Patents by Inventor Tom L. Fowler

Tom L. Fowler 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).

  • Patent number: 6947272
    Abstract: A current limit circuit regulates the current flow through a power switch 90 by measuring the current through the switch 90 and comparing it to a reference voltage VREF that represents the limit current. When the current through the power switch 90 is greater than the limit current, the current in the power switch 90 is pulled lower by a driver circuit 92 which controls the power switch 90. By using a current limit reference voltage that has two levels, the power switch 90 has two current limit thresholds. Using a comparator 94 to compare the input voltage of the power switch 90 to the output voltage of the power switch 90, an output signal is generated to control the current limit threshold. When the input voltage and output voltage has a large differential voltage, a lower current limit threshold voltage is selected. When the input voltage and output voltage has a small differential voltage, an upper limit threshold voltage is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: David G. Daniels, Aiman Alhoussami, Tom L. Fowler
  • Publication number: 20030095368
    Abstract: A current limit circuit regulates the current flow through a power switch 90 by measuring the current through the switch 90 and comparing it to a reference voltage VREF that represents the limit current. When the current through the power switch 90 is greater than the limit current, the current in the power switch 90 is pulled lower by a driver circuit 92 which controls the power switch 90. By using a current limit reference voltage that has two levels, the power switch 90 has two current limit thresholds. Using a comparator 94 to compare the input voltage of the power switch 90 to the output voltage of the power switch 90, an output signal is generated to control the current limit threshold. When the input voltage and output voltage has a large differential voltage, a lower current limit threshold voltage is selected. When the input voltage and output voltage has a small differential voltage, an upper limit threshold voltage is selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Inventors: David G. Daniels, Aiman Alhoussami, Tom L. Fowler
  • Patent number: 6238950
    Abstract: A multi-component electronic assembly (100) including a leadframe (101) having upper and lower surfaces and a plurality of conductive leads (203). Each lead (203) has first bonding surfaces (201) on the upper surface of each lead and second bonding surfaces (201) on the lower surface of each lead (203). Preferably, each lead has a plurality of third bonding surfaces (202) formed on at least some of the plurality of leads where the third bonding surfaces (202) are formed by conductive extensions of the leads (203) that extend towards the center of the assembly (100). A first passive component (102) is electrically and mechanically coupled to the first bonding surfaces. A second passive component (104) is electrically and mechanically coupled to the second bonding surfaces. Where third bonding surfaces (202) are used, a third component (103) is electrically and mechanically coupled to the third bonding surfaces (202).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: James H. Howser, Tom L. Fowler
  • Patent number: 6054764
    Abstract: A multi-component electronic assembly (100) including a leadframe (101) having upper and lower surfaces and a plurality of conductive leads (203). Each lead (203) has first bonding surfaces (201) on the upper surface of each lead and second bonding surfaces (201) on the lower surface of each lead (203). Preferably, each lead has a plurality of third bonding surfaces (202) formed on at least some of the plurality of leads where the third bonding surfaces (202) are formed by conductive extensions of the leads (203) that extend towards the center of the assembly (100). A first passive component (102) is electrically and mechanically coupled to the first bonding surfaces. A second passive component (104) is electrically and mechanically coupled to the second bonding surfaces. Where third bonding surfaces (202) are used, a third component (103) is electrically and mechanically coupled to the third bonding surfaces (202).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: James H. Howser, Tom L. Fowler