Motorola Corporation

Dreamwell, Ltd.

Google Inc.

Martin Hague Ramsden

Marc B Riley

Michael Stephen DeFranks

Ryan Patrick Rye

Seng P Xiong

Christopher B Houghton

John E Herrmann

Hae Rim Jeong

Peter Nanni

Rahul Kirtikar

Brian Thomas Pozsgay

Taneka L Frazier

Peter M Pavlov

John Wendell Oglesbee

Willard F Amero, Jr

Bradley E Long

John-David Velilla

Brian Mark Anderson

Chason Carroll

Kevin Chirackal

Stephen Nicholas Wolfe

Mackenzie Prestera

Taneka Fields

Ang Teik Heng

Michael S Defranks

Active comfort controlled bedding systems and processes include an air blower assembly for variable climate control. The air blower assembly generally includes a unidirectional air blower configured to flow air to and from a mattress surface overlaying the bucket assembly.

Active comfort controlled bedding systems

Mattress assemblies and pillows are provided that include a flexible biosensor array provided on a layer of the mattress assembly for sensing an electrical conductivity associated with sweat emitted from an end user of the mattress assembly and producing an ionic concentration of at least one electrolyte; and a processor connected to the flexible biosensor array for interpreting the ionic concentration of the at least one electrolyte. Also disclosed are processes for monitoring and analyzing sweat from an end user of the mattress assemblies and pillows.

Monitoring methods and cushioning structures

A circuit assembly () includes a printed circuit board assembly (). The printed circuit board assembly includes a first circuit board (), a second circuit board (), and a first flexible substrate () interposed between, and continuous with, the first circuit board and the second circuit board. A second flexible substrate () extends from, and is continuous with, the second circuit board. One or more electronic circuits comprising electronic components () are disposed along one or more of the first circuit board or the second circuit board. The printed circuit board assembly is folded about a battery (), with the first circuit board adjacent to the first major face, the second circuit board adjacent to the second major face, and the first flexible substrate spanning the one or more side faces.

Circuit assembly for compact acoustic device

This invention is a circuit that actuates a loudspeaker at input frequencies above a predetermined threshold and mutes the loudspeaker at input frequencies below the threshold. The circuit includes a comparator that generates a pulse train proportional in frequency to an input audio signal. The pulse train is then coupled to a flip flop array. The flip flop array is controlled by a clock having a specified frequency and duty cycle. The clock, in conjunction with the particular number of flip flops, creates a time window in which pulses may pass. The output of the flip flop array is coupled to an enable input of an audio amplifier. When the frequency of the pulse train is great enough to allow a number of pulses equal to or greater than the number of flip flops to pass within the window, the loudspeaker is actuated. Below this frequency, the loudspeaker is muted.

Frequency threshold audio activity detector

An acoustic accessory is provided having a loudspeaker and a circuit board disposed therein. An acoustic suspension system is formed within the acoustic accessory by board retention rings disposed within the upper and lower housings of the accessory. The board suspension rings clench the printed circuit board, which includes at least one aperture. Rubber gaskets are coupled to the board retention rings to form an airtight seal. The air mass above the printed circuit board joins with the air mass below the printed circuit board to form a unitary reactance against which the loudspeaker works. The size and number of apertures may be varied in accordance with the acoustic application. Board retention posts optionally seat within notches in the printed circuit board to prevent the printed circuit board from moving laterally. Electrical connections may be made through the printed circuit board into the acoustic chamber, thereby not compromising the airtight seal.

Speakerphone accessory assembly

A battery charging circuit having two levels of safety protection is provided. The circuit is said to have 'two levels' of safety because if any one component fails (either as a short circuit or as an open circuit) the remainder of the charging circuit ensures that a rechargeable battery coupled to the circuit will not be overcharged. The circuit includes both hardware and firmware protection components, with a microprocessor providing the firmware protection. Overvoltage protection, voltage regulation and current regulation are provided, along with a microprocessor capable of sensing a plurality of voltages across the circuit. The overvoltage protection, voltage regulator and current regulator each include safety actuation points. In parallel, the microprocessor may isolate a rechargeable battery from the cell if voltage and current minimums and maximums are exceeded. The microprocessor further is able to isolate the battery from the circuit if the power dissipation in the voltage regulator, the current regulator or the overall charging circuit is exceeded, provided the microprocessor has decremented current to a minimum level.

Charging circuit with two levels of safety

A charging circuit is provided for coupling a power source to a plurality of loads. The circuit includes a controller that continually senses the output voltage of the power source. The controller may also decouple the power source from the loads to measure the open circuit voltage of the power source. Once the open circuit voltage is known, the controller establishes a threshold voltage that is slightly below the open circuit voltage of the power supply. The controller then begins delivering current to one of the loads by way of a current regulator. Whenever the power source voltage is below the threshold voltage, the controller reduces the current flowing through the current regulator. When the power source voltage is above the threshold voltage, the controller increases the current flowing through the current regulator. In so doing, the charging circuit simultaneously charges both loads, thereby reducing overall charge time.

Method and apparatus for current delegation to a plurality of loads

A system for detecting information about rechargeable batteries having standard form factors, e.g. AA, C, D, etc., is disclosed. In one preferred embodiment, the invention includes a battery having a layer of insulating material with selective apertures. A charger is provided that senses the number and placement of the apertures to determine the particular battery configuration. Once the battery configuration is determined, the charger then charges the battery to apply a charging algorithm in accordance with the particular configuration. If a recognized battery configuration is not detectable, the charger does not charge, so as not to compromise the reliability of the battery.

Rechargeable battery having charging indicating means

A circuit and method for charging a rechargeable cell is provided. The circuit includes a voltage regulator coupled serially between a power source and a rechargeable cell. The circuit further comprises a controller capable of both monitoring the power dissipation across the voltage regulator and altering the current flowing through the voltage regulator. When the power dissipation in the voltage regulator exceeds a predetermined threshold, the controller increases the current. Where the power source is a linear transformer, this increase of current will cause the transformer to become loaded. The loading causes the transformer output voltage to fall, thereby reducing the power dissipation in the voltage regulator below the predetermined threshold. If, however, the power dissipation does not fall below the predetermined threshold within a predetermined time following the increase of current, the controller will then reduce the current to a level low enough to cause the power dissipation in the voltage regulator to fall below the predetermined threshold. The circuit and method provide a way to rapidly charge batteries while ensuring that the voltage regulator is not subject to thermal compromise.

Charge boost battery charging and protection circuit

A charging circuit for regulating current to a plurality of batteries is provided. The regulation is performed by a single control signal that is optionally scaled by resistor dividers. Switches coupled to the resistor dividers allow a microprocessor to actuate a particular resistor divider, thereby scaling the current flowing through a corresponding battery. As such, a single control signal, like a pulse width modulated signal, may be used to cause different currents to flow to different batteries, thereby leaving other output pins of the microprocessor open for other functions.

Circuit for regulating current to multiple batteries in a battery charger

This invention includes a universal base unit having a plurality of cables, each corresponding to a unique electronic host device. The cable is manufactured such that the ground connection of the electronic host device is routed to one of a plurality of identification pins. In one embodiment, the identification pins are coupled to a plurality of current sense resistors. When the cable is coupled serially between the electronic device and the universal base unit, the universal base unit identifies the unique electronic device by sensing which resistor is connected to the ground of the electronic host. In another embodiment, pull-up resistors are used instead of current sense resistors. The system allows a user to carry a single power supply or universal base unit with multiple cables as opposed to having to transport a different accessory for each electronic device.

Cable or module identification apparatus and method

This invention includes a method for sensing the parasitic impedance in a battery charging system and compensating for these parasitic impedances. In one embodiment, the voltage of the system is measured with no charging current applied. Next, a charging current is applied and a second voltage is measured. The parasitic impedance is then extrapolated and multiplied by a predetermined rapid charging current. The product is added to a predetermined cell termination voltage. The charging means remains in a rapid charge current mode until a voltage equal to the sum of the impedance-current product and the predetermined voltage is reached, wherein the current is reduced to a maintenance charging level.

Method of charging a battery utilizing dynamic cable compensation

This invention includes a circuit for charging multiple batteries simultaneously. The circuit monitors the amount of current being delivered to a first battery and compares it to a maximum available current. The circuit then delivers the difference to at least a second battery. The circuit includes a current sensing resistor and comparator for actuating a series switch to electrically couple and decouple a second battery depending upon the demands of the first battery. An optional microprocessor can manipulate a reference threshold to allow simultaneous charging of multiple batteries. The invention greatly reduces the time needed to charge a primary and spare battery.

Growing community of inventors

Lawrenceville, GA, United States of America

Martin Hague Ramsden