Patents by Inventor Curt Karnstedt

Curt Karnstedt 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: 10651688
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for dynamically tuning circuit elements. One aspect includes a variable capacitance device. The device includes a first capacitor, a first switch, a second capacitor, a second switch, and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to adjust respective capacitances of the first and second capacitors by causing a first control signal to be applied to the first-switch control terminal for a duration of time in response to detecting a zero voltage condition across the first switch, and by causing a second control signal to be applied to the second-switch control terminal for the duration of time in response to detecting a zero voltage condition across the second switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
    Inventors: Curt Karnstedt, Christopher Buenrostro
  • Patent number: 10651689
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for dynamically tuning circuit elements. One aspect includes a zero voltage switching device including a switch, a first comparator, a second comparator and a controller. The switch includes a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first comparator includes a first input terminal electrically connected to the second terminal of the switch and a second input terminal electrically connected to the first terminal of the switch. The second comparator includes a first input terminal electrically connected to a reference voltage and a second input terminal electrically connected to the control terminal of the switch. The controller is configured to: detect a zero voltage condition across the switch, and, in response, cause a control signal to be applied to the control terminal of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
    Inventors: Curt Karnstedt, Christopher Buenrostro
  • Publication number: 20190109496
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for dynamically tuning circuit elements. One aspect includes a variable capacitance device. The device includes a first capacitor, a first switch, a second capacitor, a second switch, and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to adjust respective capacitances of the first and second capacitors by causing a first control signal to be applied to the first-switch control terminal for a duration of time in response to detecting a zero voltage condition across the first switch, and by causing a second control signal to be applied to the second-switch control terminal for the duration of time in response to detecting a zero voltage condition across the second switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Curt Karnstedt, Christopher Buenrostro
  • Publication number: 20190109495
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for dynamically tuning circuit elements. One aspect includes a variable capacitance device. The device includes a first capacitor, a first switch, a second capacitor, a second switch, and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to adjust respective capacitances of the first and second capacitors by causing a first control signal to be applied to the first-switch control terminal for a duration of time in response to detecting a zero voltage condition across the first switch, and by causing a second control signal to be applied to the second-switch control terminal for the duration of time in response to detecting a zero voltage condition across the second switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Curt Karnstedt, Christopher Buenrostro
  • Patent number: 10141788
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for dynamically tuning circuit elements. One aspect includes a variable capacitance device. The device includes a first capacitor, a first switch, a second capacitor, a second switch, and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to adjust respective capacitances of the first and second capacitors by causing a first control signal to be applied to the first-switch control terminal for a duration of time in response to detecting a zero voltage condition across the first switch, and by causing a second control signal to be applied to the second-switch control terminal for the duration of time in response to detecting a zero voltage condition across the second switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
    Inventors: Curt Karnstedt, Christopher Buenrostro
  • Patent number: 9929721
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for detecting characteristics of an input signal. One aspect includes a first finite impulse response (FIR) filter, a second FIR filter, and a controller coupled with the first and second FIR filters. The first FIR filter receives an input signal and a first reference signal. The first FIR filter filters the first reference signal to generate a first sinusoidal signal and mixes the first sinusoidal signal and the input signal to generate a first mixed signal. The second FIR filter receives the input signal and a second reference signal. The second FIR filter filters the second reference signal to generate a second sinusoidal signal and mixes the second sinusoidal signal and the input signal to generate a second mixed signal. The controller determines characteristics of the input signal based on the first and second mixed signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
    Inventor: Curt Karnstedt
  • Publication number: 20170117751
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for dynamically tuning circuit elements. One aspect includes a variable capacitance device. The device includes a first capacitor, a first switch, a second capacitor, a second switch, and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to adjust respective capacitances of the first and second capacitors by causing a first control signal to be applied to the first-switch control terminal for a duration of time in response to detecting a zero voltage condition across the first switch, and by causing a second control signal to be applied to the second-switch control terminal for the duration of time in response to detecting a zero voltage condition across the second switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: Curt Karnstedt, Christopher Buenrostro
  • Publication number: 20170111029
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for detecting characteristics of an input signal. One aspect includes a first finite input response (FIR) filter, a second FIR filter, and a controller coupled with the first and second FIR filters. The first FIR filter receives an input signal and a first reference signal. The first FIR filter filters the first reference signal to generate a first sinusoidal signal and mixes the first sinusoidal signal and the input signal to generate a first mixed signal. The second FIR filter receives the input signal and a second reference signal. The second FIR filter filters the second reference signal to generate a second sinusoidal signal and mixes the second sinusoidal signal and the input signal to generate a second mixed signal. The controller determines characteristics of the input signal based on the first and second mixed signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventor: Curt Karnstedt
  • Patent number: 6907479
    Abstract: Integrated circuit FIFO memory devices may be controlled using a register file, an indexer and a controller. The FIFO memory device includes a FIFO memory that is divisible into up to a predetermined number of independent FIFO queues. The register file includes the predetermined number of words. A respective word is configured to store one or more parameters for a respective one of the FIFO queues. The indexer is configured to index into the register file, to access a respective word that corresponds to a respective FIFO queue that is accessed. The controller is responsive to the respective word that is accessed, and is configured to control access to the respective FIFO queue based upon at least one of the one or more parameters that is stored in the respective word. Thus, as the number of FIFO queues expands, the number of words in the register file may need to expand, but the controller and/or indexer need not change substantially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Integrated Device Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Curt A. Karnstedt, Bruce L. Chin, Prashant Shamarao, Mario Montana
  • Publication number: 20030018862
    Abstract: Integrated circuit FIFO memory devices may be controlled using a register file, an indexer and a controller. The FIFO memory device includes a FIFO memory that is divisible into up to a predetermined number of independent FIFO queues. The register file includes the predetermined number of words. A respective word is configured to store one or more parameters for a respective one of the FIFO queues. The indexer is configured to index into the register file, to access a respective word that corresponds to a respective FIFO queue that is accessed. The controller is responsive to the respective word that is accessed, and is configured to control access to the respective FIFO queue based upon at least one of the one or more parameters that is stored in the respective word. Thus, as the number of FIFO queues expands, the number of words in the register file may need to expand, but the controller and/or indexer need not change substantially.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Inventors: Curt A. Karnstedt, Bruce L. Chin, Prashant Shamarao, Mario Montana