Patents by Inventor Don J. Nguyen

Don J. Nguyen 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).

  • Intelligent soft start control to reduce electrostatic discharge clamp current spikes
    Patent number: 8553375
    Abstract: Systems and methods of regulating a power supply may involve ramping an output voltage of the power supply toward an operating voltage level at a first slew rate in response to detecting a soft start condition of the power supply. A determination can be made as to whether the output voltage has exceeded an intermediate voltage level and, if so, the output voltage may be ramped toward the operating voltage level at a second slew rate. The first slew rate can be substantially less than the second slew rate in order to prevent an electrostatic discharge pump from activating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Don J. Nguyen
  • Balancing Power Supply and Demand
    Publication number: 20130154568
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to balance adapter power supply and computing device power demand. In one embodiment, power to/from battery pack(s) maybe controlled by adjusting the output voltage of the power adapter via the current input to the power adapter through a feedback pin to meet power demand of electrical loads. Another embodiment provides a way to adjust the activities of the electrical loads such that neither adapter power rating nor the electrical load power limit is exceeded while avoiding system shutdown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: Peter T. Li, Don J. Nguyen
  • BIDIRECTIONAL POWER MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES
    Publication number: 20130099750
    Abstract: Power management techniques are disclosed. For instance, an apparatus may include a bidirectional voltage converter circuit, and a control module that selectively operates the bidirectional voltage converter circuit in a charging mode and a delivery mode. The charging mode converts a voltage provided by an interface (e.g., a USB interface) into a charging voltage employed by an energy storage module (e.g., a rechargeable battery). Conversely, the delivery mode converts a voltage provided by the energy storage module into a voltage employed by the interface. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventor: Don J. Nguyen
  • Bidirectional power management techniques
    Patent number: 8358107
    Abstract: Power management techniques are disclosed. For instance, an apparatus may include a bidirectional voltage converter circuit, and a control module that selectively operates the bidirectional voltage converter circuit in a charging mode and a delivery mode. The charging mode converts a voltage provided by an interface (e.g., a USB interface) into a charging voltage employed by an energy storage module (e.g., a rechargeable battery). Conversely, the delivery mode converts a voltage provided by the energy storage module into a voltage employed by the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Don J. Nguyen
  • Optimized compensation in a voltage regulator
    Patent number: 8332672
    Abstract: Multiple components of a computer system may be capable of entering wake and sleep states. The power consumption of a processor during wake state may draw significant amount of current. In order to keep power consumption of a voltage regulator low, a two-phase voltage regulator may be used during wake state. During sleep state, since power consumption is lower, the two-phase voltage regulator may be operated in a single-phase mode to further reduce voltage regulator power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Don J. Nguyen
  • Balancing power supply and demand
    Patent number: 8242750
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to balance adapter power supply and computing device power demand. In one embodiment, power to/from battery pack(s) maybe controlled by adjusting the output voltage of the power adapter via the current input to the power adapter through a feedback pin to meet power demand of electrical loads. Another embodiment provides a way to adjust the activities of the electrical loads such that neither adapter power rating nor the electrical load power limit is exceeded while avoiding system shutdown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Peter T Li, Don J Nguyen
  • Battery charge management using a scheduling application
    Patent number: 8232774
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, battery charge management using a scheduling application is disclosed. A first parameter may be received from a scheduling application running on a mobile computing device having a battery pack. Based on at least the first parameter and battery pack data, a required charge percentage for the battery pack may be determined and the remaining capacity of the battery pack may be determined. If the remaining capacity of the battery pack is less than the required charge percentage, a charge termination voltage may be determined and the battery pack may be charged to the charge termination voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Matsumura, Nobuhiro Otani, Don J. Nguyen, Kiyohiro Hamaji
  • Power management control system and method
    Patent number: 8228038
    Abstract: A power management system includes a sensor to detect current output from a battery, a first comparator to compare the battery current to a first reference value, and a burst controller to perform a first power control operation based on said comparison. The power control operation reduces power consumed by the battery in order to cause the battery current to fall below the first reference value. This may be accomplished by reducing or shutting down power to one or more functions or features of a host system that includes or is coupled to receive power from the battery. The host system may include or correspond to a mobile phone and/or any of a number of other electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin R. Mullen, Kuriappan P. Alappat, Don J. Nguyen
  • BATTERY PULSE CHARGING METHOD AND APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20120169295
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are some embodiments for safely charging a mobile system battery pack, even when the power source (e.g., adapter) voltage is at a relatively high level that would otherwise result in excessive charge current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Peter T. Li, Don J. Nguyen
  • BATTERY CHARGE MANAGEMENT USING A SCHEDULING APPLICATION
    Publication number: 20120081078
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, battery charge management using a scheduling application is disclosed. A first parameter may be received from a scheduling application running on a mobile computing device having a battery pack. Based on at least the first parameter and battery pack data, a required charge percentage for the battery pack may be determined and the remaining capacity of the battery pack may be determined. If the remaining capacity of the battery pack is less than the required charge percentage, a charge termination voltage may be determined and the battery pack may be charged to the charge termination voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventors: Naoki Matsumura, Nobuhiro Otani, Don J. Nguyen, Kiyohiro Hamaji
  • Battery pulse charging method and apparatus
    Patent number: 8138724
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are some embodiments for safely charging a mobile system battery pack, even when the power source (e.g., adapter) voltage is at a relatively high level that would otherwise result in excessive charge current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Peter T. Li, Don J. Nguyen
  • Voltage Regulation for a Computer System
    Publication number: 20120054510
    Abstract: A computer system has a controller and a voltage regulator. The controller generates a power consumption state signal for one or more components of the computer system to the voltage regulator. The voltage regulator supplies a first voltage level for the one or more components when the one or more components are at a first power consumption state. The voltage regulator increases to a second voltage level for the one or more components when the one or more components enter a second power consumption state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventor: Don J. Nguyen
  • HDMI CABLE CONNECT APPARATUS AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20110273805
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an HDMI connection interface is provided with a connection detection circuit utilizing power cycling or an otherwise intermittent supply at a pin for an HDMI device for determining if the device is connected to an appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventor: Don J. Nguyen
  • Voltage regulation for a computer system providing voltage positioning for multi-component load
    Patent number: 8055914
    Abstract: A computer system has a controller and a voltage regulator. The controller generates a power consumption state signal for one or more components of the computer system to the voltage regulator. The voltage regulator supplies a first voltage level for the one or more components when the one or more components are at a first power consumption state. The voltage regulator increases to a second voltage level for the one or more components when the one or more components enter a second power consumption state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Don J. Nguyen
  • INTELLIGENT SOFT START CONTROL TO REDUCE ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE CLAMP CURRENT SPIKES
    Publication number: 20110241570
    Abstract: Systems and methods of regulating a power supply may involve ramping an output voltage of the power supply toward an operating voltage level at a first slew rate in response to detecting a soft start condition of the power supply. A determination can be made as to whether the output voltage has exceeded an intermediate voltage level and, if so, the output voltage may be ramped toward the operating voltage level at a second slew rate. The first slew rate can be substantially less than the second slew rate in order to prevent an electrostatic discharge pump from activating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventor: Don J. Nguyen
  • POWER MANAGEMENT CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20110148383
    Abstract: A power management system includes a sensor to detect current output from a battery, a first comparator to compare the battery current to a first reference value, and a burst controller to perform a first power control operation based on said comparison. The power control operation reduces power consumed by the battery in order to cause the battery current to fall below the first reference value. This may be accomplished by reducing or shutting down power to one or more functions or features of a host system that includes or is coupled to receive power from the battery. The host system may include or correspond to a mobile phone and/or any of a number of other electronic devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Kevin R. MULLEN, Kuriappan P. Alappat, Don J. Nguyen
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BATTERY POWER PRE-CHECK AT SYSTEM POWER-ON
    Publication number: 20110133745
    Abstract: A system including at least one electronic component and a battery check circuit. When a power consumption level of the at least one electronic component is increased, the battery check circuit determines whether to provide power from a battery to the at least one electronic component by comparing a power level of the battery to a first power level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventor: Don J. Nguyen
  • BATTERY CHARGE MANAGEMENT USING A SCHEDULING APPLICATION
    Publication number: 20110080141
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, battery charge management using a scheduling application is disclosed. A first parameter may be received from a scheduling application running on a mobile computing device having a battery pack. Based on at least the first parameter and battery pack data, a required charge percentage for the battery pack may be determined and the remaining capacity of the battery pack may be determined. If the remaining capacity of the battery pack is less than the required charge percentage, a charge termination voltage may be determined and the battery pack may be charged to the charge termination voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Inventors: Naoki Matsumura, Nobuhiro Otani, Don J. Nguyen, Kiyohiro Hamaji
  • Method and apparatus for battery test
    Patent number: 7888943
    Abstract: For one disclosed embodiment, power from a backup battery may be received by first circuitry. One or more other batteries different than the backup battery may be tested with the first circuitry. Second circuitry may be allowed to supply power from at least one of the one or more other batteries to at least one electronic component at startup based at least in part on the test having a first result. Startup of the at least one electronic component may be prevented based at least in part on the test having a second result. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Don J. Nguyen
  • Battery charge management using a scheduling application
    Patent number: 7852045
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, battery charge management using a scheduling application is disclosed. A first parameter may be received from a scheduling application running on a mobile computing device having a battery pack. Based on at least the first parameter and battery pack data, a required charge percentage for the battery pack may be determined and the remaining capacity of the battery pack may be determined. If the remaining capacity of the battery pack is less than the required charge percentage, a charge termination voltage may be determined and the battery pack may be charged to the charge termination voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Matsumura, Nobuhiro Otani, Don J. Nguyen, Kiyohiro Hamaji