Patents by Inventor Brandon J. Beckham

Brandon J. Beckham 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).

  • Connection and moisture detection
    Patent number: 11023007
    Abstract: Methods, structures, and apparatus that are able to detect the presence of a connection to a contact of an electronic device and are also able to detect the presence of moisture at the contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon J. Beckham, Gabriel Sanchez Barba, Isikcan Yilmaz
  • CONNECTION AND MOISTURE DETECTION
    Publication number: 20200319675
    Abstract: Methods, structures, and apparatus that are able to detect the presence of a connection to a contact of an electronic device and are also able to detect the presence of moisture at the contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon J. Beckham, Gabriel Sanchez Barba, Isikcan Yilmaz
  • Angular frequency extractor for controlling a brushed DC motor
    Patent number: 9628006
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a motor driver configured to drive a motor across a pair of input terminals to the motor and a current sense unit configured to sense the motor's electrical current amplitude. Further, an angular frequency extractor is operatively coupled to the motor driver and the current sense unit and configured to detect discontinuities in the motor's electrical current amplitude. The angular frequency extractor also is configured to determine a time period for one complete revolution of a rotor of the motor and to generate a feedback signal based on the determined period to control an angular frequency of the motor. The feedback signal may be used to adjust how the motor is being driven (e.g., to slow the motor down or speed it up).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: David Hernandez, Gregory Charles Amidon, David John Baldwin, Brandon J. Beckham
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS TO DRIVE A LINEAR RESONANT ACTUATOR AT ITS RESONANT FREQUENCY
    Publication number: 20150280621
    Abstract: A method for driving a Linear Resonant Actuator (LRA) is provided. During a first off interval, the back-emf of the LRA is measured. During a first off interval, a timer is started when the back-emf reaches a predetermined threshold, and after a predetermined delay has lapsed following the back-emf reaching the predetermined threshold during the first off interval, the LRA is driven over a drive interval having a length and drive strength. A second off interval is entered following the drive interval, and during the second off interval, the back-emf of the LRA is measured. During the second off interval, the timer is stopped when the back-emf reaches the predetermined threshold. The value from the timer that corresponds to the duration between the back-emf reaching the predetermined threshold during the first off interval and the back-emf reaching the predetermined threshold during the second off interval determines the length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Mayank Garg, David Hernandez, Brandon J. Beckham, David J. Baldwin, Brett E. Forejt
  • ANGULAR FREQUENCY EXTRACTOR FOR CONTROLLING A BRUSHED DC MOTOR
    Publication number: 20150229254
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a motor driver configured to drive a motor across a pair of input terminals to the motor and a current sense unit configured to sense the motor's electrical current amplitude. Further, an angular frequency extractor is operatively coupled to the motor driver and the current sense unit and configured to detect discontinuities in the motor's electrical current amplitude. The angular frequency extractor also is configured to determine a time period for one complete revolution of a rotor of the motor and to generate a feedback signal based on the determined period to control an angular frequency of the motor. The feedback signal may be used to adjust how the motor is being driven (e.g., to slow the motor down or speed it up).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: David HERNANDEZ, Gregory Charles AMIDON, David John BALDWIN, Brandon J. BECKHAM
  • Method and apparatus to drive a linear resonant actuator at its resonant frequency
    Patent number: 9054627
    Abstract: A method for driving a Linear Resonant Actuator (LRA) is provided. During a first off interval, the back-emf of the LRA is measured. During a first off interval, a timer is started when the back-emf reaches a predetermined threshold, and after a predetermined delay has lapsed following the back-emf reaching the predetermined threshold during the first off interval, the LRA is driven over a drive interval having a length and drive strength. A second off interval is entered following the drive interval, and during the second off interval, the back-emf of the LRA is measured. During the second off interval, the timer is stopped when the back-emf reaches the predetermined threshold. The value from the timer that corresponds to the duration between the back-emf reaching the predetermined threshold during the first off interval and the back-emf reaching the predetermined threshold during the second off interval determines the length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Mayank Garg, David Hernandez-Garduno, Brandon J. Beckham, David J. Baldwin, Brett E. Forejt
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS TO DRIVE A LINEAR RESONANT ACTUATOR AT ITS RESONANT FREQUENCY
    Publication number: 20130264973
    Abstract: A method for driving a Linear Resonant Actuator (LRA) is provided. During a first off interval, the back-emf of the LRA is measured. During a first off interval, a timer is started when the back-emf reaches a predetermined threshold, and after a predetermined delay has lapsed following the back-emf reaching the predetermined threshold during the first off interval, the LRA is driven over a drive interval having a length and drive strength. A second off interval is entered following the drive interval, and during the second off interval, the back-emf of the LRA is measured. During the second off interval, the timer is stopped when the back-emf reaches the predetermined threshold. The value from the timer that corresponds to the duration between the back-emf reaching the predetermined threshold during the first off interval and the back-emf reaching the predetermined threshold during the second off interval determines the length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Mayank Garg, David Hernandez-Garduno, Brandon J. Beckham, David J. Baldwin, Brett E. Forejt