Patents by Inventor Melvin P. Roberts

Melvin P. Roberts 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: 9660626
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a clock tree network that distributes a clock signal to a plurality of clocked components of the integrated circuit. The clock tree network includes clock lines, each of which includes a clock tree delay element that provides a modified clock signal that is provided to an individual one the clocked components. Among the plurality of clocked components, one or more of the clocked components provides a data signal to another one or more of the clocked components. The one or more clocked components are configured having a transmission duration for the data signal that is longer relative to a transmission duration of the modified clock signal of the receiving clocked component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin K. Walsh, Melvin P. Roberts
  • Patent number: 9555254
    Abstract: System, implantable medical device and method for communicating between an implantable medical device and an external communication device. The implantable medical device has a physical connector, a medical module and a communication module. The medical module is configured to at least one of deliver a therapeutic output by way of the physical connector and/or sense data indicative of a physiologic condition of a patient by way of the physical connector. The external communication device is configured to communicate with the communication module by way of the physical connector. In an embodiment, electronic communication may be by way of a differential pair of connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter E. Benecke, Lonny Cabelka, Mark A. Maass, Melvin P. Roberts
  • Patent number: 9484940
    Abstract: Techniques including methods and apparatus for calibrating a local clock are provided in an implantable medical device. The implantable medical device includes a telemetry module for receiving a remote signal transmitted by an external device. The received signal is provided to a clocking circuit having a clocking circuit for computation of a calibration factor based on a difference between phases of the clock signal generated by the local clock and transitions in the received remote signal. The calibration factor may be derived as a function of an edge of the clock signal lagging or leading relative to a corresponding edge of the remote signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Melvin P. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20140276664
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a clock tree network that distributes a clock signal to a plurality of clocked components of the integrated circuit. The clock tree network includes clock lines, each of which includes a clock tree delay element that provides a modified clock signal that is provided to an individual one the clocked components. Among the plurality of clocked components, one or more of the clocked components provides a data signal to another one or more of the clocked components. The one or more clocked components are configured having a transmission duration for the data signal that is longer relative to a transmission duration of the modified clock signal of the receiving clocked component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin K. Walsh, Melvin P. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20140282336
    Abstract: Techniques for generating timing constraints for an integrated circuit including a clock tree network are described. The techniques may be associated with a clock tree synthesis tool that receives a design of the integrated circuit and generates a clock tree network including a plurality of clocked components of the integrated circuit. The constraints may be generated as a function of the duration of propagation of a data signal from a transmitting clocked component coupled to a receiving clocked component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin K. Walsh, Melvin P. Roberts
  • Patent number: 8839178
    Abstract: Techniques for generating timing constraints for an integrated circuit including a clock tree network are described. The techniques may be associated with a clock tree synthesis tool that receives a design of the integrated circuit and generates a clock tree network including a plurality of clocked components of the integrated circuit. The constraints may be generated as a function of the duration of propagation of a data signal from a transmitting clocked component coupled to a receiving clocked component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin K. Walsh, Melvin P. Roberts
  • Patent number: 8805505
    Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a local clock generator for generating a system clock signal. The local clock generator is periodically calibrated to maintain accuracy of the generated system clock signal. A clocking circuit is coupled to the local clock generator to provide the calibration factor for calibrating the local clock generator. The implantable medical device receives an accurate clock signal that is transmitted from an external device and the accurate clock signal is provided to the clocking circuit. The system clock signal is also provided to the clocking circuit and a computation is performed to derive the calibration factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Melvin P. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20140214109
    Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a local clock generator for generating a system clock signal. The local clock generator is periodically calibrated to maintain accuracy of the generated system clock signal. A clocking circuit is coupled to the local clock generator to provide the calibration factor for calibrating the local clock generator. The implantable medical device receives an accurate clock signal that is transmitted from an external device and the accurate clock signal is provided to the clocking circuit. The system clock signal is also provided to the clocking circuit and a computation is performed to derive the calibration factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventor: Melvin P. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20140210524
    Abstract: Techniques including methods and apparatus for calibrating a local clock are provided in an implantable medical device. The implantable medical device includes a telemetry module for receiving a remote signal transmitted by an external device. The received signal is provided to a clocking circuit having a clocking circuit for computation of a calibration factor based on a difference between phases of the clock signal generated by the local clock and transitions in the received remote signal. The calibration factor may be derived as a function of an edge of the clock signal lagging or leading relative to a corresponding edge of the remote signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventor: Melvin P. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20130211470
    Abstract: System, implantable medical device and method for communicating between an implantable medical device and an external communication device. The implantable medical device has a physical connector, a medical module and a communication module. The medical module is configured to at least one of deliver a therapeutic output by way of the physical connector and/or sense data indicative of a physiologic condition of a patient by way of the physical connector. The external communication device is configured to communicate with the communication module by way of the physical connector. In an embodiment, electronic communication may be by way of a differential pair of connectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventors: Walter E. Benecke, Lonny Cabelka, Mark A. Maass, Melvin P. Roberts
  • Patent number: 8019433
    Abstract: An implantable medical device has a first module for performing telemetry communications with another device and a second module for delivering a high voltage therapy to a patient. The first module is configured to detect a communication error, and the second module is configured to determine a need for the therapy and to charge a capacitor in response to the need for the therapy. The second module is configured to suspend the capacitor charging in response to receiving a notification from the first module corresponding to detecting a communication error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary P. Kivi, Javaid Masoud, Melvin P. Roberts, Yuying (Mae) Chao, David J. Peichel
  • Publication number: 20090270950
    Abstract: An implantable medical device has a first module for performing telemetry communications with another device and a second module for delivering a high voltage therapy to a patient. The first module is configured to detect a communication error, and the second module is configured to determine a need for the therapy and to charge a capacitor in response to the need for the therapy. The second module is configured to suspend the capacitor charging in response to receiving a notification from the first module corresponding to detecting a communication error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Gary P. Kivi, Javaid Masoud, Melvin P. Roberts, Yuying (Mae) Chao, David J. Peichel