenna pad are arranged to be short-circuited with each other, and the non-antenna pad is electrically connected via a connection line to the further functionality within the RF communication device. Further, a method of manufacturing an RF communication device is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Egas Carvalho Henes Neto, Slawomir Rafal Malinowski, Ivan Jesus Rebollo Pimentel, Thomas Pichler
  • Patent number: 12141636
    Abstract: There is described an RFID tag IC, comprising: i) an NFC interface configured to initiate a power-up, when coupled with an HF field, and receive a read command from an RFID device; ii) a non-volatile memory, wherein the non-volatile memory is configured to store a counter value; and iii) a processing unit configured to increment the counter value when coupled with the HF field, set an increment flag, when the increment is successful, and thereby block a further increment of the counter value, in particular when fulfilling the read command, and reset the increment flag after fulfilling the read command. Further, a communication system and a method of operating are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Christian Schwar, Christian Weidinger, Franz Amtmann, Heinz Umfahrer, Christoph Hans Joachim Garbe, Thomas Pichler
  • Patent number: 12092057
    Abstract: A method and a device for diagnosing a ventilation line of a motor vehicle are provided. The ventilation line is arranged between a fuel tank and an activated carbon filter. The motor vehicle has a control unit (ECU) and is powered by an internal combustion engine. The state of a vacuum switch is evaluated for the diagnosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Pichler, Thomas Koenig
  • Publication number: 20240183736
    Abstract: A method for measuring mechanical system parameters, in particular the moment of inertia and friction effects, describing an electric motor system, includes the steps of applying a linear ramp of electrical torque corresponding to a current slope h to the system; measuring data representative of the velocity response of the system; fitting the measured data with a model function by applying a curve fitting algorithm, wherein a number of fitting parameters coincides with the mechanical system parameters of the system. An electric motor system is further disclosed having an electric motor and a frequency converter or drive, wherein the electric motor system is provided for carrying out a corresponding method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2023
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Inventor: Thomas Pichler
  • Patent number: 11886216
    Abstract: A voltage regulator is provided. The voltage regulator includes a shunt transistor and a feedback circuit. The shunt transistor has a first current electrode coupled to a first voltage source terminal, a second current electrode coupled to a second voltage source terminal, a control electrode coupled to receive a reference voltage, and a body electrode. The feedback circuit has an input terminal coupled to the body electrode of the shunt transistor, and an output terminal coupled to the control electrode of the shunt transistor. The voltage regulator is suitable for use in a passive RFID device to protect the device from over-voltage damage. In another embodiment, a method for regulating a voltage is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Ivan Jesus Rebollo Pimentel, Thomas Pichler, Ronald van Langevelde
  • Patent number: 11875214
    Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder is provided, comprising: a receiver configured to receive a command from an external RFID reader, wherein the command is a first command transmitted by the RFID reader during a communication session and wherein said command comprises a at least one parameter indicative of one or more modifiable settings of the RFID transponder; and a controller configured to modify the settings of the RFID transponder in accordance with a value of said parameter. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method of operating a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder is conceived.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Thomas Pichler, Ivan Jesus Rebollo Pimentel
  • Publication number: 20230375429
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for pressure sensor diagnosis in a tank venting system of a motor vehicle operated by an internal combustion engine, wherein the tank venting system comprises an activated carbon filter, a purge line arranged between the activated carbon filter and an intake tract of the motor vehicle, a tank venting valve arranged in the purge line and a pressure sensor arranged in the purge line, and wherein the method comprises the following steps: measuring a pressure prevailing in the purge line by means of the pressure sensor to determine a starting pressure, classifying the starting pressure into one of a plurality of pressure ranges depending on the amplitude of the starting pressure, carrying out a pressure sensor diagnosis using a diagnosis algorithm which is associated with the pressure range in which the starting pressure lies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicant: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Pichler
  • Publication number: 20230359234
    Abstract: A voltage limiter for a radio-frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC) for an RFID tag and a method for operating a voltage limiter is disclosed. The RFID IC includes a radio-frequency (RF) rectifier. The voltage limiter comprises: a current sink device coupled between an output of the RF rectifier and ground; a reference generator having an output for providing a reference voltage (Vlim) for controlling a current through the current sink device to limit a voltage (Vrec) at the output of the RF rectifier to values below a predefined voltage level; and feedback circuitry arranged to provide a feedback current to the reference generator to vary the reference voltage (Vlim), the feedback current being dependent on the current through the current sink device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas Pichler, Ivan Jesus Rebollo Pimentel
  • Publication number: 20230312629
    Abstract: A process for separating lignin and volatile reaction products from a black liquor derived from pulp production, lignin is demethylated in a heat treatment reactor and CH3+ ions separated out are reacted with reduced sulphur-containing components from cooking chemicals in the black liquor to form DMS a rise in pressure in the heat treatment reactor is controlled and DMS is withdrawn when a pressure of ?15 bar to ?40 bar, is reached in the heat treatment reactor the black liquor which is depleted in DMS is transferred to a first precipitation stage and CO2 and/or sulphur-containing reaction products are added to precipitate out a slurry containing demethylated lignin which is transferred into a second precipitation stage with at least one sulphur-containing acidifying agent, and the precipitated unrefined slurry containing demethylated lignin is discharged from the second precipitation stage; and supplied to a demethylated lignin separation step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: Mondi AG
    Inventors: Thomas PICHLER, Mattaus SIEBENHOFER, Marlene KIENBERGER
  • Patent number: 11748590
    Abstract: A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag is disclosed. The RFID tag includes an antenna to receive a high frequency signal, a capacitor bank coupled with the antenna, a charge pump coupled with the antenna configured to convert the high frequency signal to a direct current (DC) signal, an envelope detector to measure peak voltage of the high frequency signal and a detector to compare an output of the charge pump and an output of the envelope detector. The RFID tag also includes an impedance tuning circuit coupled with the charge pump and the envelope detector configured change a capacitance of the capacitor bank based on an output of the detector and the envelope detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Thomas Pichler, Ivan Jesus Rebollo Pimentel
  • Patent number: 11725610
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a method for operating a fuel evaporation retention system of a vehicle with an internal combustion engine. It includes measuring a pressure change resulting from a temperature change of a gas volume in the fuel tank over a defined period of time while the vehicle is at a standstill after the engine controller has been switched off and comparing an expected pressure profile based on a given temperature profile based at least in part on the tank fill level and after the engine controller has been switched on to an actual measured pressure profile from a previous vehicle standstill phase. If the measured pressure profile lies within a settable tolerance around the expected pressure profile, the method confirms a leak-tight fuel tank. If the measured pressure profile lies outside the settable tolerance, the method identifies a faulty fuel tank and displaying an alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventor: Thomas Pichler
  • Publication number: 20230250779
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing a purge line path of a tank ventilation system of a motor vehicle operated by an internal combustion engine is provided. The purge line path extends between a fuel vapor retention filter and an intake manifold of the motor vehicle, and includes a tank ventilation valve, a pressure sensor, a purge line path region arranged upstream of the pressure sensor, a purge line path region arranged downstream of the pressure sensor, a full load purge path arranged between the tank ventilation valve and the intake manifold, and a part load purge path arranged between the tank ventilation valve and the intake manifold. A plurality of part diagnoses are carried out temporally one after another for diagnosing the purge line path in the case of an active tank ventilation function, and pressure signals measured by the pressure sensor are evaluated within the context of the part diagnoses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Applicant: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Pichler, Thomas Koenig, Dirk Jürgensen
  • Patent number: 11720778
    Abstract: A voltage limiter incorporated in a radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC) for a RFID tag is disclosed. The RFID IC includes a radio frequency (RF) rectifier and a clock generator. The RF rectifier is configured to convert an AC signal received from an antenna incorporated in the RFID tag to a DC signal. The voltage limiter includes a current sink device coupled between output of the RF rectifier and ground and a charge pump to control conduction of current through the current sink device to limit output voltage of the RF rectifier to a predefined voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Thomas Pichler, Ivan Jesus Rebollo Pimentel
  • Publication number: 20230151780
    Abstract: A method and device for diagnosing a leak in an evaporation system and in a tank ventilation line of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The method includes diagnosing the entire evaporation system using a fresh-air shut-off valve of the evaporation system and a pressure sensor system of the evaporation system. During the check on whether there is a leak in the evaporation system of the internal combustion engine, a separate check of different diagnosis regions of the evaporation system is undertaken, where one of these diagnosis regions is a tank region of the internal combustion engine and a further diagnosis region is a filter region of the internal combustion engine. During the diagnosis of the tank ventilation line, the flow through the tank ventilation line is checked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Pichler, Tobias Hirthammer, Thomas Koenig
  • Publication number: 20230135571
    Abstract: A voltage regulator is provided. The voltage regulator includes a shunt transistor and a feedback circuit. The shunt transistor has a first current electrode coupled to a first voltage source terminal, a second current electrode coupled to a second voltage source terminal, a control electrode coupled to receive a reference voltage, and a body electrode. The feedback circuit has an input terminal coupled to the body electrode of the shunt transistor, and an output terminal coupled to the control electrode of the shunt transistor. The voltage regulator is suitable for use in a passive RFID device to protect the device from over-voltage damage. In another embodiment, a method for regulating a voltage is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Ivan Jesus Rebollo Pimentel, Thomas Pichler, Ronald van Langevelde
  • Patent number: 11636303
    Abstract: A ground switch is disclosed. The ground switch includes an antenna port, a pair of switching devices coupled with the antenna port and a charge pump coupled with the pair of devices and configured to turn on/off the pair of devices based on an AC input signal received through the antenna port and a DC offset voltage added to the AC input signal. The ground switch further includes a clamping circuit to clamp an output of the charge pump. The ground switch is configured to provide a stable ground to components of devices such that a radio frequency identification (RFID) device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Thomas Pichler, Ivan Jesus Rebollo Pimentel
  • Publication number: 20230064494
    Abstract: A voltage limiter incorporated in a radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC) for a RFID tag is disclosed. The RFID IC includes a radio frequency (RF) rectifier and a clock generator. The RF rectifier is configured to convert an AC signal received from an antenna incorporated in the RFID tag to a DC signal. The voltage limiter includes a current sink device coupled between output of the RF rectifier and ground and a charge pump to control conduction of current through the current sink device to limit output voltage of the RF rectifier to a predefined voltage level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas Pichler, Ivan Jesus Rebollo Pimentel