Patents by Inventor Kenneth C. Adkins

Kenneth C. Adkins 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: 6791879
    Abstract: A programmable and non-volatile analog signal storage structure and method are disclosed that employ two non-volatile cells which are arranged as a differential transistor pair. The non-volatile transistor at the positive (or non-inverting) terminal of the amplifier is referred to as the reference cell, while the non-volatile transistor on the negative (or inverting) input of the amplifier is referred to as the storage cell. The structure comprises a storage cell and a reference cell that produces a voltage which is independent of temperature and supply voltage variation. Additionally, the circuit structure is capable of operating at low supply voltage levels (<1.5V).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Summit Microelectronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth C. Adkins
  • Patent number: 6400605
    Abstract: The invention provides a single input pin on an integrated circuit chip that serves multiple functions during normal, test, and program modes. A first voltage detector detects a first predetermined high voltage level to place an integrated circuit in test mode. A second voltage detector detects a second predetermined high voltage level to place the integrated circuit in program mode. A high level switch is triggered to activate a pulse shaping circuit, which ramps up voltage gradually to prevent causing damage to programmable cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Summit Microelectronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth C. Adkins
  • Patent number: 6329856
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for tracking and controlling one or more voltage and current supplies during a transition between and off-state to an on-state, or from an on state to an off-state, is enabled by detecting a voltage or current transition and controlling the voltage or current supply transition within a specified upper and lower limit about a reference transition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Summit Microelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: John Tabler, Kenneth C. Adkins, Theodore M. Myers, Andrew Jenkins, Warren G. Hafner
  • Patent number: 6185127
    Abstract: A configurable integrated circuit and method for trimming a desirable combination of analog and digital functions and customizing pin assignments by programming nonvolatile memory. Functional enhancement and chip compatibility are achieved by configuring an integrated circuit with specified analog and digital settings for operation with an external chip. Multiple NV registers with designated bits that correspond to activating, deactivating, trimming, or changing analog functions including internal voltages, bandgap, and oscillating frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Summit Microelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore M. Myers, Richard A. Palm, Richard V. Orlando, Kenneth C. Adkins
  • Patent number: 6157264
    Abstract: A phased-lock loop is disclosed for capturing the frequency of the input signal by adjusting a tunable oscillator such that a zero-crossing detector detects a zero-crossing point of the input signal relative to a predetermined number of counts at a counter where a control logic increments a tuning counter to increase the frequency at the tunable oscillator while decrements the tuning counter to decrease the frequency in the tunable oscillator. The predetermined number of counts at the counter representing one period, a fraction of a period, or a multiple of a period of the frequency of the input signal. The control logic adjusts the count at the tuning counter until the tunable oscillator generates an internal frequency that captures the frequency of the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Summit Microelectronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth C. Adkins
  • Patent number: 5532653
    Abstract: A charge pump oscillator for regulating an oscillator frequency over a wide range of supply voltages is disclosed. Such a charge pump oscillator provides a charge pump system that provides a consistent current output over a range of supply voltages. The charge pump oscillator includes a reference circuit, a timing circuit, a latch circuit and a driver circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth C. Adkins