Patents Issued in July 29, 2008
  • Patent number: 7405604
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating an output clock is disclosed. The apparatus comprises: N variable offset clock circuits for receiving N input clocks and for generating N intermediate clocks having N phase offsets controlled by N intermediate signals, respectively, where N>1; a clock multiplexer for selecting one of the N intermediate clocks as the output clock according to a finite-state signal having N possible states; and a finite-state-machine for receiving a control signal and the N intermediate clocks and for generating the finite-state signal and the N intermediate signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Chia-Liang Lin, Gerchih Chou
  • Patent number: 7405605
    Abstract: Data storage circuits and components of such circuits constructed using nanotube switching elements. The storage circuits may be stand-alone devices or cells incorporated into other devices or circuits. The data storage circuits include or can be used in latches, master-slave flip-flops, digital logic circuits, memory devices and other circuits. In one aspect of the invention, a master-slave flip-flop is constructed using one or more nanotube switching element-based storage devices. The master storage element or the slave storage element or both may be constructed using nanotube switching elements, for example, using two nanotube switching element-based inverters. The storage elements may be volatile or non-volatile. An equilibration device is provided for protecting the stored data from fluctuations on the inputs. Input buffers and output buffers for data storage circuits of the invention may also be constructed using nanotube switching elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Nantero, Inc.
    Inventor: Claude L. Bertin
  • Patent number: 7405606
    Abstract: A D flip-flop with a reduced power product or reduced clock line capacitance is disclosed. The flip-flop includes a half-static slave stage or a master stage with clock gating by the input and output. The half-static slave stage an output inverter and a feedback element consisting of a single switching transistor having a gate connected to the output of the flip-flop and the input of the inverter as its load. The clock gating circuit, which may comprise an XNOR gate, reduces the frequency of switching events by permitting clock pulses to pass into the master or slave stage only when the input and output of the flip-flop are at the same logical state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Fund 27 LLC
    Inventors: Chi Wah Kok, Yee Ching Tam
  • Patent number: 7405607
    Abstract: A clock generation circuit receives a reference clock signal for outputting clock signals to peripheral circuits. A duty ratio of at least one of output buffer signals output from buffer circuits included in the clock generation circuit is varied so that a duty ratio of at least one of the clock signals can be varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Koichi Ishimi
  • Patent number: 7405608
    Abstract: A modulator apparatus operating at a low supply voltage, configured for receiving an input-voltage signal in base band and supplying an output-voltage signal at a given modulation frequency under control of a signal generated by a local oscillator and comprising a transconductor stage that carries out a voltage-to-current conversion of said input-voltage signal. A voltage-to-current conversion module is coupled to a current-mirror module configured for mirroring a current in a Gilbert-cell stage, which supplies an output-voltage signal under the control of said signal generated by the local oscillator. The Gilbert-cell stage further comprises an output load for carrying out a current-to-voltage conversion and supplying the output-voltage signal. Said transconductor stage further comprises a differential feedback network configured for reproducing said input-voltage signal on a differential load included in said voltage-to-current conversion module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Pietro Filoramo, Alberto Cavallaro, Tiziano Chiarillo
  • Patent number: 7405609
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical circuit arrangement for driving switching power semiconductor components at high voltage potential with a control signal predetermining a switching information for the power semiconductor component and an output voltage directly controlling the power semiconductor component. A non-controllable semiconductor valve is used as component with high dielectric strength for transferring the switching energy and the switching information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Inventor: Jens Krotsch
  • Patent number: 7405610
    Abstract: A temperature compensation circuit consists of a thermo sensitive resistance, a fixed resistance, a logic buffer, and a logic inverter, without incorporating any operational amplifier. A resistance value of the thermo sensitive resistance is changed by temperature change. The fixed resistance has a small temperature changes that is smaller than that of the thermo sensitive resistance. Both the fixed resistance and the thermo sensitive resistance are connected electrically to an output terminal of the temperature compensation circuit. The logic buffer sets the other terminal of the fixed resistance to a first voltage that is one of a voltage level of a power source and a ground level. The logic inverter sets the other terminal of the thermo sensitive resistance to a second voltage that is reversed to the first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Okada
  • Patent number: 7405611
    Abstract: To save power consumption in a semiconductor integrated circuit 2A increased due to a leak current caused by a variation in a manufacturing process, temperature, and a power supply voltage. A semiconductor integrated circuit 2A, a leak current detection circuit 3, a comparison operation circuit 4 and an applied voltage output circuit 5A are provided. The semiconductor integrated circuit 2A has a circuit body 21 including a plurality of functional MOSFETs for performing predetermined functional operations, and a monitor circuit 22A including a plurality of monitor NMOSFETs 23 for monitoring properties of the functional MOSFETs. The leak current detection circuit 3 detects leak data corresponding to leak currents from the monitor NMOSFETs 23, and outputs the detected leak data. The comparison operation circuit 4 extracts, from a plurality of pieces of leak data, one piece of leak data minimizing a leak current in the circuit body 21, and outputs the extracted leak data as applied voltage data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaya Sumita
  • Patent number: 7405612
    Abstract: A Provided is an electronic device in which: alternating current power from an RF coil which receives an electromagnetic wave and converts the electromagnetic wave into power is rectified by a diode and a first capacitor; the power is stepped up by a charge pump type step-up circuit; the power stepped up by the step-up circuit is stored in a second capacitor by a charging and discharging circuit; and the stored power is supplied from the charging and discharging circuit to an RF transmission circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Yukimasa Minami, Yoshifumi Yoshida, Fumiyasu Utsunomiya
  • Patent number: 7405613
    Abstract: A circuit and method for differential slope demodulator circuit are shown that utilize amplitude stabilizing of a frequency modulated signal to obtain an amplitude stabilized signal. Also shown is bandpass filtering of the amplitude stabilized signal for a first frequency that is offset by a shift frequency below an intermediate frequency, to obtain a first filtered signal and bandpass filtering the amplitude stabilized signal for a second frequency that is offset by the shift frequency above the intermediate frequency, to obtain a second filtered signal. The circuit and method further operate by detecting an envelope of the first filtered signal to obtain a first envelope signal, detecting an envelope of the second filtered signal to obtain a second envelope signal, and differencing the first and second envelope signals to obtain a demodulated output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Integration Associates Inc.
    Inventor: Hendricus C. De Ruijter
  • Patent number: 7405614
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement is disclosed herein comprising an amplifier circuit having inputs configured to receive an input signal, and an output configured to provide an output signal. The circuit arrangement further comprises a first operational amplifier. The first operational amplifier includes inputs coupled to the inputs of the amplifier circuit, an output coupled to the output of the amplifier circuit, and a first compensation input. The compensation input is configured to feed an offset compensation signal to the first operational amplifier. The circuit arrangement further comprises a first compensation circuit configured to provide the offset compensation signal. The first compensation circuit is coupled to the inputs of the first operational amplifier. The circuit arrangement further comprises a deactivation circuit which is designed to temporarily deactivate the first compensation circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Heiko Gutzki, Marcus Nuebling
  • Patent number: 7405615
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus of processing digital power with pulse area modulation. This apparatus is composed of a front end circuit (1), a double limit delay comparison circuit (2), an integrating circuit (7), a drive circuit (3), a switching circuit (4), a power source (5) and a filter circuit (6). The double limits of signal and feedback comparison signal will be compared in the double limit delay comparison circuit. When the value of feedback comparison signal is greater than the upper limit, the double limit delay comparison circuit will output a low level. When the value of feedback comparison signal is smaller than the lower limit, the double limit delay comparison circuit will output a high level. Integrating circuit samples from the output of main switching circuit, and then sends a feedback signal (Y) to the double limit delay comparison circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Inventors: Hutang Fang, Hua Fang
  • Patent number: 7405616
    Abstract: A differential transimpedance amplifier circuit comprises first, second, third and fourth operational amplifiers having a first inverting input, a first non-inverting input, a first inverting output and a first non-inverting output. A first feedback element communicates with the second non-inverting input and the second inverting output. A second feedback element communicates with the second inverting input and the second non-inverting output. A third feedback element communicates with the third non-inverting input and the first inverting output. A fourth feedback element communicates with the third inverting input and the first non-inverting output. A fifth feedback element communicates with the fourth inverting input and the first inverting output. A sixth feedback element communicates with the fourth non-inverting output and the first non-inverting output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventor: Sehat Sutardja
  • Patent number: 7405617
    Abstract: A dynamic biasing system (“DBS”) for dynamically biasing an amplifier with an adjusted bias signal is shown. The DBS may include a first biasing circuit that produces a bias signal and a second biasing circuit in signal communication with both the first biasing circuit and the amplifier, wherein the second biasing circuit compares the bias signal to a predetermined threshold and in response produces the adjusted bias signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicolas Constantin
  • Patent number: 7405618
    Abstract: A power amplification controlling apparatus and method in a mobile communication system are provided. An amplifying part amplifies an input Radio Frequency (RF) signal with a power supply voltage. A bias adaptation part detects a change in at least one an operation and an environment of the amplifying part, attenuates the RF signal according to the detected change, detecting the envelope of the attenuated signal, and generates a supply voltage control signal according to the envelope. A power supply part changes the power supply voltage in response to the supply voltage control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-Geun Lee, Hyun-Su Yoon
  • Patent number: 7405619
    Abstract: Provided is a frequency converter using an amplification circuit that is improved with linearity by coupling a main transistor and an auxiliary transistor in parallel. An amplification circuit that is improved with linearity comprises an input block amplifying an input signal, an induction block inducing a current proportionate to an output signal of the input block and an amplification block comprising. The amplification block comprises a main transistor amplifying the output signal of the induction block, wherein the main transistor is biased to operate at a saturation region and an auxiliary transistor amplifying the output signal of the induction block, wherein the auxiliary transistor is biased to operate at a subthreshold region and coupled to the main transistor in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Integrant Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Tae Wook Kim
  • Patent number: 7405620
    Abstract: A method of forming a differential amplifier on a substrate which has a greater tolerance for applied voltages and a chip so formed. The differential amplifier circuit on a substrate has additional transistors connected with resistors which form a voltage divider, thereby sharing the voltage stress which may be applied and accommodating enhanced capabilities for the differential amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hayden C. Cranford, Jr., Todd M. Rasmus
  • Patent number: 7405621
    Abstract: An apparatus for amplifying differential signals is provided. The apparatus comprises a differential amplifier, a first impedance component, a second impedance component, a voltage source and a high-pass filter. The differential amplifier receives an input differential signal with a first terminal and a second terminal. The differential amplifier also drains currents from the voltage source into a third terminal and a fourth terminal via the first and the second impedance components respectively. The high-pass filter receives the input differential signal and outputs a control differential signal to control the first and the second impedance components so that the impedance of the first and the second impedance components vary inversely in response to the voltages at the first and the second terminals respectively when the state of the input differential signal changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Ying-Fu Lin, Yu-Tsun Chien
  • Patent number: 7405622
    Abstract: A differential amplifier includes an input stage circuit including a first differential pair and a second differential pair which are complementary to each other; a first current mirror circuit connected with the first differential pair and configured to function as an active load; a second current mirror circuit connected with the second differential pair and configured to function as an active load; an output stage circuit having a pair of output transistors connected in series between a higher power supply and a lower power supply; an operation point setting circuit configured to set an operation point of the output transistors; and a floating constant current source connected between an input terminal of the first current mirror circuit and an input terminal of the second current mirror circuit, and configured to supply a constant current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Kouichi Nishimura, Atsushi Shimatani, Motoyasu Ichimura
  • Patent number: 7405623
    Abstract: A sensing circuit capable of detecting very low current pulses of the order of 10's and 100's of micro amps. The sensing circuit comprises a common gate amplification stage capable of amplifying a sensed current, a comparison stage having as an input the amplified sensed current and a feedback stage capable of returning an output of the comparison stage to the common gate amplification stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Nishanth Kulasekeram
  • Patent number: 7405624
    Abstract: Various source follower circuits and methods for implementing such are disclosed. As one example, a class AB source follower circuit is disclosed that includes a source follower circuit that is actively biased. The dynamic biasing allows the source follower circuit to sustainably sink a DC current. In some instances of the embodiments, the class AB source follower circuits are operable to source and sink both AC and DC currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Inventors: Stephen J. Franck, Ranganathan Desikachari, Matthew Clapp
  • Patent number: 7405625
    Abstract: Control structures are provided to accurately maintain amplifier common-mode levels at the predetermined level of a common-mode reference voltage Vcm. The disclosed control structures provide amplifier feedback along a first feedback path that is configured to provide high gain and low bandwidth to closely maintain amplifier common-mode level at the predetermined level of a common-mode reference voltage Vcm. They also provide amplifier feedback along a second feedback path that is configured to provide wide bandwidth to substantially reduce perturbations of the common-mode level that would have otherwise been induced by input signal transients. In an important amplifier feature, these controls are obtained without use of structures (e.g., capacitors and switching transistors) that use substantial current which reduces amplifier efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Michael Hensley, Michael R. Elliott
  • Patent number: 7405626
    Abstract: A distributed amplifier is disclosed herein, which includes a signal amplification unit amplifying a RF input signal fed into the RF signal, a first biasing circuit providing a direct current (DC) bias signal, a second biasing circuit providing a DC bias signal, the variable terminal resistance providing an adjustable resistance, a RF signal input terminal provided for input of the RF input signal and a RF signal output terminal for output of a RF output signal. The output RF signal from the distributed amplifier is obtained from a gained version of the input RF signal. Since a load mismatch issue is compensated, a gain flatness issue is considerably improved and thus a gain-adjustable range is increased with respect to the distributed amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: National Taiwan University
    Inventors: Shih-Chieh Shin, Ming-Da Tsai, Huei Wang
  • Patent number: 7405627
    Abstract: In a PLL frequency synthesizer outputting signals with different frequencies: voltage-controlled oscillators output the signals and have the oscillation frequencies controlled according to control voltages; a first switch selects one of the signals; a frequency divider generates a frequency-divided signal of the selected signal by use of a changeable frequency-division ratio; a phase comparator generates the phase difference between the frequency-divided signal and a reference signal; a second switch selects one of paths connected to low-pass filters; each low-pass filter is provided for one of the voltage-controlled oscillators, has a changeable time constant, and converts the phase difference into one of the control voltages; and a controller cyclically controls the first and second switches and the frequency divider so that the voltage-controlled oscillators continuously output the signals, and changes the changeable time constant of each low-pass filter after all of the signals become stable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Katsuya Shimomura, Kimitoshi Niratsuka
  • Patent number: 7405628
    Abstract: A technique that is readily implemented in monolithic integrated circuits reduces or eliminates phase glitches when switching between input reference clock signals. The technique combines a pulsed phase-difference signal and a pulsed phase-difference compensation signal to substantially attenuate a DC component of the phase-difference signal and at least partially attenuate harmonic components of the phase-difference signal. The pulsed phase-difference compensation signal is based on an indicator of a phase difference between the input reference clock signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald B. Hulfachor, Srisai R. Seethamraju, Shailesh Chitnis
  • Patent number: 7405629
    Abstract: A frequency synthesizer is provided having a fractional-N control circuit and method. The control circuit can operate as having a modulator that selectively applies any fractional ratio to a frequency divider within, for example, a feedback loop of a PLL. The modulator can be a delta-sigma modulator or any sequential state machine that can be implemented as the control circuit, and can select amongst a plurality of vector values. The vector values can be spaced relatively close to each other, and the incoming present vector values can each be added to a value chosen from the immediately preceding set of potential values. The selector circuit chooses from among the present set of vector values depending on whether the sum is nearest a target value. The sum nearest the target value is, therefore, selected as the present vector value, and the process is repeated in time for each vector value having a corresponding P value to form a pattern of P values sent to the divider of the PLL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventor: Shuliang Li
  • Patent number: 7405630
    Abstract: A loop filter for use in a frequency synthesizer provides improved spurious performance using switched capacitors. The loop filter includes a first switched capacitor having a first capacitance value and which is operable to charge to a first voltage corresponding to a current pulse indicative of a difference in phase or frequency between a reference signal and a feedback signal. The loop filter further includes a second switched capacitor having a second capacitance value and which is operable to charge to a second voltage from the first voltage and produce a control voltage based upon the second voltage. The loop filter has a bandwidth determined by a ratio of the second capacitance value to the first capacitance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Henrik T. Jensen
  • Patent number: 7405631
    Abstract: An oscillator includes a first circuit that asynchronously generates an oscillating signal in response to a second circuit of the oscillator acknowledging each cycle of the oscillating signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Mark L. Neidengard
  • Patent number: 7405632
    Abstract: A voltage-controlled oscillator includes (i) a first variable-capacity element, (ii) a resonance circuit whose resonance frequency changes in accordance with a control voltage applied to the first variable-capacity element, (iii) a second variable-capacity element connected in parallel with the first variable-capacity element, (iv) resonance frequency range switching means which switches the variation range of the resonance frequency of the resonance circuit by switching the capacity of the second variable-capacity element, and (v) a resonance frequency correction circuit which corrects the resonance frequency in such a manner as to prevent the ratio between resonance frequencies before and after the switching of the variation range from depending on the control voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yusuke Kishino
  • Patent number: 7405633
    Abstract: A method for controlling loop bandwidth of a phase locked loop is described. The method includes setting the loop bandwidth to a value, calculating at least one of a phase error and a frequency change that occur subsequent to any setting or adjusting of loop bandwidth, and adjusting the loop bandwidth based on at least one of the phase error and the frequency change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Tellabs Reston, Inc.
    Inventors: Sharath Navil, David W. Fleming
  • Patent number: 7405634
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for altering the effective electrical length of trace on a circuit board. In the present invention small tabs of etch are routed perpendicular to the trace in the unused areas between adjacent traces. In an embodiment of the invention, a method of tuning the delay characteristics of a transmission line is implemented by inserting compensation tabs into the unused area between the segments of adjacent straight traces or a serpentine run. Utilizing the method and apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to achieve significantly greater electrical length for an electrical trace without introducing coupling problems or utilizing large amounts of space on a circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: James B. Mobley, Robert Washburn
  • Patent number: 7405635
    Abstract: It is to provide an MEMS switch easy to manufacture, microscopic, and capable of obtaining a sufficient ON/OFF capacitance change ratio. An MEMS switch includes a substrate 46, a conductive beam 42 formed on a surface of the substrate, and three-layer structure beams B1 and B2 formed on the surface of the substrate and disposed to be opposed to the conductive beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akinori Hashimura, Yasuyuki Naito, Kunihiko Nakamura, Yoshito Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 7405636
    Abstract: Four input nodes I1-I4 for inputting 4-phase signals, four resistors R1-R4, four capacitors C1-C4, and four output nodes O1-O4 for outputting 4-phase signals are provided. The resistors and the capacitors are connected alternately in a loop, and the input nodes and output nodes are connected alternately to the respective nodes between the resistors and the capacitors sequentially. Each of the four resistors is composed of a group of three or more partial resistors, and three groups of the partial resistors R2a-R2c, R3a-R3c and R4a-R4c are collected respectively and arranged in the same attitude, while the partial resistors R1a-R1c of the remaining group are distributed into the other groups and arranged in the same line the same attitude as the partial resistors of each of the other groups. The regions of the thus collected groups are arranged in one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Ozasa, Akio Yokoyama, Manabu Ookubo, Takao Soramoto
  • Patent number: 7405637
    Abstract: A miniature tunable filter comprising filter poles disposed with a filter substrate. A moveable electrically conductive membrane is disposed above each filter pole and is spaced from the filter pole by an air or vacuum gap. The gap spacing is changed by deflecting the membrane with an electrostatic voltage. The change in gap spacing varies the capacitive loading at the pole, thus providing tuning of the filter. The electrically conductive membrane is preferably manufactured on a separate substrate that is bonded to the filter body containing the filter substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Sarabjit Mehta, Peter Petre
  • Patent number: 7405638
    Abstract: Provided are coaxial waveguide microstructures. The microstructures include a substrate and a coaxial waveguide disposed above the substrate. The coaxial waveguide includes: a center conductor; an outer conductor including one or more walls, spaced apart from and disposed around the center conductor; one or more dielectric support members for supporting the center conductor in contact with the center conductor and enclosed within the outer conductor; and a core volume between the center conductor and the outer conductor, wherein the core volume is under vacuum or in a gas state. Also provided are methods of forming coaxial waveguide microstructures by a sequential build process and hermetic packages which include a coaxial waveguide microstructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials LLC
    Inventors: David W. Sherrer, John J. Fisher
  • Patent number: 7405639
    Abstract: A switch includes a first member, one end of which being secured to a substrate, multiple first beam portions respectively having multiple first contact portions, one ends of the multiple beam portions being secured to the first member, multiple contact switch portions connected in parallel, the multiple first contact portions and multiple second contact portions being in a contact state or in a non-contact state in the multiple contact switch portions, and resistors arranged respectively between the multiple contact switch portions and a common connection point to which the multiple contact switch portions are coupled. When at least one of the multiple switch portions is in a contact state, one of the resistors corresponding to the at least one of the multiple switch portions in a contact state has a resistance value greater than another one of the resistors corresponding to at least one of the multiple contact switch portions that is in a non-contact state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignees: Fujitsu Media Devices Limited, Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Yu Yonezawa, Naoyuki Mishima, Tadashi Nakatani, Anh Tuan Nguyen, Satoshi Ueda
  • Patent number: 7405640
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments comprise an apparatus, comprising: a circuit breaker comprising: an integral thermo-magnetic trip device adapted to trip said circuit breaker upon an occurrence of a current overload and adapted to trip said circuit breaker upon an occurrence of a voltage spike of at least a predetermined level; and an integral electronic trip device adapted to trip said circuit breaker upon detection of a ground fault and adapted to trip said circuit breaker upon detection of an arc fault, said integral electronic trip device comprising a solenoid adapted to actuate upon at least one of said ground fault and said arc fault, said solenoid comprising a plunger, said plunger comprising a plunger tip located at an end of said plunger and defined about a longitudinal axis of said solenoid, said plunger tip adapted to contact and move a biased armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Timothy McCoy
  • Patent number: 7405641
    Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical switch is described. The switch comprises a substrate, with a signal transmission portion and an activation portion attached with the substrate. The activation portion includes an armature activation electrode positioned above a substrate activation electrode. The signal transmission portion includes a metal contact extending from a conducting transmission line and through a bottom insulating layer of the signal transmission portion, thereby being exposed for electrical contact. A mechanical linkage connects the activation portion with the signal transmission portion so that the activation portion and the signal transmission portion move in concert. When an activation signal is applied along the activation portion, both the activation portion and the signal transmission portion are drawn toward the substrate to a substantially closed position, where the metal contact of the signal transmission portion electrically contacts a signal transmission electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Tsung-Yuan Hsu, Adele Schmitz, David Chang, Robert Loo
  • Patent number: 7405642
    Abstract: A three dimensional (3D) transformer includes a first coil and a second coil. Each coil includes a first port, a second port, a top layer metal line, inter-layer inner metal lines, inter-layer outer metal lines and a bottom layer metal line. Each metal line of the first coil and that of the second coil are correspondingly arranged to the opposite side of each other. Each of the first port is electrically connected to each of the top metal line. Each coil is arranged clockwise from the top metal line, the inter layer inner metal line down to the bottom layer metal line and arranged clockwise from the bottom layer metal line, the inter layer outer metal line up to the upper metal line of the inter layer outer metal line. Each upper metal line of the inter layer outer metal line is electrically connected to each second port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Heng-Ming Hsu, Kuo-Hsun Huang
  • Patent number: 7405643
    Abstract: An inductor pattern is formed on a substrate. A conductive pattern having a concave-convex structure is formed on the inductor pattern to increase a surface area of the inductor pattern. An insulation layer is formed on the inductor pattern. After a groove is formed such that the insulation layer is removed to expose the inductor pattern, a conductive pattern is conformally formed on the groove and the insulation layer. Thus, a surface area of the inductor pattern as well as a thickness of an inductor increases to obtain an inductor of a high quality factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joo-Hyun Jeong, Chul-Ho Chung
  • Patent number: 7405644
    Abstract: An ignition coil for an internal combustion engine includes a core assembly. The core assembly has a magnetically active core made of sheet-metal strips, a damping element and a sheath surrounding the core and the damping element. Different ways are described for improving the discharge of air trapped in the core assembly during casting of the ignition coil. For example, the damping element is designed with a V-shaped incision or a semipermeable diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Florian Herzog
  • Patent number: 7405645
    Abstract: A thermally activated circuit interrupter (10) has a cantilever mounted, snap acting thermostatic disc (16) mounting a movable electric contact (18) that is adapted to move between a contacts engaged position and a tripped, contacts disengaged position. A pivot member (24) is rotatably mounted above the thermostatic disc and movably mounts a latch (26d) that is biased by spring arm (26a) against the edge of the free end of thermostatic disc (16) in the contacts engaged position and is moved under the thermostatic disc when the disc moves to the contacts disengaged position. An arm (24b) of the pivot member transfers motion to a trip indicator button (32) pushing the button to an exposed position upon rotation of the pivot member when the thermostatic disc moves to the tripped configuration and the latch moves under the disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Sensata Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lucien P. Fontaine, Stephen J. Bryant
  • Patent number: 7405646
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a fuse having opened-fuse indication, which places two or more coils or conductors in parallel and in thermal contact with an indicating material. The multiple conductors allow a lower level of current to produce sufficient heat or sufficient electrical resistance to transform the indicating material. The multiple conductors can also be made of a reduced diameter, resulting in surge protection at a lower device temperature. The multiple conductor indicator in an embodiment includes a base material. First and second conductors contact the base material. An indicating material thermally couples to the first and second conductors. The indicating material can be on the inside or outside of the fuse body. If on the outside, the body can define a recess, wherein the indicator resides within the recess. The indicator can operate with fuses and other types of circuit protection devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc
    Inventors: John Kennedy, Tom Novak, Mark Klinger, William Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 7405647
    Abstract: A device includes a cap attachable to a receptacle for co-acting therewithin enclosing medication and timing a predetermined interval for taking the medication defined by one timing schedule of a set of selectable timing schedules. An electronic timing circuit is constructed and arranged to provide an alarm signal designating a time for taking the medication at the expiration at a predetermined time interval defined by the timing schedule. The electronic timing circuit is housed in the cap and includes schedule processing circuitry that defines the set of selectable timing schedules, and a set of outputs for issuing electrical signals at the expiration of the predetermined time interval. The device has a top part that fits snuggly inside the cap and remains attached to the cap under normal circumstances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Remind Cap Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Roger M. Rosche, Han Kort
  • Patent number: 7405648
    Abstract: There is provided a remote control wiring mechanism, which makes it easy to construct a system by facilitating a connection work and treatment of members constructing the system. A main unit includes signal terminals connected to signal lines and power supply terminals to supply power for driving a relay. A relay unit having a relay is detachably connected to a relay socket of the main unit and is integrally coupled to the main unit. When a transmission signal including on-off information of a switch is received through the signal lines, the on-off state of the switch is reflected in the switching of the relay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Hatemata
  • Patent number: 7405649
    Abstract: A communication control apparatus of the present invention controls communication among a plurality of electronic devices mounted on a vehicle and mainly includes a control unit that is configured of a micro computer or the like and that periodically outputs clock pulses, a trouble detecting unit to detect a trouble in the control unit, and a communication control unit to interrupt communication upon detection of a trouble, that is, to control communication by disconnecting an electronic device. The trouble detecting unit includes an analog amount converting unit to convert clock pulses from the control unit to an analog amount and an analog amount comparing unit to compare the analog amount generated in the analog amount converting unit with a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Hiratsuka, Masaaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7405650
    Abstract: The present invention relates to various improvements to digital communications and various applications of the improved digital communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Jeremy C. Andrus, Timothy R. Friend, Jon H. Bechtel, Robert R. Turnbull
  • Patent number: 7405651
    Abstract: The invention relates to an operating element for a heating and air conditioning system for the setting of air conditioning parameters in a vehicle interior, the setting being fed back to the operator of the operating element. In order to provide an operating element for a heating and air conditioning system, for the operating of which the attention of the vehicle driver is demanded as little as possible, the feedback of the set air conditioning parameters to the operator takes place by means of the operating element itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Vera Donk, Guido Meier-Arendt
  • Patent number: 7405652
    Abstract: A system for bidirectional data and power transmission is shown and described. In an embodiment, a network power controller provides power to a node and communicates bidirectionally with the node. In an embodiment, the network power controller is coupled to an AC power source and provides both AC and DC power to the node. In an embodiment, the network power controller and node are coupled via a conduit comprising three wires, wherein the first wire carries DC power and communications, the second wire carries AC power, and the third wire is the neutral/ground line. In another embodiment, the network power controller and node are coupled via a conduit comprising two wires, wherein the first wire carries AC power and communications and the second wire is the neutral/ground line. In an embodiment, AC power having one phase or more can be controlled at the network power controller and the node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Abet Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James M. Hair, III, Daniel L. Greene
  • Patent number: 7405653
    Abstract: A residential monitoring system incorporates both physiological sensors and activity sensors. Some of the sensors can be in wireless communication with control circuitry. One or more activity profiles can be established for a resident to expand upon and supplement information from the physiological sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Lee D. Tice, Robert J. Clow, Dragan P. Petrovic