Patents by Inventor Christopher Patrick Silva

Christopher Patrick Silva 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: 7583759
    Abstract: A communications system reduces downconverter inaccuracies in time-domain measurements or samples of received microwave communications I and Q complex signals by converting received signal to baseband taking measurements or samples of the I and Q waveforms at differing phase shifts of a demodulating carrier signal for a local oscillator or carrier tracking loop used during downconversion so that I and Q imbalances may be detected and removed by lowpass equivalent averaging for improved characterization of downconverters or for improved signal reception. In the preferred form, the phase shifts are 0 and ?/2 for a conventional measurement, and then at ?, and ?+?/2, with ?=?/4+m?/2 for an integer m for the second measurement where I and Q imbalances and baseband nonlinearities are indicated by differences between the two measured or sampled signals, where ? provides for optimum error detection for reducing the errors by averaging the measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: The Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Alfred Moulthrop, Michael Steven Muha, Christopher Patrick Silva
  • Publication number: 20080247491
    Abstract: A communications system redness downconverter inaccuracies in time-domain measurements or samples of received microwave communications I and Q complex signals by converting received signal to baseband taking measurements or samples of the I and Q waveforms at differing phase shifts of a demodulating carrier signal for a local oscillator or carrier tracking loop used during downconversion so that I and Q imbalances may be detected and removed by lowpass equivalent averaging for improved characterization of downconverters or for improved signal reception. In the preferred form, the phase shifts are 0 and ?/2 for a conventional measurement, and then at ?, and ?+?/2, with ?=?/4+m?/2 for an integer m for the second measurement where I and Q imbalances and baseband monlinearities are indicated by differences between the two measured or sampled signals, where ? provides for optimum error detection for reducing the errors by averaging the measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Andrew Alfred Moulthrop, Michael Steven Muha, Christopher Patrick Silva
  • Patent number: 7321641
    Abstract: A communications system reduces downconverter inaccuracies in time-domain measurements or samples of received microwave communications I and Q complex signals by converting received signal to baseband taking measurements or samples of the I and Q waveforms at differing phase shifts of a demodulating carrier signal for a local oscillator or carrier tracking loop used during downconversion so that I and Q imbalances may be detected and removed by lowpass equivalent averaging for improved characterization of downconverters or for improved signal reception. In the preferred form, the phase shifts are 0 and ?/2 for a conventional measurement, and then at ?, and ?+?/2, with ?=?/4+m?/2 for an integer m for the second measurement where I and Q imbalances and baseband nonlinearities are indicated by differences between the two measured or sampled signals, where ? provides for optimum error detection for reducing the errors by averaging the measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: The Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Alfred Moulthrop, Michael Steven Muha, Christopher Patrick Silva
  • Patent number: 6211663
    Abstract: A time-domain baseband measurement method measures modulated microwave signals typically used in communication systems by converting microwave signals to baseband before measurement for improved accuracy compared to direct measurement at the microwave frequency. A downconverting receiver is first characterized using a prior characterization method and then the modulated microwave signal is applied to the downconverting receiver and the response of the downconverting receiver is removed to provide an accurate characterization of the modulated microwave signal. Such an accurate measurement of the modulated microwave signal can be used for communications system performance verification as well as for characterizing communications devices and systems. One particular application is the measurement of input/output characteristics of nonlinear power amplifiers using such modulated microwave signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: The Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Alfred Moulthrop, Michael Steven Muha, Christopher Joseph Clark, Christopher Patrick Silva
  • Patent number: 6127899
    Abstract: A high frequency anharmonic oscillator provides a broad band chaotic oscillation with a noise-like spectra. The oscillator output signal is suitable for modulation by data providing for improved secure communication. The chaotic oscillator is based upon a forced second order Duffing equation that is tolerant of delay in the feedback path for high frequency operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: The Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Patrick Silva, Albert Miebach Young
  • Patent number: 6064694
    Abstract: A three-pair measurement method determines the amplitude and phase transmission response of frequency translating devices including a device under test and two test devices using a vector network analyzer and a controller where one of the devices has reciprocal frequency response characteristics. The characterization of single sideband and double sideband devices such as mixers, is preferably performed by combining data from analyzer two-port swept measurements. The measurement method provides a low-pass equivalent transmission response of the devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: The Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Joseph Clark, Andrew Alfred Moulthrop, Michael Steven Muha, Christopher Patrick Silva
  • Patent number: 6041077
    Abstract: A three-pair measurement method determines the amplitude and phase transmission response of frequency translating devices including a device under test and two test devices using a vector network analyzer and a controller where one of the devices has reciprocal frequency response characteristics. The characterization of single sideband and double sideband devices such as mixers, is preferably performed by combining data from analyzer two-port swept measurements. The measurement method provides a low-pass equivalent transmission response of the devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: The Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Joseph Clark, Andrew Alfred Moulthrop, Michael Steven Muha, Christopher Patrick Silva
  • Patent number: 5937006
    Abstract: A three-pair measurement method determines the amplitude and phase transmission response of frequency translating devices including a device under test and two test devices using a vector network analyzer and a controller where one of the devices has reciprocal frequency response characteristics. The characterization of single sideband and double sideband devices such as mixers, is preferably performed by combining data from analyzer two-port swept measurements. The measurement method provides a low-pass equivalent transmission response of the devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: The Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Joseph Clark, Andrew Alfred Moulthrop, Michael Steven Muha, Christopher Patrick Silva