Infineon Technologies Ag

Infineon Technologies Austria Ag

Andrea Morici

Harald Witschnig

Dirk Hammerschmidt

Wolfgang Scherr

David Levy

Wolfgang Granig

Kurt Marquardt

The disclosure is directed to implementing a gradual power transition, in digital and mixed-signal power converters. A 'soft start' smooths an abrupt power change in the output of a power converter such as when the power converter starts up after turning on the power to a device. A power converter may receive a digital control signal that includes a command to start up, as well as includes a power level set point. This disclosure includes a circuit that receives the digital control signal and outputs a modified control signal to the power converter that causes the power converter to gradually change the power output of the power converter until the power output reaches the power level set point. The circuit dynamically determines a step size, length of time of each step and other parameters based on characteristics of the input digital control signal.

Power transition filtering with pulse modulated control

In accordance with an embodiment, a method of operating a switch-mode power supply includes receiving a measurement of a first current of the switch-mode power supply, determining a ripple of the first current based on the received measurement of the first current, determining a maximum current threshold based on a target average current and the determined ripple of the first current, determining an off time of a switch based on a target current ripple and the determined ripple of the first current, turning off the switch when the first current reaches the maximum current threshold, and turning on the switch after the determined off time has elapsed after turning off the switch.

System and method for controlling current in a switching regulator

An apparatus for providing an output parameter includes an output parameter generator circuit configured to determine a value of an output parameter repeatedly. The output parameter generator circuit includes at least one circuit block mandatory for the determination of a value of the output parameter. Further, the apparatus includes an output interface circuit configured to transmit the output parameter repeatedly to a receiver and a test circuit configured to test a basic functionality of the at least one mandatory circuit block of the output parameter generator circuit repeatedly. The at least one mandatory circuit block of the output parameter generator circuit is unavailable for the determination of a value of the output parameter during the basic functionality test.

Apparatus and a method for providing an output parameter and a sensor device

A sensor system utilizing adaptively selected carrier frequencies is disclosed. The system includes a system bus, a bus master, and a sensor. The system bus is configured to transfer power and data. The bus master is coupled to the system bus and is configured to provide power to the bus and receive data from the bus. The sensor is coupled to the system bus and is configured to transfer data on the bus using an adaptively selected carrier frequency.

Sensor systems and methods utilizing adaptively selected carrier frequencies

Integrated circuit systems, such as sensor systems, having on-board-diagnostic (OBD) circuits for the detection of errors presenting internal to the systems are disclosed, along with related methods. In one embodiment, an ADC multiplexer receives analog output readback from an output driver and provides a signal triggering an OBD circuit for internal error indication performed completely independent of digital-to-analog converters (DAC) and output drivers, which can be the point of failure.

Systems and methods for internal and external error detection in sensor output interfaces

In one example, a device includes a transformer configured to electrically isolate one or more components of the device from a communication bus, and a controller configured to receive and transmit data via the communication bus, wherein the controller is operable to communicate via a plurality of communication standards that include at least one analog unidirectional communication standard and at least one digital bidirectional communication standard, and wherein both the received data and the transmitted data pass through the transformer.

Single isolation element for multiple interface standards

A sensor interface system includes a system bus, a bus master and a sensor. The bus master is coupled to the system bus. The bus master is configured to provide voltage regulation at a first band and perform data transmission within or at a second band. The sensor is also coupled to the system bus. The sensor is configured to receive or utilize the voltage regulation and to perform data transmission within or at the second band.

Sensor interface systems and methods

Embodiments relate to an apparatus comprising a first measurement bridge circuit. The first measurement bridge circuit comprises a first half bridge for providing a first half bridge signal in response to a quantity to be measured and a second half bridge for providing a second half bridge signal in response to the quantity. The apparatus further comprises a second measurement bridge circuit. The second measurement bridge circuit comprises a third half bridge for providing a third half bridge signal in response to the quantity and a fourth half bridge for providing a fourth half bridge signal in response to the quantity. The apparatus also comprises an error detector. The error detector is configured to determine an error signal indicative of an error of the measurement of the quantity based on a combination of the first, the second, the third and the fourth half bridge signal.

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Villach, Austria

Andrea Morici