Patents by Inventor Jean Picard

Jean Picard 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: 11855790
    Abstract: A method that may be used for power-over-Ethernet includes generating and sending a first pulse of a voltage signal during a classification phase, receiving a current that is responsive to the first pulse, and determining a nominal power of a powered device (PD) from the current. The method also includes generating and sending a quantity of pulses of the voltage signal subsequent to the first pulse during the classification phase, the quantity of pulses including a command to operate the PD at less than the nominal power level during an operational phase subsequent to the classification phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Jean Picard
  • Publication number: 20230147218
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods (100, 200) for controlling and operating wind turbines (10). More particularly, the present disclosure relates to methods and systems for determining a surface condition of one or more wind turbine blades (22) of a wind turbine (10). a method comprises rotating the wind turbine rotor (18) under the influence of a wind in predetermined rotation conditions, wherein the predetermined rotation conditions include at least a predetermined pitch angle (252) of the additional wind turbine blades (222, 223). The method further comprises determining a current value of one or more parameters of the wind turbine (10) when rotating in the predetermined rotation conditions and comparing the current value of the one or more parameters of the wind turbine with one or more reference values (37) to determine the surface condition of the wind turbine blades (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2022
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Marc CANAL VILA, Saskia HONHOFF, Shanmuga-Priyan SUBRAMANIAN, Thomas Jean PICARD
  • Publication number: 20230132246
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods (300) to determine a duration of a period for warming up of a power converter (20) of a wind turbine (1). The method (300) comprises determining (301) a first indicator that is indicative of a time that the power converter (20) has been inactive. Further, the method (300) comprises determining (302) the period for warming up at least partially based on the first indicator. A power converter assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Virginie PERON, Thomas Jean PICARD
  • Publication number: 20230003191
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a wind turbine comprising a wind turbine rotor with a plurality of blades, a generator operatively coupled to the wind turbine rotor for generating electrical power and a power electronic converter for converting electrical power generated by the generator to a converted AC power of predetermined frequency and voltage. The wind turbine further comprises a wind turbine controller configured to receive values of one or more operational parameters of the wind turbine from one or more sensors and further configured to temporarily increase a speed of the generator to above a nominal generator speed if the values of the operational parameters satisfy a potential trip criterion. The present disclosure also relates to methods for controlling wind turbines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas Jean PICARD, Virginie PERON
  • Patent number: 11522441
    Abstract: A switching converter controller includes a detection circuit, an input load circuit, and a timer circuit. The detection circuit is configured to compare voltage at a power stage voltage input to a line undervoltage threshold voltage to initiate a soft stop operation. The input load circuit is coupled to the power stage voltage input. The input load circuit is configured to, responsive to the soft stop operation, switchably reduce a resistance from the power stage voltage input to a ground terminal. The timer circuit is configured to set a duration of reduced resistance from the power stage voltage input to the ground terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Jean Picard
  • Patent number: 11509230
    Abstract: A power stage controller includes: a reference circuit having a first reference input and a reference output, the first reference input adapted to be coupled to an input terminal of a power stage, and the reference circuit configured to adjust a reference voltage at the reference output responsive to whether a voltage at the first reference input is below a threshold; and a comparator having a current sense input, a second reference input, and a comparator output, the current sense input adapted to be coupled to a current terminal of the power stage, the second reference input coupled to the reference output, and the comparator output coupled to a driver input of a driver circuit configured to configured to control a driver output adapted to be coupled to a gate of a transistor of the power stage and responsive to the driver input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Jean Picard
  • Patent number: 11258618
    Abstract: Disclosed examples include redundant Power over Ethernet (PoE) systems, powered device (PD) controllers and methods in which a first PD controller sends a signal to indicate to the other PD controllers that the first PD controller is powered, and a second PD controller newly connected or reconnected to a corresponding power sourcing equipment (PSE) refrains from turning off a shared DC-DC converter, and the second PD controller waits to allow an inrush current delay of the corresponding PSE to complete before allowing current flow between the DC-DC converter and the corresponding PSE, and the second PD controller selectively provides a signal to request an application circuit powered by the DC-DC converter to temporarily reduce its power consumption below a predetermined value if the corresponding PSE is configured to provide no more than the predetermined value of power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jean Picard, David N. Abramson, Karl H. Jacobs
  • Publication number: 20210234711
    Abstract: A method that may be used for power-over-Ethernet includes generating and sending a first pulse of a voltage signal during a classification phase, receiving a current that is responsive to the first pulse, and determining a nominal power of a powered device (PD) from the current. The method also includes generating and sending a quantity of pulses of the voltage signal subsequent to the first pulse during the classification phase, the quantity of pulses including a command to operate the PD at less than the nominal power level during an operational phase subsequent to the classification phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventor: Jean Picard
  • Patent number: 11012247
    Abstract: One example includes a power-over-Ethernet (PoE) control system. The system includes a powered device (PD) that is configured to receive a voltage signal via an Ethernet connection and which comprises a PoE signal receiver configured to indicate a nominal power level via the received voltage signal. The system also includes a power sourcing equipment (PSE) device configured to generate the voltage signal and to measure a class current of the voltage signal to determine the nominal power level. The PSE device includes a PoE controller configured to provide a power setting command as a function of the nominal power level to the PoE signal receiver via the voltage signal, such that the PD can operate at a power level that is based on the power setting command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Jean Picard
  • Publication number: 20210143737
    Abstract: A switching converter controller includes a detection circuit, an input load circuit, and a timer circuit. The detection circuit is configured to compare voltage at a power stage voltage input to a line undervoltage threshold voltage to initiate a soft stop operation. The input load circuit is coupled to the power stage voltage input. The input load circuit is configured to, responsive to the soft stop operation, switchably reduce a resistance from the power stage voltage input to a ground terminal. The timer circuit is configured to set a duration of reduced resistance from the power stage voltage input to the ground terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventor: Jean PICARD
  • Publication number: 20210143742
    Abstract: A power stage controller includes: a reference circuit having a first reference input and a reference output, the first reference input adapted to be coupled to an input terminal of a power stage, and the reference circuit configured to adjust a reference voltage at the reference output responsive to whether a voltage at the first reference input is below a threshold; and a comparator having a current sense input, a second reference input, and a comparator output, the current sense input adapted to be coupled to a current terminal of the power stage, the second reference input coupled to the reference output, and the comparator output coupled to a driver input of a driver circuit configured to configured to control a driver output adapted to be coupled to a gate of a transistor of the power stage and responsive to the driver input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventor: Jean PICARD
  • Patent number: 10746766
    Abstract: Methods and devices for detecting USB devices attached to a USB charging port including a USB port having a first data line D+, a second data line D?, and a power line are disclosed. A USB device is attached to the USB port; applying power to the USB device by the power line; applying a first voltage to the line D+ at the USB port by a first impedance; applying a second voltage to the line D? at the USB port by a second impedance. The voltages on the line D+ and the line D? are then monitored at the USB port. If the voltage on the line D+ is approximately equal to a first predetermined value for a predetermined period and the voltage on the line D? is below a second predetermined value, then the USB device is determined to be of an alpha type device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Jean Picard
  • Patent number: 10659241
    Abstract: In a Power over Ethernet (PoE) system, a Powered Device (PD) having circuitry to measure the load current from a Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) in the PD. Circuitry compares the measured load current with a first threshold. Circuitry automatically generates load pulses for signaling the PSE. The pulse widths of the load pulses are measured and the widths are automatically adjusted, that power to the PD should be maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Jean Picard
  • Publication number: 20190372789
    Abstract: In a Power over Ethernet (PoE) system, a Powered Device (PD) having circuitry to measure the load current from a Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) in the PD. Circuitry compares the measured load current with a first threshold. Circuitry automatically generates load pulses for signaling the PSE. The pulse widths of the load pulses are measured and the widths are automatically adjusted, that power to the PD should be maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventor: Jean Picard
  • Publication number: 20190327101
    Abstract: Disclosed examples include redundant Power over Ethernet (PoE) systems, powered device (PD) controllers and methods in which a first PD controller sends a signal to indicate to the other PD controllers that the first PD controller is powered, and a second PD controller newly connected or reconnected to a corresponding power sourcing equipment (PSE) refrains from turning off a shared DC-DC converter, and the second PD controller waits to allow an inrush current delay of the corresponding PSE to complete before allowing current flow between the DC-DC converter and the corresponding PSE, and the second PD controller selectively provides a signal to request an application circuit powered by the DC-DC converter to temporarily reduce its power consumption below a predetermined value if the corresponding PSE is configured to provide no more than the predetermined value of power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Jean Picard, David N. Abramson, Karl H. Jacobs
  • Patent number: 10432413
    Abstract: In a Power over Ethernet (PoE) system, a Powered Device (PD) having circuitry to measure the load current from a Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) in the PD. Circuitry compares the measured load current with a first threshold. Circuitry automatically generates load pulses for signaling the PSE. The pulse widths of the load pulses are measured and the widths are automatically adjusted, that power to the PD should be maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Jean Picard
  • Patent number: 10411504
    Abstract: Power over Ethernet (PoE) communication systems, control circuits and methods are presented for controlling power delivered to a powered device through a communication cable, in which a power sourcing equipment measures a supply voltage and selectively discontinues provision of power from a power source in response to a measured supply current exceeding an adaptive limit signal representing a supply current level corresponding to a predetermined safe operating power level at the measured supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Jean Picard, William Taylor
  • Patent number: 10389539
    Abstract: Disclosed examples include redundant Power over Ethernet (PoE) systems, powered device (PD) controllers and methods in which a first PD controller sends a signal to indicate to the other PD controllers that the first PD controller is powered, and a second PD controller newly connected or reconnected to a corresponding power sourcing equipment (PSE) refrains from turning off a shared DC-DC converter, and the second PD controller waits to allow an inrush current delay of the corresponding PSE to complete before allowing current flow between the DC-DC converter and the corresponding PSE, and the second PD controller selectively provides a signal to request an application circuit powered by the DC-DC converter to temporarily reduce its power consumption below a predetermined value if the corresponding PSE is configured to provide no more than the predetermined value of power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Jean Picard, David N. Abramson, Karl H. Jacobs
  • Patent number: 10327305
    Abstract: In a Power over Ethernet (PoE) system, a Powered Device (PD) having circuitry to measure the load current from a Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) in the PD. Circuitry compares the measured load current with a first threshold. Circuitry automatically generates load pulses for signaling the PSE, that power to the PD should be maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Jean Picard, David N. Abramson, Karl H. Jacobs
  • Publication number: 20180324910
    Abstract: In a Power over Ethernet (PoE) system, a Powered Device (PD) having circuitry to measure the load current from a Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) in the PD. Circuitry compares the measured load current with a first threshold. Circuitry automatically generates load pulses for signaling the PSE, that power to the PD should be maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Jean Picard, David N. Abramson, Karl H. Jacobs