Patents by Inventor Xing Lan

Xing Lan 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: 7733194
    Abstract: A modulator is provided that comprises a nonlinear transmission line (NLTL) that is bias modulated by a baseband signal. A given logic state of the baseband signal determines a delay amount of a first carrier signal through the NLTL. The modulator further comprises an impulse forming network (IFN) that includes a first NLTL that receives the first carrier signal delayed by the determined delay amount and a second NLTL that receives a second carrier signal having a fixed delay amount. The first NLTL and second NLTL within the IFN have opposite diode polarity configurations. The modulator further comprises a power combiner that converts a delta delay of the first carrier signal relative to the second carrier signal to a sharp impulse that represents the given logic state of the baseband signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Xing Lan, Mark Kintis, Flavia S. Fong
  • Patent number: 7570129
    Abstract: A three dimensional (3D) monolithic integrated circuit (MMIC) balun and methods of making the same are provided. A primary spiral winding is spaced apart from a secondary primary winding by a gap in a substantially aligned stacked configuration forming a balun. The gap medium can be a low dielectric constant material if employing a multi-metal process or air if employing a wafer level packaging process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Kintis, Flavia S. Fong, Xing Lan
  • Patent number: 7570137
    Abstract: A ferroelectric loaded waveguide resonator capable of operation at microwave, millimeter-wave and higher frequencies and suitable for integration into a three-dimensional monolithic microwave integrated circuit (3D MMIC) is disclosed. The resonator includes a resonator cavity, which, in one form of the invention, is formed by two parallel metal layers and a metallized wall structure extending between the metal layers. The cavity is filled with dielectric material and includes a layer of ferroelectric material, which is used to control the resonant frequency by varying a voltage bias applied to the ferroelectric layer. The cavity includes a slot in one of the metal layers and a coupling strip formed adjacent to the slot to provide electromagnetic coupling to other components, such as a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO). The invention can also be applied to other multi-metal semiconductor or wafer level packaging technologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Kintis, Flavia S. Fong, Thomas T. Y. Wong, Xing Lan
  • Publication number: 20090115545
    Abstract: A modulator is provided that comprises a nonlinear transmission line (NLTL) that is bias modulated by a baseband signal. A given logic state of the baseband signal determines a delay amount of a first carrier signal through the NLTL. The modulator further comprises an impulse forming network (IFN) that includes a first NLTL that receives the first carrier signal delayed by the determined delay amount and a second NLTL that receives a second carrier signal having a fixed delay amount. The first NLTL and second NLTL within the IFN have opposite diode polarity configurations. The modulator further comprises a power combiner that converts a delta delay of the first carrier signal relative to the second carrier signal to a sharp impulse that represents the given logic state of the baseband signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: Xing Lan, Mark Kintis, Flavia S. Fong
  • Patent number: 7462956
    Abstract: A device and method are disclosed for synthesizing a waveform having pulse segments. An exemplary generator can include units having a time delay element and pulse generator generating the pulse segments. An input divider divides an input signal into signal instances that propagate through the units and an output combiner combines pulse segments to form the waveform. The pulse generators include a sharpening circuit for sharpening a rising edge and a falling edge of the pulse segments. The sharpening circuit includes a tunable delay element coupled to a non-linear transmission line (NLTL). Another NLTL can be coupled in parallel with the tunable delay element and the first NLTL. The NLTLs include input sections coupled to anodes or cathodes of Schottky diode elements, and the respective cathodes or anodes are coupled to a signal ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Space & Mission Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Xing Lan, Mark Kintis, Flavia S. Fong
  • Publication number: 20080169846
    Abstract: A device and method are disclosed for synthesizing a waveform having pulse segments. An exemplary generator can include units having a time delay element and pulse generator generating the pulse segments. An input divider divides an input signal into signal instances that propagate through the units and an output combiner combines pulse segments to form the waveform. The pulse generators include a sharpening circuit for sharpening a rising edge and a falling edge of the pulse segments. The sharpening circuit includes a tunable delay element coupled to a non-linear transmission line (NLTL). Another NLTL can be coupled in parallel with the tunable delay element and the first NLTL. The NLTLs include input sections coupled to anodes or cathodes of Schottky diode elements, and the respective cathodes or anodes are coupled to a signal ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Xing Lan, Mark Kintis, Flavia S. Fong
  • Patent number: 7276981
    Abstract: A three dimensional (3D) microwave monolithic integrated circuit (MMIC) multi-push voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) and methods of making the same is provided. The 3D MMIC multi-push oscillator includes a plurality of matching frequency oscillators coupled to a phasing ring in substantially equidistantly spaced apart locations. A combined VCO output signal is provided at a central output connection point of the phasing ring. The central output connection point resides on a first plane. An output conductor transition has a first end coupled to the central output connection point and a second end provided as an output to the quad-push VCO. The output conductor transition extends transverse to the first plane and terminates at a second plane separated from the first plane. The multi-push oscillator can be a push-push, quad-push or N-push type VCO based on a particular implementation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Kintis, Flavia S. Fong, Thomas T. Y. Wong, Xing Lan
  • Publication number: 20070109078
    Abstract: A ferroelectric loaded waveguide resonator capable of operation at microwave, millimeter-wave and higher frequencies and suitable for integration into a three-dimensional monolithic microwave integrated circuit (3D MMIC) is disclosed. The resonator includes a resonator cavity, which, in one form of the invention, is formed by two parallel metal layers and a metallized wall structure extending between the metal layers. The cavity is filled with dielectric material and includes a layer of ferroelectric material, which is used to control the resonant frequency by varying a voltage bias applied to the ferroelectric layer. The cavity includes a slot in one of the metal layers and a coupling strip formed adjacent to the slot to provide electromagnetic coupling to other components, such as a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO). The invention can also be applied to other multi-metal semiconductor or wafer level packaging technologies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Inventors: Mark Kintis, Flavia Fong, Thomas Wong, Xing Lan
  • Publication number: 20070069824
    Abstract: A three dimensional (3D) microwave monolithic integrated circuit (MMIC) multi-push voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) and methods of making the same is provided. The 3D MMIC multi-push oscillator includes a plurality of matching frequency oscillators coupled to a phasing ring in substantially equidistantly spaced apart locations. A combined VCO output signal is provided at a central output connection point of the phasing ring. The central output connection point resides on a first plane. An output conductor transition has a first end coupled to the central output connection point and a second end provided as an output to the quad-push VCO. The output conductor transition extends transverse to the first plane and terminates at a second plane separated from the first plane. The multi-push oscillator can be a push-push, quad-push or N-push type VCO based on a particular implementation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Inventors: Mark Kintis, Flavia Fong, Thomas Wong, Xing Lan
  • Publication number: 20070052491
    Abstract: A three dimensional (3D) monolithic integrated circuit (MMIC) balun and methods of making the same are provided. A primary spiral winding is spaced apart from a secondary primary winding by a gap in a substantially aligned stacked configuration forming a balun. The gap medium can be a low dielectric constant material if employing a multi-metal process or air if employing a wafer level packaging process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Inventors: Mark Kintis, Flavia Fong, Xing Lan
  • Patent number: 6944437
    Abstract: An electronically programmable multimode circuit is described. More particularly, the present invention is an electronically programmable multimode circuit that includes a first path and a second path wherein a mode and a signal directional flow direction is controlled through the selective biasing of the first path and the second path. A multimode circuit is produced that contains modes such as a phase shifter mode, an IQ modulation mode, an amplifier mode, a mixer mode, and a multiplier mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Ming-Jer Yang, Matt Nishimoto, Xing Lan, Michael Battung, Robert Wang, Yun-Ho Chung
  • Publication number: 20050099222
    Abstract: An electronically programmable multimode circuit is described. More particularly, the present invention is an electronically programmable multimode circuit that includes a first path and a second path wherein a mode and a signal directional flow direction is controlled through the selective biasing of the first path and the second path. A multimode circuit is produced that contains modes such as a phase shifter mode, an IQ modulation mode, an amplifier mode, a mixer mode, and a multiplier mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Applicant: Northrop Grumman Space & Mission Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Yang, Matt Nishimoto, Xing Lan, Michael Battung, Robert Wang, Yun-Ho Chung