Patents by Inventor Steven Macaluso

Steven Macaluso 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).

  • Publication number: 20150130433
    Abstract: Load switch supply circuits and methods are provided that allow a load switch to maintain power delivery without having the load switch encounter thermal or power overload conditions. In an example, a load switch supply circuit can include a multiplier circuit configured to receive a first representation of voltage across a load switch and a representation of current provided by the load switch and to provide a representation of power dissipated by the load switch, and a control amplifier configured to compare the representation of power dissipated by the load switch to a power threshold and to adjust a control terminal of the load switch to avoid cycling the load switch to an off state due to thermal overload or power overload conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Hrvoje Jasa, Steven Macaluso
  • Patent number: 8934642
    Abstract: A switch can be configured to receive a first signal at a first input and provide an output signal at an output, depending on a state of the switch. A switch state change can be delayed until an indication of a requested switch state different than a current switch state is received and the first signal reaches a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Julie Lynn Stultz, Steven Macaluso, Enrique O. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 8779962
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, apparatus and methods including an analog-to-digital controller (ADC) configured to receive an enable signal and to provide an ADC output signal to control logic, wherein the control logic is configured to provide a control voltage to a control input of a switch. In an example, the control voltage includes the ADC output signal when the ADC output signal is below a first threshold or above a second threshold. In certain examples, the control logic is configured to transition the control voltage from the first threshold to the second threshold when the ADC output signal is between the first and second thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: John L. Carpentier, Julie Lynn Stultz, Steven Macaluso
  • Patent number: 8729950
    Abstract: This document discloses, among other things, a voltage clamp circuit where an output voltage equals an input voltage for at least a portion of a first range of input voltages, and where the output voltage is less than the input voltage for at least a portion of a second range of input voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Nickole Gagne, Steven Macaluso, Jani Kauppinen
  • Publication number: 20140098297
    Abstract: A switch can be configured to receive a first signal at a first input and provide an output signal at an output, depending on a state of the switch. A switch state change can be delayed until an indication of a requested switch state different than a current switch state is received and the first signal reaches a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Julie Lynn Stultz, Steven Macaluso, Enrique O. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 8625818
    Abstract: A switch can be configured to receive a first signal at a first input and provide an output signal at an output, depending on a state of the switch. A switch state change can be delayed until an indication of a requested switch state different than a current switch state is received and the first signal reaches a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Julie Lynn Stultz, Steven Macaluso, Enrique O. Rodriguez
  • Publication number: 20130321055
    Abstract: This document discloses, among other things, a voltage clamp circuit where an output voltage equals an input voltage for at least a portion of a first range of input voltages, and where the output voltage is less than the input voltage for at least a portion of a second range of input voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Nickole Gagne, Steven Macaluso, Jani Kauppinen
  • Publication number: 20130265184
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, apparatus and methods including an analog-to-digital controller (ADC) configured to receive an enable signal and to provide an ADC output signal to control logic, wherein the control logic is configured to provide a control voltage to a control input of a switch. In an example, the control voltage includes the ADC output signal when the ADC output signal is below a first threshold or above a second threshold. In certain examples, the control logic is configured to transition the control voltage from the first threshold to the second threshold when the ADC output signal is between the first and second thresholds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: John L. Carpentier, Julie Lynn Stultz, Steven Macaluso
  • Patent number: 8502595
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, apparatus and methods for passing a signal in a power down state. An example switch device can include a first depletion-mode transistor configured to pass an analog signal between a first node and a second node in a first state and to isolate the first node from the second node in a second state, a control circuit coupled to a control node of the first depletion-mode transistor and configured to isolate the control node from a first supply input in the first state and to couple the control node to the first supply input in the second state, and a tracking circuit configured to couple the control node of the first depletion-mode transistor to the first node during the first state and to isolate the control node of the first depletion-mode transistor from the first node in the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Julie Lynn Stultz, James Joseph Morra, Steven Macaluso
  • Patent number: 8330523
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a compensation circuit configured to modulate a control voltage of a switch over a range of ambient temperatures during a conduction state of the switch to maintain a specified resistance between first and second nodes of the switch. The compensation circuit can include a temperature-insensitive resistor configured to provide a sense current, a current mirror configured to provide a mirror current using the sense current, and a temperature-sensitive resistor configured to provide the control voltage using the mirror current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Nickole Gagne, Julie Lynn Stultz, Steven Macaluso
  • Patent number: 8279568
    Abstract: This application discusses, among other things, switch circuit apparatus having power down protection and not requiring power up sequencing. An apparatus embodiment can include a first supply node coupled to a first input of a level shifting circuit via a protection circuit, a second supply node coupled to a second input of the level shifting circuit via a single pull-up transistor, and a switch including a control input, a first node, and a second node controllably isolated from the first node, wherein the control input is coupled to the level shifting circuit. The first and second inputs of the level shifting circuit can be coupled via a rectifier, and the protection circuit can be configured to power the first and second supply nodes to controllably isolate the first and second nodes from each other when a voltage of one of the first or second nodes exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Julie Lynn Stultz, Nickole Gagne, Steven Macaluso
  • Publication number: 20120242397
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, apparatus and methods for passing a signal in a power down state. An example switch device can include a first depletion-mode transistor configured to pass an analog signal between a first node and a second node in a first state and to isolate the first node from the second node in a second state, a control circuit coupled to a control node of the first depletion-mode transistor and configured to isolate the control node from a first supply input in the first state and to couple the control node to the first supply input in the second state, and a tracking circuit configured to couple the control node of the first depletion-mode transistor to the first node during the first state and to isolate the control node of the first depletion-mode transistor from the first node in the second state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Julie Lynn Stultz, James Joseph Morra, Steven Macaluso
  • Publication number: 20120126878
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a compensation circuit configured to modulate a control voltage of a switch over a range of ambient temperatures during a conduction state of the switch to maintain a specified resistance between first and second nodes of the switch. The compensation circuit can include a temperature-insensitive resistor configured to provide a sense current, a current mirror configured to provide a mirror current using the sense current, and a temperature-sensitive resistor configured to provide the control voltage using the mirror current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventors: Nickole Gagne, Julie Lynn Stultz, Steven Macaluso
  • Patent number: 8107575
    Abstract: A system and process for eliminating a control wire between logic systems that communicate with each other. In one embodiment, a system sends to a receiver a frequency that indicates a first mode. In the first mode a first data type may be sent. When the frequency is changed a second mode is indicated wherein a second data type may be sent. The receiver detects the frequency change and assumes the first or second mode as indicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: James Boomer, Oscar Freitas, Steven Macaluso
  • Publication number: 20110255203
    Abstract: This application discusses, among other things, switch circuit apparatus having power down protection and not requiring power up sequencing. An apparatus embodiment can include a first supply node coupled to a first input of a level shifting circuit via a protection circuit, a second supply node coupled to a second input of the level shifting circuit via a single pull-up transistor, and a switch including a control input, a first node, and a second node controllably isolated from the first node, wherein the control input is coupled to the level shifting circuit. The first and second inputs of the level shifting circuit can be coupled via a rectifier, and the protection circuit can be configured to power the first and second supply nodes to controllably isolate the first and second nodes from each other when a voltage of one of the first or second nodes exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Julie Lynn Stultz, Nickole Gagne, Steven Macaluso
  • Publication number: 20110163783
    Abstract: A switch can be configured to receive a first signal at a first input and provide an output signal at an output, depending on a state of the switch. A switch state change can be delayed until an indication of a requested switch state different than a current switch state is received and the first signal reaches a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Julie Lynn Stultz, Steven Macaluso, Enrique O. Rodriguez
  • Publication number: 20090110130
    Abstract: A system and process for eliminating a control wire between logic systems that communicate with each other. In one embodiment, a system sends to a receiver a frequency that indicates a first mode. In the first mode a first data type may be sent. When the frequency is changed a second mode is indicated wherein a second data type may be sent. The receiver detects the frequency change and assumes the first or second mode as indicated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: James Boomer, Oscar Freitas, Steven Macaluso
  • Publication number: 20070182460
    Abstract: Box switches are stacked sharing a common current from power sources. The power sources may be current, voltage or a combination of such sources. In preferred embodiments, the transistor switches in the box switches may be paralleled by different polarity transistors that will act to better balance and make symmetrical the output signals. Capacitors may be used to smooth out residual noise voltage signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Inventor: Steven Macaluso
  • Publication number: 20070057713
    Abstract: An enveloping curves generator is disclosed that guarantees that one curve will envelop or overlap another when both are traversing from one logic level to another, and where the other overlaps the first when both traversing the other direction. In one case, a steering FET controlled by an input signal drives a first output high via a circuit. That first output going high, after a delay, drives a second output high. When the input goes low, a second steering FET controlled by the input signal drives the second output low. That second output going low, after a delay, drives the first output low. No latching is provided in the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Inventor: Steven Macaluso
  • Publication number: 20070018695
    Abstract: A differential transmission line driver with supplemental current sources that overcome switching anomalies and EMU issues when the logic state of the driver is switching. During a logic transition, a current source, that is directed to the output of the driver, may be prevented from delivering its current. The present invention provides a supplemental current that is active during this transition period to supply the missing current. The present disclosure also details a common mode circuit that maintains a stable common mode output level to help control EMI issues when the power supply for the driver changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Inventor: Steven Macaluso