Patents by Inventor Michael J. Mende
Michael J. Mende 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).
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Publication number: 20240175719Abstract: A multipurpose spacer having a spacer body with a ground lead, an inner electrical connection, and an outer electrical connection. The multipurpose spacer provides grounding, securing, and low thermal conductivity advantages. The multipurpose spacer is mounted and connected in an assembly in high-frequency electronics testing devices. The multipurpose spacer provides a substantial reduction in error signal modulation bandwidth and improved high-frequency performance.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2023Publication date: May 30, 2024Inventors: Michael J. Mende, Mark Heimann, Richard Booman, Michael Engels, Benno Jacobs
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Publication number: 20240125816Abstract: A probe head with a cylindrical portion and an oblique truncated portion angled downward toward a high-powered electronic device under testing. The probe head has a proximal end comprising an oblique truncated cone portion angled relative to the longitudinal axis at an input angle and has an analog signal input. The probe head has a digital signal output provided on the distal end of the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2023Publication date: April 18, 2024Inventors: Michael J Mende, Mark Heimann, Richard Booman, Philipp Palffy-Daun-Seiler, Michael Engels, Nadja Laeaeperi, Benno Jacobs, Michael D Stevens, Nicolas Frabasile, Peter Hildenhagen, Kai Klein, Jurij Weber, Iris Zimmermann, Juergen Trueller, Thomas Podrebersek, Michael Eube, Frank Pannes, Matthew M Mende
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Publication number: 20230266369Abstract: A test and measurement probe system, including an input to receive an input signal, the input signal including a low frequency (LF) and/or direct current (DC) component and an alternating current (AC) component, an extractor circuit, such as an AC coupling circuit or a LF and/or DC rejection circuit, configured to receive the input signal and to separate the AC component and the LF and/or DC component from the input signal, a first output to output the alternating current component to the test and measurement instrument, and a second output to output the direct current component to the test and measurement instrument. In some embodiments, the LF and/or DC component is digitized prior to being output by the second output.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2023Publication date: August 24, 2023Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.Inventor: Michael J. Mende
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Publication number: 20230155679Abstract: A temperature-independent optical link for converting a received electrical signal to an analog signal. The temperature-independent optical link comprises a temperature-controlled transmitter chamber housing an ETO transmitter and a feedback-loop temperature control system. The optical link is housed in a probe head having a power supply device, and a probe tip. The temperature-independent optical link is used in a method for converting a received electrical signal to an analog signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2022Publication date: May 18, 2023Inventors: Michael J Mende, Mark Heimann, Richard Booman, Michael Engels
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Patent number: 11635452Abstract: A test and measurement probe system (100,104), including an input (106) to receive an input signal, the input signal including a low frequency (LF) and/or direct current (DC) component and an alternating current (AC) component, an extractor circuit (110), such as an AC coupling circuit or a LF and/or DC rejection circuit, configured to receive the input signal and to separate the AC component and the LF and/or DC component from the input signal, a first output (118) to output the alternating current component to the test and measurement instrument, and a second output to output the direct current component to the test and measurement instrument. In some embodiments, the LF and/or DC component is digitized prior to being output by the second output.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2018Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.Inventor: Michael J. Mende
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Patent number: 10753961Abstract: Disclosed is a differential test probe tip. The probe tip comprises a socket of electrically conductive material at a proximate end of the probe tip. The socket includes a concavity to receive a signal pin. The probe tip also comprises a reference body of conductive material surrounding the socket. The probe tip further comprises a insulating spacer element of non-conductive material surrounding the reference body at the proximate end of the probe tip. The insulating spacer element includes a signal port to receive the signal pin into the socket. The insulating spacer element further includes a reference port to receive a reference pin and maintain the reference pin in electrical communication with a proximate end of the reference body.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2017Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Mende, David T. Engquist, Richard A. Booman
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Patent number: 10684311Abstract: The disclosure includes an electro-optical sensor. The electro-optical sensor includes a test signal input to receive a test signal from a device under test (DUT). A bias circuit is employed to generate a bias signal. The electro-optical sensor also includes a Mach-Zehnder Modulator (MZM) that employs an optical input, an optical output, and a bias input. The MZM is configured to receive an optical carrier signal via the optical input. The MZM also receives both the test signal and the bias signal on the bias input. The MZM modulates the test signal from the bias input onto the optical carrier to generate an optical signal while operating in a mode selected by the bias signal. The MZM also outputs the optical signal over the optical output.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2018Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Mende, Richard A. Booman
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Publication number: 20200132731Abstract: A test and measurement probe system (100,104), including an input (106) to receive an input signal, the input signal including a low frequency (LF) and/or direct current (DC) component and an alternating current (AC) component, an extractor circuit (110), such as an AC coupling circuit or a LF and/or DC rejection circuit, configured to receive the input signal and to separate the AC component and the LF and/or DC component from the input signal, a first output (118) to output the alternating current component to the test and measurement instrument, and a second output to output the direct current component to the test and measurement instrument. In some embodiments, the LF and/or DC component is digitized prior to being output by the second output.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2018Publication date: April 30, 2020Inventor: Michael J. Mende
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Patent number: 10585118Abstract: Disclosed is a test and measurement probe. The test and measurement probe includes a probe tip to connect to a Device Under Test (DUT). The probe tip includes a Resistor Capacitor (RC) probe tip network coupled to a test signal channel. The test and measurement probe also includes at least one variable resistor coupled to the test signal channel. The at least one variable resistor is set to provide an adjustable resistance to compensate for frequency variation in the RC probe tip network.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2017Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Mende, Richard A. Booman, Wayne M. Wilburn
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Patent number: 10514394Abstract: A probe or accessory for use with an electrical test and measurement instrument can include an input to receive an input signal from a device under test (DUT), a clamp control unit or oscilloscope to apply a clamping/limiting level to the input signal to generate an output signal, and/or a control unit output port to provide the clamped/limited output signal to an oscilloscope.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2016Date of Patent: December 24, 2019Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Mende, Richard A. Booman, Wayne M. Wilburn
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Publication number: 20190204356Abstract: A mechanism is included for receiving a phase modulated optical signal. The phase modulated signal is modulated by a remote electrical test signal at a sensor head. A reference optical signal is also received. A phase difference between the phase modulated optical signal and the reference optical signal is then determined. The phase difference is employed to recover the remote electrical test signal from the sensor head. The phase difference may be determined by employing a phase modulator in a controller that tracks a phase modulator in the sensor head. The phase difference may also be determined by comparison of the signals in the complex signal domain.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2017Publication date: July 4, 2019Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Mende, Daniel G. Knierim, Richard A. Booman
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Patent number: 10302676Abstract: A flexible resistive tip cable assembly includes a probe Radio Frequency (RF) connector structured to receive a RF differential signal and a testing connection assembly. A coaxial cable is structured to conduct the RF differential signal between the probe RF connector and the testing connection assembly. The coaxial cable includes a cable for conducting the differential signal, and a plurality of magnetic elements positioned along a length of the cable and structured to isolate the differential signal from common mode interference. The magnetic elements are separated from adjacent magnetic elements by a gap with elastomeric elements is positioned in each gap to provide cable flexibility. The assembly may also include an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM) loaded with an attenuation associated with the flexible resistive tip cable assembly for use in signal testing by a device coupled to the testing connection assembly.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2016Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Mende, Gary W. Reed, James D. Pileggi, Karl A. Rinder, Richard A. Booman, Martin Van Pelt
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Patent number: 10234501Abstract: A sensor head of a test and measurement instrument can include an input configured to receive an input signal from a device under test (DUT), an optical voltage sensor having signal input electrodes and control electrodes or one set of electrodes, wherein the input is connected to the signal input electrodes, and a bias control unit connected to the control electrodes and configured to reduce an error signal or the input signal bias control signal are electrically combined and applied to a single set of electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2016Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Mende, Richard A. Booman
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Patent number: 10225022Abstract: An electro-optical sensor comprises an optical input configured to receive an optical carrier via an upstream fiber. The electro-optical sensor also includes an optical modulator configured to modulate an electrical signal onto the optical carrier to create an optical signal. The electro-optical sensor further includes an optical output configured to transmit the optical signal via a downstream fiber. The electro-optical sensor employs a variation output configured to transmit variation data indicating variation in the received optical carrier to support compensation for corresponding variation in the optical signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2016Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Richard A. Booman, Michael J. Mende, Daniel G. Knierim
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Publication number: 20180328961Abstract: Disclosed is a test and measurement probe. The test and measurement probe includes a probe tip to connect to a Device Under Test (DUT). The probe tip includes a Resistor Capacitor (RC) probe tip network coupled to a test signal channel. The test and measurement probe also includes at least one variable resistor coupled to the test signal channel. The at least one variable resistor is set to provide an adjustable resistance to compensate for frequency variation in the RC probe tip network.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2017Publication date: November 15, 2018Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Mende, Richard A. Booman, Wayne M. Wilburn
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Publication number: 20180328964Abstract: The disclosure includes an electro-optical sensor. The electro-optical sensor includes a test signal input to receive a test signal from a device under test (DUT). A bias circuit is employed to generate a bias signal. The electro-optical sensor also includes a Mach-Zehnder Modulator (MZM) that employs an optical input, an optical output, and a bias input. The MZM is configured to receive an optical carrier signal via the optical input. The MZM also receives both the test signal and the bias signal on the bias input. The MZM modulates the test signal from the bias input onto the optical carrier to generate an optical signal while operating in a mode selected by the bias signal. The MZM also outputs the optical signal over the optical output.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2018Publication date: November 15, 2018Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Mende, Richard A. Booman
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Publication number: 20180328962Abstract: Disclosed is a differential test probe tip. The probe tip comprises a socket of electrically conductive material at a proximate end of the probe tip. The socket includes a concavity to receive a signal pin. The probe tip also comprises a reference body of conductive material surrounding the socket. The probe tip further comprises a insulating spacer element of non-conductive material surrounding the reference body at the proximate end of the probe tip. The insulating spacer element includes a signal port to receive the signal pin into the socket. The insulating spacer element further includes a reference port to receive a reference pin and maintain the reference pin in electrical communication with a proximate end of the reference body.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2017Publication date: November 15, 2018Inventors: Michael J. Mende, David T. Engquist, Richard A. Booman
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Patent number: D947693Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2019Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: David Thomas Engquist, Heather J. Vermilyea, Karl A. Rinder, Michael J. Mende, Tony Lee Tarr
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Patent number: D992437Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2022Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: David Thomas Engquist, Heather J. Vermilyea, Karl A. Rinder, Michael J. Mende, Tony Lee Tarr
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Patent number: D1031997Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2022Date of Patent: June 18, 2024Assignee: PMK Mess- und Kommunikationstechnik, GmbHInventors: Michael J Mende, Mark Heimann, Richard Booman, Philipp Palffy-Daun-Seiler, Michael Engels, Nadja Laaperi, Benno Jacobs, Michael D Stevens, Nicolas Frabasile, Peter Hildenhagen, Kai Klein, Jurij Weber, Iris Zimmermann, Juergen Trueller, Thomas Podrebersek, Michael Eube, Frank Pannes, Matthew M Mende