Patents by Inventor Richard Hester

Richard Hester 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: 11843251
    Abstract: A controller circuit for a PV sub-module includes a power harvest controller circuit, a voltage limit controller circuit, a power mode control circuit, a multiplexer circuit, and a switching converter circuit. The power harvest controller circuit, including a first PV voltage input, a ceiling reference input, a floor reference input, and a first gate control output. The voltage limit controller circuit, including a first output voltage feedback input, a pulse width reference input, and a second gate control output. The power mode control circuit, including a second output voltage feedback input, a mode reference input, and a mode selection output. The multiplexer circuit, including a first gate control input, a second gate control input, a mode selection input, and a third gate control output. The switching converter circuit, including a second PV voltage input, a third gate control input, and a DC voltage output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Richard Hester, Timothy Patrick Pauletti, Suheng Chen, Amneh Mohammed Akour, Nat Maruthachalam Natarajan, Jayanth Rangaraju
  • Publication number: 20220069585
    Abstract: A controller circuit for a PV sub-module includes a power harvest controller circuit, a voltage limit controller circuit, a power mode control circuit, a multiplexer circuit, and a switching converter circuit. The power harvest controller circuit, including a first PV voltage input, a ceiling reference input, a floor reference input, and a first gate control output. The voltage limit controller circuit, including a first output voltage feedback input, a pulse width reference input, and a second gate control output. The power mode control circuit, including a second output voltage feedback input, a mode reference input, and a mode selection output. The multiplexer circuit, including a first gate control input, a second gate control input, a mode selection input, and a third gate control output. The switching converter circuit, including a second PV voltage input, a third gate control input, and a DC voltage output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Richard Hester, Timothy Patrick Pauletti, Suheng Chen, Amneh Mohammed Akour, Nat Maruthachalam Natarajan, Jayanth Rangaraju
  • Patent number: 11190022
    Abstract: A controller circuit for a PV sub-module includes a power harvest controller circuit, a voltage limit controller circuit, a power mode control circuit, a multiplexer circuit, and a switching converter circuit. The power harvest controller circuit, including a first PV voltage input, a ceiling reference input, a floor reference input, and a first gate control output. The voltage limit controller circuit, including a first output voltage feedback input, a pulse width reference input, and a second gate control output. The power mode control circuit, including a second output voltage feedback input, a mode reference input, and a mode selection output. The multiplexer circuit, including a first gate control input, a second gate control input, a mode selection input, and a third gate control output. The switching converter circuit, including a second PV voltage input, a third gate control input, and a DC voltage output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Richard Hester, Timothy Patrick Pauletti, Suheng Chen, Amneh Mohammed Akour, Nat Maruthachalam Natarajan, Jayanth Rangaraju
  • Publication number: 20200251907
    Abstract: A controller circuit for a PV sub-module includes a power harvest controller circuit, a voltage limit controller circuit, a power mode control circuit, a multiplexer circuit, and a switching converter circuit. The power harvest controller circuit, including a first PV voltage input, a ceiling reference input, a floor reference input, and a first gate control output. The voltage limit controller circuit, including a first output voltage feedback input, a pulse width reference input, and a second gate control output. The power mode control circuit, including a second output voltage feedback input, a mode reference input, and a mode selection output. The multiplexer circuit, including a first gate control input, a second gate control input, a mode selection input, and a third gate control output. The switching converter circuit, including a second PV voltage input, a third gate control input, and a DC voltage output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Richard Hester, Timothy Patrick Pauletti, Suheng Chen, Amneh Mohammed Akour, Nat Maruthachalam Natarajan, Jayanth Rangaraju
  • Patent number: 7343430
    Abstract: A SCSI ID of a SCSI initiator device that has won an arbitration is identified on a SCSI bus and stored in a register at a SCSI device. Subsequently, a SCSI ID of a selected SCSI target device which was selected by the SCSI initiator device is identified on the SCSI bus and compared with the SCSI ID in the register. If the SCSI ID of the selected SCSI target device and the SCSI ID stored in the register are different, a SCSI command from the SCSI initiator device is processed by the selected SCSI target device. If the SCSI ID of the selected SCSI target device and the SCSI ID stored in the register are the same, the selected SCSI target device refrains from processing the SCSI command from the SCSI initiator device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Richards Hester, Brian Lee Morger, Shad Henry Thorstenson
  • Publication number: 20070159855
    Abstract: A technique for extending the operating range of a flyforward converter to low input voltages. In one aspect, power converter includes a positive input supply rail and a negative input supply rail. A power converter input voltage is to be applied between the positive and negative input supply rails. A flyback energy transfer element having a flyback input winding and a forward energy transfer element having a forward input winding are also included. The flyback and forward input windings are coupled between the positive and negative input supply rails. Voltage control circuitry coupled to the forward energy transfer element is also included to reduce a voltage across the forward input winding, substantially to zero, when the power converter input voltage falls below a first threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Publication date: July 12, 2007
    Inventors: Arthur Odell, Richard Hester, Jason Cuadra
  • Publication number: 20060203523
    Abstract: A technique for extending the operating range of a flyforward converter to low input voltages. In one aspect, power converter includes a positive input supply rail and a negative input supply rail. A power converter input voltage is to be applied between the positive and negative input supply rails. A flyback energy transfer element having a first input winding and a forward energy transfer element having a forward input winding are also included. The flyback and forward input windings are coupled between the positive and negative input supply rails. Voltage control circuitry coupled to the forward energy transfer element is also included to reduce a voltage across the forward input winding, substantially to zero, when the power converter input voltage falls below a first threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Inventors: Arthur Odell, Richard Hester, Jason Cuadra
  • Patent number: 7069479
    Abstract: A peripheral device (which is preferably a disk drive) can automatically collect trace data upon detecting certain error conditions. The peripheral device has the ability to selectively alter the range of state data collected in a trace depending on the error type. Preferably, the device includes a programmable processor executing a control program. A set of trace switches, each enabling a corresponding set of trace points, can be independently set by the control program. An error trace identification table identifies, for each error type, a corresponding set of trace switches. If an error is encountered, the trace switches corresponding to the error type are determined from the table, and the switches are set accordingly. In another invention aspect, a set of trap switches in the device can be set to trap on the occurrence of a specific error type, thereby supporting a more detailed error analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Richards Hester, Michael James Miller, Brian Lee Morger, Shad Henry Thorstenson
  • Publication number: 20060062288
    Abstract: A digital subscriber line (DSL) modem for a service area interface, which controls the power of its downstream transmissions to minimize far-end crosstalk (FEXT), is disclosed. The disclosed modem has an interface to a low-attenuation upstream facility, such as fiber optic, and includes a digital transceiver and an analog front end that is coupled to a twisted-pair wire facility in a binder. The modem also includes a memory location for storing the feeder distance between a DSL central office and the service area interface, the service area interface also coupled to a subscriber of the CO-fed communications via twisted-pair wire. Power cutback levels are applied to the downstream transmissions from the modem according to the feeder distance, so that the FEXT on the CO-fed signal is minimized without undue data rate degradation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Publication date: March 23, 2006
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Richard Hester
  • Publication number: 20050270810
    Abstract: A technique for extending the operating range of a flyforward converter to low input voltages. In one aspect, power converter includes a positive input supply rail and a negative input supply rail. A power converter input voltage is to be applied between the positive and negative input supply rails. A flyback energy transfer element having a flyback input winding and a forward energy transfer element having a forward input winding are also included. The flyback and forward input windings are coupled between the positive and negative input supply rails. Voltage control circuitry coupled to the forward energy transfer element is also included to reduce a voltage across the forward input winding, substantially to zero, when the power converter input voltage falls below a first threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Publication date: December 8, 2005
    Inventors: Arthur Odell, Richard Hester, Jason Cuadra
  • Publication number: 20050141440
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for changing the frequency response of a filter, such as a hybrid circuit. One or more tunable components are adjustable to provide the hybrid circuit with a frequency response corresponding to the characteristics of an associated communications network, such as a digital subscriber link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Publication date: June 30, 2005
    Inventors: Philip Stetson, Richard Hester
  • Publication number: 20040093538
    Abstract: A peripheral device (which is preferably a disk drive) can automatically collect trace data upon detecting certain error conditions. The peripheral device has the ability to selectively alter the range of state data collected in a trace depending on the error type. Preferably, the device includes a programmable processor executing a control program. A set of trace switches, each enabling a corresponding set of trace points, can be independently set by the control program. An error trace identification table identifies, for each error type, a corresponding set of trace switches. If an error is encountered, the trace switches corresponding to the error type are determined from the table, and the switches are set accordingly. In another invention aspect, a set of trap switches in the device can be set to trap on the occurrence of a specific error type, thereby supporting a more detailed error analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Richards Hester, Michael James Miller, Brian Lee Morger, Shad Henry Thorstenson
  • Patent number: 6366230
    Abstract: A pipelined analog-to-digital converter includes a first stage 700 of an analog-to-digital converter having a first resolution. The first stage 700 includes a three capacitor switched capacitor circuit. The analog-to-digital converter further includes one or more subsequent analog-to-digital converter stages 200. The first and subsequent stages 700 and 200 are pipelined together to provide a digital output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Weibiao Zhang, Donald C. Richardson, Richard Hester