Patents by Inventor Mark A. Crowther
Mark A. Crowther 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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Publication number: 20220326074Abstract: Ultraviolet systems and methods are described for capturing images depicting absorption or remittance of ultraviolet radiation (UVR). An example system includes a camera comprising a monochrome camera sensor that is configured to capture images, a radiation source that is configured to output a UVR waveband, a filter component that is configured to differentiate at least one of a UVA waveband and a UVB waveband of the UVR waveband, and a polarizer component that is configured to cross polarize each of the UVA waveband and the UVB waveband. Further, the camera is configured to capture an image depicting an UVA amount of UVA absorption or remittance as projected on a surface area and an UVB amount of UVB absorption or remittance as projected on the surface area.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2022Publication date: October 13, 2022Inventors: Paul Jonathan MATTS, Jonathan Mark CROWTHER
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Patent number: 11075577Abstract: A power supply includes a reference voltage generator circuit, a ramp generator circuit, and control circuitry. During operation, the reference voltage generator circuit compares a magnitude of a received output voltage feedback signal to a received reference voltage. Based on the comparison, the reference voltage generator circuit produces a varying reference voltage and outputs it to the ramp generator circuit. As its name suggests, a magnitude of the varying reference voltage varies over time. The ramp generator circuit produces a ramp voltage signal, a magnitude of which is offset by the varying reference voltage. To maintain an output voltage of the power supply within regulation, the control circuitry receives the varying reference voltage and controls activation of a power converter circuit to power a load based on a comparison of the ramp voltage signal and the output voltage feedback signal of the power supply.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2018Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: Infineon Technologies Americas Corp.Inventors: Danny Clavette, Kang Peng, Keng Chen, Mark A. Crowther
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Patent number: 10298123Abstract: A power supply includes a reference voltage generator circuit, a ramp generator circuit, and control circuitry. During operation, the reference voltage generator circuit compares a magnitude of a received output voltage feedback signal to a received reference voltage. Based on the comparison, the reference voltage generator circuit produces a varying reference voltage and outputs it to the ramp generator circuit. As its name suggests, a magnitude of the varying reference voltage varies over time. The ramp generator circuit produces a ramp voltage signal, a magnitude of which is offset by the varying reference voltage. To maintain an output voltage of the power supply within regulation, the control circuitry receives the varying reference voltage and controls activation of a power converter circuit to power a load based on a comparison of the ramp voltage signal and the output voltage feedback signal of the power supply.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2017Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AGInventors: Danny Clavette, Kang Peng, Keng Chen, Mark A. Crowther
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Publication number: 20190103811Abstract: A power supply includes a reference voltage generator circuit, a ramp generator circuit, and control circuitry. During operation, the reference voltage generator circuit compares a magnitude of a received output voltage feedback signal to a received reference voltage. Based on the comparison, the reference voltage generator circuit produces a varying reference voltage and outputs it to the ramp generator circuit. As its name suggests, a magnitude of the varying reference voltage varies over time. The ramp generator circuit produces a ramp voltage signal, a magnitude of which is offset by the varying reference voltage. To maintain an output voltage of the power supply within regulation, the control circuitry receives the varying reference voltage and controls activation of a power converter circuit to power a load based on a comparison of the ramp voltage signal and the output voltage feedback signal of the power supply.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2018Publication date: April 4, 2019Inventors: Danny Clavette, Kang Peng, Keng Chen, Mark A. Crowther
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Publication number: 20180351452Abstract: A power supply includes a reference voltage generator circuit, a ramp generator circuit, and control circuitry. During operation, the reference voltage generator circuit compares a magnitude of a received output voltage feedback signal to a received reference voltage. Based on the comparison, the reference voltage generator circuit produces a varying reference voltage and outputs it to the ramp generator circuit. As its name suggests, a magnitude of the varying reference voltage varies over time. The ramp generator circuit produces a ramp voltage signal, a magnitude of which is offset by the varying reference voltage. To maintain an output voltage of the power supply within regulation, the control circuitry receives the varying reference voltage and controls activation of a power converter circuit to power a load based on a comparison of the ramp voltage signal and the output voltage feedback signal of the power supply.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2017Publication date: December 6, 2018Inventors: Danny Clavette, Kang Peng, Keng Chen, Mark A. Crowther
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Patent number: 8114022Abstract: Business method for generating advertising claims by utilizing Confocal Raman Spectroscopy (CRS) for dermatological studies. The methods of the invention can be carried in vitro (either artificial skin or a sample of skin) or in vivo (directly on the human skin of a person).Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2006Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Jonathan Mark Crowther, Anke Sieg, Paul Jonathan Matts, Peter Blenkiron
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Patent number: 7982441Abstract: A multiphase converter comprising a plurality of converter circuits, each converter circuit having series connected high and low side switches connected across a voltage bus with a common node provided therebetween, each of the common nodes connected through a respective inductor to an output node of the converter coupled to a load, the high and low side switches each being controlled by a control circuit to provide a desired output voltage at the output node, the control circuit including a first circuit for disabling and enabling at least one phase in response to a condition of the load, the circuit causing the high side switch to be turned on prior to the lower side switch when a disabled phase is enabled.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2008Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: International Rectifier CorporationInventors: Mark Crowther, Wenkai Wu, George Schuellein
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Patent number: 7960957Abstract: A headroom compensation circuit for a voltage converter for ensuring that there is adequate headroom voltage to enable accurate operation of the current sense amplifier sensing the output current of the converter, the headroom compensation circuit comprising an error amplifier for comparing an output voltage of the converter to a reference voltage to set the converter output voltage; and a circuit for providing a bias current to an input of the error amplifier when a supply voltage to the current sense amplifier within a predefined threshold of the converter output voltage to cause the error amplifier to reduce the converter output voltage thereby to increase the headroom voltage for the current sense amplifier, said headroom voltage being defined as a voltage between the supply voltage to the current sense amplifier and said converter output voltage.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2007Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: International Rectifier CorporationInventors: Danny Richard Clavette, Mark Crowther, George Schuellein
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Publication number: 20110082352Abstract: Use of Confocal Raman Spectroscopy (CRS) for dermatological studies, including a method for determining the thickness of the Stratum Corneum (SC) on a test area of the skin, and to a method for quantifying the effectiveness of a skin care composition. The methods can be carried in vitro (either artificial skin or a sample of skin) or in vivo (directly on the human skin of a person).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2010Publication date: April 7, 2011Inventors: Jonathan Mark Crowther, Peter Blenkiron, Paul Jonathan Matts, Anke Sieg
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Patent number: 7862507Abstract: Use of Confocal Raman Spectroscopy (CRS) for dermatological studies, including a method for determining the thickness of the Stratum Corneum (SC) on a test area of the skin, and to a method for quantifying the effectiveness of a skin care composition. The methods of the invention can be carried in vitro (either artificial skin or a sample of skin) or in vivo (directly on the human skin of a person).Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2006Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Jonathan Mark Crowther, Peter Blenkiron, Paul Jonathan Matts, Anke Sieg
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Patent number: 7565519Abstract: A system and method for automatically upgrading/reverting of the software configurations in a storage system environment among a plurality of product release lines. A configuration upgrade/revert module of a storage system management module identifies a shortest path between an initial configuration and a desired end configuration using a transition table comprising of a plurality of transition functions. The upgrade/revert configuration module invokes the appropriate series of transition functions to modify the software configuration from the initial state to the desired end state.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2006Date of Patent: July 21, 2009Assignee: NetApp, Inc.Inventors: Ravindra Kumar, Jonathan Mark Crowther
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Patent number: 7477045Abstract: A buck converter for providing an output voltage to a load, including a plurality of output switch arrangements having respective output inductors coupled to an output capacitor, the switch arrangements being controllable to provide phase output currents to the output capacitor; a plurality of phase output arrangements respectively coupled to the output switch arrangements, the phase output arrangements being controllable to set the respective phase output currents supplied by the output switch arrangements; a phase control bus communicatively coupled to each of the phase output arrangements; and a phase control arrangement communicatively coupled to the phase control bus, the phase control arrangement being configured to control the phase output arrangements to set the respective phase output currents so that the output voltage approximates the desired voltage; wherein the phase control arrangement and the phase output arrangements are provided as respective integrated circuits.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2006Date of Patent: January 13, 2009Assignee: International Rectifier CorporationInventors: George Schuellein, Dan Clavette, Mark Crowther
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Publication number: 20080197823Abstract: A multiphase converter comprising a plurality of converter circuits, each converter circuit having series connected high and low side switches connected across a voltage bus with a common node provided therebetween, each of the common nodes connected through a respective inductor to an output node of the converter coupled to a load, the high and low side switches each being controlled by a control circuit to provide a desired output voltage at the output node, the control circuit including a first circuit for disabling and enabling at least one phase in response to a condition of the load, the circuit causing the high side switch to be turned on prior to the lower side switch when a disabled phase is enabled.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2008Publication date: August 21, 2008Applicant: INTERNATIONAL RECTIFIER CORPORATIONInventors: Mark Crowther, Wenkai Wu, George Schuellein
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Publication number: 20080018321Abstract: A headroom compensation circuit for a voltage converter for ensuring that there is adequate headroom voltage to enable accurate operation of the current sense amplifier sensing the output current of the converter, the headroom compensation circuit comprising an error amplifier for comparing an output voltage of the converter to a reference voltage to set the converter output voltage; and a circuit for providing a bias current to an input of the error amplifier when a supply voltage to the current sense amplifier within a predefined threshold of the converter output voltage to cause the error amplifier to reduce the converter output voltage thereby to increase the headroom voltage for the current sense amplifier, said headroom voltage being defined as a voltage between the supply voltage to the current sense amplifier and said converter output voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2007Publication date: January 24, 2008Applicant: INTERNATIONAL RECTIFIER CORPORATIONInventors: Danny Clavette, Mark Crowther, George Schuellein
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Patent number: 7301314Abstract: A multi-phase buck converter comprising a plurality of output switch arrangements each comprising a high side switch and a low side switch connected in series across a DC voltage and having a common connection coupled through a respective output inductor to a converter output node at which a converter output voltage is provided; a plurality of circuit arrangements providing pulse width modulated control signals to the high side and low side switches of each output switch arrangement for regulating the converter output voltage; a control arrangement providing a timing signal for controlling the start of conduction times of the high side and low side switches of each output switch arrangement and for providing an error signal related to a difference between the converter output voltage and a reference signal; a current sense arrangement coupled to each output inductor for providing a phase current signal related to the phase current provided by the respective output switch arrangement through the respective outType: GrantFiled: September 11, 2006Date of Patent: November 27, 2007Assignee: International Rectifier CorporationInventors: George Schuellein, Danny Richard Clavette, Mark Crowther
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Publication number: 20070024253Abstract: A multi-phase buck converter comprising a plurality of output switch arrangements each comprising a high side switch and a low side switch connected in series across a DC voltage and having a common connection coupled through a respective output inductor to a converter output node at which a converter output voltage is provided; a plurality of circuit arrangements providing pulse width modulated control signals to the high side and low side switches of each output switch arrangement for regulating the converter output voltage; a control arrangement providing a timing signal for controlling the start of conduction times of the high side and low side switches of each output switch arrangement and for providing an error signal related to a difference between the converter output voltage and a reference signal; a current sense arrangement coupled to each output inductor for providing a phase current signal related to the phase current provided by the respective output switch arrangement through the respective outType: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2006Publication date: February 1, 2007Applicant: INTERNATIONAL RECTIFIER CORPORATIONInventors: George Schuellein, Dan Clavette, Mark Crowther
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Publication number: 20060139016Abstract: A buck converter for providing an output voltage to a load, including a plurality of output switch arrangements having respective output inductors coupled to an output capacitor, the switch arrangements being controllable to provide phase output currents to the output capacitor; a plurality of phase output arrangements respectively coupled to the output switch arrangements, the phase output arrangements being controllable to set the respective phase output currents supplied by the output switch arrangements; a phase control bus communicatively coupled to each of the phase output arrangements; and a phase control arrangement communicatively coupled to the phase control bus, the phase control arrangement being configured to control the phase output arrangements to set the respective phase output currents so that the output voltage approximates the desired voltage; wherein the phase control arrangement and the phase output arrangements are provided as respective integrated circuits.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2006Publication date: June 29, 2006Inventors: George Schuellein, Dan Clavette, Mark Crowther
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Patent number: 7034511Abstract: A buck converter for providing an output voltage to a load, including a plurality of output switch arrangements having respective output inductors coupled to an output capacitor, the switch arrangements being controllable to provide phase output currents to the output capacitor; a plurality of phase output arrangements respectively coupled to the output switch arrangements, the phase output arrangements being controllable to set the respective phase output currents supplied by the output switch arrangements; a phase control bus communicatively coupled to each of the phase output arrangements; and a phase control arrangement communicatively coupled to the phase control bus, the phase control arrangement being configured to control the phase output arrangements to set the respective phase output currents so that the output voltage approximates the desired voltage; wherein the phase control arrangement and the phase output arrangements are provided as respective integrated circuits.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2004Date of Patent: April 25, 2006Assignee: International Rectifier CorporationInventors: George Schuellein, Dan Clavette, Mark Crowther
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Publication number: 20050007081Abstract: A buck converter for providing an output voltage to a load, including a plurality of output switch arrangements having respective output inductors coupled to an output capacitor, the switch arrangements being controllable to provide phase output currents to the output capacitor; a plurality of phase output arrangements respectively coupled to the output switch arrangements, the phase output arrangements being controllable to set the respective phase output currents supplied by the output switch arrangements; a phase control bus communicatively coupled to each of the phase output arrangements; and a phase control arrangement communicatively coupled to the phase control bus, the phase control arrangement being configured to control the phase output arrangements to set the respective phase output currents so that the output voltage approximates the desired voltage; wherein the phase control arrangement and the phase output arrangements are provided as respective integrated circuits.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2004Publication date: January 13, 2005Inventors: George Schuellein, Dan Clavette, Mark Crowther
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Patent number: 6806689Abstract: A buck converter for providing an output voltage to a load, including a plurality of output switch arrangements having respective output inductors coupled to an output capacitor, the switch arrangements being controllable to provide phase output currents to the output capacitor; a plurality of phase output arrangements respectively coupled to the output switch arrangements, the phase output arrangements being controllable to set the respective phase output currents supplied by the output switch arrangements; a phase control bus communicatively coupled to each of the phase output arrangements; and a phase control arrangement communicatively coupled to the phase control bus, the phase control arrangement being configured to control the phase output arrangements to set the respective phase output currents so that the output voltage approximates the desired voltage; wherein the phase control arrangement and the phase output arrangements are provided as respective integrated circuits.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2003Date of Patent: October 19, 2004Assignee: International Rectifier CorporationInventors: George Schuellein, Dan Clavette, Mark Crowther