Brooks Automation Gmbh

Seakr Engineering, Incorporated

Paul M Rutt

Paul C Arnold

Erik Buehler

Damon Van Buren

Michael Dale Borenstein

Larry K Carmichael

Richard E Perego

Jesse D Hobart

An integrated analog to digital converting and digital to analog converting (ADDA) RF transceiver for satellite applications, configured to replace conventional analog RF down and up conversion circuitry. The ADDA RF transceiver includes one of more ADCs, DSPs, and DACs, all on a single ASIC. Further, the circuitry is to be radiation tolerant for high availability and reliability in the ionizing radiation environment present in the space environment.

Integrated mixed-signal ASIC with ADC, DAC, and DSP

An integrated analog to digital converting and digital to analog converting (ADDA) RF transceiver for satellite applications capable of flexibly processing high-bandwidth and low-bandwidth RF input signal(s). The RF transceiver may selectively distribute high-bandwidth RF input signals among one or more DSP pipelines for parallel processing of the RF input signals, and the RF transceiver may coherently recombine the processed signals from the one or more DSP pipelines to generate an RF output signal. The ADDA RF transceiver includes one or more ADCs, DSPs, and DACs, all on one or more ASICs, FPGAs, or modular electronic devices in a single semiconductor package. Further, the RF transceiver is radiation tolerant at the module, circuit, and/or system level for high availability and reliability in the ionizing radiation environment present in the space environment.

Integrated mixed-signal RF transceiver with ADC, DAC, and DSP and high-bandwidth coherent recombination

Integrated mixed-signal ASIC with ADC and DSP

An integrated analog to digital converting and digital to analog converting (ADDA) RF transceiver for satellite applications, configured to replace conventional analog RF down and up conversion circuitry. The ADDA RF transceiver includes one of more ADCs, DSPs, and DACs, all on a single ASIC. Further, the circuity is to be radiation tolerant for high availability and reliability in the ionizing radiation environment present in the space environment.

Integrated mixed-signal ASIC with DAC and DSP

A method and apparatus for measuring gas pressure by combining an ionization gauge with at least one other vacuum sensor. Nonvolatile memory coupled to the vacuum gauge contains calibration parameters unique to each individual sensor based on factory calibration. The nonvolatile memory may contain calibration parameters for a heat-sensitive vacuum sensor to compensate for the temperature gradients generated by the ionization gauge. The calibration parameters are a function of calibration data determined when the ionization gauge is both on and off. The nonvolatile memory may store a window of measurement data of the vacuum gauge that is updated at predetermined time intervals and in response to an event, such as an error event, to aid in investigating the cause of vacuum gauge malfunction or failure.

Method and apparatus for storing vacuum gauge calibration parameters and measurement data on a vacuum gauge structure

A combination vacuum gauge provides simultaneous absolute and differential pressure measurements over a wide-range of pressures ranging from atmospheric pressures to ultrahigh vacuum by processing the readings of (i) an absolute high vacuum gauge (e.g., an ionization gauge and/or a heat-loss sensor) and an absolute or a differential low vacuum gauge (e.g., a diaphragm sensor) exposed, through a common port, to pressures in a measurement region, and (ii) a barometric absolute pressure sensor exposed to the ambient atmosphere outside the measurement region. The barometric absolute pressure sensor reading may be used to convert the differential vacuum gauge reading from uncalibrated differential pressure to calibrated absolute pressure or to convert the absolute vacuum gauge reading from absolute pressure to differential pressure.

Wide-range combination vacuum gauge

An ionization gauge for isolating an electron source from gas molecules includes the electron source for generating electrons, a collector electrode for collecting ions formed by the impact between the electrons and gas molecules, and an electron window which isolates the electron source from the gas molecules. The ionization gauge can have an anode which defines an anode volume and decelerates and retains the electrons in a region of the anode. The ionization gauge can have a plurality of electron sources and/or collector electrodes. The collector electrode(s) are be located within the anode volume. The ionization gauge can be a Bayard-Alpert type that measures pressure.

Ionization gauge

A combination vacuum gauge provides simultaneous absolute and differential pressure measurements over a wide range of pressures ranging from atmospheric pressures to ultrahigh vacuum by processing the readings from an absolute high vacuum gauge (e.g., an ionization gauge and/or a heat-loss sensor), a differential low vacuum gauge providing a differential relative to ambient pressure (e.g., a diaphragm sensor), and a barometric absolute pressure sensor exposed to the ambient atmosphere outside the measurement region. The barometric absolute pressure sensor reading is used to convert the differential vacuum gauge reading from uncalibrated differential pressure to calibrated absolute pressure.

An ionization gauge for isolating an electron source from gas molecules includes the electron source for generating electrons, a collector electrode for collecting ions formed by the impact between the electrons and gas molecules, and an electron window which isolates the electron source from the gas molecules. The ionization gauge can have an anode which defines an anode volume and retains the electrons in a region of the anode. The ionization gauge can have a plurality of electron sources and/or collector electrodes. The collector electrode(s) can be located within the anode volume or outside the anode volume. The ionization gauge can have a mass filter for separating the ions based on mass-to-charge ratio. The ionization gauge can be a Bayard-Alpert type that measures pressure or a residual gas analyzer that determines a gas type.

Growing community of inventors

Berthoud, CO, United States of America

Paul M Rutt