Patents by Inventor Sean X. Clark

Sean X. Clark 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).

  • Active voltage level bus switch (or pass gate) translator
    Patent number: 6781415
    Abstract: A bi-direction voltage level translating switch that connects a higher voltage circuit to a lower voltage circuit without using a direction signal disclosed. The drive circuit for the gate of an MOS switch acts to clamp the lower voltage side of the translating switch limiting the lower voltage to a level compatible with the lower voltage circuitry connected to the lower voltage side. A pull up circuit is connected to the higher voltage side of the switch and further defines a threshold lower than the lower voltage. When the signal reaches the threshold the pull up circuit pull the higher voltage side up to the higher voltage. Again the drive on the gate of the switch prevents that higher voltage from reaching the lower voltage side. When the lower voltage side drives, through an on switch, the higher voltage side low, the pull up circuit is designed to be overcome by the lower voltage drive circuitry so that the higher voltage side goes low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Sean X. Clark, James B. Boomer
  • Active voltage level bus switch (or pass gate) translator
    Publication number: 20030098714
    Abstract: A bi-direction voltage level translating switch that connects a higher voltage circuit to a lower voltage circuit without using a direction signal disclosed. The drive circuit for the gate of an MOS switch acts to clamp the lower voltage side of the translating switch limiting the lower voltage to a level compatible with the lower voltage circuitry connected to the lower voltage side. A pull up circuit is connected to the higher voltage side of the switch and further defines a threshold lower than the lower voltage. When the signal reaches the threshold the pull up circuit pull the higher voltage side up to the higher voltage. Again the drive on the gate of the switch prevents that higher voltage from reaching the lower voltage side. When the lower voltage side drives, through an on switch, the higher voltage side low, the pull up circuit is designed to be overcome by the lower voltage drive circuitry so that the higher voltage side goes low.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventors: Sean X. Clark, James B. Boomer