Patents by Inventor Richard L. McDowell
Richard L. McDowell 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).
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Patent number: 8532594Abstract: Proximity regulation systems for use with a portable cell phone and portable cell phones are disclosed. In one embodiment, the portable cell phone includes: (1) an operation mode input or circuit and (2) means for determining a transmit power level of the portable cell phone based on the operation mode input or circuit.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2012Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Agere Systems, Inc.Inventors: Richard L. McDowell, Philip D. Mooney
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Publication number: 20120149440Abstract: Proximity regulation systems for use with a portable cell phone and portable cell phones are disclosed. In one embodiment, the portable cell phone includes: (1) an operation mode input or circuit and (2) means for determining a transmit power level of the portable cell phone based on the operation mode input or circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2012Publication date: June 14, 2012Applicant: Agere Systems IncorporatedInventors: Richard L. McDowell, Philip D. Mooney
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Patent number: 8140128Abstract: Proximity regulation systems for use with a portable cell phone and portable cell phones are disclosed. In one embodiment, a portable cell phone includes a proximity regulation system having a location sensing subsystem configured to determine a location of a portable cell phone proximate a user by determining a mode of operation of the portable cell phone. A power governing subsystem is coupled to the location sensing subsystem and configured to determine a proximity transmit power level of the portable cell phone based on the location.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2009Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.Inventors: Richard L. McDowell, Philip D. Mooney
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Publication number: 20090143113Abstract: Proximity regulation systems for use with a portable cell phone and portable cell phones are disclosed. In one embodiment, a portable cell phone includes a proximity regulation system having a location sensing subsystem configured to determine a location of a portable cell phone proximate a user by determining a mode of operation of the portable cell phone. A power governing subsystem is coupled to the location sensing subsystem and configured to determine a proximity transmit power level of the portable cell phone based on the location.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2009Publication date: June 4, 2009Applicant: Agere Systems IncorporatedInventors: Richard L. McDowell, Philip D. Mooney
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Patent number: 7499722Abstract: Proximity regulation systems for use with a portable cell phone, a portable cell phone and a method of operating the same. In one embodiment, the proximity regulation system includes a location sensing subsystem configured to determine a location of a portable cell phone proximate a user by determining a mode of operation of the portable cell phone. A power governing subsystem is coupled to the location sensing subsystem and configured to determine a proximity transmit power level of the portable cell phone based on the location.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2006Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.Inventors: Richard L. McDowell, Philip D. Mooney
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Patent number: 7039435Abstract: A proximity regulation system for use with a portable cell phone and a method of operating the same. In one embodiment, the proximity regulation system includes a location sensing subsystem that is configured to determine a location of the portable cell phone proximate a user. A power governing subsystem is coupled to the location sensing subsystem and configured to determine a proximity transmit power level of the portable cell phone based on the location.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2001Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.Inventors: Richard L. McDowell, Philip D. Mooney
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Patent number: 6963763Abstract: The present invention provides a device for connecting a power supply to a rechargeable device, in which a detection unit is adapted to detect power levels of a battery to output a first signal when a low power level of the battery is detected, and a second signal when a sufficient power level of the battery is detected. A power control unit is adapted to receive the first and second signals, and to disconnect circuitry in the rechargeable device from the battery when the first signal is asserted, and to connect the circuitry in the rechargeable device to the battery when the second signal is asserted.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2000Date of Patent: November 8, 2005Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.Inventors: Joseph M. Cannon, James A. Johanson, Richard L. McDowell, Philip D. Mooney
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Patent number: 6934524Abstract: A data-pattern feedback mechanism is introduced into the peak detection process of an automatic frequency compensation system in a Gaussian Frequency Shift Keying (GFSK) modulated system, providing fast and accurate fine-stage automatic frequency compensation (AFC). Maximum positive and negative peak registers are updated with new values as necessary based on detection during a sequence of identical binary bit values (e.g., during a “00” for detection of maximum negative peak frequency, or during a “11” for detection of maximum positive peak frequency), in a particular data frame. As soon as an initial value is determined for both the maximum positive and negative peak frequencies (e.g., after the first occurrence of a “11” and a “00”, in any order), fine-stage automatic frequency compensation can be initiated. Subsequent adjustments to the VCO of the local oscillator will further refine the frequency offset towards the ideal of zero.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2002Date of Patent: August 23, 2005Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.Inventors: Eric John Hansen, Wenzhe Luo, Zhigang Ma, Richard L. McDowell
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Patent number: 6721372Abstract: A method and apparatus to perform a real-time drift correction of a local oscillator in a wireless device such as a cordless telephone, and/or to perform software-based frequency tracking of the local oscillator. With respect to the real-time drift correction, the remote handset periodically wakes from a sleep mode and goes into a normal link verification mode. Once in the link verification mode, the remote handset enters a time division duplexing (TDD) mode and attempts to establish a link with a base unit based on the timing of the TDD data frame. After the remote handset establishes a link with the base unit, the remote handset requests a security word from the base unit. Upon receiving the requested security word, the remote handset determines if the requested security word matches a security word of the remote handset. The remote handset implements a software frequency adjustment of its local oscillator.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2000Date of Patent: April 13, 2004Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.Inventors: Somnath Banik, Jeffrey P. Grundvig, Richard L. McDowell, Carl R. Stevenson
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Patent number: 6674331Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for tuning a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) having two point modulation used in a phase lock loop modulation system. A loop correction voltage applied to a first modulation input of the VCO when a first modulation signal, e.g., +1, is applied to a second modulation input of the VCO is compared to a loop correction voltage applied to the first modulation input when a second modulation signal, e.g., −1, is applied to the second modulation input of the VCO. The comparison produces a correction signal used to adjust the signal level of at least one of the signals, e.g., the second modulation input signal, applied to the two modulation inputs of the VCO.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2001Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: Agere Systems, Inc.Inventor: Richard L. McDowell
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Patent number: 6650874Abstract: A method and apparatus to perform a real-time drift correction of a remote handset's local oscillator in a digital cordless telephone. The remote handset begins in a standby (sniff) mode. The remote handset periodically wakes from a sleep mode and goes into a normal link verification mode. Once in the link verification mode, the remote handset enters a time division duplexing (TDD) mode and attempts to establish a link with a base unit based on the timing of the TDD data frame. After the remote handset establishes a link with the base unit, the remote handset requests a security word from the base unit. Upon receiving the requested security word, the remote handset determines if the requested security word matches a security word of the remote handset. The remote handset implements a software frequency adjustment of its local oscillator. Once per frame, the remote handset enters a timing recovery state where the current state of the frame is compared with a previous state.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 1999Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignee: Agere Systems, Inc.Inventors: Somnath Banik, Joseph M. Cannon, Eric J. Diethorn, Jeffrey P. Grundvig, James A. Johanson, Richard L. McDowell, Philip D. Mooney, Jian Wu
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Publication number: 20030203729Abstract: A data-pattern feedback mechanism is introduced into the peak detection process of an automatic frequency compensation system in a Gaussian Frequency Shift Keying (GFSK) modulated system, providing fast and accurate fine-stage automatic frequency compensation (AFC). Maximum positive and negative peak registers are updated with new values as necessary based on detection during a sequence of identical binary bit values (e.g., during a “00” for detection of maximum negative peak frequency, or during a “11” for detection of maximum positive peak frequency), in a particular data frame. As soon as an initial value is determined for both the maximum positive and negative peak frequencies (e.g., after the first occurrence of a “11” and a “00”, in any order), fine-stage automatic frequency compensation can be initiated. Subsequent adjustments to the VCO of the local oscillator will further refine the frequency offset towards the ideal of zero.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2002Publication date: October 30, 2003Inventors: Eric John Hansen, Wenzhe Luo, Zhigang Ma, Richard L. McDowell
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Patent number: 6606353Abstract: The present invention provides a circuit arrangement and technique for detecting any of a plurality of positions of a multi-position switch using a single input pin of a digital input/output device. Two specific embodiments are described relating to the use of a multi-position switch using a single digital input/output (DIO). In the first embodiment, a multi-position switch switches between various clock signals (e.g., pre-existing clock signals) on a circuit board, and inputs the same to the relevant pin of the. DIO device. In a variation of this embodiment, a second multi-position switch is connected in series with the first multi-position switch and varies the selected signal in a detectable and distinguishable way, e.g., by inverting or not inverting the signal selected by the first multi-position switch.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 1999Date of Patent: August 12, 2003Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.Inventors: Richard L. McDowell, Philip D. Mooney
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Patent number: 6587694Abstract: Clocks between at least two wireless devices are synchronized to reduce the need to transmit synchronization signals over a wireless communication channel therebetween. Two wireless devices synchronize their respective clocks with each other when each are electrically coupled, e.g., during a cradle time when brought into physical contact with each other through charge contacts, e.g., to recharge a remote portable unit. The charge signal appearing at the charge contacts is driven to create a time duration marked by a start transition and an end transition in the charge signal. The number of clock pulses of each of the two wireless devices during the time duration is counted, and compared to determine the difference in clock speeds of the wireless devices. The frequency of the clock of at least one of the wireless devices is adjusted to bring the difference in the clock speeds within a predetermined threshold tolerance level.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 1999Date of Patent: July 1, 2003Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.Inventors: Philip D. Mooney, Richard L. McDowell, Jeffrey P. Grundvig, Jian Wu
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Publication number: 20030090328Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for tuning a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) having two point modulation used in a phase lock loop modulation system. A loop correction voltage applied to a first modulation input of the VCO when a first modulation signal, e.g., +1, is applied to a second modulation input of the VCO is compared to a loop correction voltage applied to the first modulation input when a second modulation signal, e.g., −1, is applied to the second modulation input of the VCO. The comparison produces a correction signal used to adjust the signal level of at least one of the signals, e.g., the second modulation input signal, applied to the two modulation inputs of the VCO.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2001Publication date: May 15, 2003Inventor: Richard L. McDowell
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Publication number: 20030064732Abstract: A proximity regulation system for use with a portable cell phone and a method of operating the same. In one embodiment, the proximity regulation system includes a location sensing subsystem that is configured to determine a location of the portable cell phone proximate a user. A power governing subsystem is coupled to the location sensing subsystem and configured to determine a proximity transmit power level of the portable cell phone based on the location.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2001Publication date: April 3, 2003Applicant: Agere Systems Inc.Inventors: Richard L. McDowell, Philip D. Mooney
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Patent number: 6498935Abstract: When a plurality of cordless telephones (e.g., digital cordless telephones) are used within range of one another, base units of one or more of the digital cordless telephones may receive transmissions from others of the digital cordless telephones. Conventionally, the base unit would simply ignore information relating to that received from an unintended remote handset, i.e., a remote handset having a security code which fails to match that of the receiving base unit. However, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, information regarding the unique security code received with respect to other remote handsets (i.e.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 1999Date of Patent: December 24, 2002Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.Inventors: Joseph M. Cannon, Richard L. McDowell, Philip D. Mooney
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Patent number: 6124701Abstract: A system for, and method of, determining a condition of a battery and telecommunications equipment incorporating the system or the method. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a load controller, having a memory, that couples a load of a known magnitude to the battery and (2) a voltage monitor, coupled to the load controller, that measures voltages of the battery at first and second times and provides the voltages to the load controller, the load controller comparing a slope defined by the voltages to a model stored in the memory and regarding the battery to determine a condition thereof.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 1999Date of Patent: September 26, 2000Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Richard L. McDowell, Philip D. Mooney, James C. Popa
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Patent number: 6078799Abstract: For use with a first transceiver, a system for, and method of, calibrating a first image reject mixer in the first transceiver and having first and second image products. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a second image reject mixer, associated with a second transceiver and tuned to a rejected one of the first and second image products. The system further includes a signal strength circuit, coupled to the second image reject mixer, that determines a signal strength of the rejected one. The system still further includes a trimmer, associated with the first image reject mixer, that trims the first image reject mixer to move the rejected one toward an optimal value of the signal strength.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 1998Date of Patent: June 20, 2000Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Richard L. McDowell, Dale H. Nelson, Carl R. Stevenson