Patents by Inventor John Charais

John Charais 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: 11088666
    Abstract: An operational amplifier with totem pole connected output transistors having inputs coupled to multiplexers for selectable coupling of signals and voltage levels thereto. The high and low output transistors may be forced hard on or hard off in addition to normal coupling of signals thereto. The operation of the output transistors may be dynamically changed to pass only positive going signals, negative going signals, placed in a tristate high impedance state, hard connected to a supply voltage and/or hard connected to supply common return. A core independent peripheral (CIP) may also be coupled to the operational amplifier for dynamically changing the multiplexer inputs in real time, as can external control signals to a control circuit coupled to the multiplexers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Keith Edwin Curtis, Ward Brown, John Charais, Steve Kennelly, Dave Suda, Huamin Zhou, Clark Rogers, Mudit Gupta
  • Publication number: 20200119706
    Abstract: An operational amplifier with totem pole connected output transistors having inputs coupled to multiplexers for selectable coupling of signals and voltage levels thereto. The high and low output transistors may be forced hard on or hard off in addition to normal coupling of signals thereto. The operation of the output transistors may be dynamically changed to pass only positive going signals, negative going signals, placed in a tristate high impedance state, hard connected to a supply voltage and/or hard connected to supply common return. A core independent peripheral (CIP) may also be coupled to the operational amplifier for dynamically changing the multiplexer inputs in real time, as can external control signals to a control circuit coupled to the multiplexers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Applicant: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Keith Edwin Curtis, Ward Brown, John Charais, Steve Kennelly, Dave Suda, Huamin Zhou, Clark Rogers, Mudit Gupta
  • Patent number: 9404948
    Abstract: A mains voltage zero-crossing detector has a constant voltage forced on an external node by driving transistor devices with appropriate control signals provided by a feedback loop around a highly power efficient class B configuration comprising an operational amplifier having single ended dual outputs and a class B control circuit. Mains power zero crossings may then be detected by monitoring the drive current of devices driven by this amplifier. Wherein Class B control and current mode detection provide accurate detection of the driven signal without depending on any voltage threshold that may depend on temperature, process fabrication and/or supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Richard Hull, John Charais, Gabriel Rosca
  • Publication number: 20140176119
    Abstract: A mains voltage zero-crossing detector has a constant voltage forced on an external node by driving transistor devices with appropriate control signals provided by a feedback loop around a highly power efficient class B configuration comprising an operational amplifier having single ended dual outputs and a class B control circuit. Mains power zero crossings may then be detected by monitoring the drive current of devices driven by this amplifier. Wherein Class B control and current mode detection provide accurate detection of the driven signal without depending on any voltage threshold that may depend on temperature, process fabrication and/or supply voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventors: Richard Hull, John Charais, Gabriel Rosca
  • Patent number: 8065544
    Abstract: Activation of an external sensor coupled to an electronic device will change the frequency of a low power oscillator in the electronic device that runs during a low power sleep mode of the electronic device. When a change in frequency of the low power oscillator is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode. In addition, when a change in frequency from an external frequency source is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Zacharias Marthinus Smit, Keith Curtis, James (Jim) Simons, Jerrold S. Zdenek, John Charais
  • Patent number: 8065545
    Abstract: Activation of an external sensor coupled to an electronic device will change the frequency of a low power oscillator in the electronic device that runs during a low power sleep mode of the electronic device. When a change in frequency of the low power oscillator is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode. In addition, when a change in frequency from an external frequency source is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Zacharias Marthinus Smit, Keith Curtis, James (Jim) Simons, Jerrold S. Zdenek, John Charais
  • Patent number: 8065546
    Abstract: Activation of an external sensor coupled to an electronic device will change the frequency of a low power oscillator in the electronic device that runs during a low power sleep mode of the electronic device. When a change in frequency of the low power oscillator is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode. In addition, when a change in frequency from an external frequency source is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Zacharias Marthinus Smit, Keith Curtis, James (Jim) Simons, Jerrold S. Zdenek, John Charais
  • Patent number: 8041973
    Abstract: Activation of an external sensor coupled to an electronic device will change the frequency of a low power oscillator in the electronic device that runs during a low power sleep mode of the electronic device. When a change in frequency of the low power oscillator is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode. In addition, when a change in frequency from an external frequency source is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Zacharias Marthinus Smit, Keith Curtis, James (Jim) Simons, Jerrold S. Zdenek, John Charais
  • Publication number: 20110084933
    Abstract: A multilayer printed circuit board provides both physical and electrical attributes necessary for creating an inductive touch sensor panel. Inductive sense coils are formed on a surface of first layer of the multilayer printed circuit board. A second layer is used as a spacer between the first layer and a third layer. The first, second and third layers of the multilayer printed circuit board form chambers in which the inductive sense coils are disposed therein. When a force is applied to a portion of the third layer proximate to an inductive sense coil, a metal target on a face of the third layer is biased toward the inductive sense coil and thereby changes the inductance value thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Inventors: Keith Curtis, Stephen Porter, John Charais, Mark Loper
  • Patent number: 7498755
    Abstract: A single low side power transistor switch is used to efficiently control a brushed motor in a forward rotational direction. A boost voltage power supply is used to supply voltage to the brushed motor in a reverse rotational direction and/or braking from the forward rotational direction. A digital device controls the brushed motor rotational speed and rotational directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Joseph Julicher, John Charais, Keith Curtis
  • Publication number: 20080272835
    Abstract: Activation of an external sensor coupled to an electronic device will change the frequency of a low power oscillator in the electronic device that runs during a low power sleep mode of the electronic device. When a change in frequency of the low power oscillator is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode. In addition, when a change in frequency from an external frequency source is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Zacharias Marthinus Smit, Keith Curtis, James Simons, Jerrold S. Zdenek, John Charais
  • Publication number: 20080272836
    Abstract: Activation of an external sensor coupled to an electronic device will change the frequency of a low power oscillator in the electronic device that runs during a low power sleep mode of the electronic device. When a change in frequency of the low power oscillator is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode. In addition, when a change in frequency from an external frequency source is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Zacharias Marthinus Smit, Keith Curtis, James (Jim) Simons, Jerrold S. Zdenek, John Charais
  • Publication number: 20080272826
    Abstract: Activation of an external sensor coupled to an electronic device will change the frequency of a low power oscillator in the electronic device that runs during a low power sleep mode of the electronic device. When a change in frequency of the low power oscillator is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode. In addition, when a change in frequency from an external frequency source is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Zacharias Marthinus Smit, Keith Curtis, James (Jim) Simons, Jerrold S. Zdenek, John Charais
  • Publication number: 20080272827
    Abstract: Activation of an external sensor coupled to an electronic device will change the frequency of a low power oscillator in the electronic device that runs during a low power sleep mode of the electronic device. When a change in frequency of the low power oscillator is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode. In addition, when a change in frequency from an external frequency source is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Zacharias Marthinus Smit, Keith Curtis, James (Jim) Simons, Jerrold S. Zdenek, John Charais
  • Publication number: 20080253753
    Abstract: A single low side power transistor switch is used to efficiently control a brushed motor in a forward rotational direction. A boost voltage power supply is used to supply voltage to the brushed motor in a reverse rotational direction and/or braking from the forward rotational direction. A digital device controls the brushed motor rotational speed and rotational directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Inventors: Joseph Julicher, John Charais, Keith Curtis