Patents by Inventor Andrew Milner

Andrew Milner 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: 10201052
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for low, or deep, dimming of a light-emitting diode (LED) load. In an example, a low dimming circuit can include a target current detector configured to provide an output indicative of a target current of a power stage of a pulse width modulated driver, and a control circuit configured to receive a PWM signal of the PWM LED driver, to control a first transition to a first state of a power switch of the power stage during an on-interval of a first PWM cycle of the PWM signal, and to control a second transition to the first state of the power switch using the output of the target current detector during an off interval of the first PWM cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Linear Technology Holding, LLC
    Inventors: Lucas Andrew Milner, Joshua William Caldwell
  • Patent number: 10123384
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for low, or deep, dimming of a light-emitting diode (LED) load. In an example, a method for deep dimming a light-emitting diode (LED) load can include, when a current of an inductor does not reach a target current by the end of an on-time of a pulse-width modulation (PWM) switch cycle, and, during an initial on-time of the PWM switch cycle, allowing the current of the inductor to reach the target current during a next “off” time interval of the PWM switch cycle, wherein the inductor is coupled to the LED via a PWM switch, and in response to the current of the inductor reaching the target current before the end of the on-time of a subsequent PWM switch cycle, interrupting energizing of the inductor at the end of the on-time of the PWM switch cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Linear Technology Holding, LLC
    Inventors: Lucas Andrew Milner, Joshua William Caldwell, Hezekiel Dakjung Randolph
  • Patent number: 9642200
    Abstract: A method and system of driving an LED load. There is a power stage that is configured to deliver a level of current indicated by a control signal to the LED load when a PWM signal is ON and stop delivering the level of current when the PWM signal is OFF. There is a feedback circuit that is configured to generate the operating point signal, which causes the power stage to deliver a level of current indicated by the control signal, when the PWM signal is ON. A store and hold circuit is configured to store an information indicative of a level of the operating point signal just after the PWM signal is turned OFF and cause the operating point signal to be at that level just before the PWM signal is turned ON.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua William Caldwell, Dongwon Kwon, Lucas Andrew Milner
  • Patent number: 9596728
    Abstract: A method and system of driving an LED load. A driver is configured to deliver a level of current indicated by a control signal to the LED load when a PWM signal is ON and stop delivering the level of current when the PWM signal is OFF. An output capacitance element is coupled across a differential output of the LED driver. A feedback path, having a store circuit, is configured to store an information indicative of a first voltage level across the output capacitance element as a stored feedback reference signal just after the PWM signal is turned OFF. The feedback path causes the voltage across the output capacitance element to be at the first voltage level just before the PWM signal is turned ON.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua William Caldwell, Dongwon Kwon, Lucas Andrew Milner
  • Publication number: 20160353537
    Abstract: A method and system of driving an LED load. There is a power stage that is configured to deliver a level of current indicated by a control signal to the LED load when a PWM signal is ON and stop delivering the level of current when the PWM signal is OFF. There is a feedback circuit that is configured to generate the operating point signal, which causes the power stage to deliver a level of current indicated by the control signal, when the PWM signal is ON. A store and hold circuit is configured to store an information indicative of a level of the operating point signal just after the PWM signal is turned OFF and cause the operating point signal to be at that level just before the PWM signal is turned ON.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicant: LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joshua William Caldwell, Dongwon Kwon, Lucas Andrew Milner
  • Publication number: 20160353532
    Abstract: A method and system of driving an LED load. A driver is configured to deliver a level of current indicated by a control signal to the LED load when a PWM signal is ON and stop delivering the level of current when the PWM signal is OFF. An output capacitance element is coupled across a differential output of the LED driver. A feedback path, having a store circuit, is configured to store an information indicative of a first voltage level across the output capacitance element as a stored feedback reference signal just after the PWM signal is turned OFF. The feedback path causes the voltage across the output capacitance element to be at the first voltage level just before the PWM signal is turned ON.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicant: LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joshua William Caldwell, Dongwon Kwon, Lucas Andrew Milner
  • Publication number: 20080195251
    Abstract: Pourer (14) including a beverage dispensing controller (23) including a pinch valve solenoid (40, 83) to control the dispensing of a beverage; a cap (21) includes a locking system to releasably secure the cap to a beverage container (12). The cap has a cap body (31) having an outer duct (43), and the locking system includes a collar (32) with a central aperture for receiving and allowing the collar (32) to pass over the outer duct, and a locking tab located on the cap body. A clamp (34) is engaged by a slide (33) to thereby secure the cap to the container (12) and a locking pin (38) which when engaged acts to prevent rotation of the collar (32). Also, disclosed is a system (FIG.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2005
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventor: Andrew Milner