Patents by Inventor Ralph Duncan

Ralph Duncan 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: 10454490
    Abstract: A dielectric resonator oscillator includes a dielectric resonator; a transmission line disposed adjacent the dielectric resonator; an active device having an input electrically connected to the transmission line; a matching network having an input electrically connected to an output of the active device and an output configured to be connected to a load; wherein both the transmission line and the active device are positioned sufficiently close to the dielectric resonator to form part of a resonant circuit with the dielectric resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Entropic Communications LLC
    Inventors: Branislav Petrovic, Tommy Yu, Troy Brandon, Ralph Duncan
  • Patent number: 10236969
    Abstract: Systems and methods for correcting frequency error in a received signal include: receiving a satellite signal, the satellite signal having a bandwidth and a center frequency; determining the profile of the satellite signal; computing the center frequency of the satellite signal based on the profile of the received signal; and generating a reference signal at the computed center frequency. The systems and methods may further include computing a center frequency of each of a plurality of satellite signals based on the computed center frequency. Determining the profile may include sweeping a tuner above and below a given reference frequency; measuring the received signal strength during the sweeping operation; and determining the profile based on the received signal strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Entropic Communications LLC
    Inventors: Branislav Petrovic, Tommy Yu, Troy Brandon, Ralph Duncan
  • Publication number: 20180234123
    Abstract: Systems and methods for canceling cross-coupled satellite signals in a LNB IC include receiving a first satellite signal at a first input of the LNB IC and filtering the first satellite signal using a first adaptive filter, the first adaptive filter having first filter coefficients; combining the adjusted first satellite signal with a second satellite signal received at a second input of the LNB IC to generate a first combined satellite signal; measuring the total output power of the combined satellite signal; changing the filter coefficients of the first adaptive filter; remeasuring the total output power of the first combined satellite signal after the changing of the first filter coefficients to determine whether the total power of the first combined satellite signal has decreased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Branislav Petrovic, Tommy Yu, Troy Brandon, Ralph Duncan
  • Publication number: 20180191367
    Abstract: A dielectric resonator oscillator includes a dielectric resonator; a transmission line disposed adjacent the dielectric resonator; an active device having an input electrically connected to the transmission line; a matching network having an input electrically connected to an output of the active device and an output configured to be connected to a load; wherein both the transmission line and the active device are positioned sufficiently close to the dielectric resonator to form part of a resonant circuit with the dielectric resonator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Branislav Petrovic, Tommy Yu, Troy Brandon, Ralph Duncan
  • Publication number: 20180131382
    Abstract: Systems and methods for converting analog signals to digital signals. A reference slice is associated with each of a plurality of active slices to balance the loading on an active sampling track and hold amplifier within each active slice. Alternatively, the reference slice is split into a portion having a reference ADC that is shared by a plurality of partial reference slices, each partial reference slice having a partial reference input module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Josephus Van Engelen, Aaron Buchwald, Ralph Duncan
  • Patent number: 9948334
    Abstract: Systems and methods for canceling cross-coupled satellite signals in a LNB IC include receiving a first satellite signal at a first input of the LNB IC and filtering the first satellite signal using a first adaptive filter, the first adaptive filter having first filter coefficients; combining the adjusted first satellite signal with a second satellite signal received at a second input of the LNB IC to generate a first combined satellite signal; measuring the total output power of the combined satellite signal; changing the filter coefficients of the first adaptive filter; remeasuring the total output power of the first combined satellite signal after the changing of the first filter coefficients to determine whether the total power of the first combined satellite signal has decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Entropic Communications, LLC.
    Inventors: Branislav Petrovic, Tommy Yu, Troy Brandon, Ralph Duncan
  • Patent number: 9912345
    Abstract: Methods and systems for frequency generation may comprise a circuit with a first input coupled to receive a first satellite signal at a first satellite downlink frequency, a second input coupled to receive a second satellite signal at a second satellite downlink frequency, and a first analog-to-digital converter (ADC) having an input coupled to receive the first satellite signal. The first ADC may be configured to create a first digital output signal representing the first satellite signal. A second ADC having an input coupled to receive the second satellite signal may be configured to create a second digital output representing the second satellite signal. The circuit may comprise a dielectric resonator oscillator having an output and a clock generator circuit having an input coupled to the oscillator output and configured to output one or more clocks used by the first and second ADCs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Entropic Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Branislav Petrovic, Tommy Yu, Troy Brandon, Ralph Duncan
  • Patent number: 9866230
    Abstract: Systems and methods for converting analog signals to digital signals. A reference slice is associated with each of a plurality of active slices to balance the loading on an active sampling track and hold amplifier within each active slice. Alternatively, the reference slice is split into a portion having a reference ADC that is shared by a plurality of partial reference slices, each partial reference slice having a partial reference input module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Entropic Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Josephus Van Engelen, Aaron Buchwald, Ralph Duncan
  • Publication number: 20170338884
    Abstract: Systems and methods for correcting frequency error in a received signal include: receiving a satellite signal, the satellite signal having a bandwidth and a center frequency; determining the profile of the satellite signal; computing the center frequency of the satellite signal based on the profile of the received signal; and generating a reference signal at the computed center frequency. The systems and methods may further include computing a center frequency of each of a plurality of satellite signals based on the computed center frequency. Determining the profile may include sweeping a tuner above and below a given reference frequency; measuring the received signal strength during the sweeping operation; and determining the profile based on the received signal strength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Branislav Petrovic, Tommy Yu, Troy Brandon, Ralph Duncan
  • Patent number: 9742487
    Abstract: Methods and systems for frequency generation may comprise in a low-noise block down-converter (LNB) comprising an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and a channel stacking switch (CSS): receiving a first satellite signal centered at a first frequency; receiving a second satellite signal centered at a second frequency; combining the first and second satellite signals to form a combined signal; the analog-to-digital converter transforming the combined signal from an analog signal to a digital signal; providing the digital signal to the CSS; receiving a third satellite signal centered at a third frequency; receiving a fourth satellite signal centered at a fourth frequency; translating the third satellite signal to a fifth frequency, combining the translated third satellite signal with fourth satellite signals to form a second combined signal; a second analog-to-digital converter transforming the combined signal from an analog signal to a second digital signal; and providing the second digital signal to the CSS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Entropic Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Branislav Petrovic, Tommy Yu, Troy Brandon, Ralph Duncan
  • Patent number: 9716546
    Abstract: Methods and systems for frequency generation may comprise receiving a satellite signal the satellite signal having a center frequency; determining an amplitude response profile of the satellite signal; and computing the center frequency of the satellite signal based on the amplitude response profile of the received signal; and generating a reference signal at the computed center frequency. A center frequency of each of a plurality of satellite signals may be computed based on the computed center frequency. The determining the amplitude response profile may include: sweeping a tuner above and below a given reference frequency; measuring the received signal strength during the sweeping operation; and determining upper and lower rolloff points of the signal based on the measured signal strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Entropic Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Branislav Petrovic, Tommy Yu, Troy Brandon, Ralph Duncan
  • Publication number: 20170149462
    Abstract: Systems and methods for canceling cross-coupled satellite signals in a LNB IC include receiving a first satellite signal at a first input of the LNB IC and filtering the first satellite signal using a first adaptive filter, the first adaptive filter having first filter coefficients; combining the adjusted first satellite signal with a second satellite signal received at a second input of the LNB IC to generate a first combined satellite signal; measuring the total output power of the combined satellite signal; changing the filter coefficients of the first adaptive filter; remeasuring the total output power of the first combined satellite signal after the changing of the first filter coefficients to determine whether the total power of the first combined satellite signal has decreased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: BRANISLAV PETROVIC, TOMMY Yu, TROY BRANDON, RALPH DUNCAN
  • Publication number: 20170126310
    Abstract: Systems and methods for correcting frequency error in a received signal include: receiving a satellite signal, the satellite signal having a bandwidth and a center frequency; determining the profile of the satellite signal; computing the center frequency of the satellite signal based on the profile of the received signal; and generating a reference signal at the computed center frequency. The systems and methods may further include computing a center frequency of each of a plurality of satellite signals based on the computed center frequency. Determining the profile may include sweeping a tuner above and below a given reference frequency; measuring the received signal strength during the sweeping operation; and determining the profile based on the received signal strength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Branislav Petrovic, Tommy Yu, Troy Brandon, Ralph Duncan
  • Publication number: 20170126242
    Abstract: Methods and systems for frequency generation may comprise a circuit with a first input coupled to receive a first satellite signal at a first satellite downlink frequency, a second input coupled to receive a second satellite signal at a second satellite downlink frequency, and a first analog-to-digital converter (ADC) having an input coupled to receive the first satellite signal. The first ADC may be configured to create a first digital output signal representing the first satellite signal. A second ADC having an input coupled to receive the second satellite signal may be configured to create a second digital output representing the second satellite signal. The circuit may comprise a dielectric resonator oscillator having an output and a clock generator circuit having an input coupled to the oscillator output and configured to output one or more clocks used by the first and second ADCs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Branislav Petrovic, Tommy Yu, Troy Brandon, Ralph Duncan
  • Publication number: 20170111054
    Abstract: Systems and methods for converting analog signals to digital signals. A reference slice is associated with each of a plurality of active slices to balance the loading on an active sampling track and hold amplifier within each active slice. Alternatively, the reference slice is split into a portion having a reference ADC that is shared by a plurality of partial reference slices, each partial reference slice having a partial reference input module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: Josephus Van Engelen, Aaron Buchwald, Ralph Duncan
  • Publication number: 20170070282
    Abstract: Methods and systems for frequency generation may comprise in a low-noise block down-converter (LNB) comprising an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and a channel stacking switch (CSS): receiving a first satellite signal centered at a first frequency; receiving a second satellite signal centered at a second frequency; combining the first and second satellite signals to form a combined signal; the analog-to-digital converter transforming the combined signal from an analog signal to a digital signal; providing the digital signal to the CSS; receiving a third satellite signal centered at a third frequency; receiving a fourth satellite signal centered at a fourth frequency; translating the third satellite signal to a fifth frequency, combining the translated third satellite signal with fourth satellite signals to form a second combined signal; a second analog-to-digital converter transforming the combined signal from an analog signal to a second digital signal; and providing the second digital signal to the CSS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: Branislav Petrovic, Tommy Yu, Troy Brandon, Ralph Duncan
  • Patent number: 9571182
    Abstract: Systems and methods for canceling cross-coupled satellite signals in a LNB IC include receiving a first satellite signal at a first pin of the LNB IC and adjusting the first satellite signal by applying a first adaptive filter to the first satellite signal signal, the first adaptive filter having first filter coefficients; combining the adjusted first satellite signal with a second satellite signal received at a second pin of the LNB IC to generate a first combined satellite signal; measuring the total output power of the combined satellite signal; changing the filter coefficients of the first adaptive filter; remeasuring the total output power of the first combined satellite signal after the changing of the first filter coefficients to determine whether the total power of the first combined satellite signal has decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Entropic Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Branislav Petrovic, Tommy Yu, Troy Brandon, Ralph Duncan
  • Patent number: 9543893
    Abstract: Methods and systems for frequency generation may comprise a circuit with a first input coupled to receive a first satellite signal at a first satellite downlink frequency, a second input coupled to receive a second satellite signal at a second satellite downlink frequency, and a first analog-to-digital converter (ADC) having an input coupled to receive the first satellite signal and an output. The first ADC may be configured to create a first digital output signal representing the first satellite signal. A second ADC having an input coupled to receive the second satellite signal and an output may be configured to create a second digital output representing the second satellite signal. The circuit may comprise a dielectric resonator oscillator having an output and a clock generator circuit having an input coupled to the oscillator output and configured to output one or more clocks used by the first and second ADCs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Entropic Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Branislav Petrovic, Tommy Yu, Troy Brandon, Ralph Duncan
  • Patent number: 9537502
    Abstract: A system for calibrating time interleaved ADCs is disclosed and may include a time interleaved analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for converting analog signals to digital signals, the time interleaved ADC comprising: a plurality of active slices, and a plurality of reference slices, each reference slice associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of active slices. An output of each reference slice may be used to correct distortion in an output of the corresponding active slice. Each active slice may sample an input signal at a first rate and each associated reference slice may sample the input signal at a second rate, the second rate being slower than the first rate. Each sample taken by one of the plurality of reference slices may then be taken concurrent with a sample taken by the associated active slice. Each reference slice may include a reference sampling module and a dummy load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Entropic Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Josephus Van Engelen, Aaron Buchwald, Ralph Duncan
  • Publication number: 20160380705
    Abstract: Systems and methods for canceling cross-coupled satellite signals in a LNB IC include receiving a first satellite signal at a first pin of the LNB IC and adjusting the first satellite signal by applying a first adaptive filter to the first satellite signal signal, the first adaptive filter having first filter coefficients; combining the adjusted first satellite signal with a second satellite signal received at a second pin of the LNB IC to generate a first combined satellite signal; measuring the total output power of the combined satellite signal; changing the filter coefficients of the first adaptive filter; remeasuring the total output power of the first combined satellite signal after the changing of the first filter coefficients to determine whether the total power of the first combined satellite signal has decreased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Branislav Petrovic, Tommy Yu, Troy Brandon, Ralph Duncan