Patents by Inventor Christopher Michael Ward

Christopher Michael Ward 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: 9325313
    Abstract: A low-power level-shift circuit for data-dependent signals includes a buffer circuit, a coupling capacitor, and a biasing circuit. The buffer circuit is biased by a low-voltage domain voltage supply and configured to receive a data-dependent signal. The coupling capacitor is coupled, at a first node, to an output node of the buffer circuit. The biasing circuit is coupled to a second node of the coupling capacitor and a switch. The level-shift circuit can translate a voltage level of the received data-dependent signal to a high-voltage domain that is suitable for proper operation of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Franciscus Van Der Goes, Christopher Michael Ward
  • Publication number: 20150214946
    Abstract: A low-power level-shift circuit for data-dependent signals includes a buffer circuit, a coupling capacitor, and a biasing circuit. The buffer circuit is biased by a low-voltage domain voltage supply and configured to receive a data-dependent signal. The coupling capacitor is coupled, at a first node, to an output node of the buffer circuit. The biasing circuit is coupled to a second node of the coupling capacitor and a switch. The level-shift circuit can translate a voltage level of the received data-dependent signal to a high-voltage domain that is suitable for proper operation of the switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Franciscus VAN DER GOES, Christopher Michael WARD
  • Patent number: 8883501
    Abstract: There is provided a method of retarding differentiation of a biological cell, the method comprising culturing the cell in the presence of an inhibitor of E-cadherin activity. The method is particularly advantageous in retarding the differentiation of stem or progenitor cells, and allows suspension culture of such cells in a manner that enables large scale expansion of cell populations. There is also provided a stem or progenitor cell comprising a construct encoding an inhibitor of E-cadherin activity; and a cell culture medium, for use in the retardation of biological cell differentiation, comprising an inhibitor of E-cadherin activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: The University of Manchester
    Inventor: Christopher Michael Ward
  • Publication number: 20130342378
    Abstract: In one method embodiment, receiving a data signal; and converting the data signal to an analog signal over plural clock cycles, the converting comprising: during a first clock cycle of the plural clock cycles, switching on one or more first current cells of a first bank while simultaneously a second bank comprising second current cells is switched off or almost off; and during a second clock cycle of the plural clock cycles, the second clock cycle immediately subsequent to the first clock cycle, switching on one or more of the second current cells of the second bank while simultaneously the first bank is switched off or almost off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher Michael Ward, Frank Van der Goes
  • Patent number: 7859338
    Abstract: A compact low-power class AB power amplifier design is provided. In an embodiment, the amplifier design eliminates an intermediate stage that couples an input stage and a biasing mesh of the amplifier. In another embodiment, the amplifier design reuses a tail current from the input stage to bias the biasing mesh. Accordingly, a much higher power efficiency can be achieved using the proposed amplifier design compared to conventional class AB amplifiers. Further, the proposed amplifier design is extremely compact and occupies a small silicon area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ovidiu Bajdechi, Christopher Michael Ward
  • Patent number: 7710184
    Abstract: The invention refers to signal processing circuits, more particularly, to switch capacitor circuits, and methods for reducing inter-symbol-interference. A switch capacitor circuit with reduced Inter-Symbol-Interference effect is provided, comprising: a voltage source, a first capacitor, a second capacitor, and at least one switch configured to be switched in a way that the first capacitor is charged to a first voltage by means of the voltage source, and then discharged by means of the second capacitor, thereby reducing the Inter-Symbol-Interference effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Franciscus Maria Leonardus van der Goes, Jan Mulder, Christopher Michael Ward
  • Publication number: 20090155222
    Abstract: There is provided a method of retarding differentiation of a biological cell, the method comprising culturing the cell in the presence of an inhibitor of E-cadherin activity. The method is particularly advantageous in retarding the differentiation of stem or progenitor cells, and allows suspension culture of such cells in a manner that enables large scale expansion of cell populations. There is also provided a stem or progenitor cell comprising a construct encoding an inhibitor of E-cadherin activity; and a cell culture medium, for use in the retardation of biological cell differentiation, comprising an inhibitor of E-cadherin activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER
    Inventor: Christopher Michael Ward
  • Publication number: 20090027122
    Abstract: A compact low-power class AB power amplifier design is provided. In an embodiment, the amplifier design eliminates an intermediate stage that couples an input stage and a biasing mesh of the amplifier. In another embodiment, the amplifier design reuses a tail current from the input stage to bias the biasing mesh. Accordingly, a much higher power efficiency can be achieved using the proposed amplifier design compared to conventional class AB amplifiers. Further, the proposed amplifier design is extremely compact and occupies a small silicon area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ovidiu BAJDECHI, Christopher Michael WARD
  • Patent number: 7324038
    Abstract: An N-bit analog to digital converter includes a reference ladder, a track-and-hold amplifier connected to an input voltage, a coarse ADC amplifier connected to a coarse capacitor at its input and having a coarse ADC reset switch controlled by a first clock phase of a two-phase clock, a fine ADC amplifier connected to a fine capacitor at its input and having a fine ADC reset switch controlled by a second clock phase of the two-phase clock, a switch matrix that selects a voltage subrange from the reference ladder for use by the fine ADC amplifier based on an output of the coarse ADC amplifier, and wherein the coarse capacitor is charged to a coarse reference ladder voltage during the first clock phase and connected to the T/H output during the second clock phase, wherein the fine capacitor is connected to a voltage subrange during the first clock phase and to the T/H output during the second clock phase, and an encoder that converts outputs of the coarse and fine ADC amplifiers to an N-bit output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Franciscus Maria Leonardus van der Goes, Jan Mulder, Christopher Michael Ward, Jan Roelof Westra, Ruby van de Plassche, Marcel Lugthart
  • Publication number: 20070182476
    Abstract: The invention refers to signal processing circuits, more particularly, to switch capacitor circuits, and methods for reducing inter-symbol-interference. A switch capacitor circuit with reduced Inter-Symbol-Interference effect is provided, comprising: a voltage source, a first capacitor, a second capacitor, and at least one switch configured to be switched in a way that the first capacitor is charged to a first voltage by means of the voltage source, and then discharged by means of the second capacitor, thereby reducing the Inter-Symbol-Interference effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Franciscus Maria Leonardus van der Goes, Jan Mulder, Christopher Michael Ward
  • Patent number: 6831585
    Abstract: An analog to digital converter includes a first amplifier array connected to taps from a reference ladder, a second amplifier array, wherein each amplifier in the first amplifier array is connected to only two amplifiers of the second amplifier array, a third amplifier array, wherein each amplifier in the second amplifier array is connected to only two amplifiers of the third amplifier array, and an encoder connected to outputs of the third amplifier array that converts the outputs to an N-bit digital signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Jan Mulder, Christopher Michael Ward
  • Publication number: 20040155807
    Abstract: An N-bit analog to digital converter includes a reference ladder, a track-and-hold amplifier connected to an input voltage, a coarse ADC amplifier connected to a coarse capacitor at its input and having a coarse ADC reset switch controlled by a first clock phase of a two-phase clock, a fine ADC amplifier connected to a fine capacitor at its input and having a fine ADC reset switch controlled by a second clock phase of the two-phase clock, a switch matrix that selects a voltage subrange from the reference ladder for use by the fine ADC amplifier based on an output ofthe coarse ADC amplifier, and wherein the coarse capacitor is charged to a coarse reference ladder voltage during the first clock phase and connected to the T/H output during the second clock phase, wherein the fine capacitor is connected to a voltage subrange during the first clock phase and to the T/H output during the second clock phase, and an encoder that converts outputs of the coarse and fine ADC amplifiers to an N-bit output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Franciscus Maria Leonardus van der Goes, Jan Mulder, Christopher Michael Ward, Jan Roelof Westra, Rudy van de Plassche, Marcel Lugthart
  • Publication number: 20040080443
    Abstract: An analog to digital converter includes a first amplifier array connected to taps from a reference ladder, a second amplifier array, wherein each amplifier in the first amplifier array is connected to only two amplifiers of the second amplifier array, a third amplifier array, wherein each amplifier in the second amplifier array is connected to only two amplifiers of the third amplifier array, and an encoder connected to outputs of the third amplifier array that converts the outputs to an N-bit digital signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Jan Mulder, Christopher Michael Ward
  • Patent number: 6664910
    Abstract: An analog to digital converter includes a first amplifier array connected to taps from a reference ladder, a second amplifier array, wherein each amplifier in the first amplifier array is connected to only two amplifiers of the second amplifier array, a third amplifier array, wherein each amplifier in the second amplifier array is connected to only two amplifiers of the third amplifier array, and an encoder connected to outputs of the third amplifier array that converts the outputs to an N-bit digital signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Jan Mulder, Christopher Michael Ward
  • Publication number: 20030218556
    Abstract: An N-bit analog to digital converter includes a reference ladder, a track-and-hold amplifier connected to an input voltage, a coarse ADC amplifier connected to a coarse capacitor at its input and having a coarse ADC reset switch controlled by a first clock phase of a two-phase clock, a fine ADC amplifier connected to a fine capacitor at its input and having a fine ADC reset switch controlled by a second clock phase of the two-phase clock, a switch matrix that selects a voltage subrange from the reference ladder for use by the fine ADC amplifier based on an output of the coarse ADC amplifier, and wherein the coarse capacitor is charged to a coarse reference ladder voltage during the first clock phase and connected to the T/H output during the second clock phase, wherein the fine capacitor is connected to a voltage subrange during the first clock phase and to the T/H output during the second clock phase, and an encoder that converts outputs of the coarse and fine ADC amplifiers to an N-bit output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Franciscus Maria Leonardus van der Goes, Jan Mulder, Christopher Michael Ward, Jan Roelof Westra, Rudy van de Plassche, Marcel Lugthart
  • Publication number: 20030218560
    Abstract: An analog to digital converter includes a first amplifier array connected to taps from a reference ladder, a second amplifier array, wherein each amplifier in the first amplifier array is connected to only two amplifiers of the second amplifier array, a third amplifier array, wherein each amplifier in the second amplifier array is connected to only two amplifiers of the third amplifier array, and an encoder connected to outputs of the third amplifier array that converts the outputs to an N-bit digital signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Jan Mulder, Christopher Michael Ward
  • Patent number: 6653966
    Abstract: An N-bit analog to digital converter includes a reference ladder, a track-and-hold amplifier connected to an input voltage, a coarse ADC amplifier connected to a coarse capacitor at its input and having a coarse ADC reset switch controlled by a first clock phase of a two-phase clock, a fine ADC amplifier connected to a fine capacitor at its input and having a fine ADC reset switch controlled by a second clock phase of the two-phase clock, a switch matrix that selects a voltage subrange from the reference ladder for use by the fine ADC amplifier based on an output of the coarse ADC amplifier, and wherein the coarse capacitor is charged to a coarse reference ladder voltage during the first clock phase and connected to the T/H output during the second clock phase, wherein the fine capacitor is connected to a voltage subrange during the first clock phase and to the T/H output during the second clock phase, and an encoder that converts outputs of the coarse and fine ADC amplifiers to an N-bit output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Franciscus Maria Leonardus van der Goes, Jan Mulder, Christopher Michael Ward, Jan Roelof Westra, Rudy van de Plassche, Marcel Lugthart
  • Patent number: 6628224
    Abstract: An analog to digital converter includes a first amplifier array connected to taps from a reference ladder, a second amplifier array, wherein each amplifier in the first amplifier array is connected to only two amplifiers of the second amplifier array, a third amplifier array, wherein each amplifier in the second amplifier array is connected to only two amplifiers of the third amplifier array, and an encoder connected to outputs of the third amplifier array that converts the outputs to an N-bit digital signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Jan Mulder, Christopher Michael Ward
  • Patent number: 6583747
    Abstract: An N-bit analog to digital converter includes a reference ladder, a track-and-hold amplifier connected to an input voltage, a coarse ADC amplifier connected to a coarse capacitor at its input and having a coarse ADC reset switch controlled by a first clock phase of a two-phase clock, a fine ADC amplifier connected to a fine capacitor at its input and having a fine ADC reset switch controlled by a second clock phase of the two-phase clock, a switch matrix that selects a voltage subrange from the reference ladder for use by the fine ADC amplifier based on an output of the coarse ADC amplifier, and wherein the coarse capacitor is charged to a coarse reference ladder voltage during the first clock phase and connected to the T/H output during the second clock phase, wherein the fine capacitor is connected to a voltage subrange during the first clock phase and to the T/H output during the second clock phase, and an encoder that converts outputs of the coarse and fine ADC amplifiers to an N-bit output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Franciscus Maria Leonardus van der Goes, Jan Mulder, Christopher Michael Ward, Jan Roelof Westra, Rudy van de Plassche, Marcel Lugthart