Patents by Inventor Cecil G. Chenault

Cecil G. Chenault 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: 10282313
    Abstract: A USB smart hub may provide enhanced battery charging, data storage security, vendor matching, device authentication, data capture/debug, and role switching. The smart hub may include an upstream port, a plurality of downstream ports, a processor, and a memory coupled to the processor for storing USB host stack code and configuration parameters. The smart hub may include a USB hub core having a core to implement a standard USB hub interface. The smart hub may include a plurality of 2:1 multiplexors coupled between the downstream ports, the core downstream ports, and the processor. The processor may control the 2:1 multiplexors. The processor may be configured to detect when a USB device is coupled to a downstream port and to run the USB host stack code and to enumerate the USB device. The processor may provide enhanced features based on the configuration parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Atish Ghosh, Cecil G. Chenault, Pragash Mangalapandian, Mark Bohm
  • Patent number: 9971395
    Abstract: A USB hub has a USB hub controller, and an embedded controller, a USB port connector and associated port power control device and a controllable bypass switch providing a supply voltage to the USB port connector when the embedded controller enables it, a controllable voltage supply regulator unit providing a first output voltage which can be turned off and supplied to the port power control device, and a programmable current monitor circuit with a current sensor providing a second supply voltage to the monitor circuit, wherein during a low power mode, the USB hub controller and any port power control device are turned off and the monitor circuit is configured to provide the second supply voltage through the sensor and bypass switch to the USB connector and detects a current when a USB device is plugged into the USB port connector and wakes up the embedded controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Cecil G. Chenault, Atish Ghosh
  • Publication number: 20180067875
    Abstract: A USB smart hub may provide enhanced battery charging, data storage security, vendor matching, device authentication, data capture/debug, and role switching. The smart hub may include an upstream port, a plurality of downstream ports, a processor, and a memory coupled to the processor for storing USB host stack code and configuration parameters. The smart hub may include a USB hub core having a core to implement a standard USB hub interface. The smart hub may include a plurality of 2:1 multiplexors coupled between the downstream ports, the core downstream ports, and the processor. The processor may control the 2:1 multiplexors. The processor may be configured to detect when a USB device is coupled to a downstream port and to run the USB host stack code and to enumerate the USB device. The processor may provide enhanced features based on the configuration parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Atish Ghosh, Cecil G. Chenault, Pragash Mangalapandian, Mark Bohm
  • Patent number: 9804977
    Abstract: A USB smart hub may provide enhanced battery charging, data storage security, vendor matching, device authentication, data capture/debug, and role switching. The smart hub may include an upstream port, a plurality of downstream ports, a processor, and a memory coupled to the processor for storing USB host stack code and configuration parameters. The smart hub may include a USB hub core having a core to implement a standard USB hub interface. The smart hub may include a plurality of 2:1 multiplexors coupled between the downstream ports, the core downstream ports, and the processor. The processor may control the 2:1 multiplexors. The processor may be configured to detect when a USB device is coupled to a downstream port and to run the USB host stack code and to enumerate the USB device. The processor may provide enhanced features based on the configuration parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Atish Ghosh, Cecil G. Chenault, Pragash Mangalapandian, Mark Bohm
  • Publication number: 20160321195
    Abstract: A USB smart hub may provide enhanced battery charging, data storage security, vendor matching, device authentication, data capture/debug, and role switching. The smart hub may include an upstream port, a plurality of downstream ports, a processor, and a memory coupled to the processor for storing USB host stack code and configuration parameters. The smart hub may include a USB hub core having a core to implement a standard USB hub interface. The smart hub may include a plurality of 2:1 multiplexors coupled between the downstream ports, the core downstream ports, and the processor. The processor may control the 2:1 multiplexors. The processor may be configured to detect when a USB device is coupled to a downstream port and to run the USB host stack code and to enumerate the USB device. The processor may provide enhanced features based on the configuration parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Applicant: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Atish Ghosh, Cecil G. Chenault, Pragash Mangalapandian, Mark Bohm
  • Publication number: 20160054786
    Abstract: A USB hub has a USB hub controller, and an embedded controller, a USB port connector and associated port power control device and a controllable bypass switch providing a supply voltage to the USB port connector when the embedded controller enables it, a controllable voltage supply regulator unit providing a first output voltage which can be turned off and supplied to the port power control device, and a programmable current monitor circuit with a current sensor providing a second supply voltage to the monitor circuit, wherein during a low power mode, the USB hub controller and any port power control device are turned off and the monitor circuit is configured to provide the second supply voltage through the sensor and bypass switch to the USB connector and detects a current when a USB device is plugged into the USB port connector and wakes up the embedded controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Applicant: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Cecil G. Chenault, Atish Ghosh