Patents by Inventor Thomas Paul Weldon

Thomas Paul Weldon 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: 7710140
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for testing to determine the existence of defects and faults in circuits, devices, and systems such as digital integrated circuits, SRAM memory, mixed signal circuits, and the like. In particular, methods and apparatus are provided for detecting faults in circuits, devices, and systems using input control signals to generate controlled-duration, controlled pulse-width, transient power supply currents in a device under test, where said transient power supply currents are of controllable bandwidth and can be used as observables to determine faulty or defective operation. Additionally, methods and apparatus are provided to permit high bandwidth sensing of transient supply currents as need to preserve the narrow widths of these current pulses. These methods may include autozero techniques to remove supply current leakage current and DC offsets associated with practical current sensing currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventors: David M. Binkley, Rafic Zein Makki, Thomas Paul Weldon, Ali Chehab
  • Publication number: 20100097073
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for testing to determine the existence of defects and faults in circuits, devices, and systems such as digital integrated circuits, SRAM memory, mixed signal circuits, and the like. In particular, methods and apparatus are provided for detecting faults in circuits, devices, and systems using input control signals to generate controlled-duration, controlled pulse-width, transient power supply currents in a device under test, where said transient power supply currents are of controllable bandwidth and can be used as observables to determine faulty or defective operation. Additionally, methods and apparatus are provided to permit high bandwidth sensing of transient supply currents as need to preserve the narrow widths of these current pulses. These methods may include autozero techniques to remove supply current leakage current and DC offsets associated with practical current sensing currents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventors: David M. Binkley, Rafic Zein Makki, Thomas Paul Weldon, Ali Chehab
  • Patent number: 7148717
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for testing to determine the existence of defects and faults in circuits, devices, and systems such as digital integrated circuits, SRAM memory, mixed signal circuits, and the like. In particular, methods and apparatus are provided for detecting faults in circuits, devices, and systems using input control signals to generate controlled-duration, controlled pulse-width, transient power supply currents in a device under test, where said transient power supply currents are of controllable bandwidth and can be used as observables to determine faulty or defective operation. Additionally, methods and apparatus are provided to permit high bandwidth sensing of transient supply currents as need to preserve the narrow widths of these current pulses. These methods may include autozero techniques to remove supply current leakage current and DC offsets associated with practical current sensing currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventors: David M. Binkley, Rafic Zein Makki, Thomas Paul Weldon, Ali Chehab
  • Patent number: 6943628
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for substantially reducing and/or canceling nonlinearities of any order in circuits, devices, and systems such as amplifiers and mixers. In particular, methods and apparatus are provided for substantially reducing and/or canceling third order nonlinearities in circuits, devices, and systems such as amplifiers and mixers. A first coupler is used to split an input signal into two equal-amplitude in-phase components, each component is processed by two nonlinear devices with different nonlinearities, and a final combiner, such as a 180-degree hybrid, recombines the processed signals 180 degrees out of phase and substantially reduces and/or cancels the undesired nonlinear distortion components arising due to nonlinearities in the nonlinear devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventor: Thomas Paul Weldon
  • Patent number: 6906585
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for substantially reducing and/or canceling nonlinearities of any order in circuits, devices, and systems such as amplifiers and mixers. In particular, methods and apparatus are provided for substantially reducing and/or canceling third order nonlinearities in circuits, devices, and systems such as amplifiers and mixers. A first coupler is used to split an input signal into two equal-amplitude in-phase components, each component is processed by two nonlinear devices with different nonlinearities, and a final combiner, such as a 180-degree hybrid, recombines the processed signals 180 degrees out of phase and substantially reduces and/or cancels the undesired nonlinear distortion components arising due to nonlinearities in the nonlinear devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventor: Thomas Paul Weldon
  • Patent number: 6853248
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for substantially reducing and/or canceling nonlinearities of any order in circuits, devices, and systems such as amplifiers and mixers. In particular, methods and apparatus are provided for substantially reducing and/or canceling third order nonlinearities in circuits, devices, and systems such as amplifiers and mixers. A first coupler is used to split an input signal into two equal-amplitude in-phase components, each component is processed by two nonlinear devices with different nonlinearities, and a final combiner, such as a 180-degree hybrid, recombines the processed signals 180 degrees out of phase and substantially reduces and/or cancels the undesired nonlinear distortion components arising due to nonlinearities in the nonlinear devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventor: Thomas Paul Weldon
  • Patent number: 6853247
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for substantially reducing and/or canceling nonlinearities of any order in circuits, devices, and systems such as amplifiers and mixers. In particular, methods and apparatus are provided for substantially reducing and/or canceling third order nonlinearities in circuits, devices, and systems such as amplifiers and mixers. A first coupler is used to split an input signal into two equal-amplitude in-phase components, each component is processed by two nonlinear devices with different nonlinearities, and a final combiner, such as a 180-degree hybrid, recombines the processed signals 180 degrees out of phase and substantially reduces and/or cancels the undesired nonlinear distortion components arising due to nonlinearities in the nonlinear devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventor: Thomas Paul Weldon
  • Publication number: 20040263198
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for testing to determine the existence of defects and faults in circuits, devices, and systems such as digital integrated circuits, SRAM memory, mixed signal circuits, and the like. In particular, methods and apparatus are provided for detecting faults in circuits, devices, and systems using input control signals to generate controlled-duration, controlled pulse-width, transient power supply currents in a device under test, where said transient power supply currents are of controllable bandwidth and can be used as observables to determine faulty or defective operation. Additionally, methods and apparatus are provided to permit high bandwidth sensing of transient supply currents as need to preserve the narrow widths of these current pulses. These methods may include autozero techniques to remove supply current leakage current and DC offsets associated with practical current sensing currents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: David M. Binkley, Rafic Zein Makki, Thomas Paul Weldon, Ali Chehab
  • Patent number: 6833724
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for testing to determine the existence of defects and faults in circuits, devices, and systems such as digital integrated circuits, SRAM memory, mixed signal circuits, and the like. In particular, methods and apparatus are provided for detecting faults in circuits, devices, and systems using input control signals to generate controlled-duration, controlled pulse-width, transient power supply currents in a device under test, where said transient power supply currents are of controllable bandwidth and can be used as observables to determine faulty or defective operation. Additionally, methods and apparatus are provided to permit high bandwidth sensing of transient supply currents as need to preserve the narrow widths of these current pulses. These methods may include autozero techniques to remove supply current leakage current and DC offsets associated with practical current sensing currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventors: David M. Binkley, Rafic Zein Makki, Thomas Paul Weldon, Ali Chehab
  • Publication number: 20040251964
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for substantially reducing and/or canceling nonlinearities of any order in circuits, devices, and systems such as amplifiers and mixers. In particular, methods and apparatus are provided for substantially reducing and/or canceling third order nonlinearities in circuits, devices, and systems such as amplifiers and mixers. A first coupler is used to split an input signal into two equal-amplitude in-phase components, each component is processed by two nonlinear devices with different nonlinearities, and a final combiner, such as a 180-degree hybrid, recombines the processed signals 180 degrees out of phase and substantially reduces and/or cancels the undesired nonlinear distortion components arising due to nonlinearities in the nonlinear devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Applicant: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventor: Thomas Paul Weldon
  • Publication number: 20040251963
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for substantially reducing and/or canceling nonlinearities of any order in circuits, devices, and systems such as amplifiers and mixers. In particular, methods and apparatus are provided for substantially reducing and/or canceling third order nonlinearities in circuits, devices, and systems such as amplifiers and mixers. A first coupler is used to split an input signal into two equal-amplitude in-phase components, each component is processed by two nonlinear devices with different nonlinearities, and a final combiner, such as a 180-degree hybrid, recombines the processed signals 180 degrees out of phase and substantially reduces and/or cancels the undesired nonlinear distortion components arising due to nonlinearities in the nonlinear devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Applicant: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventor: Thomas Paul Weldon
  • Publication number: 20040222851
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for substantially reducing and/or canceling nonlinearities of any order in circuits, devices, and systems such as amplifiers and mixers. In particular, methods and apparatus are provided for substantially reducing and/or canceling third order nonlinearities in circuits, devices, and systems such as amplifiers and mixers. A first coupler is used to split an input signal into two equal-amplitude in-phase components, each component is processed by two nonlinear devices with different nonlinearities, and a final combiner, such as a 180-degree hybrid, recombines the processed signals 180 degrees out of phase and substantially reduces and/or cancels the undesired nonlinear distortion components arising due to nonlinearities in the nonlinear devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventor: Thomas Paul Weldon
  • Patent number: 6794938
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for substantially reducing and/or canceling nonlinearities of any order in circuits, devices, and systems such as amplifiers and mixers. In particular, methods and apparatus are provided for substantially reducing and/or canceling third order nonlinearities in circuits, devices, and systems such as amplifiers and mixers. A first coupler is used to split an input signal into two equal-amplitude in-phase components, each component is processed by two nonlinear devices with different nonlinearities, and a final combiner, such as a 180-degree hybrid, recombines the processed signals 180 degrees out of phase and substantially reduces and/or cancels the undesired nonlinear distortion components arising due to nonlinearities in the nonlinear devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventor: Thomas Paul Weldon
  • Publication number: 20040169559
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for substantially reducing and/or canceling nonlinearities of any order in circuits, devices, and systems such as amplifiers and mixers. In particular, methods and apparatus are provided for substantially reducing and/or canceling third order nonlinearities in circuits, devices, and systems such as amplifiers and mixers. A first coupler is used to split an input signal into two equal-amplitude in-phase components, each component is processed by two nonlinear devices with different nonlinearities, and a final combiner, such as a 180-degree hybrid, recombines the processed signals 180 degrees out of phase and substantially reduces and/or cancels the undesired nonlinear distortion components arising due to nonlinearities in the nonlinear devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte,
    Inventor: Thomas Paul Weldon
  • Publication number: 20030179041
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for substantially reducing and/or canceling nonlinearities of any order in circuits, devices, and systems such as amplifiers and mixers. In particular, methods and apparatus are provided for substantially reducing and/or canceling third order nonlinearities in circuits, devices, and systems such as amplifiers and mixers. A first coupler is used to split an input signal into two equal-amplitude in-phase components, each component is processed by two nonlinear devices with different nonlinearities, and a final combiner, such as a 180-degree hybrid, recombines the processed signals 180 degrees out of phase and substantially reduces and/or cancels the undesired nonlinear distortion components arising due to nonlinearities in the nonlinear devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Applicant: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventor: Thomas Paul Weldon
  • Publication number: 20030085729
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for testing to determine the existence of defects and faults in circuits, devices, and systems such as digital integrated circuits, SRAM memory, mixed signal circuits, and the like. In particular, methods and apparatus are provided for detecting faults in circuits, devices, and systems using input control signals to generate controlled-duration, controlled pulse-width, transient power supply currents in a device under test, where said transient power supply currents are of controllable bandwidth and can be used as observables to determine faulty or defective operation. Additionally, methods and apparatus are provided to permit high bandwidth sensing of transient supply currents as need to preserve the narrow widths of these current pulses. These methods may include autozero techniques to remove supply current leakage current and DC offsets associated with practical current sensing currents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: David M. Binkley, Rafic Zein Makki, Thomas Paul Weldon, Ali Chehab
  • Patent number: 5999141
    Abstract: A directional antenna for telecomunication base station applications for home or business is provided. A folded dipole, a passive reflector, a balun and selectively routed coaxial transmission line all enclosed in a plastic enclosure provide improved stability of operating parameters when subjected to significant installation variations. The use of a PVC or similar plastic enclosure results in increased bandwidth while permitting printed circuit techniques and similar electronic construction methods the necessary protection and structural integrity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Inventor: Thomas Paul Weldon
  • Patent number: D458003
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Inventors: Thomas Paul Weldon, Kristen Marie Weldon, Kerry Rebecca Weldon