Patents by Inventor Allen Kramer
Allen Kramer 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).
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Patent number: 9973220Abstract: Isolation circuits for digital communications and methods to provide isolation for digital communications are disclosed. An example isolation circuit includes an isolation barrier, a burst encoder in a first circuit, and an edge pattern detector in a second circuit. The example isolation barrier electrically isolates the first circuit from the second circuit. The example burst encoder generates a first pattern in response to receiving a rising edge on an input signal and generates a second pattern in response to receiving a falling edge on the input signal. The example edge pattern detector detects the first pattern or the second pattern received from the burst encoder via the isolation barrier, sets an output signal at a first signal level in response to detecting the first pattern, and sets the output signal at a second signal level in response to detecting the second pattern.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2016Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Bradley Allen Kramer, Mark W. Morgan, Swaminathan Sankaran
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Publication number: 20180115346Abstract: In described examples, an inductive structure includes first and second inductive coils to conduct respective first and second common mode currents induced by a common mode transient between: a first ground coupled to a connection between the first and second inductive coils; and a galvanically isolated second ground.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2017Publication date: April 26, 2018Inventors: Rajaram Subramonian, Gianpaolo Lisi, Swaminathan Sankaran, Bradley Allen Kramer, Gerard Socci
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Patent number: 9866283Abstract: A first inductive structure includes a data coil to transfer data by inductive coupling with a second inductive structure. First and second portions of the data coil are connected to one another at a center tap to conduct respective first and second common mode currents, induced by a common mode transient between: a first ground line coupled to the center tap; and a galvanically isolated second ground line of the second inductive structure.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2016Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Rajaram Subramonian, Gianpaolo Lisi, Swaminathan Sankaran, Bradley Allen Kramer, Gerard Socci
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Patent number: 9716302Abstract: A system is provided for transmitting sub-terahertz electro-magnetic radio frequency (RF) signals using a dielectric waveguide (DWG) having a dielectric core member surrounded by dielectric cladding. An RF transmitter is coupled to an antenna located on a first substrate, in which the antenna is adjacent an edge of the substrate. The first substrate is mounted on a second substrate. A conductive reflector plate is formed on the top surface of the second substrate. An end of the DWG is mounted on the second substrate over the reflector plate such that an exposed face of the core member at the end of the DWG is adjacent the antenna. The core member at the end of DWG forms an angle of inclination with the second substrate in which the angle is in a range of approximately 10-30 degrees.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2016Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Juan Alejandro Herbsommer, Bradley Allen Kramer
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Patent number: 9663990Abstract: The application is directed to a ladder assist that may be secured to a ladder for preventing falls when persons are using a ladder. The ladder assist is operationally configured to prevent falls during access and egress of a fixed ladder of a structure, e.g., a fixed ladder of a transportation container or a building.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2015Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Inventor: Mark Allen Kramer
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Publication number: 20170134071Abstract: A system is provided in which a set of modules each have a substrate on which is mounted a radio frequency (RF) transmitter and/or an RF receiver coupled to a near field communication (NFC) coupler located on the substrate. Each module has a housing that surrounds and encloses the substrate. The housing has a port region on a surface of the housing. Each module has a field confiner located between the NFC coupler and the port region on the housing configured to guide electromagnetic energy emanated from the NFC coupler through the port region to a port region of an adjacent module.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2017Publication date: May 11, 2017Inventors: Swaminathan Sankaran, Bradley Allen Kramer, Benjamin Stassen Cook, Juan Alejandro Herbsommer, Lutz Naumann, Mark W. Morgan, Baher Haroun
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Patent number: 9614556Abstract: Data transfer devices and methods for transferring data between first and second circuits are disclosed. A data transfer device includes a first circuit having a plurality of data channels, wherein at least one of the data channels is an active data channel. A serializer has a plurality of inputs and an output, wherein the inputs are coupled to the plurality of data channels. The serializer is for coupling only one active channel at a time to the output. An isolation barrier is coupled to the output of the serializer, the isolation attenuates transients and passes the fundamental frequency. A second circuit includes a deserializer having an input and at least one output, the input is coupled to the isolation barrier, the at least one output is at least one active data channel.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2015Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Mark W. Morgan, Swaminathan Sankaran, Bradley Allen Kramer
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Publication number: 20170093010Abstract: A system is provided for transmitting sub-terahertz electro-magnetic radio frequency (RF) signals using a dielectric waveguide (DWG) having a dielectric core member surrounded by dielectric cladding. An RF transmitter is coupled to an antenna located on a first substrate, in which the antenna is adjacent an edge of the substrate. The first substrate is mounted on a second substrate. A conductive reflector plate is formed on the top surface of the second substrate. An end of the DWG is mounted on the second substrate over the reflector plate such that an exposed face of the core member at the end of the DWG is adjacent the antenna. The core member at the end of DWG forms an angle of inclination with the second substrate in which the angle is in a range of approximately 10-30 degrees.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2016Publication date: March 30, 2017Inventors: Juan Alejandro Herbsommer, Bradley Allen Kramer
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Publication number: 20170077994Abstract: A system is provided in which a set of modules each have a substrate on which is mounted a radio frequency (RF) transmitter and/or an RF receiver coupled to a near field communication (NFC) coupler located on the substrate. Each module has a housing that surrounds and encloses the substrate. The housing has a port region on a surface of the housing. Each module has a field confiner located between the NFC coupler and the port region on the housing configured to guide electromagnetic energy emanated from the NFC coupler through the port region to a port region of an adjacent module.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2015Publication date: March 16, 2017Inventors: Swaminathan Sankaran, Bradley Allen Kramer, Benjamin Stassen Cook, Juan Alejandro Herbsommer, Lutz Naumann, Mark W. Morgan, Baher Haroun
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Patent number: 9590699Abstract: A system is provided in which a set of modules each have a substrate on which is mounted a radio frequency (RF) transmitter and/or an RF receiver coupled to a near field communication (NFC) coupler located on the substrate. Each module has a housing that surrounds and encloses the substrate. The housing has a port region on a surface of the housing. Each module has a field confiner located between the NFC coupler and the port region on the housing configured to guide electromagnetic energy emanated from the NFC coupler through the port region to a port region of an adjacent module.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2015Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignees: TEXAS INSTUMENTS INCORPORATED, TEXAS INSTRUMENTS DEUTSCHLAND GMBHInventors: Swaminathan Sankaran, Bradley Allen Kramer, Benjamin Stassen Cook, Juan Alejandro Herbsommer, Lutz Naumann, Mark W. Morgan, Baher Haroun
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Publication number: 20170012677Abstract: A first inductive structure includes a data coil to transfer data by inductive coupling with a second inductive structure. First and second portions of the data coil are connected to one another at a center tap to conduct respective first and second common mode currents, induced by a common mode transient between: a first ground line coupled to the center tap; and a galvanically isolated second ground line of the second inductive structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2016Publication date: January 12, 2017Inventors: Rajaram Subramonian, Gianpaolo Lisi, Swaminathan Sankaran, Bradley Allen Kramer, Gerard Socci
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Patent number: 9490518Abstract: A system is provided for transmitting sub-terahertz electro-magnetic radio frequency (RF) signals using a dielectric waveguide (DWG) having a dielectric core member surrounded by dielectric cladding. An RF transmitter is coupled to an antenna located on a first substrate, in which the antenna is adjacent an edge of the substrate. The first substrate is mounted on a second substrate. A conductive reflector plate is formed on the top surface of the second substrate. An end of the DWG is mounted on the second substrate over the reflector plate such that an exposed face of the core member at the end of the DWG is adjacent the antenna. The core member at the end of DWG forms an angle of inclination with the second substrate in which the angle is in a range of approximately 10-30 degrees.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2015Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Juan Alejandro Herbsommer, Bradley Allen Kramer
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Publication number: 20160277048Abstract: Isolation circuits for digital communications and methods to provide isolation for digital communications are disclosed. An example isolation circuit includes an isolation barrier, a burst encoder in a first circuit, and an edge pattern detector in a second circuit. The example isolation barrier electrically isolates the first circuit from the second circuit. The example burst encoder generates a first pattern in response to receiving a rising edge on an input signal and generates a second pattern in response to receiving a falling edge on the input signal. The example edge pattern detector detects the first pattern or the second pattern received from the burst encoder via the isolation barrier, sets an output signal at a first signal level in response to detecting the first pattern, and sets the output signal at a second signal level in response to detecting the second pattern.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2016Publication date: September 22, 2016Inventors: Bradley Allen Kramer, Mark W. Morgan, Swaminathan Sankaran
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Patent number: 9450651Abstract: In a first inductive structure, a first data coil includes: a first portion for conducting a first common mode current in a first direction; and a second portion for conducting a second common mode current in a second direction opposite the first direction. The first and second portions of the first data coil are connected at a first node. In a second inductive structure, a second data coil includes: a first portion for conducting a third common mode current in the first direction; and a second portion for conducting a fourth common mode current in the second direction. The first and second portions of the second data coil are connected at a second node galvanically isolated from the first node. The first, second, third and fourth common mode currents are induced by a common mode transient.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2014Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Rajaram Subramoniam, Gianpaolo Lisi, Swaminathan Sankaran, Bradley Allen Kramer, Gerard Socci
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Patent number: 9425739Abstract: A tunable quadrature oscillator includes a first oscillator having an output, a second oscillator having an output, and a variable gain amplifier. The variable gain amplifier includes an input coupled to the output of the second oscillator, and an output inductively coupled to the output of the first oscillator.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2015Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Bradley Allen Kramer, Nirmal C. Warke, Hassan Ali, Swaminathan Sankaran
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Patent number: 9425808Abstract: A frequency detection technique includes generating first and second signals such that a frequency of the first signal is the same as a frequency of the second signal and such that the second signal is phase-shifted by a fixed amount with respect to the first signal. The technique further includes generating a third signal having a frequency that corresponds to an absolute value of a difference between the frequency of the first signal and an integer multiple of a frequency of the reference signal. The technique further includes generating a fourth signal having a frequency that corresponds to an absolute value of a difference between the frequency of the second signal and an integer multiple of the frequency of the reference signal. The technique further includes generating an fifth signal indicative of whether a phase relationship between the third and fourth signals is a leading phase relationship, a lagging phase relationship, or an in-phase relationship.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2015Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Bradley Allen Kramer, Swaminathan Sankaran, Hassan Ali, Nirmal C. Warke
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Patent number: 9379746Abstract: Isolation circuits for digital communications and methods to provide isolation for digital communications are disclosed. An example isolation circuit includes an isolation barrier, a burst encoder in a first circuit, and an edge pattern detector in a second circuit. The example isolation barrier electrically isolates the first circuit from the second circuit. The example burst encoder generates a first pattern in response to receiving a rising edge on an input signal and generates a second pattern in response to receiving a falling edge on the input signal. The example edge pattern detector detects the first pattern or the second pattern received from the burst encoder via the isolation barrier, sets an output signal at a first signal level in response to detecting the first pattern, and sets the output signal at a second signal level in response to detecting the second pattern.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2015Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Bradley Allen Kramer, Mark W. Morgan, Swaminathan Sankaran
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Publication number: 20160056849Abstract: Data transfer devices and methods for transferring data between first and second circuits are disclosed. A data transfer device includes a first circuit having a plurality of data channels, wherein at least one of the data channels is an active data channel. A serializer has a plurality of inputs and an output, wherein the inputs are coupled to the plurality of data channels. The serializer is for coupling only one active channel at a time to the output. An isolation barrier is coupled to the output of the serializer, the isolation attenuates transients and passes the fundamental frequency. A second circuit includes a deserializer having an input and at least one output, the input is coupled to the isolation barrier, the at least one output is at least one active data channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2015Publication date: February 25, 2016Inventors: Mark W. Morgan, Swaminathan Sankaran, Bradley Allen Kramer
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Publication number: 20150381219Abstract: Isolation circuits for digital communications and methods to provide isolation for digital communications are disclosed. An example isolation circuit includes an isolation barrier, a burst encoder in a first circuit, and an edge pattern detector in a second circuit. The example isolation barrier electrically isolates the first circuit from the second circuit. The example burst encoder generates a first pattern in response to receiving a rising edge on an input signal and generates a second pattern in response to receiving a falling edge on the input signal. The example edge pattern detector detects the first pattern or the second pattern received from the burst encoder via the isolation barrier, sets an output signal at a first signal level in response to detecting the first pattern, and sets the output signal at a second signal level in response to detecting the second pattern.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2015Publication date: December 31, 2015Inventors: Bradley Allen Kramer, Mark W. Morgan, Swaminathan Sankaran
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Patent number: 9209842Abstract: Data transfer devices and methods for transferring data between first and second circuits are disclosed. A data transfer device includes a first circuit having a plurality of data channels, wherein at least one of the data channels is an active data channel. A serializer has a plurality of inputs and an output, wherein the inputs are coupled to the plurality of data channels. The serializer is for coupling only one active channel at a time to the output. An isolation barrier is coupled to the output of the serializer, the isolation attenuates transients and passes the fundamental frequency. A second circuit includes a deserializer having an input and at least one output, the input is coupled to the isolation barrier, the at least one output is at least one active data channel.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2014Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Mark W. Morgan, Swaminathan Sankaran, Bradley Allen Kramer