Patents by Inventor Lawrence Hunter

Lawrence Hunter 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: 11933859
    Abstract: In some examples, apparatus comprises a multiplexer (MUX) adapted to be coupled to a set of battery cells and configured to provide a voltage of a different battery cell in the set of battery cells based on a MUX control signal. Apparatus comprises a comparator coupled to the MUX and configured to compare a MUX output signal to a threshold voltage to provide a comparator output signal. Apparatus comprises a digital control circuit configured to provide the MUX control signal to the MUX, to store the comparator output signal, and to use a logic AND gate to provide an AND gate output signal based on the stored comparator output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Bradford Lawrence Hunter, Eric Frank Estes, Wallace Edward Matthews
  • Publication number: 20230170864
    Abstract: An amplifier circuit includes an amplifier, a resistor, and an adaptive bias circuit. The amplifier includes an output and a tail input. The amplifier is configured to generate an output signal representative of a difference of a first input signal and a second input signal. The resistor is coupled to the output of the amplifier. The resistor is configured to lower an output resistance of the amplifier. The adaptive bias circuit is coupled between the output of the amplifier and the tail input of the amplifier. The adaptive bias circuit is configured to generate a detection current based on the output signal, and provide the detection current to the tail input of the amplifier to increase the gain of the amplifier based on the output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventor: Bradford Lawrence HUNTER
  • Publication number: 20230003810
    Abstract: In some examples, apparatus comprises a multiplexer (MUX) adapted to be coupled to a set of battery cells and configured to provide a voltage of a different battery cell in the set of battery cells based on a MUX control signal. Apparatus comprises a comparator coupled to the MUX and configured to compare a MUX output signal to a threshold voltage to provide a comparator output signal. Apparatus comprises a digital control circuit configured to provide the MUX control signal to the MUX, to store the comparator output signal, and to use a logic AND gate to provide an AND gate output signal based on the stored comparator output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Bradford Lawrence HUNTER, Eric Frank ESTES, Wallace Edward MATTHEWS
  • Patent number: 11536615
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes: a resistor terminal adapted to be coupled to a first end of a first resistor; a ground terminal adapted to be coupled to a second end of the first resistor; a second resistor in series with the first resistor and having a first end and a second end, the second end coupled to the resistor terminal; a first capacitor having a first capacitor terminal and a second capacitor terminal, the first capacitor terminal is coupled to: the first end of the second resistor via a first switch; and the ground terminal via a second switch; a second capacitor having a third capacitor terminal and a fourth capacitor terminal, the third capacitor terminal is coupled to: the first end of the second resistor via a third switch; the resistor terminal via a fourth switch; and the ground terminal via a fifth switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Bradford Lawrence Hunter
  • Patent number: 11502700
    Abstract: A calibratable switched-capacitor voltage reference and an associated calibration method are described. The voltage reference includes dynamic diode elements providing diode voltages, input capacitor(s) for sampling input voltages, base-emitter capacitor(s) for sampling one diode voltage with respect to a ground, dynamically trimmable capacitor(s) for sampling the one diode voltage with respect to another diode voltage, and an operational amplifier coupled to the capacitors for providing reference voltage(s) based on the sampled input and diode voltages and on trims of the trimmable capacitor(s). The voltage reference can be configured as a first integrator of a modulator stage of a delta-sigma analog-to-digital converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Bradford Lawrence Hunter, Xiaopeng Li
  • Patent number: 11418181
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide for a circuit comprising a switch coupled between a first node and a second node, a first transistor having a gate terminal, a drain terminal coupled to the second node, and a source terminal coupled to a ground terminal, a logic gate having a first input, a second input coupled to a third node, and an output coupled to the gate terminal of the first transistor, and a comparator having a first input coupled to the second node, a second input coupled to a fourth node, and an output coupled to the first input of the logic gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Bradford Lawrence Hunter, Karthik Nandimandalam Venkata, Quanqing Hu
  • Publication number: 20220146329
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes: a resistor terminal adapted to be coupled to a first end of a first resistor; a ground terminal adapted to be coupled to a second end of the first resistor; a second resistor in series with the first resistor and having a first end and a second end, the second end coupled to the resistor terminal; a first capacitor having a first capacitor terminal and a second capacitor terminal, the first capacitor terminal is coupled to: the first end of the second resistor via a first switch; and the ground terminal via a second switch; a second capacitor having a third capacitor terminal and a fourth capacitor terminal, the third capacitor terminal is coupled to: the first end of the second resistor via a third switch; the resistor terminal via a fourth switch; and the ground terminal via a fifth switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventor: Bradford Lawrence HUNTER
  • Publication number: 20210211137
    Abstract: A calibratable switched-capacitor voltage reference and an associated calibration method are described. The voltage reference includes dynamic diode elements providing diode voltages, input capacitor(s) for sampling input voltages, base-emitter capacitor(s) for sampling one diode voltage with respect to a ground, dynamically trimmable capacitor(s) for sampling the one diode voltage with respect to another diode voltage, and an operational amplifier coupled to the capacitors for providing reference voltage(s) based on the sampled input and diode voltages and on trims of the trimmable capacitor(s). The voltage reference can be configured as a first integrator of a modulator stage of a delta-sigma analog-to-digital converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Bradford Lawrence Hunter, Xiaopeng Li
  • Patent number: 11034573
    Abstract: A fuel dispensing system includes a fuel tank adapted to contain a quantity of fuel. A fuel dispenser in is fluid communication with the fuel tank via piping. A pump is operative to transfer fuel from the fuel tank to the fuel dispenser. A corrosive detection assembly operative to identify presence of a corrosive substance in the fuel is also provided. The corrosive detection assembly has at least one thermoelectric detector positioned to be in contact with fuel vapor in the fuel dispensing system, the thermoelectric detector producing a detector signal indicating presence of the corrosive substance. Electronics are in electrical communication with the thermoelectric detector, the electronics being operative to interpret the detector signal and produce an output if the corrosive substance is present. The at least one thermoelectric detector may comprises a plurality of thermoelectric detectors at different locations in the fuel dispensing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: VEEDER-ROOT COMPANY
    Inventors: James T. Bevins, Donald Kunz, Lawrence Hunter, Kenneth D. Cornett, Adriano Baglioni, Gaston Berrio
  • Patent number: 11018517
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a housing, a battery, a battery pack output voltage path that includes a charge power switch and a discharge power switch, and a battery sense output. A switch can be operably coupled between the battery and the battery sense output and configured to selectively open and close a battery sense path between the battery and the battery sense output. By one approach a first control circuit controls the open and close state of the aforementioned switch (in response, for example, to a comparison of the voltage differential across the switch to a predetermined threshold such that the switch is opened when the voltage differential across the switch becomes too positive or too negative with respect to battery voltage).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Bradford Lawrence Hunter, Wan Laan Jackie Hui
  • Patent number: 10958285
    Abstract: A calibratable switched-capacitor voltage reference and an associated calibration method are described. The voltage reference includes dynamic diode elements providing diode voltages, input capacitor(s) for sampling input voltages, base-emitter capacitor(s) for sampling one diode voltage with respect to a ground, dynamically trimmable capacitor(s) for sampling the one diode voltage with respect to another diode voltage, and an operational amplifier coupled to the capacitors for providing reference voltage(s) based on the sampled input and diode voltages and on trims of the trimmable capacitor(s). The voltage reference can be configured as a first integrator of a modulator stage of a delta-sigma analog-to-digital converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Bradford Lawrence Hunter, Xiaopeng Li
  • Publication number: 20200373940
    Abstract: A calibratable switched-capacitor voltage reference and an associated calibration method are described. The voltage reference includes dynamic diode elements providing diode voltages, input capacitor(s) for sampling input voltages, base-emitter capacitor(s) for sampling one diode voltage with respect to a ground, dynamically trimmable capacitor(s) for sampling the one diode voltage with respect to another diode voltage, and an operational amplifier coupled to the capacitors for providing reference voltage(s) based on the sampled input and diode voltages and on trims of the trimmable capacitor(s). The voltage reference can be configured as a first integrator of a modulator stage of a delta-sigma analog-to-digital converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: BRADFORD LAWRENCE HUNTER, XIAOPENG LI
  • Patent number: 10826477
    Abstract: A monitoring circuit is implemented for comparing a sampled voltage taken from a selected sampling capacitor and a reference voltage from a voltage buffer (150). The voltage buffer (150) is configurable according to programming provided to a programmable logic controller, PLC, (570). Comparisons may be made on a periodic basis, such as a time-division multiplexed basis, in connection with register settings in the PLC (570).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Bradford Lawrence Hunter, Timothy F. Murphy
  • Patent number: 10784849
    Abstract: An energy storage element control circuit includes a charge transistor having a first node adapted to be coupled to an output node of the energy storage element control circuit and a second node adapted to be coupled to a terminal of an energy storage element. The energy storage control circuit also includes a boot capacitor having a first node and a second node. The energy storage element further includes a comparator that includes a first input node coupled to the first node of the charge transistor and a second input node adapted to be coupled to the terminal of the energy storage element. The comparator also includes an output node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Bradford Lawrence Hunter, Kenneth J. Maggio, Christopher Lee Betty
  • Publication number: 20200280307
    Abstract: An energy storage element control circuit includes a charge transistor having a first node adapted to be coupled to an output node of the energy storage element control circuit and a second node adapted to be coupled to a terminal of an energy storage element. The energy storage control circuit also includes a boot capacitor having a first node and a second node. The energy storage element further includes a comparator that includes a first input node coupled to the first node of the charge transistor and a second input node adapted to be coupled to the terminal of the energy storage element. The comparator also includes an output node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: BRADFORD LAWRENCE HUNTER, KENNETH J. MAGGIO, CHRISTOPHER LEE BETTY
  • Publication number: 20200266813
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide for a circuit comprising a switch coupled between a first node and a second node, a first transistor having a gate terminal, a drain terminal coupled to the second node, and a source terminal coupled to a ground terminal, a logic gate having a first input, a second input coupled to a third node, and an output coupled to the gate terminal of the first transistor, and a comparator having a first input coupled to the second node, a second input coupled to a fourth node, and an output coupled to the first input of the logic gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Bradford Lawrence HUNTER, Karthik NANDIMANDALAM VENKATA, Quanqing HU
  • Publication number: 20200195034
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a housing, a battery, a battery pack output voltage path that includes a charge power switch and a discharge power switch, and a battery sense output. A switch can be operably coupled between the battery and the battery sense output and configured to selectively open and close a battery sense path between the battery and the battery sense output. By one approach a first control circuit controls the open and close state of the aforementioned switch (in response, for example, to a comparison of the voltage differential across the switch to a predetermined threshold such that the switch is opened when the voltage differential across the switch becomes too positive or too negative with respect to battery voltage).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Bradford Lawrence Hunter, Wan Laan Jackie Hui
  • Patent number: 10608456
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a housing, a battery, a battery pack output voltage path that includes a charge power switch and a discharge power switch, and a battery sense output. A switch can be operably coupled between the battery and the battery sense output and configured to selectively open and close a battery sense path between the battery and the battery sense output. By one approach a first control circuit controls the open and close state of the aforementioned switch (in response, for example, to a comparison of the voltage differential across the switch to a predetermined threshold such that the switch is opened when the voltage differential across the switch becomes too positive or too negative with respect to battery voltage).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Bradford Lawrence Hunter, Wan Laan Jackie Hui
  • Publication number: 20200059227
    Abstract: A monitoring circuit is implemented for comparing a sampled voltage taken from a selected sampling capacitor and a reference voltage from a voltage buffer (150). The voltage buffer (150) is configurable according to programming provided to a programmable logic controller, PLC, (570). Comparisons may be made on a periodic basis, such as a time-division multiplexed basis, in connection with register settings in the PLC (570).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Bradford Lawrence Hunter, Timothy F. Murphy
  • Publication number: 20190393707
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus to facilitate control for a low-power battery state are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a charge pump coupled to a power terminal and a charge pump switch, the charge pump switch coupled to a discharging terminal; a power supply switch circuit coupled to the power terminal and the discharging terminal, the power supply switch circuit being connected to bypass the charge pump and the charge pump switch; and a switch controller coupled to the charge pump switch and the power supply switch circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Bradford Lawrence Hunter, Terry Lee Sculley