Patents by Inventor Kumen Blake
Kumen Blake 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: 10564186Abstract: A high side current sensing amplifier architecture is simplified and improved over prior art current sensing amplifier circuits by using chopping only, without requiring auto-zeroing, and by using a simpler (and faster) switched capacitor filter instead of an auto-zeroing integrator filter. Also, VIP (positive DC sense node) is merged with the VDDHV (power supply) node, such that the integrated circuit package requires only a single node (package pin) to accommodate both the VIP and VDDHV connections for the current sensing amplifier circuit, resulting in being able to use a smaller integrated circuit package. A small resistor is coupled between VIP and VDDHV to reduce the offset considerably. A low latency time high voltage level shifter is provided which is essential for precise chopping operation.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2017Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATEDInventors: Dong Wang, Jim Nolan, Kumen Blake
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Patent number: 10511275Abstract: An amplifier includes a differential positive input, a differential negative input, and a transistor. The transistor is communicatively coupled to the differential positive input and differential negative input at a source of the transistor. The transistor is configured to track input common mode of the differential positive input and differential negative input.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2018Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATEDInventors: Dong Wang, Jim Nolan, Kumen Blake, Milan Rai
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Publication number: 20190222185Abstract: An amplifier includes a differential positive input, a differential negative input, and a transistor. The transistor is communicatively coupled to the differential positive input and differential negative input at a source of the transistor. The transistor is configured to track input common mode of the differential positive input and differential negative input.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2018Publication date: July 18, 2019Applicant: Microchip Technology IncorporatedInventors: Dong Wang, Jim Nolan, Kumen Blake, Milan Rai
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Publication number: 20180088152Abstract: A high side current sensing amplifier architecture is simplified and improved over prior art current sensing amplifier circuits by using chopping only, without requiring auto-zeroing, and by using a simpler (and faster) switched capacitor filter instead of an auto-zeroing integrator filter. Also, VIP (positive DC sense node) is merged with the VDDHV (power supply) node, such that the integrated circuit package requires only a single node (package pin) to accommodate both the VIP and VDDHV connections for the current sensing amplifier circuit, resulting in being able to use a smaller integrated circuit package. A small resistor is coupled between VIP and VDDHV to reduce the offset considerably. A low latency time high voltage level shifter is provided which is essential for precise chopping operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2017Publication date: March 29, 2018Applicant: Microchip Technology IncorporatedInventors: Dong Wang, Jim Nolan, Kumen Blake
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Patent number: 9506813Abstract: An integrated temperature sensor device has a temperature sensor configured to provide an analog signal corresponding to an ambient temperature, an analog-to-digital converter receiving the analog signal and a programmable digital filter coupled to the analog-to-digital converter.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2014Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATEDInventors: Ezana Aberra, Patrick Richards, Richard Appel, Sam Alexander, Stephen Loyer, Kumen Blake, Sean Cappy
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Publication number: 20150185083Abstract: An integrated temperature sensor device has a temperature sensor configured to provide an analog signal corresponding to an ambient temperature, an analog-to-digital converter receiving the analog signal and a programmable digital filter coupled to the analog-to-digital converter.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2014Publication date: July 2, 2015Inventors: Ezana Aberra, Patrick Richards, Richard Appel, Sam Alexander, Stephen Loyer, Kumen Blake, Sean Cappy
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Patent number: 8026761Abstract: Calibration of gain and/or offset of an instrumentation amplifier (INA) is accomplished by coupling an appropriate number of current sources, and/or current sinks, respectively, to first and/or second transconductance stage(s) of the INA. Gain and/or offset calibration of the INA may occur when requested by a user and/or the occurrence of an event(s). A voltage reference may be used in combination with a successive approximation register analog-to-digital converter in determining which ones of the current sources and sinks are coupled to the first and/or second transconductance stage(s) of the INA for gain and/or offset calibration thereof. After the gain and/or offset calibration of the INA is completed, the selection of the constant current sources and sinks used therefore may be stored in volatile or nonvolatile memory. Parity checking of the memory may be incorporated and if a parity error is detected, an auto-calibration of the INA may be initiated.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2010Date of Patent: September 27, 2011Assignee: Microchip Technology IncorporatedInventors: James B. Nolan, Kumen Blake
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Publication number: 20110181361Abstract: Calibration of gain and/or offset of an instrumentation amplifier (INA) is accomplished by coupling an appropriate number of current sources, and/or current sinks, respectively, to first and/or second transconductance stage(s) of the INA. Gain and/or offset calibration of the INA may occur when requested by a user and/or the occurrence of an event(s). A voltage reference may be used in combination with a successive approximation register analog-to-digital converter in determining which ones of the current sources and sinks are coupled to the first and/or second transconductance stage(s) of the INA for gain and/or offset calibration thereof. After the gain and/or offset calibration of the INA is completed, the selection of the constant current sources and sinks used therefore may be stored in volatile or nonvolatile memory. Parity checking of the memory may be incorporated and if a parity error is detected, an auto-calibration of the INA may be initiated.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2010Publication date: July 28, 2011Inventors: James B. Nolan, Kumen Blake
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Patent number: 7973684Abstract: Auto-calibration of the analog circuits occurs when requested by a user and/or the occurrence of an event(s). The user may invoke an auto-calibration on demand through an auto-calibration (ACAL) input to the mixed-signal integrated circuit. An external voltage calibration (VCAL) input may be used for auto-calibration of the mixed-signal integrated circuit to a user-supplied common-mode voltage reference. Auto-calibration of the mixed-signal integrated circuit may also be initiated upon the occurrence of any one or more of the following events: 1) detection of auto-calibration data corruption, e.g., parity checking of auto-calibration data values digitally stored in the mixed-signal integrated circuit; 2) an internal timer that causes a calibration request after a programmable timeout period, 3) change in the internal integrated circuit die temperature as determined by a temperature sensor, and 4) a change in the power supply and/or internal supply voltage(s).Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2009Date of Patent: July 5, 2011Assignee: Microchip Technology IncorporatedInventors: James B. Nolan, Kumen Blake
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Patent number: 7382183Abstract: Two nulling amplifiers are used with an auto-zeroed differential amplifier. While one nulling amplifier is compensating the main amplifier, the other nulling amplifier is being zeroed for both differential mode (DM) and common mode (CM) offsets. By using two nulling amplifiers, one always connected to the main amplifier, a relatively constant open-loop gain is maintained for the main amplifier. A further improvement is make-before-break timing overlap of the switch operations between the two nulling amplifiers and the main amplifier. This ensures that the main amplifier is continuously driven by one or both null amplifiers, thereby maintaining a low impedance at the main amplifier auxiliary port. Both DM and CM offset sampling and precharging of each of the two nulling amplifiers is performed so as to substantially reduce switching glitches in the output of the main amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2007Date of Patent: June 3, 2008Assignee: Microchip Technology IncorporatedInventors: James B. Nolan, Kumen Blake
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Publication number: 20080018392Abstract: Two nulling amplifiers are used with an auto-zeroed differential amplifier. While one nulling amplifier is compensating the main amplifier, the other nulling amplifier is being zeroed for both differential mode (DM) and common mode (CM) offsets. By using two nulling amplifiers, one always connected to the main amplifier, a relatively constant open-loop gain is maintained for the main amplifier. A further improvement is make-before-break timing overlap of the switch operations between the two nulling amplifiers and the main amplifier. This ensures that the main amplifier is continuously driven by one or both null amplifiers, thereby maintaining a low impedance at the main amplifier auxiliary port. Both DM and CM offset sampling and precharging of each of the two nulling amplifiers is performed so as to substantially reduce switching glitches in the output of the main amplifier.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2007Publication date: January 24, 2008Inventors: James B. Nolan, Kumen Blake
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Publication number: 20050143942Abstract: An amplifier having programmable operational characteristics and a serial communications interface are fabricated on an integrated circuit (IC). The serial communications interface controls the operational characteristics, e.g., gain, frequency response, etc., of the amplifier. A multiplexer (MUX) may also be included on the IC and may be controlled by the serial communications interface. Status of the amplifier may also be obtained through the serial communications interface. The pin count of the IC package may be kept to a minimum by using the serial communications interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2005Publication date: June 30, 2005Inventors: Kumen Blake, James Nolan