Patents by Inventor John Ebner
John Ebner 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: 11460485Abstract: Improved electrically conductive guide plates for vertical probe arrays are provided by patterning a thin metal layer disposed on an insulating substrate. Holes passing through the guide plate for guiding probes can be electrically connected or isolated from each other in any pattern according to the deposition of the metal. Such structures can include several distinct ground and/or voltage planes. Furthermore, passive electrical components can be included in the guide plate, by patterning of the deposited metal and/or by integration of passive electrical components with the deposited metal traces.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2018Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: FormFactor, Inc.Inventors: Jason William Cosman, Benjamin N. Eldridge, Eric Hill, John Ebner, Edin Sijercic
-
Patent number: 10527647Abstract: Improved impedance matching is provided in vertical probe arrays having conductive guide plates by providing ground pins connecting the guide plates that do not mechanically touch the device under test or the input test apparatus. Such ground pins can be disposed in predetermined patterns around corresponding signal probes to improve an impedance match between the probes and the test apparatus and/or the device under test. Preferably all impedances are matched to 50? as is customary for high frequency work.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2018Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: FormFactor, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin N. Eldridge, Edin Sijercic, Eric Hill, John Ebner
-
Publication number: 20190120876Abstract: Improved electrically conductive guide plates for vertical probe arrays are provided by patterning a thin metal layer disposed on an insulating substrate. Holes passing through the guide plate for guiding probes can be electrically connected or isolated from each other in any pattern according to the deposition of the metal. Such structures can include several distinct ground and/or voltage planes. Furthermore, passive electrical components can be included in the guide plate, by patterning of the deposited metal and/or by integration of passive electrical components with the deposited metal traces.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2018Publication date: April 25, 2019Inventors: Jason William Cosman, Benjamin N. Eldridge, Eric Hill, John Ebner, Edin Sijercic
-
Publication number: 20180299486Abstract: Improved impedance matching is provided in vertical probe arrays having conductive guide plates by providing ground pins connecting the guide plates that do not mechanically touch the device under test or the input test apparatus. Such ground pins can be disposed in predetermined patterns around corresponding signal probes to improve an impedance match between the probes and the test apparatus and/or the device under test. Preferably all impedances are matched to 50? as is customary for high frequency work.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2018Publication date: October 18, 2018Inventors: Benjamin N. Eldridge, Edin Sijercic, Eric Hill, John Ebner
-
Patent number: 7734271Abstract: Frequency converters include waveguides configured for a local oscillator (LO) signal, an intermediate frequency (IF) signal, and an RF signal. A multimode IF waveguide can be used for selectively coupling of an IF signal and to reduce signal contributions produced by the LO signal. Typically, the multimode waveguide is situated to that the IF signal and the LO signal propagate in different waveguide modes, and a selected one of these signals can be selectively attenuated. In some examples, a periodically stepped waveguide is used to enhance propagation of a selected waveguide mode or a lossy conductor is used to attenuate a selected waveguide mode.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2005Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignee: Picosecond Pulse LabsInventors: Steven H. Pepper, John Ebner, Robert Norton
-
Patent number: 7612628Abstract: An ultrafast sampler includes a series of Schottky diodes configured with a coplanar waveguide to form a nonlinear transmission line (NLTL) that compresses a local oscillator input to form a series of strobe pulses. Strobe pulses of opposite polarity are capacitively coupled to sampling diodes to obtain samples of a signal applied to a signal input. The samples are directed along an intermediate frequency waveguide to, for example, a signal processor such as an oscilloscope, for storage and analysis. The intermediate frequency waveguide is configured so that conductors of the intermediate frequency waveguide receive signal samples of a common polarity and strobe samples of opposite polarities so that portions of strobe pulses delivered to a signal processor are distinguished from signal samples.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2005Date of Patent: November 3, 2009Assignee: Picosecond Pulse LabsInventors: Agoston Agoston, John Ebner, Steven Pepper, Robert Norton
-
Publication number: 20070273458Abstract: Frequency converters include waveguides configured for a local oscillator (LO) signal, an intermediate frequency (IF) signal, and an RF signal. A multimode IF waveguide can be used for selectively coupling of an IF signal and to reduce signal contributions produced by the LO signal. Typically, the multimode waveguide is situated to that the IF signal and the LO signal propagate in different waveguide modes, and a selected one of these signals can be selectively attenuated. In some examples, a periodically stepped waveguide is used to enhance propagation of a selected waveguide mode or a lossy conductor is used to attenuate a selected waveguide mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2005Publication date: November 29, 2007Inventors: Steven Pepper, John Ebner, Robert Norton
-
Patent number: 7170365Abstract: An ultrafast sampling system includes an interposer and a sampler that include series of Schottky diodes configured with a non-parallel waveguide to form shocklines or nonlinear transmission line (NLTLs) that produce a differential strobe pulse. The shocklines are defined by non-parallel conductors that are configured as, for example, triangular, dentate, arcuate, or other shapes, or as conductors that have edges that are triangular, dentate, arcuate, or the like. The conductors are defined with respect to a substrate, and are airbridged so that at least some portions of the conductors are displaced from the substrate to reduce waveguide capacitance. Electrical connection to the sampler is made with airline having a inner conductor that is deformable to contact an input pad defined on the sampler.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2005Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignee: Picosecond Pulse LabsInventors: Agoston Agoston, John Ebner, Steven Pepper, David Pratt
-
Patent number: 7084716Abstract: An ultrafast sampler includes a series of Schottky diodes configured with a coplanar waveguide to form a nonlinear transmission line (NLTL) that compresses a local oscillator input to form a series of strobe pulses. Strobe pulses of opposite polarity are capacitively coupled to sampling diodes to obtain samples of a signal applied to a signal input. The samples are directed along an intermediate frequency waveguide to, for example, a signal processor such as an oscilloscope, for storage and analysis. The intermediate frequency waveguide is configured so that conductors of the intermediate frequency waveguide receive signal samples of a common polarity and strobe samples of opposite polarities so that portions of strobe pulses delivered to a signal processor are distinguished from signal samples.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2001Date of Patent: August 1, 2006Assignee: Picosecond Pulse LabsInventors: Agoston Agoston, John Ebner, Steven Pepper, Robert Norton
-
Publication number: 20060038551Abstract: An ultrafast sampler includes a series of Schottky diodes configured with a coplanar waveguide to form a nonlinear transmission line (NLTL) that compresses a local oscillator input to form a series of strobe pulses. Strobe pulses of opposite polarity are capacitively coupled to sampling diodes to obtain samples of a signal applied to a signal input. The samples are directed along an intermediate frequency waveguide to, for example, a signal processor such as an oscilloscope, for storage and analysis. The intermediate frequency waveguide is configured so that conductors of the intermediate frequency waveguide receive signal samples of a common polarity and strobe samples of opposite polarities so that portions of strobe pulses delivered to a signal processor are distinguished from signal samples.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2005Publication date: February 23, 2006Inventors: Agoston Agoston, John Ebner, Steven Pepper, Robert Norton
-
Publication number: 20050128020Abstract: An ultrafast sampling system includes an interposer and a sampler that include series of Schottky diodes configured with a non-parallel waveguide to form shocklines or nonlinear transmission line (NLTLs) that produce a differential strobe pulse. The shocklines are defined by non-parallel conductors that are configured as, for example, triangular, dentate, arcuate, or other shapes, or as conductors that have edges that are triangular, dentate, arcuate, or the like. The conductors are defined with respect to a substrate, and are airbridged so that at least some portions of the conductors are displaced from the substrate to reduce waveguide capacitance. Electrical connection to the sampler is made with airline having a inner conductor that is deformable to contact an input pad defined on the sampler.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2005Publication date: June 16, 2005Inventors: Agoston Agoston, John Ebner, Steven Pepper, David Pratt
-
Patent number: 6900710Abstract: An ultrafast sampling system includes an interposer and a sampler that include series of Schottky diodes configured with a non-parallel waveguide to form shocklines or nonlinear transmission line (NLTLs) that produce a differential strobe pulse. The shocklines are defined by non-parallel conductors that are configured as, for example, triangular, dentate, arcuate, or other shapes, or as conductors that have edges that are triangular, dentate, arcuate, or the like. The conductors are defined with respect to a substrate, and are airbridged so that at least some portions of the conductors are displaced from the substrate to reduce waveguide capacitance. Electrical connection to the sampler is made with airline having a inner conductor that is deformable to contact an input pad defined on the sampler.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2001Date of Patent: May 31, 2005Assignee: Picosecond Pulse LabsInventors: Agoston Agoston, John Ebner, Steven Pepper, David Pratt
-
Publication number: 20020167373Abstract: An ultrafast sampling system includes an interposer and a sampler that include series of Schottky diodes configured with a non-parallel waveguide to form shocklines or nonlinear transmission line (NLTLs) that produce a differential strobe pulse. The shocklines are defined by non-parallel conductors that are configured as, for example, triangular, dentate, arcuate, or other shapes, or as conductors that have edges that are triangular, dentate, arcuate, or the like. The conductors are defined with respect to a substrate, and are airbridged so that at least some portions of the conductors are displaced from the substrate to reduce waveguide capacitance. Electrical connection to the sampler is made with airline having a inner conductor that is deformable to contact an input pad defined on the sampler.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2001Publication date: November 14, 2002Applicant: Picosecond Pulse Labs.Inventors: Agoston Agoston, John Ebner, Steven Pepper, David Pratt
-
Publication number: 20020145484Abstract: An ultrafast sampler includes a series of Schottky diodes configured with a coplanar waveguide to form a nonlinear transmission line (NLTL) that compresses a local oscillator input to form a series of strobe pulses. Strobe pulses of opposite polarity are capacitively coupled to sampling diodes to obtain samples of a signal applied to a signal input. The samples are directed along an intermediate frequency waveguide to, for example, a signal processor such as an oscilloscope, for storage and analysis. The intermediate frequency waveguide is configured so that conductors of the intermediate frequency waveguide receive signal samples of a common polarity and strobe samples of opposite polarities so that portions of strobe pulses delivered to a signal processor are distinguished from signal samples.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2001Publication date: October 10, 2002Applicant: Picosecond Pulse LabsInventors: Agoston Agoston, John Ebner, Steven Pepper, Robert Norton
-
Patent number: 6002279Abstract: A clock recovery circuit that can be used for recovering a clock signal from a data stream having a high data rate. The clock recovery circuit has a phase interpolator and non-linear digital to analog converters. These circuits are used to interpolate between the phases produced by a voltage controlled oscillator. A determination to advance or hinder a currently selected phase can be made using an up/down detector, a divider, and control logic. The divider can divide not only the up and down pulses produced by the up/down detector, but also the clock frequency. By dividing the clock frequency, the control logic can be designed using CMOS logic circuits.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 1997Date of Patent: December 14, 1999Assignee: G2 Networks, Inc.Inventors: William P. Evans, Eric Naviasky, Patrick Farrell, Anthony Caviglia, John Ebner, Hugh Thompson, Hao Tang