Patents by Inventor Brent A. McDonald
Brent A. McDonald 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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Publication number: 20090146622Abstract: In an information handling system, a multi-phase electrical converter includes an electrical input, an electrical output, a plurality of converter phases coupled with the electrical input and the electrical output, and a controller to ramp operation of one or more of the converter phases as a load demand adjusts. In an embodiment the converter may be a multi-phase buck converter having a high side switch, a low side switch, and an inductor. In an embodiment, the controller may ramp operation of the converter phases by adjusting a duty cycle of the high side switch. In an embodiment, the controller may adjust a phase angle of one or more of the converter phases, wherein the adjustment may be relative to the ramping operation of the one or more of the converter phases.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2007Publication date: June 11, 2009Applicant: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.Inventors: Brent A. McDonald, George G. Richards, III
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Patent number: 7545120Abstract: In a method and system for converting an alternating current (AC) input to a direct current (DC) output, an AC-DC adapter includes a rectifier module operable to receive the AC input and generate a first DC output. The AC-DC adapter includes a buck converter module operable to receive the first DC output and generate the DC output responsive to a control signal. A controller module, included in the AC-DC adapter is operable to receive a first feedback signal input indicative of a target voltage required by a load and a second feedback signal input indicative of the DC output to generate the control signal. The controller module adjusts the control signal responsive to the first and second feedback signal inputs so that the DC output is maintained to be within a predefined range of the target voltage.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2003Date of Patent: June 9, 2009Assignee: Dell Products L.P.Inventors: John J. Breen, Brent A. McDonald
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Patent number: 7538535Abstract: Control loop ripple voltage in an error amplifier may be the result of a non-linear time varying behavior of a switch mode power conversion process. An inverse waveform replica of the error amplifier control loop ripple voltage waveform may be generated to substantially cancel the non-linear loop dynamics introduced by the control loop ripple voltage. Once the control loop ripple voltage is substantially cancelled the bandwidth of the DC-to-DC converter control loop may be increased for faster loop response thus reducing the need for additional output filter capacitance.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2006Date of Patent: May 26, 2009Assignee: Dell Products L.P.Inventors: Brent A. McDonald, Daniel E. Jenkins
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Publication number: 20090119519Abstract: A voltage regulator provides power to an information handling system component under management by a controller, such as a Buck circuit managed by a PID controller according to PID coefficient settings. An update module interfaced with the voltage regulator monitors operating conditions of the voltage regulator to update the coefficients used by the controller. For example, changes in the load applied to the voltage regulator and an inductance associated with the voltage regulator are used to periodically compute updated PID coefficients, which are then used by the controller to control the voltage regulator.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2007Publication date: May 7, 2009Inventors: Brent McDonald, George Richards, III, Daniel Jenkins
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Patent number: 7508178Abstract: For controlling a direct current to direct current (DC-DC) converter, a controller individually switches a charge switch and a discharge switch to control a duty cycle, thereby providing a regulated DC output. A delay in switching each one of the charge and discharge switches results in a formation of a DC error in the regulated DC output. The controller adjusts the duty cycle by adding a delay compensation to substantially eliminate the DC error. The delay compensation substantially eliminates the DC error by decreasing an average value of the regulated DC output to offset an increase in the average value of the regulated DC output without the delay compensation.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2005Date of Patent: March 24, 2009Assignee: Dell Products L.P.Inventors: Brent A. McDonald, Brian Patrick Johnson
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Patent number: 7489533Abstract: An inverter providing power to a load, the inverter receiving a direct current (DC) input. A plurality of switches included in the inverter are controlled by a plurality of control signals to generate an alternating current (AC) output in response to the DC input. A zero crossing of the AC output current provided by the plurality of switches is detected, and the controlling of the plurality of switches is delayed in response to the zero crossing. The amount of delay is adjusted responsive to a change in the DC input to effectively maintain a constant switching frequency of the inverter. The delayed AC output current of the plurality of switches may be filtered to provide power to the load.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2007Date of Patent: February 10, 2009Assignee: Dell Products L.P.Inventors: Erin L. Price, Brent A. McDonald, Chris Young
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Patent number: 7480162Abstract: In a two stage inverter providing power to a load, a first stage component is operable to receive a first voltage input and a first control input to generate a first voltage output, which is higher than the first voltage input. The first control input is indicative of the power provided to the load. The first voltage output varies in response to a change in the first voltage input by a predefined function. A second stage component of the inverter is operable to receive the first voltage output and a second control input to generate the power as an output. The second control input is indicative of the power provided to the load. A controller component of the inverter is operable to receive a feedback input indicative of the power required by the load and generates the first and second control inputs.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2007Date of Patent: January 20, 2009Assignee: Dell Products L.P.Inventors: Erin L. Price, Brent A. McDonald
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Publication number: 20080180081Abstract: A technique for addressing a low line voltage condition in an information handling system includes determining whether a magnitude of an input voltage of a power supply unit (PSU) is below a first threshold for at least a first time period. The technique also includes adjusting, based on the determining, a magnitude of a reference voltage of the PSU to track a magnitude of an output voltage of the PSU when the input voltage is below the first threshold for at least the first time period.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2007Publication date: July 31, 2008Applicant: DELL PRODUCTS, LPInventors: Brent A. McDonald, Brian P. Johnson
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Publication number: 20080130339Abstract: An alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) power converter comprises a first electrical path in a primary circuit having an inductor coupled in series with a first primary winding and a first switch to a ground connection. A second electrical path in the primary circuit has the inductor coupled in series with a second primary winding and a second switch to the ground connection. A secondary circuit is electromagnetically coupled to the primary circuit. A controller operates the first switch and the second switch in a predetermined manner to induce a current in the secondary circuits.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2006Publication date: June 5, 2008Applicant: Dell Products L.P.Inventors: Brent McDonald, Brian P. Johnson
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Publication number: 20080084574Abstract: A computerized method and apparatus for automated printing based on a submitted print order from an internet storefront is presented. A user configures a pictorial workflow plan which can dynamically respond to a printing intent derived from the submitted print order. The workflow plan automatically generates a value for a printing process element based on the dynamic printing intent. The visual nature of the pictorial plan and the integration between the storefront and printing system provides a simplified environment for configuring and maintaining workflow plans corresponding to a wide range of orderable products and printing equipment.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2006Publication date: April 10, 2008Inventors: Brent A. McDonald, Alastair D. Foreman, Bruce A. Cowan
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Patent number: 7280376Abstract: In a method and system for providing isolated power, a flyback controller includes a transformer operable to receive a primary voltage input and generate a secondary voltage output. A switch electrically coupled in series with a primary side of the transformer receives a control signal for controlling a duty cycle of the primary voltage. A controller is operable to generate the control signal responsive to receiving a plurality of inputs from the primary side. The controller regulates the secondary voltage output without receiving feedback input from a secondary side of the transformer by computing the secondary voltage as a predefined function of the plurality of the inputs when the switch is open.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2004Date of Patent: October 9, 2007Assignee: Dell Products L.P.Inventors: Brent A. McDonald, Daniel E. Jenkins
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Publication number: 20070217240Abstract: In a method and system for an improved inverter providing power to a load, the inverter receives a direct current (DC) input. A plurality of switches included in the inverter are controlled by a plurality of control signals to generate an alternating current (AC) output in response to the DC input. A zero crossing of the AC output current provided by the plurality of switches is detected, and the controlling of the plurality of switches is delayed in response to the zero crossing. The amount of delay is adjusted responsive to a change in the DC input to effectively maintain a constant switching frequency of the inverter. The delayed AC output current of the plurality of switches may be filtered to provide power to the load.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2007Publication date: September 20, 2007Applicant: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.Inventors: Erin Price, Brent McDonald, Chris Young
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Publication number: 20070165427Abstract: Control loop ripple voltage in an error amplifier may be the result of a non-linear time varying behavior of a switch mode power conversion process. An inverse waveform replica of the error amplifier control loop ripple voltage waveform may be generated to substantially cancel the non-linear loop dynamics introduced by the control loop ripple voltage. Once the control loop ripple voltage is substantially cancelled the bandwidth of the DC-to-DC converter control loop may be increased for faster loop response thus reducing the need for additional output filter capacitance.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2006Publication date: July 19, 2007Inventors: Brent McDonald, Daniel Jenkins
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Publication number: 20070159212Abstract: In a two stage inverter providing power to a load, a first stage component is operable to receive a first voltage input and a first control input to generate a first voltage output, which is higher than the first voltage input. The first control input is indicative of the power provided to the load. The first voltage output varies in response to a change in the first voltage input by a predefined function. A second stage component of the inverter is operable to receive the first voltage output and a second control input to generate the power as an output. The second control input is indicative of the power provided to the load. A controller component of the inverter is operable to receive a feedback input indicative of the power required by the load and generates the first and second control inputs.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2007Publication date: July 12, 2007Applicant: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.Inventors: Erin Price, Brent McDonald
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Patent number: 7236384Abstract: In a method and system for an improved inverter providing power to a load, the inverter receives a direct current (DC) input. A plurality of switches included in the inverter are controlled by a plurality of control signals to generate an alternating current (AC) output in response to the DC input. A zero crossing of the AC output current provided by the plurality of switches is detected, and the controlling of the plurality of switches is delayed in response to the zero crossing. The amount of delay is adjusted responsive to a change in the DC input to effectively maintain a constant switching frequency of the inverter. The delayed AC output current of the plurality of switches is filtered to provide power to the load.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2006Date of Patent: June 26, 2007Assignee: Dell Products L.P.Inventors: Erin L. Price, Brent A. McDonald, Chris Young
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Publication number: 20070132430Abstract: For operating each smart battery included in a smart battery system, the smart battery is initialized prior to the smart battery being electrically coupled to the smart battery system. The smart battery system or an external power source is selected to provide power to an information handling system device. The smart battery includes an electronics device, a charge switch and a discharge switch. The electronics device operates the charge and discharge switches to jointly control an operating condition of the smart battery in response to receiving a control input from a controller of the device. The charge and discharge switches are closed in response to the electronics device and the controller being in agreement to charge the first smart battery. The charge or the discharge switch is opened in response to either the electronics device or the controller directing either of the switches to be opened.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2007Publication date: June 14, 2007Applicant: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.Inventors: John Breen, Brent McDonald
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Patent number: 7218541Abstract: In a two stage inverter providing power to a load, a first stage component is operable to receive a first voltage input and a first control input to generate a first voltage output, which is higher than the first voltage input. The first control input is indicative of the power provided to the load. The first voltage output varies in response to a change in the first voltage input by a predefined function. A second stage component of the inverter is operable to receive the first voltage output and a second control input to generate the power as an output. The second control input is indicative of the power provided to the load. A controller component of the inverter is operable to receive a feedback input indicative of the power required by the load and generates the first and second control inputs.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2004Date of Patent: May 15, 2007Assignee: Dell Products L.P.Inventors: Erin L. Price, Brent A. McDonald
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Publication number: 20070103126Abstract: For controlling a direct current to direct current (DC-DC) converter, a controller individually switches a charge switch and a discharge switch to control a duty cycle, thereby providing a regulated DC output. A delay in switching each one of the charge and discharge switches results in a formation of a DC error in the regulated DC output. The controller adjusts the duty cycle by adding a delay compensation to substantially eliminate the DC error. The delay compensation substantially eliminates the DC error by decreasing an average value of the regulated DC output to offset an increase in the average value of the regulated DC output without the delay compensation.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2005Publication date: May 10, 2007Applicant: Dell Products L.P.Inventors: Brent McDonald, Brian Johnson
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Patent number: 7202631Abstract: In a method and system for operating each smart battery included in a smart battery system, the smart battery is initialized prior to the smart battery being electrically coupled to the smart battery system. The smart battery system or an external power source is selected to provide power to an information handling system device. The smart battery includes an electronics device, a charge switch and a discharge switch. The electronics device operates the charge and discharge switches to jointly control an operating condition of the smart battery in response to receiving a control input from a controller of the device. The charge and discharge switches are closed in response to the electronics device and the controller being in agreement to charge the first smart battery. The charge or the discharge switch is opened in response to either the electronics device or the controller directing either of the switches to be opened.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2003Date of Patent: April 10, 2007Assignee: Dell Products L.P.Inventors: John J. Breen, Brent A. McDonald
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Publication number: 20070079153Abstract: An information handling system includes a power rail to distribute power to at least a portion of the information handling system. A power adapter is or can be coupled to the power rail, the power adapter operable as a voltage source in a first power supply voltage/current region and operable as a current source in a second power supply voltage/current region. A battery control circuit couples a battery to the power rail, the battery control circuit capable of supplying current from the battery to the power rail when the power adapter is operating in at least a portion of the second power supply voltage/current region.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2005Publication date: April 5, 2007Applicant: Dell Products L.P.Inventors: William Bain, Brent McDonald