Patents by Inventor Timo Dittfeld

Timo Dittfeld 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: 20250238030
    Abstract: An electronic control unit (114) is presented. The electronic control unit (114) comprises at least: an electronic device (120); an application controller (122) configured for controlling the electronic device (120); and a safe state trigger (124) configured for: monitoring input signals sent from a supervising controller (112) to the electronic control unit (114); identifying a failure signal from the input signals; and sending a safe state signal to the electronic device (120) when identifying the failure signal. Further, a method for triggering a safe state, a control system (110) and a use of the electronic control unit (114), the method or the control system (110) are presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2024
    Publication date: July 24, 2025
    Inventors: Benno Koeppl, Timo Dittfeld
  • Patent number: 9994179
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement is provided, the circuit arrangement including a receiver configured to receive signal information from a sensor circuit; a discharge circuit configured to discharge a capacitance by providing a discharge pulse; and a modulation circuit configured to modulate a bit pattern onto the discharge pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA AG
    Inventors: Dirk Hammerschmidt, Timo Dittfeld
  • Patent number: 9836341
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of determining whether to trigger an event based on data blocks having status data includes electronically receiving the data blocks over a channel, performing a data integrity check on the data blocks to determine whether a particular data block has a transmission fault, calculating a received error metric based on performing the data integrity check, and disabling an event trigger if the received error metric crosses a first error threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Dirk Hammerschmidt, Timo Dittfeld
  • Patent number: 9676357
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement includes a controller and an integrated driver arrangement coupled to the controller. The integrated driver circuit includes a driver unit having at least one operation parameter, and a diagnostic unit coupled to the driver unit. The diagnostic unit is adapted to retrieve the at least one operation parameter from the driver unit, and is coupled to the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Timo Dittfeld, Wolfgang Scherr
  • Patent number: 9361179
    Abstract: A data transmission system includes at least one transmission line. A sender is configured to send data frames to the at least one transmission line and a recipient is configured to receive the data frames from the at least one transmission line. The sender and the recipient are both configured to determine a check sum based on a plurality of corresponding data frames that are sent to and, respectively, received from the at least one transmission line. A check sum comparing unit is configured to receive and to compare the check sum determined by the sender and the corresponding check sum determined by the recipient. The check sum comparing unit is also configured to signal a transmission error or initiate a safety function when the check sums compared are not equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Dirk Hammerschmidt, Timo Dittfeld, Simon Brewerton
  • Publication number: 20150026547
    Abstract: A data transmission system includes at least one transmission line. A sender is configured to send data frames to the at least one transmission line and a recipient is configured to receive the data frames from the at least one transmission line. The sender and the recipient are both configured to determine a check sum based on a plurality of corresponding data frames that are sent to and, respectively, received from the at least one transmission line. A check sum comparing unit is configured to receive and to compare the check sum determined by the sender and the corresponding check sum determined by the recipient. The check sum comparing unit is also configured to signal a transmission error or initiate a safety function when the check sums compared are not equal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Dirk Hammerschmidt, Timo Dittfeld, Simon Brewerton
  • Publication number: 20140340853
    Abstract: Safety devices are provided having a power generating part and a safety-critical part. A conducting ring is provided at least around the power generating part. The ring may be connected to a reference potential such as ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Timo Dittfeld, Peter Hoffmann, Dirk Hammerschmidt
  • Patent number: 8887022
    Abstract: A data transmission system includes at least one transmission line. A sender is configured to send data frames to the at least one transmission line and a recipient is configured to receive the data frames from the at least one transmission line. The sender and the recipient are both configured to determine a check sum based on a plurality of corresponding data frames that are sent to and, respectively, received from the at least one transmission line. A check sum comparing unit is configured to receive and to compare the check sum determined by the sender and the corresponding check sum determined by the recipient. The check sum comparing unit is also configured to signal a transmission error or initiate a safety function when the check sums compared are not equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Dirk Hammerschmidt, Timo Dittfeld, Simon Brewerton
  • Publication number: 20140298110
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of determining whether to trigger an event based on data blocks having status data includes electronically receiving the data blocks over a channel, performing a data integrity check on the data blocks to determine whether a particular data block has a transmission fault, calculating a received error metric based on performing the data integrity check, and disabling an event trigger if the received error metric crosses a first error threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Dirk Hammerschmidt, Timo Dittfeld
  • Patent number: 8775029
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of determining whether to trigger an event based on data blocks having status data includes electronically receiving the data blocks over a channel, performing a data integrity check on the data blocks to determine whether a particular data block has a transmission fault, calculating a received error metric based on performing the data integrity check, and disabling an event trigger if the received error metric crosses a first error threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Dirk Hammerschmidt, Timo Dittfeld
  • Publication number: 20140028086
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement is provided, the circuit arrangement including a receiver configured to receive signal information from a sensor circuit; a discharge circuit configured to discharge a capacitance by providing a discharge pulse; and a modulation circuit configured to modulate a bit pattern onto the discharge pulse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA AG
    Inventors: Dirk Hammerschmidt, Timo Dittfeld
  • Patent number: 8456794
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a high-side switch device includes a semiconductor switch, a charge pump operable external clocking signal and an input for an external charge pump activation signal. The charge pump is configured to enable conductivity of the semiconductor switch in response to the external clocking signal and assertion of the external charge pump activation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Timo Dittfeld, Dirk Hammerschmidt
  • Publication number: 20120239256
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of determining whether to trigger an event based on data blocks having status data includes electronically receiving the data blocks over a channel, performing a data integrity check on the data blocks to determine whether a particular data block has a transmission fault, calculating a received error metric based on performing the data integrity check, and disabling an event trigger if the received error metric crosses a first error threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Dirk Hammerschmidt, Timo Dittfeld
  • Publication number: 20120226965
    Abstract: A data transmission system includes at least one transmission line. A sender is configured to send data frames to the at least one transmission line and a recipient is configured to receive the data frames from the at least one transmission line. The sender and the recipient are both configured to determine a check sum based on a plurality of corresponding data frames that are sent to and, respectively, received from the at least one transmission line. A check sum comparing unit is configured to receive and to compare the check sum determined by the sender and the corresponding check sum determined by the recipient. The check sum comparing unit is also configured to signal a transmission error or initiate a safety function when the check sums compared are not equal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Dirk Hammerschmidt, Timo Dittfeld, Simon Brewerton
  • Patent number: 8229630
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to an electronic control unit for an airbag, said control unit having a data recorder unit that has a volatile memory, a nonvolatile memory and a copy circuit. The copy circuit is designed to copy data from the volatile memory to the nonvolatile memory during a second operating phase of the control unit. A protocol unit designed to record vehicle and/or accident data in the volatile memory is arranged in the data recorder unit during a first operating phase of the control unit. A first power supply unit is connected to the control unit and supplies the protocol unit and further components of the control unit with power and a second power supply unit is connected to the data recorder unit and supplies the latter with power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Thomas Klug, Timo Dittfeld, Frank Auer
  • Publication number: 20110307209
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement includes a controller and an integrated driver arrangement coupled to the controller. The integrated driver circuit includes a driver unit having at least one operation parameter, and a diagnostic unit coupled to the driver unit. The diagnostic unit is adapted to retrieve the at least one operation parameter from the driver unit, and is coupled to the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventors: Timo Dittfeld, Wolfgang Scherr
  • Publication number: 20110110011
    Abstract: Embodiments related to operating a high-side switch in a safety-related application are described and depicted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventors: Timo Dittfeld, Dirk Hammerschmidt
  • Patent number: 7868400
    Abstract: An apparatus for driving a load that may include, for instance, a semiconductor chip, comprising a first switch, and a fracture sensor. The apparatus may further include, for instance, a circuit disposed outside the semiconductor chip and comprising a second switch coupled in series with the first switch, and configured such that an on/off state of the second switch is set in accordance with a state of the fracture sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Dusan Graovac, Timo Dittfeld, Frank Auer
  • Publication number: 20090204295
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to an electronic control unit for an airbag, said control unit having a data recorder unit that has a volatile memory, a nonvolatile memory and a copy circuit. The copy circuit is designed to copy data from the volatile memory to the nonvolatile memory during a second operating phase of the control unit. A protocol unit designed to record vehicle and/or accident data in the volatile memory is arranged in the data recorder unit during a first operating phase of the control unit. A first power supply unit is connected to the control unit and supplies the protocol unit and further components of the control unit with power and a second power supply unit is connected to the data recorder unit and supplies the latter with power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas Klug, Timo Dittfeld, Frank Auer
  • Publication number: 20080211566
    Abstract: An apparatus for driving a load that may include, for instance, a semiconductor chip, comprising a first switch, and a fracture sensor. The apparatus may further include, for instance, a circuit disposed outside the semiconductor chip and comprising a second switch coupled in series with the first switch, and configured such that an on/off state of the second switch is set in accordance with a state of the fracture sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Dusan Graovac, Timo Dittfeld, Frank Auer