Robert M Carroll

US Patent:

6788035, Sep 7, 2004

Filed:

Jun 12, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/167911

Inventors:

Keith Bassett - Torrance CA
Tim Ng - Monterey Park CA
Nicholas Steffen - Redondo Beach CA
Kenneth Ostrom - Palos Verdes Estates CA
Benjamin Tang - Hawthorne CA
Robert Carroll - Andover MA

Assignee:

Primarion, Inc. - Tempe AZ

International Classification:

G05F 1618

US Classification:

323272, 323274

Abstract:

A serial bus control method, apparatus, and system for transmitting signals between a master controller and a slave controller associated with a power regulator are disclosed. The serial bus control scheme allows for information to be written to or read from individual regulators or be written to read from all regulators that are coupled to the master controller.

US Patent:

6947273, Sep 20, 2005

Filed:

Jun 7, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/165470

Inventors:

Keith Bassett - Torrance CA, US
Tim Ng - Monterey Park CA, US
Ken Ostrom - Palos Verdes Estates CA, US
Nicholas Steffen - Redondo Beach CA, US
Benjamin Tang - Hawthorne CA, US
Robert Carroll - Andover MA, US

Assignee:

Primarion, Inc. - Tempe AZ

International Classification:

H02H003/22
H02H009/04

US Classification:

361111, 361 54

Abstract:

A method, apparatus, and system for routing signals in a microelectronic device are disclosed. The system includes a plurality of chip components, such as transient suppression regulators, that are configured to include a transmission path that is routed through the chip component for transmission of any signal, for example, a signal from a communication bus of the microelectronic device.

US Patent:

6975494, Dec 13, 2005

Filed:

May 15, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/147156

Inventors:

Benjamim Tang - Hawthorne CA, US
Kenneth Ostrom - Palos Verdes Estates CA, US
Timothy Ng - Monterey Park CA, US
Keith Nelson Bassett - Torrance CA, US
Nicholas Robert Steffen - Redondo Beach CA, US
Clifford Duong - Fountain Valley CA, US
William Pohlman - Phoenix AZ, US
Robert Carroll - Andover MA, US

Assignee:

Primarion, Inc. - Tempe AZ

International Classification:

H02H003/00
G05F001/44

US Classification:

361 64, 323272

Abstract:

A method, apparatus, and system for providing operating power and transient suppression power to a microelectronic device are disclosed. The system includes a primary regulator to supply nominal operating power and to respond to relatively slow transient events and a transient suppression regulator to respond to fast transient power events. The system also includes a sense circuit to detect when a transient event occurs and to send a signal to the transient suppression regulator to supply or sink current to the load in response to a sensed transient power event.

US Patent:

7492134, Feb 17, 2009

Filed:

Jul 3, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/480715

Inventors:

Benjamim Tang - Rancho Palos Verdes CA, US
Robert T. Carroll - Andover MA, US
Nicholas R. Steffen - Redondo Beach CA, US
Richard C. Pierson - Newport Beach CA, US

Assignee:

Primarion, Inc. - Tempe AZ

International Classification:

G05F 1/00

US Classification:

323241, 323283

Abstract:

Disclosed is a power regulator for providing precisely regulated power to a microelectronic device such as a microprocessor. Improved power regulation is accomplished by optimizing the power efficiency of the power regulator. In particular, in a multiphase system, the number of active phases is increased or decreased to achieve optimum power efficiency. The multiphase voltage regulator adapts the operating mode to maximize efficiency as the load current demand of the load device changes by adjusting the number of active phases to maximize efficiency. The total value of current provided by the regulator and the total number of active phases is determined, the total number of active phases is compared with the number of active phases required to provide the total value of current at maximum efficiency; and the number of active phases is adjusted to provide the total value of current at maximum efficiency. A current sense circuit senses the current at each phase, a summing circuit coupled to the output of the current sense circuit provides the total current value of all the measured phases, a circuit coupled to the output of the summing circuit provides the time averaged total current value to a threshold detecting circuit that determines the number of phases at which the voltage regulator should be operating for maximum efficiency, and a circuit for comparing the number of phases that are operating to the number of phases at which the voltage regulator should be operating adjusts the number of active phases to the number of phases at which the voltage regulator should be operating for maximum efficiency.

US Patent:

7503944, Mar 17, 2009

Filed:

Nov 8, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/494907

Inventors:

Robert W. Carroll - Bradbury CA, US
Noel Carroll - London W1K 2TE, GB
William F. Carroll - Bradbury CA, US
Michael Carroll - Bradbury CA, US

International Classification:

C10L 1/12
C10L 1/18
C10L 1/24
C10L 1/22

US Classification:

44354, 44355, 44362, 44363, 44364, 44365, 44366, 44367, 44457, 431 4

Abstract:

A method of improving the combustion of a fuel by adding a catalyst or combustion enhancer at an extremely low concentration, preferably in the range of 1 part catalyst per 200 million parts fuel to 1 part catalyst per 6 trillion parts fuel. The catalyst or combustion enhancer may be selected from a wide range of soluble compounds. The method may comprise the steps of an initial mixing of the catalyst or enhancer with a suitable solvent and then subsequent dilution steps using solvents or fuel. Suitable solvents include water, MTBE, methylketone, methylisobutylketone, butanol, isopropyl alcohol and other hydrophilic/oleophilic compounds.

US Patent:

7521913, Apr 21, 2009

Filed:

Dec 19, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/311115

Inventors:

Benjamim Tang - Rancho Palos Verdes CA, US
Robert T. Carroll - Andover MA, US
Scott Wilson Southwell - Seal Beach CA, US
Kenneth A. Ostrom - Palos Verdes Estates CA, US
Richard C. Pierson - Newport Beach CA, US

Assignee:

Primarion Corporation - Torrance CA

International Classification:

G05F 1/618

US Classification:

323283, 323272, 323284

Abstract:

Disclosed is a multi-phase pulse width modulated voltage regulator and method in which transient voltage excursions or deviations that exceed the load line voltage by more than a pre-determined amount are detected by an ATR circuit and a correction signal is applied. The correction signal is in the form of asynchronous pulses and the number of such pulses is a function of the magnitude of the voltage excursion as determined by the number of thresholds that are exceeded. Also disclosed is an adaptive voltage positioning (AVP) circuit and method for early detection of a transient event by sensing voltage changes at the load and adjusting the target voltage with pre-determined current values prior to the time that ATR event changes in the current at the load are detected. The AVP load line is pre-positioned for more precise current control. Also disclosed is an adaptive filter with adjustable frequency characteristics in response to an ATR event.

US Patent:

7570036, Aug 4, 2009

Filed:

Sep 10, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/938031

Inventors:

Benjamin Tang - Rancho Palos Verdes CA, US
Robert T. Carroll - Andover MA, US
Scott Wilson Southwell - Seal Beach CA, US

Assignee:

Primarion Corporation - Torrance CA

International Classification:

G05F 1/575

US Classification:

323283, 323272, 323284

Abstract:

Disclosed is a multi-phase pulse width modulated voltage regulator and method in which transient voltage excursions or deviations that exceed the load line voltage by more than a pre-determined amount are detected by an ATR circuit and a correction signal is applied. The correction signal is in the form of asynchronous pulses and the number of such pulses is a function of the magnitude of the voltage excursion as determined by the number of thresholds that are exceeded. Also disclosed is an adaptive voltage positioning (AVP) circuit and method for early detection of a transient event by sensing voltage changes at the load and adjusting the target voltage with pre-determined current values prior to the time that ATR event changes in the current at the load are detected.

US Patent:

7919955, Apr 5, 2011

Filed:

Jun 23, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/490071

Inventors:

Benjamim Tang - Rancho Palos Verdes CA, US
Robert T. Carroll - Andover MA, US
Scott W. Southwell - Seal Beach CA, US

Assignee:

Primarion Corporation - Torrance CA

International Classification:

G05F 1/613

US Classification:

323272, 323286, 700 55

Abstract:

Disclosed is a multi-phase pulse width modulated voltage regulator and method in which transient voltage excursions or deviations that exceed the load line voltage by more than a pre-determined amount are detected by an ATR circuit and a correction signal is applied. The correction signal is in the form of asynchronous pulses and the number of such pulses is a function of the magnitude of the voltage excursion as determined by the number of thresholds that are exceeded. Also disclosed is an adaptive voltage positioning (AVP) circuit and method for early detection of a transient event by sensing voltage changes at the load and adjusting the target voltage with pre-determined current values prior to the time that ATR event changes in the current at the load are detected.