Patents by Inventor Kevin R. Fugate

Kevin R. Fugate 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).

  • Magnetic pre-conditioning of magnetic sensors
    Patent number: 9543067
    Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus are provided to apply a magnetic pre-conditioning to magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) sensors and other micro-magnetic devices after fabrication but before testing, trimming or other subsequent processing. The fabricated sensor device is passed through a magnetic field that has a known direction and orientation relative to the device so that the device is placed into a known state prior to final testing and trimming. Various embodiments allow the field to be applied in situ by a permanent magnet or electromagnet as the devices are being processed by a conventional device handler or similar processing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: NXP USA, INC.
    Inventors: Carlos M. Acuna, Mohammad A. Faruque, Kevin R. Fugate, Todd D. Hoffmann, Paige M. Holm, Peter T. Jones, Rigoberto Lopez, Jr., William D. McWhorter
  • Sensing device and related operating methods
    Patent number: 9046556
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for sensing devices. An exemplary sensing device includes a sensing arrangement on a substrate to sense a first property, a heating arrangement, and a control system coupled to the first sensing arrangement and the heating arrangement to activate the heating arrangement to heat the first sensing arrangement and deactivate the heating arrangement while obtaining one or more measurement values for the first property from the first sensing arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Fugate, Edward W. Carstens, Paige M. Holm, Dean W. Miller
  • Method to configure serial communications and device thereof
    Patent number: 8732366
    Abstract: In response to a reset condition, the state of a steady-state signal at an I/O pin of the serial communication port of an integrated circuit die is determined. The serial communication port is configured to support one of the plurality of serial communication protocols based upon the detected steady-state condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Fugate, Edward W. Carstens, Jordan P. Legendre
  • SENSING DEVICE AND RELATED OPERATING METHODS
    Publication number: 20130335065
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for sensing devices. An exemplary sensing device includes a sensing arrangement on a substrate to sense a first property, a heating arrangement, and a control system coupled to the first sensing arrangement and the heating arrangement to activate the heating arrangement to heat the first sensing arrangement and deactivate the heating arrangement while obtaining one or more measurement values for the first property from the first sensing arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Fugate, Edward W. Carstens, Paige M. Holm, Dean W. Miller
  • METHOD THE CONFIGURE SERIAL COMMUNICATIONS AND DEVICE THEREOF
    Publication number: 20130290577
    Abstract: In response to a reset condition, the state of a steady-state signal at an I/O pin of the serial communication port of an integrated circuit die is determined. The serial communication port is configured to support one of the plurality of serial communication protocols based upon the detected steady-state condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Fugate, Edward W. Carstens, Jordan P. Legendre
  • Eliminating power-down popping in audio power amplifiers
    Patent number: 6525594
    Abstract: The circuit includes: a transistor 22; and a switch 32 coupled to a backgate of the transistor 22 for switching between a power supply node and current-path node of the transistor 22 to prevent a voltage on the backgate from dropping below the voltage on the current-path node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Kevin R. Fugate, Kenneth L. Arcudia
  • Eliminating power-down popping in audio power amplifiers
    Publication number: 20020021164
    Abstract: The circuit includes: a transistor 22; and a switch 32 coupled to a backgate of the transistor 22 for switching between a power supply node and current-path node of the transistor 22 to prevent a voltage on the backgate from dropping below the voltage on the current-path node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: Kevin R. Fugate, Kenneth L. Arcudia