Patents by Inventor Daniel G. Knierim
Daniel G. Knierim has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20240118314Abstract: A cable assembly has a connector to receive a signal, a cable connected to the connector, the cable having a length and one or more conductors along at least part of the length to conduct the signal, a magnetic material external to the one or more conductors, and an elastomer material external to the one or more conductors. A cable assembly has a connector to receive a differential signal, a cable connected to the connector having symmetric pair conductors, one or more discrete magnetic components spaced along the length of the cable, and one or more elastomer components next to at least one of the one or more magnetic components. A cable assembly has a connector to receive a differential signal, a cable connected to the connector having symmetric pair conductors, an elastomer material at least partially enclosing the cable, and a magnetic material at least partially enclosing the cable.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2023Publication date: April 11, 2024Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Julie A. Campbell, David M. Ediger, Daniel G. Knierim, David Thomas Engquist
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Publication number: 20240087776Abstract: A shunt resistor has a substrate having electrically conductive structures to carry current in a current path, a resistive portion in electrical contact with the electrically conductive structures, and one or more canceling inductance leads electrically connected to the electrically conductive structures and the resistive portion, the one or more canceling inductance configured to cancel inductive effects in a voltage measurement across the resistive portion. A modular tip interconnect has a connector at a first end of the interconnect configured to connect to a probe tip of a test and measurement instrument, and the above shunt resistor located at a second end of the interconnect configured to connect to a device under test (DUT).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2023Publication date: March 14, 2024Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Julie A. Campbell, Christopher R. Muggli, Daniel G. Knierim, David M. Ediger, Richard N. Atherton
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Publication number: 20240069094Abstract: A test system includes a test and measurement device having an input port for receiving signals for testing or measuring, a reprogrammable test accessory having an output coupled to the input port of the test and measurement device. The reprogrammable test accessory includes a test port structured to accept one or more test signals from a Device Under Test (DUT), a processor, a reprogrammable data protocol analyzer for determining whether data carried by the one or more test signals from the DUT conform to a predetermined data protocol, and a reprogramming facility for modifying the reprogrammable data protocol analyzer from a first configuration to a second configuration. Methods of operation are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2023Publication date: February 29, 2024Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Charles W. Case, Daniel G. Knierim, Joshua J. O'Brien, Josiah A. Bartlett, Julie A. Campbell
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Publication number: 20240069065Abstract: An apparatus includes a fixed substrate having at least two contact structures, a movable substrate having at least two electrically conductive paths, a housing containing the fixed substrate and the movable substrate, a plurality of connectors in the housing, each connector connecting to one of the at least two contact structures to connect to ground and a spring contact, the plurality of connectors arranged to connect to at least one of the conductive paths depending upon a position of the movable substrate, and a motorized stage in the housing to move the movable substrate to align one of the at least two conductive paths to form a connection between two of the connectors. The apparatus may be part of a test and measurement instrument, and a method of operating the apparatus is also included.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2023Publication date: February 29, 2024Applicant: TEKTRONIX, INC.Inventors: JULIE A. CAMPBELL, DANIEL G. KNIERIM, BARTON T. HICKMAN
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Publication number: 20240061021Abstract: A current measurement device with a shunt resistor of a resistive core with an opening and measurement leads, a Rogowski coil with electrical contacts surrounding the resistive core, conductive layers on first and second sides of the resistive core, one or more insulative layers between the conductive layers and the Rogowski coil, the current measurement device configured to combine signals from the shunt resistor and the Rogowski core. The current measurement device may have a Rogowski coil on a flexible substrate at least partially wrapped around the shunt resistor. A current measurement device has a rigid substrate, vias filled with a conductive material through the rigid substrate, conductive layers on the top surface and the bottom surface connecting to the vias to form a Rogowski coil structure, one or more insulative layers directly on the coil structure, a shunt resistor directly on the one or more insulative layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2023Publication date: February 22, 2024Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Julie A. Campbell, Emily L. Becher, David M. Ediger, Matthew J. Hull, Daniel G. Knierim
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Publication number: 20240036079Abstract: A current measurement device includes a shunt having sense leads, the shunt configured to be located in a current path for a current to be measured, and a Rogowski coil at least partially wrapped around the shunt, the current measuring device configured to combine signals from the shunt and the Rogowski coil. A current measurement device includes a shunt having sense leads configured to be located in a current path for a current to be measured, a Rogowski coil in series with the sense leads and at least partially wrapped around the shunt, a compensating pole connected to the Rogowski coil, and an isolation barrier connected to the compensating pole.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2023Publication date: February 1, 2024Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Daniel G. Knierim, David L. Knierim
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Publication number: 20240027497Abstract: A test and measurement instrument has an acquisition system to receive and digitize a batch of waveforms into a batch of digitized waveforms, a memory configured as a raster plane having rows and columns, a graphics processing unit (GPU) capable of processing multiple threads to rasterize the batch of digitized waveforms to the raster plane to form a batch histogram and to group multiple threads into groups of a first type of group, assign each thread group of the first type of group to one column in the raster plane, execute a common instruction per thread group of the first type to populate the raster plane, and transfer the batch histogram upon completion, and a central processing unit (CPU) to receive the batch histogram from the GPU, and display a map of the batch histogram on a display.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2023Publication date: January 25, 2024Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Andy K. Lim, Daniel G. Knierim
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Publication number: 20230417800Abstract: A current sensor configured to measure current in a current-carrying conductor. The current sensor includes a shunt configured to be placed in series with the current-carrying conductor, and a Rogowski coil including at least one conductor segment. The shunt and the Rogowski coil are coupled to produce an output signal representing the current in the current-carrying conductor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2023Publication date: December 28, 2023Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Josiah A. Bartlett, Daniel G. Knierim, David L. Knierim
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Publication number: 20230408424Abstract: Disclosed is a signal isolating test instrument, such as an electronics test probe. The instrument includes an input to receive a floating analog signal. An upconverter is employed to modulate the floating analog signal to a microwave frequency analog signal. An isolation barrier prevents coupling of the floating analog signal to an earth ground. The instrument employs a microwave structure to transmit the microwave frequency analog signal across the isolation barrier via electromagnetic coupling. A downconverter is then employed to demodulate the microwave frequency analog signal to obtain a ground referenced test signal corresponding to the floating analog signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2023Publication date: December 21, 2023Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan S. Dandy, Daniel G. Knierim
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Publication number: 20230375596Abstract: A test and measurement accessory has a shunt configured to be located in a current path between a busbar and an electronic module and structured to minimize length added to the current path, the shunt having an opening extending through the shunt, and a resistive portion, the resistive portion configured to form a portion of the current path, and two or more contacts, at least one of the contacts extending through the opening and electrically insulated from the resistive portion of the shunt. A test and measurement accessory has a shunt, two or more contacts, at least one of the contacts extending through the opening, and a resistive portion comprising a plurality of resistors surrounding an insulative portion. A test and measurement accessory has a shunt including a washer having an opening, a resistive portion, and two or more contacts.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2023Publication date: November 23, 2023Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Daniel G. Knierim, Julie A. Campbell, David M. Ediger
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Patent number: 11815548Abstract: A new test system includes a programmed device having an input port for receiving a signal for testing or measuring on the programmed device, and a reprogrammable test accessory having an output coupled to the input port of the programmed device. The reprogrammable test accessory further includes a test port structured to accept one or more test signals from a Device Under Test (DUT), and a reprogrammable processor. The reprogrammable processor may further include reprogrammable standards and protocols, reprogrammable triggers and margin detection, reprogrammable link training, reprogrammable handshaking, and reprogrammable setup and control facilities for either or both of the DUT and the programmed device.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2021Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Charles W. Case, Daniel G. Knierim, Joshua J. O'Brien, Josiah A. Bartlett, Julie A. Campbell
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Patent number: 11808786Abstract: An apparatus has at least substrate having at least two conductive paths, a least two connectors positioned in a first plane, and a movable stage connected to one of the at least one substrate to move the one substrate perpendicular to the first plane form an electrically conductive path between two of the at least two connectors.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2022Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Julie A. Campbell, Daniel G. Knierim, Barton T. Hickman
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Patent number: 11768161Abstract: Disclosed is a signal isolating test instrument, such as an electronics test probe. The instrument includes an input to receive a floating analog signal. An upconverter is employed to modulate the floating analog signal to a microwave frequency analog signal. An isolation barrier in the instrument prevents coupling of the floating analog signal to an earth ground. The instrument employs a microwave structure to transmit the microwave frequency analog signal across the isolation barrier via electromagnetic coupling. A downconverter is then employed to demodulate the microwave frequency analog signal to obtain a ground referenced test signal corresponding to the floating analog signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2021Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan S. Dandy, Daniel G. Knierim
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Patent number: 11650225Abstract: A test and measurement system can include a data store configured to store augmentation settings for dynamically augmenting a physical testing environment and a computing device coupled to the data store. The computing device can be configured to receive an input feed from the physical testing environment, create an augmentation image based on the augmentation settings and the input feed, and output the augmented image to be overlaid on the physical testing environment to augment a user's view of the physical testing environment.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2021Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Tyler B. Niles, Daniel G. Knierim, Michael J. Wadzita, Joshua J. O'Brien, David Everett Burgess
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Patent number: 11652494Abstract: Methods and devices for digitizing an analog repetitive signal using waveform averaging are described. An example method includes generating a discrete set of analog dither offset voltages, wherein at least two of the discrete set of analog dither offset voltages are different from each other, receiving the analog repetitive signal comprising multiple instances of a waveform, wherein the waveform has a waveform duration, generate a timing alignment to align each waveform of the analog repetitive signal and the corresponding analog dither offset voltage over the waveform duration, combining, based on the timing alignment, each waveform and the corresponding analog dither offset voltage over the waveform duration to produce an analog output signal, converting the analog output signal to a digital output signal, and producing, based on the timing alignment, a digital averaged signal based on averaging the multiple instances of the waveform in the analog output signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2021Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignees: LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC, TEKTRONIX, INC.Inventors: Brandon Walter Buckley, Ryan Douglas Muir, Daniel G. Knierim
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Patent number: 11619657Abstract: An accessory device has a test port, an instrument port to connect to an instrument having an operating bandwidth, and one or more configurable signal paths connectable between the test port and the instrument port to convert a signal from the test port having a first frequency range to a signal having a second frequency range different than the first frequency range. A test and measurement system has a test and measurement instrument having an operating bandwidth, and an accessory device. The accessory device has a first instrument port to connect the accessory device to the test and measurement instrument, a test port to connect the accessory device to a device under test, and one or more configurable signal paths connectable between the test port and the instrument port to down-convert a signal from the test port having a first frequency range to a signal having a second frequency range lower than the first frequency range.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2020Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Daniel G. Knierim, Josiah A. Bartlett, Amr Haj-Omar, Donald J. Dalebroux, Barton T. Hickman, Alexander Krauska
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Patent number: 11619697Abstract: A test and measurement instrument for measuring a current in a device under test, comprising an input configured to receive signals from a magnetic field probe; and one or more processors configured to measure, from a signal from the magnetic field probe, a magnetic field generated by a current-carrying conductor of the device under test based on a known current, determine a calibration factor based on the known current and the magnetic field, and generate a calibrated measurement of an unknown current in the current-carrying conductor using a magnetic field generated by the current-carrying conductor based on the unknown current and the calibration factor.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2021Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.Inventor: Daniel G. Knierim
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Patent number: 11552620Abstract: Methods of triggering a test and measurement instrument having a plurality of inputs include the step of generating a trigger signal in response to every occurrence of any one of a plurality of specified trigger events. A first specified trigger event occurs in at least a first one of the inputs and a second specified trigger event occurs in at least a second one of the plurality of inputs. A specified trigger event may include at least one selected input from the plurality of inputs and a selected activity type. Some methods include configuring each of a plurality of event activity detectors to produce a pulse in a logic signal in response to every occurrence of one of the specified trigger events. The plurality of logic signals are combined in a logical OR circuit to generate the trigger signal. Trigger circuits configured according to these methods are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2020Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Patrick A. Smith, Daniel G. Knierim
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Publication number: 20220349917Abstract: A probe tip for an isolated probe having a triaxial cable has a conductive probe tip interface at one end of the cable, a signal conductor, the signal conductor traversing a length of the cable and electrically connected to the conductive probe tip interface, a reference conductor surrounding the signal conductor along the length of the cable, a shield conductor surrounding the reference conductor at least along the length of the cable, the shield conductor and the reference conductor electrically connected at ends of the probe tip, a first insulator between the signal conductor and the reference conductor along the length of the cable, a second insulator between the reference conductor and the shield conductor along the length of the cable, and high magnetic permeability material inside the shield conductor.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2022Publication date: November 3, 2022Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Daniel G. Knierim, Josiah A. Bartlett, Andrew W. Rusinek, David Thomas Engquist
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Publication number: 20220326278Abstract: An apparatus has at least substrate having at least two conductive paths, a least two connectors positioned in a first plane, and a movable stage connected to one of the at least one substrate to move the one substrate perpendicular to the first plane form an electrically conductive path between two of the at least two connectors.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2022Publication date: October 13, 2022Inventors: JULIE A. CAMPBELL, DANIEL G. KNIERIM, BARTON T. HICKMAN