Patents by Inventor Paul A. Lennous

Paul A. Lennous 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: 6608516
    Abstract: A variable time constant integrator includes an amplifier configured to generate an output signal, a capacitor coupled to provide feedback to the amplifier, and a variable gain element coupled to the output of the amplifier and to the capacitor. The variable gain element is configured to provide the product of a gain and the output signal to the capacitor. The variable gain element is also configured to receive an indication of a new value of the gain and to responsively set the gain equal to the new value of the gain. Adjusting the gain of the variable gain element adjusts the integrator's time constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventor: Paul A. Lennous
  • Publication number: 20030141925
    Abstract: A variable time constant integrator includes an amplifier configured to generate an output signal, a capacitor coupled to provide feedback to the amplifier, and a variable gain element coupled to the output of the amplifier and to the capacitor. The variable gain element is configured to provide the product of a gain and the output signal to the capacitor. The variable gain element is also configured to receive an indication of a new value of the gain and to responsively set the gain equal to the new value of the gain. Adjusting the gain of the variable gain element adjusts the integrator's time constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Paul A. Lennous
  • Publication number: 20010033196
    Abstract: An active state variable filter is presented including a summing circuit, a first and second integrator circuits, and an amplifier circuit. The summing circuit and first and second integrator circuits each include a programmable variable resistor for programmably varying the filtering characteristics of the state variable filter. Each programmable variable resistor receives a digital value and provides an electrical resistance corresponding to the digital value between a pair of terminals. Each programmable variable resistor may include multiple branch circuits extending between the pair of terminals, each branch circuit including an electrical resistor and an electrical switch connected in series. Alternately, each programmable variable resistor may include multiple subcircuits connected in series between the pair of terminals, each subcircuit including an electrical resistor and an electrical switch connected in parallel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Applicant: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Paul A. Lennous, Alvin G. Becker, Prahalad K. Vasudev
  • Patent number: 6285095
    Abstract: An AC attenuator system including a compensation circuit for providing a selectable trimming impedance for the AC attenuator. The compensation circuit comprises a plurality of capacitors preferably coupled in parallel with a portion of the attenuator, wherein the capacitors have binary weighted values. The compensation circuit also includes a plurality of switches, wherein each switch is coupled to an input of each of the plurality of capacitors and is further coupled to the AC attenuator circuit. The switches are preferably microelectronic machined system (MEMS) switches. The compensation circuit further includes a memory element coupled to the plurality of switches. The memory element stores a value, preferably a digital or binary value, which is operable to open/close selected switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Alvin G. Becker, Paul A. Lennous
  • Patent number: 6232831
    Abstract: An electrical power supply is described which includes a floating current source. The floating current source includes a current source providing a selected amount of electrical current to a first terminal, and a current sink receiving the selected amount of electrical current from a second terminal. The current source is adapted for coupling to a first electrical voltage level which is positive with respect to a reference potential. The current sink is adapted for coupling to a second electrical voltage level which is negative with respect to the reference potential. The selected amount of current may be proportional to a reference current flowing through both the current source and the current sink. The current source and sink may each include a pair of transistors coupled together such that a flow of electrical current through one of the pair of transistors produces a proportional flow of electrical current through the other transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Paul A. Lennous, Alvin G. Becker