Patents Represented by Attorney Andrew M. Hassell
  • Patent number: 4215395
    Abstract: An intelligent programmable process control system for controlling industrial processing and manufacturing equipment and the like utilizes a unique system of cooperating multiple microprocessors. A multi-bit microprocessor is utilized for controlling the analog portion of the processing equipment, and a single-bit microprocessor is utilized for sequencing. The control processor has overall supervisory control. An arbitration circuit for resolving simultaneous or phased access to memory by the two microprocessors is provided. In addition, a circuit is provided for accomplishing parallel I/O, again accessible by both microprocessors. In one embodiment, means for linking arithmetic functions and non-arithmetic (logic) functions within a boolean-type instruction set is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1980
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael L. Bunyard, Bobby G. Burkett
  • Patent number: 4215396
    Abstract: An intelligent programmable process control system for controlling industrial processing and manufacturing equipment and the like utilizes a unique system of cooperating multiple processors. A digital processor is utilized for controlling the analog portion of the processing equipment, and a boolean processor is utilized for sequencing and controlling the on/off states of controllable devices. Along the process communication means is provided for communications between the processors. In one embodiment, a circuit is provided for accomplishing parallel digital I/O, accessible by the digital processor for additional control of the analog processing equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1980
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Raymond W. Henry, Bobby G. Burkett, Michael L. Bunyard
  • Patent number: 4215397
    Abstract: An intelligent programmable process control system is responsive to the states of sensors located along a process for controlling the states of controllable devices located along the process. The system includes a microprocessor which sequentially scans an addressable memory to execute a sequence of boolean logic instructions in accordance with the states of the sensors to control the controllable devices accordingly. The microprocessor includes means for generating an end-of-scan signal upon execution of the last instruction of a sequence contained in memory. Receptor means is provided for receiving extended addressable memory for storing additional instructions of the sequence if required, the receptor means including indicator signal generator means for generating a signal indicative of the presence of such extended memory in the receptor means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1980
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Gim P. Hom
  • Patent number: 4209974
    Abstract: Electronic circuits especially adapted for driving an electro-optic representation of a conventional mechanical analog watch, such circuits providing improved signal multiplexing for activating the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1980
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Robert T. Noble
  • Patent number: 4151407
    Abstract: A low-power infrared information transmission system, the transmitter of which is compact, portable and capable of being powered by a low-voltage battery power source for an extended period of time, utilizes a unique infrared light pulse position modulation technique. The system is capable of transmitting information from a DC signal to a relatively high frequency AC signal. The system is utilized, for example, to transmit medical information from medical electrodes affixed to a patient via a portable infrared transmitter to a receiver unit which monitors and analyzes the patient's condition; to provide a remote control unit such as the controller for a video game or a TV on/off/channel selector, and, to provide a portable communications device such as a portable microphone or telephone set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1979
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Lyle E. McBride, Richard G. Delagi, George Trenkler
  • Patent number: 4150284
    Abstract: A medical patient condition monitoring system includes a portable battery-operable transmitter module which transmits monitored conditions of the patient via infrared energy to the receiver input stage of a medical monitoring and display unit. In one embodiment, the transmitter module which may be worn on the patient's person includes medical electrodes which are coupled to the patient's skin to receive electrical signals generated by the patient's anatomy. A voltage-controlled pulse position modulator circuit is coupled to the medical electrodes for generating pulses controllably positioned in time from a reference frequency in dependence upon the amplitude of the signal generated by the medical electrodes. An infrared light-emitting device is coupled to the output of the pulse position modulator circuit for generating infrared energy bursts in synchronism with the pulses generated by the modulator circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1979
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: George Trenkler, Richard G. Delagi, Lyle E. McBride, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4061506
    Abstract: A semiconductive device and a method for producing the semiconductive device, wherein random defects or inaccuracies in precise registrations of certain patterns are compensated by the introduction of selected impurities. The selected impurities bring about changes in the electrical characteristics of those portions of the semiconductor affected by the random defects or registration inaccuracies so as to prevent them from causing malfunctions in the completed devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1977
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: David Joal McElroy
  • Patent number: 3993999
    Abstract: An antenna system forming a cluster of closely spaced beams filling a desired angular scan sector is disclosed. A transmit signal amplitude applied to each beam is modulated as a function of time to form a composite beam which scans smoothly across the scan sector. The RF transmit signal is initially split into a plurality of equal amplitude signals and fed to a plurality of attenuators by power dividers for selective amplitude modulation of the RF signals. The amplitude modulating signals are supplied the attenuator by a digital controller which also supplies switch control signals to selectively switch amplitude modulating transmit signals of varying amplitude to selected feed elements of an array of radiating elements in a time sequence for feeding an antenna reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1976
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Christian O. Hemmi, William F. Hayes
  • Patent number: 3987451
    Abstract: An improved planar (flat plate) array antenna system and method of fabrication is disclosed. A planar array antenna or array is mounted in a support for stabilization against roll and pitch movements with a rotary joint providing uninterrupted radar operation. The array is scanned in azimuth up to 120 rpm with elevation or tilt control. The support arrangement is a four gimbal arrangement providing for a high r-f gain to swept volume ratio for a forward looking radar with fast azimuth scan. The array comprises a front plate and a back plate attached to spaced flanged beams and end shorts for forming a plurality of RF energy cavities. The front plate has radiation output ports (shunt slots) covered with a Kapton layer for closing the array cavities against moisture and to permit pressurization to prevent arcing. The back plate has power divider slots (series slots) over which a manifold is disposed for distributing RF energy into the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1976
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Robert K. Peterson
  • Patent number: 3935499
    Abstract: A flat cathode ray tube device is provided with a monolythic structure for x-y control of a matrix of electron beams. A sandwiched deflection control structure has holes through which the beams may pass and forms a set of x-y control of the trajectory of the beams. A plurality of like mesh plates make up the control structure with offset shield provisions therein in the region of the path of each of said beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1976
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Frederick G. Oess