Patents by Inventor Paul G. Chastain

Paul G. Chastain 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: 7592822
    Abstract: A probing adapter has a support member receiving a probing tip assembly having probing arms. The probing tip assembly is mounted to the support member via a rotational joint having elastomeric member disposed in the probing arms with each of the probing arms having a pivot point disposed away from the rotational joint. Each of the probing arms supports a removable probing tip substrate having a probing tip at one end electrically coupled via an electrical signal conductor to an electrical connector at the other end. Substrate retention clips secure the removable probing tip substrates to the probing arms. A probing tip positioning member is mounted to the probing arms for varying the distance between the probing tips on the removable probing tip substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary W. Reed, Paul G. Chastain, Ira G. Pollock
  • Patent number: 7550962
    Abstract: A wide bandwidth attenuator input circuit for a measurement probe has a Z0 attenuator circuit coupled in series with a compensated RC attenuator circuit. The series attenuator elements of the Z0 and the compensated RC attenuator circuits are coupled via a controlled impedance transmission line to the shunt attenuator elements of the Z0 and the compensated RC attenuator circuits. The shunt element of the Z0 attenuator element terminates the transmission line in its characteristic impedance. The junction of the series and shunt attenuator elements are coupled to the input of a buffer amplifier. At low and intermediate frequencies, the compensated RC attenuator circuit attenuates an input signal while at high frequencies, the compensated RC attenuator circuit acts as a short and the Z0 attenuator circuits attenuates the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Ira G. Pollock, Paul G. Chastain, William Q. Law
  • Publication number: 20090153159
    Abstract: A probing adapter has a support member receiving a probing tip assembly having probing arms. The probing tip assembly is mounted to the support member via a rotational joint having elastomeric member disposed in the probing arms with each of the probing arms having a pivot point disposed away from the rotational joint. Each of the probing arms supports a removable probing tip substrate having a probing tip at one end electrically coupled via an electrical signal conductor to an electrical connector at the other end. Substrate retention clips secure the removable probing tip substrates to the probing arms. A probing tip positioning member is mounted to the probing arms for varying the distance between the probing tips on the removable probing tip substrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: TEKTRONIX, INC.
    Inventors: Gary W. Reed, Paul G. Chastain, Ira G. Pollock
  • Publication number: 20080309356
    Abstract: A differential measurement probe has a ground clip system for electrically coupling outer shielding conductors of differential probing tips together. In one embodiment, the probing tips independently move vertically relative to each other with the ground clip system secured to each of the outer shielding conductors of the probing tips. In a further embodiment, the probing tips move both vertically and horizontally and the ground clip system has a spring wire member that is secured to the probe. The spring wire member is formed with various sections having various angles to each other that allows one section to slidably engage one of the outer shielding conductors on one of the probing tips and another section to slidably engage the outer shielding conductor of the other probing tip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Kei-Wean C. Yang, Mark W. Nightingale, Paul G. Chastain
  • Publication number: 20080309357
    Abstract: A differential measurement probe has a ground clip system for electrically coupling outer shielding conductors of differential probing tips together. In one embodiment, the probing tips independently move vertically relative to each other with the ground clip system secured to each of the outer shielding conductors of the probing tips. In a further embodiment, the probing tips move both vertically and horizontally and the ground clip system has a spring wire member that is secured to the probe. The spring wire member is formed with various sections having various angles to each other that allows one section to slidably engage one of the outer shielding conductors on one of the probing tips and another section to slidably engage the outer shielding conductor of the other probing tip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Kei-Wean C. Yang, Mark W. Nightingale, Paul G. Chastain
  • Patent number: 7402991
    Abstract: A wide bandwidth attenuator input circuit for a measurement probe has a Z0 attenuator circuit coupled in series with a compensated RC attenuator circuit. The series attenuator elements of the Z0 and the compensated RC attenuator circuits are coupled via a controlled impedance transmission line to the shunt attenuator elements of the Z0 and the compensated RC attenuator circuits. The shunt element of the Z0 attenuator element terminates the transmission line in its characteristic impedance. The junction of the series and shunt attenuator elements are coupled to the input of a buffer amplifier. At low and intermediate frequencies, the compensated RC attenuator circuit attenuates an input signal while at high frequencies, the compensated RC attenuator circuit acts as a short and the Z0 attenuator circuits attenuates the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Ira G. Pollock, William A. Hagerup, Paul G. Chastain, William Q. Law
  • Patent number: 7256575
    Abstract: A wide bandwidth attenuator input circuit for a measurement probe has a Z0 attenuator circuit coupled in series with a compensated RC attenuator circuit. The series attenuator elements of the Z0 and the compensated RC attenuator circuits are coupled via a controlled impedance transmission line to the shunt attenuator elements of the Z0 and the compensated RC attenuator circuits. The shunt element of the Z0 attenuator element terminates the transmission line in its characteristic impedance. The junction of the series and shunt attenuator elements are coupled to the input of a buffer amplifier. At low and intermediate frequencies, the compensated RC attenuator circuit attenuates an input signal while at high frequencies, the compensated RC attenuator circuit acts as a short and the Z0 attenuator circuits attenuates the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Ira G. Pollock, William A. Hagerup, Paul G. Chastain, William Q. Law