Patents by Inventor Vern Brethour

Vern Brethour 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: 11424829
    Abstract: Circuitry of an optical line terminal (OLT) can be controlled to be compatible with optical modules of different optical protocols having different electrical connectivity requirements. In some embodiments, the OLT has a controller that is configured to communicate with an optical module plugged or otherwise mated with a socket of the OLT in order to discover a module type of the optical module. Based on the detected module type, the controller is configured to control the electrical characteristics of the OLT circuitry so that it is compatible with the electrical and operational requirements of the optical module. Thus, the OLT is compatible for use with any of a plurality of optical module types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: ADTRAN, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry Greer, Jared Lee Oldacre, Vern Brethour
  • Patent number: 11349576
    Abstract: A coupling module can be used to communicate high speed signals between an optical transceiver and a processing module of an optical communication device, such as an optical line termination (OLT) or an optical network unit (ONU). The coupling module can adjust the common mode voltage level of a differential signal output by the optical transceiver to the common mode voltage level required by the processing module. In addition, the coupling module splits each of the differential output signals from the optical transceiver and passes the split signals to both a high-pass filter and a low-pass filter that are connected in parallel. An adapter module can be connected to the coupling module such that the coupling module can receive different differential signals from different optical transceivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: ADTRAN, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel M. Joffe, Vern Brethour
  • Publication number: 20210399804
    Abstract: Circuitry of an optical line terminal (OLT) can be controlled to be compatible with optical modules of different optical protocols having different electrical connectivity requirements. In some embodiments, the OLT has a controller that is configured to communicate with an optical module plugged or otherwise mated with a socket of the OLT in order to discover a module type of the optical module. Based on the detected module type, the controller is configured to control the electrical characteristics of the OLT circuitry so that it is compatible with the electrical and operational requirements of the optical module. Thus, the OLT is compatible for use with any of a plurality of optical module types.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicant: ADTRAN, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry Greer, Jared Lee Oldacre, Vern Brethour
  • Publication number: 20210159988
    Abstract: A coupling module can be used to communicate high speed signals between an optical transceiver and a processing module of an optical communication device, such as an optical line termination (OLT) or an optical network unit (ONU). The coupling module can adjust the common mode voltage level of a differential signal output by the optical transceiver to the common mode voltage level required by the processing module. In addition, the coupling module splits each of the differential output signals from the optical transceiver and passes the split signals to both a high-pass filter and a low-pass filter that are connected in parallel. An adapter module can be connected to the coupling module such that the coupling module can receive different differential signals from different optical transceivers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Applicant: ADTRAN, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel M. Joffe, Vern Brethour
  • Patent number: 10944599
    Abstract: A coupling module can be used to communicate high speed signals between an optical transceiver and a processing module of an optical communication device, such as an optical line termination (OLT) or an optical network unit (ONU). The coupling module can adjust the common mode voltage level of a differential signal output by the optical transceiver to the common mode voltage level required by the processing module. In addition, the coupling module splits each of the differential output signals from the optical transceiver and passes the split signals to both a high-pass filter and a low-pass filter that are connected in parallel. The outputs of the high-pass filter and the low-pass filter from different paths of the differential signal are cross-coupled and combined to provide a differential signal to the processing module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: ADTRAN, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel M. Joffe, Vern Brethour
  • Publication number: 20200412584
    Abstract: A coupling module can be used to communicate high speed signals between an optical transceiver and a processing module of an optical communication device, such as an optical line termination (OLT) or an optical network unit (ONU). The coupling module can adjust the common mode voltage level of a differential signal output by the optical transceiver to the common mode voltage level required by the processing module. In addition, the coupling module splits each of the differential output signals from the optical transceiver and passes the split signals to both a high-pass filter and a low-pass filter that are connected in parallel. The outputs of the high-pass filter and the low-pass filter from different paths of the differential signal are cross-coupled and combined to provide a differential signal to the processing module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: ADTRAN, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel M. Joffe, Vern Brethour
  • Patent number: 9891638
    Abstract: A coupling module can be used to communicate high speed signals between an optical transceiver and a processing module of an optical communication device, such as an optical line termination (OLT) or an optical network unit (ONU). The coupling module can adjust the DC offset voltage level of the signal output by the optical transceiver to the DC offset voltage level required by the processing module. In addition, the coupling module splits the output signal from the optical transceiver and passes the signal to both a high pass filter and a low pass filter that are connected in parallel. The outputs of the high pass filter and the low pass filter are then combined and provided to the processing module. The high pass filter and the low pass filter can be configured such that all frequencies of the signal from the optical transceiver are provided to the processing module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: ADTRAN, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel M. Joffe, W. Stuart Venters, Vern Brethour
  • Publication number: 20170131730
    Abstract: A coupling module can be used to communicate high speed signals between an optical transceiver and a processing module of an optical communication device, such as an optical line termination (OLT) or an optical network unit (ONU). The coupling module can adjust the DC offset voltage level of the signal output by the optical transceiver to the DC offset voltage level required by the processing module. In addition, the coupling module splits the output signal from the optical transceiver and passes the signal to both a high pass filter and a low pass filter that are connected in parallel. The outputs of the high pass filter and the low pass filter are then combined and provided to the processing module. The high pass filter and the low pass filter can be configured such that all frequencies of the signal from the optical transceiver are provided to the processing module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: ADTRAN, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel M. Joffe, W. Stuart Venters, Vern Brethour
  • Publication number: 20040136439
    Abstract: Methods and systems for acquiring a received impulse signal packet including a plurality of repeating short acquisition code sequences and at least one ratchet code sequence following a last one of the plurality of repeating short acquisition code sequences, the repeating short acquisition code sequences defined by a short acquisition code, the at least one ratchet code sequence defined by a ratchet code, and each ratchet code sequence greater in length than each repeating short acquisition code sequence. The method includes the step of concurrently searching the received impulse signal packet for the short acquisition code sequence in accordance with a frame time offset and each of a plurality of acquisition code offsets. The frame time offset is adjusted after each time the short acquisition code sequence is not found during a search. Tracking of the received impulse signal packet is initiated immediately after the short acquisition code sequence is found.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Brandon Dewberry, Vern Brethour, David Hyde, Catherine Wood Chubb
  • Patent number: 5852372
    Abstract: Transceivers for bus communications using GTL-type transmission-line bus structures provide improved clamping of an initially ON output pulse of a communication bus driver and adds an active pull-up function inside the integrated circuit that does not change the external circuit nor require additional functional external circuit corrections. Receivers may contain an active pull-up for added signal quality improvement Improved clamping and active pull-up allow reduced width of the channel of the N-channel CMOS output transistor. A drive/receive clamp may be added to a sequential pull-up circuit and an active pull-up circuit for better performance at higher frequencies. A related method may comprise first switching OFF an active pull down circuit and switching ON an active pull-up circuit, where the active pull-up circuit clamps the driver output voltage from falling below a first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Intergraph Corporation
    Inventors: Eduard F. Boeckmann, Vern Brethour, Vahid Samiee