Patents by Inventor CHRISTOPHER DAVID BERNARD

CHRISTOPHER DAVID BERNARD 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: 10404086
    Abstract: An apparatus for charging a battery of a user device includes a charge pump that converts an input voltage, received from a power adapter, to a system voltage that is less than the input voltage based on a ratio of the charge pump, a regulator coupled between the system voltage output by the charge pump and a battery of the user device, the regulator configured to control a battery charging voltage applied to the battery of the user device and to provide isolation between the system voltage that is applied to one or more components of the user device and the battery charging voltage applied to charge the battery of the user device, and a controller configured to determine a difference between the system voltage applied to an input of the regulator and the charging voltage output by the regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Xuelin Wu, Christopher David Bernard
  • Publication number: 20180013303
    Abstract: An apparatus for charging a battery of a user device includes a charge pump that converts an input voltage, received from a power adapter, to a system voltage that is less than the input voltage based on a ratio of the charge pump, a regulator coupled between the system voltage output by the charge pump and a battery of the user device, the regulator configured to control a battery charging voltage applied to the battery of the user device and to provide isolation between the system voltage that is applied to one or more components of the user device and the battery charging voltage applied to charge the battery of the user device, and a controller configured to determine a difference between the system voltage applied to an input of the regulator and the charging voltage output by the regulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Xuelin WU, Christopher David BERNARD
  • Patent number: 8989665
    Abstract: A portable electronic device for reducing specific absorption rate (SAR) is provided. The portable electronic device comprises a processor, at least one antenna, and a sensor enabled to detect when the portable electronic device is being held by a complementary holder, the processor enabled to: determine that the sensor has detected the holder; and, responsively, switch the at least one antenna from an omnidirectional mode to a directional mode such that energy is radiated from a given side of the portable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Blackberry Limited
    Inventors: Ryan Alexander Geris, Christopher David Bernard, Rene Pierre Marchand
  • Patent number: 8981749
    Abstract: A power converter system for managing power between a power supply and a load, the system including: a first buck-boost circuit connected to the power supply; and a capacitor provided between the buck-boost circuit and the load to buffer power supply for the load. The system may include a second buck-boost circuit between the capacitor and the load. In another embodiment, a power converter system includes: a boost circuit connected to the power supply; a buck circuit connected to the load; and a capacitor provided between the boost circuit and the buck circuit to manage the supply of power to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Kai Xu, Lyall Kenneth Winger, Christopher David Bernard
  • Patent number: 8787990
    Abstract: A portable electronic device that has a radio frequency communication subsystem operationally connected switch-mode power supply subsystem. The switch-mode power supply subsystem generates a pulse-width modulation electrical signal that produces electromagnetic interference. The switch-mode power supply subsystem can reduce the slew rate of the pulse-width modulation electrical signal when the radio-frequency communication subsystem is active. This reduces the level of the electromagnetic interference signal only during radio frequency communication, which improves the efficiency of the radio frequency communication. Not having the reduced slew rate when there is no radio frequency communication allows for higher modulation efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Rene Pierre Marchand, Lyall Kenneth Winger, Christopher David Bernard
  • Publication number: 20130301689
    Abstract: A portable electronic device that has a radio frequency communication subsystem operationally connected switch-mode power supply subsystem. The switch-mode power supply subsystem generates a pulse-width modulation electrical signal that produces electromagnetic interference. The switch-mode power supply subsystem can reduce the slew rate of the pulse-width modulation electrical signal when the radio-frequency communication subsystem is active. This reduces the level of the electromagnetic interference signal only during radio frequency communication, which improves the efficiency of the radio frequency communication. Not having the reduced slew rate when there is no radio frequency communication allows for higher modulation efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Rene Pierre MARCHAND, Lyall Kenneth WINGER, Christopher David BERNARD
  • Publication number: 20130178174
    Abstract: A portable electronic device for reducing specific absorption rate (SAR) is provided. The portable electronic device comprises a processor, at least one antenna, and a sensor enabled to detect when the portable electronic device is being held by a complementary holder, the processor enabled to: determine that the sensor has detected the holder; and, responsively, switch the at least one antenna from an omnidirectional mode to a directional mode such that energy is radiated from a given side of the portable electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Ryan Alexander GERIS, Christopher David BERNARD, Rene Pierre MARCHAND
  • Publication number: 20130127406
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for inductively charging an electronic device are disclosed herein. The apparatus comprises a transmitter coil and a controller. The transmitter coil includes a configurable inductive portion. The controller is configured to receive configuration information that is indicative of a receiver coil configuration in the electronic device. Based on the received configuration information, the controller configures the transmitter coil to form an active coil to substantially match the configuration of the receiver coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Lyall Kenneth WINGER, Cheng BAO, Christopher David BERNARD
  • Publication number: 20130093514
    Abstract: A power converter system for managing power between a power supply and a load, the system including: a first buck-boost circuit connected to the power supply; and a capacitor provided between the buck-boost circuit and the load to buffer power supply for the load. The system may include a second buck-boost circuit between the capacitor and the load. In another embodiment, a power converter system includes: a boost circuit connected to the power supply; a buck circuit connected to the load; and a capacitor provided between the boost circuit and the buck circuit to manage the supply of power to the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Kai XU, Lyall Kenneth WINGER, Christopher David BERNARD
  • Publication number: 20090240863
    Abstract: Distributed power regulation in a handheld device is provided. A system for power regulation in a handheld electronic device having a battery, includes: an expansion interface for receiving a battery power from the battery; and a peripheral interface system releasably coupled to the expansion interface and communicating with a peripheral device for generating one or more predetermined operation powers for the peripheral device, based on the battery power provided through the expansion interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: PSION TEKLOGIX INC.
    Inventors: NIC JAMES, CHRISTOPHER DAVID BERNARD