Patents by Inventor Christopher F. Edwards

Christopher F. Edwards 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).

  • Publication number: 20140284462
    Abstract: A gesture sensing device includes a single light source and a multiple segmented single photo sensor, or an array of photo sensors, collectively referred to herein as segmented photo sensors. A light modifying structure relays reflected light from the light source onto different segments of the segmented photo sensors. The light modifying structure can be an optical lens structure or a mechanical structure. The different segments of the photo sensor sense reflected light and output corresponding sensed voltage signals. A control circuit receives and processes the sensed voltage signals to determine target motion relative to the segmented photo sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: David Skurnik, Nevzat A. Kestelli, Ilya K. Veygman, Anand Chamakura, Christopher F. Edwards, Nicole D. Kerness, Pirooz Parvarandeh, Sunny K. Hsu
  • Publication number: 20140264711
    Abstract: Light sensors are described that include a trench structure integrated therein. In an implementation, the light sensor includes a substrate having a dopant material of a first conductivity type and multiple trenches disposed therein. The light sensor also includes a diffusion region formed proximate to the multiple trenches. The diffusion region includes a dopant material of a second conductivity type. A depletion region is created at the interface of the dopant material of the first conductivity type and the dopant material of the second conductivity type. The depletion region is configured to attract charge carriers to the depletion region, at least substantially a majority of the charge carriers generated due to light incident upon the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicole D. Kerness, Christopher F. Edwards, Khanh Tran, Joy T. Jones, Pirooz Parvarandeh
  • Publication number: 20140231635
    Abstract: Optical devices are described that integrate multiple heterogeneous components in a single, compact package. In one or more implementations, the optical devices include a carrier substrate having a surface that includes two or more cavities formed therein. One or more optical component devices are disposed within the respective cavities in a predetermined arrangement. A cover is disposed on the surface of the carrier substrate so that the cover at least substantially encloses the optical component devices within their respective cavities. The cover, which may be glass, is configured to transmit light within the predetermined spectrum of wavelengths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicole D. Kerness, Joy T. Jones, Christopher F. Edwards, Arkadii V. Samoilov, Phillip J. Benzel, Richard I. Olsen, Peter R. Harper
  • Publication number: 20140124797
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure pertain to a system and method for reducing ambient light sensitivity of Infrared (IR) detectors. Optical filter(s) (e.g., absorption filter(s), interference filter(s)) placed over a sensor of the IR detector (e.g., gesture sensor) absorb or reflect visible light, while passing specific IR wavelengths, for promoting the reduced ambient light sensitivity of the IR detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Joy T. Jones, Nicole D. Kerness, Sunny K. Hsu, Anand Chamakura, Christopher F. Edwards, David Skurnik, Phillip J. Benzel, Nevzat A. Kestelli
  • Publication number: 20140035812
    Abstract: A gesture sensing device having a single illumination source is disclosed. In one or more implementations, the gesture sensing device includes a single illumination source configured to emit light and a light sensor assembly configured to detect the light reflected from an object and to output time dependent signals in response thereto. The gesture sensing device also includes a processing circuit coupled to the light sensor assembly and configured to analyze the time dependent signals received from the light sensor assembly to determine object directional movement proximate to the light sensor assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: David Skurnik, Nevzat A. Kestelli, Ilya K. Veygman, Anand Chamakura, Christopher F. Edwards, Nicole D. Kerness, Pirooz Parvarandeh, Sunny K. Hsu, Judy Lau, Ronald B. Koo, Daniel S. Christman, Richard I. Olsen
  • Patent number: 6476678
    Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method to provide a high supply rejection and a full rail-to-rail output swing in an amplifier circuit. A first stage generates a first output. The first stage is powered by a second supply. A second stage is coupled to the first stage to generate an amplifier output. The second stage is powered by a first supply. The first and second supplies are different in regulation mode. By making the second supply a low noise supply, the power supply noise amplified by the first stage is minimized, with the voltage gain of the second stage regaining the rail-to-rail swing lost by the first stage due to the regulator supplying very low noise power to the first stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Madhav V. Kolluri, J. William Maney, Christopher F. Edwards
  • Patent number: 6359427
    Abstract: Apparatus and method to provide high line regulation, which can be combined with a low dropout voltage, for linear regulators. The control for the regulators is referenced to ground rather than a relatively noisy power supply terminal so that the control is substantially free of power supply noise. The pass transistor forms the second transistor of a current mirror mirroring the current from the control. Referencing the control to ground and mirroring the control current to the pass transistor makes the output of the regulator substantially independent of the power supply noise. Various embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher F. Edwards, J. William Maney
  • Patent number: 6329878
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods to provide high supply rejection and rail-to-rail output swing at the output of an amplifier circuit. A power source supplies power to a low noise regulator and to a differential amplifier output stage. The low noise regulator supplies power to an input stage that is coupled to the output stage, and also provides a reference to the output stage for power supply noise reduction purposes. This configuration of first and second circuits give the output both full rail-to-rail swing and good supply rejection in both stages. Exemplary embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher F. Edwards, J. Williams Maney
  • Patent number: 5951768
    Abstract: A method of stabilizing a strained flame in a stagnation flow reactor. By causing a highly strained flame to be divided into a large number of equal size segments it is possible to stablize a highly strained flame that is on the verge of extinction, thereby providing for higher film growth rates. The flame stabilizer is an annular ring mounted coaxially and coplanar with the substrate upon which the film is growing and having a number of vertical pillars mounted on the top surface, thereby increasing the number of azimuthal nodes into which the flame is divided and preserving an axisymmetric structure necessary for stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: David W. Hahn, Christopher F. Edwards
  • Patent number: 5840373
    Abstract: A method of stabilizing a strained flame in a stagnation flow reactor. By causing a highly strained flame to be divided into a large number of equal size segments it is possible to stablize a highly strained flame that is on the verge of extinction, thereby providing for higher film growth rates. The flame stabilizer is an annular ring mounted coaxially and coplanar with the substrate upon which the film is growing and having a number of vertical pillars mounted on the top surface, thereby increasing the number of azimuthal nodes into which the flame is divided and preserving an axisymmetric structure necessary for stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: David W. Hahn, Christopher F. Edwards