Patents by Inventor Seth M. Prentice

Seth M. Prentice 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: 10142751
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods to reduce power use of an accessory detection device. The accessory detection device can be configured to be coupled to a mobile device having an audio jack configured to be coupled to a mobile device accessory having a send/end key. In an example, the accessory detection device can include a comparator and a switch. The comparator can be configured to receive mobile device accessory information from the mobile device accessory and to determine activation of the send/end key using the received mobile device accessory information. The switch can be configured to receive connection information indicative of mobile device accessory connection to the audio jack and to isolate a reference input of the comparator from a supply voltage using the connection information, for example, to reduce leakage current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Seth M. Prentice, Julie Lynn Stultz
  • Publication number: 20180184221
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods to reduce power use of an accessory detection device. The accessory detection device can be configured to be coupled to a mobile device having an audio jack configured to be coupled to a mobile device accessory having a send/end key. In an example, the accessory detection device can include a comparator and a switch. The comparator can be configured to receive mobile device accessory information from the mobile device accessory and to determine activation of the send/end key using the received mobile device accessory information. The switch can be configured to receive connection information indicative of mobile device accessory connection to the audio jack and to isolate a reference input of the comparator from a supply voltage using the connection information, for example, to reduce leakage current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Seth M. Prentice, Julie Lynn Stultz
  • Publication number: 20170201843
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods to reduce power use of an accessory detection device. The accessory detection device can be configured to be coupled to a mobile device having an audio jack configured to be coupled to a mobile device accessory having a send/end key. In an example, the accessory detection device can include a comparator and a switch. The comparator can be configured to receive mobile device accessory information from the mobile device accessory and to determine activation of the send/end key using the received mobile device accessory information. The switch can be configured to receive connection information indicative of mobile device accessory connection to the audio jack and to isolate a reference input of the comparator from a supply voltage using the connection information, for example, to reduce leakage current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Applicant: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Seth M. Prentice, Julie Lynn Stultz
  • Patent number: 9674598
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, an advanced slave circuit and method configured to transfer power from a master device to a battery through an advanced slave circuit in a first mode using a load switch in a first state, to isolate the battery from the master device using the load switch in a second state, and to selectively couple a microphone to the master device using the advanced slave circuit in a second mode using a microphone switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Seth M. Prentice
  • Patent number: 9635453
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods to reduce power use of an accessory detection device. The accessory detection device can be configured to be coupled to a mobile device having an audio jack configured to be coupled to a mobile device accessory having a send/end key. In an example, the accessory detection device can include a comparator and a switch. The comparator can be configured to receive mobile device accessory information from the mobile device accessory and to determine activation of the send/end key using the received mobile device accessory information. The switch can be configured to receive connection information indicative of mobile device accessory connection to the audio jack and to isolate a reference input of the comparator from a supply voltage using the connection information, for example, to reduce leakage current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seth M. Prentice, Julie Lynn Stultz
  • Patent number: 9591421
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a detection system configured to identify a type of a pole of a four-pole audio jack using first and second comparators. The detection system can include a bias circuit configured to bias a detection input coupled to the pole, and first and second comparators configured to compare the detection input to respective first and second thresholds to provide an indication of the type of the pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seth M. Prentice, Julie Lynn Stultz, Yongliang Li, Graham L S Connolly, Shawn Barden
  • Publication number: 20170064479
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, an audio jack detection switch configured to be coupled to first and second GND/MIC terminals of an audio jack, wherein the audio jack detection switch includes a detection circuit configured to measure an impedance on the first and second GND/MIC terminals and identify each GND/MIC terminal as either a GND pole or a MIC pole using the measured impedance, and wherein the audio jack detection switch includes a switch configured to automatically couple an identified MIC pole to a MIC connection and to automatically couple an identified GND pole to a GND connection using information from the detection circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Seth M. Prentice
  • Patent number: 9519602
    Abstract: This application discusses a system that can include a master device and a slave device coupled to the master device via an audio jack connector. In an example, the master device and the slave device can be configured to exchange information via a single conductive path of the audio jack connector using a digital communication protocol. The single conductive path can be configured to conduct audio signals of an audio transducer and the slave device can include a depletion-mode transistor to complete a circuit including the audio transducer and the single conductive path in a first state, and to isolate the audio transducer from the single conductive path in a second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Seth M. Prentice
  • Patent number: 9497559
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, an audio jack detection switch configured to be coupled to first and second GND/MIC terminals of an audio jack, wherein the audio jack detection switch includes a detection circuit configured to measure an impedance on the first and second GND/MIC terminals and identify each GND/MIC terminal as either a GND pole or a MIC pole using the measured impedance, and wherein the audio jack detection switch includes a switch configured to automatically couple an identified MIC pole to a MIC connection and to automatically couple an identified GND pole to a GND connection using information from the detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Seth M. Prentice
  • Patent number: 9432786
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a MIC audio noise filtering system configured to detect MIC audio noise at a pole of a four-pole audio jack using first and second comparators. The MIC audio noise detection system can include first and second comparators configured to compare a value of the pole to respective first and second thresholds and to provide an output indicative of the comparisons and a detection circuit configured to count changes in the output over a first period of time and to detect MIC audio noise at the pole of the four-pole audio jack using the count.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Seth M. Prentice, Shawn Barden
  • Patent number: 9294857
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a GSM noise detection system configured to detect GSM noise at a pole of a four-pole audio jack using first and second comparators. The GSM noise detection system can include first and second comparators configured to compare a value of the pole to respective first and second thresholds and to provide an output indicative of the comparisons and a detection circuit configured to count changes in the output over a first period of time and to detect GSM noise at the pole of the four-pole audio jack using the count.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Seth M. Prentice
  • Patent number: 9253564
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods including a depletion-mode switch configured to pass an audio signal from an input to an output in a low-impedance state when a power source is below a threshold and to isolate the input from the output in a high-impedance state when the power source is above the threshold and a noise-cancelation circuit configured to receive the audio signal from the input and to provide a modulated audio signal at the output when the power source is above the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Seth M. Prentice
  • Publication number: 20150296286
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, an advanced slave circuit and method configured to transfer power from a master device to a battery through an advanced slave circuit in a first mode using a load switch in a first state, to isolate the battery from the master device using the load switch in a second state, and to selectively couple a microphone to the master device using the advanced slave circuit in a second mode using a microphone switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventor: Seth M. Prentice
  • Publication number: 20150222982
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods to reduce power use of an accessory detection device. The accessory detection device can be configured to be coupled to a mobile device having an audio jack configured to be coupled to a mobile device accessory having a send/end key. In an example, the accessory detection device can include a comparator and a switch. The comparator can be configured to receive mobile device accessory information from the mobile device accessory and to determine activation of the send/end key using the received mobile device accessory information. The switch can be configured to receive connection information indicative of mobile device accessory connection to the audio jack and to isolate a reference input of the comparator from a supply voltage using the connection information, for example, to reduce leakage current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: Seth M. Prentice, Julie Lynn Stultz
  • Patent number: 9060228
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first connector, a second connector, a detection circuit and a logic circuit. The first connector and the second connector are configured for electrical communication with first and second conducting terminals, respectively, of an audio jack plug. The detection circuit is configured to apply a first value of current to the first connector, and apply a second value of current to the second connector. The logic circuit is configured to generate an indication that the audio jack plug is fully inserted according to a logic level detected at the second connector when electrical ground is detected at the first connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Tony Cheng Han Lee, Shawn Kirk Barden, Seth M. Prentice
  • Patent number: 9014388
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods to reduce power use of an accessory detection device. The accessory detection device can be configured to be coupled to a mobile device having an audio jack configured to be coupled to a mobile device accessory having a send/end key. In an example, the accessory detection device can include a comparator and a switch. The comparator can be configured to receive mobile device accessory information from the mobile device accessory and to determine activation of the send/end key using the received mobile device accessory information. The switch can be configured to receive connection information indicative of mobile device accessory connection to the audio jack and to isolate a reference input of the comparator from a supply voltage using the connection information, for example, to reduce leakage current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Seth M. Prentice, Julie Lynn Stultz
  • Publication number: 20150043757
    Abstract: This application discusses a system that can include a master device and a slave device coupled to the master device via an audio jack connector. In an example, the master device and the slave device can be configured to exchange information via a single conductive path of the audio jack connector using a digital communication protocol. The single conductive path can be configured to conduct audio signals of an audio transducer and the slave device can include a depletion-mode transistor to complete a circuit including the audio transducer and the single conductive path in a first state, and to isolate the audio transducer from the single conductive path in a second state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventor: Seth M. Prentice
  • Patent number: 8831234
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, an audio jack detection circuit configured to be coupled to an audio jack receptacle of an external device. The audio jack detection circuit configured to receive to receive audio jack receptacle information, to disable an oscillator when the audio jack receptacle information indicates that the audio jack receptacle is empty, and to enable the oscillator when the audio jack receptacle information indicates that the audio jack receptacle includes an audio jack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Turner, Seth M. Prentice, Oscar Freitas, Wonsoo Moon
  • Patent number: 8817994
    Abstract: This document provides apparatus and methods for providing low-power operation of an interface circuit during an interval when a port of the interface circuit is in an uncoupled state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Turner, Seth M. Prentice
  • Publication number: 20140038460
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first connector, a second connector, a detection circuit and a logic circuit. The first connector and the second connector are configured for electrical communication with first and second conducting terminals, respectively, of an audio jack plug. The detection circuit is configured to apply a first value of current to the first connector, and apply a second value of current to the second connector. The logic circuit is configured to generate an indication that the audio jack plug is fully inserted according to a logic level detected at the second connector when electrical ground is detected at the first connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Inventors: Tony Cheng Han Lee, Shawn Kirk Barden, Seth M. Prentice