Patents by Inventor Joshua J. O'Brien

Joshua J. O'Brien 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).

  • Publication number: 20240159824
    Abstract: An input selector for electrically connecting one of a plurality of test signals from one or more devices under test to a test and measurement instrument, the input selector includes a first multiplexer having a first set of multiple inputs, each of the first set of multiple inputs coupled to a different one of the plurality of test signals from one or more devices under test, and having a first output of a selected one of the first multiple inputs, and a second multiplexer having a second set of multiple inputs, each of the second set of multiple inputs coupled to a different one of the plurality of test signals from the one or more devices under test, and having a second output of a selected one of the multiple inputs. Methods are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2023
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Inventors: Daniel G. Knierim, Joshua J. O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20240069094
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles W. Case, Daniel G. Knierim, Joshua J. O'Brien, Josiah A. Bartlett, Julie A. Campbell
  • Publication number: 20240044975
    Abstract: A test and measurement device includes an input configured to receive an analog signal from a Device Under Test (DUT), an Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) coupled to the input and structured to convert the analog signal to a digital signal, a receiver implemented in a first Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) and structured to accept the digital signal and perform signal analysis on the digital signal, a transmitter implemented in a second FPGA and structured to generate a digital output signal, and a Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) coupled to the transmitter and structured to convert the digital output signal from the transmitter to an analog signal, and structured to send the analog signal to the DUT. The receiver and the transmitter are coupled together by a high speed data link over which data about the current testing environment may be shared.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Pirooz Hojabri, Joshua J. O'Brien, Gregory A. Martin, Patrick Satarzadeh, Karen Hovakimyan
  • Patent number: 11815548
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles W. Case, Daniel G. Knierim, Joshua J. O'Brien, Josiah A. Bartlett, Julie A. Campbell
  • Patent number: 11789070
    Abstract: A test and measurement device includes an input configured to receive an analog signal from a Device Under Test (DUT), an Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) coupled to the input and structured to convert the analog signal to a digital signal, a receiver implemented in a first Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) and structured to accept the digital signal and perform signal analysis on the digital signal, a transmitter implemented in a second FPGA and structured to generate a digital output signal, and a Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) coupled to the transmitter and structured to convert the digital output signal from the transmitter to an analog signal, and structured to send the analog signal to the DUT. The receiver and the transmitter are coupled together by a high speed data link over which data about the current testing environment may be shared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Pirooz Hojabri, Joshua J. O'Brien, Gregory A. Martin, Patrick Satarzadeh, Karen Hovakimyan
  • Patent number: 11650225
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler B. Niles, Daniel G. Knierim, Michael J. Wadzita, Joshua J. O'Brien, David Everett Burgess
  • Publication number: 20230055303
    Abstract: A test and measurement instrument includes an auxiliary trigger input port for receiving an auxiliary trigger signal, a digital trigger processor for generating a digital trigger signal from the auxiliary trigger signal, an analog trigger processor for generating an analog trigger signal from the auxiliary trigger signal, a user-configurable selector coupled to the digital trigger processor and to the analog trigger processor, the user-configurable selector configured to output either the digital trigger signal or the analog trigger signal as a selected trigger output signal of the instrument. Methods of creating parallel triggers are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua J. O'Brien, Jed H. Andrews
  • Publication number: 20220407523
    Abstract: A test and measurement instrument includes a first data channel including a first data converter operating at a first rate, and a second data channel including a second data converter operating at a second rate that is different than the first rate. Rate controls may include a clock generation circuit. The clock generation circuit includes an intermediate frequency generator structured to generate an intermediate frequency clock from a first clock reference signal, a first frequency clock generator structured to generate a first frequency clock directly from the intermediate frequency clock, and a second frequency clock generator structured to generate a second frequency clock directly from the intermediate frequency clock. The first frequency clock may be used to control the rate of the first data channel, and the second frequency clock may be used to control the rate of the second data channel. Methods are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Joshua J. O'Brien, Timothy E. Bieber, Barton T. Hickman
  • Publication number: 20220334144
    Abstract: A measurement probe for producing a test signal for a measurement instrument includes a probe head structured to be connected to at least a first testing point and a second testing point of a Device Under Test (DUT), a current detector in the measurement probe structured to determine a current flowing between the first testing point and the second testing point of the DUT, a first selectable signal path that causes a voltage signal from the first testing point or a voltage signal from the second testing point to be routed to the measurement instrument as a selected voltage test signal, and a second selectable signal path that causes a current signal from an output of the current detector to be routed to the measurement instrument as a selected current test signal. Methods of testing a DUT using the measurement probe are also described, as well as a system for measuring signals from a DUT using the measurement probe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua J. O'Brien, Josiah A. Bartlett
  • Patent number: 11372025
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of oscilloscopes, each oscilloscope having an output port and an input port, a cable connecting the output port of an initial oscilloscope of the plurality of oscilloscopes to the input port of a second oscilloscope of the plurality of oscilloscopes, the initial oscilloscope having a processing element to generate a master run clock, the second oscilloscope having a processing element including a phase-locked loop to lock a slave run clock to the master run clock, wherein the processing element of one of the oscilloscopes executes code to cause the processing element to manipulate one of the run clocks to pass trigger information to another of the plurality of oscilloscopes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel G. Knierim, Barton T. Hickman, Joshua J. O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20220196701
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler B. Niles, Daniel G. Knierim, Michael J. Wadzita, Joshua J. O'Brien, David Everett Burgess
  • Publication number: 20220148065
    Abstract: A test and measurement instrument includes a system and/or method to generate a recommendation of a feature upgrade to the instrument. Such a method may include receiving a request by a user to perform an action on the instrument and performing the requested action by the instrument to generate first results. Then the instrument modifies an instrument parameter to one that is not presently available to the user, and performs the requested action again with the modified parameter to generate second results. After both results are generated, the instrument compares the first results to the second results and informs the user when the second results differ from the first results. Informing the user may include instructions for upgrading the instrument to include the modified parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventor: Joshua J. O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20220018896
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles W. Case, Daniel G. Knierim, Joshua J. O'Brien, Josiah A. Bartlett, Julie A. Campbell
  • Patent number: 11187720
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler B. Niles, Daniel G. Knierim, Michael J. Wadzita, Joshua J. O'Brien, David Everett Burgess
  • Patent number: 11181552
    Abstract: A method of classifying waveform data includes receiving input waveform data at a test and measurement system, accessing a repository of reference waveform data and corresponding classes, analyzing the input waveform data and the reference waveform data to designate a class of the input waveform data, and using the class designation to provide information to a user. A test and measurement system has a user interface, at least one input port, a communications port, a processor, the processor configured to execute instructions causing the processor to: receive input waveform data through at least one of the input port or the user interface; access a repository of reference waveform data; analyze the input waveform data using the reference waveform data; designate a class of the input waveform data; and use the class to provide information to the user about the input waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua J. O'Brien, Brian S. Mantel
  • Publication number: 20210270893
    Abstract: A test and measurement device includes an input configured to receive an analog signal from a Device Under Test (DUT), an Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) coupled to the input and structured to convert the analog signal to a digital signal, a receiver implemented in a first Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) and structured to accept the digital signal and perform signal analysis on the digital signal, a transmitter implemented in a second FPGA and structured to generate a digital output signal, and a Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) coupled to the transmitter and structured to convert the digital output signal from the transmitter to an analog signal, and structured to send the analog signal to the DUT. The receiver and the transmitter are coupled together by a high speed data link over which data about the current testing environment may be shared.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Pirooz Hojabri, Joshua J. O'Brien, Gregory A. Martin, Patrick Satarzadeh, Karen Hovakimyan
  • Publication number: 20210263076
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of oscilloscopes, each oscilloscope having an output port and an input port, a cable connecting the output port of an initial oscilloscope of the plurality of oscilloscopes to the input port of a second oscilloscope of the plurality of oscilloscopes, the initial oscilloscope having a processing element to generate a master run clock, the second oscilloscope having a processing element including a phase-locked loop to lock a slave run clock to the master run clock, wherein the processing element of one of the oscilloscopes executes code to cause the processing element to manipulate one of the run clocks to pass trigger information to another of the plurality of oscilloscopes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel G. Knierim, Barton T. Hickman, Joshua J. O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20210149781
    Abstract: A test and measurement device includes an input port for receiving a bus conducting data from a device under test, and processing element coupled to the input port. The processing element is configured to execute instructions that cause the processing element to determine a data sequence from a signal of the bus received on a main channel of the device, and use information from at least one other signal of the bus on an auxiliary channel of the device based upon a protocol associated with the bus to adjust parameters for performing error detection on the data sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventor: Joshua J. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 11002764
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of oscilloscopes, each oscilloscope having an output port and an input port, a cable connecting the output port of an initial oscilloscope of the plurality of oscilloscopes to the input port of a second oscilloscope of the plurality of oscilloscopes, the initial oscilloscope having a processing element to generate a master run clock, the second oscilloscope having a processing element including a phase-locked loop to lock a slave run clock to the master run clock, wherein the processing element of one of the oscilloscopes executes code to cause the processing element to manipulate one of the run clocks to pass trigger information to another of the plurality of oscilloscopes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel G. Knierim, Barton T. Hickman, Joshua J. O'Brien
  • Patent number: D894024
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian A. Hollenberg, Jessica Anna Dunn, Stephen LaFrance, Taylor S. K. Heen, Jonathan D. Clem, Joshua J. O'Brien, Preston S. Gabel, Marc A. Gessford