Patents by Inventor Kevin S. Grout

Kevin S. Grout 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: 11171656
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a phase-lock-loop, which includes a phase detector (PD), a charge pump (CP), a sampled lowpass filter structure, and a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) structure. The PD is configured to receive a RF output signal from the VCO structure and a reference signal, and generate detection signals, which indicate a phase relationship between the RF output signal and the reference signal. The CP is configured to receive the detection signals and generate a CP current. Herein, the CP current flows into or out of the sampled lowpass filter structure based on the detection signals. The sampled lowpass filter is configured to provide an oscillator control voltage, which remains constant within a cycle of the reference signal, to the VCO structure based on the CP current. Based on the oscillator control voltage, the VCO structure is configured to tune the RF output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University
    Inventor: Kevin S. Grout
  • Publication number: 20210184686
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a phase-lock-loop, which includes a phase detector (PD), a charge pump (CP), a sampled lowpass filter structure, and a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) structure. The PD is configured to receive a RF output signal from the VCO structure and a reference signal, and generate detection signals, which indicate a phase relationship between the RF output signal and the reference signal. The CP is configured to receive the detection signals and generate a CP current. Herein, the CP current flows into or out of the sampled lowpass filter structure based on the detection signals. The sampled lowpass filter is configured to provide an oscillator control voltage, which remains constant within a cycle of the reference signal, to the VCO structure based on the CP current. Based on the oscillator control voltage, the VCO structure is configured to tune the RF output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University
    Inventor: Kevin S. Grout