Patents by Inventor Thomas L. Hopkins
Thomas L. Hopkins 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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Patent number: 10665405Abstract: A protective circuit for an apparatus includes an accelerometer having an output and a microcontroller coupled to the output of the accelerometer. The protective circuit also includes a switch for controlling the apparatus coupled to an output of the microcontroller and a load coupled to the switch. A power source is coupled to the load and the switch. In operation the microcontroller is cable of sending a signal to the switch to turn of power to the load when a dangerous condition as detected from the accelerometer data has occurred.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2018Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.Inventor: Thomas L. Hopkins
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Publication number: 20180130623Abstract: A protective circuit for an apparatus includes an accelerometer having an output and a microcontroller coupled to the output of the accelerometer. The protective circuit also includes a switch for controlling the apparatus coupled to an output of the microcontroller and a load coupled to the switch. A power source is coupled to the load and the switch. In operation the microcontroller is cable of sending a signal to the switch to turn of power to the load when a dangerous condition as detected from the accelerometer data has occurred.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2018Publication date: May 10, 2018Applicant: STMicroelectronics, Inc.Inventor: Thomas L. Hopkins
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Patent number: 9899170Abstract: A protective circuit for an apparatus includes an accelerometer having an output and a microcontroller coupled to the output of the accelerometer. The protective circuit also includes a switch for controlling the apparatus coupled to an output of the microcontroller and a load coupled to the switch. A power source is coupled to the load and the switch. In operation the microcontroller is cable of sending a signal to the switch to turn of power to the load when a dangerous condition as detected from the accelerometer data has occurred.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2016Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.Inventor: Thomas L. Hopkins
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Publication number: 20160163485Abstract: A protective circuit for an apparatus includes an accelerometer having an output and a microcontroller coupled to the output of the accelerometer. The protective circuit also includes a switch for controlling the apparatus coupled to an output of the microcontroller and a load coupled to the switch. A power source is coupled to the load and the switch. In operation the microcontroller is cable of sending a signal to the switch to turn of power to the load when a dangerous condition as detected from the accelerometer data has occurred.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2016Publication date: June 9, 2016Applicant: STMicroelectronics, Inc.Inventor: Thomas L. Hopkins
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Patent number: 9200842Abstract: A device and method are provided for detecting a root moisture content of clothing in a clothes dryer. The dryer has two conducting bars situated in the dryer bin. A pulse generator circuit is coupled to the conducting bars. A microcontroller is coupled to an output of the pulse generator circuit. The pulse generator circuit generates a pulse when wet clothing contacts the conducting bars in the dryer bin. The microcontroller receives the pulses and counts the pulses that are longer than a threshold length. The microcontroller issues a termination signal based on the number of counted pulses.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2013Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.Inventor: Thomas L. Hopkins
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Patent number: 8707580Abstract: A dryer having an improved automatic dryness detection circuit is provided. Wet clothing in the dryer bin contacts a sensor and causes a pulse to be sent to a microcontroller if the resistance of the clothes is low enough. The microcontroller disregards pulses which are shorter than a threshold time and counts pulses which are longer than a threshold time. The microcontroller issues a termination signal if the rate of pulses is lower than a threshold rate.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2009Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.Inventor: Thomas L. Hopkins
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Patent number: 8653801Abstract: A boost circuit is used for power factor correction (PFC). In a low power application, transition mode control is utilized. However, switching frequency varies with different input voltages, and over a wide input voltage range, the switching frequency can become too high to be practical. To address this issue, a boost circuit is provided whose effective inductance changes as a function of input voltage. By changing the inductance, control is exercised over switching frequency.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2013Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.Inventors: Jianwen Shao, Thomas L. Hopkins
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Publication number: 20140007453Abstract: A device and method are provided for detecting a root moisture content of clothing in a clothes dryer. The dryer has two conducting bars situated in the dryer bin. A pulse generator circuit is coupled to the conducting bars. A microcontroller is coupled to an output of the pulse generator circuit. The pulse generator circuit generates a pulse when wet clothing contacts the conducting bars in the dryer bin. The microcontroller receives the pulses and counts the pulses that are longer than a threshold length. The microcontroller issues a termination signal based on the number of counted pulses.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2013Publication date: January 9, 2014Applicant: STMicroelectronics, Inc.Inventor: Thomas L. Hopkins
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Patent number: 8549771Abstract: A device and method are provided for detecting a root moisture content of clothing in a clothes dryer. The dryer has two conducting bars situated in the dryer bin. A pulse generator circuit is coupled to the conducting bars. A microcontroller is coupled to an output of the pulse generator circuit. The pulse generator circuit generates a pulse when wet clothing contacts the conducting bars in the dryer bin. The microcontroller receives the pulses and counts the pulses that are longer than a threshold length. The microcontroller issues a termination signal based on the number of counted pulses.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2009Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.Inventor: Thomas L. Hopkins
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Patent number: 8412965Abstract: A forward converter circuit includes a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding. A first transistor is coupled in series with the primary winding and a second transistor is coupled in series with the secondary winding. A control circuit generating control signals for controlling operation of the first and second transistors. The control signals are generated responsive to the values in certain triggered counting circuits satisfying programmable thresholds.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2012Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.Inventor: Thomas L. Hopkins
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Patent number: 8310293Abstract: A forward converter circuit includes a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding. A first transistor is coupled in series with the primary winding and a second transistor is coupled in series with the secondary winding. A control circuit generates PWM control signals for controlling operation of the first and second transistors. The control signals are generated responsive to source PWM signals processed through programmable delay timers to generate set/reset control signals which set an output PWM control signal duty cycle.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2010Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.Inventor: Thomas L. Hopkins
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Publication number: 20120112814Abstract: A forward converter circuit includes a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding. A first transistor is coupled in series with the primary winding and a second transistor is coupled in series with the secondary winding. A control circuit generating control signals for controlling operation of the first and second transistors. The control signals are generated responsive to the values in certain triggered counting circuits satisfying programmable thresholds.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2012Publication date: May 10, 2012Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC.Inventor: Thomas L. Hopkins
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Patent number: 8140870Abstract: A forward converter circuit includes a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding. A first transistor is coupled in series with the primary winding and a second transistor is coupled in series with the secondary winding. A control circuit generating control signals for controlling operation of the first and second transistors. The control signals are generated responsive to the values in certain triggered counting circuits satisfying programmable thresholds.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2009Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.Inventor: Thomas L. Hopkins
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Publication number: 20110298514Abstract: A forward converter circuit includes a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding. A first transistor is coupled in series with the primary winding and a second transistor is coupled in series with the secondary winding. A control circuit generates PWM control signals for controlling operation of the first and second transistors. The control signals are generated responsive to source PWM signals processed through programmable delay timers to generate set/reset control signals which set an output PWM control signal duty cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2010Publication date: December 8, 2011Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC.Inventor: Thomas L. Hopkins
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Patent number: 8041052Abstract: An audio selection circuit. The audio selection circuit includes a control/switch circuit having a first input, a second input, and a first output, and a signal detector module configured to detect an audio signal on the second input. If the signal detector detects presence of the audio signal on the second input, the signal detector is configured to transmit a control signal to the control/switch circuit, and the control/switch circuit is configured in response to the control signal to disconnect the first input from the first output and to connect the second input to the first output. Otherwise, the control/switch circuit is configured to connect the first input to the first output and to disconnect the second input from the first output.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2007Date of Patent: October 18, 2011Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.Inventor: Thomas L. Hopkins
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Publication number: 20110088278Abstract: A device and method are provided for detecting a root moisture content of clothing in a clothes dryer. The dryer has two conducting bars situated in the dryer bin. A pulse generator circuit is coupled to the conducting bars. A microcontroller is coupled to an output of the pulse generator circuit. The pulse generator circuit generates a pulse when wet clothing contacts the conducting bars in the dryer bin. The microcontroller receives the pulses and counts the pulses that are longer than a threshold length. The microcontroller issues a termination signal based on the number of counted pulses.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2009Publication date: April 21, 2011Applicant: STMicroelectronics, Inc.Inventor: Thomas L. Hopkins
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Publication number: 20110088279Abstract: A dryer having an improved automatic dryness detection circuit is provided. Wet clothing in the dryer bin contacts a sensor and causes a pulse to be sent to a microcontroller if the resistance of the clothes is low enough. The microcontroller disregards pulses which are shorter than a threshold time and counts pulses which are longer than a threshold time. The microcontroller issues a termination signal if the rate of pulses is lower than a threshold rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2009Publication date: April 21, 2011Applicant: STMicroelectronics,Inc.Inventor: Thomas L. Hopkins
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Publication number: 20110022877Abstract: A forward converter circuit includes a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding. A first transistor is coupled in series with the primary winding and a second transistor is coupled in series with the secondary winding. A control circuit generating control signals for controlling operation of the first and second transistors. The control signals are generated responsive to the values in certain triggered counting circuits satisfying programmable thresholds.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2009Publication date: January 27, 2011Applicant: STMicroelectronics, Inc.Inventor: Thomas L. Hopkins
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Publication number: 20100140062Abstract: The invention is directed towards a protective circuit for an apparatus including an accelerometer having an output and a microcontroller coupled to the output of the accelerometer. The protective circuit also includes a switch for controlling the apparatus coupled to an output of the microcontroller and a load coupled to the switch. A power source is coupled to the load and the switch. In operation the microcontroller is cable of sending a signal to the switch to turn of power to the load when a dangerous condition has occurred. Also, the invention is directed toward a method of controller an apparatus with the protective circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2008Publication date: June 10, 2010Applicant: STMicroelectronics, Inc.Inventor: Thomas L. Hopkins
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Patent number: RE44101Abstract: A fluorescent lamp assembly includes a fluorescent lamp ballast capable of detecting at least one of a plurality of input signals and generating an output signal. The output signal is associated with a power level that is based on the at least one detected input signal. The fluorescent lamp assembly also includes a fluorescent lamp capable of receiving the output signal and generating light. An intensity of the light is based on the power level associated with the output signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2011Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.Inventor: Thomas L. Hopkins