Patents by Inventor Jonathan S. Dandy

Jonathan S. Dandy 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: 20230408424
    Abstract: Disclosed is a signal isolating test instrument, such as an electronics test probe. The instrument includes an input to receive a floating analog signal. An upconverter is employed to modulate the floating analog signal to a microwave frequency analog signal. An isolation barrier prevents coupling of the floating analog signal to an earth ground. The instrument employs a microwave structure to transmit the microwave frequency analog signal across the isolation barrier via electromagnetic coupling. A downconverter is then employed to demodulate the microwave frequency analog signal to obtain a ground referenced test signal corresponding to the floating analog signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan S. Dandy, Daniel G. Knierim
  • Patent number: 11768161
    Abstract: Disclosed is a signal isolating test instrument, such as an electronics test probe. The instrument includes an input to receive a floating analog signal. An upconverter is employed to modulate the floating analog signal to a microwave frequency analog signal. An isolation barrier in the instrument prevents coupling of the floating analog signal to an earth ground. The instrument employs a microwave structure to transmit the microwave frequency analog signal across the isolation barrier via electromagnetic coupling. A downconverter is then employed to demodulate the microwave frequency analog signal to obtain a ground referenced test signal corresponding to the floating analog signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan S. Dandy, Daniel G. Knierim
  • Publication number: 20210255118
    Abstract: Disclosed is a signal isolating test instrument, such as an electronics test probe. The instrument includes an input to receive a floating analog signal. An upconverter is employed to modulate the floating analog signal to a microwave frequency analog signal. An isolation barrier in the instrument prevents coupling of the floating analog signal to an earth ground. The instrument employs a microwave structure to transmit the microwave frequency analog signal across the isolation barrier via electromagnetic coupling. A downconverter is then employed to demodulate the microwave frequency analog signal to obtain a ground referenced test signal corresponding to the floating analog signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan S. Dandy, Daniel G. Knierim
  • Patent number: 11079407
    Abstract: Disclosed is a test and measurement probe including a signal channel having an input series resistor with a series parasitic capacitance. The probe also includes an amplifier coupled to the signal channel. The amplifier includes a shunt parasitic capacitance. A variable shunt resistor is coupled to the signal channel and a ground. The variable shunt resistor can be set to match a resistance capacitance (RC) value associated with the series parasitic capacitance and the shunt. The probe can also include a variable series resistor coupled to the amplifier. The variable series resistor can be set to adjust for attenuation variation associated with the variable shunt resistor. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan S. Dandy
  • Patent number: 10996178
    Abstract: Disclosed is a signal isolating test instrument, such as an electronics test probe. The instrument includes an input to receive a floating analog signal. An upconverter is employed to modulate the floating analog signal to a microwave frequency analog signal. An isolation barrier in the instrument prevents coupling of the floating analog signal to an earth ground. The instrument employs a microwave structure to transmit the microwave frequency analog signal across the isolation barrier via electromagnetic coupling. A downconverter is then employed to demodulate the microwave frequency analog signal to obtain a ground referenced test signal corresponding to the floating analog signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan S. Dandy, Daniel G. Knierim
  • Publication number: 20210081592
    Abstract: A method for improving the accuracy of simulation models can include measuring a characteristic value at one or more nodes of a physical embodiment corresponding to the simulation model; inputting the measured characteristic value into a trained machine learning facility corresponding to the simulation model; and receiving from the trained machine learning facility one or more predicted values based at least in part on the inputted measured characteristic value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Jonathan S. Dandy, Brian S. Mantel
  • Publication number: 20190011481
    Abstract: Disclosed is a test and measurement probe including a signal channel having an input series resistor with a series parasitic capacitance. The probe also includes an amplifier coupled to the signal channel. The amplifier includes a shunt parasitic capacitance. A variable shunt resistor is coupled to the signal channel and a ground. The variable shunt resistor can be set to match a resistance capacitance (RC) value associated with the series parasitic capacitance and the shunt. The probe can also include a variable series resistor coupled to the amplifier. The variable series resistor can be set to adjust for attenuation variation associated with the variable shunt resistor. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan S. Dandy
  • Publication number: 20180372655
    Abstract: Disclosed is a signal isolating test instrument, such as an electronics test probe. The instrument includes an input to receive a floating analog signal. An upconverter is employed to modulate the floating analog signal to a microwave frequency analog signal. An isolation barrier in the instrument prevents coupling of the floating analog signal to an earth ground. The instrument employs a microwave structure to transmit the microwave frequency analog signal across the isolation barrier via electromagnetic coupling. A downconverter is then employed to demodulate the microwave frequency analog signal to obtain a ground referenced test signal corresponding to the floating analog signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan S. Dandy, Daniel G. Knierim
  • Patent number: 7358717
    Abstract: An input by-pass circuit for a current probe has first and second switches coupled between current probe inputs and current sensing circuit inputs. A switch control is coupled to the switching circuit for selectively coupling and decoupling the current probe inputs to the current sensing circuit such that the current signal continuously flows in the device under test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan S. Dandy, Kerry A. Stevens, Michael J. Mende, Thomas J. Sharp
  • Patent number: 7309980
    Abstract: A current sensing circuit has a transformer where a current to be measured induces a magnetic flux into a magnetic core. The magnetic core has a magneto-electric converter for sensing DC to low frequency current signals and a secondary winding for sensing higher frequency current signals. The magneto-electric converter generates an output that is coupled via an amplifier to a non-inverting input of a transimpedance amplifier. The inverting input of the transimpedance amplifier is coupled to the secondary winding of the transformer. A current signal path having a transimpedance resistor couples the inverting input to the output of the transimpedance amplifier. The transimpedance amplifier functions as a power amplifier for coupling a nulling current to the transformer for DC to low frequency current signals and functions as a transimpedance gain amplifier for higher frequency signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Mende, Albert S. Crane, Jr., Jonathan S. Dandy
  • Patent number: 7308519
    Abstract: A communications bus management circuit for a current probe system detects the connection of the current probe system to an instrument and the connection of a current probe to a current probe amplifier of the system. A controller generates a probe enable signal in the presence of the detected connection to the instrument that is coupled to a switching circuit. Switch elements couple the communications bus of the instrument to the communications bus of the current probe amplifier in the presence of the probe enable signal. The controller further generates a current probe present signal in the presence of the detected current probe that is also coupled to the switching element. A further switch element couples the data line of the instrument to ground via a resistive element in the presence of the current probe present signal and floats the data line when the current probe present signal is absent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan S. Dandy, Michael J. Mende, Kevin A. Robertson
  • Patent number: 7294995
    Abstract: A current probing system has a current probe and a detachable adapter. The current probe has a probe body with electrically conductive contacts that mate with electrically conductive contacts on the adapter. Leads extend from the adapter for coupling to a current carrying conductor. The leads can connect to a plug that is coupled to a current diverting device for coupling a current signal to the current probe. The adapter may also include a switch that selectively couples the current signal to the current probe when the adapter is mated with the current probe. The contacts of the current probe are coupled to a current sensing circuit which generates a voltage output representative of the current signal. The voltage output is coupled to an oscilloscope via an electrical cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Kerry A. Stevens, Michael J. Mende, Jonathan S. Dandy, Thomas J. Sharp
  • Patent number: 6817760
    Abstract: A current probe transformer temperature monitoring method determines an initial transformer temperature of the current probe as a function of the winding resistance of the transformer. A relative temperature of the Hall Effect device is also determined as a function of resistance change of the Hall Effect device. The initial transformer temperature and the relative Hall Effect device temperature are combined to produce a continuous transformer temperature indicative of the temperature of the transformer. The current signal to the multi-turn winding is removed when the continuous transformer temperature exceeds a threshold temperature value and a visual indication may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Mende, Jonathan S. Dandy, Michael D. Stevens, Albert S. Crane, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20040151201
    Abstract: A communications bus management circuit for a current probe system detects the connection of the current probe system to an instrument and the connection of a current probe to a current probe amplifier of the system. A controller generates a probe enable signal in the presence of the detected connection to the instrument that is coupled to a switching circuit. Switch elements couple the communications bus of the instrument to the communications bus of the current probe amplifier in the presence of the probe enable signal. The controller further generates a current probe present signal in the presence of the detected current probe that is also coupled to the switching element. A further switch element couples the data line of the instrument to ground via a resistive element in the presence of the current probe present signal and floats the data line when the current probe present signal is absent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventors: Jonathan S. Dandy, Michael J. Mende, Kevin A. Robertson
  • Publication number: 20040101027
    Abstract: A current probe transformer temperature monitoring method determines an initial transformer temperature of the current probe as a function of the winding resistance of the transformer. A relative temperature of the Hall Effect device is also determined as a function of resistance change of the Hall Effect device. The initial transformer temperature and the relative Hall Effect device temperature are combined to produce a continuous transformer temperature indicative of the temperature of the transformer. The current signal to the multi-turn winding is removed when the continuous transformer temperature exceeds a threshold temperature value and a visual indication may be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventors: Michael J. Mende, Jonathan S. Dandy, Michael D. Stevens, Albert S. Crane