Patents by Inventor Robert A. Coulson
Robert A. Coulson 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: 10262817Abstract: A key able to accept a label for a keypad used in controlling electrically operated devices, wherein the key structure accepts and secures an interchangeable label, and which forms an impermeable barrier to the electrical contacts of a programmable circuit board.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2018Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: DYNAGEN TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATEDInventors: Paul Wareham, Richard Robert Coulson, Wesley Warren Manning, Sean Nutter
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Patent number: 10056207Abstract: A key able to accept a label for a keypad used in controlling electrically operated devices, wherein the key structure accepts and secures an interchangeable label, and which forms an impermeable barrier to the electrical contacts of a programmable circuit board.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2017Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: DYNAGEN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Paul Wareham, Richard Robert Coulson, Wesley Warren Manning, Sean Nutter
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Publication number: 20180197702Abstract: A key able to accept a label for a keypad used in controlling electrically operated devices, wherein the key structure accepts and secures an interchangeable label, and which forms an impermeable barrier to the electrical contacts of a programmable circuit board.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2018Publication date: July 12, 2018Applicant: DYNAGEN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: PAUL WAREHAM, RICHARD ROBERT COULSON, WESLEY WARREN MANNING, SEAN NUTTER
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Publication number: 20170294279Abstract: A key able to accept a label for a keypad used in controlling electrically operated devices, wherein the key structure accepts and secures an interchangeable label, and which forms an impermeable barrier to the electrical contacts of a programmable circuit board.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2017Publication date: October 12, 2017Applicant: DynaGen Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Paul Wareham, Richard Robert Coulson, Wesley Warren Manning, Sean Nutter
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Patent number: 9647567Abstract: A power converter controller and methods for its operation are provided that can control a self-oscillating power converter that uses a Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT) as a switch by manipulating the current flowing in a control winding. The controller is able to determine the optimum time to remove a short circuit applied to the control winding, as well as being able to determine the optimum time to pass current through the control winding. The controller can further draw power from the power converter using the control winding. The controller is capable of maintaining the midpoint voltage of the power converter in the case that the converter has more than one switch. The controller estimates the output power of the converter without requiring a connection to the secondary side of the converter transformer. The controller further controls entry and exit into a low-power mode in which converter oscillations are suppressed.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2011Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Inventors: Russell Jacques, Nicolaas van der Duijn Schouten, David Robert Coulson
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Publication number: 20130294112Abstract: A power converter controller and methods for its operation are provided that can control a self-oscillating power converter that uses a Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT) as a switch by manipulating the current flowing in a control winding. The controller is able to determine the optimum time to remove a short circuit applied to the control winding, as well as being able to determine the optimum time to pass current through the control winding. The controller can further draw power from the power converter using the control winding. The controller is capable of maintaining the midpoint voltage of the power converter in the case that the converter has more than one switch. The controller estimates the output power of the converter without requiring a connection to the secondary side of the converter transformer. The controller further controls entry and exit into a low-power mode in which converter oscillations are suppressed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2011Publication date: November 7, 2013Inventors: Russell Jacques, Nicolaas van der Duijn Schouten, David Robert Coulson
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Patent number: 8481869Abstract: A take-up device for storing a flexible member, such as a cable, cord, flexible hose or tubing and the like, includes a housing for receiving a central portion of the flexible member in in a folded configuration with linear end portions thereof extending outwardly from the housing. The housing includes a member for holding an end portion of the flexible member.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2011Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: Arconas CorporationInventors: Richard Robert Coulson, Joel John Yatscoff, James Davidson Benzie
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Patent number: 8446746Abstract: This invention relates to SMPS controllers employing primary side sensing. We describe a system for identifying a knee point in a sensing waveform, at which the output voltage of the SMPS may be sampled accurately on the primary side. The system identifies the knee point, broadly speaking, by tracking a portion of a power transformer voltage waveform, and samples the voltage waveform at the knee point to determine the SMPS output voltage. In preferred embodiments this technique is implemented using a circuit akin to a decaying peak detector, providing a timing signal indicating detection of the knee point. Sample/hold and error amplifier circuits may be employed to achieve output voltage regulation.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2010Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Cambridge Semiconductor LimitedInventors: David Robert Coulson, Johan Piper, David Michael Garner
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Publication number: 20130094248Abstract: A power converter controller and methods for its operation are provided that can control a self-oscillating power converter that uses a Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT) as a switch by manipulating the current flowing in a control winding. The controller is able to determine the optimum time to remove a short circuit applied to the control winding, as well as being able to determine the optimum time to pass current through the control winding. The controller can further draw power from the power converter using the control winding. The controller is capable of maintaining the midpoint voltage of the power converter in the case that the converter has more than one switch. The controller estimates the output power of the converter without requiring a connection to the secondary side of the converter transformer. The controller further controls entry and exit into a low-power mode in which converter oscillations are suppressed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2011Publication date: April 18, 2013Inventors: Russell Jacques, Nicolaas van der Duijn Schouten, David Robert Coulson
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Patent number: 8415832Abstract: This invention generally relates to cable compensation, and is particularly applicable to cable compensation for an AC-DC voltage converter. In one embodiment, a cable compensation apparatus for compensating voltage drop of a cable connected between an electrical power supply and an electrical device comprises: a first capacitor; a timer circuit to time a predetermined time period; a current source to supply to said first capacitor during substantially said predetermined time period a first current substantially proportional to an output current outputted by the power supply to the cable; and a control circuit to adjust an output voltage outputted by said power supply to said cable dependent on a voltage on said first capacitor. The compensation in some embodiments is programmable by means of a discrete capacitor component.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2009Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Cambridge Semiconductor LimitedInventors: David Robert Coulson, David Michael Garner, Johan Piper
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Publication number: 20120006706Abstract: A take-up device for storing a flexible member, such as a cable, cord, flexible hose or tubing and the like, includes a housing for receiving a central portion of the flexible member in in a folded configuration with linear end portions thereof extending outwardly from the housing. The housing includes a member for holding an end portion of the flexible member.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2011Publication date: January 12, 2012Inventors: Richard Robert Coulson, Joel John Yatscoff, James Davidson Benzie
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Publication number: 20100246216Abstract: This invention relates to SMPS controllers employing primary side sensing. We describe a system for identifying a knee point in a sensing waveform, at which the output voltage of the SMPS may be sampled accurately on the primary side. The system identifies the knee point, broadly speaking, by tracking a portion of a power transformer voltage waveform, and samples the voltage waveform at the knee point to determine the SMPS output voltage. In preferred embodiments this technique is implemented using a circuit akin to a decaying peak detector, providing a timing signal indicating detection of the knee point. Sample/hold and error amplifier circuits may be employed to achieve output voltage regulation.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2010Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: Cambridge Semiconductor LimitedInventors: David Robert Coulson, Johan Piper, David Michael Garner
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Patent number: 7782083Abstract: Techniques for programming trimming circuitry of a power integrated circuit without the need for separate programming pins are disclosed. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a power supply controller IC with internal circuitry, a plurality of external connections, the IC further comprising trimming circuitry with no external connections to the IC other than via shared ones of the external connections. The shared external connections can comprise a first connection comprising a data input for receiving data for programming the trimming circuitry, and a second, different connection comprising a select input to select between a data receiving mode for receiving data from the data input and a programming mode for programming the trimming circuitry using the received data.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2006Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: Cambridge Semiconductor LimitedInventors: Vinod A. Lalithambika, David M. Garner, David Robert Coulson, Zahid Ansari
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Publication number: 20100181840Abstract: This invention generally relates to cable compensation, and is particularly applicable to cable compensation for an AC-DC voltage converter. In one embodiment, a cable compensation apparatus for compensating voltage drop of a cable connected between an electrical power supply and an electrical device comprises: a first capacitor; a timer circuit to time a predetermined time period; a current source to supply to said first capacitor during substantially said predetermined time period a first current substantially proportional to an output current outputted by the power supply to the cable; and a control circuit to adjust an output voltage outputted by said power supply to said cable dependent on a voltage on said first capacitor. The compensation in some embodiments is programmable by means of a discrete capacitor component.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2009Publication date: July 22, 2010Applicant: Cambridge Semiconductor LimitedInventors: David Robert Coulson, David Michael Garner, Johan Piper
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Publication number: 20100165671Abstract: This disclosure relates to switched-mode power supplies, to transformers for such power supplies, and to methods of operating switched-mode power supplies. A switch mode power supply (SMPS), the switched-mode power supply having a power input, a switch, a transformer, and a power output; said transformer having a primary winding on a primary side of said power supply coupled to said power input via said switch, and a secondary winding on a secondary side of said switched-mode power supply coupled to said power output; wherein said transformer further includes first and second auxiliary windings, wherein said first auxiliary winding is more closely coupled to said primary winding than to said secondary winding and wherein said second auxiliary winding is more closely coupled to said secondary winding than to said primary winding.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2009Publication date: July 1, 2010Applicant: Cambridge Semiconductor LimitedInventors: David Robert Coulson, Antonius J.J. Werner, Vladimir Alexiev
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Patent number: 7738266Abstract: This invention relates to control techniques and controllers for resonant discontinuous forward power converters (RDFCs). We describe a controller for a resonant discontinuous forward converter (RDFC), said forward converter including a transformer with first and second matched polarity windings and a switch to switch dc power to said first winding of said transformer, said converter further having a dc output coupled to said second winding of said transformer, and wherein said controller has two modes, a first operational mode during which said switch is controlled to switch said dc power at a frequency which substantially coincides with a resonant frequency of operation of said RDFC such that said RDFC supplies power from said dc output, and a second, reduced power operational mode during which a drive to said switch is controlled to increase a proportion of time during which said switch is off.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2006Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: Cambridge Semiconductor LimitedInventors: Russell Jacques, David Robert Coulson
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Publication number: 20100046258Abstract: A digital control system for a switch mode power supply (SMPS), the control system having a demand input for a signal indicating whether an output voltage of said SMPS is above or below a desired value, and a drive output for a switch controlling energy transfer between an input and an output of said SMPS during a power switching cycle, the control system further including: a signal processor coupled to said demand input and to said drive output to control said drive output responsive to said demand signal to regulate said output voltage at said desired value, and wherein said signal processor includes at least one storage element to store at least one value of said demand signal, and wherein said switching control signal for a said power switching cycle is responsive to a value of said demand signal in at least two previous power switching cycles.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2005Publication date: February 25, 2010Applicant: CAMBRIDGE SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITEDInventors: David Robert Coulson, Philip John Moyse
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Publication number: 20100039833Abstract: This invention relates to improved control systems and methods for switch mode power supplies.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2005Publication date: February 18, 2010Applicant: Cambridge Semiconductor LimitedInventors: David Robert Coulson, Philip John Moyse
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Publication number: 20090237960Abstract: This invention relates to SMPS controllers employing primary side sensing. We describe a system for identifying a knee point in a sensing waveform, at which the output voltage of the SMPS may be sampled accurately on the primary side. The system identifies the knee point by fitting a tangent to a portion of a power transformer voltage waveform, and samples the voltage waveform at the knee point to determine the SMPS output voltage. In preferred embodiments this technique is implemented using a decaying peak detector, providing a timing signal indicating detection of the knee point. Sample/hold and error amplifier circuits may be employed to achieve output voltage regulation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2009Publication date: September 24, 2009Applicant: Cambridge Semiconductor LimitedInventors: David Robert Coulson, Johan Piper, David M. Garner
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Patent number: 7583519Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for sensing the output current in a switch mode power supply (SMPS) using primary side sensing. We describe a module which senses a current in a primary winding of a transformer and a voltage on a primary or auxiliary winding of the transformer, and which includes a multiplier coupled to an output of a signal averager averaging a primary winding current and to an output of a timing signal generator using the sensed voltage to signal when a secondary winding is powering an output of the SMPS, to multiply an averaged current sense signal by a fraction of a total cycle period of said SMPS during which the secondary winding is providing power to provide a signal estimating an output current of the SMPS.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2008Date of Patent: September 1, 2009Assignee: Cambridge Semiconductor LimitedInventors: Johan Piper, David M. Garner, David Robert Coulson