Patents Assigned to Syntropy Systems, LLC
  • Patent number: 10623014
    Abstract: Provided, among other things, is an apparatus that converts a signal from one sampling domain to another, and which includes: an input line for accepting an input signal and a processing branch. The processing branch includes a branch input coupled to the input line for inputting data samples that are discrete in time and in value, a quadrature downconverter, a first and second lowpass filter, a first and second polynomial interpolator, and a rotation matrix multiplier that provides a phase rotation. The processing branch generates data samples at a sampling interval that differs from the sampling interval associated with the signal provided to the branch input, e.g., with the difference in the sampling intervals depending on fluctuations in the output period of a local oscillator. Certain embodiments include multiple such processing branches, e.g., operating on different frequency bands of the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Syntropy Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Pagnanelli
  • Patent number: 10263628
    Abstract: An exemplary apparatus for converting fluctuations in periodicity of an input signal into proportional fluctuations in the amplitude of an output signal includes: an input line for accepting an input signal; a delay element with an input coupled to the input line and an output; a detector having a first input coupled to the input line, a second input coupled to the output of the delay element, and an output; an integrator having an input coupled to the output of the detector and an output; and an output line coupled to the output of the integrator. The delay element introduces a time delay which is greater than zero and less than twice the nominal oscillation period of the input signal. The detector performs a differencing operation. The integrator has a time constant of integration that is smaller than twice the delay applied by the delay element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Syntropy Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Pagnanelli
  • Patent number: 9973172
    Abstract: Provided, among other things, is an apparatus for digitally processing a discrete-time signal that includes: an input line for accepting an input signal, processing branches coupled to the input line, and an adder coupled to outputs of the processing branches. First and second lowpass filters, each having a frequency response with a magnitude that varies approximately with frequency according to a product of raised functions, are included within baseband processors in such processing branches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Syntropy Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Pagnanelli
  • Patent number: 9838030
    Abstract: Provided are, among other things, systems, apparatuses methods and techniques for automatically adjusting the noise-transfer-function of a modulator which is designed to attenuate the level of unwanted noise and/or distortion in a particular frequency band, without similarly attenuating the level of a desired signal in the same frequency band. One such apparatus includes a processing block for generating and injecting an explicit reference signal, and a processing block for detecting the amplitude of that reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Syntropy Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Pagnanelli
  • Patent number: 9837989
    Abstract: Provided are, among other things, systems, apparatuses methods and techniques for generating discrete-time sinusoidal sequences. One such apparatus includes a plurality of parallel processing branches, with each of the parallel processing branches operating at a subsampled rate and utilizing a recursive filter to generate sub-rate samples which represent a different subsampling phase of a complete signal that is output by the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Syntropy Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Pagnanelli
  • Patent number: 9837990
    Abstract: Provided, among other things, is an apparatus for digitally processing a discrete-time signal that includes: an input line for accepting an input signal, processing branches coupled to the input line, and an adder coupled to outputs of the processing branches. First and second lowpass filters, each having a frequency response with a magnitude that varies approximately with frequency according to a product of raised functions, are included within baseband processors in such processing branches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Syntropy Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Pagnanelli
  • Patent number: 9772972
    Abstract: Provided are, among other things, systems, apparatuses methods and techniques for generating discrete-time sinusoidal sequences. One such apparatus includes a plurality of parallel processing branches, with each of the parallel processing branches operating at a subsampled rate and utilizing a recursive filter to generate sub-rate samples which represent a different subsampling phase of a complete signal that is output by the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Syntropy Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Pagnanelli
  • Patent number: 9735800
    Abstract: Provided are, among other things, systems, apparatuses, methods and techniques for converting a discrete-time quantized signal into a continuous-time, continuously variable signal. An exemplary converter preferably includes: (1) multiple oversampling converters, each processing a different frequency band, operated in parallel; (2) multirate (i.e., polyphase) delta-sigma modulators (preferably second-order or higher); (3) multi-bit quantizers; (4) multi-bit-to-variable-level signal converters, such as resistor ladder networks or current source networks; (5) adaptive nonlinear, bit-mapping to compensate for mismatches in the multi-bit-to-variable-level signal converters (e.g., by mimicking such mismatches and then shifting the resulting noise to a frequently range where it will be filtered out by a corresponding bandpass (reconstruction) filter); (6) multi-band (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Syntropy Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Pagnanelli
  • Patent number: 9715914
    Abstract: Provided are, among other things, systems, apparatuses methods and techniques for changing the sampling rate of a discrete-time signal. One such apparatus includes a plurality of parallel processing paths, with each path comprising multiple storage banks and multiplexing elements that operate at a subsampling rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Syntropy Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Pagnanelli
  • Patent number: 9685975
    Abstract: Provided are, among other things, systems, apparatuses methods and techniques for providing a complete output signal from a set of partial signals, which in turn have been generated by parallel processing paths in the time-interleaved and/or frequency-interleaved conversion of discrete signals to linear signals (i.e., discrete-to-linear conversion). One such apparatus includes a distributed network comprising a plurality of ladder networks through which input signals propagate before being combined to form an output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Syntropy Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Pagnanelli
  • Patent number: 9680498
    Abstract: Provided are, among other things, systems, apparatuses, methods and techniques for converting a continuous-time, continuously variable signal into a sampled and quantized signal. One such apparatus includes an input line for accepting an input signal that is continuous in time and continuously variable, multiple processing branches coupled to the input line, and an adder coupled to outputs of the processing branches. Each of the processing branches includes a continuous-time quantization-noise-shaping circuit, a sampling/quantization circuit coupled to an output of the continuous-time quantization-noise-shaping circuit, a digital bandpass filter coupled to an output of the sampling/quantization circuit, and a line coupling an output of the digital-to-analog converter circuit back into the continuous-time quantization-noise-shaping circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Syntropy Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Pagnanelli
  • Patent number: 9680497
    Abstract: Provided are, among other things, systems, apparatuses, methods and techniques for converting a discrete-time quantized signal into a continuous-time, continuously variable signal. An exemplary converter preferably includes: (1) multiple oversampling converters, each processing a different frequency band, operated in parallel; (2) multirate (i.e., polyphase) delta-sigma modulators (preferably second-order or higher); (3) multi-bit quantizers; (4) multi-bit-to-variable-level signal converters, such as resistor ladder networks or current source networks; (5) adaptive nonlinear, bit-mapping to compensate for mismatches in the multi-bit-to-variable-level signal converters (e.g., by mimicking such mismatches and then shifting the resulting noise to a frequently range where it will be filtered out by a corresponding bandpass (reconstruction) filter); (6) multi-band (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Syntropy Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Pagnanelli
  • Patent number: 9654128
    Abstract: Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for converting a continuous-time, continuously variable signal into a sampled and quantized signal. According to one implementation, an apparatus includes multiple processing branches, each including: a bandpass noise-shaping circuit, a sampling/quantization circuit, and a digital bandpass filter. A combining circuit then combines signals at the processing branch outputs into a final output signal. The bandpass noise-shaping circuits include adjustable circuit components for changing their quantization-noise frequency-response minimum, and the digital bandpass filters include adjustable parameters for changing their frequency passbands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Syntropy Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Pagnanelli
  • Patent number: 9634700
    Abstract: Provided are, among other things, systems, apparatuses methods and techniques for attenuating the level of unwanted noise and/or distortion in a particular frequency band, without similarly attenuating the level of a desired signal in the same frequency band. One such apparatus includes a distributed network comprising a plurality of reactive impedance segments and gain cells that form transmission paths, over which continuous and quantized versions of an input signal propagate before combining with the input signal itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Syntropy Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Pagnanelli
  • Patent number: 9621175
    Abstract: Provided are, among other things, systems, apparatuses, methods and techniques for converting a continuous-time, continuously variable signal into a sampled and quantized signal. One such apparatus includes an input line for accepting an input signal that is continuous in time and continuously variable, multiple processing branches coupled to the input line, and an adder coupled to outputs of the processing branches, with each of the processing branches including a bandpass noise-shaping circuit, a sampling/quantization circuit coupled to an output of the bandpass noise-shaping circuit, a digital bandpass filter coupled to an output of the sampling/quantization circuit, and a line coupling an output of the sampling/quantization converter circuit back into the bandpass noise-shaping circuit. A center frequency of the digital bandpass filter in each processing branch corresponds to a stopband region in a quantization noise transfer function for the bandpass noise-shaping circuit in the same processing branch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Syntropy Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Pagnanelli
  • Patent number: 9509331
    Abstract: Provided are, among other things, systems, apparatuses, methods and techniques for converting a discrete-time quantized signal into a continuous-time, continuously variable signal. An exemplary converter preferably includes: (1) multiple oversampling converters, each processing a different frequency band, operated in parallel; (2) multirate (i.e., polyphase) delta-sigma modulators (preferably second-order or higher); (3) multi-bit quantizers; (4) multi-bit-to-variable-level signal converters, such as resistor ladder networks or current source networks; (5) adaptive nonlinear, bit-mapping to compensate for mismatches in the multi-bit-to-variable-level signal converters (e.g., by mimicking such mismatches and then shifting the resulting noise to a frequently range where it will be filtered out by a corresponding bandpass (reconstruction) filter); (6) multi-band (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Syntropy Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Pagnanelli
  • Patent number: 9419637
    Abstract: Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for converting a continuous-time, continuously variable signal into a sampled and quantized signal. According to one implementation, an apparatus includes multiple processing branches, each including: a continuous-time quantization-noise-shaping circuit, a sampling/quantization circuit, and a digital bandpass filter. A combining circuit then combines signals at the processing branch outputs into a final output signal. The continuous-time quantization-noise-shaping circuits include adjustable circuit components for changing their quantization-noise frequency-response minimum, and the digital bandpass filters include adjustable parameters for changing their frequency passbands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Syntropy Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Pagnanelli
  • Patent number: 9391656
    Abstract: Provided are, among other things, systems, apparatuses methods and techniques for attenuating the level of unwanted noise and/or distortion in a particular frequency band, without similarly attenuating the level of a desired signal in the same frequency band. One such apparatus includes a distributed network comprising a plurality of reactive impedance segments and gain cells that form transmission paths, over which continuous and quantized versions of an input signal propagate before combining with the input signal itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Syntropy Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Pagnanelli
  • Patent number: 9276602
    Abstract: Provided are, among other things, systems, apparatuses, methods and techniques for converting a discrete-time quantized signal into a continuous-time, continuously variable signal. An exemplary converter preferably includes: (1) multiple oversampling converters, each processing a different frequency band, operated in parallel; (2) multirate (i.e., polyphase) delta-sigma modulators (preferably second-order or higher); (3) multi-bit quantizers; (4) multi-bit-to-variable-level signal converters, such as resistor ladder networks or current source networks; (5) adaptive nonlinear, bit-mapping to compensate for mismatches in the multi-bit-to-variable-level signal converters (e.g., by mimicking such mismatches and then shifting the resulting noise to a frequently range where it will be filtered out by a corresponding bandpass (reconstruction) filter); (6) multi-band (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Syntropy Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Pagnanelli
  • Patent number: 9225353
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for converting a continuous-time, continuously variable signal into a sampled and quantized signal, which includes an input line for accepting an input signal, multiple processing branches coupled to the input line, and an adder coupled to outputs of the plurality of processing branches. Each of the processing branches includes a sampling/quantization circuit and a digital bandpass interpolation filter having an input coupled to an output of the sampling/quantization circuit. The digital bandpass interpolation filters in different ones of the processing branches have frequency responses that are centered at different frequencies. The digital bandpass interpolation filter in at least one of the processing branches includes: (i) a quadrature downconverter, (ii) a first lowpass filter and a second lowpass filter, (iii) a first interpolator and a second interpolator, each having an input for inputting a variable interpolant value, and (iv) a quadrature upconverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Syntropy Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Pagnanelli