Automatic Preset Patents (Class 377/31)
  • Patent number: 8644447
    Abstract: A digital frequency divider including a parallel output register, a presettable asynchronous counter and a decoder. The parallel output register contains a desired count value. The presettable asynchronous counter has its preset data inputs coupled to the output of the parallel output register. The decoder receives its input from the data outputs of the presettable asynchronous divider and its output coupled to the load input of the presettable asynchronous counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics International N.V.
    Inventors: Chandra Bhushan Prakash, Balwinder Singh Soni
  • Patent number: 8630386
    Abstract: A battery powered device is able to maintain a clock value when the battery is removed for a short period. During a first time period, while the battery is in the device, clock pulses derived from a first oscillator are counted at a first rate in a first counter that represents the clock value. During a second time period following the first time period, while the battery is removed, the value of the first counter is maintained independent of any clock pulses derived from the first oscillator, clock pulses derived from a second low power oscillator are counted in a second counter. During a recovery time period following the second time period, clock pulses derived from the second oscillator are again counted in the second counter, while clock pulses derived from the first oscillator are counted in the first counter at a second rate higher than the first rate, the duration of the recovery time period being determined based on the number of pulses counted in the second counter during the second time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: ST-Ericsson SA
    Inventor: Andrew Ellis
  • Patent number: 7894961
    Abstract: A dump cycle counting system is provided for a work machine. The system may include a payload carrier configured to contain a payload of material and a dump actuator configured to effectuate dumping of the payload out of the payload carrier. The system may also include a controller configured to control actuation of the dump actuator and a dump control device operatively coupled to the controller. The system may further include a load counter configured to record at least one dump cycle based on a command state of at least one of the dump control device and the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Mark Robert Blackburn, Robert Todd, Roger Tansley
  • Patent number: 7738621
    Abstract: A counter with overflow prevention capability includes a counting unit configured to count an output code in response to an input signal and an overflow preventing unit configured to control the counting unit to stop counting the output code when a current value of the output code is a maximum value but a previous value thereof is not the maximum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Dae-Kun Yoon, Kyung-Hoon Kim, Dae-Han Kwon, Taek-Sang Song
  • Patent number: 6900673
    Abstract: A micro-controller adjustably provides a scanning frequency for operating a driver for an ultrasonic device. The frequency is adjusted within a defined range until an acknowledgement signal is provided to the micro-controller to lock a currently selected frequency as the operating frequency. An indicator indicates when a frequency has been selected outside of the defined range. The device is preferably implemented as a complex programmable logic device (CPLD).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Coltene/Whaledent, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph G. Colombo, Igor Y. Gofman
  • Patent number: 6853698
    Abstract: A ripple counter circuit supports two modes of operation, a user mode and a test mode. In the user mode, the circuit functions as a standard ripple counter, counting in response to first edges (e.g., rising edges) on a clock input signal. In the test mode, the ripple counter circuit alternates between two states. In the first state, the bits all toggle from their initialization values to new values. In the second state, the circuit operates in the same fashion as the user mode. Therefore, the ripple counter circuit counts by one, returning all of the bits to their initialization values. This capability significantly simplifies the testing process, particularly for long ripple counters. Some embodiments of the invention include various control circuits coupled to provide an internal clock signal and/or an initialization signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventor: Andy T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6826249
    Abstract: Described are fast synchronous counters with reduced combinatorial logic. In one embodiment, a four-bit shift register is configured in a ring and preset with a data pattern (e.g., 1000). The register is then rapidly shifted into any of four unique states. Combinatorial logic connected to the shift register converts the four unique states into a two-bit binary signal representative of the four states. In the general case, counters in accordance with this embodiment represent N-bit binary numbers using 2N synchronous storage elements. Two or more counters can be combined to produce larger synchronous counters. An up/down counter in accordance with yet another embodiment is connected to a multi-path delay line to create a variable delay circuit. The switching speed of the delay circuit is independent of the number of delay settings. Also advantageous, the delay circuit scales linearly, in terms of power consumption and area, with changes in delay granularity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: XILINX, Inc.
    Inventor: Ahmed Younis
  • Patent number: 5526390
    Abstract: A decoded counter employing a shift register and a zero-detect circuit has the ability of returning to a correct state within a limited number of clock cycles if an invalid state is accidentally assumed by the counter. One of the flip-flops is provided with synchronous set while all the other flip-flops of the shift register are provided with synchronous reset. The output of the last flip-flop of the register drives a single set-reset line common to all the flip-flops and the pull-up line of the zero-detect circuit is connected to the input of the first flip-flop of the register. Optionally, one of the flip-flops may be provided with asynchronous set and the others with an asynchronous reset, for initializing the counter in a certain state through a single clear-load line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: SGS-Thomson Microelectronics, S.R.L.
    Inventor: Giona Fucili
  • Patent number: 5481222
    Abstract: A power conserving integrated circuit is disclosed. The integrated circuit is coupled to its external power supply only in response to an external event. An initial power connection is made in response to the external event. An element on the integrated circuit detects the initial power connection. After detecting the initial power connection, a switch internal to the integrated circuit is closed so as to couple the power supply to the integrated circuit for a predetermined period of time sufficient for a function to be executed by the integrated circuit. Afterwards, the connection is terminated and is not re-initiated until another external event. Therefore, power is consumed only when necessary, thereby preserving the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Hubert Utz
  • Patent number: 4741000
    Abstract: A photoelectronic switch circuit of a pulse-modulated light system adapted to emit pulse light and conduct detecting operation by detecting only the photo-reception signal synchronized with the pulse light, and it comprises a counter control circuit for resetting or presetting the output signal from a counter if the number of pulse light successively received is less than a predetermined number to eliminate the effect, if any, of external disturbance light and facilitates to attain the integrated circuit by reducing the number of parts for the circuit constituting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1988
    Assignee: Keyence Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiko Fukuda
  • Patent number: 4636967
    Abstract: A circuit for monitoring digital electrical signals which counts events, compares the event count to a threshold value, generates an equal value signal when the threshold is attained and indicates the time elapsed between an initial value and the generation of the equal value signal. The event counter is automatically cleared or reset upon a user enabled automatic clear logic enabling signal. The circuit is preferably configured as a chip employing GaAs Schottky diode field effect transistor logic (SDFL) gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1987
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventors: Devesh Bhatt, Michael O. Schroeder
  • Patent number: 4580281
    Abstract: A self-arming, prescaling frequency counter system comprises an armable frequency counter, an envelope detector, a prescaling pulse-shaper, and a delaying means. The envelope detector detects occurrence of an oscillating signal to be frequency measured and transmits an arming signal to arm the frequency counter for the duration of the oscillating signal. The prescaling pulse-shaper is coupled to receive the oscillating signal burst and generate a pulsed test signal of frequency an integer fraction of the oscillating signal frequency. The delaying means couples the test signal to the armable frequency counter input, delaying receipt of the pulsed signal burst until after the counter is armed, and delaying termination of the pulsed signal until after counter is disarmed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1986
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale E. Carlton
  • Patent number: 4532643
    Abstract: A bidirectional counting circuit for use with a transducer producing two pulses per engineering unit includes an UP/DOWN counter which receives separate UP and DOWN input pulses from the transducer through respective AND gates. A synchronizing flip-flop, which switches states in response to either an UP or DOWN pulse, alternately enables the AND gates and effectively divides the input pulses by two. The state of the flip-flop is used to control a display digit to add the suffix "5" or "0" to the displayed counter content in order to display one-half engineering unit resolution. The circuit includes automatic and manual zeroing capability and a direction indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1985
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Ralph A. Thompson
  • Patent number: 4458357
    Abstract: A plurality of identical circuit board identification generators are individually located on an associated plurality of circuit boards in a computer system, each generator providing a unique identification for each associated circuit board. Identification numbers are automatically and sequentially generated by the generators upon the initial system turn on or upon a resetting of the system. The generators comprise a counter and logic circuitry for enabling the counters. The counters are initially disabled and pre-set to a maximum count. The first counter is then enabled and counts from the maximum to zero, and delivers an enable signal to the logic circuitry in the next circuit board to enable that counter. The enable signals propagate from board to board until the last board commences its count, at which time all counters are disabled. In this manner, N circuit boards will be identified as boards "O" through "N-1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1984
    Assignee: Basic Four Corporation
    Inventors: William M. Weymouth, Dilip C. Shah