Patents by Inventor William PUGSLEY

William PUGSLEY 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).

  • Electrostatic discharge protection
    Patent number: 8824111
    Abstract: A circuit for protecting a node (201) in an electronic device (200) from an electrostatic discharge comprising: a voltage rail (206) arranged to provide an predetermined voltage when the device is powered; a first switching device (202) connected between said node (201) and ground (204); a second switching device (203) coupled to said node (201) and arranged to control the conductance of the first switching device (202) between said node (201) and ground (204); wherein, the second switching device (203) is configured to, irrespective of whether the device is powered or not powered, (a) hold the conductance of the first switching device (202) low when the potential difference between the node (201) and the voltage rail (206) is within an operating range, and (b) hold the conductance of the first switching device (202) high in response to an overvoltage at the node (201) so as to allow current to flow from the node (201) to ground (204).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Cambridge Silicon Radio Limited
    Inventors: William Pugsley, Justin Penfold, Ian Sabberton
  • Low voltage electrostatic discharge protection
    Patent number: 8570694
    Abstract: A protection circuit for protecting components from an electrostatic discharge at a node in an integrated circuit having a first set of electronic components of a first voltage sensitivity, the protection circuit comprising: detection circuitry arranged to detect an electrostatic discharge at the node; a first switching device connected between the first set of components and the node; and a second switching device connected between the node and ground; wherein, when an electrostatic discharge is detected at the node, the first switching device is configured to isolate the first set of components from the node and the second switching device is configured to provide a current path from said node to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Cambridge Silicon Radio Limited
    Inventor: William Pugsley
  • Electrostatic discharge protection
    Patent number: 8411398
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (100) comprising a driver element (108) electrically connected to a pin of a package housing the integrated circuit (100), the driver element (108) being associated with a detection element (128) such that on detection of an electrostatic discharge event occurring at the pin by the detection element (128) a system associated with the integrated circuit (100) can be activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Cambridge Silicon Radio Limited
    Inventor: William Pugsley
  • Electrostatic Discharge Protection
    Publication number: 20120281322
    Abstract: A circuit for protecting a node (201) in an electronic device (200) from an electrostatic discharge comprising: a voltage rail (206) arranged to provide an predetermined voltage when the device is powered; a first switching device (202) connected between said node (201) and ground (204); a second switching device (203) coupled to said node (201) and arranged to control the conductance of the first switching device (202) between said node (201) and ground (204); wherein, the second switching device (203) is configured to, irrespective of whether the device is powered or not powered, (a) hold the conductance of the first switching device (202) low when the potential difference between the node (201) and the voltage rail (206) is within an operating range, and (b) hold the conductance of the first switching device (202) high in response to an overvoltage at the node (201) so as to allow current to flow from the node (201) to ground (204).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: CAMBRIDGE SILICON RADIO LIMITED
    Inventors: William Pugsley, Justin Penfold, Ian Sabberton
  • Low Voltage Electrostatic Discharge Protection
    Publication number: 20120075758
    Abstract: A protection circuit for protecting components from an electrostatic discharge at a node in an integrated circuit having a first set of electronic components of a first voltage sensitivity, the protection circuit comprising: detection circuitry arranged to detect an electrostatic discharge at the node; a first switching device connected between the first set of components and the node; and a second switching device connected between the node and ground; wherein, when an electrostatic discharge is detected at the node, the first switching device is configured to isolate the first set of components from the node and the second switching device is configured to provide a current path from said node to ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: CAMBRIDGE SILICON RADIO LIMITED
    Inventor: William Pugsley
  • ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE PROTECTION
    Publication number: 20100110596
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (100) comprising a driver element (108) electrically connected to a pin of a package housing the integrated circuit (100), the driver element (108) being associated with a detection element (128) such that on detection of an electrostatic discharge event occurring at the pin by the detection element (128) a system associated with the integrated circuit (100) can be activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: Cambridge Silicon Radio Limited
    Inventor: William PUGSLEY