Patents by Inventor Sam J. B. W. Vermeir

Sam J. B. W. Vermeir 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).

  • Method of forming a sequencing system and structure therefor
    Patent number: 9913355
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a sequencing system includes a plurality of integrated circuits connected in a daisy chain arrangement, where each integrated circuit has an LED load connection. The system includes a diagnostic circuit which signals to the control unit that an open circuit condition has been detected, thereby turning off all LED loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Frank J. Kolanko, Sam J. B. W. Vermeir, Brian Blackburn, Wim Van de Maele, Benjamin M. Rice
  • METHOD OF FORMING A SEQUENCING SYSTEM AND STRUCTURE THEREFOR
    Publication number: 20160033584
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a sequencing system includes a plurality of integrated circuits connected in a daisy chain arrangement, where each integrated circuit has an LED load connection. The system includes a diagnostic circuit which signals to the control unit that an open circuit condition has been detected, thereby turning off all LED loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Frank J. KOLANKO, Sam J.B.W. VERMEIR, Brian BLACKBURN, Wim VAN DE MAELE, Benjamin M. RICE
  • Control circuit for a brushless DC motor and method therefor
    Patent number: 7969108
    Abstract: A control circuit (120, 140) for a brushless direct current (DC) motor (160) includes a current drive circuit (140), a current loop regulator (122), and a commutation loop regulator (124, 126). The current drive circuit (140) is adapted to drive the brushless DC motor (160) in a first polarity or a second polarity selectively in response to a control signal, and senses a current through the brushless DC motor (160) to provide a current sense signal. The current loop regulator (122) varies a duty cycle of the control signal to regulate the current in response to the current sense signal, and regulates the polarity of the current based on a state of a polarity signal. The commutation loop regulator (124, 126) regulates a transition of said polarity signal in response to a comparison of a pre-commutation duty cycle value and a post-commutation duty cycle value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Sam J. B. W. Vermeir
  • CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR A BRUSHLESS DC MOTOR AND METHOD THEREFOR
    Publication number: 20100134060
    Abstract: A control circuit (120, 140) for a brushless direct current (DC) motor (160) includes a current drive circuit (140), a current loop regulator (122), and a commutation loop regulator (124, 126). The current drive circuit (140) is adapted to drive the brushless DC motor (160) in a first polarity or a second polarity selectively in response to a control signal, and senses a current through the brushless DC motor (160) to provide a current sense signal. The current loop regulator (122) varies a duty cycle of the control signal to regulate the current in response to the current sense signal, and regulates the polarity of the current based on a state of a polarity signal. The commutation loop regulator (124, 126) regulates a transition of said polarity signal in response to a comparison of a pre-commutation duty cycle value and a post-commutation duty cycle value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventor: Sam J. B. W. Vermeir