Patents by Inventor Mahlon Danny Kimbrough

Mahlon Danny Kimbrough 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: 6781981
    Abstract: An improved digital loop carrier system for transporting voice and DSL data signals in the local loop. The digital loop carrier system includes a remote digital terminal having an interface terminal, a common equipment shelf for interfacing digital voice signals to the central office switch, and a plurality of copper shelves coupled to the common shelf for holding voice line-cards that convert digital voice signals into analog voice signals (and vice versa) for transport to customer premises. At least one copper shelf is configured to include an auxiliary packet data bus for connecting combination voice/DSL line-cards and at least one data uplink card. The data uplink card is coupled to the interface terminal to enable DSL data transport without impacting digital voice capabilities through the common equipment. Also disclosed is an optional Ethernet switch in the remote digital terminal for concentrating multiple DSL signals prior to transport back to the central office.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Advanced Fibre Access Corporation
    Inventor: Mahlon Danny Kimbrough
  • Publication number: 20020054589
    Abstract: A digital packet access network for transporting voice and data signals in the local loop between a central office location and a plurality of remote local users. The network architecture may also include: (1) a dual-pipelined structure for separately transporting the voice and data signals; (2) a mechanism for prioritizing the transport of the voice signals; or (3) a method of synchronizing the timing of the voice signals to a telephone switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Inventors: Barry Joe Ethridge, James Joseph Gainer, Mahlon Danny Kimbrough
  • Patent number: 6366464
    Abstract: An ONU includes circuit cards, a card cage, and electrical connector hardware. The card cage releaseably engages and supports the circuit cards in installed positions in the card cage. At least one pair of the circuit cards have serial interconnections with each other. The electrical connector hardware defines all of those serial interconnections and is free of a backplane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Marconi Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Cosley, John Matthes, James Zipper, Barry Joe Ethridge, Mahlon Danny Kimbrough
  • Patent number: 6362908
    Abstract: A multi-service, adaptable optical network unit (ONU) is disclosed for use in a fiber-to-the-curb (FTTC) digital loop carrier system, including a multi-service common card and a plurality of multi-media service cards that are connected to the common card using a card-link interface. The card-link interface is preferably a high-speed LVDS serial-bus connection that is organized in a star configuration such that each service card is connected to the multi-service common card using a separate point-to-point card-link. By eliminating the traditional backplane structure found in present ONU designs, the present invention provides a scalable, adaptable, future-proof FTTC system that can transport present-day multi-media services as well as yet-to-be-defined future high-bandwidth applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Marconi Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Mahlon Danny Kimbrough, John Matthes, Barry Joe Ethridge
  • Patent number: 6353609
    Abstract: A digital packet access network for transporting voice and data signals in the local loop between a central office location and a plurality of remote local users. The network architecture may also include: (1) a dual-pipelined structure for separately transporting the voice and data signals; (2) a mechanism for prioritizing the transport of the voice signals, or (3) a method of synchronizing the timing of the voice signals to a telephone switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Marconi Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Joe Ethridge, James Joseph Gainer, Mahlon Danny Kimbrough
  • Patent number: 6151226
    Abstract: A four quadrant power conversion topology comprising a multi-winding inductor, four switches, and four diodes is disclosed. The four quadrant power conversion is utilized in a number of power conversion devices such as a power efficient non-linear power amplifier that comprises the 4Q power conversion topology of the present invention and a switch-control-signal generator coupled to the 4Q power conversion topology. The switch-control-signal generator generates switch activation signals for driving the four switches of the 4Q power conversion topology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Marconi Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: William I. H. Chen, Edwin Glenn Yancey, Mahlon Danny Kimbrough