Patents by Inventor Carl T. Nelson

Carl T. Nelson 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: 12119639
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) heater circuit comprises a drive circuit configured to increase the temperature of the IC when consuming power; a temperature sensor coupled to a control node of the drive circuit to activate and deactivate the drive circuit to provide an ambient temperature for the IC, wherein current of the temperature sensor varies with temperature; and a control circuit coupled to the temperature sensor and configured to adjust variation in the temperature sensitivity of the current of the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Analog Devices International Unlimited Company
    Inventors: Aref Kahaei, James Vincent Sousae, Carl T. Nelson, Robert Dobkin
  • Publication number: 20230352928
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) heater circuit comprises a drive circuit configured to increase the temperature of the IC when consuming power; a temperature sensor coupled to a control node of the drive circuit to activate and deactivate the drive circuit to provide an ambient temperature for the IC, wherein current of the temperature sensor varies with temperature; and a control circuit coupled to the temperature sensor and configured to adjust variation in the temperature sensitivity of the current of the temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Aref Kahaei, James Vincent Sousae, Carl T. Nelson, Robert Dobkin
  • Patent number: 11735902
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) heater circuit comprises a drive circuit configured to increase the temperature of the IC when consuming power; a temperature sensor coupled to a control node of the drive circuit to activate and deactivate the drive circuit to provide an ambient temperature for the IC, wherein current of the temperature sensor varies with temperature; and a control circuit coupled to the temperature sensor and configured to adjust variation in the temperature sensitivity of the current of the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: ANALOG DEVICES INTERNATIONAL UNLIMITED COMPANY
    Inventors: Aref Kahaei, James Vincent Sousae, Carl T. Nelson, Robert Dobkin
  • Publication number: 20210305804
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) heater circuit comprises a drive circuit configured to increase the temperature of the IC when consuming power; a temperature sensor coupled to a control node of the drive circuit to activate and deactivate the drive circuit to provide an ambient temperature for the IC, wherein current of the temperature sensor varies with temperature; and a control circuit coupled to the temperature sensor and configured to adjust variation in the temperature sensitivity of the current of the temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Aref Kahaei, James Vincent Sousae, Carl T. Nelson, Robert Dobkin
  • Patent number: 7620439
    Abstract: A conductive adhesive composition is provided and articles that include the adhesive composition as a component thereof. The conductive adhesive composition comprises: (a) pressure sensitive adhesive; (b) electrolyte comprising water soluble or water dispersible organic chloride; and (c) humectant. In some embodiments, the conductive adhesive composition is a bicontinuous composition comprising an aqueous phase and an oil phase, and the bicontinuous composition may be derived from a polymerizable microemulsion composition, the microemulsion composition comprising: an aqueous phase comprising one or more hydrophilic monomers or oligomers and/or one or more amphiphilic monomers or oligomers in water, the water-soluble or water-dispersible organic chloride, surfactant and humectant; and an oil phase comprising one or more hydrophobic monomers or oligomers. Biomedical articles such as biomedical electrodes, may incorporate the foregoing adhesive as a component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Vinod P. Menon, Kanta Kumar, Carl T. Nelson, Don A. Rizzardi
  • Patent number: 6130575
    Abstract: A drive circuit for a high-speed integrated circuit, bipolar switching regulator is disclosed. The circuit runs at megahertz frequencies, yet is efficient as previously available bipolar integrated circuit switching regulators operating at much lower frequencies. The circuitry provides three switch drive currents: a first (nominal) current that is provided while the switch is off in order to conserve power; a second (boosted) current, provided while the switch is transitioning from off to on in order to increase the speed at which the switching element switches on; and a third (drive) current, provided after the switch has turned on for maintaining the switch at a desired point in saturation. The drive current, additionally, varies as a function of the load on the switch in order, again, to conserve power. Additional circuitry increases the speed at which the switch turns off, by momentarily boosting base discharge current during the on-to-off transition period of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Carl T. Nelson, Robert Essaff
  • Patent number: 6111439
    Abstract: A drive circuit for a high-speed integrated circuit, bipolar switching regulator is disclosed. The circuit runs at megahertz frequencies, yet is efficient as previously available bipolar integrated circuit switching regulators operating at much lower frequencies. The circuitry provides three switch drive currents: a first (nominal) current that is provided while the switch is off in order to conserve power; a second (boosted) current, provided while the switch is transitioning from off to on in order to increase the speed at which the switching element switches on; and a third (drive) current, provided after the switch has turned on for maintaining the switch at a desired point in saturation. The drive current, additionally, varies as a function of the load on the switch in order, again, to conserve power. Additional circuitry increases the speed at which the switch turns off, by momentarily boosting base discharge current during the on-to-off transition period of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Carl T. Nelson, Robert Essaff
  • Patent number: 5952817
    Abstract: A low-noise switching regulator and a method for driving an inductive load, employing current slew control and voltage slew control, is provided. Open and closed loop embodiments, as well as first and higher order slewing, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A. Brewster, Carl T. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5815015
    Abstract: A drive circuit for a high-speed integrated circuit, bipolar switching regulator is disclosed. The circuit runs at megahertz frequencies, yet is efficient as previously available bipolar integrated circuit switching regulators operating at much lower frequencies. The circuitry provides three switch drive currents: a first (nominal) current that is provided while the switch is off in order to conserve power; a second (boosted) current, provided while the switch is transitioning from off to on in order to increase the speed at which the switching element switches on; and a third (drive) current, provided after the switch has turned on for maintaining the switch at a desired point in saturation. The drive current, additionally, varies as a function of the load on the switch in order, again, to conserve power. Additional circuitry increases the speed at which the switch turns off, by momentarily boosting base discharge current during the on-to-off transition period of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Carl T. Nelson, Robert Essaff
  • Patent number: 5731731
    Abstract: Switching regulator circuits and methods are provided in which the output circuit is adaptable to maintain high efficiency over various load current levels. The regulator circuits generate one or more control signals in response to the load current and selectively route a switch driver control signal to one or more switches in the output circuit. The switches differ in their size, such that the most efficient switch can be used at a particular load current level. At low load current levels, the driver control signal is routed to output circuitry with smaller switch devices, which incur smaller driver current losses for a given frequency of operation, thereby increasing the regulator efficiency. At high load current levels, the driver control signal is routed to large switch devices, which incur greater driver current losses for a given frequency of operation, but which have a lower impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Milton E. Wilcox, Robert C. Dobkin, Carl T. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5672988
    Abstract: A drive circuit for a high-speed integrated circuit, bipolar switching regulator is disclosed. The circuit runs at megahertz frequencies, yet is efficient as previously available bipolar integrated circuit switching regulators operating at much lower frequencies. The circuitry provides three switch drive currents: a first (nominal) current that is provided while the switch is off in order to conserve power; a second (boosted) current, provided while the switch is transitioning from off to on in order to increase the speed at which the switching element switches on; and a third (drive) current, provided after the switch has turned on for maintaining the switch at a desired point in saturation. The drive current, additionally, varies as a function of the load on the switch in order, again, to conserve power. Additional circuitry increases the speed at which the switch turns off, by momentarily boosting base discharge current during the on-to-off transition period of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Carl T. Nelson, Robert Essaff
  • Patent number: 5668493
    Abstract: Circuits and methods are provided for increasing the turn-off switching speed of a high-speed integrated circuit, bipolar switching regulator. The regulator The circuit runs at megahertz frequencies, yet is efficient as previously available bipolar integrated circuit switching regulators operating at much lower frequencies. The increased speed switch turn-off circuitry prevents the switch from spending too much time in a high power state (which would slow the switch down), increases the stability of the switch as compared with previously known designs. In a preferred embodiment, the circuitry includes a PNP transistor and a diode-connected transistor with their base-emitter circuits coupled to form a loop with the base-emitter circuit of a NPN transistor and the base-collector circuit of the switch to limit the on state voltage of the switch and control its depth of saturation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Carl T. Nelson, Robert Essaff
  • Patent number: 5656965
    Abstract: Circuits and methods are provide for improving the turn-off switching speed of a high-speed integrated circuit, bipolar switching regulator. The regulator runs at megahertz frequencies, yet is efficient as previously available bipolar integrated circuit switching regulators operating at much lower frequencies. The turn-off circuitry increases the speed at which the switch turns off by momentarily providing additional current to boost the base discharge current during the on-to-off transition period of the switch. In a preferred embodiment, the circuitry includes a capacitor for storing a charge, a resistor for limiting the amount of additional current provided, and a diode for delivering the additional current to the base of an NPN transistor, the collector of which is coupled to the switch's base, for boosting that transistors collector current and the switch's base discharge current. The diode then blocks current during the off-to-on transition period of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Carl T. Nelson, Robert Essaff
  • Patent number: 5589761
    Abstract: A dual polarity voltage regulator circuit that is capable of regulating either positive or negative voltages is disclosed. The regulator circuitry of the present invention provides dual polarity regulation while requiring only one additional pin over a single polarity regulator. The present invention utilizes a single error amplifier, a negative feedback network, and an overshoot recovery circuit in providing dual polarity regulation. One advantage of the negative feedback network of the present invention is that the regulator circuit uses the same error amplifier (i.e., only one error amplifier) to regulate both positive and negative input voltages. The negative feedback network actively affects signals input into the error amplifier during negative regulation, but is essentially disabled during positive regulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Carl T. Nelson, Robert Essaff
  • Patent number: 5485109
    Abstract: A three terminal control circuit for a low dropout voltage regulator having a PNP pass transistor is provided. The control circuit is capable of pulling the base-drive point down to a voltage of 3.0 volts or less to permit a current limiting resistor to be inserted between the base drive point and the base of the PNP pass transistor. The control circuit includes a pair of small-valued capacitors for providing stable operation with different output capacitors. The control circuit can also be used with p-channel FET pass transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C. Dobkin, Carl T. Nelson, Dennis P. O'Neill
  • Patent number: 5438499
    Abstract: Control circuits for a switching voltage regulator circuit which uses magnetic flux sensing are provided. These circuits can be used to improve output voltage regulation by reducing parasitic effects inherently present in magnetic flux-sensed feedback switching voltage regulator designs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Anthony K. Bonte, Carl T. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5334928
    Abstract: A three terminal control circuit for a low dropout voltage regulator having a PNP pass transistor is provided. The control circuit is capable of pulling the base drive point down to a voltage of 3.0 volts or less to permit a current limiting resistor to be inserted between the base drive point and the base of the PNP pass transistor. The control circuit includes a pair of small-valued capacitors for providing stable operation with different output capacitors. The control circuit can also be used with p-channel FET pass transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C. Dobkin, Carl T. Nelson, Dennis P. O'Neill
  • Patent number: 5305192
    Abstract: Control circuits for a switching voltage regulator circuit which uses magnetic flux sensing are provided. These circuits can be used to improve output voltage regulation by reducing parasitic effects inherently present in magnetic flux-sensed feedback switching voltage regulator designs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony K. Bonte, Carl T. Nelson
  • Patent number: RE39065
    Abstract: An integrated circuit for use in implementing a switching voltage regulator, the integrated circuit including a power switching transistor, driver circuitry and control circuitry, which is operable in a normal feedback mode or an isolated flyback mode. The integrated circuit includes shutdown circuitry for placing the regulator in a micro-power sleep mode, and can be packaged in a five-pin conventional power transistor package. The terminals of the integrated circuit regulator perform multiple functions. A compensation terminal is used for frequency compensation, current limiting, soft-start operation and shutdown. A feedback terminal is used as a feedback input when the integrated circuit is in feedback mode, and as a logic pin to program the regulator for isolated flyback operation. The feedback terminal is also used to trim the flyback reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Carl T. Nelson
  • Patent number: RE35261
    Abstract: A differential input amplifier stage having improved frequency compensation. Frequency compensation is achieved by cancelling one-half of the signal output of a differential error amplifier in the input stage, such that all error signals must pass through a "current-mirror" type load circuit in which a resistor-capacitor network is provided to roll of gain of the input stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Carl T. Nelson