Patents by Inventor Duane E. Beyler

Duane E. Beyler 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).

  • Technique for drive current stabilization of an automotive ignition system
    Patent number: 7159583
    Abstract: Drive current stabilization is achieved through the management of a drive current. The drive current may include a control current that is provided to a control terminal of a switch, a current limit input current that is provided to a current limit circuit associated with the switch and a stabilization current. The switch carries a load current responsive to a control signal on the control terminal. The magnitude of the control current is monitored and a magnitude of the stabilization current is increased responsive to a decrease in the magnitude of the control current to substantially maintain a magnitude of the drive current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Duane E. Beyler, Scott B. Kesler
  • Thermal overload protection circuit for an automotive ignition system
    Patent number: 6987655
    Abstract: Thermal overload protection circuitry 14 for an automotive ignition system includes a gate drive circuit (18) responsive to a control signal (ESTB) to produce a drive signal (VGD) for driving a power switching device (22) separate from the protection circuitry (14), and a thermal overload protection circuit (40) configured to supply a first current (I1) to a thermal sensing component (38) associated with, and having an operating temperature defined by, the power switching device (22), wherein the first current (I1) has a magnitude defined by the operating temperature of the thermal sensing component (38). The first current is multiplied by a current controlled current source (60) to produce a second current (I2), and the second current is used to limit the drive signal (VGD) to thereby maintain the operating temperature of the power switching device (22) below an operating temperature limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott B. Kesler, Duane E. Beyler, John R. Fruth
  • Thermal overload protection circuit for an automotive ignition system
    Publication number: 20040085697
    Abstract: Thermal overload protection circuitry 14 for an automotive ignition system includes a gate drive circuit (18) responsive to a control signal (ESTB) to produce a drive signal (VGD) for driving a power so itching device (22) separate from the protection circuitry (14), and a thermal overload protection circuit (40) configured to supply a first current (I1) to a thermal sensing component (38) associated with, and having an operating temperature defined by, the power switching device (22), wherein the first current (I1) has a magnitude defined by the operating temperature of the thermal sensing component (38). The first current is multiplied by a current controlled current source (60) to produce a second current (I2), and the second current is used to limit the drive signal (VGD) to thereby maintain the operating temperature of the power switching device (22) below an operating temperature limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: Scott B. Kesler, Duane E. Beyler, John R. Fruth