Patents by Inventor Tue Tran

Tue Tran 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: 10627495
    Abstract: To decrease the likelihood of a false detection when detecting light from light pulses scattered by remote targets in a lidar system, a receiver in the lidar system includes a photodetector and a pulse-detection circuit having a gain circuit with a varying amount of gain over time. The gain circuit operates in a low-gain mode for a time period T1 beginning with time t0 when a light pulse is emitted to prevent the receiver from detecting return light pulses during the threshold time period T1. Upon expiration of the threshold time period T1, the gain circuit operates in a high-gain mode to begin detecting return light pulses until a subsequent light pulse is emitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Luminar Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen D. Gaalema, Austin K. Russell, Joseph G. LaChapelle, Scott R. Campbell, Jason M. Eichenholz, Tue Tran
  • Publication number: 20190079167
    Abstract: To decrease the likelihood of a false detection when detecting light from light pulses scattered by remote targets in a lidar system, a receiver in the lidar system includes a photodetector and a pulse-detection circuit having a gain circuit with a varying amount of gain over time. The gain circuit operates in a low-gain mode for a time period T1 beginning with time t0 when a light pulse is emitted to prevent the receiver from detecting return light pulses during the threshold time period T1. Upon expiration of the threshold time period T1, the gain circuit operates in a high-gain mode to begin detecting return light pulses until a subsequent light pulse is emitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Stephen D. Gaalema, Austin K. Russell, Joseph G. LaChapelle, Scott R. Campbell, Jason M. Eichenholz, Tue Tran
  • Patent number: 10139478
    Abstract: To decrease the likelihood of a false detection when detecting light from light pulses scattered by remote targets in a lidar system, a receiver in the lidar system includes a photodetector and a pulse-detection circuit having a gain circuit with a varying amount of gain over time. The gain circuit operates in a low-gain mode for a time period T1 beginning with time t0 when a light pulse is emitted to prevent the receiver from detecting return light pulses during the threshold time period T1. Upon expiration of the threshold time period T1, the gain circuit operates in a high-gain mode to begin detecting return light pulses until a subsequent light pulse is emitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: LUMINAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen D. Gaalema, Austin K. Russell, Joseph G. LaChapelle, Scott R. Campbell, Jason M. Eichenholz, Tue Tran
  • Patent number: 9197233
    Abstract: In one or more embodiments, an apparatus and method for processing an analog signal into a digital signal includes an input current buffer circuit, a signal charge integration node, a dual function comparator, a step charge subtractor, a state latch, a coarse N-bit counter, an optional residue signal buffer and a residue signal M-bit time-to-digital (TDC) converter. The circuitry is free running, meaning that it is never reset. Instead, what is tracked for each frame is how much additional charge has been accumulated since the end of the previous integration period. Between each frame, the state of the counter and the amount of charge residing in the integration node are recorded. This information from the beginning and end of a given frame is differenced and to this is added the amount of charge indicated by the number of times the counter overflowed during the integration period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Black Forest Engineering, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Gaalema, William Bahn, David Dobyns, Tue Tran
  • Publication number: 20150288376
    Abstract: In one or more embodiments, an apparatus and method for processing an analog signal into a digital signal includes an input current buffer circuit, a signal charge integration node, a dual function comparator, a step charge subtractor, a state latch, a coarse N-bit counter, an optional residue signal buffer and a residue signal M-bit time-to-digital (TDC) converter. The circuitry is free running, meaning that it is never reset. Instead, what is tracked for each frame is how much additional charge has been accumulated since the end of the previous integration period. Between each frame, the state of the counter and the amount of charge residing in the integration node are recorded. This information from the beginning and end of a given frame is differenced and to this is added the amount of charge indicated by the number of times the counter overflowed during the integration period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Applicant: BLACK FOREST ENGINEERING LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Gaalema, William Bahn, David Dobyns, Tue Tran
  • Patent number: 8433039
    Abstract: This invention teaches a method of performing gamma-ray microscopy and how to build a gamma-ray microscope. While the beam of gamma rays can not be manipulated like a beam of light or a beam of electrons, magnification is possible using a single-point source of gamma radiation. With this design, gamma rays originate from a tiny point in space and radiate outward as they travel away from the source. This results in magnification when a sample is placed between this single-point source and a detector array. The magnification factor is equal to the source-to-detector distance divided by the source-to-sample distance. A single-point source of gamma rays can be made by crossing a beam of positrons with a beam of electrons. The finer and more focused these beams are, the smaller the single-point source can be, and the higher the resolution can be. Methods of making and focusing electron beams are known in the art of making electron microscopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: PROTEOMYX Inc.
    Inventor: Nathaniel Tue Tran
  • Patent number: 7269239
    Abstract: A two-wire communication protocol between a controller device and a controlled device, wherein both devices are coupled by a clock line and a data line. The controller device sends control signals comprising N bits, N being greater than or equal to two, to the controlled device via the data line. Each bit of said control signals is latched onto the controlled device on consecutive edges of a clock signal sent by the controller device to the controlled device on the clock line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: EM Microelectronic-Marin SA
    Inventors: Daniel A Staver, Bruce Carl Wall, Tue Tran
  • Patent number: 7175986
    Abstract: Methods and reagents for labeling molecules of interest in a plurality of samples, and then combining and selecting labeled molecules away from unlabeled molecules for use in simultaneous co-assaying analysis. The reagents comprise labeling means of distinguishable radioactive isotopes which remain with the labeled molecules. Additionally, the reagents also comprise selection means which can be affinity tags, beads, or immobilized surface which may remain or be cleaved off through cleavable linkers. A set of labeling reagent can be used to label a plurality of samples, combine them before or after selecting/enriching for labeled molecules and co-assay together for reliable comparison. This invention has many applications in comparing and panning for differentially abundant molecules or differential modification of molecules for proteomics, glycomics, phospho-proteomics, metabolomics, epi-genomics . . . studies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Proteomyx Inc.
    Inventor: Nathaniel Tue Tran
  • Publication number: 20060084065
    Abstract: A novel analytical method involves labeling samples with different radioactive labeling agents, mixing and subjecting the mixture to any separation technique, and then differentially detecting and quantifying subcomponents from each sample for comparison. The novel technique exploits the differences in radiation energy or half-life between isotopes to make differential detection and quantification of labels possible. Detailed methods for differential detection and quantification are also described as well as the construction and application of hardware and software to enable and enhance such a process. This method is useful in finding molecular differences between two samples in differential proteomics, phosphor-proteomics, glycomics, metabolomics, transcriptomics, genomics and diagnostic applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Publication date: April 20, 2006
    Inventor: Nathaniel Tue Tran
  • Patent number: 7029855
    Abstract: A novel analytical method involves labeling samples with different radioactive labeling agents, mixing and subjecting the mixture to any separation technique, and then differentially detecting and quantifying subcomponents from each sample for comparison. The novel technique exploits the differences in radiation energy or half-life between isotopes to make differential detection and quantification of labels possible. Detailed methods for differential detection and quantification are also described as well as the construction and application of hardware and software to enable and enhance such a process. This method is useful in finding molecular differences between two samples in differential proteomics, phosphor-proteomics, glycomics, metabolomics, transcriptomics, genomics and diagnostic applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Proteomyx Inc.
    Inventor: Nathaniel Tue Tran
  • Publication number: 20040203048
    Abstract: This invention teaches high-throughput process for quantifying and comparing DNA methylation in multiple genes. DNA is extracted and subject to treatments that differentially modify either non-methylated nucleotides or methylated nucleotides. The modification results in labels or detectable tags that can easily be detected and quantified. The treated DNA is then digested by restriction enzymes and profiled on DNA array. The method can be used to compare two samples of DNA to look for differentially methylated genes. The method can also reveal polymorphism besides epigenetic differences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventor: Nathaniel Tue Tran
  • Publication number: 20040146885
    Abstract: A novel method for labeling, detecting and quantifying molecules from multiple samples on the same array is described. The method uses at least one labeled sample to be mixed together with an unlabeled sample and allows competitive binding to an array. The array profiles various molecules from both samples at predetermined locations for detection and quantitative comparison. The signals detected for various molecules from labeled sample will provide indication of presence and relative amount of the same molecules in the unlabeled sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventor: Nathaniel Tue Tran
  • Publication number: 20040022325
    Abstract: A two-wire communication protocol between a controller device and a controlled device, wherein both devices are coupled by a clock line and a data line. The controller device sends control signals comprising N bits, N being greater than or equal to two, to the controlled device via the data line. Each bit of said control signals is latched onto the controlled device on consecutive edges of a clock signal sent by the controller device to the controlled device on the clock line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: Daniel Arthur Staver, Bruce Carl Wall, Tue Tran