Patents by Inventor Kenneth Patrick Snowdon

Kenneth Patrick Snowdon 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).

  • Patent number: 7068113
    Abstract: A direct calibration technique significantly tightens a tolerance band between multiple voltage controlled oscillators (VCOs), to correct for slight frequency mismatch between the multiple VCOs. The tightened tolerance band enhances the bit error rate (BER) and/or lengthens the possible consecutive identical digits (CIDs) length, and is particularly useful in integrated circuit applications. A Frequency Locked Loop (FLL), an accumulator, and a DAC are implemented to form a calibration loop that becomes far more digital in nature than a PLL, permitting greater embedded circuit test coverage and ease of integration in VLSI digital technologies. A frequency calibrated loop with digital accumulator and DAC in lieu of a PLL with associated charge pump integrator eliminates the need for large integrated capacitors, sensitivity to drift due to the leakage currents associated with deep sub-micron technologies, and embedded analog voltages which generally cannot be tested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Hrvoje Jasa, Gary D. Polhemus, Kenneth Patrick Snowdon