Patents by Inventor Kenneth A. Hansen

Kenneth A. Hansen 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).

  • Publication number: 20030035636
    Abstract: High quality epitaxial layers of monocrystalline materials can be grown overlying monocrystalline substrates such as large silicon wafers by forming a compliant substrate for growing the monocrystalline layers. An accommodating buffer layer comprises a layer of monocrystalline oxide spaced apart from a silicon wafer by an amorphous interface layer of silicon oxide. The amorphous interface layer dissipates strain and permits the growth of a high quality monocrystalline oxide accommodating buffer layer. The accommodating buffer layer is lattice matched to both the underlying silicon wafer and the overlying monocrystalline material layer. Any lattice mismatch between the accommodating buffer layer and the underlying silicon substrate is taken care of by the amorphous interface layer. In addition, formation of a compliant substrate may include utilizing surfactant enhanced epitaxy, epitaxial growth of single crystal silicon onto single crystal oxide, and epitaxial growth of Zint1 phase materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2001
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Applicant: MOTOROLA, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Hansen, Kevin B. Traylor
  • Patent number: 6298981
    Abstract: A conveyor construction includes a frame, a drive section stationarily mounted to the frame, and a tensioning section mounted for longitudinal movement relative to the frame. The drive and tensioning sections each include a spindle, and a belt is engaged with the spindles. The frame defines an upper support surface disposed below the upper run of the belt, and mating engagement structure is provided on the belt and the upper support surface for preventing lateral movement of the belt relative to the upper support surface. The drive and tensioning sections include spaced side members, each of which defines an inwardly opening cavity for receiving a bearing assembly for rotatably supporting the spindle. The bearing-receiving cavity faces the spindle, and each side member defines outer wall structure which engages and supports the belt outwardly of the spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Dorner Mfg. Corp.
    Inventors: Michael A. Hosch, Scott M. Hall, Daniel E. Ertel, Kenneth A. Hansen
  • Patent number: 6115589
    Abstract: A SONAD (110) control system (100) detects a received signal strength (RSSI) for a radio frequency (RF) signal (102), selects a threshold transfer function (400-404) in response thereto, generates a threshold control signal in response to the transfer function, and utilizes the threshold control signal to select the SONAD threshold value. During operation, the control system (100) decreases the attenuation of background noise levels for weak RF signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Enrique Ferrer, Charles R. Ruelke, Andrew J. Webster, Kenneth A. Hansen, Rajesh H. Zele, Kevin B. Traylor
  • Patent number: 6109427
    Abstract: A conveyor construction includes a frame, a drive section stationarily mounted to the frame, and a tensioning section mounted for longitudinal movement relative to the frame. The drive and tensioning sections each include a spindle, and a belt is engaged with the spindles. The frame defines an upper support surface disposed below the upper run of the belt, and mating engagement structure is provided on the belt and the upper support surface for preventing lateral movement of the belt relative to the upper support surface. The drive and tensioning sections include spaced side members, each of which defines an inwardly opening cavity for receiving a bearing assembly for rotatably supporting the spindle. The bearing-receiving cavity faces the spindle, and each side member defines outer wall structure which engages and supports the belt outwardly of the spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Dorner Mfg. Corp.
    Inventors: Michael A. Hosch, Scott M. Hall, Daniel E. Ertel, Kenneth A. Hansen
  • Patent number: 5953640
    Abstract: A single-chip transceiver integrated circuit (100) has multiple on-chip circuits that implement receiver functions, transmitter functions, and audio processing functions. The IC (100) has interfaces (220, 240, 252, 270, 260, 245, 288, 290) which are situated among the on-chip circuits, and which couple one on-chip circuit to another. At least some of these on-chip interfaces (220, 240, 245, 252, 270) are configurable to couple an off-chip processing circuit to substitute for a corresponding on-chip circuit. In the preferred embodiment, the single-chip transceiver IC (100) supports radio configurations having off-chip versions of corresponding on-chip circuits for performing receiver front-end functions, synthesizer functions, reference oscillator functions, and audio processing functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard B. Meador, Kenneth A. Hansen, Walter H. Kehler, Gary A. Kurtzman, Rajesh H. Zele
  • Patent number: 5724652
    Abstract: A method for acquiring rapid automatic gain control (AGC) response in a narrow band receiver teaches opening the AGC loop (100), setting the gain control signal (106) amplitude of the AGC amplifier stage (104) to a known value, altering the gain control signal (106) amplitude over time, and monitoring the narrow band receiver for an output signal (112). Upon output signal (112) detection, halting alteration of the gain control signal (106) amplitude, closing the AGC loop (100) and commencing normal operation. A particular facet of this approach suggests detecting the output (112) with a varying gain detector (116,132) after the loop (100) is closed and before normal operations are commenced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Graham, Dane E. Blackburn, Kenneth A. Hansen
  • Patent number: 5672999
    Abstract: An audio amplifier clipping avoidance apparatus (140) identifies signal segments of an audio signal that can have an amplitude peak greater than a particular amplifier clip avoidance threshold (530). A scaling factor is determined for each signal segment based on the particular threshold (540). Signal segments are scaled with corresponding scaling factors to produce a modified audio signal having no signal segments with an amplitude peak greater than the particular threshold (560).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Enrique Ferrer, Kenneth A. Hansen
  • Patent number: 5303406
    Abstract: A noise squelch circuit for a radio receiver (100) includes an adaptive filter (204) for shaping frequency characteristics of a demodulator out put (115) according to factors which effects squelch sensitivity. Such factors may include channel spacing of the receiver, received signal strength level, received signal deviation, and SINAD. The adaptive filter (204) comprises a switched capacitor filter, the response of which may be controlled by a control signal (212) according to one or more of such factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Hansen, James D. Brake
  • Patent number: 5174435
    Abstract: A conveyor construction including a frame having a pair of side rails with each side rail having a longitudinal T-shaped slot. A plurality of cross members are connected between the side rails and support a bed plate. An endless belt rides on the bed plate and is trained over an adjustable spindle assembly which is located at an end of the conveyor. The spindle assembly includes a spindle journalled between a pair of side members that are mounted for sliding movement in the T-slots of the respective side rails. A ratchet and pinion mechanism interconnects the conveyor frame with the spindle assembly and acts to move the spindle assembly longitudinally of the frame to tension the belt. A belt tracking mechanism is associated with each side of the spindle assembly and includes a cam member which is engaged with the respective side member of the spindle assembly. Individual rotation of the cam members serve to properly track the belt on the bed plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: Dorner Mfg. Corp.
    Inventors: Wolfgang C. Dorner, Kenneth A. Hansen, Michael A. Hosch
  • Patent number: 4969210
    Abstract: A method and arrangement for electronically bandswitching a radio (100) is described which includes at least a receiver (110, 111), a PLL (120), and a fully synchronized, programmable counter as a frequency divider (140) that is coupled between the receiver and the PLL. This fully synchronized divider (140) provides an output signal (143) at a lower frequency with minimal harmonic energy and improves the sideband noise performance as the divisor increases. When the radio also includes a transmitter (104), stepped attenuators (128, 132) are also included for adjusting the modulation of the PLL (120) when in the transmit mode.The PLL includes at least a reference signal generator (121, 122), a phase detector (124), and a voltage controlled oscillator (127) having an output (129) coupled, via a feedback path, to a second input (131) of the phase detector (124).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Hansen, Ralph T. Enderby
  • Patent number: 4891825
    Abstract: A method and arrangement for a fully synchronized, programmable frequency divider is disclosed that exhibits a near 50% duty cycle output signal independent of the divisor, whether even or odd, and that is suitable for use in a phase-locked loop (PLL) frequency synthesizer. As described in a first embodiment, the arrangement includes a data loader 31, a counter 32, a half-period detector 33, and a synchronizer 34. Next, a fast-locking, low-noise PLL frequency synthesizer is disclosed incorporating the fully synchronized, 50% duty cycle divider, and having a reference signal generator 71-72, a phase detector 73, a controlled oscillator 74-75, and the fully synchronized, programmable frequency divider 76. In a second embodiment, a fully synchronized programmable divider is described, including a data loader 31, a counter 32, a half-period detector 33', a synchronizer 34', and an additional block 82, a half-clock period detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth A. Hansen
  • Patent number: 4714899
    Abstract: A programmable frequency synthesizer is disclosed having most components implemented on a single large scale integration (LSI) chip, which facilitates rapid frequency acquisition. Provision is made by the present invention to configure the frequency synthesizer for use in either a receiver or a transmitter. In the transmitter mode, modulation cancelling allows modulation down to approximate DC. A serial programming protocol is provided to program the frequency synthesizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1987
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Kurtzman, Joseph P. Heck, Kenneth A. Hansen, Ralph Enderby, Bronis Vidugiris
  • Patent number: 4562405
    Abstract: A buffer is described which includes two gain stages which may be constructed of MOS devices, the first stage having a low noise characteristic and the second stage having a high current drive capability. The second stage is switched in circuit only when high current drive is needed so that the buffer otherwise exhibits the low noise characteristics of the first stage. A feedback network is also switched in circuit in a manner that maintains the buffer's loop gain substantially constant, whether or not the high current drive stage is in circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1985
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Hansen, Gary A. Kurtzman
  • Patent number: 4365213
    Abstract: A low frequency oscillator of the astable type having good frequency stability, fast starting, good immunity to DC loading, and suitable for fabrication in integrated circuit form. First and second switching transistors of the astable multivibrator are cross-coupled by a coupling capacitor and a frequency determining crystal. Base drive to the respective switching transistors and charging current to the capacitor and crystal are provided by a pair of differential amplifiers which are referenced to a forward biased diode. The differential amplifiers are also connected to respective collector terminals of the switching transistors. The capacitor is of small value suitable for containment within an integrated circuit with the oscillator circuit. The differential amplifiers substantially increase the impedance levels in the oscillator and shift base drive to the switching transistors to minimize the effects of DC loading at the output terminals of the oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1982
    Assignee: Motorola Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Hansen, Ronald H. Chapman
  • Patent number: 4233575
    Abstract: A wide frequency range current-controlled oscillator (CCO) provides a digital output signal that is frequency controllable by an input control current. The CCO includes a differential voltage comparator coupled to a timing capacitor for controlling charging and discharging currents applied to the timing capacitor. The charging and discharging currents are dependent on the input control current. The magnitude of the discharging current may be varied to control the duty cycle of the digital output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1980
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald H. Chapman, Kenneth A. Hansen