Melexis Technologies Nv

Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Power Systems Technologies Gmbh

X-fab Semiconductor Foundries Ag

Michael Frey

Thomas Freitag

Michael Bender

Jörgen Sturm

Dieter Sass

Ralf Schroeder Genannt Berghegger

Andreas Ott

Stefan Haimerl

Joergen Sturm

Mario Seifert

Raik Frost

Heiko Leutert

A method for autoconfiguration of a plurality of nodes in a linear network allows extracting the address and position of each node. The nodes are identified by a unique identifier. The method comprises choosing a node in a network and extracting its identifier, and for the first node to the last but one node, transmitting a current in the network from the chosen node, and reading the direction of the current flowing through at least the nodes not chosen in previous iteration cycles. The identifier is linked with the direction of the current for said not chosen nodes, obtaining the position of said not chosen nodes relative to the chosen node. These steps are repeated by choosing a different node not chosen before. Autoconfiguration is finished when the identifier of each node is extracted, and the physical position of each node is determined.

Method of autoconfiguration of communication network

A safety related light system includes: one light source, a first control circuit, and a second control circuit. One of the first control circuit or the second control circuit is selectively enabled to operate in a drive mode to operate the one light source.

Light system

A system having a plurality of devices configured in a daisy chain network including a communication bus connecting the devices and adapted to exchange address-setting information. Each device includes an input pin adapted to receive via an input signal line different from the communication bus a signal comprising configuration information for configuring at least the device; a configuration handling unit adapted to detect a configuration mode and to configure the device according to the configuration information; an indicator adapted to indicate whether the configuration handling unit has finished configuring the device; an output pin adapted to forward the configuration information to the daisy chain network when the indicator indicates the configuration of the device is done; and a safety handling unit adapted to be operable in a safety handling mode when the indicator indicates the configuration of the device is done.

Device for use in a configurable network

A transmitter for establishing communication between a device and a differential network bus includes current driving means connected to each of the two conduction lines of the differential network bus, through a first and second conduction paths of the transmitter; at least one unidirectional current regulator for extracting a first current equal to a known ratio of a parasitic current circulating through the first conduction path, with a direction inverse to the driving current through the conduction path connected to one of the lines of the differential bus; means for obtaining, from the first current, a second current with a magnitude equal to the original magnitude of the parasitic current; and means for introducing the second current into the second conduction path connected to the other line of the differential bus.

Transceiver unit for transmitting data via a differential bus

A data transceiver device for bus communication includes: first and second semiconductor areas; a galvanic isolation means to galvanically isolate the first and second semiconductor areas; an input for receiving a signal to be transferred from the first semiconductor area to the second semiconductor area; a first capacitor in a first signal path and a second capacitor in a second signal path, each capacitor having a first plate connected to the first semiconductor area and a second plate connected to the second semiconductor area and each arranged for transferring a version of the received signal via the first and second signal paths, respectively; storage means having memory states controllable by the versions of the received signal and arranged to derive from the versions of the received signal the memory states. The storage means is arranged to obtain from the memory states an output signal in according to the received signal.

Transceiver with galvanic isolation means

A transceiver circuit for communicating data over a CAN bus having a first and second bus line the transceiver circuit comprising: a data input port, a data output port, a CAN-bus transceiver unit having a receive data output port for providing data received from the CAN-bus, and a transmit data input port for receiving data to be transmitted to the CAN-bus; a control input port for receiving a control signal indicative of whether transmission of data from this transceiver circuit to the CAN-bus is allowed or prohibited; a filtering circuit adapted for filtering the control signal received on the control input port and for providing a filtered control signal; a logic circuitry adapted for configuring the CAN-bus transceiver unit in receive mode based on the debounced control signal irrespective of ongoing communication on the CAN-bus.

Transceiver circuit for a controller area network with improved safety

A transmitter and a receiver for transmitting and receiving data via a power supply line comprise a local signal port for respectively receiving and transmitting a serial bit stream and a power line connection port for respectively transmitting a radio frequency signal and receiving the radio frequency signal via the power supply line. The transmitter comprises a modulator unit adapted for encoding the serial bit stream into a baseband signal and generating the radio frequency signal by mixing the baseband signal with a carrier wave so as to redundantly convey the at least one baseband signal in at least four spectral sidebands of the carrier wave. The receiver comprises a demodulator unit adapted for detecting the at least four spectral sidebands of the carrier wave in the radio frequency signal, isolating a baseband signal from the at least four spectral sidebands and decoding the baseband signal into the serial bit stream.

Power supply line data transmission

The present invention relates to an electronic device, the electronic device comprising at least one LED, a driving unit for applying a driving algorithm for driving the LED during normal operation, and a measurement unit for determining a forward voltage of the LED by imposing a test current to the LED, the measurement unit being programmed for determining test current characteristics taking into account said driving algorithm.

Methods and systems for controlling LEDs

A controller for a switch and a method of operating the same. In one embodiment, the controller is configured to measure a voltage of a control terminal of the switch and select a first mode of operation if the voltage of the control terminal is greater than a threshold voltage, and a second mode of operation if the voltage of the control terminal is less than the threshold voltage.

Controller for a switch and method of operating the same

A method and a device for an open-load diagnosis of a switching stage includes the steps of turning off the switching transistor if, after a first delay time has elapsed since an appearance of a control signal, the output voltage is less than a first reference voltage, and if, after a second delay time has elapsed, the output voltage is less than a second reference voltage, then, with the switching transistor in the on state again, comparing the output current flowing through the switching transistor with a reference current, and if the output current is less than the reference current, effecting an open-load indication. The device includes a switchable buffer amplifier; a switching transistor, second and third transistors, a reference current source, first and second comparators, and a control circuit connected to the buffer amplifier, to the second and third transistors, and to the first and second comparators.

Growing community of inventors

Erfurt, Germany

Michael Frey