Patents by Inventor Frank Winter

Frank Winter 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).

  • Publication number: 20150043169
    Abstract: According to an exemplary aspect an electronic module is provided, wherein the electronic module comprises an electronic chip comprising at least one electronic component, a spacing element comprising a main surface arranged on the electronic chip and being in thermally conductive connection with the at least one electronic component, and a mold compound at least partially enclosing the electronic chip and the spacing element, wherein the spacing element comprises a lateral surface which is in contact to the mould compound and comprises surface structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Frank WINTER, Ottmar GEITNER, Ivan NIKITIN, Juergen HOEGERL
  • Publication number: 20140353818
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a power module comprising two substrates is provided, wherein the method comprises disposing a compensation layer of a first thickness above a first substrate; disposing a second substrate above the compensation layer; and reducing the thickness of the compensation layer from the first thickness to a second thickness after the second substrate is disposed on the compensation layer
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Ottmar GEITNER, Wolfram HABLE, Andreas Grassmann, Frank Winter, Christian Neugirg, Ivan Nikitin
  • Publication number: 20140327127
    Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment, a power module is provided which comprises a semiconductor chip, a bonding substrate comprising an electrically conductive sheet and an electric insulator sheet which is directly attached to the electrically conductive sheet and which is thermally coupled to the semiconductor chip, and an array of cooling structures directly attached to the electrically conductive sheet and configured for removing heat from the semiconductor chip when interacting with cooling fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Wolfram HABLE, Andreas Grassmann, Frank Winter, Ottmar Geitner, Alexander Schwarz, Alexander Herbrandt, Lothar Koenig, Andre Uhlemann
  • Patent number: 8345796
    Abstract: A communication system and method is provided that modifies a signal for transmission at a transmitter to reduce peaks associated with the signal. The signal can be modified employing signal shaping, signal clipping, signal decomposition or other techniques to remove peaks associated with the signal. The communication system can also correct the modified signal at a receiver to reconstruct the originally wanted signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Ian Robinson, Frank Winter
  • Publication number: 20110275939
    Abstract: A portable system is provided for sensing and training a user to maintain correct posture while seated in a chair with a seat portion and a back portion. The system includes a first pad attachable to the seat portion of a chair, said first pad having a front area and a rear area, and a second pad attachable to the back portion of a chair and having a lower area and an upper area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: Michael C. Walsh, Sean Colford, Ethan Epstein, Brandon Loye, Rhonda Epstein, Matthew Davis, Wesley Koga, Alexander Saal, Victor Tung, Frank Winter
  • Publication number: 20090245226
    Abstract: A communication system and method is provided that modifies a signal for transmission at a transmitter to reduce peaks associated with the signal. The signal can be modified employing signal shaping, signal clipping, signal decomposition or other techniques to remove peaks associated with the signal. The communication system can also correct the modified signal at a receiver to reconstruct the originally wanted signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Ian Robinson, Frank Winter
  • Patent number: 7580476
    Abstract: A communication system and method is provided that modifies a signal for transmission at a transmitter to reduce peaks associated with the signal. The signal can be modified employing signal shaping, signal clipping, signal decomposition or other techniques to remove peaks associated with the signal. The communication system can also correct the modified signal at a receiver to reconstruct the originally wanted signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Ian Robinson, Frank Winter
  • Patent number: 7542505
    Abstract: Systems and methods for signal conversion are provided. Signals are spread in a continuous spectrum by a spread spectrum signal, such as a direct sequence spread spectrum (DS-SS) signal. The signals are then processed, which may include but is not limited to analog-to-digital conversion, digital-to-analog conversion, frequency conversion, clipping, filtering or a plurality of processes. The processed signal is then despread using substantially the same spreading signal that was used to spread the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Ian Robinson, Frank Winter
  • Patent number: 7146144
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for providing high dynamic range operation over a variable range of frequencies. A delta-sigma modulator, having associated frequency characteristics, produces a digital output signal. A digital-to-analog converter converts the digital output signal into an analog signal. A clock circuit provides a clock signal to the delta-sigma modulator and the digital-to-analog converter. A frequency control controls one or more of the clock circuit, the delta-sigma modulator, and the digital-to-analog converter to alter the frequency characteristics of the delta-sigma modulator. A filter circuit can provide one or more passbands to one or more downstream amplifiers ensuring that out of band quantization noise is removed before amplification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Ian Robinson, Jack Macek, Frank Winter
  • Publication number: 20060176135
    Abstract: A highly compact inductor formed on opposite faces of a dielectric substrate. Sets of parallel spaced conductive traces formed on the opposite faces of the substrate are interconnected by metallized vias through the substrate, in such a way as to form a continuous spiral conductive path. The inductor is preferably formed as two closely adjacent segments, each with conductive traces on each face of the substrate and each having metallized vias interconnecting the conductive traces. The segments are electrically connected in series and produce a magnetic field that extends through each segment in opposite directions and is closely coupled from one segment to the other. The inductor is, therefore, electromagnetically similar to a wire-wound toroidal inductor, providing high inductance and contourable Q values, but is highly compact, especially in the z-axis direction normal to the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Publication date: August 10, 2006
    Inventors: Frank Winter, Harry Harberts, Julius Tolan
  • Patent number: 7043213
    Abstract: An amplifier system is provided that switches between a linear mode of operation, an envelope tracking mode of operation and a polar mode of operation. The amplifier system switches between modes of operation based upon a characteristic of an input signal relative to a first threshold level and a second threshold level. A mode selector selects the operation mode by transmitting an amplitude modulated signal plus a variable headroom voltage to a supply terminal of a power amplifier during the envelope tracking mode, an amplitude modulated signal to the supply terminal and phase modulated input signal during the polar mode and a substantially constant amplitude signal to the supply terminal during the linear mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Ian Robinson, Frank Winter
  • Patent number: 7034614
    Abstract: An amplifier system is provided that switches between operation in a polar mode and a signal restoration mode based on a characteristic of an input signal relative to a threshold level. The system includes a correction path that mitigates distortion and out-of-band (OOB) emissions in the polar mode and provides at least a substantial portion of the amplified output signal in the signal restoration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Ian Robinson, Frank Winter
  • Patent number: 7026868
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining and providing an appropriate variable voltage supply to a power amplifier. A power amplifier is operative to amplify an input signal. A digital buffer stores a copy of the input signal representing a predetermined interval of time. An envelope profiler analyzes the buffered interval of the input signal and determines an appropriate supply signal profile for the power amplifier over the predetermined time interval. A supply control provides a supply signal according to the determined profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Ian Robinson, Frank Winter
  • Patent number: 6987417
    Abstract: An amplifier system is provided that switches between operation in a polar mode and a linear mode based on a characteristic of an input signal relative to a threshold level. The system operates as a polar amplifier in the polar mode, and as a linear amplifier in the linear mode. A mode selector controls whether polar components of the input signal are sent to a power amplifier or whether a composite signal is amplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corpoation
    Inventors: Frank Winter, Ian Robinson, Walter DeMore
  • Patent number: 6982593
    Abstract: A supply voltage and/or bias of a switching amplifier is modified based on at least one characteristic of the input signal relative to a threshold level. A binary waveform converter converts the input signal into a binary waveform for inputting into the switching amplifier. The switching amplifier amplifies the input signal, while the supply voltage and/or bias is modified in response to changes of the at least one characteristic of the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Ian Robinson, Frank Winter
  • Patent number: 6963297
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for converting a digital signal into an analog signal. A digital-to-analog converter assembly comprises a delta-sigma modulator, a digital-to-analog converter, an analog filter, and a comb filter. The delta-sigma modulator processes a digital input signal to produce a digital output signal having at least one associated high dynamic range frequency band. The digital-to-analog converter converts the digital output signal into an analog output signal having at least one associated high dynamic range frequency band. The associated high dynamic range bands have respective frequency characteristics. An analog filter assembly filters the analog signal. The analog filter has at least one passband. A comb filter assembly attenuates the analog signal output of the filter assembly to improve signal to noise ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Ian Robinson, Frank Winter
  • Publication number: 20050110568
    Abstract: An amplifier system is provided that switches between operation in a polar mode and a signal restoration mode based on a characteristic of an input signal relative to a threshold level. The system includes a correction path that mitigates distortion and out-of-band (OOB) emissions in the polar mode and provides at least a substantial portion of the amplified output signal in the signal restoration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Publication date: May 26, 2005
    Inventors: Ian Robinson, Frank Winter
  • Publication number: 20050110562
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining and providing an appropriate variable voltage supply to a power amplifier. A power amplifier is operative to amplify an input signal. A digital buffer stores a copy of the input signal representing a predetermined interval of time. An envelope profiler analyzes the buffered interval of the input signal and determines an appropriate supply signal profile for the power amplifier over the predetermined time interval. A supply control provides a supply signal according to the determined profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Publication date: May 26, 2005
    Inventors: Ian Robinson, Frank Winter
  • Publication number: 20050099327
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for converting a digital signal into an analog signal. A digital-to-analog converter assembly comprises a delta-sigma modulator, a digital-to-analog converter, an analog filter, and a comb filter. The delta-sigma modulator processes a digital input signal to produce a digital output signal having at least one associated high dynamic range frequency band. The digital-to-analog converter converts the digital output signal into an analog output signal having at least one associated high dynamic range frequency band. The associated high dynamic range bands have respective frequency characteristics. An analog filter assembly filters the analog signal. The analog filter has at least one passband. A comb filter assembly attenuates the analog signal output of the filter assembly to improve signal to noise ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Inventors: Ian Robinson, Frank Winter
  • Publication number: 20050088226
    Abstract: A supply voltage and/or bias of a switching amplifier is modified based on at least one characteristic of the input signal relative to a threshold level. A binary waveform converter converts the input signal into a binary waveform for inputting into the switching amplifier. The switching amplifier amplifies the input signal, while the supply voltage and/or bias is modified in response to changes of the at least one characteristic of the input signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Publication date: April 28, 2005
    Inventors: Ian Robinson, Frank Winter