Patents by Inventor Brett E. Etter

Brett E. Etter 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: 8861229
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a regulator circuit that generates a voltage in response to an input current being supplied to an input terminal and functional circuitry, powered by the voltage generated by the regulator circuit. The functional circuitry, e.g., an oscillator, generates a signal using the generated voltage, the signal indicative that the current is being supplied to the apparatus. The signal can be provided over an isolation link to provide a control signal for controlling a high voltage driver circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Alfano, Timothy J. Dupuis, Zhiwei Dong, Brett E. Etter
  • Patent number: 8654483
    Abstract: A power control system reduces power losses by utilizing an over current protection method that detects an over current event based on a power utilization factor PUTIL and an output voltage of an output stage of the power control system. In at least one embodiment, the power control system detects the over current event without sensing an output current in an output stage of the power control system. Since the output current is not sensed, the power control system avoids power losses otherwise associated with sensing the output current. The power control system includes a power factor correction (PFC) stage and an isolation stage. A controller determines the power utilization factor PUTIL using voltages sensed from the PFC stage. In at least one embodiment, the controller responds to the over current event by entering an over current protection mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: Brett E. Etter
  • Publication number: 20110110000
    Abstract: A power control system reduces power losses by utilizing an over current protection method that detects an over current event based on a power utilization factor PUTIL and an output voltage of an output stage of the power control system. In at least one embodiment, the power control system detects the over current event without sensing an output current in an output stage of the power control system. Since the output current is not sensed, the power control system avoids power losses otherwise associated with sensing the output current. The power control system includes a power factor correction (PFC) stage and an isolation stage. A controller determines the power utilization factor PUTIL using voltages sensed from the PFC stage. In at least one embodiment, the controller responds to the over current event by entering an over current protection mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventor: Brett E. Etter
  • Patent number: 7728578
    Abstract: In order to extend the measurement range of a current sensor, a current divider is formed by a first conductor formed in a current sensor that is mounted on a printed circuit board and a second conductor on the printed circuit board that electrically shorts at least one input terminal of the current sensor to at least one output terminal of the current sensor. The input terminal of the current sensor supplies the current to be measured to the first conductor and the output terminal supplies the measured current back to the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Brett E. Etter, Donald E. Alfano, Timothy J. Dupuis, Donald K. Coffey
  • Publication number: 20090284248
    Abstract: In order to extend the measurement range of a current sensor, a current divider is formed by a first conductor formed in a current sensor that is mounted on a printed circuit board and a second conductor on the printed circuit board that electrically shorts at least one input terminal of the current sensor to at least one output terminal of the current sensor. The input terminal of the current sensor supplies the current to be measured to the first conductor and the output terminal supplies the measured current back to the printed circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Brett E. Etter, Donald E. Alfano, Timothy J. Dupuis, Donald K. Coffey
  • Publication number: 20080315925
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a regulator circuit that generates a voltage in response to an input current being supplied to an input terminal and functional circuitry, powered by the voltage generated by the regulator circuit. The functional circuitry, e.g., an oscillator, generates a signal using the generated voltage, the signal indicative that the current is being supplied to the apparatus. The signal can be provided over an isolation link to provide a control signal for controlling a high voltage driver circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Donald E. Alfano, Timothy J. Dupuis, Zhiwei Dong, Brett E. Etter