Patents by Inventor Alan Grace

Alan Grace 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: 9287985
    Abstract: A portable electronic device with an IrDA transmitter LED is used to transmit both IrDA signals and remote control infrared signals. The device transmits remote control infrared signals with reduced power consumption. During a relatively longer remote control signal pulse, an inductor saturates and stores energy when a drive current flows from a power supply, through the inductor and then through the LED. An energy-transferring circuit transfers a portion of the energy stored in the inductor to the power supply. Energy is transferred when the drive current is cut and the voltage across the inductor surges, which causes an overflow current to flow through a diode in the energy-transferring circuit and to the power supply. The inductor is a planar coil of traces on a printed circuit board and therefore costs less to manufacture than does a toroidal coil of wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: IXYS Intl Limited
    Inventor: Alan Grace
  • Publication number: 20150308216
    Abstract: A method for making a sealing element for a rotating control device used in rotary drilling systems is disclosed. The sealing element has a bore, a base region, and a nose region. The method comprises providing a mold for the sealing element for the rotating control device, adding fibers at a first concentration to a first liquid elastomer material containing polyurethane, placing the first liquid elastomer material having a first concentration of fibers into the mold, adding fibers at a second concentration to a second liquid elastomer material containing polyurethane, placing the second liquid elastomer material having a second concentration of fibers into the mold, heating the fibers and liquid elastomer in the mold, and forming a sealing element having a bore, a base region with a first concentration of fibers, and a nose region having a second concentration of fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Hassett Wiggins, Christopher Alan Grace
  • Patent number: 8682168
    Abstract: A portable electronic device with an IrDA transmitter LED is used to transmit both IrDA signals and remote control infrared signals. The device transmits remote control infrared signals with reduced power consumption. During a relatively longer remote control signal pulse, an inductor saturates and stores energy when a drive current flows from a power supply, through the inductor and then through the LED. An energy-transferring circuit transfers a portion of the energy stored in the inductor to the power supply. Energy is transferred when the drive current is cut and the voltage across the inductor surges, which causes an overflow current to flow through a diode in the energy-transferring circuit and to the power supply. The inductor is a planar coil of traces on a printed circuit board and therefore costs less to manufacture than does a toroidal coil of wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: IXYS CH GmbH
    Inventor: Alan Grace
  • Publication number: 20140049183
    Abstract: A portable electronic device with an IrDA transmitter LED is used to transmit both IrDA signals and remote control infrared signals. The device transmits remote control infrared signals with reduced power consumption. During a relatively longer remote control signal pulse, an inductor saturates and stores energy when a drive current flows from a power supply, through the inductor and then through the LED. An energy-transferring circuit transfers a portion of the energy stored in the inductor to the power supply. Energy is transferred when the drive current is cut and the voltage across the inductor surges, which causes an overflow current to flow through a diode in the energy-transferring circuit and to the power supply. The inductor is a planar coil of traces on a printed circuit board and therefore costs less to manufacture than does a toroidal coil of wires.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: IXYS CH GmbH
    Inventor: Alan Grace
  • Patent number: 7962041
    Abstract: The infrared LED of an IrDA module transmits IR energy with a peak wavelength (for example, 875 nm) appropriate for IrDA communication. This peak wavelength is lower than is the wavelength (for example, 940 nm) used in ordinary IR remote controls (RC). The IrDA LED does, however, transmit some energy at the wavelength of the peak sensitivity of an RC receiver. When making an IrDA transmission, the IrDA LED is driven with a lower amount of current. When making an RC transmission, the IrDA LED is driven with an increased amount of current such that higher wavelength emissions received by the RC receiver are of adequate power to realize RC communication. A passive circuit is disclosed for automatically increasing IrDA LED current during RC transmissions. The circuit involves an inductor that shunts current around a current-limiting resistor used to limit LED drive current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: IXYS CH GmbH
    Inventor: Alan Grace
  • Publication number: 20100202779
    Abstract: The infrared LED of an IrDA module transmits IR energy with a peak wavelength (for example, 875 nm) appropriate for IrDA communication. This peak wavelength is lower than is the wavelength (for example, 940 nm) used in ordinary IR remote controls (RC). The IrDA LED does, however, transmit some energy at the wavelength of the peak sensitivity of an RC receiver. When making an IrDA transmission, the IrDA LED is driven with a lower amount of current. When making an RC transmission, the IrDA LED is driven with an increased amount of current such that higher wavelength emissions received by the RC receiver are of adequate power to realize RC communication. A passive circuit is disclosed for automatically increasing IrDA LED current during RC transmissions. The circuit involves an inductor that shunts current around a current-limiting resistor used to limit LED drive current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventor: Alan Grace
  • Publication number: 20100135667
    Abstract: A portable electronic device with an IrDA transmitter LED is used to transmit both IrDA signals and remote control infrared signals. The device transmits remote control infrared signals with reduced power consumption. During a relatively longer remote control signal pulse, an inductor saturates and stores energy when a drive current flows from a power supply, through the inductor and then through the LED. An energy-transferring circuit transfers a portion of the energy stored in the inductor to the power supply. Energy is transferred when the drive current is cut and the voltage across the inductor surges, which causes an overflow current to flow through a diode in the energy-transferring circuit and to the power supply. The inductor is a planar coil of traces on a printed circuit board and therefore costs less to manufacture than does a toroidal coil of wires.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventor: Alan Grace
  • Patent number: 7711269
    Abstract: The infrared LED of an IrDA module transmits IR energy with a peak wavelength (for example, 875 nm) appropriate for IrDA communication. This peak wavelength is lower than is the wavelength (for example, 940 nm) used in ordinary IR remote controls (RC). The IrDA LED does, however, transmit some energy at the wavelength of the peak sensitivity of an RC receiver. When making an IrDA transmission, the IrDA LED is driven with a lower amount of current. When making an RC transmission, the IrDA LED is driven with an increased amount of current such that higher wavelength emissions received by the RC receiver are of adequate power to realize RC communication. A passive circuit is disclosed for automatically increasing IrDA LED current during RC transmissions. The circuit involves an inductor that shunts current around a current-limiting resistor used to limit LED drive current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: ZiLOG, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Grace
  • Publication number: 20090185809
    Abstract: The infrared LED of an IrDA module transmits IR energy with a peak wavelength (for example, 875 nm) appropriate for IrDA communication. This peak wavelength is lower than is the wavelength (for example, 940 nm) used in ordinary IR remote controls (RC). The IrDA LED does, however, transmit some energy at the wavelength of the peak sensitivity of an RC receiver. When making an IrDA transmission, the IrDA LED is driven with a lower amount of current. When making an RC transmission, the IrDA LED is driven with an increased amount of current such that higher wavelength emissions received by the RC receiver are of adequate power to realize RC communication. A passive circuit is disclosed for automatically increasing IrDA LED current during RC transmissions. The circuit involves an inductor that shunts current around a current-limiting resistor used to limit LED drive current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventor: Alan Grace
  • Patent number: 7509057
    Abstract: The infrared LED of an IrDA module transmits IR energy with a peak wavelength (for example, 875 nm) appropriate for IrDA communication. This peak wavelength is lower than is the wavelength (for example, 940 nm) used in ordinary IR remote controls (RC). The IrDA LED does, however, transmit some energy at the wavelength of the peak sensitivity of an RC receiver. When making an IrDA transmission, the IrDA LED is driven with a lower amount of current. When making an RC transmission, the IrDA LED is driven with an increased amount of current such that higher wavelength emissions received by the RC receiver are of adequate power to realize RC communication. A passive circuit is disclosed for automatically increasing IrDA LED current during RC transmissions. The circuit involves an inductor that shunts current around a current-limiting resistor used to limit LED drive current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: ZiLOG, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Grace
  • Patent number: 7474857
    Abstract: A portable electronic device with an IrDA transmitter LED is used to transmit both IrDA signals and remote control infrared signals. The device transmits remote control infrared signals with reduced power consumption. During a relatively longer remote control signal pulse, an inductor saturates and stores energy when a drive current flows from a power supply, through the inductor and then through the LED. An energy-transferring circuit transfers a portion of the energy stored in the inductor to the power supply. Energy is transferred when the drive current is cut and the voltage across the inductor surges, which causes an overflow current to flow through a diode in the energy-transferring circuit and to the power supply. The inductor is a planar coil of traces on a printed circuit board and therefore costs less to manufacture than does a toroidal coil of wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: ZiLOG, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Grace
  • Patent number: 7444080
    Abstract: An IrDA module is coupled to a tapped inductor and makes both IrDA and remote control (RC) transmissions. The IrDA module includes a transmitter LED and a field effect transistor (FET) switch. The inductor has a first lead, a second lead and a tap. The first lead is coupled to a battery voltage, and the tap is coupled through a resistor to the LED anode. The drain of the FET switch is coupled to both the LED cathode and the second lead of the inductor. The location of the tap on the inductor is chosen such that the voltage drop across the LED when the FET switch is turned on and before the inductor saturates results in a desired IrDA LED drive current without using current-limiting resistors that can dissipate power. After the inductor saturates, the voltage drop across the LED results in a larger RC LED drive current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: ZiLOG, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Grace, Manuel Aceves
  • Patent number: 7212749
    Abstract: An Improved Signal Receiver Having Wide Band Amplification Capability is disclosed. Also disclosed is a receiver that is able to receive and reliably amplify infrared and/or other wireless signals having frequency bandwidths in excess of 40 MHz. The receiver of the present invention reduces the signal-to-noise ratio of the received signal to ?th of the prior systems. The preferred receiver eliminates both the shunting resistor and the feedback resistor on the input end by amplifing the signal in current form. Furthermore, the receiver includes transconductance amplification means for amplifying the current signal without the need for Cascode stages. Finally, the receiver includes staged amplification to amplify the current signal in stages prior to converting the signal into a voltage output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: ZiLOG, Inc.
    Inventors: T. Allan Hamilton, Alan Grace
  • Publication number: 20060018662
    Abstract: A portable electronic device with an IrDA transmitter LED is used to transmit both IrDA signals and remote control infrared signals. The device transmits remote control infrared signals with reduced power consumption. During a relatively longer remote control signal pulse, an inductor saturates and stores energy when a drive current flows from a power supply, through the inductor and then through the LED. An energy-transferring circuit transfers a portion of the energy stored in the inductor to the power supply. Energy is transferred when the drive current is cut and the voltage across the inductor surges, which causes an overflow current to flow through a diode in the energy-transferring circuit and to the power supply. The inductor is a planar coil of traces on a printed circuit board and therefore costs less to manufacture than does a toroidal coil of wires.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Publication date: January 26, 2006
    Inventor: Alan Grace
  • Publication number: 20050185962
    Abstract: The infrared LED of an IrDA module transmits IR energy with a peak wavelength (for example, 875 nm) appropriate for IrDA communication. This peak wavelength is lower than is the wavelength (for example, 940 nm) used in ordinary IR remote controls (RC). The IrDA LED does, however, transmit some energy at the wavelength of the peak sensitivity of an RC receiver. When making an IrDA transmission, the IrDA LED is driven with a lower amount of current. When making an RC transmission, the IrDA LED is driven with an increased amount of current such that higher wavelength emissions received by the RC receiver are of adequate power to realize RC communication. A passive circuit is disclosed for automatically increasing IrDA LED current during RC transmissions. The circuit involves an inductor that shunts current around a current-limiting resistor used to limit LED drive current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Inventor: Alan Grace
  • Publication number: 20050158053
    Abstract: An Improved Signal Receiver Having Wide Band Amplification Capability is disclosed. Also disclosed is a receiver that is able to receive and reliably amplify infrared and/or other wireless signals having frequency bandwidths in excess of 40 MHz. The receiver of the present invention reduces the signal-to-noise ratio of the received signal to ?th of the prior systems. The preferred receiver eliminates both the shunting resistor and the feedback resistor on the input end by amplifing the signal in current form. Furthermore, the receiver includes transconductance amplification means for amplifying the current signal without the need for Cascode stages. Finally, the receiver includes staged amplification to amplify the current signal in stages prior to converting the signal into a voltage output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Publication date: July 21, 2005
    Inventors: T. Hamilton, Alan Grace
  • Patent number: 6915083
    Abstract: An Improved Signal Receiver Having Wide Band Amplification Capability is disclosed. Also disclosed is a receiver that is able to receive and reliably amplify infrared and/or other wireless signals having frequency bandwidths in excess of 40 MHz. The receiver of the present invention reduces the signal-to-noise ratio of the received signal to ?th of the prior systems. The preferred receiver eliminates both the shunting resistor and the feedback resistor on the input end by amplifying the signal in current form. Furthermore, the receiver includes transconductance amplification means for amplifying the current signal without the need for Cascode stages. Finally, the receiver includes staged amplification to amplify the current signal in stages prior to converting the signal into a voltage output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: ZiLOG, Inc.
    Inventors: T. Allan Hamilton, Alan Grace