Patents by Inventor John H. Berlien, Jr.
John H. Berlien, Jr. 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: 6596981Abstract: A monolithic optical detector for determining spectral content of an incident light includes at least a first and second well in a substrate, the second well formed proximate the first well. The first well is configured to be exposed to incident light and for generating a first photocurrent as a function of the incident light. The second well is configured to be shielded from the incident light and for generating a second photocurrent as a function of the incident light. Lastly, a processing and control unit, responsive to the first and second photocurrents, determines an indication of spectral content of the incident light. A method and device parameter controller are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2002Date of Patent: July 22, 2003Assignee: Texas Advanced Optoelectronic Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Cecil Aswell, John H. Berlien, Jr., Eugene G. Dierschke, Lester L. Hodson
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Patent number: 6191847Abstract: A fixed optic sensor system (200) comprising a sensor system (210), and electronic sub-system (205) and a communications means (215). The system can be used for detecting the presence of various sample (236) properties and in that regard has widespread application by leveraging off various miniaturized sensor configurations including surface plasmon resonance (50), fluorescence (80), light transmission (125) and others (150). In one embodiment, the communications means (215) is a wireless transmitter/receiver. In another embodiment, a hand held instrument (358) can be used on-site and communicates with the sensor (350) to receive sample (352) related data and transmit it to a remote processing system (370) for further analysis. In yet another embodiment, a hand held instrument (403) has a plurality of cardiac marker binding ligands (400) deposited on the sensor/sample interface providing a medical diagnosis and point-of-care device (403).Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 1999Date of Patent: February 20, 2001Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Jose L. Melendez, Richard A. Carr, Patrick Paul Smith, Dwight U. Bartholomew, John H. Berlien, Jr., Frederick F. Geyer, Paul S. Breedlove
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Patent number: 6097021Abstract: Managed integration optical sensor array (11) having an array block (12). The array block having a plurality of optical sensors (13), a switch control logic circuit (59) and a bit shift register (60). The switch control logic circuit (59) operating to control the integration periods of each optical sensor (13).Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 1998Date of Patent: August 1, 2000Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Cecil J. Aswell, John H. Berlien, Jr., Eugene G. Dierschke
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Patent number: 6031217Abstract: Active integrator optical sensor (13) having a photodetector (56) and an active integrator circuit. The active integrator circuit having an operational amplifier (50), an integrating capacitor (51) an offset capacitor (54) and a store capacitor (52). The active integrator circuit operating to integrate the electrical signal from photodetector (56).Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 1998Date of Patent: February 29, 2000Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Cecil J. Aswell, John H. Berlien, Jr., Eugene G. Dierschke
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Patent number: 6025589Abstract: Color optical sensor array (11) having a color optical sensor (13) with each color optical sensor (13) having a color photodetector (56) and an active integrator circuit. The active integrator circuit having an operational amplifier (50) and an integrating capacitor (51), the active integrator circuit operating to integrate and normalize the electrical signal from color photodetector (56).Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 1998Date of Patent: February 15, 2000Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Cecil J. Aswell, John H. Berlien, Jr., Eugene G. Dierschke
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Patent number: 5946083Abstract: A fixed optic sensor system (200) comprising a sensor system (210), and electronic sub-system (205) and a communications means (215). The system can be used for detecting the presence of various sample (236) properties and in that regard has widespread application by leveraging off various miniaturized sensor configurations including surface plasmon resonance (50), fluorescence (80), light transmission (125) and others (150). In one embodiment, the communications means (215) is a wireless transmitter/receiver. In another embodiment, a hand held instrument (358) can be used on-site and communicates with the sensor (350) to receive sample (352) related data and transmit it to a remote processing system (370) for further analysis. In yet another embodiment, a hand held instrument (403) has a plurality of cardiac marker binding ligands (400) deposited on the sensor/sample interface providing a medical diagnosis and point-of-care device (403).Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 1997Date of Patent: August 31, 1999Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Jose L. Melendez, Richard A. Carr, Patrick Paul Smith, Dwight U. Bartholomew, John H. Berlien, Jr., Frederick F. Geyer, Paul S. Breedlove
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Patent number: 5850195Abstract: A monolithic light-to-digital signal converter (1.10) includes a photodiode array (1.24) having a plurality of sections with each section producing a current signal in response to incident light, a current-to-digital signal converter circuit (1.28) for converting selected ones of the current signals to a digital signal, and a control circuit (1.26) for scaling the digital signal in response to user supplied programming signals. The control circuit (1.26) also responds to user supplied programming signals to supply control signals to current-to-digital signal converter circuit (1.28). Current-to-digital signal converter circuit (1.28) is responsive to the control signals for combining selected ones of the current signals into a composite current signal and converting the composite current signal to a digital signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 1996Date of Patent: December 15, 1998Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: John H. Berlien, Jr., Cecil J. Aswell, Eugene G. Dierschke, Mehedi Hassan
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Patent number: 5567976Abstract: photosensor device (41) having tapered photodiodes (53, 55) that are interdigitated and which is compatible with typical ASIC, CMOS and BiCMOS processes. A left side photodiode array of tapered regions (53) of a first conductivity type is disposed into an epitaxial layer of a second conductivity type. This array of photodiodes is coupled together and further coupled to a first output terminal (43). A fight side photodiode array of tapered regions (55) of said first conductivity type is disposed into the epitaxial layer of the second conductivity type, spaced apart from the left side photodiode by a minimum distance. A second output terminal is coupled to the array of fight side photodiodes (51). An incident light spot (39) is focused onto the sensor. The amount of current generated at the first and second output terminals (43, 51) will be proportional to the area of the left photodiode array and the area of the fight photodiode array which is receiving light.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 1995Date of Patent: October 22, 1996Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Eugene G. Dierschke, John H. Berlien, Jr.
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Patent number: 5547879Abstract: A photosensor device (41) having tapered photodiodes (53, 55) that are interdigitated and which is compatible with typical ASIC, CMOS and BiCMOS processes. A left side photodiode array of tapered regions (53) of a first conductivity type is disposed into an epitaxil layer of a second conductivity type. This array of photodiodes is coupled together and further coupled to a first output terminal (43). A right side photodiode array of tapered regions (55) of said first conductivity type is disposed into the epitaxial layer of the second conductivity type, spaced apart from the left side photodiode by a minimum distance. A second output terminal is coupled to the array of right side photodiodes (51). An incident light spot (39) is focused onto the sensor. The amount of current generated at the first and second output terminals (43, 51) will be proportional to the area of the left photodiode array and the area of the right photodiode array which is receiving light.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 1995Date of Patent: August 20, 1996Inventors: Eugene G. Dierschke, John H. Berlien, Jr.