Patents by Inventor David K. Lacombe

David K. Lacombe 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: 8547033
    Abstract: A solid state lighting controller arranged for use with a single stage power factor correction switched mode power supply, a light emitting diode (LED) string and a current sense element arranged to sense current through the LED string, the solid state lighting controller constituted of: a current governor in series with the LED string exhibiting a governor differential amplifier and a governor electronically controlled switch responsive to the output of the governor differential amplifier, the current governor arranged to limit current flow through the LED string responsive to a current limit reference; and a feedback circuit exhibiting an error amplifier, the feedback circuit arranged to feedback a signal to the power factor correction switched mode power supply controller whose value is a function of the difference between the current through the LED string sensed by the current sense element and a target current signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Microsemi Corp.—Analog Mixed Signal Group Ltd.
    Inventors: Yair Darshan, Chii-Fa Chiou, David K Lacombe
  • Patent number: 8358082
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for igniting a lamp during a strike mode of an inverter comprising: sequentially controlling a duty cycle sweep and a frequency sweep of driving signals in the inverter to provide an increasing output voltage to the lamp. One embodiment advantageously includes a closed feedback loop to implement the duty cycle sweep and the frequency sweep such that an open lamp voltage is reliably regulated during the strike mode. For example, the closed feedback loop stops the duty cycle sweep or the frequency sweep when the output voltage to the lamp reaches a predetermined threshold and makes adjustments to the duty cycle or frequency the driving signals as needed to keep the output voltage at approximately the predetermined threshold if the lamp has not ignited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Microsemi Corporation
    Inventors: George C. Henry, David K Lacombe
  • Publication number: 20120081017
    Abstract: A solid state lighting controller arranged for use with a single stage power factor correction switched mode power supply, a light emitting diode (LED) string and a current sense element arranged to sense current through the LED string, the solid state lighting controller constituted of: a current governor in series with the LED string exhibiting a governor differential amplifier and a governor electronically controlled switch responsive to the output of the governor differential amplifier, the current governor arranged to limit current flow through the LED string responsive to a current limit reference; and a feedback circuit exhibiting an error amplifier, the feedback circuit arranged to feedback a signal to the power factor correction switched mode power supply controller whose value is a function of the difference between the current through the LED string sensed by the current sense element and a target current signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: MICROSEMI CORP. - ANALOG MIXED SIGNAL GROUP LTD.
    Inventors: Yair DARSHAN, Chii-Fa CHIOU, David K. LACOMBE
  • Patent number: 7868603
    Abstract: A feed-forward correction circuit in a PWM controller adjusts an error signal inversely with respect to a supply voltage for a switching voltage regulator to quickly compensate for changes or transients in the supply voltage. The adjusted error signal is provided to a PWM comparator to control a duty cycle of an output signal. The switching voltage regulator can be a DC-to-DC converter or a DC-to-AC converter, and the output signal is used to generate one or more driving signals to control semiconductor switches in the switching voltage regulator. The feed-forward correction circuit uses an offset compensation technique or a translinear circuit to maintain a substantially inverse product relationship between the supply voltage and the duty cycle of the output signal, thereby reducing overshoots and undershoots in a regulated output voltage of the switching voltage regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Microsemi Corporation
    Inventors: David K. Lacombe, Chii-Fa Chiou, George C. Henry
  • Publication number: 20090273295
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for igniting a lamp during a strike mode of an inverter comprising: sequentially controlling a duty cycle sweep and a frequency sweep of driving signals in the inverter to provide an increasing output voltage to the lamp. One embodiment advantageously includes a closed feedback loop to implement the duty cycle sweep and the frequency sweep such that an open lamp voltage is reliably regulated during the strike mode. For example, the closed feedback loop stops the duty cycle sweep or the frequency sweep when the output voltage to the lamp reaches a predetermined threshold and makes adjustments to the duty cycle or frequency the driving signals as needed to keep the output voltage at approximately the predetermined threshold if the lamp has not ignited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: Microsemi Corporation
    Inventors: George C. Henry, David K. Lacombe
  • Patent number: 7569998
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for igniting a lamp during a strike mode of an inverter comprising: sequentially controlling a duty cycle sweep and a frequency sweep of driving signals in the inverter to provide an increasing output voltage to the lamp. One embodiment advantageously includes a closed feedback loop to implement the duty cycle sweep and the frequency sweep such that an open lamp voltage is reliably regulated during the strike mode. For example, the closed feedback loop stops the duty cycle sweep or the frequency sweep when the output voltage to the lamp reaches a predetermined threshold and makes adjustments to the duty cycle or frequency the driving signals as needed to keep the output voltage at approximately the predetermined threshold if the lamp has not ignited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Microsemi Corporation
    Inventors: George C. Henry, David K. Lacombe
  • Publication number: 20080122379
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for igniting a lamp during a strike mode of an inverter comprising: sequentially controlling a duty cycle sweep and a frequency sweep of driving signals in the inverter to provide an increasing output voltage to the lamp. One embodiment advantageously includes a closed feedback loop to implement the duty cycle sweep and the frequency sweep such that an open lamp voltage is reliably regulated during the strike mode. For example, the closed feedback loop stops the duty cycle sweep or the frequency sweep when the output voltage to the lamp reaches a predetermined threshold and makes adjustments to the duty cycle or frequency the driving signals as needed to keep the output voltage at approximately the predetermined threshold if the lamp has not ignited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: MICROSEMI CORPORATION
    Inventors: George C. Henry, David K. Lacombe
  • Publication number: 20080084196
    Abstract: A feed-forward correction circuit in a PWM controller adjusts an error signal inversely with respect to a supply voltage for a switching voltage regulator to quickly compensate for changes or transients in the supply voltage. The adjusted error signal is provided to a PWM comparator to control a duty cycle of an output signal. The switching voltage regulator can be a DC-to-DC converter or a DC-to-AC converter, and the output signal is used to generate one or more driving signals to control semiconductor switches in the switching voltage regulator. The feed-forward correction circuit uses an offset compensation technique or a translinear circuit to maintain a substantially inverse product relationship between the supply voltage and the duty cycle of the output signal, thereby reducing overshoots and undershoots in a regulated output voltage of the switching voltage regulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Applicant: Microsemi Corporation
    Inventors: David K. Lacombe, Chii-Fa Chiou, George C. Henry
  • Patent number: 6496317
    Abstract: A write driver controls current path for current of an H-bridge circuit. The H-bridge circuit is controlled by a differential pair switch for adjusting a voltage between the differential pair switch between a first voltage when the H-bridge circuit is switched and a second voltage after the H-bridge circuit is switched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: David K. Lacombe
  • Patent number: 6466388
    Abstract: The present invention achieves technical advantages as an overshoot circuit (30) for a voltage source/impedance based write coil driver circuit (10) accurately controlling the current (IW)through a coil (LH) that is used to write data to a magnetic medium. The circuit (30) improves the characteristics of the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: David K. Lacombe, Chii-Fa Chiou
  • Patent number: 6400190
    Abstract: A write driver to supply current to an induction load, including an H-bridge circuit coupled to the induction load to switch the current between a first current path and a second current path, said induction load operative to generate an undershoot current, and an undershoot circuit to control the undershoot current based on a comparison of a reference voltage and a flyback voltage. The undershoot circuit is connected to bases of the transistors of the lower H-bridge circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: David K. Lacombe
  • Publication number: 20010022700
    Abstract: A write driver controls current path for current of an H-bridge circuit. The H-bridge circuit is controlled by a differential pair switch for adjusting a voltage between the differential pair switch between a first voltage when the H-bridge circuit is switched and a second voltage after the H-bridge circuit is switched.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 1999
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Inventor: DAVID K. LACOMBE
  • Publication number: 20010022699
    Abstract: An H-bridge circuit driven by a differential pair whereby the differential pair creates a current summation node that controls the H-bridge current magnitude and response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 1999
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Inventor: DAVID K. LACOMBE
  • Patent number: 5309144
    Abstract: A security system uses a base unit and a portable transceiver which cooperate to provide automatic monitoring of a secure perimeter. An intrusion sensor is employed to activate a transmitter for emitting a selected frequency wave energy challenge transmission upon the detection of an intruder either outside the perimeter or entering the perimeter. If the intruder has the portable transceiver present to receive the challenge transmission, it automatically emits a responsive wave energy signal as an acknowledgment. A base unit receiver detects the acknowledgment signal and prohibits alarm action. If no acknowledgment signal is received, then either a warning or an alarm is triggered at the base unit. The system does not require manual control. The several distinct wave energy signals can be chosen from among various available radio frequency electromagnetic, and audible or ultrasonic acoustic, waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Inventors: David K. Lacombe, George J. Seelman, Michael C. Scofield