Patents by Inventor Lester L. Larson
Lester L. Larson 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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Patent number: 8723530Abstract: A signal acquisition system has a signal acquisition probe having probe tip circuitry coupled to a resistive center conductor signal cable. The resistive center conductor signal cable of the signal acquisition probe is coupled to a compensation system in a signal processing instrument via an input node and input circuitry in the signal processing instrument. The signal acquisition probe and the signal processing instrument have mismatched time constants at the input node with the compensation system providing pole-zero pairs for maintaining flatness over the signal acquisition system frequency bandwidth.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2013Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Josiah A. Bartlett, Ira G. Pollock, Daniel G. Knierim, Lester L. Larson, Scott R. Jansen, Kenneth P. Dobyns, Michael Duane Stevens
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Patent number: 8564308Abstract: A signal acquisition system has a signal acquisition probe having probe tip circuitry coupled to a resistive center conductor signal cable. The resistive center conductor signal cable of the signal acquisition probe is coupled to a compensation system in a signal processing instrument via an input node and input circuitry in the signal processing instrument. The signal acquisition probe and the signal processing instrument have mismatched time constants at the input node with the compensation system having an input amplifier with feedback loop circuitry and a shunt pole-zero pair coupled to the input circuitry providing pole-zero pairs for maintaining flatness over the signal acquisition system frequency bandwidth.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2010Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Josiah A. Bartlett, Ira G. Pollock, Daniel G. Knierim, Lester L. Larson, Scott R. Jansen, Kenneth P. Dobyns, Michael Duane Stevens
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Patent number: 8456173Abstract: A signal acquisition system has a signal acquisition probe having probe tip circuitry coupled to a resistive center conductor signal cable with the signal cable coupled to a signal processing instrument via an input node. The input node is coupled to an input current amplifier via input circuitry. The input circuitry provides at least one of resistive and capacitive termination of the resistive center conductor signal cable. The termination of the resistive center conductor signal cable in the signal processing instrument provides a signal acquisition system where the capacitive loading of a device under test at higher frequencies is reduced by reducing the input capacitance of the probe tip circuitry resulting in an increase in the signal acquisition system bandwidth.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2010Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Daniel G. Knierim, Josiah A. Bartlett, Ira G. Pollock, Lester L. Larson
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Patent number: 8436624Abstract: A signal acquisition system has a signal acquisition probe having probe tip circuitry coupled to a resistive center conductor signal cable. The resistive center conductor signal cable of the signal acquisition probe is coupled to a compensation system in a signal processing instrument via an input node and input circuitry in the signal processing instrument. The signal acquisition probe and the signal processing instrument have mismatched time constants at the input node with the compensation system providing pole-zero pairs for maintaining flatness over the signal acquisition system frequency bandwidth.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2010Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Josiah A. Bartlett, Ira G. Pollock, Daniel G. Knierim, Lester L. Larson, Scott R. Jansen, Kenneth P. Dobyns, Michael Duane Stevens
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Patent number: 8278940Abstract: A signal acquisition system has a signal acquisition probe having probe tip circuitry coupled to a resistive center conductor signal cable. The resistive center conductor signal cable is coupled to a compensation system in a signal processing instrument via an input node and input circuitry in the signal processing instrument. The signal acquisition probe and the signal processing instrument have mismatched time constants at the input node with the compensation system having an input amplifier with feedback loop circuitry and a compensation digital filter providing pole-zero pairs for maintaining flatness over the signal acquisition system frequency bandwidth.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2010Date of Patent: October 2, 2012Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Josiah A. Bartlett, Ira G. Pollock, Daniel G. Knierim, Lester L. Larson, Scott R. Jansen, Kenneth P. Dobyns
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Patent number: 8103473Abstract: A test and measurement instrument and a method of calibrating the test and measurement instrument including a reference signal generator; multiple input channels; and multiple input circuits. Each input channel is coupled to a corresponding input circuit; and one of the input circuits is coupled to the reference signal generator.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2008Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Ronald A. Acuff, Lester L. Larson, Kevin E. Cosgrove
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Publication number: 20110074441Abstract: A low capacitance signal acquisition system has a signal acquisition probe having a low capacitance input circuit coupled to a compensation amplifier in a signal processing instrument via a signal cable. The low capacitance input circuit, the signal cable and the signal processing instrument input have mismatched time constants with the compensation amplifier having feedback loop circuitry providing adjustable gain and pole-zero pairs for maintaining flatness over the low capacitance signal acquisition system frequency bandwidth.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2009Publication date: March 31, 2011Applicant: TEKTRONIX, INC.Inventors: Josiah A. Bartlett, Ira G. Pollock, Daniel G. Knierim, Lester L. Larson, Scott R. Jansen, Kenneth P. Dobyns, Michael Duane Stevens
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Publication number: 20110074390Abstract: A signal acquisition system has a signal acquisition probe having probe tip circuitry coupled to a resistive center conductor signal cable. The resistive center conductor signal cable of the signal acquisition probe is coupled to a compensation system in a signal processing instrument via an input node and input circuitry in the signal processing instrument. The signal acquisition probe and the signal processing instrument have mismatched time constants at the input node with the compensation system providing pole-zero pairs for maintaining flatness over the signal acquisition system frequency bandwidth.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2010Publication date: March 31, 2011Applicant: TEKTRONIX, INC.Inventors: Josiah A. Bartlett, Ira G. Pollock, Daniel G. Knierim, Lester L. Larson, Scott R. Jansen, Kenneth P. Dobyns, Michael Duane Stevens
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Publication number: 20110074389Abstract: A signal acquisition system has a signal acquisition probe having probe tip circuitry coupled to a resistive center conductor signal cable with the signal cable coupled to a signal processing instrument via an input node. The input node is coupled to an input current amplifier via input circuitry. The input circuitry provides at least one of resistive and capacitive termination of the resistive center conductor signal cable. The termination of the resistive center conductor signal cable in the signal processing instrument provides a signal acquisition system where the capacitive loading of a device under test at higher frequencies is reduced by reducing the input capacitance of the probe tip circuitry resulting in an increase in the signal acquisition system bandwidth.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2010Publication date: March 31, 2011Applicant: TEKTRONIX, INC.Inventors: Daniel G. Knierim, Josiah A. Bartlett, Ira G. Pollock, Lester L. Larson
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Publication number: 20110074392Abstract: A signal acquisition system has a signal acquisition probe having probe tip circuitry coupled to a resistive center conductor signal cable. The resistive center conductor signal cable of the signal acquisition probe is coupled to a compensation system in a signal processing instrument via an input node and input circuitry in the signal processing instrument. The signal acquisition probe and the signal processing instrument have mismatched time constants at the input node with the compensation system having an input amplifier with feedback loop circuitry and a shunt pole-zero pair coupled to the input circuitry providing pole-zero pairs for maintaining flatness over the signal acquisition system frequency bandwidth.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2010Publication date: March 31, 2011Applicant: TEKTRONIX, INC.Inventors: Josiah A. Bartlett, Ira G. Pollock, Daniel G. Knierim, Lester L. Larson, Scott R. Jansen, Kenneth P. Dobyns, Michael Duane Stevens
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Publication number: 20110074391Abstract: A signal acquisition system has a signal acquisition probe having probe tip circuitry coupled to a resistive center conductor signal cable. The resistive center conductor signal cable is coupled to a compensation system in a signal processing instrument via an input node and input circuitry in the signal processing instrument. The signal acquisition probe and the signal processing instrument have mismatched time constants at the input node with the compensation system having an input amplifier with feedback loop circuitry and a compensation digital filter providing pole-zero pairs for maintaining flatness over the signal acquisition system frequency bandwidth.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2010Publication date: March 31, 2011Applicant: TEKTRONIX, INC.Inventors: Josiah A. Bartlett, Ira G. Pollock, Daniel G. Knierim, Lester L. Larson, Scott R. Jansen, Kenneth P. Dobyns, Michael Duane Stevens
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Publication number: 20090125269Abstract: A test and measurement instrument and a method of calibrating the test and measurement instrument including a reference signal generator; multiple input channels; and multiple input circuits. Each input channel is coupled to a corresponding input circuit; and one of the input circuits is coupled to the reference signal generator.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2008Publication date: May 14, 2009Applicant: TEKTRONIX, INC.Inventors: Ronald Arthur ACUFF, Lester L. LARSON, Kevin E. GOSGROVE
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Patent number: 6847199Abstract: An instrument includes a probe providing a single signal path for conveying a signal from a circuit under test to the instrument. A receiver circuit within the instrument divides the path into an analog path and a digital path. The digital path includes a comparator for determining the logic state of the signal and producing a digital representation of the signal under test. The analog path includes a multiplexer to selectively couple one of a plurality of analog input signals to an output terminal for viewing on an oscilloscope. Preferably, the probe head includes a buffer amplifier to reduce loading on the circuit under test and to increase bandwidth of the signals conveyed along the test cable to the instrument. An electrically trimmable resistor is employed to terminate the transmission line of the test cable in its characteristic impedance in order to reduce reflections and maintain transmission bandwidth.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2003Date of Patent: January 25, 2005Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: A. Roy Kaufman, Roland E. Andrews, Colin L. Shepard, William R. Mark, Lester L. Larson, Donald F. Murray
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Patent number: 6781391Abstract: A multi-channel, low input capacitance signal probe head has a housing that receives one or more substrates having input signal pads exposed on one end of the substrate. The substrate is positioned in the housing such that the signal contact pads are exposed at an open end of the housing. A removable signal contact holder mounts to the housing and supporting electrically conductive elastomer signal contacts. The holder is disposed over an open end of housing such that the elastomer signal contacts engage the input signal pads. A probe head retention member is provided for securing the multi-channel signal probe head to a device under test.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2001Date of Patent: August 24, 2004Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Gary W. Reed, J. Steve Lyford, Lester L. Larson, William R. Mark
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Publication number: 20030160625Abstract: An instrument includes a probe providing a single signal path for conveying a signal from a circuit under test to the instrument. A receiver circuit within the instrument divides the path into an analog path and a digital path. The digital path includes a comparator for determining the logic state of the signal and producing a digital representation of the signal under test. The analog path includes a multiplexer to selectively couple one of a plurality of analog input signals to an output terminal for viewing on an oscilloscope. Preferably, the probe head includes a buffer amplifier to reduce loading on the circuit under test and to increase bandwidth of the signals conveyed along the test cable to the instrument. An electrically trimmable resistor is employed to terminate the transmission line of the test cable in its characteristic impedance in order to reduce reflections and maintain transmission bandwidth.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2003Publication date: August 28, 2003Inventors: A. Roy Kaufman, Roland E. Andrews, Colin L. Shepard, William R. Mark, Lester L. Larson, Donald F. Murray
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Publication number: 20030107388Abstract: A multi-channel, low input capacitance signal probe head has a housing that receives one or more substrates having input signal pads exposed on one end of the substrate. The substrate is positioned in the housing such that the signal contact pads are exposed at an open end of the housing. A removable signal contact holder mounts to the housing and supporting electrically conductive elastomer signal contacts. The holder is disposed over an open end of housing such that the elastomer signal contacts engage the input signal pads. A probe head retention member is provided for securing the multi-channel signal probe head to a device under test.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2001Publication date: June 12, 2003Inventors: Gary W. Reed, J. Steve Lyford, Lester L. Larson, William R. Mark