Patents by Inventor Westerfield John Ficken

Westerfield John Ficken 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: 7684517
    Abstract: Embodiments include a time-sharing detector that is designed to enable comparison of a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage against the serial data transmission in a specified pattern. In many embodiments, the pattern is pre-defined and, in some embodiments, the pattern includes an overlap period. During the overlap period both the first and the second reference voltages are compared with the data transmission to determine if valid data can be detected. Upon detecting a valid bit based upon one of the reference voltages, an output signal is generated to indicate that the data transmission includes a valid data signal. Advantageously, alternating between the comparisons can reduce power consumption. In many embodiments, the power reduction can be, for example, 50%, depending upon the specified pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hayden Clavie Cranford, Jr., Westerfield John Ficken
  • Patent number: 7406135
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and media to time-share the signal detection between reference voltages for a data transmission are contemplated. Embodiments include a time-sharing detector that is designed to enable comparison of a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage against the serial data transmission in a specified pattern. In many embodiments, the pattern is pre-defined and, in some embodiments, the pattern includes an overlap period. During the overlap period both the first and the second reference voltages are compared with the data transmission to determine if valid data can be detected. Upon detecting a valid bit based upon one of the reference voltages, an output signal is generated to indicate that the data transmission includes a valid data signal. Advantageously, alternating between the comparisons can reduce power consumption. In many embodiments, the power reduction can be, for example, 50%, depending upon the specified pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hayden Clavie Cranford, Jr., Westerfield John Ficken
  • Publication number: 20080165897
    Abstract: Embodiments include a time-sharing detector that is designed to enable comparison of a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage against the serial data transmission in a specified pattern. In many embodiments, the pattern is pre-defined and, in some embodiments, the pattern includes an overlap period. During the overlap period both the first and the second reference voltages are compared with the data transmission to determine if valid data can be detected. Upon detecting a valid bit based upon one of the reference voltages, an output signal is generated to indicate that the data transmission includes a valid data signal. Advantageously, alternating between the comparisons can reduce power consumption. In many embodiments, the power reduction can be, for example, 50%, depending upon the specified pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Hayden Clavie Cranford, Westerfield John Ficken
  • Patent number: 7268624
    Abstract: Offset voltages in differential amplifiers are minimized by controlling compensation currents through the load impedances of the amplifiers. The currents are varied while sensing the polarity of the offset voltage. When the polarity changes, the current values are latched to keep the offset voltage at a minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Minhan Chen, Westerfield John Ficken, Louis Lu-Chen Hsu, Steven J. Zier