Patents by Inventor Benton Calhoun

Benton Calhoun 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: 10164432
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a power source, a communication bus, a first electrical component connected to the power source and the communication bus, and a second electrical component connected to the communication bus. In such embodiments, the second electrical component can be to be powered by the communication bus such that performance of the communication bus does not fall below a specified performance for the communication bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: PsiKick, Inc.
    Inventors: Benton Calhoun, David Wentzloff
  • Patent number: 9973086
    Abstract: The low input voltage boost converter with peak inductor current control and offset compensated zero detection provide a boost converter scheme to harvest energy from sources with small output voltages. Some embodiments described herein includes a thermoelectric boost converter that combines an IPEAK control scheme with offset compensation and duty cycled comparators to enable energy harvesting from TEG inputs as low as 5 mV to 10 mV, and the peak inductor current is independent to first order of the input voltage and output voltage. A control circuit can be configured to sample the input voltage (VIN) and then generate a pulse with a duration inversely proportional to VIN so as to control the boost converter switches such that a substantially constant peak inductor current is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINA PATENT FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Benton Calhoun, Aatmesh Shrivastava
  • Patent number: 9812965
    Abstract: The low input voltage boost converter with peak inductor current control and offset compensated zero detection provide a boost converter scheme to harvest energy from sources with small output voltages. Some embodiments described herein includes a thermoelectric boost converter that combines an IPEAK control scheme with offset compensation and duty cycled comparators to enable energy harvesting from TEG inputs as low as 5 mV to 10 mV, and the peak inductor current is independent to first order of the input voltage and output voltage. A control circuit can be configured to sample the input voltage (VIN) and then generate a pulse with a duration inversely proportional to VIN so as to control the boost converter switches such that a substantially constant peak inductor current is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: University of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventors: Benton Calhoun, Aatmesh Shrivastava
  • Publication number: 20170098999
    Abstract: The low input voltage boost converter with peak inductor current control and offset compensated zero detection provide a boost converter scheme to harvest energy from sources with small output voltages. Some embodiments described herein includes a thermoelectric boost converter that combines an IPEAK control scheme with offset compensation and duty cycled comparators to enable energy harvesting from TEG inputs as low as 5 mV to 10 mV, and the peak inductor current is independent to first order of the input voltage and output voltage. A control circuit can be configured to sample the input voltage (VIN) and then generate a pulse with a duration inversely proportional to VIN so as to control the boost converter switches such that a substantially constant peak inductor current is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Applicant: University of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventors: Benton Calhoun, Aatmesh Shrivastava
  • Publication number: 20170012531
    Abstract: The low input voltage boost converter with peak inductor current control and offset compensated zero detection provide a boost converter scheme to harvest energy from sources with small output voltages. Some embodiments described herein includes a thermoelectric boost converter that combines an IPEAK control scheme with offset compensation and duty cycled comparators to enable energy harvesting from TEG inputs as low as 5 mV to 10 mV, and the peak inductor current is independent to first order of the input voltage and output voltage. A control circuit can be configured to sample the input voltage (VIN) and then generate a pulse with a duration inversely proportional to VIN so as to control the boost converter switches such that a substantially constant peak inductor current is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: University of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventors: Benton Calhoun, Aatmesh Shrivastava
  • Patent number: 9490698
    Abstract: The low input voltage boost converter with peak inductor current control and offset compensated zero detection provide a boost converter scheme to harvest energy from sources with small output voltages. Some embodiments described herein includes a thermoelectric boost converter that combines an IPEAK control scheme with offset compensation and duty cycled comparators to enable energy harvesting from TEG inputs as low as 5 mV to 10 mV, and the peak inductor current is independent to first order of the input voltage and output voltage. A control circuit can be configured to sample the input voltage (VIN) and then generate a pulse with a duration inversely proportional to VIN so as to control the boost converter switches such that a substantially constant peak inductor current is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA PATENT FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Benton Calhoun, Aatmesh Shrivastava
  • Publication number: 20160211747
    Abstract: The low input voltage boost converter with peak inductor current control and offset compensated zero detection provide a boost converter scheme to harvest energy from sources with small output voltages. Some embodiments described herein includes a thermoelectric boost converter that combines an IPEAK control scheme with offset compensation and duty cycled comparators to enable energy harvesting from TEG inputs as low as 5 mV to 10 mV, and the peak inductor current is independent to first order of the input voltage and output voltage. A control circuit can be configured to sample the input voltage (VIN) and then generate a pulse with a duration inversely proportional to VIN so as to control the boost converter switches such that a substantially constant peak inductor current is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Applicant: University of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventors: Benton Calhoun, Aatmesh Shrivastava
  • Patent number: 9350294
    Abstract: A low voltage crystal oscillator (XTAL) driver with feedback controlled duty cycling for ultra low power biases an amplifier for an XTAL in the sub-threshold operating regime. A feedback control scheme can be used to bias the amplifier for an XTAL biased in the sub-threshold operating regime. The amplifier of a XTAL oscillator can be duty cycled to save power, e.g., the XTAL driver can be turned off to save power when the amplitude of the XTAL oscillation reaches a maximum value in range; but be turned back on when the amplitude of the XTAL oscillation starts to decay, to maintain the oscillation before it stops. In addition or alternatively, a feedback control scheme to duty cycle the amplifier of a XTAL oscillator can be used to monitor the amplitude of the oscillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA PATENT FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Benton Calhoun, Aatmesh Shrivastava
  • Publication number: 20150380935
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a power source, a communication bus, a first electrical component connected to the power source and the communication bus, and a second electrical component connected to the communication bus. In such embodiments, the second electrical component can be to be powered by the communication bus such that performance of the communication bus does not fall below a specified performance for the communication bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Applicant: PSIKICK, INC.
    Inventors: Benton CALHOUN, David WENTZLOFF
  • Publication number: 20070242498
    Abstract: A static random access memory is configured for operation at sub-threshold voltage levels. A bistable circuit is supplemented by buffer circuitry configured to improve read performance and float circuitry to improve write performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Inventors: Anantha Chandrakasan, Benton Calhoun