IP Library Granted Patent US 8,269,480
Granted Patent B2
US 8,269,480 · App. 12/170,401 · Granted Sep 18, 2012

Method and apparatus for identifying and reducing spurious frequency components

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,269,480
App. No.
12/170,401
Granted
Sep 18, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for identifying and reducing spurious frequency components is provided. A method in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure may include generating a digital sinusoidal waveform at a direct digital synthesizer (DDS) and receiving the digital sinusoidal waveform at an audio digital-to-analog converter. The method may further include converting the digital sinusoidal waveform to an analog sinusoidal waveform containing spurious frequency components, combining the analog sinusoidal waveform with an analog distortion correction waveform to generate a composite output waveform and receiving the composite output waveform at notch filter circuitry. The method may also include filtering the composite output waveform to generate a filtered composite output waveform and amplifying a difference between the filtered composite output waveform and a signal from a circuit-under-test (CUT) to generate an amplified analog signal. The method may also include converting the amplified analog signal to an amplified digital signal. Of course, additional implementations are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims (21)

1. A method comprising:

generating a digital sinusoidal waveform at a direct digital synthesizer (DDS);

receiving said digital sinusoidal waveform at an audio digital-to-analog converter;

converting said digital sinusoidal waveform to an analog sinusoidal waveform containing spurious frequency components;

generating a composite output waveform by combining the analog sinusoidal waveform containing the spurious frequency components with an analog distortion correction waveform;

receiving said composite output waveform at notch filter circuitry;

filtering said composite output waveform to generate a filtered composite waveform;

amplifying said composite output waveform to generate an amplified analog signal; and

converting said amplified analog signal to an amplified digital signal.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing said amplified digital signal in a memory.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising generating a Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) of said amplified digital signal to provide at least one of an amplitude and a phase of a non-fundamental component of said analog sinusoidal waveform.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising generating a calibration sequence for said notch filter circuitry, said calibration sequence configured to calculate at least one of a harmonic amplitude and a harmonic phase corresponding to a measured unknown harmonic signal.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising clocking said ADC relative to at least one of said DAC and said DDS.

6. The method of claim 3 further comprising generating a compensating distortion correction signal to subtract said spurious frequency components.

7. An apparatus comprising:

testing circuitry having a direct digital synthesizer (DDS) configured to generate a digital sinusoidal waveform containing spurious frequency components, said testing circuitry further comprising an audio digital-to-analog converter configured to receive said digital sinusoidal waveform and to convert said digital sinusoidal waveform to an analog sinusoidal waveform, said testing circuitry further configured to combine said analog sinusoidal waveform and an analog distortion correction output to generate a composite output waveform by combining the analog sinusoidal waveform containing the spurious frequency components with an analog distortion correction waveform, said testing circuitry further comprising notch filter circuitry configured to receive said composite output waveform and to filter said composite output waveform to generate a filtered composite output waveform, said testing circuitry further comprising a difference amplifier configured to amplify a difference between said filtered composite output waveform and a signal from a circuit-under-test (CUT) to generate an amplified analog signal, said testing circuitry further comprising an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert said amplified analog signal to an amplified digital signal.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising at least one memory configured to store said amplified digital signal.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said testing circuitry is further configured to generate a Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) of said amplified digital signal to provide at least one of an amplitude and a phase of a non-fundamental component of said analog sinusoidal waveform.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said testing circuitry is further configured to generate a calibration sequence for said notch filter circuitry, said calibration sequence configured to calculate at least one of a harmonic amplitude and a harmonic phase corresponding to a measured unknown harmonic signal.

11. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said testing circuitry is further configured to clock said ADC relative to at least one of said DAC and said DDS.

12. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said testing circuitry is further configured to generate a compensating distortion correction signal to subtract said spurious frequency components.

Assignments (10)
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS, RECORDED AT REEL 047185, FRAME 0624 Recorded Mar 7, 2024
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS AGENT
To: XCERRA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 066762/0811 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT STATEMENT THAT THIS DOCUMENT SERVES AS AN OATH/DECLARATION PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 047185 FRAME 0628. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Nov 28, 2018
From: XCERRA CORPORATION
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047675/0354 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 2, 2018
From: XCERRA CORPORATION
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047185/0624 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT PATENT NUMBER 7261561 AND REPLACE WITH PATENT NUMBER 7231561 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 034660 FRAME 0188. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Feb 11, 2016
From: XCERRA CORPORATION; EVERETT CHARLES TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 037824/0372 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN UNITED STATES PATENTS Recorded Dec 18, 2014
From: SILICON VALLEY BANK, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: XCERRA CORPORATION; EVERETT CHARLES TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 034660/0394 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 18, 2014
From: XCERRA CORPORATION; EVERETT CHARLES TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 034660/0188 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 27, 2014
From: LTX-CREDENCE CORPORATION
To: XCERRA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033032/0768 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 17, 2014
From: LTX-CREDENCE CORPORATION; EVERETT CHARLES TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 032086/0476 →
MERGER Recorded Mar 3, 2011
From: CREDENCE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
To: LTX-CREDENCE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 025894/0629 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 22, 2008
From: MAX, SOLOMON; HANNAFORD, CHRISTOPHER JOEL; NECOECHEA, R. WARREN
To: LTX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021722/0244 →