Patents by Inventor Ullrich R. Pfeiffer

Ullrich R. Pfeiffer 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: 7479842
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for constructing waveguide-to-transmission line transitions that provide broadband, high performance coupling of power at microwave and millimeter wave frequencies. More specifically, exemplary embodiments of the invention include wideband, low-loss and compact coplanar waveguide-to-rectangular waveguide transition structures and asymmetric coplanar stripline (or coplanar stripline)-to-rectangular waveguide transition structures that are particularly suitable for microwave and millimeter wave applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian P. Gaucher, Janusz Grzyb, Duixian Liu, Ullrich R. Pfeiffer, Thomas M. Zwick
  • Publication number: 20080297261
    Abstract: Circuits and methods are provided for building integrated transformer-coupled amplifiers with on-chip transformers that are designed to resonate or otherwise tune parasitic capacitances to achieve frequency tuning of amplifiers at millimeter wave operating frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Brian A. Floyd, David Goren, Ullrich R. Pfeiffer, Scott Kevin Reynolds
  • Patent number: 7459981
    Abstract: Circuits and methods are provided for building integrated transformer-coupled amplifiers with on-chip transformers that are designed to resonate or otherwise tune parasitic capacitances to achieve frequency tuning of amplifiers at millimeter wave operating frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian A. Floyd, David Goren, Ullrich R. Pfeiffer, Scott Kevin Reynolds
  • Patent number: 7427801
    Abstract: Methods are provided for building integrated circuit transformer devices having compact and optimized architectures for use in MMW (millimeter-wave) applications. The integrated circuit transformer devices have universal and scalable architectures that can be used as templates or building blocks for constructing various types of on-chip devices for millimeter-wave applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David Goren, Ullrich R. Pfeiffer, Benny Sheinman, Shlomo Shlafman
  • Publication number: 20080195988
    Abstract: Methods are provided for building integrated circuit transformer devices having compact and optimized architectures for use in MMW (millimeter-wave) applications. The integrated circuit transformer devices have universal and scalable architectures that can be used as templates or building blocks for constructing various types of on-chip devices for millimeter-wave applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventors: David Goren, Ullrich R. Pfeiffer, Benny Sheinman, Shlomo Shlafman
  • Publication number: 20080186247
    Abstract: An apparatus is described incorporating an interposer having a cavity for a portion of an antenna structure, having conductor through vias, a top Si part having interconnection wiring and having pads for electrically mounting an integrated circuit chip thereon, wherein the top Si part mates with the interposer electrically and mechanically. The interposer and top Si part may be scaled to provide an array of functional units. The invention overcomes the problem of combining a high efficient antenna with integrated circuit chips in a Si package with signal frequencies from 1 to 100 GHz and the problem of shielding components proximate to the antenna and reduces strain arising from mismatching of TCEs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John Michael Cotte, Brian Paul Gaucher, Janusz Grzyb, Nils Deneke Hoivik, Christopher Vincent Jahnes, John Ulrich Knickerbocker, Duixian Liu, John Harold Magerlein, Chirag Suryakant Patel, Ullrich R. Pfeiffer
  • Publication number: 20080164955
    Abstract: Voltage controlled oscillator circuits are provided in which variable capacitance degeneration is employed to provide increased tuning ranges and output amplitudes for VCO circuits for millimeter wave applications
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Ullrich R. Pfeiffer, Brian Welch
  • Patent number: 7372408
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for packaging IC chips together with integrated antenna modules designed to provide a closed EM (electromagnetic) environment for antenna radiators, thereby allowing antennas to be designed independent from the packaging technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian P. Gaucher, Janusz Grzyb, Duixian Liu, Ullrich R. Pfeiffer
  • Publication number: 20080106277
    Abstract: A chip-based prober for measuring a device-under-test is provided. The prober includes a probe tip, a voltage and control connector, a chip carrier, and a programmable termination chip. The probe tip is configured to contact the device-under-test. The voltage and control connector is in electrical communication with the probe tip. The programmable termination chip has a plurality of terminations interconnected with the voltage and control connector and the chip carrier through controlled collapsed chip connections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edward R. Pillai, Erik J. Breiland, Ullrich R. Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 7342299
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for integrally packaging antennas with semiconductor IC (integrated circuit) chips to provide highly-integrated and high-performance radio/wireless communications systems for millimeter wave applications including, e.g., voice communication, data communication and radar applications. For example, wireless communication modules are constructed with IC chips having receiver/transmitter/transceiver integrated circuits and planar antennas that are integrally constructed from BEOL (back end of line) metallization structures of the IC chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian P. Gaucher, Duixian Liu, Ullrich R. Pfeiffer, Thomas M. Zwick
  • Publication number: 20080029886
    Abstract: An apparatus is described incorporating an interposer having a cavity for a portion of an antenna structure, having conductor through vias, a top Si part having interconnection wiring and having pads for electrically mounting an integrated circuit chip thereon, wherein the top Si part mates with the interposer electrically and mechanically. The interposer and top Si part may be scaled to provide an array of functional units. The invention overcomes the problem of combining a high efficient antenna with integrated circuit chips in a Si package with signal frequencies from 1 to 100 GHz and the problem of shielding components proximate to the antenna and reduces strain arising from mismatching of TCEs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John Michael Cotte, Brian Paul Gaucher, Janusz Grzyb, Nils Deneke Hoivik, Christopher Vincent Jahnes, John Ulrich Knickerbocker, Duixian Liu, John Harold Magerlein, Chirag Suryakant Patel, Ullrich R. Pfeiffer, Cornelia Kang-I Tsang
  • Patent number: 7315212
    Abstract: Circuits and methods are provided for building integrated transformer-coupled amplifiers with on-chip transformers that are designed to resonate or otherwise tune parasitic capacitances to achieve frequency tuning of amplifiers at millimeter wave operating frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian A. Floyd, David Goren, Ullrich R. Pfeiffer, Scott Kevin Reynolds
  • Patent number: 7199658
    Abstract: Circuits and methods are provided for implementing highly efficient switch-mode power amplifiers using BJTs (bipolar junction transistors) as active switching devices at millimeter-wave frequencies. More specifically, circuits and methods are provided for driving power amplifiers with BJT switching devices to achieve highly efficient switch-mode (e.g., Class E) operation at millimeter wave frequencies (e.g., 60 GHz).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian A. Floyd, Alberto Valdes Garcia, Ullrich R. Pfeiffer, Scott Kevin Reynolds