David Michael Alter

Title: Innovations of David Michael Alter

Introduction

David Michael Alter is an accomplished inventor based in Burlington, MA (US). He holds 2 patents that showcase his expertise in the field of digital signal processing and analog-to-digital conversion. His work has significantly contributed to advancements in technology, particularly in control applications.

Latest Patents

One of his latest patents is titled "Dynamic compensation of analog-to-digital converter (ADC) offset errors using filtered PWM." This invention presents a system and method for dynamic offset compensation that is particularly adaptable to analog-to-digital conversion performed in control applications using highly integrated Digital Signal Processor (DSP) devices. The system includes an integrated DSP device with a multi-bit ADC and a PWM waveform generator that produces at least one PWM output, along with an external low pass filter. The ADC converts an analog input signal into a corresponding digital output signal. The DSP device measures the zero level offset of the ADC output signal and dynamically controls the characteristics of the PWM output based on the measured offset. The low pass filter receives the PWM output and applies a controlled DC output voltage to the low reference voltage input of the ADC to dynamically compensate for the zero level offset error.

Another significant patent is the "Delayed adaptive least-mean-square digital filter." This invention features a delayed adaptive least-mean-square (LMS) filter that has one filter coefficient per tap and acquires a new data sample each frame. It calculates a finite impulse response (FIR) filter output and updates the filter coefficients using an error term based on the FIR filter output calculated during the preceding frame. The calculations for each tap are performed in a single clock cycle. This filter can be implemented using a general-purpose, programmable digital signal processor (DSP) architecture that includes two multiply and accumulate circuits (MACs), with or without an arithmetic logic unit (ALU). It preferably implements its memory buffers as dual-access or dual-port RAM or banked memory.

Career Highlights

David Michael Alter is currently employed at Texas Instruments Corporation, where he continues to innovate and contribute to the field of digital signal processing. His work has been instrumental in developing technologies that enhance the performance of electronic devices.

Collaborations

Throughout his career, David has collaborated with notable colleagues, including Charles W Brokish and Jamil Chaoui. These collaborations have fostered an environment of innovation and creativity, leading to significant advancements in