Patents by Inventor Nicholas B. Tufillaro

Nicholas B. Tufillaro 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: 7795858
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a spectral map for performing nonlinear calibration of a signal path is developed by 1) identifying a set of frequency locations for a set of particular output signal spurs that result from applying one-tone and two-tone input signals covering a bandwidth of interest to the signal path; 2) developing, based on the set of frequency locations, a spectral map for predistorting, in the frequency domain, signals that are applied to, or received from, the signal path in the time domain; and 3) saving the spectral map for performing nonlinear calibration of the signal path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas B. Tufillaro, Robert E. Jewett
  • Publication number: 20090153132
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a spectral map for performing nonlinear calibration of a signal path is developed by 1) identifying a set of frequency locations for a set of particular output signal spurs that result from applying one-tone and two-tone input signals covering a bandwidth of interest to the signal path; 2) developing, based on the set of frequency locations, a spectral map for predistorting, in the frequency domain, signals that are applied to, or received from, the signal path in the time domain; and 3) saving the spectral map for performing nonlinear calibration of the signal path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Nicholas B. Tufillaro, Robert E. Jewett
  • Patent number: 7457729
    Abstract: The model-based method tests compliance of production devices with the performance specifications of a device design. The production devices are manufactured in accordance with the device design by a manufacturing process. In the method, a simple model form based on the device design and the performance specifications is developed, a stimulus for testing the production devices is specified and each production device is tested. The model form has a basis function and model form parameters for the basis function. The model form parameters are dependent on the manufacturing process and differ in value among the production devices. A production device is tested by measuring the response of the production device to the stimulus; extracting, using the model form, the values of the model form parameters for the production device from the measured response and the stimulus; and checking compliance of the production device with the performance specifications using the extracted values of the model form parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Verigy (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Ajay Khoche, Nicholas B Tufillaro, Stanley T. Jefferson, Lee A. Barford
  • Publication number: 20080086668
    Abstract: A testing system and various methods involving testing of a device under test (DUT) use a device model to model a stimulus-response behavior of a the DUT. The testing system includes a device model of the DUT that is fitted to the stimulus-response behavior of the DUT and a measurement projector connected to an output of the device model. The device model includes a block diagram model and a difference model. Test metrics for the DUT are produced by the measurement projector from an output of the fitted device model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Inventors: Stanley T. Jefferson, Ajay Koche, Nicholas B. Tufillaro
  • Patent number: 6892155
    Abstract: A system and a general method estimate figures of merit based on nonlinear modeling and nonlinear time series analysis. Terms in a nonlinear behavioral model that depend on nonlinear combinations of a fixed input signal value are precomputed, optimizing the behavioral model such that figures of merit are evaluated from a single short stimulus vector. The optimized nonlinear behavioral model can then be applied to evaluate figures of merit for multiple devices under test (DUTs) in a manufacturing line. A process continually verifies and adjusts the nonlinear behavioral model based on sub-sampling multiple DUTs in a manufacturing line and comparing their figures of merit based on nonlinear modeling with those based on conventional measurement procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Gee, Nicholas B. Tufillaro
  • Patent number: 6850871
    Abstract: A method and apparatus that utilize time-domain measurements of a nonlinear device produce or extract a behavioral model from embeddings of these measurements. The method of producing a behavioral model comprises applying an input signal to the nonlinear device, sampling the input signal to produce input data, measuring a response of the device to produce output data, creating an embedded data set, fitting a function to the embedded data set, and verifying the fitted function. The apparatus comprises a signal generator that produces an input signal that is applied to the nonlinear device, the device producing an output signal in response. The apparatus further comprises a data acquisition system that samples and digitizes the input and output signals and a signal processing computer that produces an embedded data set from the digitized signals, fits a function to the embedded data set, and verifies the fitted function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee A. Barford, Linda A. Kamas, Nicholas B. Tufillaro, Daniel A. Usikov
  • Patent number: 6775646
    Abstract: A method utilizes time-domain measurements of a nonlinear device to produce or extract a behavioral model from embeddings of these measurements. The resulting behavioral model of the nonlinear device is a black-box model that accommodates nonlinear devices with one or more input ports and one or more output ports. The black-box model is a functional form that is a closed form function of input variables that produces an output as opposed to a structural form. The method of producing a behavioral model comprises the steps of applying an input signal to the nonlinear device, sampling the input signal to produce input data, measuring a response of the device to produce output data, creating an embedded data set, fitting a function to the embedded data set, and verifying the fitted function. The method may apply a CDMA type input signal in the step of applying, and/or may fit a novel radial basis function in the step of fitting a function. The input signal is constructed from a single CDMA signal representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas B. Tufillaro, David M. Walker
  • Publication number: 20040098215
    Abstract: A system and a general method estimate figures of merit based on nonlinear modeling and nonlinear time series analysis. Terms in a nonlinear behavioral model that depend on nonlinear combinations of a fixed input signal value are precomputed, optimizing the behavioral model such that figures of merit are evaluated from a single short stimulus vector. The optimized nonlinear behavioral model can then be applied to evaluate figures of merit for multiple devices under test (DUTs) in a manufacturing line. A process continually verifies and adjusts the nonlinear behavioral model based on sub-sampling multiple DUTs in a manufacturing line and comparing their figures of merit based on nonlinear modeling with those based on conventional measurement procedures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Kevin Gee, Nicholas B. Tufillaro