Patents by Inventor Randall L. Powers

Randall L. Powers 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: 9835691
    Abstract: An emergency lighting module for providing emergency power to a solid state luminaire. The emergency lighting module includes a first input configured to receive a DC input voltage from the solid state luminaire, a second input configured to receive a status signal indicative of the status of an AC line voltage, and a first output configured to supply a DC output voltage to the solid state luminaire. The emergency lighting module is configured to supply the DC output voltage to the solid state luminaire in response to a reduction of the AC line voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Trainor, James A. McBryde, Randall L. Powers, Michael J. Harris, Patrick J. O'Flaherty
  • Patent number: 9560703
    Abstract: An emergency lighting module for providing emergency power to a solid state luminaire includes a microcontroller, and a detector coupled to the microcontroller and configured to detect a status signal indicative of a status of an AC line voltage, the emergency lighting module is configured to output a dimming control signal to the solid state luminaire in response to a reduction of the AC line voltage. The microcontroller is further configured to output a select signal to the solid state luminaire to cause the solid state luminaire to dim in accordance with the dimming control signal when the dimming control signal is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Trainor, James A. McBryde, Randall L. Powers
  • Patent number: 8823272
    Abstract: An emergency lighting module for providing emergency power to a solid state luminaire is provided. The emergency lighting module includes a control circuit configured to detect a line voltage, a first input configured to receive an input voltage from the solid state luminaire, and a bidirectional booster/charger circuit coupled to the microcontroller and configured to charge a battery using the input voltage. The bidirectional booster/charger circuit is further configured to provide an output voltage. The emergency lighting module is configured to provide the output voltage to the solid state luminaire in response to a reduction of the line voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Trainor, James A. McBryde, Randall L. Powers, Joseph P. Chobot
  • Publication number: 20130147351
    Abstract: An emergency lighting module for providing emergency power to a solid state luminaire includes a microcontroller, and a detector coupled to the microcontroller and configured to detect a status signal indicative of a status of an AC line voltage, the emergency lighting module is configured to output a dimming control signal to the solid state luminaire in response to a reduction of the AC line voltage. The microcontroller is further configured to output a select signal to the solid state luminaire to cause the solid state luminaire to dim in accordance with the dimming control signal when the dimming control signal is output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventors: John J. Trainor, James A. McBryde, Randall L. Powers
  • Publication number: 20130147376
    Abstract: An emergency lighting module for providing emergency power to a solid state luminaire is provided. The emergency lighting module includes a control circuit configured to detect a line voltage, a first input configured to receive an input voltage from the solid state luminaire, and a bidirectional booster/charger circuit coupled to the microcontroller and configured to charge a battery using the input voltage. The bidirectional booster/charger circuit is further configured to provide an output voltage. The emergency lighting module is configured to provide the output voltage to the solid state luminaire in response to a reduction of the line voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventors: John J. Trainor, James A. McBryde, Randall L. Powers, Joseph P. Chobot
  • Patent number: 8204077
    Abstract: A method for automatically adapting to statically varying packet sizes at a transmission convergence layer is provided. The method includes determining if an output of calculation logic in boundary detection circuitry is equal to a next value in a data stream being received, providing output indicative of an identified packet boundary to a synchronization circuit and a packet size calculator when the output equals the next value, determining a size of a packet at the packet size calculator based on two consecutive packet boundaries identified by the boundary detection circuitry, receiving output from the boundary detection circuitry and the packet size calculator at the synchronization circuit; and one of entering, remaining, or exiting a synchronous state. The entering the synchronous state is based on a counting of consecutive good packet boundaries. The exiting the synchronous state is based on a counting of consecutive missed boundaries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: ADC DSL Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Randall L. Powers
  • Patent number: 7872881
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a power supply includes a flyback transformer having a primary winding and at least two secondary windings. An output voltage is developed across a first one of the secondary windings. The power supply includes a transistor coupled to the first one of the secondary windings. The output voltage is regulated about a nominal output voltage by operating the transistor in a linear mode when current is flowing through the first one of the secondary windings and by operating the transistor in an off mode when current is not flowing through the first one of the secondary windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: ADC DSL Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Randall L. Powers
  • Patent number: 7839662
    Abstract: A power supply having a flyback topology includes a flyback transformer and a current sense circuit that outputs a current signal indicative of a current output by the power supply. The current sense circuit includes a current sense transformer coupled to the flyback transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: ADC DSL Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall L. Powers, Christopher Tad Ammann
  • Patent number: 7589946
    Abstract: A method for accessing an electronic circuit in an enclosure using near field induction is disclosed. The method involves attaching at least one local access port connector with an external transformer core partition to a near field induction port on an external non-conductive surface of a panel of the enclosure and generating at least one inductive field between the external transformer core partition and an internal transformer core partition. Without a direct electrical connection, the method provides for communicating with the electronic circuit through the at least one local access port connector of the panel using the at least one inductive field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: ADC DSL Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Randall L. Powers
  • Publication number: 20090180479
    Abstract: A method for automatically adapting to statically varying packet sizes at a transmission convergence layer is provided. The method includes determining if an output of calculation logic in boundary detection circuitry is equal to a next value in a data stream being received, providing output indicative of an identified packet boundary to a synchronization circuit and a packet size calculator when the output equals the next value, determining a size of a packet at the packet size calculator based on two consecutive packet boundaries identified by the boundary detection circuitry, receiving output from the boundary detection circuitry and the packet size calculator at the synchronization circuit; and one of entering, remaining, or exiting a synchronous state. The entering the synchronous state is based on a counting of consecutive good packet boundaries. The exiting the synchronous state is based on a counting of consecutive missed boundaries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: ADC DSL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Randall L. Powers
  • Patent number: 7525961
    Abstract: A method for automatically adapting to statically varying packet size is provided. The method includes receiving a stream of bytes over a physical medium. A packet size is determined from the bytes in the stream of bytes. Further, the determined packet size is used to process packets from the received byte stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: ADC DSL Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Randall L. Powers
  • Patent number: 7298121
    Abstract: An improved circuit and method for increasing the stability of switch-mode power supplies via frequency fold-back is disclosed. For example, a circuit for increasing the stability of a switch-mode power supply using the compensation signal to control the frequency of the oscillator is disclosed, which includes an operational amplifier that functions to scale the compensation signal. Thus, the switching frequency of the power supply involved is decreased as the load is reduced. This novel use of the compensation signal to control the switching frequency of a switch-mode power supply significantly increases the stability of the power supply as compared to prior switch-mode power supplies. Therefore, the switch-mode power supply may be used for those applications where relatively high stability is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: ADC DSL Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Carter, Randall L. Powers
  • Patent number: 7133367
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for testing components in ATM networks utilizing loop-back based ATM layer testing. The method and apparatus utilize interfaces and identifier codes to send and loop-back test cells along portions of virtual channels to test the virtual channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: ADC DSL Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall L. Powers, Robert S. Kroninger, Melvin R. Phillips, Dieter H. Nattkemper
  • Patent number: 7113591
    Abstract: Managing line power for network elements in an access network. In one embodiment a current sense system in a line power network is disclosed. The current sense system includes a power supply, a splitter and a sense circuit. The power supply is adapted to supply output current to a twisted pair drop. The splitter is adapted to combine communication signals and the output current on a twisted pair drop. The sense circuit is coupled to sample the output current of the power supply between the power supply and the splitter. The sense circuit is further adapted to output a sense signal that is representative of the output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: ADC DSL Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Weston Lomax, Jr., Christopher Tad Ammann, Randall L. Powers
  • Patent number: 6998964
    Abstract: A splitter for enabling a power signal and a communication signal to be transmitted over a common communication link is provided. The splitter includes a line port adapted to be coupled to a communication line, a power port adapted to be coupled to a power supply to receive a power signal, and a communication port adapted to be coupled to a communication circuit that generates and receives communication signals. The splitter also includes a low pass filter coupled between the power port and the line port, the low pass filter including a coupled inductor, a high pass filter coupled to the communication port, and wherein the communication signals and the power signal are transported on the communication line at the line port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: ADC DSL Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Weston Lomax, Jr., Clark Wayne Tollerson, Randall L. Powers
  • Patent number: 6873598
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for testing components in ATM networks utilizing loop-back based ATM layer testing. The method and apparatus utilize interfaces and identifier codes to send and loop-back test cells along portions of virtual channels to test the virtual channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: ADC DSL Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall L. Powers, Robert S. Kroninger, Melvin R. Phillips, Dieter H. Nattkemper
  • Publication number: 20040239448
    Abstract: A splitter for enabling a power signal and a communication signal to be transmitted over a common communication link is provided. The splitter includes a line port adapted to be coupled to a communication line, a power port adapted to be coupled to a power supply to receive a power signal, and a communication port adapted to be coupled to a communication circuit that generates and receives communication signals. The splitter also includes a low pass filter coupled between the power port and the line port, the low pass filter including a coupled inductor, a high pass filter coupled to the communication port, and wherein the communication signals and the power signal are transported on the communication line at the line port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Charles Weston Lomax, Clark Wayne Tollerson, Randall L. Powers
  • Publication number: 20040240663
    Abstract: Managing line power for network elements in an access network. In one embodiment a current sense system in a line power network is disclosed. The current sense system includes a power supply, a splitter and a sense circuit. The power supply is adapted to supply output current to a twisted pair drop. The splitter is adapted to combine communication signals and the output current on a twisted pair drop. The sense circuit is coupled to sample the output current of the power supply between the power supply and the splitter. The sense circuit is further adapted to output a sense signal that is representative of the output current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Charles Weston Lomax, Christopher Tad Ammann, Randall L. Powers
  • Publication number: 20030169691
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for testing components in ATM networks utilizing loop-back based ATM layer testing. The method and apparatus utilize interfaces and identifier codes to send and loop-back test cells along portions of virtual channels to test the virtual channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Applicant: ADC DSL System, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall L. Powers, Robert S. Kroninger, Melvin R. Phillips, Dieter H. Nattkemper