Patents by Inventor James P. McFarland

James P. McFarland 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: 11399149
    Abstract: A system may include a processing engine and an analog-to-digital conversion interface subsystem communicatively coupled to the processing engine. The processing engine may be configured to process feedback data converted from analog feedback data to digital feedback data, wherein the feedback data includes a plurality of data stream sequences converted from the analog feedback data to the digital feedback data at a sample rate and based on processing of the feedback data, generate digital control signals for controlling a system under control. The analog-to-digital conversion interface subsystem may be configured to flexibly control the processing of the processing engine and the generation of digital control signals by the processing engine to minimize latency in the generation of the digital control signals due to processing of the processing engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. McFarland, Nariankadu D. Hemkumar, Sachin Deo, Younes Djadi
  • Publication number: 20210029319
    Abstract: A system may include a processing engine and an analog-to-digital conversion interface subsystem communicatively coupled to the processing engine. The processing engine may be configured to process feedback data converted from analog feedback data to digital feedback data, wherein the feedback data includes a plurality of data stream sequences converted from the analog feedback data to the digital feedback data at a sample rate and based on processing of the feedback data, generate digital control signals for controlling a system under control. The analog-to-digital conversion interface subsystem may be configured to flexibly control the processing of the processing engine and the generation of digital control signals by the processing engine to minimize latency in the generation of the digital control signals due to processing of the processing engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventors: James P. MCFARLAND, Nariankadu D. HEMKUMAR, Sachin DEO, Younes DJADI
  • Patent number: 9385641
    Abstract: System and method for initiating rotation of a rotor in a motor. The motor may include the rotor and a plurality of pairs of electromagnets. A rotation period may be determined. One or more pairs of electromagnets of the plurality of pairs of electromagnets may be excited at a first excitation level. The excited one or more pairs of electromagnets may be determined based on the rotation period. The excitation level may be decreased, over a first period of time, to a second excitation level. The second excitation level may be a lower excitation level than the first excitation level. The excitation level may be increased, over a second period of time, to a third excitation level. The third excitation level may be a higher excitation level than the second excitation level. The rotation period may be decreased over the first and second periods of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: STANDARD MICROSYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lynn R. Kern, James P. McFarland
  • Patent number: 9385598
    Abstract: A low voltage lamp includes a boost converter stage and a load. The load may include low voltage light producing elements including low voltage light emitting diodes. The boost converter stage receives an electronic transformer output and includes an inductor coupled to a switch and a switch controller that receives one or more controller inputs. Inductor current may be returned to the transformer when the switch is closed and provided to a rectifier coupled to the load when the switch is open. Controller inputs may include a transformer input that receives the transformer output, a sense input indicating switch current, and a load input indicating load voltage. Controller logic may synchronize assertions of a control signal for the switch with edge transitions of the transformer output to maintain peak inductor current within a specified range and to selectively transfer stored energy in the inductor to the load or back to the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Kan Wang, Michael A. Kost, Eric J. King, John L. Melanson, James P. McFarland
  • Publication number: 20150364993
    Abstract: A low voltage lamp includes a boost converter stage and a load. The load may include low voltage light producing elements including low voltage light emitting diodes. The boost converter stage receives an electronic transformer output and includes an inductor coupled to a switch and a switch controller that receives one or more controller inputs. Inductor current may be returned to the transformer when the switch is closed and provided to a rectifier coupled to the load when the switch is open. Controller inputs may include a transformer input that receives the transformer output, a sense input indicating switch current, and a load input indicating load voltage. Controller logic may synchronize assertions of a control signal for the switch with edge transitions of the transformer output to maintain peak inductor current within a specified range and to selectively transfer stored energy in the inductor to the load or back to the transformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Kan Wang, Michael A. Kost, Eric J. King, John L. Melanson, James P. McFarland
  • Patent number: 8907633
    Abstract: An emulation system for charging any arbitrary portable device through a communication port on the portable device. The system includes a receptacle port for communicating with the portable device and a profile database for storing multiple charging profiles. Each charging profile including a set of parameters and at least one exit condition. Further, an emulation module applies a first charging profile to the portable device and monitors the set of parameters associated with the charging profile to identify an associated exit condition. Upon a determination that the exit condition for the first charging profile is met, the emulation module applies a next charging profile to the portable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Standard Microsystems Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Fischbach, Timothy J. Knowlton, James P. McFarland
  • Patent number: 8896246
    Abstract: A motor includes a rotor and a plurality of pairs of electromagnets. The energy needed for alignment of the rotor is used to generate the first movement in forced commutation and may be combined with the initial energy to start the motor. The logic is configured to align the rotor by energizing the three coils of the motor. PWM is applied to the first coil to control current on the coils; when a maximum PWM duty cycle is reached, the coil not required to rotate the correct direction are released, thereby initiating motion in a rotor. A rotation period is determined. One or more pairs of electromagnets are excited at a first excitation level which may be increased, over a second period, to a second level. The second level may be a higher level than the first level. The rotation period may be decreased over the first and second periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Standard Microsystems Corporation
    Inventors: Lynn R. Kern, James P. McFarland, Joe A. Marrero
  • Patent number: 8633662
    Abstract: A control method for a sensor-less, brushless, three-phase DC motor. The effects of commutation on the motor may be minimized using a sinusoidal current drive on each electromagnet. The “off” times and/or the “on” times of the drive transistors controlling the electromagnets in a full “H-bridge” configuration drive scheme may be delayed. By overlapping the drive signals to the electromagnets with respect to a commutation command, the effects of switching between electromagnets may be minimized. In addition, the “on” and “off” times may also be adjusted during the overlapping to further ensure that the coils continuously conduct current, and that the current does not change direction during the switching. The delays, and hence the overlap times of the coil drive signals may be dynamically controlled, for example by using digital timers, making the response predictable and easily controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Standard Microsystems Corporation
    Inventors: Lynn R. Kern, James P. McFarland
  • Patent number: 8487572
    Abstract: A control method for a brushless, three-phase DC motor. The motor may include a plurality of electromagnets and a rotor. A voltage induced by rotation of a rotor may be sampled at an expected zero crossing value to produce a first sampled voltage value. An average of a plurality of sampled voltage values, including voltage values sampled at a plurality of prior expected zero crossing values, may be calculated. A delta zero crossing error may be calculated. The delta zero crossing error may be calculated based on a difference between the first sampled voltage value and the calculated average. The plurality of electromagnets may be commutated. Commutation timing for the plurality of electromagnets may be determined based at least in part on the delta zero crossing error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Standard Microsystems Corporation
    Inventors: Lynn R. Kern, James P. McFarland
  • Publication number: 20130002192
    Abstract: An emulation system for charging any arbitrary portable device through a communication port on the portable device. The system includes a receptacle port for communicating with the portable device and a profile database for storing multiple charging profiles. Each charging profile including a set of parameters and at least one exit condition. Further, an emulation module applies a first charging profile to the portable device and monitors the set of parameters associated with the charging profile to identify an associated exit condition. Upon a determination that the exit condition for the first charging profile is met, the emulation module applies a next charging profile to the portable device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: STANDARD MICROSYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher Fischbach, Timothy J. Knowlton, James P. McFarland
  • Publication number: 20120013280
    Abstract: A control method for a brushless, three-phase DC motor. The motor may include a plurality of electromagnets and a rotor. A voltage induced by rotation of a rotor may be sampled at an expected zero crossing value to produce a first sampled voltage value. An average of a plurality of sampled voltage values, including voltage values sampled at a plurality of prior expected zero crossing values, may be calculated. A delta zero crossing error may be calculated. The delta zero crossing error may be calculated based on a difference between the first sampled voltage value and the calculated average. The plurality of electromagnets may be commutated. Commutation timing for the plurality of electromagnets may be determined based at least in part on the delta zero crossing error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventors: Lynn R. Kern, James P. McFarland
  • Publication number: 20110291597
    Abstract: System and method for aligning and initiating rotation of a rotor in a motor. The motor may include the rotor and a plurality of pairs of electromagnets. The energy needed for alignment of the rotor of the motor may be used to generate the first movement in forced commutation. The energy needed for alignment may be combined with the initial energy to start the motor. The logic may be configured to align the rotor of the motor by energizing the three coils of the motor. Pulse width modulation may be applied to the first coil to control current on the coils; when a maximum PWM duty cycle is reached, the coil not required to rotate the correct direction may be released, thereby initiating motion in a rotor of the three phase motor. A rotation period may be determined. One or more pairs of electromagnets of the plurality of pairs of electromagnets may be excited at a first excitation level. The excitation level may be increased, over a second period of time, to a second excitation level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: Lynn R. Kern, James P. McFarland, Joe A. Marrero
  • Patent number: 8054033
    Abstract: A control method for a sensor-less, brushless, three-phase DC motor. A pulse-width modulation (PWM) duty cycle may be calculated. A voltage induced by rotation of a rotor may be sampled at a first expected zero crossing value to produce a first sampled voltage value. An average of a plurality of sampled voltage values, including voltage values sampled at a plurality of prior expected zero crossing values and the first sampled voltage value, may be calculated. The first sampled voltage value may be subtracted from the calculated average to produce a delta zero crossing error. The delta zero crossing error may be multiplied by a first constant representing electromechanical properties of the motor to produce a representation of an angular velocity. One or more time values may be generated based on the representation of the angular velocity. Operation of the motor may be controlled based on the one or more time values and the PWM duty cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Standard Microsystems Corporation
    Inventors: Lynn R. Kern, James P. McFarland
  • Publication number: 20110115421
    Abstract: System and method for initiating rotation of a rotor in a motor. The motor may include the rotor and a plurality of pairs of electromagnets. A rotation period may be determined. One or more pairs of electromagnets of the plurality of pairs of electromagnets may be excited at a first excitation level. The excited one or more pairs of electromagnets may be determined based on the rotation period. The excitation level may be decreased, over a first period of time, to a second excitation level. The second excitation level may be a lower excitation level than the first excitation level. The excitation level may be increased, over a second period of time, to a third excitation level. The third excitation level may be a higher excitation level than the second excitation level. The rotation period may be decreased over the first and second periods of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventors: Lynn R. Kern, James P. McFarland
  • Publication number: 20100315029
    Abstract: A control method for a sensor-less, brushless, three-phase DC motor. The effects of commutation on the motor may be minimized using a sinusoidal current drive on each electromagnet. The “off” times and/or the “on” times of the drive transistors controlling the electromagnets in a full “H-bridge” configuration drive scheme may be delayed. By overlapping the drive signals to the electromagnets with respect to a commutation command, the effects of switching between electromagnets may be minimized. In addition, the “on” and “off” times may also be adjusted during the overlapping to further ensure that the coils continuously conduct current, and that the current does not change direction during the switching. The delays, and hence the overlap times of the coil drive signals may be dynamically controlled, for example by using digital timers, making the response predictable and easily controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventors: Lynn R. Kern, James P. McFarland
  • Publication number: 20100102766
    Abstract: A control method for a sensor-less, brushless, three-phase DC motor. A pulse-width modulation (PWM) duty cycle may be calculated. A voltage induced by rotation of a rotor may be sampled at a first expected zero crossing value to produce a first sampled voltage value. An average of a plurality of sampled voltage values, including voltage values sampled at a plurality of prior expected zero crossing values and the first sampled voltage value, may be calculated. The first sampled voltage value may be subtracted from the calculated average to produce a delta zero crossing error. The delta zero crossing error may be multiplied by a first constant representing electromechanical properties of the motor to produce a representation of an angular velocity. One or more time values may be generated based on the representation of the angular velocity. Operation of the motor may be controlled based on the one or more time values and the PWM duty cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Lynn R. Kern, James P. McFarland