Patents Assigned to Neofocal Systems, Inc.
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Patent number: 10305380Abstract: Serial arranged circuits allow multiple different circuit nodes to receive power with a single conductor line carrying current. Data can be transmitted to the serially arranged circuit nodes by modulating the current on the single conductor line. However, switching transistors to modulate current can consume energy. To reduce the switching losses, a double ended driver circuit is disclosed. The doubled ended driver circuit includes switching capacitors and inductors at both ends of a serial string of circuit nodes.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2014Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: NEOFOCAL SYSTEMS, INC.Inventor: Mark Peting
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Patent number: 9934191Abstract: In order to control individual circuit nodes coupled to a common serial line, each of the different circuit nodes must be assigned a locally unique address. However, mass manufactured electronics are manufactured as identical electronic devices. Thus, several techniques are presented for assigning unique addresses to identical electronic devices coupled to a common serial line. One set of techniques uses a local sensor that is stimulated in order to specify a single device on the serial line. Another set of techniques measures a pulse presented onto the common serial by a circuit node to determine its relative position on the serial line.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2014Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Assignee: NEOFOCAL SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Mark Peting, Dale Beyer, Tsutomu Shimomura
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Publication number: 20160034414Abstract: In order to control individual circuit nodes coupled to a common serial line, each of the different circuit nodes must be assigned a locally unique address. However, mass manufactured electronics are manufactured as identical electronic devices. Thus, several techniques are presented for assigning unique addresses to identical electronic devices coupled to a common serial line. One set of techniques uses a local sensor that is stimulated in order to specify a single device on the serial line. Another set of techniques measures a pulse presented onto the common serial by a circuit node to determine its relative position on the serial line.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2014Publication date: February 4, 2016Applicant: NEOFOCAL SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Mark Peting, Dale Beyer, Tsutomu Shimomura
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Publication number: 20150364983Abstract: Serial arranged circuits allow multiple different circuit nodes to receive power with a single conductor line carrying current. Data can be transmitted to the serially arranged circuit nodes by modulating the current on the single conductor line. However, switching transistors to modulate current can consume energy. To reduce the switching losses, a double ended driver circuit is disclosed. The doubled ended driver circuit includes switching capacitors and inductors at both ends of a serial string of circuit nodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2014Publication date: December 17, 2015Applicant: NEOFOCAL SYSTEMS, INC.Inventor: Mark Peting
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Patent number: 8890434Abstract: To control multiple electronic circuits organized in a series configuration, this document introduces a single-wire power, control, and feedback system. Specifically, individually controlled electronic circuits are arranged in a series configuration that is driven by a control unit located at the head of the series. The head-end control unit provides both electrical power and control signals down a single wire to drive all of the electronic circuits in the series in a manner that allows each electronic circuit to periodically draw power from the single wire and receive control information. Each electronic circuit in the series may communicate back to the head-end control unit by drawing power or not during a specified time slot.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2013Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Neofocal Systems, Inc.Inventors: Tsutomu Shimomura, Mark Peting, Dale Beyer
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Publication number: 20140333269Abstract: Data may be encoded onto a direct current power line by modulating the current on that direct current power line. One method of modulating the current is by placing an inductor on the power line and then using a controlled transistor that turns on and turns off. The inductor will ensure that current keeps flowing but the transistor will induce changes in the current pattern. The excess current from when transistor is turned off must be diverted. Furthermore, to create symmetrical current changes, the inductor should be reverse biased. Thus, a circuit is created that sinks the excess current from when the transistor is turned off and used to reverse bias the inductor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2014Publication date: November 13, 2014Applicant: NEOFOCAL SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Mark Peting, Dale Beyer, Tsutomu Shimomura
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Publication number: 20140265607Abstract: Electrical power is traditionally transmitted with high-voltage alternating current transmission lines. For some limited applications, high-voltage direct current is used to transmit electrical power since direct current transmission is much more efficient. However, due to the high costs of high-voltage alternating to high-voltage direct current conversion equipment, direct current transmission is rarely use. To provide direct current electrical transmission at a reduced cost, a loop-based direct current transmission system is disclosed. The loop-based direct current system operates by carrying direct current in a loop that coupled individual power consumer and power generating nodes. Each node can add voltage to or subtract voltage from the current loop.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Neofocal Systems, Inc.Inventor: Mark Peting
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Patent number: 8823281Abstract: To power and control multiple different electronic circuit nodes, this document introduces a single-wire multiple-circuit power and control system. Specifically, individually controlled circuit node units are arranged in a series configuration that is driven by a power and control unit located at the head of the series. Each of the individually controlled circuit node units may comprise more than one output circuit that is also individually controllable. The head-end power and control unit provides both electrical power and control signals down a single wire to drive all of the individual circuit node units in the series in a manner that allows each individual circuit node unit to be controlled individually or in assigned groups.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2013Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Neofocal Systems, Inc.Inventors: Mark Peting, Dale Beyer, Tsutomu Shimomura
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Patent number: 8716950Abstract: Data may be encoded onto a direct current power line by modulating the current on that direct current power line. One method of modulating the current is by placing an inductor on the power line and then using a controlled transistor that turns on and turns off. The inductor will ensure that current keeps flowing but the transistor will induce changes in the current pattern. The excess current from when transistor is turned off must be diverted. Furthermore, to create symmetrical current changes, the inductor should be reverse biased. Thus, a circuit is created that sinks the excess current from when the transistor is turned off and used to reverse bias the inductor.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2012Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Neofocal Systems, Inc.Inventors: Mark Peting, Dale Beyer, Tsutomu Shimomura
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Publication number: 20140035481Abstract: To power and control multiple different electronic circuit nodes, this document introduces a single-wire multiple-circuit power and control system. Specifically, individually controlled circuit node units are arranged in a series configuration that is driven by a power and control unit located at the head of the series. Each of the individually controlled circuit node units may comprise more than one output circuit that is also individually controllable. The head-end power and control unit provides both electrical power and control signals down a single wire to drive all of the individual circuit node units in the series in a manner that allows each individual circuit node unit to be controlled individually or in assigned groups.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2013Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: Neofocal Systems, Inc.Inventors: Mark Peting, Dale Beyer, Tsutomu Shimomura
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Publication number: 20130285553Abstract: To control multiple electronic circuits organized in a series configuration, this document introduces a single-wire power, control, and feedback system. Specifically, individually controlled electronic circuits are arranged in a series configuration that is driven by a control unit located at the head of the series. The head-end control unit provides both electrical power and control signals down a single wire to drive all of the electronic circuits in the series in a manner that allows each electronic circuit to periodically draw power from the single wire and receive control information. Each electronic circuit in the series may communicate back to the head-end control unit by drawing power or not during a specified time slot.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2013Publication date: October 31, 2013Applicant: Neofocal Systems, Inc.Inventors: Tsutomu Shimomura, Mark Peting, Dale Beyer
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Publication number: 20130278176Abstract: To control multiple electronic circuits organized in a series configuration, this document introduces a single-wire power and control system. Specifically, individually controlled electronic circuits are arranged in a series configuration that is driven by a control unit located at the head of the series. The head-end control unit provides both electrical power and control signals down a single wire to drive all of the electronic circuits in the series in a manner that allows each electronic circuit to periodically draw power from the single wire. Each electronic circuit in the series has been designed such that the electronic circuits coordinate power draws to reduce peak power demand.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2013Publication date: October 24, 2013Applicant: Neofocal Systems, Inc.Inventors: Tsutomu Shimomura, Mark Peting, Dale Beyer
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Publication number: 20130095650Abstract: Waffle transistors are used within an integrated circuit when a transistor must carry an amount of current greater than the amount of current carried by a typical transistor in the integrated circuit. In a waffle transistor a set of source areas and drain areas are arranged in a checkerboard pattern. The source areas must all be connected together and the drain areas must all be connected together. To efficiently connect the source (or drain) areas together, a serpentine metal interconnect pattern is used. The serpentine pattern reduces the amount of metal required outside of the array. The serpentine pattern may be improved with offset contacts in the source and drain areas that cause the serpentine metal interconnects to be straighter.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2011Publication date: April 18, 2013Applicant: NEOFOCAL SYSTEMS, INC.Inventor: Tsutomu Shimomura
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Patent number: 8350496Abstract: Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are increasingly used in illumination applications. To control multiple Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), or any other controllable light source, this document introduces a single-wire multiple-LED power and control system. Specifically, individually controlled LED units are arranged in a series configuration that is driven by a control unit located at the head of the series. Each of the individually controlled LED units may comprise more than one LED that is also individually controllable. The head-end control unit provides both electrical power and control signals down a single wire to drive all of the LED units in the series in a manner that allows each LED unit to be controlled individually or in assigned groups.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2011Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Neofocal Systems, Inc.Inventors: Mark Peting, Dale Beyer, Tsutomu Shimomura
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Patent number: 8350497Abstract: An controlled LED lighting system that operates using a single conductor to power and control LED nodes is disclosed. The controlled LED lighting system modulates control data onto a nominally constant DC signal transmitted down a single conductor serial line. Nodes coupled the serial line draw power into a local capacitor and demodulate the data signal. Each node shunts the serial line when additional power is not required such that the data signal is received by every node on the serial line.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2011Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Neofocal Systems, Inc.Inventors: Mark Peting, Dale Beyer, Tsutomu Shimomura
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Patent number: 8344659Abstract: Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are increasingly used in illumination applications. To control multiple Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), or any other controllable light source, this document introduces a single-wire multiple-LED power and control system. Specifically, individually controlled LED units are arranged in a series configuration that is driven by a control unit located at the head of the series. Each of the individually controlled LED units may comprise more than one LED that is also individually controllable. The head-end control unit provides both electrical power and control signals down a single wire to drive all of the LED units in the series in a manner that allows each LED unit to be controlled individually or in assigned groups.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2009Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: Neofocal Systems, Inc.Inventors: Tsutomu Shimomura, Mark Peting, Dale Beyer
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Publication number: 20120313544Abstract: Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are increasingly used in illumination applications. To control multiple Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), or any other controllable light source, this document introduces a single-wire multiple-LED power and control system. Specifically, individually controlled LED units are arranged in a series configuration that is driven by a control unit located at the head of the series. Each of the individually controlled LED units may comprise more than one LED that is also individually controllable. The head-end control unit provides both electrical power and control signals down a single wire to drive all of the LED units in the series in a manner that allows each LED unit to be controlled individually or in assigned groups.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2011Publication date: December 13, 2012Applicant: NEOFOCAL SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Tsutomu Shimomura, Mark Peting, Dale Beyer
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Publication number: 20120299480Abstract: Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are increasingly used in illumination applications. To control multiple Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), or any other controllable light source, this document introduces a single-wire multiple-LED power and control system. Specifically, individually controlled LED units are arranged in a series configuration that is driven by a control unit located at the head of the series. Each of the individually controlled LED units may comprise more than one LED that is also individually controllable. The head-end control unit provides both electrical power and control signals down a single wire to drive all of the LED units in the series in a manner that allows each LED unit to be controlled individually or in assigned groups.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2010Publication date: November 29, 2012Applicant: NEOFOCAL SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Mark Peting, Dale Beyer, Tsutomu Shimomura
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Publication number: 20120217950Abstract: Data may be encoded onto a direct current power line by modulating the current on that direct current power line. One method of modulating the current is by placing an inductor on the power line and then using a controlled transistor that turns on and turns off. The inductor will ensure that current keeps flowing but the transistor will induce changes in the current pattern. The excess current from when transistor is turned off must be diverted. Furthermore, to create symmetrical current changes, the inductor should be reverse biased. Thus, a circuit is created that sinks the excess current from when the transistor is turned off and used to reverse bias the inductor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2012Publication date: August 30, 2012Applicant: NEOFOCAL SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Mark Peting, Dale Beyer, Tsutomu Shimomura
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Publication number: 20120098328Abstract: Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are increasingly used in illumination applications. To control multiple Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), or any other controllable light source, this document introduces a single-wire multiple-LED power and control system. Specifically, individually controlled LED units are arranged in a series configuration that is driven by a control unit located at the head of the series. Each of the individually controlled LED units may comprise more than one LED that is also individually controllable. The head-end control unit provides both electrical power and control signals down a single wire to drive all of the LED units in the series in a manner that allows each LED unit to be controlled individually or in assigned groups.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2011Publication date: April 26, 2012Applicant: NEOFOCAL SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Tsutomu Shimomura, Mark Peting, Dale Beyer