Patents by Inventor Patrick K. Richards

Patrick K. Richards 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: 7962662
    Abstract: Unique addresses for a plurality of devices may be programmed through a single external connection (pin) on each device by using a one of a plurality of different analog voltage or current values on the single external pin in combination with a serial clock of a serial data bus for each device requiring a unique binary address. The unique binary address is stored in the device after detection of certain number of clocks on the serial data bus. Once the unique binary address has been stored in the device, the single external connection may be used for another purpose such as a multifunction external connection. This unique binary address may be retained by the device until a power-on-reset (POR) or general reset condition occurs. Address detection and address load commands on the serial bus may also perform the same address definition and storage functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick K. Richards, Vincent Quiquempoix, Gabriele Bellini
  • Publication number: 20110093639
    Abstract: Encrypted encoding and decoding of identification data of CAN bus devices for communications therebetween provides deterrence of theft and unauthorized access of these secure CAN bus devices. Each one of the CAN bus devices is considered a “node” on the CAN bus for communications purposes. By using a unique encryption code stored in each of the “authorized” CAN bus devices, unauthorized CAN bus nodes will not be able to communicate with the authorized, e.g., secure, CAN bus nodes functioning in a CAN system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Patrick K. Richards
  • Publication number: 20110022878
    Abstract: Unique addresses for a plurality of devices may be programmed through a single external connection (pin) on each device by using a one of a plurality of different analog voltage or current values on the single external pin in combination with a serial clock of a serial data bus for each device requiring a unique binary address. The unique binary address is stored in the device after detection of certain number of clocks on the serial data bus. Once the unique binary address has been stored in the device, the single external connection may be used for another purpose such as a multifunction external connection. This unique binary address may be retained by the device until a power-on-reset (POR) or general reset condition occurs. Address detection and address load commands on the serial bus may also perform the same address definition and storage functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Patrick K. Richards, Vincent Quiquempoix, Gabrielle Bellini
  • Patent number: 7827330
    Abstract: Unique addresses for a plurality of devices may be programmed through a single external connection (pin) on each device by using a one of a plurality of different analog voltage or current values on the single external pin in combination with a serial clock of a serial data bus for each device requiring a unique binary address. The unique binary address is stored in the device after detection of certain number of clocks on the serial data bus. Once the unique binary address has been stored in the device, the single external connection may be used for another purpose such as a multifunction external connection. This unique binary address may be retained by the device until a power-on-reset (POR) or general reset condition occurs. Address detection and address load commands on the serial bus may also perform the same address definition and storage functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick K. Richards, Vincent Quiquempoix, Gabriele Bellini
  • Publication number: 20090031048
    Abstract: Unique addresses for a plurality of devices may be programmed through a single external connection (pin) on each device by using a one of a plurality of different analog voltage or current values on the single external pin in combination with a serial clock of a serial data bus for each device requiring a unique binary address. The unique binary address is stored in the device after detection of certain number of clocks on the serial data bus. Once the unique binary address has been stored in the device, the single external connection may be used for another purpose such as a multifunction external connection. This unique binary address may be retained by the device until a power-on-reset (POR) or general reset condition occurs. Address detection and address load commands on the serial bus may also perform the same address definition and storage functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Patrick K. Richards, Vincent Quiquempoix, Gabriele Bellini