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).
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Publication number: 20240162899Abstract: A power switch includes a first transistor having a first current electrode corresponding to an output of the switch, a second transistor having a first current electrode coupled to a second current electrode of the first transistor, and a third transistor having a first current electrode coupled to a second current electrode of the second transistor and a second current electrode coupled to a first power supply voltage terminal which provides a first power supply voltage. The second current electrodes of each of the first, second, and third transistors are body-tied. An analog switch is either couples the second current electrode of the second transistor or a first reference voltage to a control electrode of the second transistor based on a control signal. A voltage selector circuit either couples the second current electrode of the first transistor or the first reference voltage to a control electrode of the first transistor.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2022Publication date: May 16, 2024Inventors: Robert Matthew Mertens, Christopher James Micielli
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Patent number: 11586238Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 15, 2021Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: NXP B.V.Inventors: Robert Matthew Mertens, Ateet Omer, Sanjay Kumar Wadhwa, Charles Eric Seaberg
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Patent number: 11223343Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 14, 2020Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.Inventor: Robert Matthew Mertens
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Publication number: 20210320647Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2020Publication date: October 14, 2021Inventor: Robert Matthew Mertens
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Patent number: 10972096Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 28, 2019Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: NXP USA, INC.Inventors: Robert Matthew Mertens, James Robert Feddeler, Michael A. Stockinger
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Publication number: 20200412363Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2019Publication date: December 31, 2020Inventors: Robert Matthew Mertens, James Robert Feddeler, Michael A. Stockinger
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Patent number: 10659038Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 12, 2019Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.Inventors: Robert Matthew Mertens, James Robert Feddeler, Stefano Pietri
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Patent number: 10354991Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 7, 2018Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.Inventors: Robert Matthew Mertens, Michael A. Stockinger, Alexander Paul Gerdemann
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Patent number: 10320185Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 22, 2016Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.Inventors: Robert Matthew Mertens, Alexander Paul Gerdemann, Michael A. Stockinger
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Publication number: 20180342498Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2018Publication date: November 29, 2018Inventors: Robert Matthew Mertens, Michael A. Stockinger, Alexander Paul Gerdemann
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Patent number: 10074643Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 22, 2016Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.Inventors: Robert Matthew Mertens, Michael A. Stockinger, Alexander Paul Gerdemann
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Publication number: 20180083443Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2016Publication date: March 22, 2018Inventors: ROBERT MATTHEW MERTENS, ALEXANDER PAUL GERDEMANN, MICHAEL A. STOCKINGER
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Publication number: 20180082992Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2016Publication date: March 22, 2018Inventors: ROBERT MATTHEW MERTENS, MICHAEL A. STOCKINGER, ALEXANDER PAUL GERDEMANN
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Patent number: 9213048Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 2, 2012Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Robert Matthew Mertens, John Eric Kunz, Jr.
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Publication number: 20140035608Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2012Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Robert Matthew Mertens, John Eric Kunz, JR.