Patents by Inventor Robert Matthew Mertens

Robert Matthew Mertens 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: 11586238
    Abstract: A clock generator includes an input coupled to receive an input clock signal from a first clock source, and a noise rejection circuit configured to provide an output clock signal based on the input clock signal. The noise rejection circuit includes an event generator having a digital counter circuit. The event generator is configured to generate a first event signal based on a count value of the digital counter circuit, in which the noise rejection circuit is configured to produce an edge on the output clock signal in response to both the event signal and a state of the input clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Robert Matthew Mertens, Ateet Omer, Sanjay Kumar Wadhwa, Charles Eric Seaberg
  • Patent number: 11223343
    Abstract: A noise suppression circuit includes a resistor-capacitor (RC) filter where a resistive element of the RC filter has a first terminal configured to receive an input data stream and a second terminal coupled to a circuit node Vrc and a capacitive element coupled to the circuit node, a logic gate having an input coupled to the circuit node and an output configured to provide a filtered data stream, and a switch. The switch is configured to short out the resistive element of the RC filter when the input data stream and the filtered data stream are at a same value and not short out the resistive element when the input data stream and the filtered data stream are at different values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Matthew Mertens
  • Publication number: 20210320647
    Abstract: A noise suppression circuit includes a resistor-capacitor (RC) filter where a resistive element of the RC filter has a first terminal configured to receive an input data stream and a second terminal coupled to a circuit node Vrc and a capacitive element coupled to the circuit node, a logic gate having an input coupled to the circuit node and an output configured to provide a filtered data stream, and a switch. The switch is configured to short out the resistive element of the RC filter when the input data stream and the filtered data stream are at a same value and not short out the resistive element when the input data stream and the filtered data stream are at different values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventor: Robert Matthew Mertens
  • Patent number: 10972096
    Abstract: An electronic switch that includes a signal path with a first terminal side of the signal path including cascoded transistors in the signal path. When the switch is in an off state, the gate of one of the cascoded transistors is biased at an intermediate voltage different from the voltage applied to the gate of the other of the cascoded transistors. In one embodiment, having the gate of one of the cascoded transistors biased at an intermediate voltage in an off state may reduce leakage current into a signal terminal of the switch. The electronic switch includes an injection shunting device (e.g. such as a transistor) connected to a node of the signal path. In one embodiment, the injection shunting device prevents the voltage of the node from reaching a specific voltage level due to leakage current when the switch is in an off state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: NXP USA, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Matthew Mertens, James Robert Feddeler, Michael A. Stockinger
  • Publication number: 20200412363
    Abstract: An electronic switch that includes a signal path with a first terminal side of the signal path including cascoded transistors in the signal path. When the switch is in an off state, the gate of one of the cascoded transistors is biased at an intermediate voltage different from the voltage applied to the gate of the other of the cascoded transistors. In one embodiment, having the gate of one of the cascoded transistors biased at an intermediate voltage in an off state may reduce leakage current into a signal terminal of the switch. The electronic switch includes an injection shunting device (e.g. such as a transistor) connected to a node of the signal path. In one embodiment, the injection shunting device prevents the voltage of the node from reaching a specific voltage level due to leakage current when the switch is in an off state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Robert Matthew Mertens, James Robert Feddeler, Michael A. Stockinger
  • Patent number: 10659038
    Abstract: A method of powering up a circuit includes powering up a latch circuit in a known latch state by applying a first power supply voltage differential of a first voltage domain across power supply terminals of the latch circuit. A current diode inhibits current diode in a current path between a latch node of the latch circuit and a power supply terminal when the power supply voltage differential is below a threshold voltage during the powering up in which the inhibiting prevents the latch circuit from switching from the known latch state during the powering up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Matthew Mertens, James Robert Feddeler, Stefano Pietri
  • Patent number: 10354991
    Abstract: An integrated circuit with protection against transient electrical stress events includes a trigger circuit having a first detection circuit coupled to a first supply voltage, a second detection circuit coupled to a second supply voltage, and a rail clamp device. During a first type of electrical stress event, the rail clamp device is activated in response to a first output signal provided by the first detection circuit. During a second type of electrical stress event, the rail clamp device is activated in response to a second output signal provided by the second detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Matthew Mertens, Michael A. Stockinger, Alexander Paul Gerdemann
  • Patent number: 10320185
    Abstract: An integrated circuit for protecting against transient electrical stress events includes a rail clamp device, and a trigger circuit including a resistive-capacitive (RC) filter, a drive circuit including a first inverter stage receiving an input signal from the RC filter, the drive circuit is configured to enable the rail clamp device during a transient electrical stress event, and a stress event detection circuit coupled to the RC filter. The drive circuit includes a configurable activation voltage which is controlled by the stress event detection circuit, wherein the activation voltage is reduced when the transient electrical stress event is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Matthew Mertens, Alexander Paul Gerdemann, Michael A. Stockinger
  • Publication number: 20180342498
    Abstract: An integrated circuit with protection against transient electrical stress events includes a trigger circuit having a first detection circuit coupled to a first supply voltage, a second detection circuit coupled to a second supply voltage, and a rail clamp device. During a first type of electrical stress event, the rail clamp device is activated in response to a first output signal provided by the first detection circuit. During a second type of electrical stress event, the rail clamp device is activated in response to a second output signal provided by the second detection circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Robert Matthew Mertens, Michael A. Stockinger, Alexander Paul Gerdemann
  • Patent number: 10074643
    Abstract: An integrated circuit with protection against transient electrical stress events includes a trigger circuit having a first detection circuit coupled to a first supply voltage, a second detection circuit coupled to a second supply voltage, and a rail clamp device. During a first type of electrical stress event, the rail clamp device is activated in response to a first output signal provided by the first detection circuit. During a second type of electrical stress event, the rail clamp device is activated in response to a second output signal provided by the second detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Matthew Mertens, Michael A. Stockinger, Alexander Paul Gerdemann
  • Publication number: 20180082992
    Abstract: An integrated circuit with protection against transient electrical stress events includes a trigger circuit having a first detection circuit coupled to a first supply voltage, a second detection circuit coupled to a second supply voltage, and a rail clamp device. During a first type of electrical stress event, the rail clamp device is activated in response to a first output signal provided by the first detection circuit. During a second type of electrical stress event, the rail clamp device is activated in response to a second output signal provided by the second detection circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventors: ROBERT MATTHEW MERTENS, MICHAEL A. STOCKINGER, ALEXANDER PAUL GERDEMANN
  • Publication number: 20180083443
    Abstract: An integrated circuit for protecting against transient electrical stress events includes a rail clamp device, and a trigger circuit including a resistive-capacitive (RC) filter, a drive circuit including a first inverter stage receiving an input signal from the RC filter, the drive circuit is configured to enable the rail clamp device during a transient electrical stress event, and a stress event detection circuit coupled to the RC filter. The drive circuit includes a configurable activation voltage which is controlled by the stress event detection circuit, wherein the activation voltage is reduced when the transient electrical stress event is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventors: ROBERT MATTHEW MERTENS, ALEXANDER PAUL GERDEMANN, MICHAEL A. STOCKINGER
  • Patent number: 9213048
    Abstract: Adapters for electrostatic discharge probe tips are disclosed herein. An embodiment of the adapter includes an attachment device that is attachable to the tip of the probe. A first conductor is affixed to the attachment device so that the first conductor contacts the tip when the attachment device is attached to the tip of the probe. A second conductor extends between the first electrical conductor and a point external to the attachment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert Matthew Mertens, John Eric Kunz, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140035608
    Abstract: Adapters for electrostatic discharge probe tips are disclosed herein. An embodiment of the adapter includes an attachment device that is attachable to the tip of the probe. A first conductor is affixed to the attachment device so that the first conductor contacts the tip when the attachment device is attached to the tip of the probe. A second conductor extends between the first electrical conductor and a point external to the attachment device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert Matthew Mertens, John Eric Kunz, JR.