Patents by Inventor Christopher Bruce Umminger

Christopher Bruce Umminger 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: 10418805
    Abstract: A novel system is offered for supplying power from an input node to a load coupled to an output node. The system may have multiple switches coupled between the input node and the output node. One or more limiting circuits may be configured for controlling the switches so as to limit outputs of the switches. For example, the limiting circuits may limit current through the respective switches. One or more timers may set a delay period for indicating a fault condition after the limiting is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Linear Technology LLC
    Inventors: Joshua John Simonson, David Henry Soo, Christopher Bruce Umminger
  • Publication number: 20180294646
    Abstract: A novel system is offered for supplying power from an input node to a load coupled to an output node. The system may have multiple switches coupled between the input node and the output node. One or more limiting circuits may be configured for controlling the switches so as to limit outputs of the switches. For example, the limiting circuits may limit current through the respective switches. One or more timers may set a delay period for indicating a fault condition after the limiting is initiated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Joshua John SIMONSON, David Henry SOO, Christopher Bruce UMMINGER
  • Patent number: 10003190
    Abstract: A novel system is offered for supplying power from an input node to a load coupled to an output node. The system may have multiple switches coupled between the input node and the output node. One or more limiting circuits may be configured for controlling the switches so as to limit outputs of the switches. For example, the limiting circuits may limit current through the respective switches. One or more timers may set a delay period for indicating a fault condition after the limiting is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua John Simonson, David Henry Soo, Christopher Bruce Umminger
  • Patent number: 9671465
    Abstract: Circuitry for detecting faults in a system for supplying power from an input node to an output node and having at least one switch coupled between the input node and the output node. The fault detecting circuitry is configured for indicating a fault condition of the switch when the switch is commanded to turn on and at least one of the following conditions is detected: a voltage across the switch exceeds a predetermined value or a value of the switch control signal is insufficient to turn the switch on. The fault condition is indicated only if the detected condition is present for a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joshua John Simonson, Christopher Bruce Umminger
  • Publication number: 20150015300
    Abstract: Circuitry for detecting faults in a system for supplying power from an input node to an output node and having at least one switch coupled between the input node and the output node. The fault detecting circuitry is configured for indicating a fault condition of the switch when the switch is commanded to turn on and at least one of the following conditions is detected: a voltage across the switch exceeds a predetermined value or a value of the switch control signal is insufficient to turn the switch on. The fault condition is indicated only if the detected condition is present for a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Joshua John SIMONSON, Christopher Bruce UMMINGER
  • Publication number: 20150016005
    Abstract: A novel system is offered for supplying power from an input node to a load coupled to an output node. The system may have multiple switches coupled between the input node and the output node. One or more limiting circuits may be configured for controlling the switches so as to limit outputs of the switches. For example, the limiting circuits may limit current through the respective switches. One or more timers may set a delay period for indicating a fault condition after the limiting is initiated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Joshua John SIMONSON, David Henry SOO, Christopher Bruce UMMINGER
  • Patent number: 8853885
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for load sharing among N current supplies, where N>1. N current supply paths are coupled to corresponding N independent power sources, respectively. A system load is coupled to the outputs of the N current supply paths to receive N current supplies. There is a common current share bus configured to connect to the N current supply paths to provide a common current share signal, used to indicate the current contribution needed from each of the N current supply paths. In this configuration, each of the N current supply paths adjusts an adjustable voltage drop between its power source and the current supply it provides to the system load in accordance with the common current share signal so that the current supplied from each current supply path is consistent with the common current share signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Bruce Umminger, David Henry Soo, Mitchell Edward Lee, Pinkesh Sachdev, Zhipeng Li
  • Patent number: 8194379
    Abstract: A method of and system for controlling the inrush current generated in a MOSFET of an inrush current control system, wherein the MOSFET includes a source, gate and drain. The dV/dt at the drain of the MOSFET is controlled so as to set the inrush current level as a function of dV/dt, independent of current limit without requiring a separate capacitor connected between the gate and drain of the MOSFET so that the MOSFET can turn on and off more quickly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventors: James Herr, Zhizhong Hou, Christopher Bruce Umminger
  • Publication number: 20100225294
    Abstract: A method of and system for controlling the inrush current generated in a MOSFET of an inrush current control system, wherein the MOSFET includes a source, gate and drain. The dV/dt at the drain of the MOSFET is controlled so as to set the inrush current level as a function of dV/dt, independent of current limit without requiring a separate capacitor connected between the gate and drain of the MOSFET so that the MOSFET can turn on and off more quickly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: James HERR, Zhizhong Hou, Christopher Bruce Umminger
  • Publication number: 20100164289
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for load sharing among N current supplies, where N>1. N current supply paths are coupled to corresponding N independent power sources, respectively. A system load is coupled to the outputs of the N current supply paths to receive N current supplies. There is a common current share bus configured to connect to the N current supply paths to provide a common current share signal, used to indicate the current contribution needed from each of the N current supply paths. In this configuration, each of the N current supply paths adjusts an adjustable voltage drop between its power source and the current supply it provides to the system load in accordance with the common current share signal so that the current supplied from each current supply path is consistent with the common current share signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Christopher Bruce UMMINGER, David Henry Soo, Mitchell Edward Lee, Pinkesh Sachdev, Zhipeng Li
  • Patent number: 7382167
    Abstract: An output signal is controlled with adjustable hysteresis in response to a variable voltage input signal. One or more signals derived from the input signal are respectively compared with first and second reference voltages of different magnitudes. The output signal changes from a first state to a second state when one of the derived signals reaches a first reference voltage level threshold, and changes from the second state to the first state when a second one of the derived signals reaches a second reference level voltage threshold. A first derived signal may be varied to have a voltage magnitude that is greater or lesser than the voltage magnitude of a second derived signal while maintaining a positive hysteresis level. The circuit may be configured to output a signal representing an undervoltage and/or overvoltage condition of the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Bruce Umminger, Zhizhong Hou, James Herr