Patents by Inventor Ernest T. Stroud

Ernest T. Stroud 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: 10547312
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes an input terminal configured to receive an input signal, a reference voltage node configured to provide a control voltage, and a pass transistor comprising a first terminal coupled to a first node, a control terminal coupled to the reference voltage node, and a second terminal coupled to the input terminal. The control voltage has a control voltage level sufficient to allow a signal to pass from the second terminal to the first terminal. The pass transistor is configured to linearly transfer the input signal to the first node in response to a voltage level of the input signal being below a first voltage level and configured to transfer a voltage-limited version of the input signal to the first node in response to the voltage level being above the first voltage level. At most, a negligible DC current flows through the input terminal into the second terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest T. Stroud, Stefan N. Mastovich
  • Patent number: 10488456
    Abstract: An isolation system includes a transmit die and a receive die coupled by an isolation channel. The transmit die receives diagnostic data at an input terminal and transmits the diagnostic data over an isolation channel to a receive die. The receive die supplies a signal from an internal node in the receive die identified by the diagnostic data to an output terminal of the receive die. Other diagnostic data received by the transmit die causes the transmit die to supply a signal from an internal node in the transmit die to a terminal of the transmit die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest T. Stroud, Stefan N. Mastovich, Huanhui Zhan, Tamás Marozsák, András V. Horváth
  • Publication number: 20180348295
    Abstract: An isolation system includes a transmit die and a receive die coupled by an isolation channel. The transmit die receives diagnostic data at an input terminal and transmits the diagnostic data over an isolation channel to a receive die. The receive die supplies a signal from an internal node in the receive die identified by the diagnostic data to an output terminal of the receive die. Other diagnostic data received by the transmit die causes the transmit die to supply a signal from an internal node in the transmit die to a terminal of the transmit die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Ernest T. Stroud, Stefan N. Mastovich, Huanhui Zhan, Tamás Marozsák, András V. Horváth
  • Publication number: 20180269877
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes an input terminal configured to receive an input signal, a reference voltage node configured to provide a control voltage, and a pass transistor comprising a first terminal coupled to a first node, a control terminal coupled to the reference voltage node, and a second terminal coupled to the input terminal. The control voltage has a control voltage level sufficient to allow a signal to pass from the second terminal to the first terminal. The pass transistor is configured to linearly transfer the input signal to the first node in response to a voltage level of the input signal being below a first voltage level and configured to transfer a voltage-limited version of the input signal to the first node in response to the voltage level being above the first voltage level. At most, a negligible DC current flows through the input terminal into the second terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Ernest T. Stroud, Stefan N. Mastovich
  • Patent number: 8259891
    Abstract: A digital video interface receiver adjusts a transfer function of a phase-locked loop circuit having a programmable charge pump, a programmable phase-locked loop filter, or a programmable gain voltage controlled oscillator. The digital video interface receiver monitors and detects errors in a data stream associated with the phase-locked loop circuit. Moreover, the digital video interface receiver changes the transfer function of the phase-locked loop circuit, in response to the detected errors, by changing parameters associated with the programmable charge pump, the programmable phase-locked loop filter, or the programmable gain voltage controlled oscillator of the phase-locked loop circuit so as to change the transfer function of the phase-locked loop circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney D. Miller, Ernest T. Stroud, Ted Hecht, Jr., Jinhjiang Yin, Tyre Paul Lanier
  • Publication number: 20100158184
    Abstract: A digital video interface receiver adjusts a transfer function of a phase-locked loop circuit having a programmable charge pump, a programmable phase-locked loop filter, or a programmable gain voltage controlled oscillator. The digital video interface receiver monitors and detects errors in a data stream associated with the phase-locked loop circuit. Moreover, the digital video interface receiver changes the transfer function of the phase-locked loop circuit, in response to the detected errors, by changing parameters associated with the programmable charge pump, the programmable phase-locked loop filter, or the programmable gain voltage controlled oscillator of the phase-locked loop circuit so as to change the transfer function of the phase-locked loop circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Rodney D. MILLER, Ernest T. Stroud, Ted Hecht, JR., Jinhjiang Yin, Tyre Paul Lanier
  • Patent number: 7702059
    Abstract: A digital video interface receiver adjusts a transfer function of a phase-locked loop circuit having a programmable charge pump, a programmable phase-locked loop filter, or a programmable gain voltage controlled oscillator. The digital video interface receiver monitors and detects errors in a data stream associated with the phase-locked loop circuit. Moreover, the digital video interface receiver changes the transfer function of the phase-locked loop circuit, in response to the detected errors, by changing parameters associated with the programmable charge pump, the programmable phase-locked loop filter, or the programmable gain voltage controlled oscillator of the phase-locked loop circuit so as to change the transfer function of the phase-locked loop circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney D. Miller, Ernest T. Stroud, Ted Hecht, Jr., Jinhjiang Yin, Tyre Paul Lanier
  • Patent number: 7263152
    Abstract: Phase-locked loop structures are provided that facilitate enhanced stability of loop-generated signals. They include an oscillator network, a feedback loop and a controller. The oscillator network generates a loop output signal with a frequency that varies in response to a control voltage and to a frequency-determining parameter, the feedback loop generates the control voltage in response to the loop output signal and a reference signal and the controller increments the frequency-determining parameter to maintain the control voltage within a predetermined control-voltage range. These structures enhance signal stability by facilitating the use of low-gain oscillator structures and they simplify and shorten loop operations because the structures operate in a closed-loop condition at all times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney Dean Miller, George F. Diniz, Ernest T. Stroud
  • Patent number: 6396880
    Abstract: A &pgr;/4 DQPSK modulator includes a rotated and offset &pgr;/4 encoder that provides encoded I, Q constellation indices values using positive integers. The positive integer I and Q values are input to a digital filter that provides filtered I, Q constellation indices values. These filtered values are then rotated and offset back to conventional &pgr;/4 DQPSK constellation values, modulated and transmitted. Since the rotated and offset &pgr;/4 encoder provides I, Q constellation indices as positive integers, the filters are implemented as multiplierless digital filters which significantly reduces the complexity of the filters. Specifically, the multiplierless digital filters can be implemented using shift registers and summers. In a preferred embodiment the filters are programmable. In addition, using positive integers to represent the rotated and offset &pgr;/4 signalling constellation indices allows the indices to be represented as a binary value with less bits in contrast to prior art systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Inventor: Ernest T. Stroud
  • Patent number: 5703519
    Abstract: A drive circuit and method for shaping the pair of complementary digital signals that drive a conventional CMOS switch are presented. The method adjusts the digital signals' duty cycles to set their cross point voltage levels so that at the cross points the voltage level at the CMOS switch's reference node is undisturbed with respect to its fully switched level. The drive circuit includes two pair of diode connected PMOS load transistors and NMOS load transistors that are connected at a pair of output terminals and a pair of switches. In one state, the NMOS load transistor is turned on while the switch cuts off its signal current so that the shaped digital signal's voltage at the output terminal is reduced to a precision limited low voltage. In the other state, the NMOS load transistor is turned off while the switch directs the signal current through the PMOS load transistor so that the shaped digital signal's voltage at the output terminal is increased to the PMOS load transistor's gate-to-source voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: David T. Crook, Ernest T. Stroud
  • Patent number: 5689257
    Abstract: A differential switch accepts a binary control signal and its complement (which may be skewed with respect to the control signal) and latches both signals simultaneously. The latched output signals drive the control terminals of a differential switch pair which connects one of two terminals to a third terminal, depending upon the state of the control terminals. The differential switch may optionally include an inverter which complements the binary control signal, thus eliminating the need for external inversion of the control signal. The switch is particularly applicable for use in a digital to analog converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Mercer, David Reynolds, David H. Robertson, Ernest T. Stroud
  • Patent number: RE37619
    Abstract: A differential switch accepts a binary control signal and its complement (which may be skewed with respect to the control signal) and latches both signals simultaneously. The latched output signals drive the control terminals of a differential switch pair which connects one of two terminals to a third terminal, depending upon the state of the control terminals. The differential switch may optionally include an inverter which complements the binary control signal, thus eliminating the need for external inversion of the control signal. The switch is particularly applicable for use in a digital to analog converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Mercer, David H. Robertson, Ernest T. Stroud, David Reynolds