Patents by Inventor Wolfgang Horchler

Wolfgang Horchler 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: 8624637
    Abstract: A circuit for controlling the switching operation of a transistor is described. A gate driver circuit is operably connected to a control electrode of the transistor and is configured to charge and discharge the control electrode to switch the transistor on and off, respectively, in accordance with a control signal. The charging and discharging of the control electrode is done such that the corresponding transitions in the load current and the output voltage are smooth with a defined slope. A controllable switch is connected to the control electrode such that, when the switch closes, the control electrode is quickly discharged via the switch thus quickly switching off the transistor. A control logic circuit is configured to close the controllable switch for switching off the transistor when at least one of a number of conditions holds true.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Michael Asam, Carmelo Fabio Giunta, Wolfgang Horchler, Markus Winkler
  • Publication number: 20130200927
    Abstract: A circuit for controlling the switching operation of a transistor is described. A gate driver circuit is operably connected to a control electrode of the transistor and is configured to charge and discharge the control electrode to switch the transistor on and off, respectively, in accordance with a control signal. The charging and discharging of the control electrode is done such that the corresponding transitions in the load current and the output voltage are smooth with a defined slope. A controllable switch is connected to the control electrode such that, when the switch closes, the control electrode is quickly discharged via the switch thus quickly switching off the transistor. A control logic circuit is configured to close the controllable switch for switching off the transistor when at least one of a number of conditions holds true.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Michael Asam, Carmelo Fabio Giunta, Wolfgang Horchler, Markus Winkler
  • Patent number: 7489181
    Abstract: A circuit configured to be programmed using a resistor includes an output terminal, a reference voltage source, a first circuit, and a current mirror arrangement. The output terminal is configured to be connected to a programming resistor. The reference voltage source is configured to generate a reference voltage on the output terminal. The measurement and evaluation circuit is configured to detect an output current on the output terminal, and to generate a control signal which is dependent on the output current. The current mirror arrangement is coupled to an output current path containing the output terminal and provides a reference current which is dependent on the output current and the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Salvatore Pastorina, Wolfgang Horchler
  • Publication number: 20070052480
    Abstract: A circuit configured to be programmed using a resistor includes an output terminal, a reference voltage source, a first circuit, and a current mirror arrangement. The output terminal is configured to be connected to a programming resistor. The reference voltage source is configured to generate a reference voltage on the output terminal. The measurement and evaluation circuit is configured to detect an output current on the output terminal, and to generate a control signal which is dependent on the output current. The current mirror arrangement is coupled to an output current path containing the output terminal and provides a reference current which is dependent on the output current and the control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Salvatore Pastorina, Wolfgang Horchler
  • Patent number: 6373296
    Abstract: The circuit configuration has a semiconductor switch and a driver circuit that drives the switch. A switching signal is applied at an input terminal of the driver circuit and an output terminal that is connected to a control input of the semiconductor switch outputs a drive signal. The drive signal depends on the switching signal and its gradient during a change from a first drive level to a second drive level is temperature-dependent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies A.G.
    Inventors: Frank Auer, Wolfgang Horchler, Michael Lenz
  • Patent number: 6313689
    Abstract: A power switching circuit with reduced interference radiation includes at least one pair of low-side and high-side MOS power transistors, between which a load resistor is connected. One or at least one of the low-side MOS power transistors is connected to a drive circuit having a divider for dividing a difference between a maximum output voltage of the MOS power transistor and an instantaneous output voltage at the load resistor as a dividend, by a maximum output voltage of the MOS power transistor as a divisor, and a level converter for generating a drive voltage for the MOS power transistor. The drive voltage is proportional to the quotient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Wolfgang Horchler
  • Patent number: 6157239
    Abstract: An integrated full bridge circuit includes four transistors divided into two series-connected pairs of transistors each forming a half bridge circuit. Resistor elements each connect a respective one of the pairs of transistors to a reference potential. Other resistor elements are each connected to a respective one of two separate supply terminals inside a housing. Each of the other resistor elements is connected to one of the transistors of a respective one of the pairs of transistors at a junction. Driver transistors each have a load path with two connections and a type complementary to the transistors connected to the other resistor elements. One of the connections is connected upstream of the control terminal of a respective one of the transistors connected to the other resistor elements. The other of the connections in each of the half bridge circuits is connected to the junction in the other of the half bridge circuits. The advantage is power loss reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Horchler, Reinhard Mueller
  • Patent number: 4949212
    Abstract: A circuit configuration for protecting an integrated circuit from damage by a voltage present at an output exceeding the supply voltage range of the integrated circuit includes a given number of parasitic circuit structures of the integrated circuit. Additional circuit structures combined with the parasitic circuit structures form a protective circuit. The circuit structures are activated by the voltage at the output to become operative for protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Lenz, Frank-Lothar Schwertlein, Wolfgang Horchler