Patents by Inventor David P. Magee

David P. Magee 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: 12216270
    Abstract: An optical distance measuring system includes a first transmitter, a first solid state device, and a receiver. The first transmitter is configured to generate a first optical waveform. The first solid state device is configured to receive the first optical waveform and steer the first optical waveform toward a target object. The receiver is configured to receive the first optical waveform reflected off of the first target object and determine a distance to the first target object based on a time of flight from the transmitter to the first target object and back to the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: David P. Magee, Nirmal C. Warke, Stephen Aldridge Shaw, Terry Alan Bartlett, Rick Oden
  • Publication number: 20240424537
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems are described in conjunction with a watertight housing designed for ultrasonic lens cleaning. An example apparatus includes a transducer having a surface and an opening; a bracket having a first surface, a second surface, a third surface, and an opening, the first surface of the bracket coupled to the surface of the transducer, the opening of the bracket aligned with the opening of the transducer; and a lens having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface of the lens is coupled to the second surface of the bracket, the second surface of the lens coupled to the third surface of the bracket, the lens covering the opening of the transducer and the opening of the bracket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2024
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Inventors: David P. Magee, Hailong Chen
  • Patent number: 12038314
    Abstract: A transducer system with a transducer and circuitry for applying a waveform to excite the transducer during an excitation period. The applying circuitry also comprises circuitry for changing a frequency of the waveform during the excitation period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Amardeep Sathyanarayana, David P. Magee, Anand G. Dabak, Srinath M. Ramaswamy
  • Publication number: 20240201023
    Abstract: An example apparatus includes: machine-readable instructions; and programmable circuitry configured to at least one of instantiate or execute the machine-readable instructions to: receive burst excitation information including a burst start frequency, a burst stop frequency, and a burst duration, the burst start frequency and the burst stop frequency defining a range of frequencies of the burst excitation information; generate first and second sub burst excitation information based on the burst excitation information, the first and second sub burst excitation information including a sub burst duration based on the burst duration, a temperature sense interval, and a temperature sense duration, the temperature sense interval being a time between temperature measurements, the temperature sense duration being a time of a temperature measurement; and generate an excitation signal responsive to the first and second sub burst excitation information and temperature measurements, the excitation signal having frequenci
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2023
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Inventors: David P. Magee, James Kelly Griffin
  • Publication number: 20240201376
    Abstract: In described examples, a method includes receiving light from a field of view on a spatial light modulator that includes a two-dimensional array of picture elements in rows and columns; and determining a portion of the two-dimensional array that corresponds to a region of interest in response to a transmit scan beam illuminating the field of view. The method also includes directing light from the portion of the two-dimensional array to a photodiode, and directing light outside the portion away from the photodiode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2024
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Inventors: Terry A. Bartlett, Nirmal C. Warke, David P. Magee, Jeffrey Scott Farris, Patrick Oden
  • Patent number: 11754905
    Abstract: In described examples, a system (e.g., a security system or a vehicle operator assistance system) is configured to configure a phased spatial light modulator (SLM) to generate a diffraction pattern. A coherent light source is optically coupled to direct coherent light upon the SLM. The SLM is configured to project diffracted coherent light toward a region of interest. An optical element is configured to focus the diffracted coherent light toward the at least one region of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffrey Matthew Kempf, Nirmal C. Warke, David P. Magee, Rahmi Hezar, Baher S. Haroun
  • Patent number: 11519882
    Abstract: A transducer system. The system comprises a transducer and circuitry for applying an excitation waveform to excite the transducer during an excitation period. The circuitry for applying has: (i) circuitry for applying a first waveform at a first frequency; and (ii) circuitry for applying a second waveform at a second frequency differing from the first frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Amardeep Sathyanarayana, David P. Magee, Anand G. Dabak, Srinath M. Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 11428790
    Abstract: An optical distance measurement system includes a transmission circuit and a receive circuit. The transmission circuit is configured to generate narrowband intensity modulated light transmission signals over a first band of frequencies and direct the narrowband light transmission signal toward a target object. The receive circuit is configured to receive reflected light off the target object, convert the reflected light into a current signal proportional to the intensity of the reflected light, filter frequencies outside a second band of frequencies from the current signal to create a filtered current signal, and convert the filtered current signal into a voltage signal. The second band of frequencies corresponds with the first band of frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Baher S. Haroun, Nirmal C. Warke, David P. Magee
  • Patent number: 11333760
    Abstract: An optical time of flight system includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter is configured to generate a modulation signal having a modulation signal frequency that varies as a function of time, generate an optical waveform with amplitude modulation corresponding to the modulation signal, and direct the optical waveform toward a field of view (FOV). The receiver is configured to receive the optical waveform reflected off of an object within the FOV and determine a distance to the object based on a time of flight from the transmitter to the object and back to the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Nirmal C. Warke, David P. Magee, Baher S. Haroun
  • Publication number: 20220120596
    Abstract: A transducer system with a transducer and circuitry for applying a waveform to excite the transducer during an excitation period. The applying circuitry also comprises circuitry for changing a frequency of the waveform during the excitation period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Amardeep Sathyanarayana, David P. Magee, Anand G. Dabak, Srinath M. Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 11249512
    Abstract: A method includes reading first and second timer count values from a timer. The first timer count value is associated with a first time point, and the second timer count value is associated with a second time point. Also, the method includes calculating a difference between the first and the second timer count values, and determining whether the difference is within a range. The range is based on a desired executing frequency to perform a computing task, a variation of the desired executing frequency, and a timer frequency. Further, based on the difference not being within the range, the method includes setting an error flag value to be true and incrementing an error count value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: David P. Magee
  • Patent number: 11231493
    Abstract: An example apparatus includes a transducer to receive a reference signal and a reflected signal, the reflected signal being the reference signal after being reflected of a target; a filter to generate a band-pass reference signal and a band-pass reflected signal by filtering (A) reference signal samples associated with the reference signal and (B) reflected signal samples associated with the reflected signal; a correlator to generate a first correlation by correlating the reference signal samples with the reflected signal samples and a second correlation by correlating the band-pass reference signal with the band-pass reflected signal; and a delay estimator to determine a distance to the target based on the first correlation (coarse delay) and the second correlation (fine delay) and output a signal including the distance to the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Nirmal C. Warke, David P. Magee
  • Patent number: 11221411
    Abstract: Described examples include an integrated circuit having an analog-to-digital converter operable to receive an input signal derived from a light signal and convert the input signal to a digital received signal, the analog-to-digital converter operable to receive the input signal during at least one window. The integrated circuit further has a receiver operable to receive the digital received signal, the receiver operable to determine a distance estimate of an object from which the light signal is reflected based on the digital received signal. In an example, the window locations are chosen to correspond to the locations of maximum slope in the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Nirmal C. Warke, David P. Magee, Baher S. Haroun
  • Patent number: 11209297
    Abstract: A transducer system with a transducer and circuitry for applying a waveform to excite the transducer during an excitation period. The applying circuitry also comprises circuitry for changing a frequency of the waveform during the excitation period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Amardeep Sathyanarayana, David P. Magee, Anand G. Dabak, Srinath M. Ramaswamy
  • Publication number: 20210356734
    Abstract: An optical distance measuring system includes a first transmitter, a first solid state device, and a receiver. The first transmitter is configured to generate a first optical waveform. The first solid state device is configured to receive the first optical waveform and steer the first optical waveform toward a target object. The receiver is configured to receive the first optical waveform reflected off of the first target object and determine a distance to the first target object based on a time of flight from the transmitter to the first target object and back to the receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: David P. Magee, Nimal C. Warke, Stephen Aldridge Shaw, Terry Alan Bartlett, Rick Oden
  • Publication number: 20210325515
    Abstract: An optical transmitting system for distance measuring includes a signal generator, a laser diode coupled to the signal generator, and an optics device. The signal generator is configured to generate a first plurality of electrical signals. The laser diode is configured to generate a first plurality of optical waveforms that correspond with the first plurality of electrical signals. The optics device is configured to receive the first plurality of optical waveforms and direct the first plurality of optical waveforms toward a first plurality of scan points that form a scan region within a field of view (FOV). A first signal type, a first signal duration, a first signal amplitude, or a first signal repetition frequency of the first plurality of optical waveforms is based on a first desired range of the first plurality of scan points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Nimal C. Warke, David P. Magee, Baher S. Haroun
  • Patent number: 11106030
    Abstract: An optical distance measuring system includes a first transmitter, a first solid state device, and a receiver. The first transmitter is configured to generate a first optical waveform. The first solid state device is configured to receive the first optical waveform and steer the first optical waveform toward a target object. The receiver is configured to receive the first optical waveform reflected off of the first target object and determine a distance to the first target object based on a time of flight from the transmitter to the first target object and back to the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: David P. Magee, Nirmal C. Warke, Stephen Aldridge Shaw, Terry Alan Bartlett, Rick Oden
  • Patent number: 11092674
    Abstract: An optical transmitting system for distance measuring includes a signal generator, a laser diode coupled to the signal generator, and an optics device. The signal generator is configured to generate a first plurality of electrical signals. The laser diode is configured to generate a first plurality of optical waveforms that correspond with the first plurality of electrical signals. The optics device is configured to receive the first plurality of optical waveforms and direct the first plurality of optical waveforms toward a first plurality of scan points that form a scan region within a field of view (FOV). A first signal type, a first signal duration, a first signal amplitude, or a first signal repetition frequency of the first plurality of optical waveforms is based on a first desired range of the first plurality of scan points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Nirmal C. Warke, David P. Magee, Baher S. Haroun
  • Publication number: 20210096442
    Abstract: In described examples, a system (e.g., a security system or a vehicle operator assistance system) is configured to configure a phased spatial light modulator (SLM) to generate a diffraction pattern. A coherent light source is optically coupled to direct coherent light upon the SLM. The SLM is configured to project diffracted coherent light toward a region of interest. An optical element is configured to focus the diffracted coherent light toward the at least one region of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Jeffrey Matthew Kempf, Nirmal C. Warke, David P. Magee, Rahmi Hezar, Baher S. Haroun
  • Patent number: 10908287
    Abstract: In described examples, an integrated circuit includes a modulator configured to modulate a driving signal for an optical transmitter with a narrow band modulation signal in which the driving signal with a fixed duration is transmitted to the optical transmitter periodically. The integrated circuit also includes a demodulator configured to receive a signal from an optical receiver that is configured to receive a reflection of light transmitted by the optical transmitter off an object, the demodulator configured to discriminate the narrow band modulation signal and estimate a distance of the object using the narrow band modulation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Nirmal C. Warke, David P. Magee, Baher S. Haroun