Patents by Inventor James J. Riches

James J. Riches 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: 8493251
    Abstract: A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) is disclosed. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a DAC may include a plurality of current-steering elements, wherein each respective current-steering element is configured to operate as instructed by a respective calibration signal during respective steps in a calibration cycle, and at least one current-steering element is configured to operate as instructed by a first control signal during at least a first step in which the at least one current-steering element is not being calibrated, and operate as instructed by a second control signal during at least a second step in which the at least one current-steering element is not being calibrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventor: James J. Riches
  • Publication number: 20130027235
    Abstract: A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) is disclosed. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a DAC may include a plurality of current-steering elements, wherein each respective current-steering element is configured to operate as instructed by a respective calibration signal during respective steps in a calibration cycle, and at least one current-steering element is configured to operate as instructed by a first control signal during at least a first step in which the at least one current-steering element is not being calibrated, and operate as instructed by a second control signal during at least a second step in which the at least one current-steering element is not being calibrated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
    Inventor: James J. Riches
  • Patent number: 7937058
    Abstract: A digital tuning system (250) for changing a cutoff frequency of an analog filter (132) includes digital synthesizers (292 and 294) for producing a two-tone calibration signal (196) applied to an input of the filter after a quality factor of the filter is increased. The filter includes at least one R/C circuit with two resistors (304 and 306) for changing the quality factor and arrays (308 and 310) of capacitors for changing the cutoff frequency. The amplitude of the magnitude responses (409 and 411) of the filter to each tone (405 and 407) is measured by a two discrete Fourier transform single-frequency bin power detection circuits (253 and 254) while the filter is sequenced through a plurality of capacitance settings. An optimal capacitance for the R/C circuit is selected by comparing, to a pre-selected value, a difference between the responses of the filter to each tone, for each capacitance setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Mahibur Rahman, John J. Parkes, Jr., James J. Riches
  • Publication number: 20080165041
    Abstract: A digital-to-analog converter adapted for use as a feedback converter in a continuous time sigma delta analog-to-digital converter. The digital-to-analog converter has a discrete time digital signal input accepting digital signal samples that are synchronized with an assertion of a first data clock signal and a discrete time clock generator that generates an output pulse in response to receiving an assertion of the first data clock. The output pulse is asserted for a fixed duration that is independent of a jitter of the first data clock. The digital-to-analog converter also includes a continuous time analog output that produces, during assertion of the output pulse, a continuous time analog output signal having a magnitude corresponding to the digital signal samples.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Parkes, James G. Mittel, James J. Riches
  • Patent number: 7397291
    Abstract: A digital-to-analog converter adapted for use as a feedback converter in a continuous time sigma delta analog-to-digital converter. The digital-to-analog converter has a discrete time digital signal input accepting digital signal samples that are synchronized with an assertion of a first data clock signal and a discrete time clock generator that generates an output pulse in response to receiving an assertion of the first data clock. The output pulse is asserted for a fixed duration that is independent of a jitter of the first data clock. The digital-to-analog converter also includes a continuous time analog output that produces, during assertion of the output pulse, a continuous time analog output signal having a magnitude corresponding to the digital signal samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Parkes, Jr., James G. Mittel, James J. Riches
  • Publication number: 20080096514
    Abstract: A digital tuning system (250) for changing a cutoff frequency of an analog filter (132) includes digital synthesizers (292 and 294) for producing a two-tone calibration signal (196) applied to an input of the filter after a quality factor of the filter is increased. The filter includes at least one R/C circuit with two resistors (304 and 306) for changing the quality factor and arrays (308 and 310) of capacitors for changing the cutoff frequency. The amplitude of the magnitude responses (409 and 411) of the filter to each tone (405 and 407) is measured by a two discrete Fourier transform single-frequency bin power detection circuits (253 and 254) while the filter is sequenced through a plurality of capacitance settings. An optimal capacitance for the R/C circuit is selected by comparing, to a pre-selected value, a difference between the responses of the filter to each tone, for each capacitance setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Mahibur Rahman, John J. Parkes, James J. Riches
  • Patent number: 6937089
    Abstract: A resistor capacitor (RC) tracking loop includes a parasitic insensitive integrator (211) charged by a buffer (207) with offset compensation. The integrator (211) operates to provide an accurate ramped voltage proportional to a measured RC time constant. A single comparator (213) is used for sensing the voltage ramp rate by detecting two multiplexed reference voltages (VREFLO VREFHI). A timer within controller (201) is triggered by the VREFLO crossing at comparator (213). The timer counts the number of precision reference clock periods (FREF) that occur between the VREFLO and VREFHI crossings and adjusts an accumulator within controller (201) to a value (M). This value (M) is directly used to adjust a resistor and/or capacitor array used in a continuous time filter whose bandwidth and corner frequency can be precisely tuned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: James J. Riches
  • Patent number: 6864817
    Abstract: An adaptive analog-to-digital converter (ADC) system (100) includes an automatic gain control (AGC) controller (101) for receiving both in-band and out-of-band signals from a radio frequency (RF) receiver and producing an AGC control signal therefrom. A digital signal processor (DSP) (103) is then used for interpreting the AGC control signal and providing an adjustment signal to an ADC (105). The ADC (105) uses the adjustment signal to dynamically control efficiency of the ADC system 100 by adjusting bit resolution, reference capacitance and bias based upon the RF signal received and desired protocol requirements presented to the AGC controller (101).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Raul Salvi, John J. Parkes, Jr., James J. Riches