Dennis M O'Brien

US Patent:

7138781, Nov 21, 2006

Filed:

Nov 23, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/286529

Inventors:

David C. Murray - Austin TX, US
Dennis O'Brien - Austin TX, US
Randy B. Goldberg - Farmingdale NY, US

Assignee:

Standard Microsystems Corporation - Hauppauge NY

International Classification:

G05B 11/42

US Classification:

318610, 318811, 318599, 318254, 318600, 318609

Abstract:

A system and method for controlling a fan is disclosed. In one embodiment, a fan controller is integrated in silicon and uses an embedded microcontroller to implement a digital fan control algorithm. The microcontroller may continually monitor temperature and sample the speed of the controlled fan. The speed of the fan may be compared to RPM values fitted on a desired curve that is representative of the Temperature-versus-RPM function for the given controlled fan. The fan control algorithm may be based on a PID compensator or a Ramp Rate Closed-loop controller (RRCC), which may be operated to drive the fan to the desired speed. The fan may also provide a Fan ID feedback signal to the microcontroller, which may use the Fan ID feedback signal upon system start-up to initialize the PID compensator gain settings or the RRCC parameter settings, and select the appropriate Temperature-versus-RPM function curve based on pre-determined values for the given fan. Thus, fans from different vendors may be changed at the factory without having to perform configuration programming. The need for a PWM command may be obviated, thereby facilitating the removal of any associated circuitry from the given fan, and thus reducing the cost of the fan.

US Patent:

7392202, Jun 24, 2008

Filed:

Jul 8, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/191737

Inventors:

Dennis O'Brien - Austin TX, US

Assignee:

New York Life Insurance Company - New York NY

International Classification:

G06Q 10/00

US Classification:

705 4, 705 2, 705 3

Abstract:

This invention provides methods and systems for providing an insurance policy having an inflation protection option that is computed at least partially based on information useful in offering a long term care insurance policy to an individual and at least partially based on the option for the individual to purchase additional coverage at a subsequent premium that is computed based at least partially on the individual's age at a date, which date is other than the date the option to purchase the additional coverage is offered, such as the date the policy issued.

US Patent:

20080103839, May 1, 2008

Filed:

Jan 4, 2008

Appl. No.:

11/969301

Inventors:

Dennis O'Brien - Austin TX, US

International Classification:

G06Q 40/00

US Classification:

705004000

Abstract:

This invention provides methods and systems for providing an insurance policy having an inflation protection option that is computed at least partially based on information useful in offering a long term care insurance policy to an individual and at least partially based on the option for the individual to purchase additional coverage at a subsequent premium that is computed based at least partially on the individual's age at a date, which date is other than the date the option to purchase the additional coverage is offered, such as the date the policy issued.