Patents by Inventor Mike Kappes

Mike Kappes 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: 7046097
    Abstract: An integrated oscillator that may be used as a time clock includes circuitry that oscillates about an RC time constant, which RC time constant is adjustable to provide a desired frequency of oscillation. More specifically, the oscillator includes a capacitor array that has a plurality of capacitors coupled in parallel wherein each capacitor may be selectively included into the RC time constant or selectively excluded there from. Rather than setting the capacitance values to a desired capacitance value, a system for adjusting the time constant includes circuitry for measuring an output frequency and for comparing that to a certified frequency source wherein the time constant is adjusted by adding or removing capacitors from the capacitor array until the frequency of the internal clock matches an expected frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Mike Kappes, Terje Gloerstad
  • Publication number: 20050168294
    Abstract: An integrated oscillator that may be used as a time clock includes circuitry that oscillates about an RC time constant, which RC time constant is adjustable to provide a desired frequency of oscillation. More specifically, the oscillator includes a capacitor array that has a plurality of capacitors coupled in parallel wherein each capacitor may be selectively included into the RC time constant or selectively excluded there from. Rather than setting the capacitance values to a desired capacitance value, a system for adjusting the time constant includes circuitry for measuring an output frequency and for comparing that to a certified frequency source wherein the time constant is adjusted by adding or removing capacitors from the capacitor array until the frequency of the internal clock matches an expected frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Mike Kappes, Terje Gloerstad
  • Patent number: 6882235
    Abstract: An integrated oscillator that may be used as a time clock includes circuitry that oscillates about an RC time constant, which RC time constant is adjustable to provide a desired frequency of oscillation. More specifically, the oscillator includes a capacitor array that has a plurality of capacitors coupled in parallel wherein each capacitor may be selectively included into the RC time constant or selectively excluded there from. Rather than setting the capacitance values to a desired capacitance value, a system for adjusting the time constant includes circuitry for measuring an output frequency and for comparing that to a certified frequency source wherein the time constant is adjusted by adding or removing capacitors from the capacitor array until the frequency of the internal clock matches an expected frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Mike Kappes, Terje Gloerstad
  • Publication number: 20040085146
    Abstract: An integrated oscillator that may be used as a time clock includes circuitry that oscillates about an RC time constant, which RC time constant is adjustable to provide a desired frequency of oscillation. More specifically, the oscillator includes a capacitor array that has a plurality of capacitors coupled in parallel wherein each capacitor may be selectively included into the RC time constant or selectively excluded there from. Rather than setting the capacitance values to a desired capacitance value, a system for adjusting the time constant includes circuitry for measuring an output frequency and for comparing that to a certified frequency source wherein the time constant is adjusted by adding or removing capacitors from the capacitor array until the frequency of the internal clock matches an expected frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Mike Kappes, Terje Gloerstad
  • Patent number: 6714062
    Abstract: A circuit and a method for limiting a voltage to a specified value (e.g., a rail voltage) without clipping thereby includes a pair of MOSFETs that turn on when a specified bias voltage is reached to either add to or sink current from the input node of the resistive load responsive to fluctuations in current going through the output resistive load to maintain a constant current through it. A plurality of biasing circuits is provided that control the turn on voltage levels for the MOSFETs to achieve the desired operation. The biasing circuits include circuit components that are matched to circuit components within the circuitry that adds and drains current to the output resistive load including a resistive load that matches the output resistive load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Mike Kappes
  • Publication number: 20030210086
    Abstract: A circuit and a method for limiting a voltage to a specified value (e.g., a rail voltage) without clipping thereby includes a pair of MOSFETs that turn on when a specified bias voltage is reached to either add to or sink current from the input node of the resistive load responsive to fluctuations in current going through the output resistive load to maintain a constant current through it. A plurality of biasing circuits is provided that control the turn on voltage levels for the MOSFETs to achieve the desired operation. The biasing circuits include circuit components that are matched to circuit components within the circuitry that adds and drains current to the output resistive load including a resistive load that matches the output resistive load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation, a California Corporation
    Inventor: Mike Kappes
  • Patent number: 6639479
    Abstract: An integrated oscillator that may be used as a time clock includes circuitry that oscillates about an RC time constant, which RC time constant is adjustable to provide a desired frequency of oscillation. More specifically, the oscillator includes a capacitor array that has a plurality of capacitors coupled in parallel wherein each capacitor may be selectively included into the RC time constant or selectively excluded there from. Rather than setting the capacitance values to a desired capacitance value, a system for adjusting the time constant includes circuitry for measuring an output frequency and for comparing that to a certified frequency source wherein the time constant is adjusted by adding or removing capacitors from the capacitor array until the frequency of the internal clock matches an expected frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Mike Kappes, Terje Gloerstad
  • Publication number: 20030137356
    Abstract: An integrated oscillator that may be used as a time clock includes circuitry that oscillates about an RC time constant, which RC time constant is adjustable to provide a desired frequency of oscillation. More specifically, the oscillator includes a capacitor array that has a plurality of capacitors coupled in parallel wherein each capacitor may be selectively included into the RC time constant or selectively excluded there from. Rather than setting the capacitance values to a desired capacitance value, a system for adjusting the time constant includes circuitry for measuring an output frequency and for comparing that to a certified frequency source wherein the time constant is adjusted by adding or removing capacitors from the capacitor array until the frequency of the internal clock matches an expected frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Mike Kappes, Terje Gloerstad
  • Patent number: 6563361
    Abstract: A circuit and a method for limiting a voltage to a specified value (e.g., a rail voltage) without clipping thereby includes a pair of MOSFETs that turn on when a specified bias voltage is reached to either add to or sink current from the input node of the resistive load responsive to fluctuations in current going through the output resistive load to maintain a constant current through it. A plurality of biasing circuits is provided that control the turn on voltage levels for the MOSFETs to achieve the desired operation. The biasing circuits include circuit components that are matched to circuit components within the circuitry that adds and drains current to the output resistive load including a resistive load that matches the output resistive load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Mike Kappes