Patents by Inventor Samuel Tiller

Samuel Tiller 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: 7180349
    Abstract: A frequency divider circuit for providing a divided clock signal having a frequency that is an odd integer factor less than the frequency of an incoming system clock signal. The frequency divider includes a clock generator circuit coupled to a delay circuit which operates in an active and a reset phase to provide a divided clock signal from the system clock signal. In the active phase, the clock generator circuit drives the divided clock signal to a first logic state until a reset signal is received. The delay circuit then generates the reset signal at a predetermined number of system clock edges after the divided clock signal is driven to the first logic state. In the reset phase, both the clock generator circuit and the delay circuit are reset in response to the reset signal such that the clock generator circuit immediately drives the divided clock signal to a second logic state, and the delay circuit disables the reset signal within the predetermined number of system clock edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Curtis R. Leifso, Samuel A. Tiller
  • Publication number: 20060028251
    Abstract: A frequency divider circuit for providing a divided clock signal having a frequency that is an odd integer factor less than the frequency of an incoming system clock signal. The frequency divider includes a clock generator circuit coupled to a delay circuit which operates in an active and a reset phase to provide a divided clock signal from the system clock signal. In the active phase, the clock generator circuit drives the divided clock signal to a first logic state until a reset signal is received. The delay circuit then generates the reset signal at a predetermined number of system clock edges after the divided clock signal is driven to the first logic state. In the reset phase, both the clock generator circuit and the delay circuit are reset in response to the reset signal such that the clock generator circuit immediately drives the divided clock signal to a second logic state, and the delay circuit disables the reset signal within the predetermined number of system clock edges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Publication date: February 9, 2006
    Inventors: Curtis Leifso, Samuel Tiller
  • Patent number: 6992513
    Abstract: A frequency divider circuit for providing a divided clock signal having a frequency that is an odd integer factor less than the frequency of an incoming system clock signal. The frequency divider includes a clock generator circuit coupled to a delay circuit which operates in an active and a reset phase to provide a divided clock signal from the system clock signal. In the active phase, the clock generator circuit drives the divided clock signal to a first logic state until a reset signal is received. The delay circuit then generates the reset signal at a predetermined number of system clock edges after the divided clock signal is driven to the first logic state. In the reset phase, both the clock generator circuit and the delay circuit are reset in response to the reset signal such that the clock generator circuit immediately drives the divided clock signal to a second logic state, and the delay circuit disables the reset signal within the predetermined number of system clock edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Curtis R. Leifso, Samuel A. Tiller
  • Publication number: 20050127959
    Abstract: A frequency divider circuit for providing a divided clock signal having a frequency that is an odd integer factor less than the frequency of an incoming system clock signal. The frequency divider includes a clock generator circuit coupled to a delay circuit which operates in an active and a reset phase to provide a divided clock signal from the system clock signal. In the active phase, the clock generator circuit drives the divided clock signal to a first logic state until a reset signal is received. The delay circuit then generates the reset signal at a predetermined number of system clock edges after the divided clock signal is driven to the first logic state. In the reset phase, both the clock generator circuit and the delay circuit are reset in response to the reset signal such that the clock generator circuit immediately drives the divided clock signal to a second logic state, and the delay circuit disables the reset signal within the predetermined number of system clock edges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Inventors: Curtis Leifso, Samuel Tiller
  • Patent number: 6897734
    Abstract: A device for providing the functionality of an oscillator and mixer is disclosed herein. The device uses a differential pair to provide first and second filter networks with a time varying signal. The first filer network generates an oscillating signal through the use of a generated negative resistance and provides the oscillating signal while filtering out unwanted signals. The second filter network receives the time varying input signal and the oscillating signal and provides a mixed output while preventing the transmission of oscillations at the oscillating signal frequency. A double balanced embodiment is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventor: Samuel A. Tiller
  • Patent number: 6870425
    Abstract: A gain control circuit that permits a variable gain amplifier circuit to operate with high input linearity and low power consumption is disclosed. The variable gain amplifier includes a standard differential bipolar transistor input circuit and a pair of degeneration transistors connected to a current source transistor. The gain control circuit provides a variable degeneration control voltage to vary the effective resistance of the degeneration transistors and a variable bias voltage to vary the current of the current source transistor. The input linearity of the variable gain amplifier is controlled independently of gain by adjusting the effective resistance and the current in an inverse relationship such that at maximum gain the current is at a maximum while the degeneration resistance is at a minimum, and at minimum gain the current is at a minimum while the degeneration resistance is at a maximum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Research in Motion Limited
    Inventors: Curtis R. Leifso, Samuel A. Tiller
  • Patent number: 6864754
    Abstract: A device for providing the functionality of an oscillator and mixer is disclosed herein. The device uses a differential pair to provide first and second filter networks with a time varying signal. The first filter network generates an oscillating signal through the use of a generated negative resistance and provides the oscillating signal while filtering out unwanted signals. The second filter network receives the time varying input signal and the oscillating signal and provides a mixed output while preventing the transmission of oscillations at the oscillating signal frequency. A double balanced embodiment is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventor: Samuel A. Tiller
  • Patent number: 6847239
    Abstract: A frequency divider circuit for providing a divided clock signal having a frequency that is an odd integer factor less than the frequency of an incoming system clock signal. The frequency divider includes a clock generator circuit coupled to a delay circuit which operates in an active and a reset phase to provide a divided clock signal from the system clock signal. In the active phase, the clock generator circuit drives the divided clock signal to a first logic state until a reset signal is received. The delay circuit then generates the reset signal at a predetermined number of system clock edges after the divided clock signal is driven to the first logic state. In the reset phase, both the clock generator circuit and the delay circuit are reset in response to the reset signal such that the clock generator circuit immediately drives the divided clock signal to a second logic state, and the delay circuit disables the reset signal within the predetermined number of system clock edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Curtis R. Leifso, Samuel A. Tiller
  • Publication number: 20040092244
    Abstract: A device for providing the functionality of an oscillator and mixer is disclosed herein. The device uses a differential pair to provide first and second filter networks with a time varying signal. The first filer network generates an oscillating signal through the use of a generated negative resistance and provides the oscillating signal while filtering out unwanted signals. The second filter network receives the time varying input signal and the oscillating signal and provides a mixed output while preventing the transmission of oscillations at the oscillating signal frequency. A double balanced embodiment is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Applicant: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventor: Samuel A. Tiller
  • Publication number: 20030193355
    Abstract: A frequency divider circuit for providing a divided clock signal having a frequency that is an odd integer factor less than the frequency of an incoming system clock signal. The frequency divider includes a clock generator circuit coupled to a delay circuit which operates in an active and a reset phase to provide a divided clock signal from the system clock signal. In the active phase, the clock generator circuit drives the divided clock signal to a first logic state until a reset signal is received. The delay circuit then generates the reset signal at a predetermined number of system clock edges after the divided clock signal is driven to the first logic state. In the reset phase, both the clock generator circuit and the delay circuit are reset in response to the reset signal such that the clock generator circuit immediately drives the divided clock signal to a second logic state, and the delay circuit disables the reset signal within the predetermined number of system clock edges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Curtis R. Leifso, Samuel A. Tiller
  • Publication number: 20030193370
    Abstract: A gain control circuit that permits a variable gain amplifier circuit to operate with high input linearity and low power consumption is disclosed. The variable gain amplifier includes a standard differential bipolar transistor input circuit and a pair of degeneration transistors connected to a current source transistor. The gain control circuit provides a variable degeneration control voltage to vary the effective resistance of the degeneration transistors and a variable bias voltage to vary the current of the current source transistor. The input linearity of the variable gain amplifier is controlled independently of gain by adjusting the effective resistance and the current in an inverse relationship such that at maximum gain the current is at a maximum while the degeneration resistance is at a minimum, and at minimum gain the current is at a minimum while the degeneration resistance is at a maximum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Curtis R. Leifso, Samuel A. Tiller
  • Publication number: 20030071693
    Abstract: A device for providing the functionality of an oscillator and mixer is disclosed herein. The device uses a differential pair to provide first and second filter networks with a time varying signal. The first filer network generates an oscillating signal through the use of a generated negative resistance and provides the oscillating signal while filtering out unwanted signals. The second filter network receives the time varying input signal and the oscillating signal and provides a mixed output while preventing the transmission of oscillations at the oscillating signal frequency. A double balanced embodiment is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Applicant: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventor: Samuel A. Tiller
  • Patent number: 5896062
    Abstract: In an amplifier circuit, bias feedback to an amplifying transistor is provided by interconnecting the DC bias voltage applied to the transistor output and the transistor input with a feedback circuit consisting of a switching transistor and bias resistors. Bias current and stable operation is provided by this design. In a particular embodiment two common emitter amplifying transistors are connected to a common output and each has a separate bias feedback circuit including a respective switching transistor. A single DC control input connected to the inputs of both switching transistors can be used to switch between the two amplifying transistors depending on the value of the control voltage thereby amplifying either an input signal of the first amplifying transistor or an input signal of the second amplifying transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Northern Telecom Limited
    Inventors: Samuel A. Tiller, Stephen G. Roy
  • Patent number: 5365138
    Abstract: A double mode surface wave resonator comprises two IDTs (inter-digital transducers), arranged side by side between reflection gratings, on a surface of a piezoelectric substrate to provide for coupling of surface waves therebetween, each IDT having interleaved electrodes extending from a common rail between the two IDTs and from a respective outer rail of the IDT. One or each of the IDTs and its outer rail is divided into two halves for providing a differential signal connection to the resonator. The electrodes of the IDTs can be arranged in spatial synchronism with adjacent fingers of the reflection gratings to reduce spurious longitudinal modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Northern Telecom Limited
    Inventors: John C. B. Saw, Thomas P. Cameron, Mark S. Suthers, John J. Nisbet, Samuel A. Tiller