Patents by Inventor Nicholas G. Cafaro

Nicholas G. Cafaro 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: 20230213932
    Abstract: The present specification provides systems, devices and methods for controlling an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) at a public safety incident. An example method contemplates placing a UAV in a shadow mode that follows a firefighter’s movements throughout the PSI while monitoring voice activity while the UAV performs tasks such as sending images from a camera to a central server. Potential voice commands are extracted from the voice activity and associated with tasks being performed by the UAV. A machine learning dataset is built from those associations such that at future incidents the UAV can operate in a freelance mode based on detected voice commands or other contextual factors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Joseph C. NAMM, Nicholas G. CAFARO, Melanie A. KING, Jimmy ZONG
  • Patent number: 11387859
    Abstract: An improved superheterodyne receiver for a portable radio is provided. The receiver includes a frequency controller that applies pulse-shaped modulation to first and second LO signals in a synchronized manner. The frequency controller is steered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) based machine learning (ML) to determine first and second LOs that minimize image interference in the baseband signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Sumit A Talwalkar, Geetha B. Nagaraj, Nicholas G. Cafaro
  • Publication number: 20210409056
    Abstract: An improved superheterodyne receiver for a portable radio is provided. The receiver includes a frequency controller that applies pulse-shaped modulation to first and second LO signals in a synchronized manner. The frequency controller is steered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) based machine learning (ML) to determine first and second LOs that minimize image interference in the baseband signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: SUMIT A TALWALKAR, GEETHA B. NAGARAJ, NICHOLAS G. CAFARO
  • Patent number: 10439850
    Abstract: Systems and methods for processing radiofrequency signals using modulation duty cycle scaling. One system includes a first receive path configured to directly sample a first signal in a first frequency range. The system includes a second receive path configured to convert a second signal in a second frequency range. The second receive path includes a receive modulator operating over a duty cycle. The receive modulator is configured to adjust the duty cycle by a predetermined scaling factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Heck, Christopher Calvo, Rodger W. Caruthers, Nicholas G. Cafaro, Geetha B. Nagaraj, Raul Salvi
  • Publication number: 20190036747
    Abstract: Systems and methods for processing radiofrequency signals using modulation duty cycle scaling. One system includes a first receive path configured to directly sample a first signal in a first frequency range. The system includes a second receive path configured to convert a second signal in a second frequency range. The second receive path includes a receive modulator operating over a duty cycle. The receive modulator is configured to adjust the duty cycle by a predetermined scaling factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Joseph P. Heck, Christopher Calvo, Rodger W. Caruthers, Nicholas G. Cafaro, Geetha B. Nagaraj, Raul Salvi
  • Patent number: 9564880
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for generating injection-locked, frequency-multiplied output signals. In an embodiment, a circuit includes a ring of a number (N) serially connected delay-buffer elements and an injection-pulse-generation circuit. Each delay-buffer element provides a time delay (D), and at least some of them have at least one pulse-locking injection port. The injection-pulse-generation circuit is configured to transmit balanced-delay injection-pulse signals—that are generated by applying balanced-delay selection logic to a clock signal according to pulse-selection control signals—to the pulse-locking injection ports to provide, at the ring output port, an injection-locked, frequency-multiplied output signal having a frequency that equals the reciprocal of (N*D) and that bears the same proportional relationship to the frequency of the clock signal that the period of the clock signal bears to (N*D).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert E. Stengel, Nicholas G. Cafaro
  • Publication number: 20160181980
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for generating injection-locked, frequency-multiplied output signals. In an embodiment, a circuit includes a ring of a number (N) serially connected delay-buffer elements and an injection-pulse-generation circuit. Each delay-buffer element provides a time delay (D), and at least some of them have at least one pulse-locking injection port. The injection-pulse-generation circuit is configured to transmit balanced-delay injection-pulse signals—that are generated by applying balanced-delay selection logic to a clock signal according to pulse-selection control signals—to the pulse-locking injection ports to provide, at the ring output port, an injection-locked, frequency-multiplied output signal having a frequency that equals the reciprocal of (N*D) and that bears the same proportional relationship to the frequency of the clock signal that the period of the clock signal bears to (N*D).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: ROBERT E. STENGEL, NICHOLAS G. CAFARO
  • Patent number: 8427205
    Abstract: A synthesizer comprises a first processing unit that receives digital information relating to a required final frequency of the synthesizer and determines a primary frequency value and a corresponding frequency multiplier mode. A primary synthesizer receives the primary frequency value and an external reference frequency signal to generate a signal of the primary frequency. The synthesizer further comprises a second processing unit that receives the primary frequency value, determines a pre-charge voltage value corresponding to the primary frequency value, and transmits the pre-charge voltage value to a delay locked loop in response to a change in the primary frequency value. The delay locked loop receives the signal of primary frequency and the pre-charge value. The DLL is pre-charged to the pre-charge voltage value for a predetermined time, by opening and closing the delay locked loop to obtain fast locking of the synthesizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Geetha B. Nagaraj, Nicholas G. Cafaro, Robert E. Stengel, Sumit A. Talwalkar
  • Patent number: 8339295
    Abstract: A method and system for managing Digital to Time Conversion (DTC) is provided. The method comprises receiving a first Radio Frequency (RF) signal and a second RF signal. The second RF signal is a phase-shifted first RF signal. The method further comprises converting the first RF signal to a first Intermediate Frequency (IF) signal and the second RF signal to a second IF signal. Further, a time delay between the first IF signal and the second IF signal is estimated based on a time difference measurement technique. The second RF signal is processed based on the estimated time delay to compensate for a delay error associated with the second RF signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Geetha B. Nagaraj, Nicholas G. Cafaro, Ralf Hekmann, Robert E. Stengel, Scott Miller
  • Patent number: 7773713
    Abstract: A system and method for clock data recovery for programming direct digital synthesizers is disclosed. A counter is used to calculate a coarse measurement of the clock frequency of a received digital signal, and a tap delay line is used to calculate a fine measurement of the clock frequency of the received digital signal. The coarse and fine measurements are used to calculate a value for programming a direct digital synthesizer to produce a clock signal that is an approximate replica of the clock frequency of the received digital signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas G. Cafaro, Robert E. Stengel
  • Patent number: 7620133
    Abstract: A DPC (300) includes: a frequency source (310) for generating a clock signal; a delay line (320) for receiving the clock signal and generating phase-shifted clock signals at output taps; a digital control device (330) for generating a control signal; and a windowing and selection circuit for generating the output signal, that includes sequential logic devices (500, 510, 520) and a combining network. A method for use in a DPC includes: receiving (400) a control signal based on a desired output signal that identifies a first output tap on the delay line; based on the control signal, selecting (410) at least two output taps on the delay line for receiving at least two different phase-shifted clock signals; and generating (420) an output signal based on the control signal and the received phase-shifted clock signals that is substantially the desired output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas G. Cafaro, Thomas L. Gradishar, Robert E. Stengel
  • Patent number: 7570096
    Abstract: Improvement of quantization errors that arise in a delay line with finite resolution. A direct digital synthesizer (DDS), which contains a numerically controlled oscillator (NCO) and a digital-to-phase converter (DPC), is placed in the feedback loop of a phase locked loop (PLL). The DDS is used as a fractional divider of the voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) frequency, such that the reference frequency of the DDS is made variable. Alignment of the edges provided by the DDS delay line may then be adjusted. Mismatch errors in the DDS delay line are reduced by utilizing independently tunable delay elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas G. Cafaro, Thomas L. Gradishar, Robert E. Stengel
  • Publication number: 20090033384
    Abstract: A method and system for managing Digital to Time Conversion (DTC) is provided. The method comprises receiving a first Radio Frequency (RF) signal and a second RF signal. The second RF signal is a phase-shifted first RF signal. The method further comprises converting the first RF signal to a first Intermediate Frequency (IF) signal and the second RF signal to a second IF signal. Further, a time delay between the first IF signal and the second IF signal is estimated based on a time difference measurement technique. The second RF signal is processed based on the estimated time delay to compensate for a delay error associated with the second RF signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: MOTOROLA, INC.
    Inventors: Geetha B. Nagaraj, Nicholas G. Cafaro, Ralf Hekmann, Robert E. Stengel, Scott Miller
  • Publication number: 20080258791
    Abstract: Improvement of quantization errors that arise in a delay line with finite resolution. A direct digital synthesizer (DDS), which contains a numerically controlled oscillator (NCO) and a digital-to-phase converter (DPC), is placed in the feedback loop of a phase locked loop (PLL). The DDS is used as a fractional divider of the voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) frequency, such that the reference frequency of the DDS is made variable. Alignment of the edges provided by the DDS delay line may then be adjusted. Mismatch errors in the DDS delay line are reduced by utilizing independently tunable delay elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: MOTOROLA, INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas G. Cafaro, Thomas L. Gradishar, Robert E. Stengel
  • Publication number: 20080095291
    Abstract: A system and method for clock data recovery for programming direct digital synthesizers is disclosed. A counter is used to calculate a coarse measurement of the clock frequency of a received digital signal, and a tap delay line is used to calculate a fine measurement of the clock frequency of the received digital signal. The coarse and fine measurements are used to calculate a value for programming a direct digital synthesizer to produce a clock signal that is an approximate replica of the clock frequency of the received digital signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Nicholas G. Cafaro, Robert E. Stengel
  • Patent number: 7315215
    Abstract: Improvement of quantization errors that arise in a delay line with finite resolution. A direct digital synthesizer (DDS), which contains a numerically controlled oscillator (NCO) and a digital-to-phase converter (DPC), is placed in the feedback loop of a phase locked loop (PLL). The DDS is used as a fractional divider of the voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) frequency, such that the reference frequency of the DDS is made variable. Alignment of the edges provided by the DDS delay line may then be adjusted. Mismatch errors in the DDS delay line are reduced by utilizing independently tunable delay elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Motorola,, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas G. Cafaro, Thomas L. Gradishar, Robert E. Stengel
  • Patent number: 7251468
    Abstract: A dynamically matched mixer system (200) for use in a direct conversion radio frequency (RF) receiver includes a frequency generator (201, 203, 205) that includes plurality of dividers (407) for providing differential local oscillator reference sources (FLO+ and FLO?) and mitigation frequency reference sources (F1 and F2) from reference oscillator (205). A mixer (209) mixes the differential local oscillator reference sources (FLO+ and FLO?) and the mitigation frequency reference sources (F1 and F2) while dynamic matching units (211, 213) are used for receiving the mitigation frequency reference sources and matching switching parameters of differential input signals (IRF+ and IRF?) and differential baseband output signals (IBB+ and IBB?). The frequencies of the mitigation frequency reference sources (F1 and F2) are selected so as to establish a non-integer relationship to the reference oscillator (201) for mitigating the occurrence of interference with FLO+ and FLO?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles R. Ruelke, Nicholas G. Cafaro, Robert E. Stengel
  • Patent number: 7031372
    Abstract: A circuit consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention has a source of N reference clock frequencies (230), where N is an integer greater than one. N frequency extender circuits (954) receive the N reference clock frequencies and generating N frequency extended output clock signals therefrom. A plurality of N seed slewers (958) produce N seed update values. A plurality of N seed registers (962) each receive one of the N seed update values and produce N seed masks therefrom. A plurality of N logic circuits (966) each receive one of the N seed masks and one of the N frequency extended output clock signals. Each of the N logic circuits (966) produce a pseudorandom sequence from the seed mask and the frequency extended output clock signal. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew T. Tomerlin, Nicholas G. Cafaro, Robert E. Stengel