Patents by Inventor Stephen L. Dark

Stephen L. Dark 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).

  • Publication number: 20150036731
    Abstract: The first and second outputs of a signal generation system are coupled to the first and second inputs of a signal digitizing system via respective electrical conductors. A controller directs the generation system to generate a first calibration signal, and the digitizing system responsively captures a first set of vector samples. The conductors are then reconfigured so they connect the first and second outputs of the generation system respectively to the second and first inputs of the digitization system. The controller then directs the generation system to generate a second calibration signal, and the digitizing system responsively captures a second set of vector samples. The controller or other processing agent computes gain and/or phase impairments using the first and second vector sample sets. Digital filter parameters may be computed based on the computed impairment(s), and used to correct the impairment(s) of the generation system and/or the digitizing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventor: Stephen L. Dark
  • Patent number: 8938025
    Abstract: Communication devices and associated methods for reducing I/Q impairments in signals used by the communication devices are described. A transmitter device may perform filtering (or matrix multiplication) on digital I and Q signals to pre-correct them before converting them into analog I and Q signals. The pre-correction may pre-compensate for I/Q impairments which have not been introduced yet, but which will subsequently be introduced during digital-to-analog conversion, I/Q modulation, or other processing that occurs to produce a transmission signal from the original digital I and Q signals. A receiver device may receive a transmission signal, produce digital I and Q signals from the received signal, and perform filtering on the digital I and Q signals to correct I/Q impairments at a plurality of frequency offsets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen L. Dark, Christopher J. Behnke
  • Patent number: 8897349
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring transmitter and/or receiver I/Q impairments are disclosed, including iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using shared local oscillators, iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using intentionally-offset local oscillators, and methods for measuring receiver I/Q impairments. Also disclosed are methods for computing I/Q impairments from a sampled complex signal, methods for computing DC properties of a signal path between the transmitter and receiver, and methods for transforming I/Q impairments through a linear system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen L. Dark, Christopher J. Behnke
  • Patent number: 8873610
    Abstract: The first and second outputs of a signal generation system are coupled to the first and second inputs of a signal digitizing system via respective electrical conductors. A controller directs the generation system to generate a first calibration signal, and the digitizing system responsively captures a first set of vector samples. The conductors are then reconfigured so they connect the first and second outputs of the generation system respectively to the second and first inputs of the digitization system. The controller then directs the generation system to generate a second calibration signal, and the digitizing system responsively captures a second set of vector samples. The controller or other processing agent computes gain and/or phase impairments using the first and second vector sample sets. Digital filter parameters may be computed based on the computed impairment(s), and used to correct the impairment(s) of the generation system and/or the digitizing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen L. Dark
  • Patent number: 8861579
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring transmitter and/or receiver I/Q impairments are disclosed, including iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using shared local oscillators, iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using intentionally-offset local oscillators, and methods for measuring receiver I/Q impairments. Also disclosed are methods for computing I/Q impairments from a sampled complex signal, methods for computing DC properties of a signal path between the transmitter and receiver, and methods for transforming I/Q impairments through a linear system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen L. Dark, Christopher J. Behnke
  • Publication number: 20140286382
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring transmitter and/or receiver I/Q impairments are disclosed, including iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using shared local oscillators, iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using intentionally-offset local oscillators, and methods for measuring receiver I/Q impairments. Also disclosed are methods for computing I/Q impairments from a sampled complex signal, methods for computing DC properties of a signal path between the transmitter and receiver, and methods for transforming I/Q impairments through a linear system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Stephen L. Dark
  • Publication number: 20140247902
    Abstract: Communication devices and associated methods for reducing I/Q impairments in signals used by the communication devices are described. A transmitter device may perform filtering (or matrix multiplication) on digital I and Q signals to pre-correct them before converting them into analog I and Q signals. The pre-correction may pre-compensate for I/Q impairments which have not been introduced yet, but which will subsequently be introduced during digital-to-analog conversion, I/Q modulation, or other processing that occurs to produce a transmission signal from the original digital I and Q signals. A receiver device may receive a transmission signal, produce digital I and Q signals from the received signal, and perform filtering on the digital I and Q signals to correct I/Q impairments at a plurality of frequency offsets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen L. Dark, Christopher J. Behnke
  • Publication number: 20140241410
    Abstract: The first and second outputs of a signal generation system are coupled to the first and second inputs of a signal digitizing system via respective electrical conductors. A controller directs the generation system to generate a first calibration signal, and the digitizing system responsively captures a first set of vector samples. The conductors are then reconfigured so they connect the first and second outputs of the generation system respectively to the second and first inputs of the digitization system. The controller then directs the generation system to generate a second calibration signal, and the digitizing system responsively captures a second set of vector samples. The controller or other processing agent computes gain and/or phase impairments using the first and second vector sample sets. Digital filter parameters may be computed based on the computed impairment(s), and used to correct the impairment(s) of the generation system and/or the digitizing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Stephen L. Dark
  • Publication number: 20140204989
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring transmitter and/or receiver I/Q impairments are disclosed, including iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using shared local oscillators, iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using intentionally-offset local oscillators, and methods for measuring receiver I/Q impairments. Also disclosed are methods for computing I/Q impairments from a sampled complex signal, methods for computing DC properties of a signal path between the transmitter and receiver, and methods for transforming I/Q impairments through a linear system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen L. Dark, Christopher J. Behnke
  • Patent number: 8774259
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring transmitter and/or receiver I/Q impairments are disclosed, including iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using shared local oscillators, iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using intentionally-offset local oscillators, and methods for measuring receiver I/Q impairments. Also disclosed are methods for computing I/Q impairments from a sampled complex signal, methods for computing DC properties of a signal path between the transmitter and receiver, and methods for transforming I/Q impairments through a linear system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen L. Dark
  • Publication number: 20140153664
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring transmitter and/or receiver I/Q impairments are disclosed, including iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using shared local oscillators, iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using intentionally-offset local oscillators, and methods for measuring receiver I/Q impairments. Also disclosed are methods for computing I/Q impairments from a sampled complex signal, methods for computing DC properties of a signal path between the transmitter and receiver, and methods for transforming I/Q impairments through a linear system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen L. Dark, Christopher J. Behnke
  • Patent number: 8699552
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring transmitter and/or receiver I/Q impairments are disclosed, including iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using shared local oscillators, iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using intentionally-offset local oscillators, and methods for measuring receiver I/Q impairments. Also disclosed are methods for computing I/Q impairments from a sampled complex signal, methods for computing DC properties of a signal path between the transmitter and receiver, and methods for transforming I/Q impairments through a linear system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen L. Dark, Christopher J. Behnke
  • Patent number: 8681842
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring transmitter and/or receiver I/Q impairments are disclosed, including iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using shared local oscillators, iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using intentionally-offset local oscillators, and methods for measuring receiver I/Q impairments. Also disclosed are methods for computing I/Q impairments from a sampled complex signal, methods for computing DC properties of a signal path between the transmitter and receiver, and methods for transforming I/Q impairments through a linear system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen L. Dark
  • Patent number: 8681845
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring transmitter and/or receiver I/Q impairments are disclosed, including iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using shared local oscillators, iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using intentionally-offset local oscillators, and methods for measuring receiver I/Q impairments. Also disclosed are methods for computing I/Q impairments from a sampled complex signal, methods for computing DC properties of a signal path between the transmitter and receiver, and methods for transforming I/Q impairments through a linear system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen L. Dark, Christopher J. Behnke
  • Patent number: 8681846
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring transmitter and/or receiver I/Q impairments are disclosed, including iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using shared local oscillators, iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using intentionally-offset local oscillators, and methods for measuring receiver I/Q impairments. Also disclosed are methods for computing I/Q impairments from a sampled complex signal, methods for computing DC properties of a signal path between the transmitter and receiver, and methods for transforming I/Q impairments through a linear system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen L. Dark, Christopher J. Behnke
  • Patent number: 8654828
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring transmitter and/or receiver I/Q impairments are disclosed, including iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using shared local oscillators, iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using intentionally-offset local oscillators, and methods for measuring receiver I/Q impairments. Also disclosed are methods for computing I/Q impairments from a sampled complex signal, methods for computing DC properties of a signal path between the transmitter and receiver, and methods for transforming I/Q impairments through a linear system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen L. Dark
  • Patent number: 8638893
    Abstract: Various embodiments of communication devices and associated methods for reducing I/Q impairments in signals used by the communication devices are described. A transmitter device 206 may perform filtering (or matrix multiplication) on digital I and Q signals to pre-correct them before converting them into analog I and Q signals. The pre-correction may pre-compensate for I/Q impairments which have not been introduced yet, but which will subsequently be introduced during digital to analog conversion, I/Q modulation, or other processing that occurs to produce a transmission signal from the original digital I and Q signals. A receiver device may receive a transmission signal, produce digital I and Q signals from it, and perform filtering on the digital I and Q signals to correct I/Q impairments at a plurality of frequency offsets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen L. Dark, Daniel J. Baker
  • Patent number: 8559560
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring transmitter and/or receiver I/Q impairments are disclosed, including iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using shared local oscillators, iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using intentionally-offset local oscillators, and methods for measuring receiver I/Q impairments. Also disclosed are methods for computing I/Q impairments from a sampled complex signal, methods for computing DC properties of a signal path between the transmitter and receiver, and methods for transforming I/Q impairments through a linear system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen L. Dark, Christopher J. Behnke
  • Publication number: 20130243060
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring transmitter and/or receiver I/Q impairments are disclosed, including iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using shared local oscillators, iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using intentionally-offset local oscillators, and methods for measuring receiver I/Q impairments. Also disclosed are methods for computing I/Q impairments from a sampled complex signal, methods for computing DC properties of a signal path between the transmitter and receiver, and methods for transforming I/Q impairments through a linear system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen L. Dark, Christopher J. Behnke
  • Publication number: 20130243059
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring transmitter and/or receiver I/Q impairments are disclosed, including iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using shared local oscillators, iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using intentionally-offset local oscillators, and methods for measuring receiver I/Q impairments. Also disclosed are methods for computing I/Q impairments from a sampled complex signal, methods for computing DC properties of a signal path between the transmitter and receiver, and methods for transforming I/Q impairments through a linear system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen L. Dark, Christopher J. Behnke