Patents by Inventor James M. Douglass

James M. Douglass 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: 6891435
    Abstract: System and methods for reducing the effects of imbalance between input signals in a gain controlled differential amplifier are shown. Distortion in the amplifier is reduced by modulating the gain control input based upon detected differences between the signal levels of the differential input signal source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Microtune (Texas), L.P.
    Inventors: Girish Patel, James M. Douglass
  • Publication number: 20040113690
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing the effects of imbalance between input signals in a gain controlled differential amplifier are shown. Distortion in the amplifier is reduced by modulating the gain control input based upon detected differences between the signal levels of the differential input signal source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: Microtune (Texas), L.P.
    Inventors: Girish Patel, James M. Douglass
  • Publication number: 20010009361
    Abstract: A method for monitoring various parameters and conditions of a rechargeable battery to accurately determine the remaining charge level of the rechargeable battery, and includes using a temperature sensor to monitor the temperature of the rechargeable battery. The potential level of the rechargeable battery is monitored with a voltage meter coupled to the rechargeable battery. The current flow into and out of the rechargeable battery is monitored with current meter coupled to the rechargeable battery. A current accumulator coupled to the current meter is used to accumulate the net total of current flow, and an oscillatory circuit is used to generate a timing signal to time selected functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Publication date: July 26, 2001
    Inventors: Richard E. Downs, James M. Douglass, Richard William Ezell
  • Patent number: 6259232
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery pack with low powered, gas gauge circuitry for monitoring and accumulating various operating parameters of the rechargeable battery pack, includes a current monitor for measuring the current flow into and out of a battery cell in the rechargeable battery pack. An integrated current accumulator connected to the current monitor is used to maintain a measure of the net charge having flowed into and out of the battery cell. A charging current accumulator, which is also coupled to the current monitor, is used to maintain a measure of the total charge having flowed into the battery cell, while a discharging current accumulator is used to maintain a measure of the total charge having flowed out of the battery cell. A highly accurate oscillator is used to drive the accumulators to greatly increase the accuracy of the gas gauge functions derived therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Dallas Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: James M. Douglass, Richard E. Downs, Richard William Ezell
  • Patent number: 6218809
    Abstract: A method for monitoring various parameters and conditions of a rechargeable battery to accurately determine the remaining charge level of the rechargeable battery, and includes using a temperature sensor to monitor the temperature of the rechargeable battery. The potential level of the rechargeable battery is monitored with a voltage meter coupled to the rechargeable battery. The current flow into and out of the rechargeable battery is monitored with current meter coupled to the rechargeable battery. A current accumulator coupled to the current meter is used to accumulate the net total of current flow, an oscillatory circuit is used to generate a timing signal to time selected functions, and a timestamp will be generated indicative of a time when the battery ceases to be charged such that a self discharge correction is capable of being calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Dallas Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Richard E. Downs, Richard William Ezell, James M. Douglass
  • Patent number: 6137264
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery pack with low powered, gas gauge circuitry for monitoring and accumulating various operating parameters of the rechargeable battery pack, includes a current monitor for measuring the current flow into and out of a battery cell in the rechargeable battery pack. An integrated current accumulator connected to the current monitor is used to maintain a measure of the net charge having flowed into and out of the battery cell. A charging current accumulator, which is also coupled to the current monitor, is used to maintain a measure of the total charge having flowed into the battery cell, while a discharging current accumulator is used to maintain a measure of the total charge having flowed out of the battery cell. A highly accurate oscillator is used to drive the accumulators to greatly increase the accuracy of the gas gauge functions derived therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Dallas Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Richard E. Downs, Richard William Ezell, James M. Douglass
  • Patent number: 6081154
    Abstract: Gas gauge circuitry for monitoring and accumulating various operating parameters of a rechargeable battery with selected parameters being used to determine the remaining operating life of a rechargeable battery, and includes a current monitor for measuring the current flow into and out of the rechargeable battery. An integrated current accumulator is connected to the current monitor and is used to maintain a net accumulated total of current flowing into and out of the rechargeable battery. A charging current accumulator, which is also coupled to the current meter is used to maintain the total current flowing into the rechargeable battery, while a discharging current accumulator is used to maintain the total current flowing out of the rechargeable battery. A highly accurate, oscillatory circuit is used to drive the accumulators to increase the accuracy of the gas gauge functions therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Dallas Semiconductor
    Inventors: Richard William Ezell, James M. Douglass
  • Patent number: 6005424
    Abstract: An integrated dynamic interconnect device for connecting and disconnecting at least a portion of a parasitically powered integrated electronic circuit, includes a power input, a power output, a signal input to receive a connect/disconnect signal, and an integrated switching mechanism which is responsive to the signal input receiving a connect/disconnect signal to electrically connect and disconnect the power input and the power output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Dallas Semiconductor Corp
    Inventor: James M. Douglass
  • Patent number: 5784624
    Abstract: An arbitrator for selectively permitting access to a common resource by a priority device and two non-priority devices, includes a priority request reception device for receiving a priority request to access the resource by the priority device; two second request reception devices for receiving non-priority requests to access the resource by the two non-priority devices; a prioritizer coupled to receive indications of times when the priority request reception device receives the priority request and when the two non-priority request reception devices receive the non-priority requests, with the prioritizer permitting access to the resource by the priority device and non-priority device in a predetermined order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Dallas Semiconductor Corp
    Inventors: James M. Douglass, Dallas L. Ledlow
  • Patent number: 5638418
    Abstract: A temperature detector comprises temperature sensing circuitry calibration circuitry, and power regular circuitry. The temperature sensing circuitry has an output that varies with a temperature to create a temperature variation. The calibration circuitry is coupled to receive the output that varies with temperature to create a temperature variation. The calibration circuitry interprets the temperature variation and outputs a value that represents the temperature. The power supply regulator circuitry coordinates power to the temperature sensing circuitry. Alternate embodiments of the temperature detector comprise temperature sensing circuitry, calibration circuitry, and resolution enhancement circuitry. The temperature sensing circuitry has an output that varies with a temperature to create a temperature variation. The calibration circuitry is coupled to receive the output that varies with temperature to create a temperature variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Dallas Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: James M. Douglass, Gary V. Zanders, Donald R. Dias, Robert D. Lee
  • Patent number: 5513235
    Abstract: An integrated circuit temperature detector (thermometer) uses a temperature dependent oscillator to count up to a fixed number and thereby generate a time interval indicative of the temperature (a temperature-to-time converter). The time-to-number converter provides a numeric temperature output. Counting oscillations of a relatively temperature independent oscillator for the time interval may digitize the temperature measurement. Calibration and successive approximation iterations permit simple hardware to achieve good accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Dallas Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: James M. Douglass, Gary V. Zanders, Robert D. Lee
  • Patent number: 5388134
    Abstract: An integrated circuit temperature detector (thermometer) uses a temperature dependent oscillator to count up to a fixed number and thereby generate a time interval indicative of the temperature (a temperature-to-time converter). The time-to-number converter provides a numeric temperature output. Counting oscillations of a relatively temperature independent oscillator for the time interval may digitize the temperature measurement. Calibration and successive approximation iterations permit simple hardware to achieve good accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Dallas Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: James M. Douglass, Gary V. Zanders, Robert D. Lee
  • Patent number: 5349919
    Abstract: A recreational boat comprising an aft cockpit, a cabin in front of the cockpit, the cabin having a top surface, side walk ways on the port and starboard sides of the cabin, the walk ways having upper surfaces below the top surface of the cabin, and a forward cockpit having a portion in front of the cabin, the forward cockpit having a floor with an upper surface, the forward cockpit floor upper surface being below the upper surfaces of the walk ways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Outboard Marine Corporation
    Inventor: James M. Douglass
  • Patent number: D350327
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Outboard Marine Corporation
    Inventor: James M. Douglass