Patents by Inventor Ian Johnson SMITH

Ian Johnson 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: 10519033
    Abstract: This application relates to transducer apparatus (300, 400), especially for MEMS capacitive transducers. The apparatus has a voltage bias generator (102) for receiving a supply voltage (VDD) and generating a bias voltage (VB) for biasing a capacitive transducer (101). A voltage supply path extends between a supply voltage input terminal (309a) and the voltage bias generator (102). A programmable trim circuit (207), in use, controls the bias voltage generated by the voltage bias generator. A first filter (301) is configured to applying filtering to the voltage supply path. A programming contact pad (308) is configured to form an external contact of the transducer apparatus when packaged and is electrically coupled to the programmable trim circuit via a signal path that does not include the first filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: Ian Johnson Smith
  • Publication number: 20190306621
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a protection system for protecting a MEMS transducer of a MEMS device from electrostatic capture, wherein the MEMS transducer is operable in a normal-sensitivity, mode and in a reduced-sensitivity mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventors: Ian Johnson SMITH, James Thomas DEAS, Vivek SARAF
  • Patent number: 10433054
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a protection system for protecting a MEMS transducer of a MEMS device from electrostatic capture, wherein the MEMS transducer is operable in a normal-sensitivity, mode and in a reduced-sensitivity mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Johnson Smith, James Thomas Deas, Vivek Saraf
  • Publication number: 20190261076
    Abstract: There is provided a USB audio accessory device, comprising: an audio transducer, configured to generate an audio transducer signal; interface circuitry, configured to receive analogue and digital representations of the audio transducer signal; and a USB-C connector for connecting to a USB host device, coupled to the interface circuitry. The interface circuitry is operable, in a first mode of operation, to output simultaneously the analogue representation of the audio transducer signal over a first pin of the USB-C connector, and the digital representation of the audio transducer signal over second and third pins of the USB-C connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventors: Bradley Allan LAMBERT, Michael Allan KOST, Robert David RAND, Ian Johnson SMITH
  • Patent number: 10366038
    Abstract: This application relates to methods and apparatus for configuring a serial data interface, especially a data interface (300) for a transducer (324) such as a digital microphone or loudspeaker. The data interface is selectively operable in a first or second serial data mode of operation for input of data to or output data from the transducer device. The first and second serial data modes are different, e.g. correspond to different serial formats. The data interface has a controller (330) configured to determine a resistance value (331, 332) at a sense terminal (314) of the transducer device and to control the data interface in the first serial data mode if the resistance value is within a first resistance range and control the data interface in the second serial data mode if the resistance value is within a second, different, resistance range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: Ian Johnson Smith
  • Publication number: 20180282149
    Abstract: This application relates to transducer apparatus (300, 400), especially for MEMS capacitive transducers. The apparatus has a voltage bias generator (102) for receiving a supply voltage (VDD) and generating a bias voltage (VB) for biasing a capacitive transducer (101). A voltage supply path extends between a supply voltage input terminal (309a) and the voltage bias generator (102). A programmable trim circuit (207), in use, controls the bias voltage generated by the voltage bias generator. A first filter (301) is configured to applying filtering to the voltage supply path. A programming contact pad (308) is configured to form an external contact of the transducer apparatus when packaged and is electrically coupled to the programmable trim circuit via a signal path that does not include the first filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventor: Ian Johnson SMITH
  • Publication number: 20170132170
    Abstract: This application relates to methods and apparatus for configuring a serial data interface, especially a data interface (300) for a transducer (324) such as a digital microphone or loudspeaker. The data interface is selectively operable in a first or second serial data mode of operation for input of data to or output data from the transducer device. The first and second serial data modes are different, e.g. correspond to different serial formats. The data interface has a controller (330) configured to determine a resistance value (331, 332) at a sense terminal (314) of the transducer device and to control the data interface in the first serial data mode if the resistance value is within a first resistance range and control the data interface in the second serial data mode if the resistance value is within a second, different, resistance range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventor: Ian Johnson SMITH