Patents by Inventor Richard Van Epps

Richard Van Epps 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: 7532492
    Abstract: An accessory device voltage management system includes an accessory device selectively coupled to a host. The host provides a bulk power supply and a low power supply voltage to the accessory device. The host receives accessory device parameters from the device and determines if the accessory device is a valid and supported device and, if so, sends commands to the accessory device to couple the bulk power supply voltage to a power supply circuit in the accessory device. The power supply circuit in the accessory device generates at least a first regulated voltage output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Dobyns, Michael J. Mende, Richard A. Van Epps, Michael D. Stevens
  • Publication number: 20070143638
    Abstract: An accessory device voltage management system includes an accessory device selectively coupled to a host. The host provides a bulk power supply and a low power supply voltage to the accessory device. The host receives accessory device parameters from the device and determines if the accessory device is a valid and supported device and, if so, sends commands to the accessory device to couple the bulk power supply voltage to a power supply circuit in the accessory device. The power supply circuit in the accessory device generates at least a first regulated voltage output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventors: Kenneth Dobyns, Michael Mende, Richard Van Epps, Michael Stevens
  • Patent number: 7164994
    Abstract: A differential termination and attenuator network having an internal common mode termination voltage generator includes first and second termination resistors coupled in parallel with corresponding resistive attenuator circuits. A monitoring circuit coupled to input nodes of the network generates an output signal representative of the combination of a DC common mode voltage on the input nodes and an internal termination voltage. A control circuit generates scaled termination and compensation voltages and associated drive currents using the internal termination voltage and the monitoring circuit output signal. The scaled termination voltage and the scaled compensation voltage operate on the differential termination and attenuation network to optimize the dynamic range of a differential amplifier connected to the first and second attenuator outputs and null the DC currents at the input of the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Van Epps, Ira G. Pollock, Michael D. Stevens, Dale R. Daniels
  • Patent number: 7164995
    Abstract: A differential termination and attenuator network receives a differential input signal having a DC common mode voltage. The network circuit includes input termination resistors coupled in parallel with corresponding resistive attenuator circuits. A monitoring circuit coupled to input nodes of the network generates an output signal representative of the combination of a DC common mode voltage on the input nodes and an applied termination voltage. A control circuit receives the output signal from the monitoring circuit and the applied termination voltage and generates a scaled termination voltage and a scaled compensation voltage and drive currents. The scaled termination and compensation voltages and drive currents provide DC currents through the input termination resistances and the attenuators for nulling DC currents at the network input nodes and provides a DC common mode voltage output from the attenuators for optimizing the dynamic range of a differential measurement amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Ira G. Pollock, Richard A. Van Epps
  • Patent number: 7162375
    Abstract: A differential termination and attenuator network having an automated common mode termination voltage generator includes first and second termination resistors coupled in parallel with corresponding resistive attenuator circuits. A monitoring circuit coupled to input nodes of the network generates an output signal representative of the combination of a DC common mode voltage on the input nodes and an adjustable termination voltage. A control circuit generates scaled termination and compensation voltages and associated drive currents using the adjustable termination voltage and the monitoring circuit output signal. The scaled termination voltage and the scaled compensation voltage operate on the differential termination and attenuation network to optimize the dynamic range of a differential amplifier connected to the first and second attenuator outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Van Epps, Ira G. Pollock
  • Publication number: 20060176030
    Abstract: A differential termination and attenuator network having an internal common mode termination voltage generator includes first and second termination resistors coupled in parallel with corresponding resistive attenuator circuits. A monitoring circuit coupled to input nodes of the network generates an output signal representative of the combination of a DC common mode voltage on the input nodes and an internal termination voltage. A control circuit generates scaled termination and compensation voltages and associated drive currents using the internal termination voltage and the monitoring circuit output signal. The scaled termination voltage and the scaled compensation voltage operate on the differential termination and attenuation network to optimize the dynamic range of a differential amplifier connected to the first and second attenuator outputs and null the DC currents at the input of the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Publication date: August 10, 2006
    Inventors: Richard Van Epps, Ira Pollock, Michael Stevens, Dale Daniels
  • Publication number: 20060178846
    Abstract: A differential termination and attenuator network receives a differential input signal having a DC common mode voltage. The network circuit includes first and second input termination resistors coupled in parallel with corresponding resistive attenuator circuits. A monitoring circuit coupled to input nodes of the network generates an output signal representative of the combination of a DC common mode voltage on the input nodes and an applied termination voltage. A control circuit receives the output signal from the monitoring circuit and the applied termination voltage and generates a scaled termination voltage and a scaled compensation voltage and drive currents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Publication date: August 10, 2006
    Inventors: Ira Pollock, Richard Van Epps
  • Publication number: 20060176074
    Abstract: A differential termination and attenuator network having an automated common mode termination voltage generator includes first and second termination resistors coupled in parallel with corresponding resistive attenuator circuits. A monitoring circuit coupled to input nodes of the network generates an output signal representative of the combination of a DC common mode voltage on the input nodes and an adjustable termination voltage. A control circuit generates scaled termination and compensation voltages and associated drive currents using the adjustable termination voltage and the monitoring circuit output signal. The scaled termination voltage and the scaled compensation voltage operate on the differential termination and attenuation network to optimize the dynamic range of a differential amplifier connected to the first and second attenuator outputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Publication date: August 10, 2006
    Inventors: Richard Van Epps, Ira Pollock