Patents by Inventor Thomas Zettler

Thomas Zettler 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: 20200201702
    Abstract: Fault detection devices, systems, and methods are provided which implement identical processors. A first processor is configured to receive a first measurement, execute a first firmware based on the first measurement, and output a first result of the executed first firmware. A second processor is configured to receive a second measurement, execute a second firmware based on the second measurement, and output a second result of the executed second firmware. The first firmware and the second firmware provide a same nominal function in a diverse manner for calculating the first result and the second result, respectively, such that the first result and the second result are expected to be within a predetermined margin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Thomas ZETTLER, Dirk HAMMERSCHMIDT, Friedrich RASBORNIG, Michael Strasser, Akos Hegedus, Wolfgang GRANIG
  • Patent number: 10641809
    Abstract: Various devices, systems and methods are disclosed where a noise signal component of a sensor signal is used to obtain information about a sensor device. A device may include an evaluation circuit that is configured to receive a sensor signal having a noise signal component, and the evaluation circuit is further configured to evaluate the noise signal component to obtain information about a sensor device generating the sensor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Thomas Zettler, Dirk Hammerschmidt, Friedrich Rasbornig, Wolfgang Scheibenzuber, Wolfgang Scherr
  • Patent number: 10606686
    Abstract: Fault detection devices, systems and methods are provided which implement identical processors. A first processor is configured to receive a first set of variables, execute a first firmware based on the first set of variables, and output a first result of the executed first firmware. A second processor, identical to the first processor, is configured to receive a second set of variables, execute a second firmware based on the second set of variables, and output a second result of the executed second firmware. The first firmware and the second firmware provide a same nominal function in a diverse manner for calculating the first result and the second result, respectively, such that the first result and the second result are expected to be within a predetermined margin. Thus, a fault can be detected by comparing the first and the second results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Thomas Zettler, Dirk Hammerschmidt, Friedrich Rasbornig, Michael Strasser, Akos Hegedus, Wolfgang Granig
  • Patent number: 10511667
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems and methods for communicating between a first device and a second device are provided. Distance control circuitry including at least one transceiver is used to transmit and receive distance control signals and to detect a distance between the first device and a remote object based on a transmitted distance control signal and a received distance control signal reflected by the remote object. Communication circuitry coupled to the transceiver is used to modulate user data of the first device onto a transmitted distance control signal and/or to extract user data from a distance control signal received from the second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Thomas Zettler, Bernhard Gstoettenbauer
  • Publication number: 20190199376
    Abstract: An apparatus (100) for providing an joint error correction code (140) for a combined data frame (254) comprising first data (112) of a first data channel and second data (122) of a second data channel comprises a first error code generator (110) configured to provide, based on a linear code, information on a first error correction code (114a, 114b) using the first data (112). The apparatus further comprises a second error code generator (120) configured to provide, based on the linear code, information on a second error correction code (124) using the second data (122). The apparatus is configured to provide the joint error correction code (140) using the information on the first error correction code (114a, 114b) and the information on the second error correction code (124).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Dirk Hammerschmidt, Friedrich Rasbornig, Wolfgang Scheibenzuber, Wolfgang Scherr, Thomas Zettler
  • Publication number: 20190195937
    Abstract: A method including feeding a test signal into a first end of a conductor track of a semiconductor chip, wherein the conductor track crosses an indentation of a substrate of the semiconductor chip; and detecting the test signal at a second endsof the conductor track, which wherein the detected test signal is indicative of fracture of the substrate of the semiconductor chip at the indentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas Zettler, Dirk Hammerschmidt, Friedrich Rasbornig, Wolfgang Scheibenzuber, Hans-Joerg Wagner
  • Publication number: 20190154743
    Abstract: Various devices, systems and methods are disclosed where a noise signal component of a sensor signal is used to obtain information about a sensor device. A device may include an evaluation circuit that is configured to receive a sensor signal having a noise signal component, and the evaluation circuit is further configured to evaluate the noise signal component to obtain information about a sensor device generating the sensor signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Thomas ZETTLER, Dirk HAMMERSCHMIDT, Friedrich RASBORNIG, Wolfgang SCHEIBENZUBER, Wolfgang SCHERR
  • Patent number: 10298271
    Abstract: An apparatus (100) for providing an joint error correction code (140) for a combined data frame (254) comprising first data (112) of a first data channel and second data (122) of a second data channel comprises a first error code generator (110) configured to provide, based on a linear code, information on a first error correction code (114a, 114b) using the first data (112). The apparatus further comprises a second error code generator (120) configured to provide, based on the linear code, information on a second error correction code (124) using the second data (122). The apparatus is configured to provide the joint error correction code (140) using the information on the first error correction code (114a, 114b) and the information on the second error correction code (124).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Dirk Hammerschmidt, Friedrich Rasbornig, Wolfgang Scheibenzuber, Wolfgang Scherr, Thomas Zettler
  • Patent number: 10289508
    Abstract: The present disclosure teaches a sensor system comprising at least two sensor elements causing increased reliability of individual sensor signals due to increased diagnostic coverage using diverse signal paths, diverse signal representations of sensor signals, merging of individual sensor signals maintaining independence of individual sensor signals comprised in protocol representations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Dirk Hammerschmidt, Friedrich Rasbornig, Wolfgang Scheibenzuber, Wolfgang Scherr, Thomas Zettler
  • Patent number: 10281517
    Abstract: A semiconductor chip includes a substrate, an integrated circuit, an indentation of the substrate, a conductor track, and also a crossover between the indentation and the conductor track. Detection of a test signal fed into the conductor track is made possible in this way. In various examples, a fracture of the substrate in the region of the indentation can be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Thomas Zettler, Dirk Hammerschmidt, Friedrich Rasbornig, Wolfgang Scheibenzuber, Hans-Joerg Wagner
  • Patent number: 10228403
    Abstract: Various devices, systems and methods are disclosed where a noise signal component of a sensor signal is used to obtain information about a sensor device. A device may include an evaluation circuit that is configured to receive a sensor signal having a noise signal component, and the evaluation circuit is further configured to evaluate the noise signal component to obtain information about a sensor device generating the sensor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Thomas Zettler, Dirk Hammerschmidt, Friedrich Rasbornig, Wolfgang Scheibenzuber, Wolfgang Scherr
  • Patent number: 10229805
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided which facilitate detecting of a disturbance parameter being outside a predetermined range. Such disturbance parameter may for example cause dependent failures in redundant circuits, for example redundant circuits being arranged on a same substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Thomas Zettler, Kirk Herfurth
  • Publication number: 20180374783
    Abstract: An integrated circuit package having a first die configured to sense a first physical characteristic and provide a first data signal, and a second die, wherein the first die is configured to transmit the first data signal to the second die, and the second die is configured to determine if there is an error in the first die and transmit the result to a controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Friedrich Rasbornig, Wolfgang Granig, Dirk Hammerschmidt, Hans-Joerg Wagner, Thomas Zettler
  • Patent number: 10163763
    Abstract: An integrated circuit package having a first die configured to sense a first physical characteristic and provide a first data signal, and a second die, wherein the first die is configured to transmit the first data signal to the second die, and the second die is configured to determine if there is an error in the first die and transmit the result to a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Friedrich Rasbornig, Wolfgang Granig, Dirk Hammerschmidt, Hans-Joerg Wagner, Thomas Zettler
  • Publication number: 20180322000
    Abstract: Fault detection devices, systems and methods are provided which implement identical processors. A first processor is configured to receive a first set of variables, execute a first firmware based on the first set of variables, and output a first result of the executed first firmware. A second processor, identical to the first processor, is configured to receive a second set of variables, execute a second firmware based on the second set of variables, and output a second result of the executed second firmware. The first firmware and the second firmware provide a same nominal function in a diverse manner for calculating the first result and the second result, respectively, such that the first result and the second result are expected to be within a predetermined margin. Thus, a fault can be detected by comparing the first and the second results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Thomas Zettler, Dirk Hammerschmidt, Friedrich Rasbornig, Michael Strasser, Akos Hegedus, Wolfgang Granig
  • Patent number: 10042693
    Abstract: Fault detection devices, systems and methods are provided which implement identical processors. A first processor is configured to receive a first measurement, execute a first firmware based on the first measurement, and output a first result of the executed first firmware. A second processor, identical to the first processor, is configured to receive a second measurement, execute a second firmware based on the second measurement, and output a second result of the executed second firmware. The first firmware and the second firmware provide a same nominal function in a diverse manner for calculating the first result and the second result, respectively, such that the first result and the second result are expected to be within a predetermined margin. Thus, a fault can be detected by comparing the first and the second results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Thomas Zettler, Dirk Hammerschmidt, Friedrich Rasbornig, Michael Strasser, Akos Hegedus, Wolfgang Granig
  • Publication number: 20180018208
    Abstract: Fault detection devices, systems and methods are provided which implement identical processors. A first processor is configured to receive a first measurement, execute a first firmware based on the first measurement, and output a first result of the executed first firmware. A second processor, identical to the first processor, is configured to receive a second measurement, execute a second firmware based on the second measurement, and output a second result of the executed second firmware. The first firmware and the second firmware provide a same nominal function in a diverse manner for calculating the first result and the second result, respectively, such that the first result and the second result are expected to be within a predetermined margin. Thus, a fault can be detected by comparing the first and the second results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Thomas Zettler, Dirk Hammerschmidt, Friedrich Rasbornig, Michael Strasser, Akos Hegedus, Wolfgang Granig
  • Patent number: 9838545
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a DSL transceiver includes a power mode controller and a transmitter. The power mode controller is configured to set the DSL transceiver in a low power mode and move the DSL transceiver out of the low power mode responsive to the DSL transceiver receiving data. The transmitter is configured to transmit data only on a first group of sub-carriers when the power mode controller is moving the DSL transceiver out of the low power mode, the first group of sub-carriers being a subset of the sub-carriers available to the DSL transceiver for transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Lantiq Beteiligungs-GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Axel Clausen, Umashankar Thyagarajan, Thomas Zettler
  • Publication number: 20170227597
    Abstract: A semiconductor chip includes a substrate, an integrated circuit, an indentation of the substrate, a conductor track, and also a crossover between the indentation and the conductor track. Detection of a test signal fed into the conductor track is made possible in this way. In various examples, a fracture of the substrate in the region of the indentation can be detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas Zettler, Dirk Hammerschmidt, Friedrich Rasbornig, Wolfgang Scheibenzuber, Hans-Joerg Wagner
  • Publication number: 20170214746
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems and methods for communicating between a first device and a second device are provided. Distance control circuitry including at least one transceiver is used to transmit and receive distance control signals and to detect a distance between the first device and a remote object based on a transmitted distance control signal and a received distance control signal reflected by the remote object. Communication circuitry coupled to the transceiver is used to modulate user data of the first device onto a transmitted distance control signal and/or to extract user data from a distance control signal received from the second device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Thomas ZETTLER, Bernhard GSTOETTENBAUER