Patents by Inventor Gary L. Stirk
Gary L. Stirk 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).
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Patent number: 10236694Abstract: This disclosure describes a battery pack that includes a plurality of asymmetrical banks, with different capacities and/or voltages, and multiple taps, coupled to the corresponding banks, to power electrical loads. The battery pack also comprise a balancing circuit and a battery management unit. The battery pack may regulate voltages among the banks and/or balance the states of charge among the asymmetrical banks, by moving charges among the banks, by controlling one or more converters. The battery pack monitors the status of its banks and communicate with a host system via the battery management unit. Based on the monitored information and/or communication, the battery management unit generates control signals to drive the one or more converters.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2017Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Thomas C. Greening, Karthik Kadirvel, Gary L. Stirk, Saroj K. Sahu, Kamran M. Hasan
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Publication number: 20180034288Abstract: This disclosure describes a battery pack that includes a plurality of asymmetrical banks, with different capacities and/or voltages, and multiple taps, coupled to the corresponding banks, to power electrical loads. The battery pack also comprise a balancing circuit and a battery management unit. The battery pack may regulate voltages among the banks and/or balance the states of charge among the asymmetrical banks, by moving charges among the banks, by controlling one or more converters. The battery pack monitors the status of its banks and communicate with a host system via the battery management unit. Based on the monitored information and/or communication, the battery management unit generates control signals to drive the one or more converters.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2017Publication date: February 1, 2018Inventors: Thomas C. Greening, Karthik Kadirvel, Gary L. Stirk, Saroj K. Sahu, Kamran M. Hasan
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Patent number: 9813063Abstract: An apparatus may include one or more registers configured to store a plurality of values, and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). Each value of the plurality of values may correspond to a characteristic of a transistor at a respective temperature value. The ADC may be configured to generate a digital value corresponding to a difference in voltage levels between a first terminal and a second terminal of the transistor. The apparatus may further include a sensor configured to measure a temperature, and control logic configured to generate a first voltage level at a control terminal of the transistor and receive the digital value from the ADC. The control logic may be further configured to determine, during a first operational mode, a current passing through the transistor dependent upon the digital value, at least one value of the plurality of values, and the temperature.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2015Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Gary L. Stirk, Karthik Kadirvel
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Patent number: 9680471Abstract: An apparatus may include an energy monitoring circuit configured to generate a bitstream dependent upon an amount of charge passing through a sensing unit. The apparatus may also include a control unit configured to receive the bitstream from the energy monitoring circuit, and modify a count value in response to a determined state of each bit of the bitstream. The control unit may also read a first value of the count value at a first time and at a later second time read a second value of the count value. The control unit may assert a wake-up signal in response to a determination that a difference between the first value and the second value is greater than a predetermined threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2015Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Gary L. Stirk
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Patent number: 9413359Abstract: A system may include a plurality of devices, wherein each device of the plurality of devices has a respective clock source. A first device of the plurality of devices may be configured to generate a first clock signal. A second device of the plurality of devices may be configured to generate a second clock signal, receive the first clock signal from the first device, and modify a first frequency of the first clock signal. The second device may be further configured to adjust a second frequency of the second clock signal dependent upon the modified first frequency of the first clock signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2015Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Gary L. Stirk
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Patent number: 9413354Abstract: A system may include a plurality of units, wherein each unit has a respective common mode voltage terminal, communication up terminal, and communication down terminal. A first unit of the plurality of units may be configured to generate a first plurality of currents on its communication up terminal, wherein the first plurality of currents corresponds to a first plurality of bits. A second unit of the plurality of units may be configured to receive the first plurality of currents on its respective communication down terminal, and maintain a voltage level at its respective communication down terminal during reception of the first plurality of currents. The voltage level may be equal to a common mode voltage of the respective common mode voltage terminal of the second unit.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2015Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Gary L. Stirk, Karthik Kadirvel
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Publication number: 20160182047Abstract: A system may include a plurality of units, wherein each unit has a respective common mode voltage terminal, communication up terminal, and communication down terminal. A first unit of the plurality of units may be configured to generate a first plurality of currents on its communication up terminal, wherein the first plurality of currents corresponds to a first plurality of bits. A second unit of the plurality of units may be configured to receive the first plurality of currents on its respective communication down terminal, and maintain a voltage level at its respective communication down terminal during reception of the first plurality of currents. The voltage level may be equal to a common mode voltage of the respective common mode voltage terminal of the second unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2015Publication date: June 23, 2016Inventors: Gary L. Stirk, Karthik Kadirvel
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Publication number: 20160181846Abstract: An apparatus may include an energy monitoring circuit configured to generate a bitstream dependent upon an amount of charge passing through a sensing unit. The apparatus may also include a control unit configured to receive the bitstream from the energy monitoring circuit, and modify a count value in response to a determined state of each bit of the bitstream. The control unit may also read a first value of the count value at a first time and at a later second time read a second value of the count value. The control unit may assert a wake-up signal in response to a determination that a difference between the first value and the second value is greater than a predetermined threshold value.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2015Publication date: June 23, 2016Inventor: Gary L. Stirk
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Publication number: 20160178705Abstract: An apparatus may include one or more registers configured to store a plurality of values, and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). Each value of the plurality of values may correspond to a characteristic of a transistor at a respective temperature value. The ADC may be configured to generate a digital value corresponding to a difference in voltage levels between a first terminal and a second terminal of the transistor. The apparatus may further include a sensor configured to measure a temperature, and control logic configured to generate a first voltage level at a control terminal of the transistor and receive the digital value from the ADC. The control logic may be further configured to determine, during a first operational mode, a current passing through the transistor dependent upon the digital value, at least one value of the plurality of values, and the temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2015Publication date: June 23, 2016Inventors: Gary L. Stirk, Karthik Kadirvel
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Publication number: 20160182058Abstract: A system may include a plurality of devices, wherein each device of the plurality of devices has a respective clock source. A first device of the plurality of devices may be configured to generate a first clock signal. A second device of the plurality of devices may be configured to generate a second clock signal, receive the first clock signal from the first device, and modify a first frequency of the first clock signal. The second device may be further configured to adjust a second frequency of the second clock signal dependent upon the modified first frequency of the first clock signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2015Publication date: June 23, 2016Inventor: Gary L. Stirk
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Patent number: 8575903Abstract: A voltage regulator, according to the present invention, can operate with or without an external power transistor to generate a regulated output voltage. The voltage regulator determines whether an external power transistor is connected thereto. The voltage regulator then automatically sets a frequency compensation scheme that depends on whether an external power transistor has been detected.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2010Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Jun Hua, Gary L. Stirk
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Publication number: 20120177954Abstract: A system for managing energy stored in a plurality of series connected energy storage units has a plurality of energy storage unit controllers, each associated with one of the plurality of energy storage units, a balancing circuit between two of the energy storage units, being controlled by at least one of the energy storage unit controllers, a serial electrical interface between the energy storage unit controllers providing voltage isolated bi-directional communication, and a central controller in electrical communication with the energy storage unit controllers. A method for managing charge in a plurality of series connected energy storage units in which current is diverted from the first energy storage unit to the second energy storage unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2012Publication date: July 12, 2012Applicant: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: John Houldsworth, Gary L. Stirk
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Publication number: 20120161733Abstract: A voltage regulator, according to the present invention, can operate with or without an external power transistor to generate a regulated output voltage. The voltage regulator determines whether an external power transistor is connected thereto. The voltage regulator then automatically sets a frequency compensation scheme that depends on whether an external power transistor has been detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2010Publication date: June 28, 2012Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Jun Hua, Gary L. Stirk
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Patent number: 8115453Abstract: A system for managing energy stored in a plurality of series connected energy storage units has a plurality of energy storage unit controllers, each controller being associated with one of the plurality of energy storage units, a balancing circuit between two of the energy storage units, the balancing circuit being controlled by at least one of the energy storage unit controllers, a serial electrical interface between the energy storage unit controllers for providing voltage isolated bi-directional communication, and a central controller in electrical communication with the energy storage unit controllers.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2009Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Texas Instruments Northern Virginia IncorporatedInventors: John Houldsworth, Gary L. Stirk
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Publication number: 20100109610Abstract: A system for managing energy stored in a plurality of series connected energy storage units has a plurality of energy storage unit controllers, each controller being associated with one of the plurality of energy storage units, a balancing circuit between two of the energy storage units, the balancing circuit being controlled by at least one of the energy storage unit controllers, a serial electrical interface between the energy storage unit controllers for providing voltage isolated bi-directional communication, and a central controller in electrical communication with the energy storage unit controllers.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2009Publication date: May 6, 2010Applicant: Texas Instruments Northern Virginia IncorporatedInventors: John Houldsworth, Gary L. Stirk
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Patent number: 7615966Abstract: A system for managing energy stored in a plurality of series connected energy storage units has a plurality of energy storage unit controllers, each controller being associated with one of the plurality of energy storage units, a balancing circuit between two of the energy storage units, the balancing circuit being controlled by at least one of the energy storage unit controllers, a serial electrical interface between the energy storage unit controllers for providing voltage isolated bi-directional communication, and a central controller in electrical communication with the energy storage unit controllers.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2002Date of Patent: November 10, 2009Assignee: Texas Instruments Northern Virginia IncorporatedInventors: John Houldsworth, Gary L. Stirk
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Patent number: 6850607Abstract: An intelligent vending system such as a pay telephone provides local/remote diagnostics, fraud prevention, capability of facilitating local coin overtime operation, complete cash box accounting, and detailed reporting. Information regarding each transaction is recorded and is useful in verification, by way of example. The system includes a delta-sigma driver for reducing circuit complexity and improving circuit reliability, and a one-wire, high speed communication controller which facilitates high speed downloading and uploading of data, records, and operating program code. Battery management techniques, memory management, and coin detection circuits add to the system's capabilities and reliability. Firmware security techniques and operating system formats also promote product firmware security and configuration control.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2001Date of Patent: February 1, 2005Assignee: Protel, Inc.Inventors: Rolf Meyer, Kenneth L. Bryan, Raymond F. Felch, Tony L. McBride, Gary L. Stirk, Stephen J. Hayes
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Publication number: 20020041665Abstract: An intelligent vending system such as a pay telephone provides local/remote diagnostics, fraud prevention, capability of facilitating local coin overtime operation, complete cash box accounting, and detailed reporting. Information regarding each transaction is recorded and is useful in verification, by way of example. The system includes a delta-sigma driver for reducing circuit complexity and improving circuit reliability, and a one-wire, high speed communication controller which facilitates high speed downloading and uploading of data, records, and operating program code. Battery management techniques, memory management, and coin detection circuits add to the system's capabilities and reliability. Firmware security techniques and operating system formats also promote product firmware security and configuration control.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2001Publication date: April 11, 2002Inventors: Rolf Meyer, Kenneth L. Bryan, Raymond F. Felch, Tony L. McBride, Gary L. Stirk, Stephen J. Hayes
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Patent number: 6301344Abstract: An intelligent pay telephone provides local/remote diagnostics, fraudulent call prevention, capability of facilitating local coin overtime operation, complete cash box accounting, and call detail reporting. Information regarding each call placed from the telephone is recorded and is useful in verifying operator service provider communications, long distance bills, local measured usage charges, and call volume discounts, by way of example. The intelligent pay telephone includes a delta-sigma voice driver for reducing circuit complexity and improving circuit reliability, and a one-wire, high speed communication controller facilitates high speed downloading and uploading of pay telephone data, records, and operating program code. The pay telephone also includes a low impedance, low power hookswitch for resisting damage from weather, as well as a pin fraud prevention circuit for deterring fraud.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 1998Date of Patent: October 9, 2001Assignee: Protel, Inc.Inventors: Rolf Meyer, Kenneth L. Bryan, Raymond F. Felch, Tony L. McBride, Gary L. Stirk, Stephen J. Hayes
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Patent number: 5642101Abstract: A controller that operates using two different processors is provided. Each processor performs certain predetermined functions. A control processor is responsible for switching AC power distribution and control, while a message processors is responsible for messaging. A polling scheme and arbitration logic prevent data transfers relating to these two processors from interfering with each other. A configurable interface allows many different types of appliances to attach to the system, and a serial multimode interface further enhances the configurability of the system.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 1993Date of Patent: June 24, 1997Assignee: Building Technology AssociatesInventors: Gary L. Stirk, John M. Jamieson, III, Rob L. Cowden, Susan M. Prothro, John S. Owens, Krishna P. Mikkilineni, Philip J. Zumsteg, Kenneth P. Wacks