Frequency Patents (Class 702/75)
  • Publication number: 20080125992
    Abstract: According to evaluation of tone quality of exhaust sound adapted to human audition, a characteristic of the tone quality of exhaust sound is objectively analyzed. There are provided a measuring process (M1) for sampling exhaust sound to be analyzed, by means of a microphone disposed in an exhaust system EX and converting the exhaust sound into an electric signal, an analyzing process (M2) for amplifying a high frequency component of the electric signal and performing a frequency analysis of the electric signal at an arbitrary time interval, a detecting process (M3) for detecting a first formant of the first peak from the low frequency side and a second formant of the second peak from the low frequency side, and a displaying process (M4) for displaying a relationship (brightness and sharpness) between the first formant and second formant in a predetermined time range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: SANGO CO., LTD
    Inventor: Osamu Kuroda
  • Publication number: 20080120052
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatuses that can improve measurement accuracy in interferometers. The invention provides methods for determining digital compensation filters that measure a frequency response or responses to be compensated, and then determining a filter target response from the inverse of the frequency response or responses. A digital compensation filter can be determined from the filter target response using a discrete sum of cosines with a phase argument. The invention also allows other desired filter responses to be integrated into the filter target response before determining the digital compensation filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventors: Trent Ridder, Ben ver Steeg, John D. Maynard, Zachary Benz
  • Patent number: 7373258
    Abstract: This invention describes a method for determining the content of conjugated diolefins by means of the measurement of the MAV of a sample of catalytic cracking gasoline or thermal cracking gasoline, from its NIR (near-infrared) spectrum, and the application of said method for monitoring a unit for selective hydrogenation of the cracking gasolines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Institute Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Florent Picard, Clementina Lopez Garcia, Jean-Marc Bader, François Wahl
  • Patent number: 7373281
    Abstract: A method for improving bandwidth of an oscilloscope involves, in preferred embodiments, the use of frequency up-conversion and down-conversion techniques. In an illustrative embodiment the technique involves separating an input signal into a high frequency content and a low frequency content, down-converting the high frequency content in the analog domain so that it may be processed by the oscilloscope's analog front end, digitizing the low frequency content and the down-converted high frequency content, and forming a digital representation of the received analog signal from the digitized low frequency content and high frequency content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: LeCroy Corporation
    Inventors: Peter James Pupalaikis, David Graef
  • Publication number: 20080097712
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an equipment, device (10; 110) and apparatus for applying electrical stimuli to a system and acquiring a system response. According to the present invention there is provided a test equipment such as a portable test device (10; 110) for testing a system, the equipment comprising: signal generation means, signal receiving means, and signal processing means, wherein, in use, the signal generation means generates a signal to be applied to a system to be tested and the signal receiving means receives a response signal of the system, and the generated and response signals undergo processing by the signal processing means so as to provide a measure of a characteristic of the system, wherein further the generated signal comprises a plurality of periodic signals each of different frequency and phase and which are applied to the system simultaneously. The equipment finds particular use in the field of dentistry, but also finds other uses, e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2003
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Peter George Bruce, Alasdair McCall Christie, Stephen Ferrier, Christopher Longbottom, Nigel Berry Pitts
  • Patent number: 7356423
    Abstract: An apparatus for reading out a differential capacity with a first and second partial capacity includes a first oscillator having a first frequency-determining element connectable to the first partial capacity and a second oscillator having a second frequency-determining element connectable to the second partial capacity; a switching means to switch the first frequency-determining element into a first state or to switch it into a second state, and to switch the second frequency-determining element into a third state or to switch it into a fourth state; read apparatus having a first detection means connected to the first oscillator; and an evaluation means which carries out a quotient formation to obtain a value indicating a quotient of the first and the second partial capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderderung der angewandten Forschung e.V
    Inventor: Oliver Nehrig
  • Publication number: 20080082278
    Abstract: A realtime spectrum trigger system on a realtime oscilloscope considers both the magnitude and phase of an input signal having a periodic component so that successive acquisitions of the input signal are time aligned. A user inputs a frequency, threshold and phase for triggering on the periodic component. Input signal samples are filtered by quadrature filters according to the frequency input to produce quadrature signal components. The square of the magnitude of the input signal is computed from the quadrature signal components, as well as the phase ratio and sign, for comparison with calculated values. When enabled by the magnitude of the input signal, a phase crossing determinator compares the phase ratio and sign with calculated values to determine the phase crossing to generate a trigger, resulting in successive acquisitions of the input signal being in time alignment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventors: Kan Tan, John J. Pickerd
  • Patent number: 7353126
    Abstract: A method of determining coherent test conditions is disclosed. The method includes receiving constraints from a user, wherein the constraints include desired test conditions, desired tolerances for the desired test conditions, and desired instrument. Further, the method includes determining the coherent test conditions using the constraints. Moreover, the method includes providing each determined coherent test condition to the user, wherein each determined coherent test condition includes a calculated sampling frequency and a calculated analog frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Credence Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Chris Oberhauser
  • Patent number: 7353127
    Abstract: A method of determining the location in time of maxima and/or minima of an oscillatory signal. The method may have application to measurement of biological signals, in particular measurement of heart rate from a pulsatile blood signal. The method includes a first stage including the steps of observation over a measurement period, identifying large local maxima or minima and computing an average interval between the identified local maxima or minima. One or more exclusion periods are located in time in the oscillatory signal, having a duration dependent on the average interval, the exclusion periods used to reject false maxima or minima. Maxima or minima may also be detected as an absolute maximum or minimum between crossing points of a fast and a slow moving average of the oscillatory signal. An exclusion period may also be used to reject false maxima or minima when crossing points are used. Apparatus for performing the method is also claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Auckland Uniservices Limited
    Inventors: Michael Alexander Navakatikyan, Simon Charles Malpas
  • Patent number: 7346464
    Abstract: A gait waveform feature extracting method and an individual identification system extract features of the gait waveform. A one-step waveform corresponding to one step of a walking movement is specified using, as an index, a peak amplitude corresponding to a state where substantially a whole bottom surface of one foot is in contact with the ground and a toe of the other foot is just after leaving the ground among the electric field displacement formed on the human body in accordance with the human body's walking movements. Based on the specified one-step waveform, the features of the one-step waveform are extracted, so that the peak amplitude appears without influence from electric-charge interference between the right and left legs. Accordingly, the one-step waveform reflects the actual one step of the walking movement, and therefore, the features of the one-step waveform can be precisely extracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyoaki Takiguchi
  • Patent number: 7330799
    Abstract: A method and an algorithm allowing the use of surface waves. In particular, the method uses separation of the modes and, by the dispersion curve of more than one mode in the inversion process, it allows a determination of a shear wave propagation velocity profile that, with the aid of the Poisson ratio, constitutes a unique solution and a complete characterization of a medium on the point of view of its elastic properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Société de commercialisation des produits de la recherche appliquée-Socpra Sciences et Génie s.e.c.
    Inventors: Guy Lefebvre, Mourad Karray Benhassen
  • Patent number: 7328114
    Abstract: A method for measuring a rate of change of frequency includes estimating at least one phasor value, estimating a frequency based on the estimated at least one phasor value, compensating the estimated at least one phasor value based on the estimated frequency, calculating a frequency based on the compensated at least one phasor value, and calculating a rate of change of the calculated frequency based on the calculated frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Premerlani, Rui Zhou
  • Publication number: 20080015801
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for creating and recognizing a USN (Unique Signature Number) from an analysis of living entity's (e.g. person, animal or other multi-cellular being having neural activity) emitted electrical or electromagnetic signal in a given, normalized or calm state. This USN may then be used at a later date, in a comparison function of a number of stored USN's, in ascertaining the identity of an entity recently detected as being in proximity to an antenna of the apparatus. A further analysis process can also detect neural activity that is abnormal to that indicated by the USN of a given entity in a calm state and which neural activity may be indicative of excessive aggression, stress or even ill health said given entity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: SAVR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Jugal Kishore Sharma
  • Publication number: 20080010032
    Abstract: Using data obtained by varying intra-chip variance, a frequency distribution of a yield corresponding to each intra-chip variance is obtained by a statistical timing analysis. The frequency of a ring oscillator loaded into the chip of an LSI is measured for each chip, and the frequency distribution of the ring oscillator is obtained. The convolution between the frequency distribution of a yield corresponding to each intra-chip variance and the frequency distribution of the ring oscillator is performed. By integrating the results the cumulative probability distribution of the yield of the LSI corresponding to each intra-chip variance is obtained. The fit is rendered between the distribution and the yield distribution of the LSI chip of the past lot, an appropriate intra-chip variance value is obtained, the cumulative probability distribution corresponding to the value is similarly calculated, and the result is defined as an estimated distribution of the yield of the LSI chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Hiroyuki SUGIYAMA
  • Patent number: 7313491
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the frequency of a cyclically-repeating electrical signal by: passing the electrical signal through a network of sequentially-activated gates, in which the first gate detects the leading edge of each cycle of the electrical signal, and each of the remaining gates, when activated, applies a predetermine propagation delay to the detected leading edges; determining the gates which were activated at the beginning, and at the end, of a predetermined time window; determining the difference in the total propagation delays at the outputs of the activated gates; and utilizing the differences in the total propagation delays in determining the frequency of the electrical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Nexense Ltd.
    Inventors: Arie Ariav, Vladimir Ravitch
  • Patent number: 7305311
    Abstract: A radio frequency power delivery system comprises an RF power generator, arc detection circuitry, and control logic responsive to the arc detection circuitry. A dynamic boundary is computed about the measured value of a parameter representative of or related to the power transferred from the power generator to a load. A subsequently measured value of the parameter that exceeds the computed dynamic boundary of the parameter indicates detection of an arc. Upon detection of an arc, power delivery from the generator is interrupted or adjusted, or other action is taken, until the arc is extinguished. By employing dynamic computation of arc detection boundaries, the invention allows for arc handling in RF power deliver systems regardless of whether the system has reached a stable power delivery condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Gideon J. van Zyl
  • Patent number: 7299166
    Abstract: The present invention is a system and method of characterizing and simulating frequency translation devices. By supplying a stimulus condition as input to the frequency translation device, measurements of the intermodulation products in the output spectrum can be obtained. The measurements include both sum intermodulation products and difference intermodulation products. An index file is established to enable the extraction of the intermodulation products dependent upon a requested simulation response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Jiang Liu, Terje Borge Svensen, Lawrence P Dunleavy
  • Patent number: 7292948
    Abstract: Techniques for removing distortion in an AC magnetic tracker identify a characteristic frequency in the distortion environment which is then utilized to extract distortion components from the tracker receiver signals so that the corrected position and orientation can be calculated. A multiplicity of alternative techniques for determining this characteristic frequency are disclosed, several of which can be done during operation without interrupting system operation while others can be done off-line. The invention also allows the use of a tuned tracker transmitter since it does not need to operate at multiple frequencies. The invention differs from the prior art by treating an extended conductor characteristic as just another unknown. The position and orientation algorithm solves the 6 unknown coordinates of position and orientation plus the one more unknown—the extended conductor characteristic frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Alken Inc.
    Inventors: Herbert R. Jones, Jr., Robert F. Higgins, Henry E. Himberg
  • Patent number: 7281182
    Abstract: A boundary scan register circuit and a method of characterization testing. The boundary scan register circuit, including: a multiplicity of boundary scan cells connected in series, each boundary scan cell having a latch; means for isolating the boundary scan cells into one or more boundary scan segments, each boundary scan segment containing a different set of the boundary scan cells; and means for characterizing signal propagation through each boundary scan segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Pamela S. Gillis, David D. Litten, Steven F. Oakland
  • Publication number: 20070233405
    Abstract: An electromagnetic wave analyzer that accurately calculates electromagnetic waves emanating from a given wave source, without the need for assessing accuracy in other than the wave source domain. An analysis condition receiver receives analysis conditions including position parameters specifying observation points, as well as frequency parameters specifying frequencies to be analyzed. Upon receipt of analysis conditions, a Fourier transform processor transforms time-series electromagnetic current data to produce frequency-specific electromagnetic current data for each frequency specified by the frequency parameters. Based on the frequency-specific electromagnetic current data, an electromagnetic field calculator calculates the electric field at each observation point specified by the position parameters, by integrating electric fields produced by electric and magnetic currents in each small volume of the electromagnetic wave source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Hirotomo Izumi
  • Patent number: 7277816
    Abstract: A system for directly measuring tire grip conditions is provided which can measure a skidding condition with no need of applying a vibration. A tire rotation speed sensor comprising a detection gear and a magnet sensor is mounted to a rotating shaft of a tire. An output of the tire rotation speed sensor is analyzed in time-frequency domain to detect vibrations caused by slips, thereby determining tire grip conditions, such as a slip ratio and a slip angle. By detecting fluctuations in rotation based on the cause-effect relation between the occurrence of tire slips and the occurrence of fluctuations in rotation, the tire slips can be directly detected. Therefore, the tire grip conditions can be confirmed with high accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Cable, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyasu Kanekawa, Masatoshi Hoshino, Kazuhiro Komatsuzaki, Masayoshi Kaneyasu
  • Patent number: 7272078
    Abstract: A representative measurement indicating a relative oscillation speed of a reference clock during a representative calibration period is ascertained. Multiple calibration periods are defined including first and second calibration periods. The first calibration period begins at a first start time, wherein a first time offset value is equal to a difference between the first start time and a transition point of the reference clock signal within the first calibration period. The second calibration period begins at a second start time, wherein a second time offset value is equal to a difference between the second start time and a transition point of the reference clock signal within the second calibration period. The first and second time offset values are different from one another. Measurements are generated by, for each one of the calibration periods, measuring the speed of the reference clock. The measurements are then averaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)
    Inventor: Jacobus Cornelis Haartsen
  • Patent number: 7268286
    Abstract: Methods for assisting a technician in tuning a musical instrument exhibiting inharmonicity, such as a piano. If one aspect, a plurality of target frequencies are calculated using a table of preferred stretch values. In another aspect, target frequencies are calculated from multiple inharmonicity measurements during the time a tone generator is sounding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Inventor: David J Carpenter
  • Patent number: 7266464
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus includes a store of at least one historical sensor measurement, a store of potential cut-off frequencies, and a filter. Each potential cut-off frequency is associated with a respective potential difference between a sensor measurement and the stored historical sensor measurement. The filter has a cut-off frequency dynamically selected from the stored potential cut-off frequencies on the basis of a difference between the stored historical sensor measurement and a current sensor measurement. The method includes determining a difference between a current sensor measurement and a historical sensor measurement; and dynamically selecting a cut-off frequency for a filter for the current sensor measurement from the difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Hongqiao Sun, Vesna R. Mirkovic, W. Spencer Wheat
  • Patent number: 7266465
    Abstract: An apparatus for confirming a frequency measurement of a received signal includes a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) module for receiving a sampled digital signal. The DFT module is configured to analyze the received sampled digital signal, and output amplitude values at different frequency components. A threshold comparator is included for receiving the amplitude values of the frequency components and outputting a thresholded-amplitude value exceeding a predetermined threshold value. A frequency confirmation is provided based on the thresholded-amplitude value. The sampled digital signal is sampled at a sampling frequency of fs, and the DFT module is configured to analyze the received sampled digital signal at a frequency bandwidth that is equal to or less than fs. The frequency bandwidth is equal to the sampling frequency of fs, when the received sampled digital signal includes I and Q signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: James B. Y. Tsui, Charles Richard Ward, Stuart Mitchell Lopata
  • Patent number: 7257499
    Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for determining a frequency for the sampling of an analog signal, which is provided to a digital screen for representing an image on the same, at least two areas succeeding in line direction will be established in the image to be displayed. In each of the established areas, a sample phase will be determined, for which a contrast in the established area is maximum or a minimum. Subsequently, a local course of the sample phase will be determined in the line direction based on the determined sample phases. The sampling frequency will be determined based on a base value and a modification value, which is derived from the local course of the sample phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Martin Maier
  • Patent number: 7257497
    Abstract: An acquisition apparatus for a test and measurement instrument includes an input to receive an input signal, a digitizer to digitize a selected signal, a bypass path to selectively couple the input to the digitizer, a frequency shift path to frequency shift the input signal and selectively couple the frequency-shifted input signal to the digitizer, the frequency shift path including a means for frequency shifting, an input switch to switch the input signal to one of the bypass path and the frequency shift path, and an output switch to provide the selected signal to the digitizer by selectively coupling an output of one of the frequency shift path and the bypass path to the digitizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventor: John J. Pickerd
  • Patent number: 7257504
    Abstract: A radio frequency ID tag, very small in size and with an onboard antenna, is manufactured, tested and applied cost-efficiently. The transmit frequency for the tag is set during manufacture approximately, within a selected range, in a gross tuning step. A second tuning step fine tunes each tag by RF communication to set values of capacitance, resistance, etc., and this can be at the point of application of the tags. Other aspects include burning a randomly-selected value in the RF ID chip during manufacture to impose a random time delay for tag response (rather than having a random generator on the chip itself); structural testing of a large number of tags on a wafer using on-wafer interconnects and a special onboard sequencer test die; and production of the tag so as to be tunable to different frequency ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Tagent Corporation
    Inventors: Jarie G. Bolander, Forrest Wunderlich, Neil Jarvis, Christopher J. Lee, Bernard Baron, Paul A. Lovoi
  • Patent number: 7253631
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining the complex impedance Z(fm) of a non-steady electrochemical system, comprising the following steps consisting in: bringing the system to a selected voltage condition and applying a sinusoidal signal with frequency fm thereto; immediately thereafter, measuring successive values for voltage and current at regular time intervals ?T; calculating the discrete Fourier transforms for voltage (E(f)) and current (I(f)), the voltage transform being calculated for the single frequency fm of the sinusoidal signal and the current transform being calculated for frequency fm and for two adjacent frequencies fm?1 and fm+1 on either side of frequency fm; and calculating the impedance using the following formula: Z(fm)=E(fm)/I*(fm), wherein I* denotes a corrected current such that Re[I*(fm)]=Re[I*(fm)]?(Re[I(fm+1)]+Re[I(fm?1)]2, Im[I*(fm)]=Im[I(fm)]?Im[I(fm+1)]+Im[I(fm?1)])/2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble
    Inventors: Bogdan Petrescu, Jean-Pierre Petit, Jean-Claude Poignet
  • Patent number: 7254500
    Abstract: A method of displaying signals containing a spatial and a temporal aspect, where multiple signals are received by multiple sensors. The received signals are decomposed into separate signal components within one or more distinct frequency bands. Signal components are isolated within each frequency band based on differences between the signal components within the same frequency band, and the signal components are displayed. The signal components may be analyzed to determine a time course of activity and a location of the associated source. Representations of the source may also be generated and displayed to aid in monitoring the signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
    Inventors: Scott Makeig, Jörn Anemüller
  • Patent number: 7248980
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that reconstructs a high-resolution signal from a set of low-resolution quantized samples. During operation, the system receives a time series containing low-resolution quantized signal values which are sampled from the high-resolution signal. Next, the system performs a spectral analysis on the time series to obtain a frequency series for the low-resolution quantized signal values. The system next selects a subset of frequency terms from the frequency series which have the largest amplitudes. The system then reconstructs the high-resolution signal by performing an inverse spectral analysis on the subset of the frequency terms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenny C. Gross, Ramakrishna C. Dhanekula, Eugenio J. Schuster, Gregory A. Cumberford
  • Patent number: 7239983
    Abstract: A method and system is provided for obtaining data indicative of at least one characteristic of a continuous medium or at least one localized target located within a predetermined volume of space. The system includes a sensor configuration with at least one sensor for acquiring a plurality of signals from the continuous medium or the target. Each one of the plurality of signals is centered at a respective distinguishable frequency. The system also includes a processing circuit for obtaining the data indicative of the characteristic of the continuous medium or the target by calculating a plurality of powered weighted increments using the plurality of signals acquired by the sensor configuration and by relating the plurality of powered weighted increments to the characteristic of the continuous medium or the target using a plurality of models.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Enerlab, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Praskovsky, Eleanor Praskovskaya
  • Patent number: 7239243
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for obtaining an image of an RFID tag comprising a transponder and a tag antenna is provided, the system comprising: a plurality of inductors, each inductor being associated with a capacitor to form a resonant tank circuit, wherein each resonant tank circuit has a first resonant frequency in the presence of metal and a second resonant frequency in the absence of metal; a signal processor configured to determine a resonant frequency for each resonant tank circuit in the presence of the tag antenna; and a processor configured to compare the resonant frequency of each resonant tank circuit to the first and second resonant frequency to determine an image of the tag antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Printronix, Inc.
    Inventor: Lihu M. Chiu
  • Patent number: 7236901
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and method that digitally replicates the analog processing that is normally associated with an instantaneous frequency measurement device. Specifically, the present relates to a digital frequency measurement device comprising: a filter, where the filter receives an input RF signal and transmits an output signal centered around a desired frequency; a limiting amplifier downstream of the filter, where the amplifier receives and amplifies the output signal; a deserializer downstream of the amplifier that continuously samples the output signal from the limiting amplifier; and a digital frequency measurement processor (DFM), where the DFM receives data at a rate of 1/16 of the deserializer sample rate. The DFM transforms the data into multiples stages that are combined in order to produce an estimate of the input signal, where the DFM is implemented through a digital processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: James M. Huggett
  • Patent number: 7231311
    Abstract: Novel excitation signals are specifically designed for testing a high-frequency mixer such that all of the desired intermodulation products are measurable after being converted by a sampling frequency converter. This is achieved by using excitation frequencies which are equal to an integer multiple of the sampling frequency of the sampling frequency convertor plus or minus small frequency offsets. The offset frequencies are carefully choosen such that the frequencies of all the significant intermodulation products after being converted by the sampling frequency converter are within the bandwidth of the sampling frequency converter output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Inventor: Jan Verspecht
  • Patent number: 7222035
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating the changing frequency of a signal received by a satellite receiver from, illustratively, positioning system satellites is disclosed that enables a more accurate measurement of the change in frequency of that signal due to movement of the satellite receiver relative to those satellites. The system includes a PLL having a numerically controlled oscillator (NCO) and a filter of frequency estimates (FFE). In operation, an analog signal is received at the satellite receiver and the PLL tracks the changing signal frequency and outputs non-smoothed frequency estimates into the FFE. The FFE then smoothes noise in the signal to produce a more accurate smoothed frequency estimate of the input signal. Comparing multiple estimates over time allows Doppler shift of the signal frequency received by the satellite receiver to be calculated more precisely, thus resulting in more accurate satellite receiver velocity vector determinations and, hence, position measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Topcon GPS, LLC
    Inventors: Mark I. Zhodzishsky, Sergey Yudanov, Victor A. Prasolov, Victor A. Veitsel
  • Patent number: 7222055
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for digitizing a signal. The method comprises the steps of receiving an input analog signal, splitting the received input analog signal into a plurality of signals and frequency converting at least one of the signals in accordance with a predetermined periodic function having a predetermined frequency. The signals are then digitized and combined mathematically to form a single output stream that is a substantially correct representation of the original input analog signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: LeCroy Corporation
    Inventors: Peter J. Pupalaikis, David C. Graef
  • Patent number: 7219026
    Abstract: A frequency measuring circuit may include an edge detector, a charge pump, and an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter. The edge detector may be configured to generate an output pulse responsive to an edge of an input clock signal. The charge pump may be configured to generate an output signal responsive to the output pulse from the edge detector. The analog-to-digital (A/D) converter may be configured to convert the output signal into a digital value representing a frequency of the input clock signal. Related methods and integrated circuit memory devices are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-Jin Kim, Sang-Bo Lee
  • Patent number: 7219037
    Abstract: A method for improving bandwidth of an oscilloscope involves, in preferred embodiments, the use of frequency up-conversion and down-conversion techniques. In an illustrative embodiment the technique involves separating an input signal into a high frequency content and a low frequency content, down-converting the high frequency content in the analog domain so that it may be processed by the oscilloscope's analog front end, digitizing the low frequency content and the down-converted high frequency content, and forming a digital representation of the received analog signal from the digitized low frequency content and high frequency content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Lecroy Corporation
    Inventors: Peter J. Pupalaikis, David C. Graef
  • Patent number: 7212934
    Abstract: Method and system are disclosed for determining individual string resistance in a network of strings when the current through a parallel connected string is unknown and when the voltage across a series connected string is unknown. The method/system of the invention involves connecting one or more frequency-varying impedance components with known electrical characteristics to each string and applying a frequency-varying input signal to the network of strings. The frequency-varying impedance components may be one or more capacitors, inductors, or both, and are selected so that each string is uniquely identifiable in the output signal resulting from the frequency-varying input signal. Numerical methods, such as non-linear regression, may then be used to resolve the resistance associated with each string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: A. Daniel Hall, Francis J. Davies
  • Patent number: 7209842
    Abstract: A start signal output circuit having an RF/DC conversion circuit to which radio frequency power (RF) of specified frequency is inputted and from which a direct current potential (DC) is outputted, comprises a detection/amplification circuit 210 which includes a voltage doubler wave-detector circuit 10 configured including a sensing diode Q1 (Tr34) for sensing the RF power, a differential amplifier including differential pair transistors Tr31 and Tr32, and a current mirror circuit. A base current of one Tr31 of the differential pair transistors is brought into substantial agreement with a DC component of a current flowing through the sensing diode Q1 (Tr34). A total of currents flowing through the differential pair transistors Tr31 and Tr32 is regulated to a substantially constant value by the current mirror circuit. Thus, the start signal output circuit which is small in size, high in sensitivity and low in power consumption can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Mizuno, Ryu Kimura, Yoshiyuki Kago, Yukiomi Tanaka, Kazuhiko Endo, Hisanori Uda, Hiroaki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7206707
    Abstract: An IFM receiver includes a hybrid for outputting I and Q signals from a received input signal; a first ADC for digitizing the I signal to produce a first digital signal at a sampling rate of 1/?, and a second ADC for digitizing the Q signal to produce a second digital signal at the same sampling rate. A processor is configured to (a) delay the first and second digital signals by at least one sample time of ?, (b) count the number of samples produced having predetermined phase shifts, and (c) determine the frequency of the received input signal, based on the number of samples having the predetermined phase shifts. The first and second ADCs are each 1-bit analog-to-digital converters. The predetermined phase shifts of 0°, 90°, ?90° and 180° are counted by the processor over a predetermined time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises Inc.
    Inventors: James B. Y. Tsui, Stuart Mitchell Lopata, Charles Richard Ward
  • Patent number: 7203612
    Abstract: Disclosed are different processes for the determination of the internal pressure, particularly of the minimum pressure of the tire of a motor vehicle during driving operation, through an analysis of the characteristic vibration behavior of the wheel, whereby the standardized amplitude is determined from the vibration spectrum determined and the resonance frequency is observed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Andreas Köbe, Holger Behrends, Lennert Gootjes, Joachim Kohn, Ines Runge, Stefan Kluge, Alfred Duchow
  • Patent number: 7200504
    Abstract: The change in temperature of an implanted electronic device can be determined by providing power to one or more circuit elements included in the implanted electronic device, wherein the circuit elements comprise a non-crystal oscillator. A shift in the output frequency associated with the non-crystal oscillator can be detected, and the temperature change of the implanted electronic device can be determined based on the detected output frequency shift. One or more signals based on the output frequency associated with the non-crystal oscillator can be transmitted by the implanted electronic device. The transmitted signals can be received by an external device, which can detect the current output frequency associated with the non-crystal oscillator from the transmitted signals and compare the current output frequency with a previous output frequency to determine the output frequency shift associated with the non-crystal oscillator. The output frequency can, for example, be converted to a voltage measure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics Corporation
    Inventor: Michael L. Fister
  • Patent number: 7197410
    Abstract: Method arid apparatus for accelerating a multi-phase motor having a rotatable rotor are disclosed. The method incorporates use of a motor control circuit to predict a subsequent loss of frequency lock between the motor control circuit and a motor while the motor control circuit and the motor remain frequency locked, and based on the prediction, steps to avert a loss of frequency lock during acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Alan Heydt, David Ray Street
  • Patent number: 7191081
    Abstract: A method for correcting an oscillator frequency of in particular a digital transmitter/receiver interface for transmitting measurement signals of a sensor to a control unit. The method includes outputting of a first reference frequency signal by the sensor, the first reference frequency signal and comparing it with a second reference frequency signal by the control unit, calculating a correction factor on the basis of the first and second reference frequency signals, and correcting the frequency signals representing actual measured quantities subsequently sent by the sensor and received by the control unit based on the calculated correction factor to obtain corrected frequency signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Brueckner, Manfred Strohrmann, Hans Loistl, Axel-Werner Haag
  • Patent number: 7188039
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed to solve an equation associated with a structure of the form {??2MR+i?BR+[(1+i?)KR+i(K4R)]}Y=FR, wherein ? is a time-harmonic excitation frequency, MR is a reduced form of a symmetric mass matrix M, BR is a reduced form of a viscous damping matrix B, ? is a scalar global structural damping coefficient, KR is a reduced form of a symmetric stiffness matrix K, K4R is a reduced form of a symmetric structural damping matrix K4 representing local departures from ?, FR is a reduced form of a matrix F, and Y is a matrix having a plurality of vectors corresponding to the plurality of load vectors acting on the structure and included in the matrix F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventor: Jeffrey K. Bennighof
  • Patent number: 7177771
    Abstract: A power metering apparatus meters a power signal in a powered system. A low-pass filter receives the power signal and outputs a filtered signal. The filter implements a corner frequency programmable based on a first clocking signal and anti-aliases high frequency components of the power signal. An A/D converter receives the filtered signal and outputs a digital signal. The A/D converter samples the filtered signal according to a system clock based on a second clocking signal. A clocking element generates and outputs each of the first clocking signal and the second clocking signal. The first clocking signal is synchronous with the second clocking signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventor: Avery Long
  • Patent number: 7158899
    Abstract: A method and circuit for measuring a statistical value of jitter for a data signal having a data rate fD, comprises digitally sampling the data signal at a sampling rate, fS, to produce sampled logic values, where fD/fS is a predetermined non-integer ratio; and analyzing the sampled values to deduce a statistical value of the jitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: LogicVision, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen K. Sunter, Aubin P. J. Roy
  • Patent number: 7158920
    Abstract: The apparatus reduces the amount of correction for noise value error, so as to reduce work needed for correction to ensure error avoidance, and to improve the freedom of layout design, and to reduce load on DA. Based on a timing chart of signal transfer on each wire, the last edge appearance timing in the signal waveform of a victim whose noise value exceeds a limit value is compared with the last edge appearance timing in the signal waveform of an aggressor, to evaluate the noise value error in the victim. The apparatus is used in static noise checking of cell arrangement and inter-cell wiring after such cell arrangement and inter-cell wiring are performed at design of integrated circuits such as LSIs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Yoichiro Ishikawa