Patents Examined by Arnold Kinkead
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Patent number: 10291244Abstract: An atomic oscillator includes at least a gas cell that has metal atoms sealed therein, a coil that is disposed in a vicinity of the gas cell, a first magnetic shield that accommodates the gas cell and the coil therein, a second magnetic shield that accommodates a heater heating the gas cell, a first temperature sensor detecting a temperature of the gas cell, and the first magnetic shield therein, and a temperature adjustment unit and a second temperature sensor that are disposed outside the second magnetic shield.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2016Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Noriaki Tanaka, Koji Chindo
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Patent number: 10280739Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus and a system, as well as a method and an article, may operate to receive a derived clock signal downhole, the derived clock signal being derived from a surface clock signal (associated with a surface clock), such that the frequency of the derived clock signal is less than the frequency of the surface clock signal. Further activity may include measuring the frequency of the derived clock signal in terms of an uncorrected downhole clock frequency (associated with a downhole clock) to provide a measured frequency equivalent, and correcting time measurements made using the downhole clock, based on the measured frequency equivalent, or based on an actual frequency of the downhole clock determined according to the measured frequency equivalent. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are described.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2014Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Paul F. Rodney, Paul Andrew Cooper
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Patent number: 10284210Abstract: Embodiments include apparatuses, methods, and systems for open-loop voltage regulation and drift compensation for a digitally controlled oscillator (DCO). In embodiments, a communication circuit may include a DCO, an open-loop voltage regulator, and a calibration circuit. The open-loop voltage regulator may receive a calibration voltage and may generate a regulated voltage. The regulated voltage may be passed to the DCO. During a calibration mode, the calibration circuit may compare the regulated voltage to a reference voltage and adjust the calibration voltage based on the comparison to provide the regulated voltage with a target value. During a monitoring mode, the calibration circuit may receive a tuning code that is used to tune the DCO and further adjust the calibration voltage based on a value of the tuning code.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2016Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: INTEL CORPORATIONInventors: Shenggao Li, Guluke Tong, Sujatha B. Gowder, Fulvio Spagna
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Patent number: 10270390Abstract: A small-sized frequency-variable terahertz oscillator has a successive and large frequency-sweeping width even at a room temperature. The frequency-variable terahertz oscillator includes a slot antenna, a resonant tunneling diode and a varactor diode arranged parallel to each other along the slot antenna. The frequency-variable terahertz oscillator oscillates in a terahertz frequency range when the resonant tunneling diode and the varactor diode are separately applied with a direct voltage.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2014Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: TOKYO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: Safumi Suzuki, Seiichiro Kitagawa, Masahiro Asada
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Patent number: 10270452Abstract: A circuit device includes a power supply circuit and a digital temperature compensated oscillation circuit. The digital temperature compensated oscillation circuit includes an A/D conversion unit, a processing unit, and an oscillation signal generation circuit. The A/D conversion unit performs A/D conversion of a temperature detection voltage from a temperature sensor unit. The processing unit performs temperature compensation processing of an oscillation frequency based on temperature detection data. The oscillation signal generation circuit generates an oscillation signal of the oscillation frequency using frequency control data and a vibrator. The power supply circuit includes at least one reference voltage generation circuit that generates a reference voltage based on a work function difference between transistors.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2016Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Akihiro Fukuzawa
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Patent number: 10263565Abstract: A non-linear transmission line device includes a magnetic element having at least one end profiled to reduce demagnetization when the element is biased. The profile may be tapered, stepped, or smoothly curved. Also disclosed is a non-linear transmission device made up of a solid magnetic element, typically of flat rectangular form.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2014Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS plcInventors: John Eric Dolan, Matthew James Jenkins
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Patent number: 10263020Abstract: Provided is a planar nano-oscillator array having phase locking function, including two or more planar nano-oscillators which are arranged in parallel. The two oscillators are connected by planar resistors and capacitors, and a structure thereof includes: electrodes; respectively introducing two pairs of laterally arranged parallel insulation notch grooves into two-dimensional electron gas layers, so as to form oscillation channels; vertically disposing separating insulation notch grooves, so that a planar resistor A with low resistance which is connected to the electrode is formed on the left side, and a planar resistor B with low resistance which is connected to the electrode is formed on the right side; and arranging, between the two oscillators, an insulation capacitor notch groove which is parallel to the oscillation channels, insulating materials having a high dielectric constant being filled therein.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2014Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: SOUTH CHINA NORMAL UNIVERSITYInventor: Kunyuan Xu
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Patent number: 10263626Abstract: Apparatus and methods for tuning a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) are provided. In one aspect, a method of auto-tuning in a phase-locked loop includes generating a VCO clock signal using a VCO coupled to a capacitor array, dividing the VCO clock signal to generate a divided clock signal using a prescaler circuit having a selectable division ratio, controlling a value of the selectable division ratio using a first counter and a second counter of a counter module, generating a phase-frequency detector feedback signal based on a division control signal M and the divided clock signal using the counter module, counting a number of cycles of the divided clock signal that occur during a calibration interval using a cycle counter of a digital processing logic circuit, and determining the value of a capacitor array control signal based on the number of cycles counted during the calibration interval.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2016Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Hua Wang, David Steven Ripley, Bryan J. Roll
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Patent number: 10256825Abstract: An oven controlled crystal oscillator that ensures reduced heat influence from outside to further stabilize an output frequency is provided. The oven controlled crystal oscillator includes a substrate secured above a base. The oven controlled crystal oscillator includes an oscillator circuit, a heater resistor, and a power transistor, which are mounted on the substrate. The oven controlled crystal oscillator includes pins that secures the substrate above the base at a predetermined interval, a metal cover that covers the oscillator circuit, the heater resistor, and the power transistor, and a resin cover that covers outside of the metal cover. An air layer is formed between the metal cover and the resin cover.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2015Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.Inventor: Junichi Arai
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Patent number: 10256797Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, an oscillator is provided. The oscillator includes a switched capacitor circuit arrangement configured to generate a predetermined voltage, a transconductance-capacitor filter configured to receive the predetermined voltage and a reference voltage, and to generate an output filter voltage based on a differential result between the predetermined voltage and the reference voltage, wherein a value of the output filter voltage is variable in response to the differential result, and a period control circuit arrangement configured to receive the output filter voltage, and further configured to generate an oscillator signal, wherein a period of the oscillator signal is variable in response to the value of the output filter voltage, wherein the oscillator is configured to control the switched capacitor circuit arrangement based on the oscillator signal to generate the predetermined voltage to be matched to the reference voltage.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2015Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: Agency for Science, Technology and ResearchInventor: Yat Hei Lam
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Patent number: 10250263Abstract: Embodiments relate to a voltage oscillator (VCO) that uses a replica bias circuit to generate a cascode bias voltage. The VCO generate an output periodic signal having a frequency and phase that is less or not susceptible to voltage swings by using a bias voltage generated in a replica bias circuit that replicates a voltage-to-current converter in the VOC. The bias voltage is generated and regulated according to a power supply voltage that supplies power to the VCO to account for voltage variations in the power supply voltage.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2015Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: Lattice Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Kexin Luo, Rui Yin, Xiaofeng Wang, Jie Yuan, Qiming Wu, Fei Song, Min-Kyu Kim
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Patent number: 10250271Abstract: According to one embodiment, a quantum computation apparatus includes a plurality of quantum nonlinear oscillators, a controller, and a measuring device. Each of the quantum nonlinear oscillators implements superposition of distinguishable quantum states by bifurcating one quantum state via a quantum adiabatic change controlled by a bifurcation parameter. The quantum nonlinear oscillators couple with each other by nondissipative coupling accompanying no loss. The controller individually controls the bifurcation parameters of the quantum nonlinear oscillators. A measuring device measures outputs from the quantum nonlinear oscillators.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2016Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Hayato Goto
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Patent number: 10236824Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator (“VCO”) circuit is disclosed. The VCO includes a switch module comprising a first transistor and a second transistor; a first LC-tank module, the first LC-tank module is operatively connected between the drain of the first transistor and the drain of the second transistor; and a second LC-tank module, the second LC-tank module is operatively connected between the gate of the first transistor and the gate of the second transistor, the source of the first transistor and the source of the second transistor are operatively connected.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2016Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jun-De Jin, Ying-Ta Lu, Hsien-Yuan Liao
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Patent number: 10230351Abstract: Apparatus and methods for distributing spurious tones through the frequency domain are disclosed. One such apparatus can include a dithering circuit configured to generate a sequence of numbers that exhibit statistical randomness and a variable frequency circuit configured to adjust a frequency of an output based on the sequence of numbers so as to spread energy of spurious tones in a frequency response of the output to lower a noise floor. In one example, spurious tones can be reduced in a negative voltage generator of a radio frequency (RF) attenuator.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2016Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Obkircher, William J. Domino, Bipul Agarwal
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Patent number: 10230379Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to rapidly downshifting the output frequency of an oscillator. In some embodiments, the oscillator is configured to operate in a closed-loop mode in which negative feedback is used to maintain a particular output frequency (e.g., in a phase-locked loop (PLL)). In some embodiments, the negative feedback loop is configured to maintain the output of the oscillator at a particular frequency based on a reference clock signal and the output of the oscillator. The nature of a negative feedback loop may render rapid frequency changes difficult, e.g., because of corrections by the loop. Therefore, in some embodiments, the loop is configured to switch to an open-loop mode in which a control input to the oscillator is fixed. In some embodiments, the loop switches to open-loop mode in response to a trigger signal and control circuitry forces the oscillator to a new target frequency.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2016Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Brian S. Leibowitz, Jared L. Zerbe, Sanjay Pant
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Patent number: 10224833Abstract: Disclosed are a modulation method of a modular multilevel converter and a fault isolation method of a submodule unit. The modulation method comprises a first mode and a second mode, and the first mode and the second mode operate cyclically. In the first mode, a first power semiconductor switch and a second power semiconductor switch are turned on alternately, while a third power semiconductor switch is turned off normally and a fourth power semiconductor switch is turned on normally. In the second mode, the third power semiconductor switch and the fourth power semiconductor switch are turned on alternately, while the first power semiconductor switch is turned on normally and the second power semiconductor switch is turned off normally.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2016Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignees: NR ELECTRIC CO., LTD, NR ENGINEERING CO., LTD.Inventors: Yeyuan Xie, Dongming Cao, Tiangui Jiang, Minglian Zhu, Guanxian Yin
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Patent number: 10224943Abstract: An atomic oscillator includes a gas cell housing alkali metal atoms, a light source providing light to the gas cell, and a light detector that detects an amount of light transmitted through the gas cell. The light source includes a substrate, a first mirror layer on an upper portion of the substrate, an active layer on an upper portion of the first mirror layer, a second mirror layer on an upper portion of the active layer, a first contact layer on an upper portion of the second mirror layer, a light absorption layer on an upper portion of the first contact layer, and a second contact layer on an upper portion of the light absorption layer. As such, an output wavelength and the light output of the light source can be independently adjusted.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2016Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Yasutaka Imai
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Patent number: 10224872Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), a method of designing a voltage controlled oscillator, and a design structure comprising a semiconductor substrate including a voltage controlled oscillator are disclosed. In one embodiment, the VCO comprises an LC tank circuit for generating an oscillator output at an oscillator frequency, and an oscillator core including cross-coupled semiconductor devices to provide feedback to the tank circuit. The VCO further comprises a supply node, a tail node, and a noise by-pass circuit connected to the supply and tail nodes, in parallel with the tank circuit and the oscillator core. The by-pass circuit forms a low-impedance path at a frequency approximately twice the oscillator frequency to at least partially immunize the oscillator core from external noise and to reduce noise contribution from the cross-coupled semiconductor devices.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2016Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Alberto Valdes-Garcia, Bodhisatwa Sadhu
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Patent number: 10224875Abstract: A micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) frequency divider apparatus having one or more MEMS resonators on a substrate is presented. A first oscillator frequency, as an approximate multiple of the parametric oscillation frequency, is capacitively coupled from a very closely-spaced electrode (e.g., 40 nm) to a resonant structure of the first oscillator, thus inducing mechanical oscillation. This mechanical oscillation can be coupled through additional MEMS resonators on the substrate. The mechanical resonance is then converted, in at least one of the MEMS resonators, by capacitive coupling back to an electrical signal which is a division of the first oscillation frequency. Output may be generated as a single ended output, or in response to a differential signal between two output electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2016Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIAInventors: Clark T.-C. Nguyen, Tristan O. Rocheleau
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Patent number: 10216150Abstract: An apparatus for an atomic clock includes first and second distinctive substrates, each having at least a planar surface substantially parallel therebetween. The apparatus also includes a medium having particles capable of undergoing energetic transition between at least two energy levels, said medium being located in the space defined between the planar surfaces. It further includes a magnetic device arranged to the first substrate and generating at least in the volume of the medium a predetermined static magnetic field B the direction of which is substantially parallel or perpendicular to the planar surfaces and an excitation device arranged to the second substrate and generating an excitation magnetic field H at, at least an excitation frequency, the direction of said excitation magnetic field H in the volume of the medium being substantially orthogonal to said direction of the static magnetic field B.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2016Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: MEMSCAPInventor: Nicolas Bertsch