Patents by Inventor James H. Masson

James H. Masson 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: 8947010
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a sense signal having multiple pulses, where the sense signal is based on an output of a dimmer. The method also includes, for each of multiple sampling periods, (i) identifying a pulse duty cycle by sampling at least one pulse in the sense signal and calculating a duty cycle of the at least one pulse and (ii) generating an output value identifying a duty cycle for driving one or more LEDs. The output value is based on the pulse duty cycle. The method further includes generating a holding current for the dimmer (i) during the sampling of the at least one pulse in at least one of the sampling periods and (ii) when the pulse duty cycle is less than a specified threshold. The holding current can be applied continuously when the pulse duty cycle is less than the specified threshold (such as 15%).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Nationl Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Steven M. Barrow, James H. Masson, Irwin R. Nederbragt
  • Patent number: 8531138
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a sense signal having multiple pulses, where the sense signal is based on an output of a dimmer. The method also includes, for each of multiple sampling periods, sampling a subset of the pulses in the sense signal during that sampling period. The method further includes generating a holding current for the dimmer during the sampling of the subset of pulses in at least one of the sampling periods. In addition, the method includes, for each of the sampling periods, generating an output value identifying a duty cycle for driving one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs). The subset of pulses in each of the sampling periods includes multiple pulses during that sampling period but not one or more initial pulses at a beginning of that sampling period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Steven M. Barrow, James H. Masson, Daniel R. Herrington, Irwin R. Nederbragt, Chi Yuen Lai
  • Publication number: 20110115395
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a sense signal having multiple pulses, where the sense signal is based on an output of a dimmer. The method also includes, for each of multiple sampling periods, sampling a subset of the pulses in the sense signal during that sampling period. The method further includes generating a holding current for the dimmer during the sampling of the subset of pulses in at least one of the sampling periods. In addition, the method includes, for each of the sampling periods, generating an output value identifying a duty cycle for driving one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs). The subset of pulses in each of the sampling periods includes multiple pulses during that sampling period but not one or more initial pulses at a beginning of that sampling period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven M. Barrow, James H. Masson, Daniel R. Herrington, Irwin R. Nederbragt, Chi Yuen Lai
  • Publication number: 20110084622
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a sense signal having multiple pulses, where the sense signal is based on an output of a dimmer. The method also includes, for each of multiple sampling periods, (i) identifying a pulse duty cycle by sampling at least one pulse in the sense signal and calculating a duty cycle of the at least one pulse and (ii) generating an output value identifying a duty cycle for driving one or more LEDs. The output value is based on the pulse duty cycle. The method further includes generating a holding current for the dimmer (i) during the sampling of the at least one pulse in at least one of the sampling periods and (ii) when the pulse duty cycle is less than a specified threshold. The holding current can be applied continuously when the pulse duty cycle is less than the specified threshold (such as 15%).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven M. Barrow, James H. Masson, Irwin R. Nederbragt
  • Patent number: 4673826
    Abstract: An autonomous uninterruptable power supply apparatus utilizing a digital processor unit as a control and monitor unit to measure and control input and output parameters in the power supply. A battery charger is utilized to maintain the voltage and current levels with the backup battery supply source which powers an inverter unit that converts the DC power to an AC output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1987
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: James H. Masson