Patents by Inventor D. Stuart Smith

D. Stuart Smith 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: 8384832
    Abstract: Systems, methods and devices provide for fast and power efficient transfer of three color data words (e.g., a M-bit red color word, a M bit green color word and a M-bit blue color word) per pixel from a controller to a laser diode driver (LDD). First and second transfer words are produced based on the three color data words. The first transfer word is transferred from the controller to the LDD and stored at LDD in response to a low-to-high portion of a cycle of a data transfer clock, and the second transfer word is transferred and stored in response to a high-to-low portion of a cycle of the data transfer clock. The first, second and third color data words are reproduced by the LDD in dependence on the first and second received transfer words. First, second and third DACs of the LDD are driven with the first color data word, the second color data word, and the third color data word. Three light sources (e.g., red, green and blue laser diodes or LEDs) are driven with output currents of the DACs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Intersil Americas Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Fairgrieve, D. Stuart Smith
  • Patent number: 8094533
    Abstract: A hybrid LDD includes a read channel to selectively output a read current, a plurality of write channels, each to selectively output a different write current, and an oscillator channel to selectively output an oscillator current. Additionally, the hybrid LDD includes programmable LDD controller that receives the plurality of enable signals from the external controller, and based on the enable signals, controls timing of the currents output by at least the write channels. The programmable LDD controller can also control timing of the currents output by the read and oscillator channels, based on the enable signals. Further and alternative embodiments are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Intersil Americas Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore D. Rees, Akihiro Asada, D. Stuart Smith
  • Publication number: 20110228661
    Abstract: A hybrid LDD includes a read channel to selectively output a read current, a plurality of write channels, each to selectively output a different write current, and an oscillator channel to selectively output an oscillator current. Additionally, the hybrid LDD includes programmable LDD controller that receives the plurality of enable signals from the external controller, and based on the enable signals, controls timing of the currents output by at least the write channels. The programmable LDD controller can also control timing of the currents output by the read and oscillator channels, based on the enable signals. Further and alternative embodiments are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: INTERSIL AMERICAS INC.
    Inventors: Theodore D. Rees, Akihiro Asada, D. Stuart Smith
  • Patent number: 8018809
    Abstract: A hybrid LDD includes a read channel to selectively output a read current, a plurality of write channels, each to selectively output a different write current, and an oscillator channel to selectively output an oscillator current. Additionally, the hybrid LDD includes programmable LDD controller that receives the plurality of enable signals from the external controller, and based on the enable signals, controls timing of the currents output by at least the write channels. The programmable LDD controller can also control timing of the currents output by the read and oscillator channels, based on the enable signals. Further and alternative embodiments are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Intersil Americas Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore D. Rees, Akihiro Asada, D. Stuart Smith
  • Publication number: 20110157485
    Abstract: Systems, methods and devices provide for fast and power efficient transfer of three color data words (e.g., a M-bit red color word, a M bit green color word and a M-bit blue color word) per pixel from a controller to a laser diode driver (LDD). First and second transfer words are produced based on the three color data words. The first transfer word is transferred from the controller to the LDD and stored at LDD in response to a low-to-high portion of a cycle of a data transfer clock, and the second transfer word is transferred and stored in response to a high-to-low portion of a cycle of the data transfer clock. The first, second and third color data words are reproduced by the LDD in dependence on the first and second received transfer words. First, second and third DACs of the LDD are driven with the first color data word, the second color data word, and the third color data word. Three light sources (e.g., red, green and blue laser diodes or LEDs) are driven with output currents of the DACs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: INTERSIL AMERICAS INC.
    Inventors: Alexander Fairgrieve, D. Stuart Smith
  • Patent number: 7562187
    Abstract: Double buffering of serial transfers is provided in order to allow for increased serial transfer rate without requiring increased internal processing speeds. A laser driver serial controller serially receives a word including address bits and data bits. During a write operation, the address bits are serially shifted into an address shift register of the laser driver, and the data bits are serially shifted into a data shift register of the laser driver. After the address bits and data bits are completely shifted into the respective address and data shift registers, the address bits and data bits are transferred in parallel to address and data holding registers of the laser driver. After the parallel transfers of the address bits and data bits from the address and data shift registers to the address and data holding registers, the address and data shift registers are available to serially receive additional address bits and data bits of an additional word.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Elantec Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: D. Stuart Smith, Theodore D. Rees, Miguel Gabino Perez
  • Patent number: 7546397
    Abstract: Methods and systems for allowing multiple devices to share the same serial lines (e.g., SDIO, SEN and SCLK) are provided. Such devices can be located, e.g., on an optical pick-up unit. Each device includes a serial interface, a device enable number (DEN) that differs from the DEN of each other device, and a plurality of registers, with at least one register being designated a device select register (DSR). The DSRs of the plurality of devices share a common address. The plurality of serial interfaces are collectively enabled and collectively disabled (e.g., via the SEN line). However, only one of the plurality of serial interfaces can be selected at one time, with the remaining of the plurality of serial interfaces being deselected. The serial interface of a device is selected when the DEN of the device is the same as the content of the DSR of the device, and deselected when the DEN of the device is not the same as the content of the DSR of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Intersil Americas Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore D. Rees, D. Stuart Smith, Dong Zheng
  • Publication number: 20090073829
    Abstract: A hybrid LDD includes a read channel to selectively output a read current, a plurality of write channels, each to selectively output a different write current, and an oscillator channel to selectively output an oscillator current. Additionally, the hybrid LDD includes programmable LDD controller that receives the plurality of enable signals from the external controller, and based on the enable signals, controls timing of the currents output by at least the write channels. The programmable LDD controller can also control timing of the currents output by the read and oscillator channels, based on the enable signals. Further and alternative embodiments are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: Intersil Americas Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore D. Rees, Akihiro Asada, D. Stuart Smith
  • Publication number: 20080140926
    Abstract: Double buffering of serial transfers is provided in order to allow for increased serial transfer rate without requiring increased internal processing speeds. A laser driver serial controller serially receives a word including address bits and data bits. During a write operation, the address bits are serially shifted into an address shift register of the laser driver, and the data bits are serially shifted into a data shift register of the laser driver. After the address bits and data bits are completely shifted into the respective address and data shift registers, the address bits and data bits are transferred in parallel to address and data holding registers of the laser driver. After the parallel transfers of the address bits and data bits from the address and data shift registers to the address and data holding registers, the address and data shift registers are available to serially receive additional address bits and data bits of an additional word.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: ELANTEC SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: D. Stuart Smith, Theodore D. Rees, Miguel Gabino Perez
  • Patent number: 7382807
    Abstract: Methods and system are provided for automatic power control of a laser diode, e.g., in a laser driver. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a power controller includes a detector circuit adapted to detect the output of the laser diode and to produce a measured output therefrom. A comparator compares a desired output to the measured output, and produces an error signal therefrom. The error signal is provided to an integrator circuit that produces an integrated error signal. At least one digital-to-analog converter (DAC) uses the integrated error signal to produce a current drive signal that drives the laser diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Elantec Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Fairgrieve, D. Stuart Smith, Theodore D. Rees, Bill R. Tang
  • Publication number: 20080098144
    Abstract: Methods and systems for allowing multiple devices to share the same serial lines (e.g., SDIO, SEN and SCLK) are provided. Such devices can be located, e.g., on an optical pick-up unit. Each device includes a serial interface, a device enable number (DEN) that differs from the DEN of each other device, and a plurality of registers, with at least one register being designated a device select register (DSR). The DSRs of the plurality of devices share a common address. The plurality of serial interfaces are collectively enabled and collectively disabled (e.g., via the SEN line). However, only one of the plurality of serial interfaces can be selected at one time, with the remaining of the plurality of serial interfaces being deselected. The serial interface of a device is selected when the DEN of the device is the same as the content of the DSR of the device, and deselected when the DEN of the device is not the same as the content of the DSR of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: INTERSIL AMERICAS INC.
    Inventors: Theodore D. Rees, D. Stuart Smith, Dong Zheng
  • Patent number: 7353333
    Abstract: Double buffering of serial transfers is provided in order to allow for increased serial transfer rate without requiring increased internal processing speeds. A laser driver serial controller serially receives a word including address bits and data bits. During a write operation, the address bits are serially shifted into an address shift register of the laser driver, and the data bits are serially shifted into a data shift register of the laser driver. After the address bits and data bits are completely shifted into the respective address and data shift registers, the address bits and data bits are transferred in parallel to address and data holding registers of the laser driver. After the parallel transfers of the address bits and data bits from the address and data shift registers to the address and data holding registers, the address and data shift registers are available to serially receive additional address bits and data bits of an additional word.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Elantec Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: D. Stuart Smith, Theodore D. Rees, Miguel Gabino Perez
  • Patent number: 7246199
    Abstract: Double buffering of serial transfers is provided in order to allow for increased serial transfer rate without requiring increased internal processing speeds. A serial controller serially receives a word including address bits and data bits. During a write operation, the address bits are serially shifted into an address shift register, and the data bits are serially shifted into a data shift register. After the address bits and data bits are completely shifted into the respective address and data shift registers, the address bits and data bits are transferred in parallel to address and data holding registers. After the parallel transfers of the address bits and data bits from the address and data shift registers to the address and data holding registers, the address and data shift registers are available to serially receive additional address bits and data bits of an additional word.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Elantec Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: D. Stuart Smith, Theodore D. Rees, Miguel Gabino Perez
  • Patent number: 7061951
    Abstract: Methods and system are provided for automatic power control of a laser diode, e.g., in a laser driver. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a power controller includes a detector circuit adapted to detect the output of the laser diode and to produce a measured output therefrom. A comparator compares a desired output to the measured output, and produces an error signal therefrom. The error signal is provided to an integrator circuit that produces an integrated error signal. At least one digital-to-analog converter (DAC) uses the integrated error signal to produce a current drive signal that drives the laser diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Elantec Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Fairgrieve, D. Stuart Smith, Theodore D. Rees, Bill R. Tang
  • Publication number: 20040243744
    Abstract: Double buffering of serial transfers is provided in order to allow for increased serial transfer rate without requiring increased internal processing speeds. A serial controller serially receives a word including address bits and data bits. During a write operation, the address bits are serially shifted into an address shift register, and the data bits are serially shifted into a data shift register. After the address bits and data bits are completely shifted into the respective address and data shift registers, the address bits and data bits are transferred in parallel to address and data holding registers. After the parallel transfers of the address bits and data bits from the address and data shift registers to the address and data holding registers, the address and data shift registers are available to serially receive additional address bits and data bits of an additional word.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Applicant: Elantec Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: D. Stuart Smith, Theodore D. Rees, Miguel Gabino Perez
  • Publication number: 20040120369
    Abstract: Methods and system are provided for automatic power control of a laser diode, e.g., in a laser driver. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a power controller includes a detector circuit adapted to detect the output of the laser diode and to produce a measured output therefrom. A comparator compares a desired output to the measured output, and produces an error signal therefrom. The error signal is provided to an integrator circuit that produces an integrated error signal. At least one digital-to-analog converter (DAC) uses the integrated error signal to produce a current drive signal that drives the laser diode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: Elantec Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Fairgrieve, D. Stuart Smith, Theodore D. Rees, Bill R. Tang