Patents Examined by Anh Tran
  • Patent number: 9407262
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a self calibration unit configured to iterate a test on a logic circuit in the integrated circuit at respectively lower supply voltage magnitudes until the test fails. A lowest supply voltage magnitude at which the test passes is used to generate a requested supply voltage magnitude for the integrated circuit. In an embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a series connection of logic gates physically distributed over an area of the integrated circuit, and a measurement unit configured to launch a logical transition into the series and detect a corresponding transition at the output of the series. The amount of time between the launch and the detection is used to request a supply voltage magnitude for the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Vincent R. von Kaenel
  • Patent number: 9401190
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for implementing a programmable integrated circuit device that enables high-speed FPGA boot-up through a significant reduction of configuration time. By enabling high-speed FPGA boot-up, the programmable integrated circuit device will be able to accommodate applications that require faster boot-up time than conventional programmable integrated circuit devices are able to accommodate. In order to enable high-speed boot-up, dedicated address registers are implemented for each data line segment of a data line, which in turn significantly reduces configuration random access memory (CRAM) write time (e.g., by a factor of at least two).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Pin Tan, Kiun Kiet Jong, Lai Pheng Tan
  • Patent number: 9398695
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided to fabricate massive monolithic arrays of individually addressable light emitting diodes, assemble a plurality of such massive monolithic arrays of individually addressable light emitting diodes, control each individual light emitting diode, and to assemble the same in manner to achieve the accuracy and stability for a massive number of individually controlled light emitting diodes that can then be focused using projection optics on to a photoreceptive surface. In addition methods and apparatus are provided to move the imaging system thus described relative to the photoreceptive surface in two axes orthogonal to each other thus exposing the photoreceptive surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: 4233999 Canada Inc.
    Inventor: Najeeb Ashraf Khalid
  • Patent number: 9398657
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a light emitting device driver chip for driving light emitting devices in series. The chip includes: plural pins electrically connected to corresponding light emitting devices, respectively, wherein an internal voltage is provided through a predetermined one of the pins; a voltage regulation circuit for providing an operation voltage according to the internal voltage; a switch circuit including plural switch groups electrically connected to corresponding pins, respectively; a current source circuit for providing a current to the light emitting devices; and a switch control circuit for controlling the switch groups to determine which light emitting device is turned ON. The light emitting device driver chip does not directly receive the rectified input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tong-Cheng Jao, Isaac Y. Chen, Yi-Wei Lee
  • Patent number: 9398653
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a LED driver including a power stage, an inductor, an error amplifier, a set comparator, a first timer, a logical AND circuit, a reset comparator, a second timer a logical OR circuit, a RS flip flop and a driving circuit. The LED driver provides sufficient latching current for the TRIAC dimmer with no large RC circuit, so as to optimize the dimming and reduce system size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naixing Kuang, Zilin Fan
  • Patent number: 9392672
    Abstract: A light source apparatus according to the present invention, includes a substrate, a plurality of light source units provided on the substrate, a partition wall provided on the substrate and surrounding each of the light source units, and an optical sensor disposed between two or more of the light source units that are adjacent to each other, wherein the number of optical sensors is lower than the number of light source units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanao Kurita, Masahiro Kamiyoshihara, Yasuhiro Matsuura
  • Patent number: 9392659
    Abstract: A light-emitting control unit (24) controls a light source (26). Specifically, the light-emitting control unit (24) controls the light source (26) in accordance with control data which is transmitted from a master control unit (10) through a communication line (32). A communication control unit (22) controls connection between the light-emitting control unit (24) and the communication line (32). Further, the communication control units (22) of a plurality of light-emitting modules (20) are connected to each other in series through a control line (34). In addition, the communication control unit (22) located at an uppermost stream is connected to the master control unit (10) through the control line (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichi Ishizuka, Takeshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9392658
    Abstract: System and method for dimming solid-state lighting (SSL) avoids visual anomalies such as flicker for different types of SSL fixtures. This ability to avoid visual anomalies allows the system and method to be compatible with virtually any SSL fixture from any manufacturer. A controller is provided in some implementations that automatically generates a dimming voltage for the SSL fixtures based on a dimming control signal. A skip-phase dimming module is provided in some implementations that operates in conjunction with the controller to automatically skip dimming levels that cause visual anomalies in the SSL fixtures. A wireless module is provided in some implementations to receive signals from remote sensors and other input devices, such as ambient light sensors, occupancy sensors, color sensors, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Towfiq Chowdhury, Bobby D. Taylor
  • Patent number: 9386662
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes techniques and apparatuses for a customizable lighting controller. In some aspects a lighting controller is described that includes a display device to display selectable lighting functions, switches that each correspond to one of the selectable lighting functions, and a lighting controller manager to receive an input of a selectable lighting function at one of the switches of the lighting controller. The lighting controller manager can then initiate a display of the selected lighting level on the display device of the lighting controller. The lighting controller manager can also control a dimming module to set the selected lighting level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: J. Peter Hoddie, Chris Krueger, Patrick Soquet, Andrew Jacob Carle
  • Patent number: 9385717
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for a contention-free single-wire latch controller that includes first and second bidirectional signal pins (e.g., the L and R pins in the FIGS), a latch enable output pin (or signal), E, and a decision element (such as a NAND or a NOR gate). A first driving transistor may be coupled between the first bidirectional signal pin and a power rail. A second driving transistor may be coupled between the second bidirectional signal pin and the power rail. A first half-latch may be coupled to the first bidirectional signal pin. A second half-latch may be coupled to the second bidirectional signal pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventor: Dana How
  • Patent number: 9386663
    Abstract: A monitoring system and method can determine whether an ambient intensity surrounding a computer is suitable for a user when the user is working with the computer. The system and method can adjust the intensity of a light source in responds to the ambient intensity being unsuitable for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignees: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (WuHan) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shao-Bo Zhang, Jian-Hung Hung
  • Patent number: 9386639
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a white LED light emitting device driven directly by constant current in manner of being supplied with alternating current. N parallel branches, consisting of LED modules and constant current units which are in series connection with the LED modules, are connected to an output terminal of a rectification circuit, and by setting the current value, the turning-off voltage, and the turning-on voltage of the constant current unit of each branch, the periodic flickers generated due to changes in the voltage of the alternating current can be avoided. Because the current of each branch is constant, the changes in junction temperatures do not result in the current changing in LED, and the reliability is improved. Along with the increase of the number of the branches, the driving current waveform approximates a sine wave, and the power factor and the efficiency of the light emitting device are improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: SICHUAN SUNFOR LIGHT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dongming Li, Mian Yang, Zhengyong Feng, Wentao Long, Kun Zhao, Ming Zhang
  • Patent number: 9385725
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a configurable integrated circuit (IC) that has several configurable circuits for configurably performing different operations. During the operation of the IC, each particular configurable circuit performs a particular operation that is specified by a particular configuration data set for the particular configurable circuit. While the IC operates and a first set of configurable circuits performs a first set of operations, configuration data is loaded from the outside of the IC for configuring a second set of configurable circuits. In some embodiments, the configurable IC includes a configuration network for rapid loading configuration data in the IC from outside of the IC. In some of these embodiments, the configuration network is a pipelined network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Brad Hutchings, Jason Redgrave, Teju Khubchandani, Herman Schmit, Steven Teig
  • Patent number: 9380682
    Abstract: A method and system for facilitating at least first and second different activities within a first space that includes a first set of environmental control affordances including at least a first subset of lighting devices, the method comprising the steps of monitoring for triggers associated with the first space, when a trigger occurs, determining which of the first and second activities to facilitate, when the first activity is to be facilitated, controlling the environmental control affordances to present a first series of environments associated with the first activity and when the second activity is to be facilitated, controlling the environmental control affordances to present a second series of environments associated with the second activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Karl Mead, Hyun Yoo, Cherie Johnson
  • Patent number: 9378673
    Abstract: An organic light emitting display device, can include a panel, a driving unit driving the panel, a timing controller controlling the driving unit, a power supply supplying power to the panel, a current detection unit detecting a current flowing through power line wiring of the panel and outputting the detected currents, and a power controller comparing the detected current with a current value configured internally and outputting a shutdown signal which turns off the power supply if the detected current exceeds the predetermined current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dongkyoung Oh, Sangho Yu, Hyunson Chon, Myungjin Pyeon, Youngin Kim, Munjun Lee
  • Patent number: 9379706
    Abstract: Disclosed is a programmable logic device (PLD) which can undergo dynamic configuration at a high speed. The PLD includes a plurality of programmable logic elements (PLEs) and a switch for selecting electrical connection between the PLEs. The switch includes a plurality of circuit groups each of which includes first and second transistors. The second transistors of the circuit groups are electrically connected in parallel with one another. In each of the circuit groups, the electrical conduction between a source and a drain of the second transistor is determined based on configuration data held at a node between the gate of the second transistor and a drain of the first transistor, which allows the selection of the electrical connection and disconnection between the programmable logic elements by the selection of one of the circuit groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 9372299
    Abstract: Hollow-core capillary discharge lamps on the mm or sub-mm scale are provided. The hollow-core capillary discharge lamps achieve an increased light intensity ratio between 194 mm (useful) and 254 mm (useless) light than conventional lamps. The capillary discharge lamps may include a cone to increase light output. Hollow-core photonic crystal fiber (HCPCF) may also be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Lin Yi, Robert L. Tjoelker, Eric A. Burt, Shouhua Huang
  • Patent number: 9370071
    Abstract: A light bulb assembly is described. The light bulb assembly includes a bridge rectifier to perform full wave rectification of an alternating current (AC) power source, a capacitor to smooth a voltage from the bridge rectifier, and a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged in series. A number of LEDs included in the light bulb assembly is selected by substantially balancing the voltage from the AC power source with a predefined voltage drop associated with each of the LEDs to consume the voltage entirely using the LEDs to generate light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: iLight, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua James Wiscombe, Gary Bret Millar
  • Patent number: 9363869
    Abstract: A method of eliminating interference at an optical sensor of a mobile device that receives light from multiple light sources. The mobile device includes an optical navigation module having a cover and an illumination device disposed around the periphery of the cover. The optical navigation module includes an optical sensor that detects light reflected from an object contacting the cover. A processor receives electrical signals from the optical sensor and interprets movement of the object. The method reduces interference between the light source of the optical navigation module and the light source of the illumination device by controlling emission of light rays from each light source. The emission of light rays may be controlled based on timing, frequency and/or coding domains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventor: Zhen Kent Zhang
  • Patent number: 9363352
    Abstract: Duplex audio is provided for a mobile communication device and an accessory. In some embodiments, the accessory can selectably operate in a duplex audio mode, concurrently sending audio to and receiving audio from the mobile communication device, or in another audio mode. In duplex audio mode, the accessory can enable its internal audio processing operations (e.g., echo cancellation) while the mobile communication device disables its corresponding internal operations or vice versa. The mobile communication device can control when the accessory transitions into and/or out of duplex audio mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jason J. Yew, Lawrence G. Bolton