Jeffrey D Merwin

US Patent:

7028651, Apr 18, 2006

Filed:

Oct 4, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/958023

Inventors:

Jeffrey D. Merwin - Buffalo Grove IL, US

Assignee:

Motorola, Inc. - Schaumberg IL

International Classification:

F01L 9/04

US Classification:

123 9011, 330251

Abstract:

A drive circuit for a power device includes a power transistor utilized to drive the power device. The drive circuit utilizes a resonant circuit that drives the power transistor at a high current level when the gate of the power transistor is in its Miller region. In one embodiment, the drive circuit includes dual transistors and an inductor tuned to the gate capacitance to drive the gate of the power transistor. The drive circuit may be useful in a variety of areas, such as with a valve controller for a camless engine.

US Patent:

20090079418, Mar 26, 2009

Filed:

Sep 26, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/862184

Inventors:

James A. Stegen - Chicago IL, US
Mark D. Gunderson - Salem WI, US
Jeffrey D. Merwin - Buffalo Grove IL, US

International Classification:

G01R 29/00

US Classification:

324114

Abstract:

Methods and systems for monitoring voltage are disclosed, including: a plurality of circuit points, a first bus configured to electrically couple to a voltage measurement device, a first set of switches configured to selectively electrically couple a first subset of the circuit points to the first bus, at least one other bus configured to electrically couple to at least one of: the voltage measurement device and another voltage measurement device, and at least one other set of switches configured to selectively electrically couple at least one other subset of the circuit points to the other bus.

US Patent:

20110089932, Apr 21, 2011

Filed:

Dec 22, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/975815

Inventors:

James A. Stegen - Chicago IL, US
Mark D. Gunderson - Salem WI, US
Jeffrey D. Merwin - Buffalo Grove IL, US

Assignee:

CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC. - Deer Park IL

International Classification:

G01R 1/20

US Classification:

324126

Abstract:

Methods and systems for monitoring voltage are disclosed, including: a plurality of circuit points, a first bus configured to electrically couple to a voltage measurement device, a first set of switches configured to selectively electrically couple a first subset of the circuit points to the first bus, at least one other bus configured to electrically couple to at least one of: the voltage measurement device and another voltage measurement device, and at least one other set of switches configured to selectively electrically couple at least one other subset of the circuit points to the other bus.

US Patent:

58670173, Feb 2, 1999

Filed:

Apr 21, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/837583

Inventors:

Jeffrey D. Merwin - Buffalo Grove IL
Dennis L. Stephens - Niles IL

Assignee:

Motorola Inc. - Schaumburg IL

International Classification:

G05F 144

US Classification:

323320

Abstract:

An energy control system (10) comprises at least one controllable load (110), a master controller (200), a traveler wire (300) and at least one remote switch (400). The master controller (200) transmits control commands that effect corresponding control actions in the controllable load (110). The remote switch (400) transmits remote commands to the master controller (200) over the traveler wire (300). The energy control system (10) is well suited for installation in standard three-way switch or four-way switch electrical systems and requires neither additional wiring nor complicated installation procedures.

US Patent:

56892306, Nov 18, 1997

Filed:

Nov 9, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/555627

Inventors:

Jeffrey D. Merwin - Buffalo Grove IL
Philip D. Gunderson - Arlington Heights IL
Dennis L. Stephens - Niles IL
Steven J. Purdy - Lake Zurich IL

Assignee:

Motoral, Inc. - Schamburg IL

International Classification:

H04M 1104

US Classification:

34031001

Abstract:

An energy monitoring and control system (10) for use with a conventional AC source (12) having a hot wire and a neutral wire (28). The energy monitoring and control system (10) includes a control station (14) and a number of controllable loads (20). The control station (14) is coupled in series with the hot wire of the AC source and is physically located between the AC source (12) and the loads (20). The individual loads are connected in parallel with each other and are coupled to the AC surce (12) and the control station (14). The control station (14) can communicate with the loads in various ways, a preferred scheme being a power-line communication method. Each of the loads is equipped with circuitry for receiving and executing commands sent by the control station (14). The control station (14) can receive information from the loads (20) by observing the AC supply current drawn by the loads (20).

US Patent:

56916914, Nov 25, 1997

Filed:

Jan 6, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/779194

Inventors:

Jeffrey D. Merwin - Buffalo Grove IL
John G. Konopka - Barrington IL

Assignee:

Motorola, Inc. - Schaumburg IL

International Classification:

H04M 1104

US Classification:

34031002

Abstract:

A power-line communication system (10) for use with a conventional AC source (12) having a hot wire (14) and a neutral wire (16). The communication system (10) includes a pulse transmitter (16) and at least one receiver (18) connected downstream from the pulse transmitter (16). The pulse transmitter (16) is coupled between the hot wire (14) of the AC source (12) and either the neutral wire (16) of the AC source (12) or earth ground. Each receiver (14) is coupled to the AC source (12). The pulse transmitter (16) includes a control circuit (30) for controlling the conduction of a shunt circuit (32) and sends messages to the receivers (20) by inducing momentary pulses in the AC voltage supplied by the AC source (12). The shunt circuit (32) includes a power switch (52) and an energy clamp circuit for limiting the amplitude and the duration of the current through the power switch (52) and the pulse induced in the AC line voltage. Each receiver (18) detects the momentary pulses and translates a given sequence of pulses into its corresponding message.

US Patent:

59821094, Nov 9, 1999

Filed:

Apr 17, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/062479

Inventors:

John G. Konopka - Barrington IL
Jeffrey D. Merwin - Buffalo Grove IL

Assignee:

Motorola Inc. - Schaumburg IL

International Classification:

H05B 3702

US Classification:

315209R

Abstract:

An electronic ballast (100) for powering at least one gas discharge lamp (10) comprises an inverter (200) and an output circuit (300). Output circuit (300) comprises a resonant inductor (310), a resonant capacitor (330), a DC blocking capacitor (360), a first rectifier (350), and a second rectifier (370). Output circuit (300) prevents excessive current flow and power dissipation in the event of lamp removal or failure, and provides automatic ignition following lamp replacement. In an alternative embodiment, a ballast (160) for powering two lamps (10,20) includes a pair of modified output circuits (500,600) and a ground-referenced lamp return wire (504) for accommodating conventional instant-start type wiring.

US Patent:

57676313, Jun 16, 1998

Filed:

Dec 20, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/771186

Inventors:

John G. Konopka - Barrington IL
Dennis L. Stephens - Niles IL
Jeffrey D. Merwin - Buffalo Grove IL

Assignee:

Motorola Inc. - Schaumburg IL

International Classification:

G05F 100

US Classification:

315307

Abstract:

A power supply (10) for powering a load (500) includes an inverter (100), a series resonant output circuit (200), and a bootstrap power source (300) for supplying operating power to an inverter driver circuit (110). The bootstrap power source (300) is coupled in series with the load (500) via a dc blocking capacitor (240) and provides automatic shutdown of the inverter (100) by ceasing to supply operating power to the inverter driver circuit (110) when the load (500) fails to conduct current or is removed.