Patents Examined by Jeffrey M Shin
  • Patent number: 10680552
    Abstract: Some embodiments include apparatuses and methods of using the apparatuses. One of the apparatuses includes an inductor included in an integrated circuit device, and a first oscillator and a second oscillator included in the integrated circuit device. The first oscillator includes a first terminal coupled to a conductive path of the inductor to provide a first signal. The second oscillator includes a second terminal coupled to the conductive path to provide a second signal. The first and second signals have different frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Intel IP Corporation
    Inventor: Zheng Gu
  • Patent number: 10680152
    Abstract: A passive thermal oscillator combines a thermoelectric device and a passive analog electrical circuit to produce a time-oscillating temperature difference. The oscillator makes use of a temperature difference imposed across a thermoelectric device to produce a Seebeck voltage to periodically trigger electrical current to pass through a switch. The periodic electrical current causes periodic Peltier cooling producing a time-oscillating temperature difference across the thermoelectric device. There is no requirement for additional external energy input because the thermal energy generates a voltage that is used as the driving force. The operation is purely passive. So long as there is a temperature difference across the thermoelectric device, then the passive thermal oscillator oscillates. The passive thermal oscillator can integrate multiple energy conversion device technologies to operate cooperatively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Patrick J. Taylor, Jay Maddux, Adam A. Wilson
  • Patent number: 10680464
    Abstract: Contactless power receiver 1a includes power reception unit having a contactless power reception function using electromagnetic induction; communication unit separately transmitting a plurality of data items in the vicinity of a zero cross point of an alternating current voltage from commercial power supply; and power reception side message division unit dividing a transmission message into a plurality of data items. Contactless power feeder includes power feeding unit having a contactless power feeding function using electromagnetic induction; communication unit separately receiving a plurality of data items in the vicinity of a zero cross point of an alternating current voltage from commercial power supply; and power feeding side message combination unit generating a reception message by combining a plurality of data items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tominaga, Akio Kurobe, Keiji Ogawa
  • Patent number: 10680585
    Abstract: Digital jitter accumulation reduction techniques and circuits are proposed to mitigate jitter accumulation in Voltage Controlled Oscillators (VCOs). In order to reduce jitter accumulation, employing a pair of identical injection locked VCOs is proposed in an interleaved fashion. Further jitter accumulation reductions can be provided by employing a plurality of identical injection locked VCOs selected in a cascading fashion. Yet further jitter accumulation reductions can be provided by resetting the deselected VCO(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Sadok Aouini, Naim Ben-Hamida, Mahdi Parvizi
  • Patent number: 10680639
    Abstract: A circuit device includes an A/D converter circuit that performs A/D conversion by successive approximation using a charge redistribution type D/A converter circuit having capacitor array circuits on the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side, and quantization error hold circuits that hold charges corresponding to a quantization error in the A/D conversion. The quantization error hold circuits include quantization error hold circuits on the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side having one ends connected to sampling nodes of the capacitor array circuits on the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side. The quantization error hold circuits on the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side are placed on a second direction side orthogonal to a first direction in which the capacitor array circuits on the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side are placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Tanaka, Fumikazu Komatsu
  • Patent number: 10673383
    Abstract: Embodiments of clock circuits disclosed herein include a crystal oscillator circuit, an injection oscillator coupled to kick-start the crystal oscillator circuit and a digital frequency calibration circuit coupled to recalibrate the injection oscillator. The crystal oscillator circuit is configured to generate a clock signal at a resonant frequency. The injection oscillator is coupled to supply an oscillation signal at an injection frequency to the crystal oscillator circuit to reduce a start-up time of the crystal oscillator circuit. The digital frequency calibration circuit is coupled to receive the resonant frequency and the injection frequency as inputs, and configured to supply a digital control signal to the injection oscillator to set the injection frequency of the injection oscillator substantially equal to the resonant frequency of the crystal oscillator circuit. Methods are provided herein to recalibrate the injection frequency of an injection oscillator over time, temperature and/or supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Powell, Sudipta Sarkar
  • Patent number: 10673367
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling an oscillating device is presented. In particular, a controller for adjusting the frequency of a drive signal driving a haptic actuator is presented. The controller contains a calculator adapted to receive a first and a second measurement of the electrical parameter and to calculate a difference between the first measurement and the second measurement. The first measurement is obtained at a first sampling time and the second measurement is obtained at a second sampling time. The controller is adapted to provide a control signal to adjust a frequency of the drive signal based on the difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: David Eke, Vladislav Vasilev, David Tyndall, Julian Tyrrell
  • Patent number: 10666267
    Abstract: Systems and methods for compensating a non-linearity of a digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) are presented. Data comprising a plurality of silicon measurements is received. Each silicon measurement in the plurality of silicon measurements is compared to an ideal value. Based on the comparing, a plurality of compensation vectors is generated. Each compensation vector comprises at least one silicon measurement. At least one frequency is adjusted based on a compensation vector in the plurality of compensation vectors. A digitally-controlled oscillator frequency is generated based on the adjusted at least one frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Chao Chieh Li, Chia-Chun Liao, Min-Shueh Yuan, Robert Bogdan Staszewski
  • Patent number: 10661310
    Abstract: A ultrasonic oscillator unit including an ultrasonic oscillator array in which a plurality of oscillators are arranged in a circular-arc shape; an electrode part that is provided on at least one end surface of the plurality of oscillators perpendicular to a longitudinal direction thereof and that is electrically connected with the oscillators; a backing material layer that is disposed on a rear surface of the ultrasonic oscillator array; and a cable wiring part including a flexible printed wired board. The flexible printed wired board includes a cable connecting part that extends to a lower side of the backing material layer, is separated into a plurality of belt-like pieces, and has, in a comb shape, a plurality of strip-like electrode parts in which at least one electrode pad is linearly disposed in the longitudinal direction of each of the belt-like pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuya Yamamoto, Yasuhiko Morimoto
  • Patent number: 10663598
    Abstract: Provided is an electronic device includes an oscillator circuit that outputs a clock signal of predetermined frequency, a clock circuit that counts date and time in accordance with input of the clock signal, a temperature sensor that measures a temperature relating to a change of the predetermined frequency, a receiver that receives a radio wave from a positioning satellite, and a first processor and/or a second processor. The first processor and/or the second processor estimates an amount of time count difference in date and time counted by the clock circuit on the basis of a history of temperatures measured by the temperature sensor, and combines date and time counted by the clock circuit, the estimated amount of time count difference, and part of date-and-time information obtained from a radio wave received by the receiver to identify current date and time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Matsue, Tatsuya Sekitsuka
  • Patent number: 10658973
    Abstract: Techniques for co-tuning of inductance (L) and capacitance (C) in a VNCAP-based LC tank oscillator are provided. In one aspect, an LC tank oscillator includes: a capacitor including at least two metal layers, each metal layer having metal fingers that are interdigitated, wherein an orientation of the metal fingers alternates amongst the at least two metal layers; and an inductor on the capacitor. Inter-layer vias can be present interconnecting the at least two metal layers creating conductive loops between the metal fingers, wherein an arrangement of the inter-layer vias in an area between the at least two metal layers is configured to co-tune both inductance and capacitance in the LC tank oscillator. A method of operating an LC tank oscillator and a method of co-tuning inductance and capacitance in an LC tank oscillator are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Zheng Xu, Hung Tran, Qianwen Chen, Ruqiang Bao
  • Patent number: 10659014
    Abstract: Clock generation and control in a semiconductor system having process, voltage and temperature (PVT) variation. A semiconductor device may include at least first and second ring oscillators, each disposed at locations respectively closest to first and second logic circuits of an operation circuit, and generating first and second oscillating signals. A detecting circuit is configured to perform a predetermined logic operation on the first oscillating signal and the second oscillating signal to generate a first clock signal. A calibration circuit is configured to receive the first clock signal from the detecting circuit and perform a delay control on each of the first ring oscillator and the second ring oscillator to generate a second clock signal for operating the operation circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yong Hwan Kim, Wook Kim, Ji Youn Kim
  • Patent number: 10651791
    Abstract: A method for determining characteristic parameters of an electrostatic actuation oscillator, where the method includes generating a first excitation voltage defined as being the sum of a first sinusoidal voltage and a voltage pulse; applying the first excitation voltage at the input of the oscillator; acquiring in the time domain a first response voltage present at the output of the oscillator when the first excitation voltage is applied at the input of the oscillator; obtaining, by transformation in the frequency domain, a first amplitude spectral density of the first response voltage; determining the characteristic parameters of the oscillator from the first amplitude spectral density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventor: Antoine Nowodzinski
  • Patent number: 10644708
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing a two-point calibration of a VCO in a PLL is disclosed. The method includes determining a first steady state tuning voltage of the VCO with no modulation voltage applied. Thereafter, an iterative process may be performed wherein a modulation voltage is applied to the VCO (along with the tuning voltage) and a modified divisor is applied to the divider circuit in the feedback loop. During each iteration, after the PLL is settled, the tuning voltage is measured and a difference between the current value and the first value is determined. If the current and first values of the turning voltage are not equal, another iteration may be performed, modifying at least one of the modulation voltage and the divisor, and determining the difference between the current and first values of the tuning voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joachim S. Hammerschmidt, Robert G. Lorenz
  • Patent number: 10644682
    Abstract: Disclosed is a differential relaxation oscillator using a differential structure that may stably maintain a differential voltage swing of capacitors despite an influence of an offset voltage and 1/f noise of a comparator, and also generate a dynamic current only at a point in time at which switching is performed, thereby minimizing power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Jung Hyup Lee, Kocheethra George Arup, Minkyu Je
  • Patent number: 10637396
    Abstract: A transconductance controlling circuit is provided. The transconductance controlling circuit includes a resonance circuit, a negative-resistance unit-circuit and a transconductance boosting circuit. The resonance circuit generates an oscillation signal. The negative-resistance unit-circuit is coupled to a resonance circuit and includes a first transistor and a second transistor. The transconductance boosting circuit is coupled to the negative-resistance unit-circuit and includes a third transistor and a fourth transistor. A first drain of the first transistor is coupled to a third drain of the third transistor, a first gate of the first transistor is coupled to a third gate of the third transistor, the first gate of the first transistor is coupled to a second drain of the second transistor, and a first base of the first transistor is coupled to a fourth base of the fourth transistor and to a fourth source of the fourth transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Tai-Hsing Lee, Jie Zhang
  • Patent number: 10615644
    Abstract: A wireless power reception device and a wireless communication method thereby are provided. The wireless communication method by the wireless power reception device may comprise the steps of: receiving a wireless power signal from a wireless power transmission device; measuring the strength of the wireless power signal; modulating the amplitude of the wireless power signal according to the measured strength of the wireless power signal; and performing communication with the wireless power transmission device by using the signal having the amplitude modulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: GE HYBRID TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Chun-Kil Jung, Hak Do Kim, Sang Youn Noh
  • Patent number: 10615643
    Abstract: A wireless power reception device and a wireless communication method thereby are provided. The wireless communication method by the wireless power reception device may comprise the steps of: receiving a wireless power signal from a wireless power transmission device; measuring the strength of the wireless power signal; modulating the amplitude of the wireless power signal according to the measured strength of the wireless power signal; and performing communication with the wireless power transmission device by using the signal having the amplitude modulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: GE HYBRID TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Chun-Kil Jung, Hak Do Kim, Sang Youn Noh
  • Patent number: 10608583
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for reducing phase noise in voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs). One example VCO generally includes a first resonant circuit comprising an inductor and a first variable capacitive element coupled in parallel with the inductor; and a second variable capacitive element coupled to a center tap of the inductor and further coupled to a reference voltage, wherein the center tap of the inductor is further coupled to a voltage source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Mazhareddin Taghivand, Alireza Khalili, Mohammad Emadi, Yashar Rajavi
  • Patent number: 10594261
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of a terahertz wave modulator. The wave modulator can include one or more layers of piezoelectric/ferroelectric single crystal or polycrystalline material. The crystalline material can be configured to resonate when a low-energy external excitation is applied. An incident terahertz waveform can be dynamically controlled when the incident terahertz waveform interacts with the at least one layer of piezoelectric crystalline material while the at least one layer of piezoelectric crystalline material is resonating. The dynamic control of the incident terahertz waveform can be with respect to at least one of a phase shift and an amplitude modulation of the waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas Systems
    Inventors: Moumita Dutta, Ruyan Guo, Amar Bhalla, Soutik Betal