Patents by Inventor Mark D. McDonald

Mark D. McDonald 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: 5424692
    Abstract: A switchable impedance circuit and method for maintaining a controlled signal line (e.g. RF transmission line) impedance at a circuit node includes a circuit and method for connecting a switchable impedance in shunt or series, or in a shunt and series combination. The switchable impedance can be selectively switched, e.g. "on" or "off", when the circuit is being powered up or down, or both, so as to maintain the desired, e.g. characteristic, impedance at the node of the signal line to which it is connected, for example by providing the complex conjugate of, or vectorially matching, any complex impedance present at such node, thereby advantageously helping to minimize undesirable transient signal effects, such as circuit ringing or oscillator frequency pulling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Mark D. McDonald
  • Patent number: 5196742
    Abstract: A circuit of use as a multiplier or a logic cell and suitable for low voltage operation. At least three differential transistor stages are used, with two of the stages receiving one input signal, such as a data input signal if the circuit is to function as a logic cell and a multiplicand if the circuit is to function as a multiplier. A load is provided for the two stages which is connected to one of the circuit supply voltages. The third differential transistor stage receives a second input signal which is the other multiplicand if the circuit is configured as a multiplier and which is a clock signal if the circuit is configured as a logic cell. Circuitry is provided for controlling current flow through the first and second stages in response to current flow in the third stage. If the circuit is configured as a multiplier, the change in current flow in the first and second stages caused the transconductance of the stages to change so that multiplying action will take place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Mark D. McDonald