Patents by Inventor Walter Soto

Walter Soto 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: 9648700
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method and apparatus for estimating ambient light conditions for an OLED display. Embodiments of the method and apparatus use one or more columns of OLEDs in the display to perform two functions: their typical function of emitting light in a display mode, and the additional function of sensing light in a sense mode. To perform the additional sense mode functionality, the one or more columns of OLEDs in the display are temporarily placed into a photovoltaic and/or photoconductive mode. A sensing circuit is used to measure this current produced by the one or more columns of OLEDs while operating in the sense mode and report it back to a controller. The controller can then use this information to estimate the ambient light conditions of the environment where the OLED display is currently operating and to perform a touch and/or proximity sensing function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Walter Soto
  • Patent number: 9647773
    Abstract: A system for powering a network element of a fiber optic wide area network is disclosed. When communication data is transferred between a central office (CO) and a subscriber terminal using a network element to convert optical to electrical (O-E) and electrical to optical (E-O) signals between a fiber from the central office and twisted wire pair, coaxial cable or Ethernet cable transmission lines from the subscriber terminal, techniques related to local powering of a network element or drop site by the subscriber terminal or subscriber premise remote powering device are provided. Certain advantages and/or benefits are achieved using the present invention, such as freedom from any requirement for additional meter installations or meter connection charges and does not require a separate power network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Inventors: Alexander Soto, Walter Soto
  • Publication number: 20170054515
    Abstract: A system for powering a network element of a fiber optic wide area network is disclosed. When communication data is transferred between a central office (CO) and a subscriber terminal using a network element to convert optical to electrical (O-E) and electrical to optical (E-O) signals between a fiber from the central office and twisted wire pair, coaxial cable or Ethernet cable transmission lines from the subscriber terminal, techniques related to local powering of a network element or drop site by the subscriber terminal or subscriber premise remote powering device are provided. Certain advantages and/or benefits are achieved using the present invention, such as freedom from any requirement for additional meter installations or meter connection charges and does not require a separate power network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Alexander Soto, Walter Soto
  • Publication number: 20170026145
    Abstract: Processing a received optical signal in an optical communication network includes equalizing a received optical signal to provide an equalized signal, demodulating the equalized signal according to an m-ary modulation format to provide a demodulated signal, decoding the demodulated signal according to an inner code to provide an inner-decoded signal, and decoding the inner-decoded signal according to an outer code. Other aspects include other features such as equalizing an optical channel including storing channel characteristics for the optical channel associated with a client, loading the stored channel characteristics during a waiting period between bursts on the channel, and equalizing a received burst from the client using the loaded channel characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Alexander Soto, Walter Soto
  • Publication number: 20160191152
    Abstract: A system and method for performing an in-service optical time domain reflectometry test, an in-service insertion loss test, and an in-service optical frequency domain reflectometry test using a same wavelength as the network communications for point-to-point or point-to-multipoint optical fiber networks while maintaining continuity of network communications are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Alexander Soto, Walter Soto
  • Patent number: 9350239
    Abstract: A power management system that can include an application processor and a power management unit (PMU). The PMU can generate a regulated output voltage based on control signals generated by a switch control module of the application processor. The control signals can be determined based on a comparison of monitored voltages within the application processor and a generated reference voltage. The reference voltage can be generated based on fed back signals corresponding to the control signals. The application processor and the PMU can be formed utilizing different size manufacturing process technologies. For example, the PMU can be formed utilizing a larger size manufacturing process technology than the application processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Vadim Bishtein, Eric Martin Hayes, Kerry Thompson, Walter Soto, Stephen Douglas Cook
  • Publication number: 20160021722
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method and apparatus for estimating ambient light conditions for an OLED display. Embodiments of the method and apparatus use one or more columns of OLEDs in the display to perform two functions: their typical function of emitting light in a display mode, and the additional function of sensing light in a sense mode. To perform the additional sense mode functionality, the one or more columns of OLEDs in the display are temporarily placed into a photovoltaic and/or photoconductive mode. A sensing circuit is used to measure this current produced by the one or more columns of OLEDs while operating in the sense mode and report it back to a controller. The controller can then use this information to estimate the ambient light conditions of the environment where the OLED display is currently operating and to perform a touch and/or proximity sensing function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Walter SOTO
  • Patent number: 9183779
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method and apparatus for estimating ambient light conditions for an OLED display. Embodiments of the method and apparatus use one or more columns of OLEDs in the display to perform two functions: their typical function of emitting light in a display mode, and the additional function of sensing light in a sense mode. To perform the additional sense mode functionality, the one or more columns of OLEDs in the display are temporarily placed into a photovoltaic and/or photoconductive mode. A sensing circuit is used to measure this current produced by the one or more columns of OLEDs while operating in the sense mode and report it back to a controller. The controller can then use this information to estimate the ambient light conditions of the environment where the OLED display is currently operating and to perform a touch and/or proximity sensing function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Walter Soto
  • Publication number: 20150221259
    Abstract: Embodiments of a backlight module for illuminating a liquid crystal display (LCD) and sensing ambient light are provided herein. The backlight module includes a light-emitting diode (LED) array and a backlight controller. The backlight controller is configured to forward bias the LED array to backlight the LCD and reverse bias the LED array to sense the ambient light level. The backlight controller is configured to adjust the brightness of the LED array based on the current ambient lighting conditions sensed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Walter SOTO
  • Patent number: 9041697
    Abstract: Embodiments of a backlight module for illuminating a liquid crystal display (LCD) and sensing ambient light are provided herein. The backlight module includes a light-emitting diode (LED) array and a backlight controller. The backlight controller is configured to forward bias the LED array to backlight the LCD and reverse bias the LED array to sense the ambient light level. The backlight controller is configured to adjust the brightness of the LED array based on the current ambient lighting conditions sensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Walter Soto
  • Publication number: 20140266094
    Abstract: A power management system that can include an application processor and a power management unit (PMU). The PMU can generate a regulated output voltage based on control signals generated by a switch control module of the application processor. The control signals can be determined based on a comparison of monitored voltages within the application processor and a generated reference voltage. The reference voltage can be generated based on fed back signals corresponding to the control signals. The application processor and the PMU can be formed utilizing different size manufacturing process technologies. For example, the PMU can be formed utilizing a larger size manufacturing process technology than the application processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Vadim BISHTEIN, Eric Martin Hayes, Kerry Thompson, Walter Soto, Stephen Douglas Cook
  • Publication number: 20130221856
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method and apparatus for estimating ambient light conditions for an OLED display. Embodiments of the method and apparatus use one or more columns of OLEDs in the display to perform two functions: their typical function of emitting light in a display mode, and the additional function of sensing light in a sense mode. To perform the additional sense mode functionality, the one or more columns of OLEDs in the display are temporarily placed into a photovoltaic and/or photoconductive mode. A sensing circuit is used to measure this current produced by the one or more columns of OLEDs while operating in the sense mode and report it back to a controller. The controller can then use this information to estimate the ambient light conditions of the environment where the OLED display is currently operating and to perform a touch and/or proximity sensing function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Walter SOTO
  • Publication number: 20120194493
    Abstract: Embodiments of a backlight module for illuminating a liquid crystal display (LCD) and sensing ambient light are provided herein. The backlight module includes a light-emitting diode (LED) array and a backlight controller. The backlight controller is configured to forward bias the LED array to backlight the LCD and reverse bias the LED array to sense the ambient light level. The backlight controller is configured to adjust the brightness of the LED array based on the current ambient lighting conditions sensed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Walter SOTO
  • Publication number: 20090016714
    Abstract: A system and method for embedding or multiplexing an in-service optical time domain reflectometry (ISOTDR) or in-service insertion loss (ISIL) session. A preferred embodiment embeds the sessions using the same wavelength as the data traffic for point-to-point or point-to-multipoint optical fiber networks without interrupting or affecting the primary data transmission process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Alexander Soto, Walter Soto
  • Publication number: 20050031357
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling extinction ratio in an optical network is disclosed. A first optical transceiver sends modulated light to a second optical transceiver and a digital measurement of a signal parameter reflecting the optical power levels of the received modulated light is taken. The modulated light sent by the first optical transceiver is adjusted in accordance with the digital measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2004
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Inventors: Walter Soto, Alexander Soto
  • Publication number: 20050031347
    Abstract: An optical local area network includes a passive optical distribution fabric interconnecting a plurality of nodes including a first node and a plurality of remaining nodes, a hub that includes the first node and a control module, and a client network adapter coupled to each of the remaining nodes for responding to the control module. The control module controls timing for each of the client network adapters to transmit signals over the passive optical distribution fabric and distribution of signals to each of the nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2004
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Inventors: Alexander Soto, Walter Soto
  • Publication number: 20050025505
    Abstract: A converter includes an optical fiber input port; an optical detector configured to receive an optical signal over the optical fiber input port and generate a first electrical signal carrying information; and a mixer in electrical communication with the optical detector configured to mix the first electrical signal with a radio frequency carrier wave producing a second electrical signal for transmission by an antenna. The second electrical signal carries the same information as the first electrical signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventors: Alexander Soto, Walter Soto
  • Publication number: 20050019036
    Abstract: Processing a received optical signal in an optical communication network includes equalizing a received optical signal to provide an equalized signal, demodulating the equalized signal according to an m-ary modulation format to provide a demodulated signal, decoding the demodulated signal according to an inner code to provide an inner-decoded signal, and decoding the inner-decoded signal according to an outer code. Other aspects include other features such as equalizing an optical channel including storing channel characteristics for the optical channel associated with a client, loading the stored channel characteristics during a waiting period between bursts on the channel, and equalizing a received burst from the client using the loaded channel characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Inventors: Alexander Soto, Walter Soto