The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 19, 2002
Filed:
Jan. 30, 2001
Applicant:
Inventor:
Paul Dana Wohlfarth, Vernonia, OR (US);
Assignee:
Credence Systems Corporation, Fremont, CA (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01R 3/102 ; G01R 1/04 ; H03K 1/700 ; H03B 2/100 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G01R 3/102 ; G01R 1/04 ; H03K 1/700 ; H03B 2/100 ;
Abstract
An arbitrary waveform generator (AWG) generates an output signal that linearly ramps between discrete levels to approximate a smoothly varying waveform. The AWG includes a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) formed by a set of N ramp generators, with each ramp generator producing output currents that ramp at adjustable rates between discrete levels in response to a change in state of an input waveform data bit. The output currents of all N ramp generators of the DAC, which have separately weighted magnitude levels, are summed and converted to a proportional voltage to produce the AWG's output signal.