Patents by Inventor Benjamin J. McCarroll

Benjamin J. McCarroll 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: 7068788
    Abstract: The present invention is related to digital to analog converter (DAC) input data encryption off-chip and decryption on-chip to suppress input data in-band harmonic leakage through package related parasitic capacitance. More specifically, the present invention relates to the method and apparatus of input data encryption off-chip by forming the logical exclusive-OR of the raw data and a random single bit data stream. The encrypted data is then read onto the DAC chip where the data is decrypted using identical circuitry and an identical random single bit data stream. The off-chip encryption isolates harmonic content within the input data, preventing leakage of input data harmonic content through IC package-related parasitic capacitance into DAC outputs. Any leakage appears as an increase in spectral noise rather than output distortion and as such, has a much smaller impact on DAC narrow band linearity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Yusuf A. Haque, Benjamin J. McCarroll, Kevin K. Johnstone
  • Publication number: 20020126839
    Abstract: The present invention is related to digital to analog converter (DAC) input data encryption off-chip and decryption on-chip to suppress input data in-band harmonic leakage through package related parasitic capacitance. More specifically, the present invention relates to the method and apparatus of input data encryption off-chip by forming the logical exclusive-OR of the raw data and a random single bit data stream. The encrypted data is then read onto the DAC chip where the data is decrypted using identical circuitry and an identical random single bit data stream. The off-chip encryption isolates harmonic content within the input data, preventing leakage of input data harmonic content through IC package-related parasitic capacitance into DAC outputs. Any leakage appears as an increase in spectral noise rather than output distortion and as such, has a much smaller impact on DAC narrow band linearity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Yusuf A. Haque, Benjamin J. McCarroll, Kevin K. Johnstone
  • Patent number: 6359467
    Abstract: The present invention is a technique for dynamic element matching used in digital-to-analog converters (DAC's). An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) converts an analog signal into a digital code. A current-mode randomizer randomizes the digital code based on a control word provided by a pseudo random number generator. A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) converts the randomized digital code into an analog signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin J. McCarroll, Rie Sasakawa
  • Patent number: 6211806
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for correcting errors in N digital word generated by N+1 pipelined analog-to-digital converters. The method comprises the steps of: (1) synchronizing the N digital words by N groups of pipeline registers; and (2) correcting the synchronized N digital words by performing either an incrementing operation or a decrementing operation based on an adjustment value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin J. McCarroll
  • Patent number: 5977894
    Abstract: A method of digital calibration for analog-to-digital converters providing implicit gain proration. In accordance with the method, the calibration begins at the center of the transfer curve rather from one end or the other. By beginning in the center, calibrating in the positive direction and then calibrating in the negative direction, the interstage gain errors are also corrected without an extra gain-proration cycle. In addition, the number of accumulated measurements is reduced by a factor of two for the final correction coefficient by using the preferred method. Therefore, the roundoff errors are also reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin J. McCarroll, Chowdhury Rahim
  • Patent number: 5781036
    Abstract: A phase detector biased in a manner to alleviate the mismatch between the biasing current sources and the phase detector core bias currents. The bias setting resistors are coupled together at a common node that forms the negative input of a differential feedback amplifier. The positive input to the amplifier is referenced to a reference voltage, and the output of the amplifier controls the biasing current sources. The feedback amplifier forces the average voltage at the current source outputs to approximately match the reference voltage applied to its positive input. Thus the average bias current from the bias current sources is forced to track the average bias currents of the phase detector core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Lindsey Williams, Benjamin J. McCarroll
  • Patent number: 5672961
    Abstract: A current source includes a control stage responsive to a stable, d.c. input voltage that is operative to produce a control voltage proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT), and an output stage responsive to the PTAT control voltage that is operative to produce an output current that is an essentially constant fraction of an output constant current source. The control stage includes a temperature-dependent control resistor of a given resistor type, and at least one control constant current source providing the control resistor with a temperature dependent control current. The temperature dependent current source includes a temperature dependent current source resistor based on the given resistor type such that the temperature dependencies of the control current and the control resistor tend to cancel in such a manner that a true PTAT control voltage is developed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Entrikin, Brent R. Jensen, Benjamin J. McCarroll
  • Patent number: 5521599
    Abstract: A high speed analog signal sampling system. The system comprises a timing chain having a plurality of delay elements arranged in series and a sample rate multiplier having a delay lock control system responsive to the outputs of first, second and third parallel delay elements in the sample rate multiplier to control the delay of the second parallel delay element so that its strobe signal output occurs one-half the time between the strobe signal outputs of the first parallel delay element and the third parallel delay element. The first, second and third parallel delay elements are the first three parallel delay elements of the timing chain, and a control signal of the delay lock control system is used to adjust and control the amount of delay introduced by every other parallel delay element after the second parallel delay element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin J. McCarroll, Steven K. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 5331210
    Abstract: A fully differential CMOS peak detection circuit has a differential input stage and a negative feedback loop that form a differential unity gain feedback amplifier. The differential output of the differential input stage is applied to a differential peak detect circuit having a pair of series diode/capacitor combinations. The diode/capacitor junctions are applied to differential inputs of the negative feedback loop. A common mode correction circuit is coupled to the differential CMOS peak detection circuit to minimize differences between the common mode voltages of the differential input stage and the negative feedback loop. The differential peak voltage is held at the differential output of the differential input stage for sampling by a sampling circuit during a readback interval, and then tracks a differential input signal applied to the differential input of the differential input stage during a tracking interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin J. McCarroll