Patents by Inventor Michael Hendrikus Laurentius Kouwenhoven

Michael Hendrikus Laurentius Kouwenhoven 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: 9639719
    Abstract: An RMS-DC converter includes a chopper-stabilized square cell that eliminates offset, thus enabling high-bandwidth operation. The chopper-stabilized offset requires only a small portion of the circuitry (i.e., a single component square cell) which operates at high frequencies, and is amenable to using high-bandwidth component square cells. Using the chopping technique minimizes required device sizes without compromising an acceptable square cell dynamic range, thereby maximizing the square cell bandwidth. The RMS-DC converter consumes less power than conventional RMS-to-DC converters that requires a high-frequency variable gain amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael Hendrikus Laurentius Kouwenhoven
  • Patent number: 9330283
    Abstract: An RMS-DC converter includes a chopper-stabilized square cell that eliminates offset, thus enabling high-bandwidth operation. The chopper-stabilized offset requires only a small portion of the circuitry (i.e., a single component square cell) which operates at high frequencies, and is amenable to using high-bandwidth component square cells. Using the chopping technique minimizes required device sizes without compromising an acceptable square cell dynamic range, thereby maximizing the square cell bandwidth. The RMS-DC converter consumes less power than conventional RMS-to-DC converters that requires a high-frequency variable gain amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Hendrikus Laurentius Kouwenhoven
  • Publication number: 20160004887
    Abstract: An RMS-DC converter includes a chopper-stabilized square cell that eliminates offset, thus enabling high-bandwidth operation. The chopper-stabilized offset requires only a small portion of the circuitry (i.e., a single component square cell) which operates at high frequencies, and is amenable to using high-bandwidth component square cells. Using the chopping technique minimizes required device sizes without compromising an acceptable square cell dynamic range, thereby maximizing the square cell bandwidth. The RMS-DC converter consumes less power than conventional RMS-to-DC converters that requires a high-frequency variable gain amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventor: Michael Hendrikus Laurentius KOUWENHOVEN
  • Publication number: 20140233288
    Abstract: An RMS-DC converter includes a chopper-stabilized square cell that eliminates offset, thus enabling high-bandwidth operation. The chopper-stabilized offset requires only a small portion of the circuitry (i.e., a single component square cell) which operates at high frequencies, and is amenable to using high-bandwidth component square cells. Using the chopping technique minimizes required device sizes without compromising an acceptable square cell dynamic range, thereby maximizing the square cell bandwidth. The RMS-DC converter consumes less power than conventional RMS-to-DC converters that requires a high-frequency variable gain amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Hendrikus Laurentius KOUWENHOVEN
  • Patent number: 8665128
    Abstract: A sigma-delta (??) difference-of-squares LOG-RMS to digital converter for true RMS detection by merging a ?? modulator with an analog LOG-RMS to DC converter based on a difference-of-squares. Chopper-stabilization, implemented through commutators running at two different frequencies, can be employed to reduce sensitivity to DC offsets and low-frequency errors, resulting in an extension of the useful input-referred dynamic range. High-order ?? LOG-RMS converters can be implemented with a loop filter containing multiple integrators and feedforward and/or feedback paths for frequency compensation. The resulting implementations are ?? difference-of-squares LOG-RMS to DC converters with a natural digital output and a logarithmically compressed dynamic range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Paulo Gustavo Raymundo Silva, Michael Hendrikus Laurentius Kouwenhoven
  • Patent number: 8665126
    Abstract: A sigma-delta (??) difference-of-squares LOG-RMS to digital converter” by merging a traditional ?? modulator with an analog LOG-RMS to DC converter based on a difference-of-squares concept. Two basic architectures include one based on two squaring cells in the feedforward and feedback paths and a second based on a single squaring cell in the forward path. High-order ?? LOG-RMS can be implemented with a loop filter containing multiple integrators and feedforward and/or feedback paths for frequency compensation. The embodiments as described allow the implementations of ?? difference-of-squares LOG-RMS to DC converters with a natural digital output and a logarithmically compressed dynamic range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Paulo Gustavo Raymundo Silva, Michael Hendrikus Laurentius Kouwenhoven
  • Patent number: 8422970
    Abstract: A circuit is configured to receive an input signal and to produce an output signal measuring a power of the input signal. The circuit includes a multiplier cell configured to multiply first and second signals, where each of the first and second signals includes a component related to the input signal and a component related to the output signal. The circuit also includes a controlled amplifier configured to amplify an intermediate signal produced by the multiplier cell, where an amplification provided by the controlled amplifier is a function of the output signal. The circuit could further include at least one first converting amplifier configured to generate the component related to the input signal and at least one second converting amplifier configured to generate the component related to the output signal. Transconductances of the converting amplifiers could be selected to configure the circuit as a linear or logarithmic RMS power detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Arie van Staveren, Michael Hendrikus Laurentius Kouwenhoven
  • Patent number: 8401504
    Abstract: Described herein is technology for, among other things, reducing offset errors in RMS-to-DC converters. The technology involves generating first and second feedback signals with first and second feedback paths respectively. A multiplier is then employed to receive first and second signals and provide a third signal based on multiplying the first signal and the second signal. The first signal is based on an input signal and the first feedback signal, and the second signal is based on the input signal and the second feedback signal. A chopper is then employed to receive an output signal, which is based on the third signal, and a chopping signal, and in turn provide a fourth signal based on multiplying the output signal with the chopping signal. As a consequence, the fourth signal represents the output signal shifted to a frequency different than that of low-frequency noise components of the first and second signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Hendrikus Laurentius Kouwenhoven
  • Publication number: 20120146824
    Abstract: A sigma-delta (??) difference-of-squares LOG-RMS to digital converter” by merging a traditional ?? modulator with an analog LOG-RMS to DC converter based on a difference-of-squares concept. Two basic architectures include one based on two squaring cells in the feedforward and feedback paths and a second based on a single squaring cell in the forward path. High-order ?? LOG-RMS can be implemented with a loop filter containing multiple integrators and feedforward and/or feedback paths for frequency compensation. The embodiments as described allow the implementations of ?? difference-of-squares LOG-RMS to DC converters with a natural digital output and a logarithmically compressed dynamic range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Paulo Gustavo Raymundo Silva, Michael Hendrikus Laurentius Kouwenhoven
  • Publication number: 20120146819
    Abstract: A sigma-delta (??) difference-of-squares LOG-RMS to digital converter for true RMS detection by merging a ?? modulator with an analog LOG-RMS to DC converter based on a difference-of-squares. Chopper-stabilization, implemented through commutators running at two different frequencies, can be employed to reduce sensitivity to DC offsets and low-frequency errors, resulting in an extension of the useful input-referred dynamic range. High-order ?? LOG-RMS converters can be implemented with a loop filter containing multiple integrators and feedforward and/or feedback paths for frequency compensation. The resulting implementations are ?? difference-of-squares LOG-RMS to DC converters with a natural digital output and a logarithmically compressed dynamic range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Paulo Gustavo Raymundo Silva, Michael Hendrikus Laurentius Kouwenhoven
  • Publication number: 20100194461
    Abstract: Described herein is technology for, among other things, reducing offset errors in RMS-to-DC converters. The technology involves generating first and second feedback signals with first and second feedback paths respectively. A multiplier is then employed to receive first and second signals and provide a third signal based on multiplying the first signal and the second signal. The first signal is based on an input signal and the first feedback signal, and the second signal is based on the input signal and the second feedback signal. A chopper is then employed to receive an output signal, which is based on the third signal, and a chopping signal, and in turn provide a fourth signal based on multiplying the output signal with the chopping signal. As a consequence, the fourth signal represents the output signal shifted to a frequency different than that of low-frequency noise components of the first and second signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventor: Michael Hendrikus Laurentius KOUWENHOVEN
  • Patent number: 7697909
    Abstract: Described herein is technology for, among other things, reducing offset errors in RMS-to-DC converters. The technology involves generating first and second feedback signals with first and second feedback paths respectively. A multiplier is then employed to receive first and second signals and provide a third signal based on multiplying the first signal and the second signal. The first signal is based on an input signal and the first feedback signal, and the second signal is based on the input signal and the second feedback signal. A chopper is then employed to receive an output signal, which is based on the third signal, and a chopping signal, and in turn provide a fourth signal based on multiplying the output signal with the chopping signal. As a consequence, the fourth signal represents the output signal shifted to a frequency different than that of low-frequency noise components of the first and second signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Hendrikus Laurentius Kouwenhoven
  • Patent number: 7545302
    Abstract: A sigma-delta difference-of-squares RMS-to-DC converter and method for performing such a conversion in which an analog feedback signal is combined with an analog input signal, following which the combined signals are multiplied to produce an analog product signal that includes at least one signal component corresponding to a difference between a square of the analog feedback signal and a square of the analog input signal. This analog product signal is filtered and digitized to produce a digital output signal to be available for use downstream in or with the host system, with such digital output signal also being converted to the analog feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Paulo Gustavo Raymundo Silva, Michael Hendrikus Laurentius Kouwenhoven
  • Patent number: 7545303
    Abstract: A sigma-delta difference-of-squares RMS-to-DC converter and method for performing such a conversion in which a square of an analog feedback signal is combined differentially with a square of an analog input signal, thereby producing an analog product signal that includes at least one signal component corresponding to a difference between such signal squares. This analog product signal is filtered and digitized to produce a digital output signal to be available for use downstream in or with the host system, with such digital output signal also being converted to the analog feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Paulo Gustavo Raymundo Silva, Michael Hendrikus Laurentius Kouwenhoven
  • Publication number: 20070270116
    Abstract: Described herein is technology for, among other things, reducing offset errors in RMS-to-DC converters. The technology involves generating first and second feedback signals with first and second feedback paths respectively. A multiplier is then employed to receive first and second signals and provide a third signal based on multiplying the first signal and the second signal. The first signal is based on an input signal and the first feedback signal, and the second signal is based on the input signal and the second feedback signal. A chopper is then employed to receive an output signal, which is based on the third signal, and a chopping signal, and in turn provide a fourth signal based on multiplying the output signal with the chopping signal. As a consequence, the fourth signal represents the output signal shifted to a frequency different than that of low-frequency noise components of the first and second signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventor: Michael Hendrikus Laurentius Kouwenhoven
  • Patent number: 7268609
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is directed to an apparatus for reducing errors affecting the intercept of a logarithmic device, the apparatus including a first switching device coupled to an input of the logarithmic device. The first switching device for switches the input of the logarithmic device between an input signal and a reference signal. The apparatus further includes a polarity switching device coupled to an output of the logarithmic device. The polarity switching device is configured to switch the polarity of an output signal of the logarithmic device when the logarithmic device is receiving one of the input signal and the reference signal. The apparatus further includes a low pass filter coupled to the polarity switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Arie van Staveren, Michael Hendrikus Laurentius Kouwenhoven
  • Patent number: 7084714
    Abstract: Quadrature demodulator and quadrature modulator which comprise a first oscillator and a second oscillator, a separate excitation signal being fed to the first and second oscillator to determine the time at which switching between two stable states takes place, and the quadrature demodulator and quadrature modulator further comprise excitation elements In the quadrature demodulator, an input signal is fed, which influences a parameter of one of the elements of the first and the second oscillator and produces a set of quadrature output signals. In the quadrature modulator, a first and second quadrature signals are fed to the quadrature modulator, which influences a parameter of one of the elements of the first and the second oscillator, and the quadrature modulator further comprises summing elements to produce a modulated output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Technische Universiteit Delft
    Inventors: Michael Hendrikus Laurentius Kouwenhoven, Chris Van Den Bos, Michiel Van Nieuwkerk, Christiaan Johannes Maria Verhoeven
  • Publication number: 20040178845
    Abstract: Quadrature demodulator (10) and quadrature modulator (30) which comprise a first oscillator (11) and a second oscillator (12), a separate excitation signal being fed to the first osciallator (11) and second oscillator (12) in order to determine the point in time at which switching between two stable states lakes place, and the quadrature demodulator (10) and quadrature modulator (30) further comprise excitation means (17, 18). In the quadrature demodulator (10), an input signal Si(t) is fed, by means of which signal a parameter of one of the elements of the first and the second oscillator (11, 12) is influenced and a set of quadrature Output signals Io, Qn is produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventors: Michael Hendrikus Laurentius Kouwenhoven, Chris Van Den Bos, Michiel Van Nieuwkerk, Christiaan Johannes Maria Verhoeven