Patents by Inventor Kenneth D. Alton
Kenneth D. Alton 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: 11682891Abstract: A circuit breaker includes an electromechanical switch, a current sensor, a voltage sensor, and a processor. The electromechanical switch is serially connected between a line input terminal and a load output terminal of the circuit breaker, and configured to be placed in a switched-closed state or a switched-open state. The current sensor is configured to sense a magnitude of current flowing in a path between the line input and load output terminals and generate a current sense signal. The voltage sensor is configured to sense a magnitude of voltage at a point on the path between the line input and load output terminals and generate a voltage sense signal. The processor is configured to receive and process the current sense signal and the voltage sense signal to determine operational status information of the circuit breaker and determine power usage information of a load connected to the load output terminal.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2020Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: Amber Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Mark Telefus, Stephen C. Gerber, Damon M. Baker, Kenneth D. Alton
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Patent number: 11551899Abstract: A circuit breaker comprises a solid-state bidirectional switch, a switch control circuit, current and voltage sensors, and a processor. The solid-state bidirectional switch is connected between a line input terminal and a load output terminal of the circuit breaker, and configured to be placed in a switched-on state and a switched-off state. The switch control circuit control operation of the bidirectional switch. The current sensor is configured to sense a magnitude of current flowing in an electrical path between the line input and load output terminals and generate a current sense signal. The voltage sensor is configured to sense a magnitude of voltage on the electrical path and generate a voltage sense signal. The processor is configured to process the current and voltage sense signals to determine operational status information of the circuit breaker, a fault event, and power usage information of a load connected to the load output terminal.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2019Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: Amber Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Mark Telefus, Stephen C. Gerber, Damon M. Baker, Kenneth D. Alton
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Patent number: 11373831Abstract: A circuit breaker includes an electromechanical switch, a current sensor, a voltage sensor, and a processor. The electromechanical switch is serially connected between a line input terminal and a load output terminal of the circuit breaker, and configured to be placed in a switched-closed state or a switched-open state. The current sensor is configured to sense a magnitude of current flowing in a path between the line input and load output terminals and generate a current sense signal. The voltage sensor is configured to sense a magnitude of voltage at a point on the path between the line input and load output terminals and generate a voltage sense signal. The processor is configured to receive and process the current sense signal and the voltage sense signal to determine operational status information of the circuit breaker and determine power usage information of a load connected to the load output terminal.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2019Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: Amber Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Mark Telefus, Stephen C. Gerber, Damon M. Baker, Kenneth D. Alton
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Publication number: 20220189721Abstract: A circuit breaker includes an electromechanical switch, a current sensor, a voltage sensor, and a processor. The electromechanical switch is serially connected between a line input terminal and a load output terminal of the circuit breaker, and configured to be placed in a switched-closed state or a switched-open state. The current sensor is configured to sense a magnitude of current flowing in a path between the line input and load output terminals and generate a current sense signal. The voltage sensor is configured to sense a magnitude of voltage at a point on the path between the line input and load output terminals and generate a voltage sense signal. The processor is configured to receive and process the current sense signal and the voltage sense signal to determine operational status information of the circuit breaker and determine power usage information of a load connected to the load output terminal.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2020Publication date: June 16, 2022Inventors: Mark Telefus, Stephen C. Gerber, Damon M. Baker, Kenneth D. Alton
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Patent number: 11348752Abstract: A circuit breaker comprises a solid-state switch, an air-gap electromagnetic switch, switch control circuitry, a zero-crossing detection circuit, and a current sensor. The solid-state and air-gap switches are connected in series in an electrical path between line input and load output terminals of the circuit breaker. The switch control circuitry controls the solid-state and air-gap switches. The zero-crossing detection circuit detects zero crossings of an AC waveform on the electrical path. The current sensor senses current flow in the electrical path to detect a fault condition based on the sensed current flow. In response to a detected fault condition, the switch control circuitry generates control signals to place the solid-state switch into a switched-off state and place the air-gap switch into a switched-open state after the solid-state switch is placed into the switched-off state.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2019Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: Amber Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Mark Telefus, Stephen C. Gerber, Damon M. Baker, Kenneth D. Alton
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Patent number: 11170964Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a solid-state switch, a sense resistor, a current detection circuit, and a switch control circuit. The solid-state switch and sense resistor are connected in series in an electrical path between a line input terminal and a load output terminal of the circuit breaker. The current detection circuit is configured to (i) sample a sense voltage that is generated across the sense resistor in response to load current flowing through the sense resistor, (ii) detect an over-current fault condition based on the sampled sense voltage, and (iii) output a fault detection signal in response to detecting the over-current fault condition. The switch control circuit is configured to control the solid-state switch, wherein the switch control circuit is configured to switch off the solid-state switch in response to the fault detection signal output from the current detection circuit.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2019Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: Amber Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Mark Telefus, Stephen C. Gerber, Damon M. Baker, Kenneth D. Alton
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Publication number: 20200366079Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a solid-state switch, a sense resistor, a current detection circuit, and a switch control circuit. The solid-state switch and sense resistor are connected in series in an electrical path between a line input terminal and a load output terminal of the circuit breaker. The current detection circuit is configured to (i) sample a sense voltage that is generated across the sense resistor in response to load current flowing through the sense resistor, (ii) detect an over-current fault condition based on the sampled sense voltage, and (iii) output a fault detection signal in response to detecting the over-current fault condition. The switch control circuit is configured to control the solid-state switch, wherein the switch control circuit is configured to switch-off the solid-state switch in response to the fault detection signal output from the current detection circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2019Publication date: November 19, 2020Inventors: Mark Telefus, Stephen C. Gerber, Damon M. Baker, Kenneth D. Alton
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Publication number: 20200365345Abstract: A circuit breaker comprises a solid-state switch, an air-gap electromagnetic switch, switch control circuitry, a zero-crossing detection circuit, and a current sensor. The solid-state and air-gap switches are connected in series in an electrical path between line input and load output terminals of the circuit breaker. The switch control circuitry controls the solid-state and air-gap switches. The zero-crossing detection circuit detects zero crossings of an AC power waveform on the electrical path. The current sensor senses current flow in the electrical path to detect a fault condition based on the sensed current flow. In response to a detected fault condition, the switch control circuitry generates control signals to place the solid-state switch into a switched-off state and place the air-gap switch into a switched-open state after the solid-state switch is placed into the switched-off state.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2019Publication date: November 19, 2020Inventors: Mark Telefus, Stephen C. Gerber, Damon M. Baker, Kenneth D. Alton
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Publication number: 20200365346Abstract: A circuit breaker comprises a solid-state bidirectional switch, a switch control circuit, current and voltage sensors, and a processor. The solid-state bidirectional switch is connected between a line input terminal and a load output terminal of the circuit breaker, and configured to be placed in a switched-on state and a switched-off state. The switch control circuit control operation of the bidirectional switch. The current sensor is configured to sense a magnitude of current flowing in an electrical path between the line input and load output terminals and generate a current sense signal. The voltage sensor is configured to sense a magnitude of voltage on the electrical path and generate a voltage sense signal. The processor is configured to process the current and voltage sense signals to determine operational status information of the circuit breaker, a fault event, and power usage information of a load connected to the load output terminal.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2019Publication date: November 19, 2020Inventors: Mark Telefus, Stephen C. Gerber, Damon M. Baker, Kenneth D. Alton
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Publication number: 20200366078Abstract: A circuit breaker includes an electromechanical switch, a current sensor, a voltage sensor, and a processor. The electromechanical switch is serially connected between a line input terminal and a load output terminal of the circuit breaker, and configured to be placed in a switched-closed state or a switched-open state. The current sensor is configured to sense a magnitude of current flowing in a path between the line input and load output terminals and generate a current sense signal. The voltage sensor is configured to sense a magnitude of voltage at a point on the path between the line input and load output terminals and generate a voltage sense signal. The processor is configured to receive and process the current sense signal and the voltage sense signal to determine operational status information of the circuit breaker and determine power usage information of a load connected to the load output terminal.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2019Publication date: November 19, 2020Inventors: Mark Telefus, Stephen C. Gerber, Damon M. Baker, Kenneth D. Alton
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Patent number: 6412055Abstract: A method and apparatus for allowing developers to develop software for their product. The method includes providing a first mode signal to a processor to operate in a development mode. The method also includes executing instructions stored in a first region of the memory in response to the first mode signal, providing data to the processor, and writing the data into a second region of the memory.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 1998Date of Patent: June 25, 2002Assignee: Legerity, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth Tallo, Kenneth D. Alton
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Publication number: 20010011339Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for allowing developers to develop software for their product. In one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided that includes providing a first mode signal to a processor to operate in a development mode. The method also includes executing instructions stored in a first region of the memory in response to the first mode signal, providing data to the processor, and writing the data into a second region of the memory.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 1998Publication date: August 2, 2001Inventors: KENNETH TALLO, KENNETH D. ALTON
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Patent number: 5732350Abstract: A method for registering a mobile station (307) in a radiotelephone communication system (300). The mobile station (307) receives system information from a base station (321), including a cell grouping level. The mobile station (307) determines if it is registered with the base station (321). If not, the mobile station (307) registers. The network controller of the radiotelephone communication system (300) automatically registers the mobile stations with all base stations defined by the cell grouping level. The mobile station (307), using the same algorithm, maintains a record of the base stations with which it is automatically registered.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 1995Date of Patent: March 24, 1998Assignee: Motorola, Inc.Inventors: Paul D. Marko, Kenneth D. Alton
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Patent number: 5553019Abstract: A write-once read-many memory system (10) for electronically securing a select portion of memory from being overwritten or erased. Memory system (10) includes one or more storage cells (25) for providing electronic storage of information. A control cell (13) is used for controlling writing and/or erasing access to the storage cells (25). Control logic (11) is provided to control access to the control cell (13). Control cell (13) and control logic (11) are used as a gate to provide selective access to storage cells (25) through write control line (19) and erase control line (21). Storage cells (25) can only be accessed when the control cell (13) in an appropriate logic state.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 1995Date of Patent: September 3, 1996Assignee: Motorola, Inc.Inventors: Jerry L. Sandvos, Kenneth D. Alton
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Patent number: 5502437Abstract: A method for providing isolation between first and second receivers (314, 316) located within a radio (300) is configured in software. The first receiver (314) synchronizes to the second receiver (316) in their respective battery saver modes such that the two receivers are never on at the same time.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 1994Date of Patent: March 26, 1996Assignee: Motorola, Inc.Inventors: Paul D. Marko, Kenneth D. Alton
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Patent number: 5408693Abstract: A radio communication device (10) comprises a radio transceiver (12), having a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) (16), an audio section (22), and a controller (16) for deactivating the audio section whenever the RSSI indicates the the received signal strength is below a predetermined threshold. The controller also operates as a counter (26) for indicating the length of time that the received signal strength has been below the predetermined threshold.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 1991Date of Patent: April 18, 1995Assignee: Motorola, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth D. Alton, Ronald E. Sharp, Mark S. Stuglik, David L. Brown
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Patent number: 5373547Abstract: A method for handset spectrum registration in cordless telephone systems having base stations operating in a first spectrum (102) and a second spectrum (101) where the first and second spectrums have a portion (103) of overlapping spectrum ranges comprises the steps at a handset (206) of scanning (18) the portion of overlapping spectrum ranges provided by a base station which is either a first base station having the first spectrum range or a second base station having the second spectrum and then choosing (20) a channel within the overlapping spectrum ranges substantially free from interference and designating the channel as the initial link establishment channel and as a re-establishment channel for subsequent re-establishment links. The handset then sends (22) a re-establishment link request to the base station to have the base re-establish a link with the re-establishment channel on the handset.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 1993Date of Patent: December 13, 1994Assignee: Motorola, Inc.Inventors: Stelios J. Patsiokas, Kenneth D. Alton
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Patent number: 5203012Abstract: A method and apparatus for choosing the most optimum communication channel in a system (100) having a plurality of communication channels provides for reduced interference and increased system capacity. By establishing a set of threshold levels and comparing these threshold levels to receive signal strength level measurements for each of the communication channels, a communication device originating a call can be guaranteed of establishing communication using the communication channel with the least chance of being affected by interference or of affecting other channels already in use.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 1992Date of Patent: April 13, 1993Assignee: Motorola, Inc.Inventors: Stelios J. Patsiokas, Paul D. Marko, Craig P. Wadin, Edward S. Kovach, Kenneth D. Alton